'Idol,' new dramas lift Fox for week

'American Idol''Touch'"The The American Idol Show ShowInch together with a trio of youthful dramas lifted Fox with a primetime ratings victory the other day in the frame that saw the majority of the top shows on competing systems air repeats. While "Idol" is constantly track at well below last year's start, still finished near the top of the ratings charts for your week. Furthermore the web, "Alcatraz" organized well within the second outing, "Idol" aided Kiefer Sutherland drama "Touch" open nicely on Wednesday, and "Bones" spinoff "The Finder" hit a greater on Thursday. It absolutely was furthermore a sizable week for "The Big Bang Theory," since the CBS comedy totalled up its best Thursday amounts so far and again beat "Idol" mind-to-mind in demos. Also, numerous repeats in the show lifted The very best spinner's towards the peak devote youthful-adult rankings among cablers. Overall, according to Nielsen, Fox introduced in grownups 18-49 (3. rating/8 share) -- well before CBS (2./6), NBC (1.8/5), ABC (1.6/4) and Univision (1.3/3). Internet also folded in grownups 25-54 (3.4/8 to 2.8/7 for CBS) while CBS introduced in general audiences (9.3 million to eight million for Fox). The Wednesday hour of "The The American Idol Show ShowInch was the week's No. 1 show in 18-49 (6.5/18) and total audiences (19.67 million) -- lower 8% in the opening hour 7 days earlier and off 24% within the comparable hour this past year. "Idol" introduced in to a special preview of "Touch" that completed well (3.9/10, 12.01m) just before its March 19 premiere, and "The Finder" discovered its best scores within the three airings (2.8/7, 8.44m), reaping helpful benefits from drama repeats round the competish. Prison drama "Alcatraz" (3./7, 9.03m) meshed well with "House" (3.1/8, 8.76m), retaining 94% of the 18-49 premiere rating it joins "Not such a long time ago" and "Terra Nova" since the season's only rookie dramas to earn a demo score of three or greater inside their second activities. Round the weekend, Fox got a sizable boost Saturday from UFC action (2.4/8, 4.66m), roughly matching the combined demos round the evening for ABC, CBS and NBC. Fox's Sunday selection looked sluggish, while using third week of "Napoleon Dynamite" (2.1/5, 4.42m) softish between "The Simpsons" (2.4/6, 5.03m) and "Family Guy" (3.1/7, 5.92m). CBS stepped onto Wednesday with "Criminal Minds" (3.7/9, 13.81m) and "CSI" (3.4/9, 14.26m) the 2nd, inside the swan-song seg for original cast member Marg Helgenberger, acquired the most effective amounts for just about any regular 10 p.m. drama on any internet and evening this season. "The Big Bang Theory" (5.5/16 in 18-49, 16.13m) toppled Fox's "Idol" mind-to-mind (5.5 versus. 4.9 in 18-49 and 6.9 versus. 6. in 25-54), striking its best scores since moving to Thursday. And lead-out laffer "Make the most ofInch held steady within the third week (3.5/9, 11.50m) -- many, especially facing "Idol."NBC was quiet until Sunday, when the NFL's Professional Bowl won the evening (4.3/11 in 18-49, 12.50m), though lower year upon year. Earlier, the net's Wednesday comedy hour of "Whitney" (1.4/4, 4.40m) and "Are You Currently Presently There, Chelsea" (1.4/4, 3.80m) dipped further inside their third week together, and "Chuck" ended its run Friday getting a season high (1.3/4, 4.31m). ABC was paced by "Not such a long time ago" (3.5/8, 10.91m), Sunday's No. 1 series in demos. Also, "The Bachelor" hit some season levels (2.7/7, 8.30m), and Friday's choice of "Shark Tank" (1.5/5, 5.44m), "Primetime: How Does One React?Inch (1.7/5, 5.17m) and "20/20" (1.5/4, 5.73m) looked good inside their second week together. In cable, "Jersey Shoreline" (3.8/10, 6.53m) centered its Thursday hour and ranked sixth for your week in 18-49. "Kourtney and Kim Take NY" wrapped its season Sunday using the best scores ever with an E! series (2.6/6, 4.48m), leading all television within the slot among women 25-54 (3.5/6). It absolutely was an excellent week for Bravo's "Real Regular folks,Inch as Monday's Beverly Slopes edition (1.6/4 in 18-49, 3.03m) was cable's No. 1 show in the evening in women 25-54 (2.5/6). And Sunday's Atlanta version (2.1/5, 3.95m) totalled in the second greatest aud for nearly any episode in "RH" history. Discovery again shined on Friday with "Gold Hurry" (1.7/5, 4.24m) leading into "Bering Sea Gold" (1.4/4, 3.66m), which saw the net's finest-rated series launch so far no shows on television your evening came more teens. ABC Family's "Pretty Little Liars" (1.4/4, 3.17m) was the week's No. 1 cable drama in 18-49 on Thursday, CNN's Republican debate came 5.36 million audiences, the net's greatest aud with this particular election cycle as well as the SAG Honours on Sunday came 5.13 million audiences on TNT and also the best spinner's, up just a little from a year ago (5.01m). Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com

AFTRA Board of Company directors Grants SAG-AFTRA Merger Package

The AFTRA board of company directors Saturday approved a suggested merger with SAG, triggering a subscription election that may unite the unions through the finish of March right into a single union, to become known as SAG-AFTRA. The move was expected and came a next day of SAGs board passed an identical motion.The proposal, with a Merger Agreement and Metabolic rate, was approved 94% to sixPercent.We've the chance to finally stand u . s . through one union to secure more union work and benefits for the people, but for the decades of entertainment and media experts who follow us, stated AFTRA leader Roberta Reardon."This can be a terrific outcome, stated SAG leader Ken Howard. He added, In my opinion our people will decisively approve this merger.The AFTRA percentage is even greater compared to SAG election, that was by 87.1% to 12.9%. Votes around the SAG board are weighted. The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that there have been roughly 8 or 9 votes against merger from the 71 member board. Suddenly, among the No votes was from the NY board member.Howard can make a hollywood announcement concerning the balloting throughout the across the country public SAG Honours on Sunday. Based on a SAG statement yesterday, the proposal will be delivered to the 2 unions membership for any election on or about Feb 27, having a ballot return and tabulation deadline of March 30.The SAG materials includes an opposition statement, despite the fact that merger competitors didn't attain the necessary 25% threshold that will have mandated one. However, merger advocates suggested including this type of statement anyway.It requires a 60% affirmative election within each union to be able to pass a merger referendum. AFTRA met individuals thresholds throughout attempts in 1998 and 2003, but SAG didn't. The Hollywood Reporter

Paul Giamatti joins Carlei's 'Romeo'

ROME -- Paul Giamatti has joined the cast of Carlo Carlei's adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet," set to start shooting in Italy this month.Giamatti will play Friar Lawrence, advisor to both Romeo and Juliet, and a key character in the Shakespeare play.As previously announced, Hailee Steinfeld plays Juliet, while British thesp Douglas Booth is her Romeo. Ed Westwick and Kodi Smit-McPhee play the two lovers' cousins, Tybalt and Benvolio.Amber Ent. and Italy's Indiana Production are co-producing what is being touted as the "Romeo and Juliet" for the "Twilight" generation. RAI Cinema will distribute in Italy.Pic marks the first English-language feature film shepherded by Indiana, in which helmer Gabriele Muccino is a partner.Shooting will take place in Mantua, the Northern Italian city to which Romeo was banished in the play, and at Rome's Cinecitta Studios, where a lavish set is being built reconstructing the Mantua family crypt where the protags both die in the famed finale.The screenplay is penned by Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park," "Downton Abbey") who is also producing with Ileen Maisel and Lawrence Elman of Amber.David Tattersall, who shot the three "Star Wars" prequels and more recently "Gulliver's Travels," is on board as lenser.Costume designer is Carlo Poggioli ("The Raven").Pic will be eligible for Italy's generous tax credits for foreign productions, which offer up to 25% of a pic's budget, capped at $6.5 million.Previous works by Carlei, who is Italian but based in Hollywood, include "Fluke," "The Last Legion," and high-profile Italo telepic "Il generale della Rovere." Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

Thai film fest set to create

BEIJING -- The initial edition of Thailand's Hua Hin Film Fest is positioned to bow Jan. 26 while using screening of South Korean pic "Always," then your unspooling of 50 movies over four days. Photos available includes Luc Besson's "The Lady,Inch Taiwanese Oscar entry "Gamers in the Rainbow: Seediq Bale," Hong Kong's "Revenge: An Appreciation Story," as well as the first commercial thriller obtainable in Laos, "Within the Horizon." Festival director Sorajak Kasemsuvan mentioned that additionally to tests, there'd be training courses on subjects for instance cooperation among Southeast Asian nations as well as the role of government in filmmaking. There'd be discussion about other way of fund-raising, the opportunity of joint endeavors and co-productions, as well as the problem of copyright protection. There'd be a movie workshop. Hua Hin is when Thailand's beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej holidays as well as the festival will probably be located in the Intercontinental Hua Hin Resort as well as the Major Cineplex. The fest is backed with the Federation of National Film Association of Thailand, while using Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), additionally to city and regional government government bodies. The film federation and TAT were both backers in the Bangkok Film Festival, which has not run since 2009. The backers were at pains to fret the Hua Hin event is very different having its own identity. The festival "will aid you to put ASEAN cinema all over the world stage, also to present the various sights of Thailand, and for your reason conserve the economic progression of the Thai film industry," mentioned festival chairman Suwat Liptapanlop. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

The Secret Circle's Britt Robertson: Cassie Is Ready For Love

Britt Robertson The Secret Circle returned last week with a near death for Cassie, a failed attempt by Faye to regain power and the last-minute return of Jake. Left with burning questions, TVGuide.com chatted with star Britt Robertson who filled us in on Cassie's newly discovered dark side, her readiness for love and how this next chapter will delve into the Chance Harbor circle of 16 years earlier. Jake's back: Robertson calls Jake's appearance at the end of last week's episode a tease. "I don't know that he'll actually make contact with any of us for a little while," she says. But when he does, Robertson says Cassie may let him in. "In her heart she knows that if he does come back, it's for an honest reason, and at the end of the day she does need him [because] he has all the knowledge and access to this dark power she's being overtaken by." The Secret Circle: Where we were - and what's next Cassie's ready for love: "She's definitely flirting with the idea of having a guy in her life," Robertson says. "She needs someone to talk to and she needs someone to lean on because she has no one at this point, especially now that her grandmother is gone. So I think that's a prime opportunity for some guy to come in there and swoop her up." So will that guy be Jake or Adam? Robertson won't say. Cassie won't reach the dark side just yet: We know Cassie has bad blood, but "it's not something that's going to overpower her at this point ... the idea is that she has something inside of her that's so powerful and that can do all of these things. That will motivate some sort of battle between the good and evil side of her and which she uses to go through life." Dawn and Charles ain't stopping her: Robertson says it'll take a lot for them to step in. "[With] all the stuff with Nick being killed, there was no, 'Maybe we should unbind the circle or maybe we shouldn't continue this.' Clearly they're on a mission [and] I don't know if that will ever be the case, but it's possible depending on how dark she actually gets." Robertson also adds, "But I want some scenes with Gale Harold and Natasha Henstridge!" See photos from The Secret Circle The Balcoin children: Robertson says the cast has yet to find out who else is a Balcoin child, but shares her wish: "We hope it's not just one person [and maybe] that all the girls are related, although I don't know what that would mean." There will be a payoff: Viewers will find out a lot. "A big part in this second chapter of The Secret Circle is finding out all these mysteries that everyone's been wanting to know about and so much is revealed in the next couple of episodes. You get to see ... 16 years ago at one point and you get a good look at what was happening [then] and why everyone is coming after Cassie Blake and her circle [now]." The Secret Circle airs Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.

Dowling to script DreamWorks comedy

DowlingDreamWorks has tapped hot comedy scribe Tim Dowling to write its untitled office comedy, which "Blades of Glory" helmers Will Speck and Josh Gordon are attached to direct. "The Hangover" scribes Jon Lucas and Scott Moore wrote the original script, though insiders tell Variety that Dowling's draft will be a page-one rewrite. Initially, the "Hangover"-esque premise involved an office Christmas party that gets out of hand, but it's currently unclear whether the film will be set during the holidays. Several top comic actors have expressed interest in the project, though no cast is officially attached yet. Scott Stuber is producing with Management 360's Guymon Casady and Daniel Rappaport. Dowling, named one of Variety's 10 Screenwriters to Watch in 2010, is coming off writing a remake of the buddy comedy "Uptown Saturday Night" for Warner Bros. and Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment banner. Scribe recently penned 20th Century Fox's upcoming Chris Pine-Tom Hardy starrer "This Means War," as well as the "Midnight Run" sequel for Universal. Dowling is repped by CAA, Mosaic and attorney Rick Genow. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Yaffa Yarkoni dies at 86

By Connected PRESS Yaffa Yarkoni, a singer who anchored out war time tunes only to become critic from the Israeli military late in existence, died Sunday following a fight with Alzheimer's. She was 86. Yarkoni went from entertaining soldiers like a war time songbird to demeaning the Israeli military's management of Palestinians throughout their uprising last decade. After chiding the military in 2002, Yarkoni was top quality a traitor by soldiers' families, received dying risks coupled with a gala tribute to her career canceled. Several artists held an alternate event to aid her freedom of expression. The furor came about when she made evaluations between an Israeli military operation in the western world Bank and also the Holocaust. "We're a nation that experienced the Holocaust. Exactly how should we do such things as this to a different nation?" she told Israel's Military Radio. Within an interview she gave towards the Connected Press following individuals remarks, Yarkoni stated she was fed up with war, of dead teenagers and heartbroken moms. "I'm tired. For 51 years I'm singing about Israel around the globe, telling tales about how exactly it had been before -- the very first war, the 2nd war, every war. War, war, war. They call me the singer of wars. I do not such as this title. I wish to function as the singer of Israel," she stated. Yarkoni's tunes talk about Israel's pioneering days following a 1948 war that brought to the creation, a war by which she offered like a radio operator. For a long time, the khaki-clad Yarkoni would be a fixture at Israeli military bases as she entertained soldiers, and several of her tunes grew to become classics that also resonate with Israelis and therefore are carried out at remembrance day events. In 1998, she received the exclusive Israel Prize for Hebrew song. Ultimately, her effective music hidden her contentious claims. Upon word of her dying, tributes from Israeli political figures over the spectrum put in, and her music filled radio airwaves. Yarkoni is made it by three kids, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com