Music Center taps three

Lythgoe "American Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe and execs Julia Stewart and Bert Valdam have been named to the board of directors of the Music Center, the downtown Los Angeles performing arts organization that oversees programming at the the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Walt Disney Concert Hall."It is with great pleasure that I welcome these outstanding new members to the Music Center Board. They all share a deep connection to the arts, have been responsible for the leadership and growth of many creative businesses, and have established important connections within their fields," Music Center prexy and CEO Steve Rountree said.Lythgoe is the CEO of Nigel Lythgoe Prods. and began "American Idol" in 2002.Lythgoe is also the co-creator, executive producer and on-air judge for "So You Think You Can Dance." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

GK Films, Infinitum Nihil clock 'Hours'

GK Films is looking to the West, acquiring E. Nicholas Mariani's Western screenplay "Desperate Hours" with Infinitum Nihil.GK Films' Graham King and Tim Headington and Infinitum Nihil's Johnny Depp and Christi Dembrowski are producing. Screenplay, in the vein of "High Noon," centers on a widowed rancher who bands together with his neighbors to battle a group of mobsters who have come from the industrialized East looking to overtake the Western town and collect a girl with a mysterious past. The old and new worlds collide, leading to an explosive showdown.Infinitum Nihil, headed by Depp and Dombrowski, has a first-look deal with GK Films. The two companies produced Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" and are in post-production on "Dark Shadows" for Warner Bros. with Depp starring and producing with Tim Burton, who's also directing. Infinitum Nihil and GK Films also share projects in development at Warners, including "Shantaram," "Attica" "The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters" and "Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates."GK Films recently signed "Hugo" star Asa Butterfield to an overall two-year deal and is developing an adaptation of "Jersey Boys," as well as the untitled Freddie Mercury story and an original screenplay by Robert Towne of "The Battle of Britain."Mariani is also penning "Ploesti" for Alcon and 2S, chronicling the deadliest day in U.S. Air Force History and the love story between a captured pilot and the Romanian princess who risked everything to save his life.Depp and Mariani are repped by UTA. Mariani is managed by Circle of Confusion. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Commercials, TV offset L.A. shooting dip

Mid-January has seen a steady pace of offlot production in Los Angeles, as strong performances by commercials and TV more than offset a decline in feature shoots. Overall activity last week hit 639 days -- an increase of 10% over the same period last year -- as commercials jumped by 50% to 194 days, according to figures provided Tuesday by the FilmL.A. permitting agency. A Fiat spot was the leader with six days. Los Angeles-area production in the commercials category increased 4.4% to 7,079 days last year, setting a yearly high by topping the 2005 record by 96 days. The top commercial shoot last year was a Nissan spot, shot by Wanted Man Films, with 50 days. TV shooting gained 5% to 351 days last week as the sitcom "Best Friends Forever" was the most active with 13 days. "CSI: NY," "Awake," "Southland," Raising Hope" and "Suburgatory" were also shooting last week. Features fell 20% to 94 days as "Black Forest" took the top slot with 20 days. "Lovelace," "Burt Wonderstone" and re-shoots of "Rock of Ages" also shot last week. Top L.A. shoots Commercial projects with the most permitted production days in 2011 Brand (Prod. co.)Permitted prod. daysNissan (Wanted Man)50Bank of America (Anonymous Content)44Buick (Tool of North America)43NACSA (Anonymous Content)35Fiat (Anonymous Content)31 Source: FilmL.A. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Nominee reaction: Asghar Farhadi

"A Separation" helmer and scribe Asghar Farhadi was extremely surprised that his film broke through the language barrier and nabbed a nom for original screenplay, as well as a bid for foreign-language film. "I was so happy to receive the nomination for the best original screenplay because this film is in Farsi and the fact that it received that nomination is a great honor and surprise," he said. "For a long time I had this picture carved inside my head. I don't know how it got there, but once it was there I just knew I had to make this film and here we are today with not one but two nominations." Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Steve Buscemi Returning to 30 Rock And He's Directing Too

Steve Buscemi Steve Buscemi is returning to 30 Rock - and this time he's pulling double duty.The Boardwalk Empire star will reprise his role as private detective Len Wosniak in the Feb. 16 episode, which he will also direct, Tina Fey tells Entertainment Weekly.Emma Stone, Andy Samberg and Nick Cannon guest-starring on 30 RockLen reappears when Jack (Alec Baldwin) calls him after he gets mugged. "Jack wants Len to help him form a private police force where the salary starts at $5 million, so the police have the same interest in protecting the rich," Fey says.Buscemi earned a guest-acting Emmy nomination in 2008 for his work on the NBC sitcom. He previously directed a 2009 episode of the show, but did not appear in it.30 Rock airs Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC.

First Students Finish Winfrey School

First Released: The month of january 14, 2012 10:41 AM EST Credit: Getty Premium HENLEY-ON-KLIP, Nigeria -- Caption The famous host oprah Winfrey talks in the Cable Show 2011 at McCormick Place, Chicago, June 16, 2011Johnson Mncube takes note of the very first day at The famous host oprah Winfreys boarding school for underprivileged South African women, when 11- and 12-year-olds were crying at the idea to be separated using their families, and that he stated he almost desired to put their own daughter in the pocket and take her home. 5 years later, Mncube was pleased she remained. On Saturday, he gazed happily at his daughter, outfitted stylishly in whitened for that first graduation ceremony at Winfreys school. Bongekile Mncube is headed towards the College of Gauteng to review politics and financial aspects, and vows to 1 day improve the economy of the country. We're so grateful to The famous host oprah, stated her father, a pastor and small businessmen who never visited senior high school. We pray that God helps her to satisfy the vision that they had. Elgars Pomp and circumstance rang out Saturday because the graduates marched in, some unsteady on new high heel shoes. The ceremony saw cheers and tears, including Winfreys own. Winfreys school is definitely an make an effort to wield philanthropy and celebrity against South Africas social and academic crises. High-achieving students from poor families were accepted following a rigorous application by which Winfrey was deeply involved, and she or he has visited regularly to counsel her women. She held a final, late-evening pajama party using the graduates Friday. Winfrey told reporters following the ceremony that her women would still have the ability to depend on her behalf support. A counseling unit have been established to assist the graduates budget time, money and focal points in college. Inside a graduation speech, Winfrey recognized the instructors, managers, social employees, researchers and family people she stated had made certain the scholars been successful. Winfrey stated she's learned it requires a team to aid students, especially individuals who've experienced the poverty and private trauma that comprise a lot of South African lives. Winfrey stated she sees the scholars as her kids, and listed the blows they've experienced: Divorce. Violence. Molestation. Losing one parent. Losing another parent. Sorrow. Sadness. Grief. The very first class to finish the college transformed adversity to determine 72 from the 75 original people graduate. All 72 are headed to colleges in Nigeria and also the U . s . States. Across Nigeria, over fifty percent millions of people from the class of 2011 disappeared prior to the 496,000 remaining required their final exams, and just one fourth of individuals who graduated did good enough to be eligible for a college study, based on government figures. Im one proud momma today, stated Winfrey, who used eyeshadow along with a flowing gown in eco-friendly, a college color. Estimating Maya Angelou, she known as the graduates phenomenal, phenomenal, phenomenal women. Graca Machel, whose husband former South African Leader Nelson Mandela inspired Winfrey to spread out the college, known as around the graduates to alter the planet. Mandela has upon the market from public existence and didn't attend the ceremony. He attended the outlet from the school in 2007. You're leaders, Machel stated in her own graduation speech. But be humble. Listen. Learn. Try, and check out again. Winfrey, one of the richest women on the planet, spent $40 million to construct the college, passing on facilities many South African colleges might envy. But she stated the colleges success was owed to instructors who came early and remained late, social employees like one that traveled 100s of miles (kilometers) to save students who had experienced violence throughout a trip home, and parents who developed discipline despite difficult home lives. Winfrey requested staff and family people to face for applause throughout the ceremony. Winfrey urged all South African schools to boost their anticipation, saying the expertise of her school demonstrated youthful people would respond by doing your best. From the beginning, Winfreys students were advised they ought to set their sights on college. Regardless of the money and intentions, the college has already established trouble. Right after opening, a lady being employed as a dormitory matron was charged with mistreating students. She was found innocent this year. Winfrey, that has spoken to be mistreated growing up and known as the accusations from the matron crushing, and it has stated the tests outcome was profoundly disappointing. Winfrey settled a defamation suit filed in Philadelphia through the schools former headmistress, Nomvuyo Mzamane, who stated Winfrey defamed her in remarks produced in the wake from the scandal. This past year, an infant born to some student in the school was discovered dead. Winfrey stated Saturday there have been occasions when she was frustrated, but which i always held the vision this day was possible. Winfrey noted the gradates were born in 1994, the entire year apartheid ended, right into a nation nevertheless: You're free. You're liberated to rise. You're liberated to soar. Graduate Bongekile Mncube required Winfreys words to heart. The planet should be careful, she stated. Were going to dominate. Copyright 2012 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Thursday TV in Review: Rotten Take advantage of, Finder, Person of great interest and much more

The Finder There is a deadly serious competition brewing this twelve months regarding a peculiar kind of boasting right: That has the worst new comedy of 2012? Could it be ABC, using the clumsy drag farce Arrange It? NBC, using the shrill swill of Are You Currently There, Chelsea? (Fox does not go into the fray until a few days ago using the launch from the minimal animated version of Napoleon Dynamite.) But it is tough to imagine anything surpassing the jaw-shedding tone-deafness of CBS' cringe-com Take advantage of (premiering tonight at 8:31/7:31c), a culture-clash calamity that's about as funny because the Mexican-American War, though hardly as subtle.Take advantage of Schneider, whose Saturday Evening Live heyday appears a pitifully distant memory at the moment, stars because the title schlub, a picky nerd who in some way arrived an attractive Mexican-American bride (the innocuous Claudia Bassols) following a six-week courtship. Now you have to satisfy her family, a sprawling brood of shockingly stereotypical clichés whom Take advantage of in some way regards as aliens - not always from the illegal variety. "I seem like I am in a Julio Iglesias concert," he cracks because the laugh track screams (possibly in horror). "Now we all know what's happening throughout all individuals siestas," he smirks. He's as an Anglo E.T. who's never experienced guacamole or sangria before.Forget things being lost in translation. Take advantage of feels as though it were compiled by individuals who aren't on the first-title basis with comedy. For this type of show to follow along with The Large Bang Theory is much like there is some breach within the time-space-taste continuum.Because the cigar-chomping father-in-law who brags about employing illegals for his chain of vehicle washes, Cheech Marin appears to be dispirited when i felt watching him. Because the disapproving mother-in-law, Diana Maria Riva has got the misfortune to provide an offensive reverse-racist gag by which she dismisses Take advantage of like a "garden enthusiast" - he's really a landscape architect - and gripes about "you people" as well as their leaf blowers. However the worst is restricted to the grandmother, performed by Lupe Ontiveros, who improved treatment when she was go beyond on Desperate Average women. Inside a scene of numbingly crass slapstick, Take advantage of destroys a shrine to her husband, losing his pants when hot candle wax drainage on his legs, after which manhandling that old lady inside a "difficulty the grandmother" moment when she walks in on him.And i adore the manic uncle from over the border who will not leave and hits Take advantage of up for a financial loan within their first encounter? I'll spare you that, and also the Selena joke, and also the Catholic joke, when i quote Rob's wife, summing everything up nicely by proclaiming, "This can be a disaster." (Or were individuals my notes? Tough to say.)We only hope Take advantage of is going to be deported soon towards the TV neverland where time-slot forerunners How To become a Gentleman and $#*! My Father States dwell in perpetual obscurity. Rules of Engagement, where are you currently?Want more TV news? Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!LOST And Located: One factor I loved about Fox's The Finder (9/8c) immediately: the funky switch-up shades its laid-back hero wears because he searches for lost objects, and souls, within the swamps and wilds of Florida. In the end individuals many years of watching Horatio Caine strike a absurd pose because he sheds his specs in the scene of the crime, exactly what a relief to determine someone in the Sunshine Condition who does not take themself so seriously.Finder is filling the Bones period of time until spring - there's one further original episode tonight at 8/7c before hiatus. It is a spin-from sorts, getting introduced Walter Sherman (the appealing Geoff Stults) using a Bones episode last spring. The series is low-answer to a fault but pleasant, not too not the same as Bones in the feeling of off-kilter humanistic humor, though never as graphic. It's much more similar to the united states Network model in the blue-sky setting, though missing the kind of propulsive hook that fuels a lot of that channel's effective storytelling.Sherman is really a less abrasive version from the Bones-style savant, a decorated war veteran who experienced some kind of brain damage within an explosion and it has virtually fallen from the power grid, the greater to pursue his remarkable compulsion to look and retrieve. "His mind finds connections and lines that many individuals don't see," describes Michael Clarke Duncan, his loyal partner and giant-sized bodyguard, who handles his business and keeps him grounded because they hang at their Finishes of the world Bar on the Florida key. Fleshing the cast, with varyingly generic levels of success, really are a gorgeous U.S. Marshal (Mercedes Masöhn) along with a edgy delinquent teen on parole (Maddie Hasson) whose gypsy criminal-family upbringing is both blessing and curse.Whether you discover Finder the way you like will rely on your appetite for cool procedurals that won't beat you into submission. I simply worry that it is mellow character will make it go missing on Thursdays, by which situation Walter may have his work eliminate for him.VERY INTEREST-ING: Newcomer seasons are frequently a piece happening, as well as in a news conference now, CBS Entertainment chief Nina Tassler says the network had advised the producers of human of great interest (9/8c) to maneuver up their intends to integrate Detective Carter (Taraji P. Henson) in to the shadow realm of vigilante crime-corks Finch and Reese (Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel), feeling her character have been too marginalized for too lengthy. A great call, and tonight's excellent episode is yet another step for the reason that direction, as Carter comes face-to-face with Finch and asks the kazillion-dollar question: "Who the hell are you currently and what is happening here?" He does not a lot answer her as steer her toward a situation so she will get a concept of the planet they reside in. (We are also treated to more flashbacks to 2005, when "The EquipmentInch was still being in the beta phase.)The relaxation from the episode is really a suspenseful high-tech homage to Rear Window, by having an hurt Reese restlessly limited to some motorized wheel chair, watching the citizens of a condominium via monitors within this week's bet on place-the-perp/victim while Finch does the majority of the legwork. Difficult with this limp, however, you most likely will not be amazed to understand that Reese wields a mighty crutch when needed. All you are able request of the show throughout its newbie is to sort out its kinks on the way, and it is satisfying to determine something this glorious improve as the story goes.Much more products of great interest on tonight's selection:NBC's refurbished Thursday comedy selection is really a situation from the peacock giveth (the return of 30 Rock, at 8/7c, yay!) and taketh away (Community on temporary hiatus, boo!) ... On 30 Rock, the antics include Jenna taking pleasure in her infamy like a judge on America's Kidz Got Singing - can not be worse than America's Got Talent, right? - while Kenneth stays the place to find await the Rapture (can not be worse than America's Got Talent, right?). ... Or More Through The Night moves to the new period of time (9:30/8:30c) having a postponed New Year's Eve episode.HBO's documentary unit presents Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (9/8c), the final outcome of the amazing trilogy chronicling the legal ordeal of three males whose conviction in early 1990's of multiple child killings in Arkansas has lengthy been contested. These were freed lately, only after entering a plea by which they asserted their innocence while pleading guilty, selecting freedom over official exoneration inside a twisted story of justice deferred.Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

'Joyful Noise' preems in the Chinese

Broderick Manley and Michael G. Nathanson Jeremy Jordan, Keke Palmer and Dexter DardenTodd Graff shares fun with Full Latifah. Dolly Parton and DeQuina Moore Monday night's preem of Warner Bros.' "Pleased Noise" in the Chinese transported a powerful feeling of kismet for author-director Todd Graff."I was raised in NY City around choirs because my mother would be a choirmaster and my father would be a music performer," he stated in the afterparty at home of Blues. "And So I had the thought of a gospel choir movie for around fifteen years.Inch2 yrs ago, he'd exercised one half-hour pitch he started taking out and about before landing it with Alcon's Broderick Manley -- whose mother is within a gospel choir in Georgia. "We made the decision that we'd get it done but only when we're able to get Full Latifah and Dolly Parton because the leads," Manley remembered.Graff was particularly pleased that Sly Stone permitted him to make use of "I wish to Get You Greater" for that film's climactic scene -- with one small change."It's challenging Sly to license his tunes," Graff stated. "He permitted us to alter it therefore it is now 'He really wants to get you greater.' "

Will Golden Globes pave method for Oscar?

Host Ough Gervais.True Grit was overlooked through the Globes, but got 10 Oscar noms. 'Winter's Bone'When there's little consensus throughout honours season, every minor announcement appears major. With Oscar nomination ballots due at PricewaterhouseCoopers on Friday, all eyes is going to be around the outcomes of Sunday's Golden Globes. But regardless of the closeness of these two dates, the space between your Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.'s honors and also the Oscars is wide, and it has become even wider within the last couple of years.Because the Oscarcast moved from March to Feb in 2004, the Globes have grown to be a lesser precursor to Oscar and much more of the complementary event.For the best picture, the Globes -- despite two groups -- have arranged using the Academy awards just two times within the last decade, when "The almighty from the Rings: The Return from the King" taken virtually every award Hollywood was prepared to give for 2003 and "Slumdog Uniform" required home multiple Academy awards in 2008.The disparity is nice news for "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy," "Very Noisy and extremely Close," "The Tree of Existence" along with other films ignore within the Globe nominations. The space holds true in other groups too. The Globes were much more of a precise bellwether once the Oscar ceremony happened in March and also the balloting period was longer, giving Oscar voters more impetus to look at most of the Globes those who win that they're going to not have access to seen.Some overlap between Globes and Oscar nominees is inevitable, specially when the HFPA can tap 10-14 films between your drama and musical/comedy groups, but there remains a definite disconnect which makes the Globes a tenuous indicator. The perceived snubs for many photos don't mean honours campaigners rein within their efforts after Globe bulletins. Contrary, they target Oscar voters more intensely up to polls close.For instance, when "The King's Speech" and "The Social Networking" were ruling the conversation this past year, the Coen brothers' "True Grit" did not obtain a single Globe nomination. However it continued to gather 10 Oscar noms, such as the exclusive picture and director. "Biutiful" star Javier Bardem did not obtain a nom from SAG or even the Globes, and that he gained an online insurance lead actor Oscar nom. "A Later DateInch was an Oscar original script nominee but did not have any Globes attention. Two best picture nominees, "Winter's Bone" and "127 Hrs," gained Globe noms for his or her leads but nothing for that pictures or company directors. "Winter's Bone" received just one Globe nom for star Jennifer Lawrence but ultimately tallied up four Oscar noms, including best picture. And Oscar nominee "127 Hrs" did not get Globe recognition within the picture category, although it ended up getting nommed for score, script and actor. Returning another year, the contrast is much more stark since the Academy had five slots for the best picture. Not really a single film that gained a Globe nom within the musical/comedy picture category -- "(500) Times of Summer time," champion "The Hangover," "It's Complicated," "Julie & Julia" and "Nine" -- continued to obtain a best picture nom in the Academy. Of individuals films, only "Julie & Julia" and "Nine" got any Oscar noms. Actually, the Academy rounded out its ten best picture nominees with "The Blind Side," "District 9," "InstructionInch and "A Significant Guy," none which gained picture Globe noms, though a couple of received acting noms.In 2008, one of the five musical/comedy Globe nominees, there have been only three Oscar nominations -- not just one for picture.However, within the animation race, the Globes and Oscar options fall into line nicely. Both groups have selected exactly the same film within the last 4 years, diverging only within the newbie the HFPA added an animated category, 2006. The HFPA chose "Cars," and also the Academy feted "Happy Ft." Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Free NY Screening of 'The Artist'

You and a guest to a free screening of "The Artist" in NY on Thursday, January 5. "The Artist" stars Jean Dujardin, Brnice Bejo, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller, Malcolm MacDowell, Missi Pyle, and John Goodman. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with James Cromwell.Hollywood 1927. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a silent movie superstar. The advent of the talkies will sound the death knell for his career and see him fall into oblivion. For young extra Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), it seems the sky's the limit - major movie stardom awaits. "The Artist" tells the story of their interlinked destinies.The screening will be at 7:30 p.m. at the DGA Theater, 110 W. 57th Street, NY, NY 10019. RSVP at TheArtistRSVPNY@gmail.com. Please arrive at least 30 minutes early. Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. RSVPs do not guarantee seating. Free parking is available.