Marcia Gay Harden to Guest-Star on Bent

Marcia Gay Harden Marcia Gay Harden has landed a guest spot on the midseason NBC comedy Bent, TVLine.com reports.Harden will star as the ex-wife of Jeffrey Tambor's character. Her return to town will reignite a flame between the former couple.Exclusive: Bent adds Brother & Sisters, Curb Your Enthusiasm alumsThe sitcom, which has yet to receive a premiere date, follows Alex (Amanda Peet), a high-strung single mother who hires a laid-back womanizing construction worker, Pete (David Walton), to remodel her home. The romantic comedy comes from Scrubs writer Tad Quill.Recent TV credits for the 52-year-old Harden, who won a Supporting Actress Oscar for 2000's Pollack, include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Royal Pains.

Paramount Responds to Massive Fraud Lawsuit, Claims Finance Partner 'Ignores the True Facts'

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images "I kind of feel like I should apologize to everyone we're nominated with," says Seth Rogen, nommed for a Spirit Award on Nov. 29 as producer of the cancer comedy 50/50, which also nabbed a supporting nom for Anjelica Huston and best first screenplay nom for Will Reiser.our editor recommends'The Artist,' 'Take Shelter' Dominate Indie Spirit Award Nominations'50/50's' Seth Rogen Reveals 'Most Challenging' Part of Filming (Video)Watch Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in '50/50' Trailer PHOTOS: Seth Rogen Unlikely Superhero "Alexander Payne never deserved to be uttered in the same breath with us. 50/50 really came from the same mindset and creative attitude as Superbad and Pineapple Express," Rogen tells The Hollywood Reporter. All three films were comic riffs on the writers' real lives. "I feel like I'm trespassing in the indie world and they seem to have accepted it," he says. "I hope people don't get mad at me for bringing my studio past into their world." STORY: What Moviegoers are Saying about '50/50' "I didn't even know the nominations were announced this morning," says Reiser. "But I'm pitching an animated movie next week and the nomination will benefit that. It's a project I've been waiting to pitch for six years, so I'm excited I'm in a place careerwise where I can pitch it." Told that now he has to get in touch with his inner Harvey Weinstein and promote the film, Rogen says, "That's the scariest thing anyone's ever said to me. I've had enough experiences with the outer Harvey." But Weinstein must be in a good mood because The Artist, which many thought was ineligible for most Spirit Awards because its director is French, nonetheless got five noms, right? "Yeah, no shit!" says Rogen. Rogen and Reiser are happily working on their next with 50/50 director Jonathan Levine, Jamaica, inspired by the time 14-year-old Reiser lost his Alzheimer's-afflicted grandma on a Jamaican vacation. "I don't know of another Alzheimer's comedy," says Reiser. "It'll be a first." PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Seth Rogen: Unlikely Superhero Seth Rogen 50/50 Spirit Awards 2012

25 Things You Didn't Know About 'Network'

All together now: "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" That's the famous catchphrase uttered by "mad prophet of the airwaves" Howard Beale in 'Network,' a movie that, in the 35 years since its release (on November 27, 1976), has come to seem less and less like satire and more like a blueprint. There's nothing too far-fetched anymore in screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky's vision of a TV industry where newscasting has become indistinguishable from entertainment, where programmers will try pretty much anything for ratings, where reality TV stars will try pretty much anything to grab their 15 minutes of fame, and where the goals of global corporatism override the best interests of the state and the individual. Of course, 'Network's critique applies to the film industry as well; it's hard to imagine today a Hollywood studio that would greenlight a comedy that so brazenly bites the bites the hand that feeds it. Then again, in the age of Occupy Wall Street, there might be some resonance in a movie where citizens across the nation start chanting Beale's bleat. Read on to learn about the horrifying on-air suicide that inspired the legendary movie, the behind-the-scenes buzz on its unprecedented Oscar victories, and its ties to contemporary stars Heath Ledger, Tim Robbins, and George Clooney. 1. The germ of the idea for 'Network' came from the real-life on-air suicide of Sarasota, Fla. TV reporter Christine Chubbuck, who killed herself during a live newscast on July 15, 1974. In a Howard Beale-worthy pronouncement, Chubbuck had said, "In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts, and in living color, you are going to see another first: attempted suicide," then shot herself behind the right ear. That same month, Paddy Chayefsky began writing 'Network.' 2. Chayefsky and director Sidney Lumet were well-poised to deliver a warts-and-all portrayal of the TV industry. Both had gotten their big career breaks during the golden age of television in the 1950s, when live dramas were common network fare. Chayefsky won the first of his three screenwriting Oscars for 1955's 'Marty,' based on his own 1953 TV drama script. Lumet's legendary directing career, which spanned nearly 60 years, also began at the dawn of TV and included one of the first news/entertainment hybrids, the CBS series 'You Are There,' in which historical events were re-enacted as Walter Cronkite pretended to report on them. Lumet broke into movies with '12 Angry Men' (1957), which, like 'Marty,' was a remake of a play written for TV. 3. Like Lumet, Chayefsky's real name was Sidney. "Paddy" was a nickname that the Jewish Chayefsky had picked up during his Army service in World War II, when he claimed to be half-Irish in order to request permission to attend Mass and get out of KP duty. 4. MGM and United Artists agreed to finance and distribute 'Network' in the wake of Chayefsky's lawsuit against the latter over royalties from his previous movie, 1971 medical satire 'The Hospital,' the source of his second screenwriting Oscar. 5. Finding an actor authoritative enough and unhinged enough to play Howard Beale was tricky. Henry Fonda had the gravitas, but he reportedly rejected the role as "too hysterical." The filmmakers finally found their Beale in the fearless Peter Finch. 'Network' - "I'm as Mad as Hell" Speech 6. As Max Schumacher, the TV exec who is the film's flawed moral center, the filmmakers had to decide between durable leading men Glenn Ford and William Holden. Holden's recent success in 'The Towering Inferno,' as the mogul behind the doomed skyscraper, tipped the scales in his favor. 7. For Diana Christensen, the ambitious, charismatic, soulless programmer, the studio wanted Jane Fonda, but Chayefsky vetoed her because he disagreed with her politics. Other actresses on the wish list included Candice Bergen, Jill Clayburgh, Diane Keaton, and Marsha Mason. Faye Dunaway finally agreed to take the role, aware of warnings from Chayefsky and Lumet that she'd be allowed to impart no vulnerability to the character. Dunaway's advisers, including her then-husband, J. Geils Band frontman Peter Wolf, feared she would get typecast as cold and heartless women if she took the role. That didn't happen, though she did get typecast a few years later after her notorious portrayal of Joan Crawford in 'Mommie Dearest,' and she joked that she wished the naysayers had been around to talk her out of that one. 8. To play Louise, the wife Max cheats on when he has an affair with Diana, the filmmakers cast Beatrice Straight. The actress came from an old-money East Coast family (she was a cousin of Gloria Vanderbilt), and she'd won a Tony in 1953 for playing Elizabeth Proctor in Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible,' a betrayed-but-defiant wife role not too different from Louise Schumacher. Before her casting in the movie, she was probably best known for lending her aristocratic bearing to the role of Lynda Carter's regal mother on TV's 'Wonder Woman.' 9. Ned Beatty agreed to take on the small but key role as corporate titan Arthur Jensen, whose lecture to Beale about the cosmic power of global corporations is one of the film's funniest and scariest sequences. Years later, Beatty would remark that actors should never turn down a job, citing his experience here. "I worked a day on 'Network' and got an Oscar nomination for it," he reportedly said. 10. For research, Dunaway met with NBC daytime programming vice president Lin Bolen to find out about being a woman in the mostly male world of the TV executive suite. In the process, she picked up many of Bolen's mannerisms and speech rhythms. Bolen said she thought the performance was accurate as far as capturing her idiosyncrasies but was appalled by the character's amorality. 11. An in-joke: Max and Diana refer to their fling as "a many-splendored thing." Holden, of course, had been the star of 1955's romantic drama 'Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing.' 12. Diana spends much of the film deciding Howard's fate, and yet she's so detached from the notion of Howard as a flesh-and-blood person that there's no scene in the film where Dunaway actually speaks to Finch. 13. Throughout all of Howard's different broadcasts, he appears to be addressing the same studio audience. Look for a man with long hair and a beard who's wearing a black vest; he appears at every taping. 14. By the time 'Network' was made, Lumet's former 'You Are There' host Walter Cronkite had become the most trusted news anchor in America. His tie to the film's satire of the news business: his daughter Kathy plays the kidnapped, Patty Hearst-like heiress. 15. Long before his appearances in 'The Terminator' and 'Aliens,' Lance Henriksen showed up in 'Network' in a small, uncredited role as a network attorney. 16. It's long been claimed that one of the assassins at the end of the movie is Tim Robbins, making his film debut. The uncredited actor certainly resembles the future 'Bull Durham' star, but Robbins, who was 17 when 'Network' was made, has asserted that he's not in the film. 17. Upon its release in November 1976, 'Network' was an instant hit with audiences as well as critics. Made for a reported $3.8 million, it grossed $23.7 million in North America. 18. TV journalists were appalled by the way 'Network' portrayed their field and worried that it would harm their image. One national news anchor insisted that there would never be "that kind of showbiz approach to the news because we will never let it happen." The person who said that? Barbara Walters. 19. A heart ailment was taking its toll on Finch during filming; it was the reason he could barely complete two takes of the "I'm mad as hell" speech. He lived long enough to see the completed film and to make the rounds promoting it. He appeared on 'The Tonight Show' the night before he died of a heart attack, in the lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel, on January 14, 1977. He was 60 years old. 20. 'Network' was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Lead and Supporting performances for five of its actors (Holden, Dunaway, Finch, Beatty, and Straight). It lost Best Picture to 'Rocky,' but it did win four prizes, for Chayefsky, Dunaway, Finch, and Straight. It was the first film since 1951's 'A Streetcar Named Desire' to win three of the four available acting trophies, and the last movie to do so to this day. 21. Finch wasn't the first actor to be nominated for an Academy Award after his death, but he was the first to win. He was also the first Australian to win Best Actor. At the time, many Oscar pundits saw his victory as a sympathy prize, not just for having died, but for having lost the award in 1971 to Gene Hackman. Hackman had done a terrific job playing macho cop Popeye Doyle in 'The French Connection,' but Finch had done groundbreaking work as a gay doctor who participated in mainstream cinema's first man-on-man kiss in 'Sunday, Bloody Sunday.' Many felt at the time that the snub was due to Hollywood homophobia -- a charge that would echo 34 years later when fellow Aussie Heath Ledger failed to win the prize for 'Brokeback Mountain.' Ledger, too, would win a consolation prize Oscar for 'The Dark Knight' three years later -- and he would be the first performer since Finch to win it after his own death. 22. Straight was on screen for only five minutes and 40 seconds, making hers the shortest performance ever to win an Oscar. (Judi Dench came close with her victory for 'Shakespeare in Love' 22 years later, for a role that lasts about eight minutes.) 23. With his 'Network' win, Chayefsky became only screenwriter to have won three Oscars for scripts he wrote by himself; other threepeaters Francis Ford Coppola, Charles Brackett, and Billy Wilder all won theirs in collaboration with other writers. 24. After winning her Oscar at age 62, Straight continued to be active in movies and TV for another 15 years; she died in 2001. Aside from 'Network,' she's best remembered today for her role as the ghost-hunting scientist in 1982's 'Poltergeist.' Dunaway's career, of course, has never gotten over the debacle that was 'Mommie Dearest,' though some fans think the 1981 film is her best work. Beatty has enjoyed a long career as a character actor. So has Robert Duvall, the only principal cast member who didn't get an Oscar nod for 'Network,' who finally did win one for 1983's 'Tender Mercies' and has remained in demand for 40 years. Chayefsky completed one more movie, 1980 sci-fi drama 'Altered States,' before he died of cancer in 1981. Holden continued to play the leading man in such movies as 'Damien: Omen II' and 'S.O.B.' before dying of injuries sustained in a fall at his home in 1981. Lumet remained a busy director of acclaimed films ('Prince of the City,' 'The Verdict,' 'Running on Empty,' 'Q&A,' 'Before the Devil Knows You're Dead') into his 80s but never won a competitive Oscar, though he did get an honorary Academy Award in 2005. He died in April 2011. 25. In 2005, 'Network' almost came back to the very medium it so mercilessly satirized, as a made-for-TV movie that would have starred George Clooney (presumably in Holden's role). In a nod to Chayefsky and Lumet's roots, it would have been done as a live drama. The idea was the brainchild of CBS network chief Les Moonves, who was apparently not insulted by the story's scathing indictment of his own industry. After all, what had once seemed prophetic or absurd was now just business as usual. [Photos: MGM/United Artists] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook Follow Gary Susman on Twitter: @garysusman

Paramount CEO Brad Grey Buys $15.5 Million Condo in New York's Carlyle Hotel (Exclusive)

Lionsgate"The Hunger Games" Lionsgate, the studio behind the upcoming film version ofThe Hunger Games, has been sued for $10 million by a beauty products company that claims it isbeing jerked around overa deal to create special nail polish in connection with the movie's March release.our editor recommends'Hunger Games' Nail Polish Debuting in 2012'Hunger Games' Trailer Sparks Strong Reaction From Fans of the Book Series'The Hunger Games' Trailer: 5 Instant Observations While Watching Los Angeles-based American International Industries, which says it is the country's largest privately-held manufacturerof personal care and beauty products,filed a lawsuit Wednesday in LA Superior Court. The companyclaims that it closed a deal in late October to create a Hunger Games-branded version of its "China Glaze"nail polish, as well as contribute to the promotional campaignfor the adaptation of the popular Suzanne Collins novelthat Lionsgate is hoping will be a mega-blockbuster movie series similar to Twilight. But shortly after Lionsgate executives signed the contract, according to the complaint, the studio made statements to the press that the deal was "not happening," and askedAmerican to say that the parties "were merely 'discussing' a 'possible' promotional deal." American says it refused to lie, prompting a Lionsgate attorney to send an email on Nov. 17 saying that the studiowas "terminating" the contract. "However, the contract does not permitLionsgate to unilaterally terminate,"argues the complaint, a copy of which was obtained by THR. "Lionsgate attempted to justify its actions by claiming that American had supposedly 'leaked' information about the contract to the press. The claim was and is completely untrue--American did not 'leak' any information, and so informed Lionsgate immediately." American says it purchased millions of dollars in nail polish materials and expended substantial time and labor in reliance on the fully-executed contract, and it wants $10 million in damages. We've reached out to Lionsgate for comment and will update with a response. Thesuit, filed by Charles Harder and Michelle Goodman of LA's WolfRifkin Shapiro Schulman & Rabkin, alleges one cause of action for breach of contract. Lionsgate declined to comment on the suit. Email: Matthew.Belloni@thr.com Twitter: @THRMattBelloni PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'Hunger Games' First Look: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson Hunger Games

Colin Firth on 'Oldboy': 'I Have Been Approached'

On Saturday, Moviefone sat down for a one-on-one interview with reigning Best Actor winner Colin Firth. Firth is promoting his new British spy thriller, 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,' but we asked him about the recent rumors that he's been approached to co-star in Spike Lee's remake of the South Korean film, 'Oldboy.' According to reports, Firth would play the villain, Adrian, opposite Josh Brolin. Firth was fairly mum on the subject, but did confirm that he's been approached and cryptically relayed that discussions are still ongoing. There is a report that you've been approached to star in Spike Lee's 'Oldboy' remake. Is this true? They are making a film. And, yeah, I have been approached about it. Is it confirmed? No. So you're talking? I've just... heard about it. [Smiles] You know. Check back before the Dec. 9 release of 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' for Moviefone's full discussion with Colin Firth. [Photo: Focus] You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Pros hope oldies could spin gold

Reissues, a thriving side in the major labels' business through the Compact disk era, get into eclipse while using waning in the format, but a completely new number of catalog imprint run by veteran professionals -- most of them former chieftains at major catalog divisions -- is by using excitement acquiring the slack. New labels like Real Gone, Omnivore Tracks and Rock Beat Records, run through the type of former Collectors' Choice Music professional Gordon Anderson, former Rhino Entertainment professionals Cheryl Pawelski and Arny Schorr, and ex-Warner/Chappell Music senior V . p . Kaira Rosenberger, are concentrating on fanatics while using music they was elevated on -- and selling it on vinyl additionally to Compact disk -- whilst the moves to newer distribution models. "Not only did industry diminish as well as the retail space (for reissues) diminish, nevertheless the employees reduced," notes Pawelski, former Rhino V . p . from the&R. "There's forget about dedication, as it were, to running using the vaults and finding stuff that might be offered." All the new reissue lines undergo conventional retail distribution channels -- Real Experienced The brand new the new sony-distributed Razor & Tie, Rock Beat through E1 Entertainment, Omnivore through EMI. Their operators know they are taking a slice from the reduced market, in addition to their sales objectives are modest. "Simply how much will we move? I know that we'll move, throughout the time of the overall game game titles, 3,000 to 5,000 (copies)," states Anderson. States Schorr, "It might be 750 models, it might be 2,000 models. You will see things like Moving Paths where the potential will there be that individuals sell substantially additionally to that particular. But we're being very careful in what we release." Typically, the completely new-look reissue companies launched by doing what comes naturally. Real Gone, produced by Anderson (who left Collectors' Choice within the finish of 2010, right after parent company Infinity Resource was agreed to wholesaler / retailer / store Super D) and Gabby Castellana (whose own reissue-oriented distributorship Hep Cat Records appeared to become possessed by Infinity), is packaging collections of '60s singles by pop entertainers Joanie Sommers, Shelby Flint and Connie Stevens. "At Collectors' Choice, we found there's an authentic industry for singles collections of early-'60s and mid-'60s functions," Anderson states. "People will be the versions that people heard round the radio when they were teens, and people will be the versions that people grown-up teens that are now fanatics or fans desire to hear." Real Gone first demonstrated its first LPs this month: re-releases of two sets with the '60s garage band ? as well as the Mysterians. Anderson states the chance section of reissue candidates is greatly elevated while using market growth and development of vinyl, and adds the particular Gone will probably be reissuing around one 4th of the collections because format. Real Gone appeared to gladly obtain the "Dick's Picks" quantity of approved Grateful Dead live bootlegs. Because the Dead have a unique arrangement with Rhino, the Warner Music catalog division licensed the overall game game titles for the start-up. "Rhino really wants to give consideration to high-visibility and greater-ticket game game titles," Anderson notes. "They have bigger sea food to fry while using Dead" -- meaning projects that generate greater revenues in comparison to bootleg concert compilations. Meanwhile, consistent with its Rhino roots, Rock Beat -- produced by former Rhino homevideo professional Schorr and Richard Foos, Rhino co-founder and Boss of Shout! Factory (with ex-Rhino A&R professional James Austin controlling the release schedule) -- is certainly going after an eclectic release schedule. Its options have placed vintage blues and R&B (T-Bone Master, Ove & Tina Turner), roots music (the Blasters, Large Sandy), country (Rodney Crowell, Travis Tritt, Buck Owens) and pop (Billy Vera, Jackie DeShannon). You will discover a naughty '50s "party record" by Faye Richmonde. "We're being very careful in what we release," Schorr keeps. We're trying to complete as much enhanced releases after we can." As one example of the 2nd type of product, he cites the label's re-relieve San Francisco Bay Area psychedelic band Quicksilver Messenger Service's self-titled 1968 debut, augmented with nine additional tracks. Omnivore, too, has folded out an assorted release schedule. The label, produced by Pawelski, Rosenberger and artist Greg Allen, first demonstrated on Record Store Day this year getting a restricted-edition LP version of cult rock-band Large Star's much-valued third album, and contains rare releases like Leon Russell's "Live in Japan" as well as the Motels' "Apocalypso" on tap. "It absolutely was never our intent to become label that merely repurposes material," Pawelski states. "I'm thinking about material with a story which is not available. The Leon Russell (album) -- half of it absolutely was very obscure, as well as the partner from it wasn't available. Hotels record was totally shelved since 1981. Stuff that we launched have to experience a great story." Of all the new imprints, Omnivore remains the primary someone to embrace vinyl most readily. "The concept dictates the configuration," Pawelski states. It's launched colored-vinyl versions in the Hotels album and funk compilations by Darondo as well as the A Few Things in one within the month of the month of january, it'll offer first-time LP releases of 1990's rock-pop act Jellyfish's two albums. For Rock Beat, Schorr states vinyl releases is going to be done selectively. Up to now the business has launched LP versions of rap game game titles by Ice Cube and Ice-T, and expects to to create two-LP rendering in the rare and-bootlegged album with the Moving Paths, the '60s Texas band fronted by ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. Adds Omnivore's Pawelski: "Most of the music I'm considering may possibly not have that broad a business any more. And i'm Confident with that. But it's gotta appear sensible. Once we sell 5,000 to 10,000 models on something, this can be a great day. This can be a hit!" n Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

OWN ready for 'Next Chapter'

Oprah Winfrey's OWN cable will mark its one-year anniversary on Jan. 1 with the debut of "Oprah's Next Chapter." Series will feature Winfrey's visits with notables such as Sean Penn, George Lucas and Paula Deen. First seg will revolve around Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler at his home in New Hampshire. The series' regular time slot will be Sunday at 9 p.m. Contact Sam Thielman at sam.thielman@variety.com

'Arrested Development' to return on Netflix

'Arrested Development'Netflix is licensing new episodes of the TV series "Arrested Development" from 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television. The sides struck a deal with the streaming service that will launch new episodes of the Emmy-winning comedy in early 2013, the studio confirmed. The prospect of "Development" returning in both TV and film forms was raised last month when the show's creator, Mitch Hurwitz, announced in an appearance at the NYer Festival that he was intent on reuniting the series' original actors, including Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, for another go-round. "Arrested" had a critically acclaimed run on Fox from 2003-2006, but the network canceled the series given its ratings were always modest at best. All of the series regulars have expressed interest in returning and are expected back, though no deals have been done. How that will work will be interesting given many of them are maintaing busy careers. "Arrested" player Arnett is currently on the NBC series "Up All Night" and another alum, Portia de Rossi, is attached to a high-profile project in development at the Peacock. Where this leaves the proposed "Arrested" feature film isn't clear. While one source familiar with the project said it is currently in development at Fox Searchlight, another source at the studio denied it was an active project. Hurwitz's vision of the film was to schedule it after the series run in order to drive interest at the box office, but at the very least it seems that the film and TV aren't attached to each other. Hurwitz was executive producer of "Arrested" with Imagine principals Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. The producing pair issued a statement: "Bringing a series back from cancellation almost never happens, but then, 'Arrested' always was about as unconventional as they get, so it seems totally appropriate that this show that broke the mold is smashing it to pieces once again." That Netflix has emerged the winner of a bidding war that reportedly included pay-TV player Showtime will be seen as a real coup for the service, which already gave Hollywood notice in March that it was in the original programming business in a big way when it ordered a 22-episode adaptation of the BBC drama "House of Cards" set to premiere next year. Analysts estimated "Cards," which comes with Kevin Spacey attached to star and David Fincher to executive produce, cost Netflix $100 million to get the rights from Media Rights Capital. Financial terms of the "Arrested" deal are not known but could be substantial given the caliber of talent involved. While Netflix's market capitalization was sent reeling in recent months after ill-advised decisions regarding its pricing, the need for original programming is all the greater as content companies have held the line at giving the service TV shows that are in-season. Since Netflix started licensing original series, the service has been seen as a potential savior for ill-fated productions that get shuttered over the objections of a cult following too narrow to sustain them. But rescuing a show that comes with a built-in audience--albeit one too small to survive on TV--may be a safer strategy than creating a new property out of whole cloth. The hedge on "Cards" is that its narrative has already gotten a test run in the U.K. but with different talent on both sides of the camera. Ted Sarandos, chief content officer at Netflix said of the deal, "'Arrested Development is one of the finest American comedies in TV history and its return through Netflix is a perfect example of how we are working closely with studios and networks to provide consumers with entertainment they love,'" said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. The return of "Development" would be a stunner given it is rare that a series comes back after a protracted absence, though 20th and Fox have seen precedent here: Animated series "Family Guy" was canceled in 2001 only to be revived three years later after the series fared well on DVD and in syndication. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Gives Birth to Little Girl

Aishwarya Rai Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is really a mother.Her husband, actor Abhishek Bachchan, required to Twitter on Wednesday to verify this news.Browse the relaxation of present day news"It Is A GIRL!!!!!!" Bachchan tweeted. "Thanks all for the hopes and good wishes. Both Aishwarya and also the baby do great and a little necessary relaxation."It is the first child for Rai, the 38-year-old Bollywood celebrity and former Miss World. She and Bachchan married in 2007.

CBS News Mocked for Overblowing Mike McQueary Interview

Chris Gardner/Getty Images "CBS Punks Viewers With McQueary Clip" ... "Mike McQueary CBS Interview: Armen Keteyian Hits Hard for 4 Seconds" ... "Fail: Mike McQueary's Much Hyped Interview On CBS" .. Those are some of the headlines describing CBS News' much publicized "get" with Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary.our editor recommendsMajor Miscalculation for Pedophile Suspect to Attempt TV Spin on 'Rock Center' (Opinion)'Rock Center' EP: Bob Costas' Jerry Sandusky Interview Was 'Striking'Bob Costas Explains How He Landed 'Very Strange' Sandusky Interview (Video)Ex-Penn State Coach Jerry Sandusky Breaks Silence on Sex Scandal to NBC's Bob Costas: 'I Shouldn't Have Showered With Those Kids' (Video)Penn State Scandal: Advertisers Bail on ESPN BroadcastSNL: Even Satan Offended by Penn State Scandal (VIDEO) OPINION: Major Miscalculation for Pedophile Suspect to Attempt TV Spin on 'Rock Center' The network released a transcript of Armen Keteyian's interview with McQueary early Tuesday, and it turns out that was pretty much the all that aired on the CBS Evening News With Scott Pelley later that evening: Armen Keteyian: "Describe your emotions right now." Mike McQueary: "All over the place, just kind of shaken." Keteyian: "Crazy?" McQueary: "Crazy." Keteyian: "You said like what, Mike?" McQueary: "Like a snow globe." VIDEO: How Penn St. Protesters Targeted the Media CBS News never said there was more to the interview, but the 25-second snippet was roundly mocked. The Bleacher Report's Ryan Rudnansky says it best: "Excuse me...did CBS Evening News actually schedule an interview with McQueary? Did he even know about it? Seems to me like they almost ran up to him and caught him unawares and decided to call it an interview. "Let me get this straight. After [Bob] Costas grilled former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky for allegedly sexually abusing eight young boys in a period of 15 years on Monday, all we know about McQueary, who allegedly saw Sandusky raping a 10-year-old boy in one of Penn State's locker room showers, is that his emotions are 'all over the place' ... 'like a snow globe.' " VIDEO: Bob Costas Explains How He Landed 'Very Strange' Interview With Jerry Sandusky Aside from the CBS interview, the other McQueary development Tuesday was that he launched an email defense for himself, arguing that he told police he saw defensive coach Sandusky raping a child in the school's locker room showers in 2002. McQueary was placed on paid administrative leave last week following the firing of head coach Joe Paterno and school president Graham Spanier for their failure to alert authorities after being informed of alleged instances of sexual assault being committed by Sandusky. McQueary testified before a grand jury in the investigation that eventually led to 40 sexual-abuse charges being filed against Sandusky. In his testimony, McQueary said that he saw Sandusky sodomizing a boy in the shower in 2002, and notified Paterno. In an email to friends obtained by NBC and other media outlets, McQueary wrote that he "is getting hammered for handling this the right way or what I thought at the time was right" but that he "did have discussions with police and with the official at the university in charge of police" following the alleged incident. "I had to make tough impacting quick decisions," McQueary wrote. McQueary, a former Penn St. quarterback, also said, "I did the right thing. You guys know me. The truth is not out there fully. I didn't just turn and run. I made sure it stopped." Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett has said that McQueary should have done more to make sure the allegations were reported at higher levels and failed his "moral obligation" to help the boy. President Barack Obama also took a not so subtle swipe at McQueary, "Where we see something that's wrong we've got to make sure we step up."

Box Office Preview: George Clooney's 'The Descendants' Lands in Theaters Wednesday

We are unsafe from Twilight mania -- not necessarily George Clooney.our editor recommends'The Descendants': Alexander Payne Goes Behind the curtain of George Clooney PicGeorge Clooney Discloses About Stacy Keilbler, Box Office and Whoopee CushionsGeorge Clooney's Problem (Do Not Possess A Pity Party for Him!)Yahoo Professional Touts Success of 'Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning - Part 1' Premiere Coverage'Twilight: Breaking Beginning Part I': Billy Burke On Bella's Silver Screen Transformation, Director Bill Condon and Slapping Thor On Wednesday, Alexander Payne's new Clooney movie,The Descendants, opens in five theaters in NY and La in the bid to spark buzz and supply it a couple-day lead inside the Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning -- Part 1. PHOTOS: George Clooney's Career in Pictures Summit Entertainment's Breaking Beginning opens country wide Friday in thousands of theaters undertaking huge evening time play Thursday. Because the Twilight franchise can be a parent-daughter draw, Descendants may need to deal with the threequel for for older women. Still, Fox Searchlight's considerably acclaimed Descendants --already an honours darling -- features a strong shot at nabbing one of the top debuts of year for just about any limited release. On Friday, the film develops into yet another 11 areas and 29 theaters. PHOTOS: 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning -- Part 1' Black Premiere Premiere Arrivals Breaking Beginning is poised to become box office behemoth, with hundreds of evening time shows already offered out. Conservative estimations show the film opening to $110 million to $125 million within the domestic box office, although final monitoring remains coming. couple of years ago, The Twilight Saga: New Moon opened up on just one weekend to $142.8 million. A year ago, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse made $157.6 000 0000 within the first five days when debuting June 30, a Wednesday. A couple of days ago marks the condition oncoming of Thanksgiving box office. Also opening Friday is Warner Bros.' family toon Happy Foot Two. PHOTOS: 'Happy Foot Two' Blue Carpet Premiere Arrivals On November. 23, several other family films open heading to the extended holiday weekend, furthermore to niche honours game game titles like the Artist, My Week With Marilyn together with a Dangerous Method. Desendants could make a unique major push November. 23 since it develops into greater than 400 theaters November. 23. Related Subjects George Clooney Box Office Alexander Payne The Descendants

Steven Spielberg Is One Step Closer To Directing Epic Moses Film

Now that Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin has made its world premiere and his Christmas drama War Horse is already garnering Oscar buzz, the director is free to plan his next epic directorial project. According to Deadline, the filmmaker is considering getting biblical with Warner Bros. for Gods and Kings, a gargantuan film that will chronicle Moses’s entire life. Are you interested in Spielberg’s take on the Old Testament? The project, based on a sweeping script from Michael Green (who created Spielberg’s upcoming television series The River) and Stuart Hazeldine (Paradise Lost), will encompass the biblical figure’s life, chronicling the Jews’ emancipation from Egypt, the Burning Bush and the Ten Commandments. While Spielberg has reportedly not had any formal meetings with Warner Bros., he is interested in overseeing Gods and Kings. Of course, with a filmmaker as busy as Spielberg, the issue is not interest but availability. Currently, Spielberg is filming his political biopic Lincoln, which stars Daniel Day-Lewis as the 16th president of the United States. Next up, the director is slated to tackle the robot apocalypse feature, aptly titled Robopocalypse. He is also attached to a variety of other projects in executive producer capacity including Men In Black III and Jurassic Park IV as well as television projects Terra Nova, Smash and The Talisman. If Gods and Kings comes to fruition, it could be our generation’s The Ten Commandments. And if it doesn’t, we may just have to leave the Old Testament adaptations to Mel Gibson, who has teamed up with Warner Bros. to develop a film about Judah Maccabee. Whose Old Testament retelling would you be more interested in seeing? (Jewish leaders, we already know your answer.) · Warner Bros Goes To The Mountaintop For Moses Epic [Deadline]

VIDEO: Chinese Celebrity Pianist Lang Lang Plays Within My Week With Marilyn Premiere

EXCLUSIVE: The Weinstein Company attracted off a coup at their Sunday evening AFI premiere of My Week With Marilyn getting a pre-screeningrecital from Chinese celebrity pianist Lang Lang playing composer Alexander Desplat’s “Marilyn’s Theme” before he was literally removed by police escortto his anticipated soloconcert the identical evening at Disney Hall. Here’s phone performance within the Chinese Theatre. rtmp://streaming.deadline.com/ondemand/video/LANGLANG_FINAL_20111108.flv

Russia modernizes media regs

New rules making certain media freedom being introduced in Russia on Thursday might help boost publish-economic crisis recovery for content-on-demand and nontraditional platforms in the pay TV market worth greater than $1 billion every year. They eliminate limited rules on registration for Internet together with other-new media platforms that provide TV services, abolish licenses for secondary relay broadcast services and tightly define the rights and duties of TV license holders. "The completely new rules tend to be transparent, dynamic, flexible and progressive," Dmitry Golovanov, a broadcasting lawyer and expert for your European Audiovisual Observatory told Variety on Tuesday. Tv producers have the legal right to use any media to supply their content -- terrestrial, cable, satellite, Internet -- without additional licenses or registration. The recommendations specify that only editorial boards possess the effect of broadcast content. Based on reforms attracted up a year ago by Russia's top court inside the first changes for the publish-Soviet media laws and regulations and rules introduced 2 decades ago, the modifications could make performing business for completely new-media and pay TV operators simpler and less pricey, Golovanov mentioned. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Michael Eisner Sells Comedy Project to ABC

ABC is in business with Michael Eisner.our editor recommendsMichael Eisner Produces $100k Annual PrizeMark Burnett, Michael Eisner's Vuguru to create Original Video Series for AOLMichael Eisner's e-mail to buddies about his approaching book The first kind Disney chief has offered an untitled comedy occur the eighties. The only camera project willchronicle the first times of restauranteersMary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger's unique business partnership and friendship. The now well-known co-chefs and lengthy-time partners, who both offered as participants on Bravo's Top Chef Masters (Feniger won season two), share something --in other words, someone-- else in keeping. Milliken is married towards the ex-husband of Feniger, who's now freely gay. Shaun Greenstein (Desperate Average women, Being a parent) is mounted on write and convey the project, with Eisner, Noel Vibrant (Glenn Martin DDS) and Steve Cohen aboard as executive producers. Fenifer and Miliken assists as non-writing executive producers around the project. Greenstein is repped by ICM. Related Subjects ABC Michael Eisner TV Development

'Polisse' posts strong French box office

'Polisse'Competing against heavyweights like "The AssistanceInch and "The Adventures of Tintin" within the French box office getting a nearby pic about cops your son or daughter-protection agency can happen as being a bad marketing decision, but that's just what actress-switched-helmer Maiwenn attracted offered by "Polisse."Produced by Alain Attal's Ces Productions du Tresor getting a $7 million budget, "Polisse" was released on March. 19 and continued to be on top in the box office for just two days, grossing a 8.millions of ($11.millions of) through November. 2. Mars Distribution released the pic on 400 prints it bending its first-week gross within the second sesh."We didn't expect 'Polisse' being this kind of mainstream hit in France, but we have got a sign it may be very common as we observed the enthusiasm of local audiences who've been attending premieres throughout France," Attal states.Provided by Wild Bunch worldwide, the film remains acquired by Sundance Selects inside the U.S., too just like other major areas. "Polisse" also presold to Canal Plus and Franco-German internet Arte, and was acquired by commercial internet M6. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Robert Pattinson: 'Twilight' Audition Tapes Will Never See The Light Of Day

Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner are all household names, but they weren't always that way. A little tiny something called "Twilight" changed the game for each of them, elevating them from promising young actors to full-fledged movie stars. Whether you're pinning it on Kristen's allure, Rob's mystique or Taylor's infamous abs, there's no doubt that there's a unique chemistry to the core "Twilight" trio that is absolutely essential to making these films work. And, according to the three of them, the chemistry between them came very quickly. "I think [our chemistry] was very immediate," Lautner told us during "MTV First: 'Breaking Dawn Part 1,'" our exclusive 30-minute chat with the "Twilight" cast last night (November 3). "Amongst everyone, it was just a warm and fuzzy feeling." That information is particularly interesting coming from Taylor, given that he had the least amount of screen time in that very first "Twilight" movie, not to mention that he's the youngest one of the main three players. "It did cross my mind in the very first one, the very first time I went up to Portland for 'Twilight,'" he said of recognizing that he was the young guy in the cast. "I was just there for three days." "Your hair was in the first one," Stewart quipped. All three of them agreed that without their chemistry, the "Twilight" franchise wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable. "I don't think so. It would've been horrible," said Stewart. "I wouldn't have loved it as much. The movies wouldn't be the same at allit'd be totally different." Despite their very public friendship, the "Twilight" stars said they aren't comfortable enough to reveal their initial audition tapes. "It's never going to happen. They'd be so disappointed," Pattinson laughed when asked if we'd ever see their audition tapes. "It's so much better [in your imagination]. It's like the sex scenes: better to keep that [in your head]." Laughing, Pattinson quickly added: "That's the worst thing to say!" Tell us what you think in the comments section and on Twitter!

Changed distrib landscape

The Weinstein Co.$277 millionThanks towards the Oscar-winning hit "The King's Speech," the Weinstein Co. was the royalty from the 2011 indie realm. This season, "The King's Speech" totalled $115.9 million of their amazing $138.8 million domestic total, which repped 42% of TWC's entire year-to-date tally. Apart from "Speech," TWC has already established a just-tolerable year, using its second-best title to date, "Scream 4," generating just $38.two million. That's far in the franchise's third entry, which made $89 million Stateside in 2000. The distrib's summer time records, "Spy Kids: Constantly on the planet,Inch "Our Idiot Brother" and "Apollo 18" complete TWC's top 5, though not one of them grew to become major B.O. gamers. Up Next: "My Week with Marilyn" and "The Artist" (November. 23), "W.E." (12 ,. 9), "The Iron Lady" (12 ,. 16)Lionsgate$183 millionIf only Lionsgate might have ended its year in April. The minimajor had notable spring achievements, "The Lincoln subsequently Lawyer" and Tyler Perry's "Madea's Large Happy Family," before winding lower having a string recently-summer time B.O. poor performers, including "Conan the Barbarian," "Warrior" and "Abduction." (Lionsgate will not have another release until "The Possession" on Jan. 6.) "Lincoln subsequently Lawyer," a decently allocated court docket potboiler, made $58 million, adopted carefully by Perry's latest offering, which ended its U.S. run with $53 million. Though Lionsgate comes with an ace coming, with "The Hunger Games" franchise. Up Next: "The Hunger Games" (March 23)Relativity Media$145 millionRelativity Media made an auspicious start for any rookie, collecting enough gold coin for third place. But like Lionsgate, Relativity saw the majority of its biz range from first quarter, with March release "Unlimited" leading those with nearly $80 million. Otherwise, it has been quite a uneven year for Relativity, because the $40 million "Season from the Witch" -- the business's first inhouse release -- ranks second with $24.8 million. "Shark Evening three dimensional" ($18.8 million) and "Judy Moody and also the Not Bummer Summer time" ($15 million) both demonstrated underwhelming for Relativity this summer time. Relativity has something to prove with "Immortals." Up Next: "Immortals" (November. 11)Focus Features$123 millionLast year, Focus made good with summer time hit "The Children Are Right," grossing a lot more than $20 million through mid-October. As well as in 2011, the organization has been doing better still, though nearly all its year-to-date tally develops from a set of first-quarter wide releases, "Hanna" and "The Bald eagle." The first kind stands as Focus' best artist to date, with $40 million locally, while "The Bald eagle" at No. 3 totalled just shy of $20 million. Focus acquired distribution privileges to Miramax title "Your Debt,Inch which released Labor Day weekend and it has cumed a decent $31 million within the U.S. "Eventually,Inch Focus' other summer time wide release, battled to construct much buzz, generating $13.8 million. Recent results for the distrib's platform rollouts were mixed: "Jane Eyre" did well in March with $11 million, while "Beginners" -- Focus' attempt for copying "Kids"-like indie success -- capped out just shy of $six million. Up Next: "Mess, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" (12 ,. 9), "Pariah" (12 ,. 28)FilmDistrict$117 millionThe year's second rookie distrib to pay attention to mid-range-budget fare, FilmDistrict, makes the most from merely a couple of releases. By mid-October, the organization released just three films: "Insidious," "Drive" and "You Shouldn't Be Scared of the Dark." With "Insidious" grossing an outstanding $54 million, FilmDistrict required a webpage from Par's "Paranormal Activity" success (pic was created by "Paranormal" alum Jason Blum and Oren Peli). "Drive," which FilmDistrict acquired late this past year, has made $34 million by March. 31, while "Dark," another orphaned Miramax title, should top out Stateside somewhere north of $25 million. The Actor-brad Pitt starrer "The Rum Diary" bowed soft on March. 28. Up Next: "Within the Land of Bloodstream and Honey" (12 ,. 23)Summit Entertainment$116 millionWithout a summer time "Twilight" entry, 2011 year-to-date totals for Summit appear a little depressed versus. this time around this past year. But provide the distrib a few days for things to get, as penultimate "Twilight" offering "Breaking Beginning -- Part 1" launches November. 18. Apart from the mega-hit franchise, Summit had success with April release "Source Code," which made $54.7 million locally. The business's fall pic "50/50" did OK business in the box office three dimensional pic "The 3 Musketeers" battled, as did niche pair "The Beaver" and "A Much Better Existence." Up Next: "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning -- Part 1" (November. 18), "The Pitch-dark Hour (12 ,. 25)Fox Searchlight$102 millionIn typical Fox Searchlight fashion, nearly all its year-to-date grosses originated from an honours heavyhitter launched the prior year -- think "Crazy Heart," "Slumdog Uniform" and "Juno." Additionally list "Black Swan," of whose total domestic cume ($106 million), nearly 1 / 2 of that ($59 million) was gained this year. But beyond Searchlight's Oscar fodder, very little else has labored -- "The Tree of Existence" and "Mutually BeneficialInch are essential exceptions with $13 million and $ten million, correspondingly. A trio of Sundance pick-ups saw mixed results: "The skill of Barely Making ItInch and "Another Earth" both delayed in the B.O., while "Martha Marcy May Marlene" got on a powerful begin March. 21. Expect George Clooney family-dramedy "The Descendants" to occupy among Searchlight's top B.O. slots the coming year. Up Next: "The Descendants" (November. 16), "Shame" (12 ,. 2)The new sony Pictures Classics$86 millionIt's been a Woodsy Allen-centered year for The new sony Pictures Classics. The helmer's latest film, "Night time in Paris," not just first showed using the year's greatest opening per-screen average for any traditional theatrical release ($99,834) but additionally completed the very best perf of the niche pic this season to date, with $55 million locally. "Night time" provided a pleasant cushion for SPC, whose other 2011 releases haven't arrived at "Midnight's" high levels, although Sundance pickup "The Guard" perfomed half way decent ($5 million), as has Pedro Almodovar's Cannes pic "Your Skin My Home IsInch launched March. 14. SPC's other fest buys, including critical hits "Greater Ground" and "Take Shelter," have experienced a harder time in the B.O., battling to hack the $a million mark. Up Next: "A Harmful Method" (November. 23), "Carnage" (12 ,. 16), "A Separation" (12 ,. 30)CBS Films$57 millionA set of photos arrived CBS Films one of the year's top indie distribs, but one of these, "Beastly," have been pressed back from 2010 to March 4. The teenager-specific film was situated to become the distrib's "Twilight"-esque offering, although it cumed just $27.9 million. "The Auto technician," CBS Films' second 2011 release, did only slightly better with $29 million locally. And that is it for that distrib this season it'll start 2012 with Daniel Radcliffe horror-thriller "The Lady in Black" on February. 3, then "Fish Fishing within the Yemen," which CBS Films purchased at the Toronto Film Fest on March 2.Open Road Films$25 millionAs the latest company to go in the distribution game, Open Road Films hardly has already established time for you to prove itself. However with one release under its belt, "Killer Elite," the startup did good enough to land a place one of the top ten indies. Released captured like a partnership between AMC Entertainment and Regal Movie theaters, Open Road faced skepticism straight off as some bizzers asked whether participants (particularly AMC and Regal) would play faves with Open Road photos. That has not happened. Open Road has two photos skedded for 2012, "The Gray" and "Quiet House," having a potential jewel in 2013, "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer's "The Host" feature adaptation. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Exclusive: New Poster For Contraband

Mark Wahlberg's got the goodsIf Entourage's Vince Chase had half the career of the man he was loosely based on, he wouldn't have had time to develop that nasty drugs problem or upset half of Hollywood with dodgy lifestyle choices. Unlike Chase, who's got one Scorsese picture to show for Olympic levels of faffing about, Mark Wahlberg has bounced from a barnstorming turn in The Fighter to a highly promising lead role of a different kind, this time in Contraband, a thriller set in the Deep South. The film's new poster - about which we're contractually obliged to use words like 'gritty' and 'moody' - is below for your viewing pleasure. A reshaping of acclaimed 2008 Icelandic thriller Reykjavik-Rotterdam, Contraband looks a level above other recent Euro-remakes like Russell Crowe flop The Next Three Days. There are similarities, though. Wahlberg, like Crowe, must turn to crime to rescue his wife (Kate Beckinsale) - this time from some very bad people, Giovanni Ribisi's crime capo among them, in the New Orleans underground. {Contraband one-sheet}A one-time smuggler now working as a security guard, Wahlberg's Chris Farraday goes back to the old business, heading to Panama with best mate Sebastian (Ben Foster) and coming back with millions in counterfeit bills. As the movie's trailer suggests, things goes awry pretty darn fast.Caleb Landry Jones, Lukas Haas, Diego Luna and JK Simmons round out a tasty line-up of acting talent, while Baltasar Kormákur, a cast member in Reykjavik-Rotterdam, is on the other side of the camera here. Contraband is out on March 16, 2012.

Gilbert Cates' Death: Hollywood Remembers the Director and Oscar Producer

Following Tuesday's news of 14-time Oscar producer Glibert Cates' death at 77 years old, Hollywood has responded with remembrances of the veteran director and producer. First to acknowledge his sudden passing was the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "Gil was our colleague, our friend and a former governor of the Academy," said Academy president Tom Sherak. "He was a consummate professional who gave the Academy and the world some of the most memorable moments in Oscar history. His passing is a tremendous loss to the entertainment industry, and our thoughts go out to his family." STORY: Oscar Producer Gilbert Cates Dies at 77 A two-term president of the Directors Guild of America, Cates was close with many of his peers, which Steven Spielberg pointed out in a statement. "No one may ever again achieve what Gil Cates achieved in his contributions to the success of the Motion Picture Academy and the Directors Guild," Spielberg said in a statement. "In producing 14 Oscar shows for the Academy and leading the Directors Guild through challenging times and negotiations, he set a remarkable standard for dedication and excellence. He was the most liked person I knew and will be missed by all who knew him as a proud member of our industry and a great pal to everyone." Current DGA president Taylor Hackford echoed Spielberg's sentiments. "Gil Cates embodied this Guild," he said. "Through his decades of service, he guided the Guild gently and charismatically and with great wisdom, and perhaps more importantly, he established what it meant to be a leader of this organization and the entertainment community. He was a fierce friend, an even fiercer negotiator and somebody you always hoped was on your side but respected even if he wasn't. Gil was one of the lights of this organization and one of the central reasons that I became involved in Guild service. From the time I joined the Western Directors Council in 1996, Gil was a mentor to me, encouraging me to take leadership responsibility and providing guidance all along the way. I was honored to serve with him for these many years and will miss him greatly." PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths One of Cates' many contributions to the industry was as founder and producing director of UCLA's Geffen Playhouse. He had most recently directed a production of Jeffrey Hatcher's A Picasso for the Geffen in 2007. "Gil has always referred to the staff of the Geffen Playhouse as his second family" said Geffen chairman Frank Mancuso in a statement. "And it is as a family that we mourn this tremendous loss. Gil built this theater and he will forever be at the center of it -- we honor his life by continuing the fulfillment of his dream. As my dear friend Gil would no doubt say 'onward and upward with the arts.'" Cates also founded UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television, where he served as dean from 1990 to 1998. Sitting dean Teri Schwartz released a statement on behalf of the school. "Our entire TFT community is overwhelmingly saddened by the loss of our beloved mentor, colleague and friend," she said. "Today we mourn our great loss but also celebrate Gil's extraordinary vision and countless contributions, not only to TFT as founding dean and distinguished professor but to the entertainment and performing arts industries and the education of our students, who benefited from his remarkable talent, insights, generosity, experience and wisdom. Our deepest condolences and love go out to Gil's beloved family at this very difficult time." PHOTOS: Oscar Hosts Through the Years On Twitter, one of Cates' Oscar collaborators, former host Steve Martin, shared his condolences. "So sorry to hear Gil Cates has died," Martin wrote. "He helmed two Oscar shows I hosted. He was delightful, wise, canny and unperturbed. A great fellow." Related Topics Steve Martin Steven Spielberg