YDJ News Share: January 2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Comedy Central Launches Digital Production Studio, Taps Allison Kingsley as VP

The new in-house initiative will focus on developing content and talent for alternative platforms.

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Patty Andrews, Last of the Singing Andrews Sisters, Has Died

She was the last of the three singing sisters: Patty Andrews died today at age 94 at her home in Northridge.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

WGA East to Honor David Koepp

The "Mission: Impossible" and "Spider-Man" screenwriter will receive the Ian McClellan Hunter Award at the New York awards ceremony on Feb. 17.

The Most Promising TV Pilots of 2013: From S.H.I.E.L.D. to the Shows of J.J. Abrams

It's that time of year when the networks order pilots for the shows that could be coming soon to a TV near you. Here are some of the most promising pilots ordered so far.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Producer Lloyd Phillips Dies at 63

He worked on such films as "Twelve Monkeys," "Inglourious Basterds" and the upcoming "Man of Steel."

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Sunday, January 27, 2013

SAG Awards 2013: List of Winners

"Skyfall" and "Game of Thrones" nab pre-ceremony awards for best stunt ensembles ahead of the show kickoff.

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'Argo' wins best picture at PGA Awards

'Homeland' wins best drama, 'Modern Family' top comedy

Sundance: 12 movies with buzz

Owen Gleiberman and Lisa Schwarzbaum on notable newbies from Park City coming your way in 2013

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Emmy-Winning Set Decorator Leslie Frankenheimer Dies

The wife of prominent entertainment attorney John Frankenheimer, she worked on such shows and films as "Max Headroom," "Carnivale," "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Blade Runner."

Lucasfilm Officially Confirms That J.J. Abrams Will Direct the Next Star Wars Movie

It's official: J.J. Abrams will be the director of the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII film.

USC Student Launches 'Bill Murray Appreciation Day'

Bill Murray is one of our generation's most loveable actors, and one USC student is so taken with him that he's decided to launch Bill Murray Appreciation Day, in part to express his love for Murray and in part to entice him to be in his thesis film.

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Friday, January 25, 2013

Jonathan Coulton Explains How Glee Ripped Off His Cover Song

Jonathan Coulton Explains How <em>Glee</em> Ripped Off His Cover Song — And Why He's Not Alone

Fans of indie musician Jonathan Coulton were incensed last week when an alleged Glee version of "Baby Got Back" surfaced on the internet that seemed to shamelessly rip off Coulton's distinctive arrangement of the 1992 Sir Mix-A-Lot song. Last night, that cover version was confirmed as an official Glee track when it appeared on the mid-season premiere of the Fox show, and is currently for sale on iTunes.

Musician Claims 'Glee' Stole His Version of 'Baby Got Back'

Jonathan Coulton maintains the Fox show used his banjo-infused cover of the hip-hop song without credit.

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In Praise of Artisanal Horror

In Praise of Artisanal Horror

A few years ago, writing about Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity franchise, Ti West’s House of the Devil, and other experiments in craft-conscious, low-budget horror, I gave a name to the loosely defined style I saw these movies as sharing: “artisanal horror.” The term caught on only in my own brain, where it’s become a handy taxonomic classification for a subgenre that seems here to stay, even in the age of the big-budget, special-effects-laden franchise. The horror genre has always welcomed tinkerers—inventive filmmakers who are interested in taking genre’s conventions apart and fitting them back together in novel ways. If the desired effect of maximum audience creep-out has to be achieved on a minimal budget, so much the better. Artisanal horror directors place a high value on cheapskate ingenuity, the trick of scaring the audience pantsless with the simplest possible effect: an unexpected camera movement, a barely glimpsed shadow, a hand reaching for a doorknob. And they tend to pay some sort of tribute to the genre’s roots in low-budget exploitation, sometimes by citing their B-movie forebears outright (as did Joss Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods, which was artisanal in spirit if not in budget), sometimes just by letting the seams in the monster costumes show.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

How Andy Warhol Changed Young Kathryn Bigelow's Life

The "Zero Dark Thirty" filmmaker spent her early career as an artist in New York, until a fateful conversation set her on a new course.

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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Les Moonves, Dick Wolf and Ron Howard Among TV 'Hall of Fame' Inductees

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences will also honor CBS' Bob Schieffer and sportscaster Al Michaels at the ceremony on March 11.

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A look at Oscar's animated short contenders

A look at Oscar's animated short contenders

Eye on the Oscars 2013: Animation - Short films

Who's Putting Academy Screeners Online?

Oscars 2013: Who's Putting Academy Screeners Online?

Studios and indie distributors weigh investigating one guild member who's under suspicion.

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Charlie Brown Voice Actor Arrested For Stalking, Making Threats

The voice behind one of America's most beloved comic strip and animated characters has been arrested in San Diego for five felony charges of threats and stalking. Peter Robbins, the child voice actor of Charlie Brown, was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry Sunday night.

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

ABC Orders 3 Dramas Including Modern 'Romeo and Juliet' and Comedy From 'Bad Teacher' Writers

The pilots join previously ordered "S.H.I.E.L.D." and "Mixology," among others at the network.

Fox Orders Seth MacFarlane Live-Action Series, 'Sleepy Hollow' Drama, Comedies From Bill Lawrence, More

The network orders four comedies, three dramas and one six-episode series from the writers behind "Ted."

Spirited Away Animators Breathe Life Into Astonishing New Game

<cite>Spirited Away</cite> Animators Breathe Life Into Astonishing New Game

Ni no Kuni, created by Level-5 and Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away), revives the classic Japanese role-playing game with stunning results.

Oscars prepare for final vote

Oscars prepare for final vote

AMPAS members can again choose paper or electronic

Monday, January 21, 2013

TV's Original Batmobile Sells For $4.2M At Auction

Talk about some hot wheels! Television's original Batmobile hit the auction block this weekend, and the undisclosed winner nabbed the special vehicle for a mere $4.2 million.

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'Death Wish' Director Michael Winner Dies at 77

The British filmmaker and restaurant critic died at home in London on Monday.

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Atari U.S. Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

The iconic video game maker hopes to break away from its French parent company, which has been losing money.

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Saturday, January 19, 2013

First Batmobile Fetches $4.6 Million at Auction

The "Batman" car's price ties the 2010 record set by the Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery in "Goldfinger."

Oscars: Meet Sacheen Littlefeather

Shocker in 1973 when this Native American woman accepted Marlon Brando's award; today, she says...

Friday, January 18, 2013

'Norbit' Effect: 9 Oscar killers?

Bad timing for Jessica Chastain's ''Mama''? See if past popcorn movies made campaigns harder to swallow

Why Fringe's Finale Marks the Decline of Sci-Fi on Network TV

Why <em>Fringe'</em>s Finale Marks the Decline of Sci-Fi on Network TV

After five years of strange adventures, Fringe closes up shop tonight, and doesn't leave much behind it in the world of network sci-fi television.

R.I.P. Robert F. Chew, The Wire's Proposition Joe

The Wire’s Michael K. Williams broke the news that co-star Robert F. Chew (“Proposition Joe”) has died, quietly passing along a short statement on his death via a photo on his Instagram account (picked up by UPROXX), captioned, “R.I.P. to the talented Mr. Robert Chew #propjoe.” Williams’ sentiments were quickly echoed by other members of the cast, in tweets from Wendell Pierce, Jamie Hector, and Jermaine Crawford. These were followed by this obituary in the Baltimore Sun that confirms Chew died of heart failure at the age of 52, and includes some typically lengthy thoughts from David Simon.
Like many in the Wire company, Chew was a born-and-bred Baltimore resident, a local who, from 1992 until just last year, spent much of his time working as an acting coach at various theater programs for inner-city kids while also turning up in bit parts on other Simon-spawned projects ...

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Google Declares War on the Password

Want an easier way to log into your Gmail account? How about a quick tap on your computer with the ring on your finger?

Thursday, January 17, 2013

From WikiLeaks to Pussy Riot: 10 Cool Films Coming to Sundance

Each year the Sundance Film Festival sets the pace for indie films for the months to come. Here are the geeky flicks we're most excited for at the fest.

Paul Dano to Star as Brian Wilson in 'Love & Mercy' (Exclusive)

Paul Dano to Star as Brian Wilson in 'Love & Mercy'

UPDATED: Bill Pohlad has been tapped to direct, and Atticus Ross, who won an Oscar for his work with Trent Reznor on the score for "The Social Network," is in talks to design the film's soundscape.

'Dear Abby' Creator Pauline Phillips Dies at 94

The columnist who at one time had a worldwide readership of 100 million was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Costume Designers Guild Awards Nominations Announced

The 15th annual event will be held Feb. 19 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

'Full House' Alum Dave Coulier Bets on Clean Comedy in Movie Theaters

The comic hopes to recruit the likes of Jerry Seinfeld and Tim Allen to headline family-friendly comedy specials in movie theaters -- though critics say it won't fly.

Awesome Cartoon Network and Adult Swim shows coming to Netflix

Adventure Time, Childrens Hospital, and other awesome Cartoon Network and Adult Swim shows coming to Netflix

Is the fact that Netflix just blue itself and is offering fake TV shows and movies from Arrested Development not enough of an appetizer for the long, hungry slog to the May release of the new season of Bluths? How about this: The streaming service has just signed a deal to make a variety of other smart, funny cult shows available for streaming starting over a month before AD Day.

On March 30, Netflix will begin featuring the entire run of deceptively intelligent children’s shows Adventure Time and Regular Show, as well as Ben 10 and classic Cartoon Cartoon alum Johnny Bravo from Cartoon Network. It will also begin streaming The Boondocks, Robot Chicken, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and live-action black sheep Childrens Hospital from Adult Swim. Arrested Development? No. But it just might get you through. [via IGN]

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‘Diff’rent Strokes’ Dad Conrad Bain Dies at 89

He played the adoptive father of Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges on the sitcom, which aired on NBC and ABC.

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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

How Twitter Has Become Controversial at the TV Critics Press Tour

Get over it.

Hello, Chrome. Do You Read Me, Chrome?

Forget touch screens, you may soon be browsing the web by voice command. The latest beta version of Google's Chrome web browser has added preliminary support for voice commands -- just don't ask it to open the pod bay doors for you and everything should be fine.