Weinstein denounces Le Pen

Harvey Weinstein has denounced French politician Jean-Marie Le Pen after the militant right-winger attacked an interracial friendship at the core of the Weinstein Co. film "The Intouchables." "Le Pen made a repulsive statement representing a bigoted world view," Weinstein said, referring to a recent TV appearance by the pol. The founder of the xenophobic National Front party said, "It would be a disaster if France were to find itself in the same situation" as the wealthy crippled Frenchman in the film who bonds with his poor young immigrant caretaker. Le Pen slammed a vision of France as a "handicapped person stuck in a wheelchair waiting for the help" of immigrants. Weinstein noted that Le Pen's daughter Marine Le Pen is running for president with strong popular support. "That's frightening to me," he said, "and I think it's important to speak up and speak out." "The Intouchables" has shattered records in France and will be out Stateside May 25. It premieres tonight in Gotham at Rendez-Vous with French Cinema's Opening Night at Alice Tully Hall. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

UPDATE: Charlie Sheen Resumes Two & Half Men Insults; Should FX & Lionsgate Be Worried?

UPDATE, TUESDAY AM: After skewering his old showTwo And A Half Menwith a barrage of insults last week, Charlie Sheen pulled back today but just a little. Sheen posted on his website a letter to his replacement on Men, Ashton Kutcher, apologizing for telling him he sucked. But Sheen refused to take back his comments that Men has become “a steaming pile of ass” with “bad writing.” Here is Sheen’s letter signed as his now-deceased Men character Charlie Harper. Dear Ashton- My bad. I was disrespectful to a man doing his best. I got excited and threw you into a crossfire. The rest of my statement I stand behind. You, however, deserve better. Safety in your travels good sir. - The “late” Charlie Harper PREVIOUS, FRIDAY PM: Just as his new show, Anger Management, is gearing for production on its initial 10-episode order from FX, its star/producer Charlie Sheen embarked on the type of verbal rampage that got him in trouble with his previous employer Warner Bros. TV and ultimately got him fired from his previous show, CBS’ Two And A Half Men. Over the past 2 days, Sheen dropped the Mr. Nice Guy persona he had cultivated since he signed on for Anger Management last summer to return to his infamous warlock days. “Perhaps if Warner Bros. spent as much time and energy focusing on THEIR show, it wouldn’t be such a steaming pile of ass,” Sheen said of Men on Wednesday when asked by TMZ for response to the cease-and-desist letter from the studio banning the use of images of Sheen as his Man character to promote his new show. Then today, he called into TMZ Live, also reverting to an old habit he had during his wild days a year ago when he would regularly call into live radio shows to vent. “I’m tired of pretending Ashton doesn’t suck,” he said, an 180 degree from the thumbs-up he had publicly given his replacement Ashton Kutcher. “I’m tired of lying … I’m tired of pretending the show doesn’t suck … I’m tired of pretending Ashton doesn’t suck…It’s nothing personal … I just feel bad for him … he’s saddled with such bad writing,” Sheen concluded, shifting his insults to his favorite target of last year, Two And A Half Men showrunner Chuck Lorre. There is no such thing bad publicity, they say, and a new show needs all the attention it can get. But I doubt this is the type of attention the marketing teams at FX and Anger Management producer Lionsgate TV are aiming for. Seeing glimpses of the foul-mouthed, loose-cannon Charlie Sheen of 2011 so early in the process on Anger Management will no doubt raise concern at FX, Lionsgate and especially Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury division, whose model’s success is tied to a show’s ability to go the distance, hitting the 100-episode mark and beyond. Was this a brief outburst provoked by the WBTV legal move or a sign of relapse? Or maybe Sheen is turning to Daniel Day-Lewis style of method acting, embodying his anger management issues-plagued character on and off-work.

Protest erupts over SAG-AFTRA merger

About 30 people staged the initial public protest in the recommended merger involving the Screen Stars Guild as well as the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, 72 hours just before the proposal begins landing in member mail boxes. "We're very concerned this merger can lead to a union that's professional-management," mentioned Scott Pierce, a classic SAG board member who organized the large event before SAG and AFTRA headquarters in La. Pierce asserted the merged union, named SAG-AFTRA, will finish up less accountable to individuals since lots of your choice-making energy will relaxation with affiliates selected every couple of years rather than every year. "The delegate method is a template for just about any professional-mangement union," he mentioned. Former national board people Renee Aubry, transporting a sign nonetheless "Endangered actor species," mentioned she thinks the merged union won't address the first issues that stars face. Others in case incorporated former national board people Peter Kwong, France Nguyen and Dewayne Williams. 100s of SAG and AFTRA people attended an academic meeting Thursday evening with SAG leader Ken Howard and AFTRA leader Roberta Reardon attending. Advocates in the merger have contended the merged union might have more energy and take off jurisdicational overlaps. The merger proposal is going to be shipped to 120,000 SAG people and 70,000 AFTRA people, who include stars, tv producers, DJs, entertainers and ballroom ballroom dancers. To feed, the referendum want a 60% approval margin from both orgs among votes cast. SAG and AFTRA will mail out ballots Feb. 27 to 120,000 SAG people and 70,000 AFTRA people, getting a tabulation date of March 30. Being approved, the merger must receive no less than 60% in the votes from each union. Rivals may also be objecting to having less a comprehensive analysis of mixing the SAG and AFTRA pension and health plans through the claims with the unions inside their "feasibility study," which found no legal obstacle to this kind of step. Warren Berlinger, who's organized the Union Democrary Now group, mentioned Friday that merging the plans would harm participants inside the SAG plans. "People are scared that they're prone to lose their pensions," he added. SAG people switched lower merger plans in 1999 and 2003 but supporters in the idea have centered elections lately. SAG's board appproved the merger anticipate Jan. 27 with 88 percent supporting and AFTRA's board OKd the proposal the very next day with 94 percent support. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

FilmNation kicks off 'All is Lost' sales

Glen Basner's FilmNation Entertainment is launching sales on Robert Redford starrer "All Is Lost" at the Berlinale, which Lionsgate is releasing in the U.S. Pic, from "Margin Call" writer-helmer J.C. Chandor, stars Redford as a man lost at sea. Before the Door Pictures' Neal Dodson and Black Bear Pictures' Teddy Schwarzman are set to produce with Justin Nappi from Treehouse Pictures, which is financing the project. Before the Door will also produce with Anna Gerb and Joshua Blum from Washington Square Films, who were their partners on "Margin Call." Before the Door's Zachary Quinto and Corey Moosa, Cassian Elwes, Laura Rister and Treehouse's Kevin Turen will exec produce. Pic is skedded to lense this summer in Mexico. FilmNation's EFM slate includes Steven Soderbergh's "Bitter Pill" and Anton Corbijn's "A Most Wanted Man." Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Around the Set: Jane Curtin Is Prepared For Prime Amount of time in Memorable

Jane Curtin Frequency higher a pin drop within the Queens homicide squad as Det. Barbara Wells calls a mobile phone that may fit in with a murderer she's monitoring. Whenever a drug dealer solutions, she dangles up, disappointed. A familiar face within the corner constitutes a wisecrack and also the Memorable cast restrain their laughs. Live from NY... it's Jane Curtin! The Saturday Evening Live alum's accessory for Memorable is a component of the mid-season tweak for that CBS procedural, which stars Poppy Montgomery as Wells, a driven cop using the remarkable capability to remember everything she encounters. Despite consistently besting time-slot rivals Body of Proof and Being a parent in overall rankings and demos, the crime show isn't any sure factor for renewal. To up its chances, cocreators Erectile dysfunction Redlich and John Bellucci have become the show's group of figures. Requested by CBS to think about adding an adult actress towards the cast, "right right from the start, we considered Jane," states Redlich. "It switched to be considered a great fit." Additionally they introduced in newcomer Britt Lower to experience smart tech expert Tanya Sitkowsky. "We loved the thought of bracketing Barbara with two other very wise women," states Bellucci. "Poppy plays superbly off each of them.Inch Apart from a lengthy-ago unaired pilot, this really is Curtin's first role inside a crime drama. "I love it a great deal,Inch states the actress, whose last major TV series was 3rd Rock In the Sun. "We've fun!" Curtin plays Dr. Joanne Webster, a formerly effective Manhattan medical examiner demoted to Queens for insubordination. "That's fine with Webster, since it gives her additional time to train her romantic poetry class," states Curtin. "The producers desired to bring just a little levity towards the group, so she's quite flippant." Curtin's sunny presence has got the cast smiling. "I am just obsessive about Jane," states Montgomery. "I had been afraid that they was coming on the program, however the moment I met her, I fell for each other.Inch Barbara and Webster "rapidly bond," Montgomery discloses, particularly when the doc volunteers to assist Barbara investigate her sister's unsolved murder - the main one situation by which she can't recall the most crucial particulars. Tonight's episode amplifiers in the adrenaline with the development of a murderer going to get under Carrie's skin. "We always aspired to bring Carrie's analysis of her sister's murder more in to the present having a murderer you never know about her," states Redlich. "We're feeling you need to give Barbara the type of opponent that A Virtual Detective had with Moriarty. Someone as brilliant because this guy will discover Carrie's mind irresistible." Or, at the minimum, memorable. Memorable airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on CBS. Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

WGAW uncovers kudocast presenters

The Authors Guild of America West has set presenters because of its February. 19 honours show, with Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer to provide the Paul Selvin Award to "The AssistanceInch author-director Tate Taylor. Others include Amy Poehler with "Parks & Entertainment" co-creator Michael Schur, "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston with creator Vince Gilligan, "2 Broke Women" star Kat Dennings with co-creator Michael Patrick King, "Web Therapy" star/co-creator Lisa Kudrow with co-creator Don Roos, actor-comic Patton Oswalt with director-film writer Kaira Bird, "Mad Males" creator Matthew Weiner with co-star Kiernan Shipka, "Desperate Average women" creator Marc Cherry, Oscar telecast author Buz Kohan, "Bleep My Father States" co-creator David Kohan and "Weeds" creator Jenji Kohan. David Milch will show the Laurel Award for Screen to Eric Roth, together with a recorded message from director David Fincher. Paul Haggis and Winnie Holzman can help present, via tape, the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television to Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick. Mike Reiss will show the Morgan Cox Award to Patric M. Verrone. Event will occur in the Hollywood Palladium. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Supporting actress analysis

BERENICE BEJO "The Artist" Why she'll win: Bejo's expressively gamine-eyed performance as rising star Peppy Burns evoked the most effective of both early Hollywood melodrama and broad comedy. Furthermore, it added a subtle soulfulness that Hollywood's quiet pictures had yet to understand, all engrossed in a sincere tribute with a subject dear for the Academy's heart.Not: The film has not finish up being this area office smash many prognosticators expected, having a couple of auds rejecting the quiet-movie motif. And without uttering a factor, some may consider that Bejo gave a smaller performance than her rivals inside the category.Critic's quote: "Bejo features a wonderfully significant face and her nimble mastery of physical comedy and wordless emotion can be a pleasure to behold. She captures the look, actions and could-do spirit of the majority of the performances noisy . Hollywood movies. Her irrepressible portrayal in the ingenue-switched-star Peppy is pitch-perfect and properly named," states Claudia Puig, USA Today.JESSICA CHASTAIN "The AssistanceInch Why she'll win: Chastain's loved work year, with performances stretching well beyond her winning turn just like a youthful lady in sixties Mississippi. She also resonated in Terrence Malick's near-profound "The Tree of Existence," the acclaimed apocalyptic tale "Take Shelter" as well as the modern-day Shakespeare adaptation, "Coriolanus." This is a amazing cumulative body at work.Possibly not: Her "Help" co-star Octavia Spencer boasts all the honours warmth round the supporting front. With Viola Davis also inside the kudos running on her behalf lead turn, Chastain might be the odd actress from the film.Critic's quote: "There's grounds lots of regional critics' honours have reported this unique chameleon more than one performance this season. Chastain's exceptional. She taps both craft and intuition in equal measure," states Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune.MELISSA MCCARTHY "Bridesmaids" Why she'll win: McCarthy, playing a comprehensive, coarse character while not broadly or coarsely, gave most likely probably the most purely enjoyable performance in this particular category. It's a safe wager that her recent Emmy win was something of answer how funny she's only at that movie, too.Possibly not: Academy voters are infamously a smaller amount thinking about adoring ingeniously comedy performances, though supporting roles can from time to time break that inclination.Critic's quote: "I must look at this happen. She just absolutely steals this movie in the cast full of greatly gifted comic stars. There's something so courageous or perhaps a little dangerous relevant for this performance. You will not ever understood where she was selecting it, however, you had been always pleased to get it done,In . states Christy Lemire, Connected Press.Jesse MCTEER "Albert Nobbs" Why she'll win: Playing Hubert, a girl who dresses just like a guy who falls deeply deeply in love with another lady disguised just like a guy, McTeer supplies a performance of subtlety together with great difficulty. She practically steals the film from Glenn Close, who developed, co-written and starred inside the film.Not: The pic isn't exactly on many people radar. Outdoors of acknowledging the acclaimed performances, experts were not particularly kind in it, either.Critic's quote: "Ms. McTeer's sly, exuberant performance can be a pure delight, as well as the counterpoint between her physical expressiveness and Ms. Close's tightly coiled reserve can be a marvel to behold," states A.O. Scott, NY Occasions.OCTAVIA SPENCER "The AssistanceInch Why she'll win: Spencer, while going to public prominence now, remains as of this game for a while and contains paid out her dues with a lot of guest-starring roles. Even though this year remains an amazing ride, Oscar voters may stay with charge of others (Golden Globes, Broadcast Film Experts) making "The Help" journey truly memorable.Not: Spencer aided inspire "The AssistanceInch novelist Kathryn Stockett to create the level of smoothness she plays. Will some voters pause before voting for an individual playing an alternate of herself?Critic's quote: "The finest surprise is Spencer, a savory bit of truth-telling sass as Minny. She's more than a match on her behalf enemy, Hilly (Bryce Dallas Howard), another-but-equal harpy. These two are saved to any sort of accident course that Spencer keeps comically churned up almost from starting to finish,Inch states Betsy Sharkey, La Occasions.Eye round the Oscars: The Actor & The ActressNewbies shock 'n' roll As well as the nominees are:Best Actor Best Actress Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Pilot Season: Reba McEntire, '70s Show Team Sell Comedy Projects to ABC

Reba McEntire Reba McEntire might be coming back to TV soon! ABC has purchased comedy aircraft pilots Malibu Country, that will star the nation singer-actress Reba McEntire, and Prairie Dogs, from That '70s Show's Jackie and Shaun Filgo. In Malibu Country, McEntire stars like a broke divorcee who moves her family to Malibu where she tries to revive her music career and keep her children from being corrupted through the city. McEntire will reunite with Reba showrunner Kevin Abbott, who'll write and executive-make the pilot, together with Mindy Schultheis, Michael Hanel, Pam Williams, Dork Stewart and Narvel Blackstock. Obtain the latest news on all of the pilot pick-ups here Prairie Dogs follows Neil, an uncool cubicle worker (or "prairie dog")who becomes the victim of id theft.As he finds out the thiefhas produced an infinitely more fulfilling, kick-ass existence together with his identity, he decides to create the charming conman his existence coach. The Filgos will write and executive-produce.

House First Look: Jeffrey Wright Puts Dr. House on Trial!

Jeffrey Wright and Hugh Laurie Just how important is Jeffrey Wright's upcoming guest role on House? "Jeffrey's character really decides the fate of the series - he puts House's process on trial," executive producer Greg Yaitanes tells TVGuide.com of Monday's episode, "Nobody's Fault."Get more scoop on your favorite shows in our Winter TV previewWright plays Dr. Walter Cofield, a renowned neurologist and the former mentor of Omar Epps' Foreman. When one of Princeton Plainsboro's patients is involved in a violent incident, Cofield questions House (Hugh Laurie) and his team about their particular style of practicing medicine. At the very least, his ruling could cost House his license and possibly send him back to the slammer."These are questions we've never really asked of the series before, one of which is: What is the responsibility of everybody in an environment of recklessness?" Yaitanes says. "I think every character is forever changed by the events that take place in that episode."In the first-look video below, which features clips from the upcoming episode, Yaitanestakes us behindthe scenes for the making of this pivotal hour. In particular, he notes the importance of casting Wright, who won an Emmy for his role on Angels in America.Jeffrey Wright checks in to House"I needed somebody across the table from Hugh Laurie that was formidable," Yaitanes says. Laurie, meanwhile, was less impressed. "I'm very jealous, by the way, because I wanted to play Cofield," he jokes."Nobody's Fault" airs Monday at 8/7c on Fox. Get your first look at the episode below.

Universal counts to 'Thirteen'

Universal has pre-emptively bought "13," a spec by Benjamin Magid, and arrange it with Uni-based Strike Entetrainment and Brooklyn Weaver at Energy Entertainment.Veteran production professional Kristel Laiblin introduced the project into Strike's Eric Newman and can oversee."13" focuses on possession and it is understood to employ a combination of found-footage reason for sights. The storyline is similar to 1990's "Flatliners," which starred Jennifer Aniston and Kiefer Sutherland as school of medicine students experimentation using the line between existence and dying. Purchase closed Friday evening. Magid composed "Pan," a supernatural undertake J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan," that is scheduled to enter production later this season with Chris Tuffin, Renee Tab and Weaver creating and Ben Hibon pointing. Magid's repped by WME and handled by Energy Entertainment. WME and teamed on last week's spec purchase of Kaira Ingelsby actioner "Run Through The Night" to Warner Bros. inside a preemptive deal. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

'White Collar' sees ratings dip

Posted: Wed., Jan. 18, 2012, 12:25pm PTUSA Network staple "White Collar" took a hit Tuesday night in its premiere episode for the second half of season three. Skein, starring Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay, drew 3.2 million total viewers. That was good enough to just edge past FX's "Justified" in the same 10 p.m. timeslot, but it was down 600,000 viewers, or about 16%, from a year ago. In the 18-49 demo, the episode scored 1.4 million viewers, down from the 1.3 million viewers from last January. Also competing in the same timeslot Tuesday was TNT cop drama "Southland" as well as new episodes of NBC's "Parenthood" and ABC's "Body of Proof." CBS aired a repeat of "Unforgettable." As is the case for all cable series, numbers for "White Collar" will increase during the week when multiple telecasts and DVR viewing is accounted for. The first half of the third season of "White Collar" aired during the summer. USA Network, with an ever-expanding lineup of original shows, is considering not breaking up seasons as it has often done in the past. Series, from Fox Television Studios, was created by Jeff Eastin, who exec produces with Mark Goffman. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Lookout! Records wooden wooden shutters

Lookout! Records, the Berkeley, Calif.-based indie label that released early efforts from such key third-wave punk bands as Eco-friendly Day, Operation Ivy, the Mr. T Experience as well as the Donnas, has shuttered. News in the closing was revealed by singer-songwriter Ted Leo, whose band Ted Leo as well as the Pharmacy specialist was signed for the label from 2001-2006. The label will be in dire straits lately, ceasing to create audio in 2006, and may now cease to reprint its back catalog material too, with lots of Lookout!-distributed music getting already disappeared from digital retailers and streaming services. Founded later by David Hayes and Ray Livermore, the label will be a key hub for bands inside the pop-punk genre that skyrocketed around the rear of Eco-friendly Day's major-label jump to Reprise inside the mid-1990's. The label was later handicapped having a spate of complaints over delinquent royalties in the heart of yesteryear decade, with bands for instance Squealing Weasel, Avail, and lastly Eco-friendly Day all declaring back rights for his or her masters. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com