'Spartacus' preem up vs. last season

"Spartacus:" Vengeance" drew 1.3 million viewers for its initial telecast Friday and 2.7 million combined from four showings over the weekend. The two Friday telecasts were a 10% bump over last year's opening-night premiere of prequel "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena." However, last February Starz was offered for free to Dish TV customers and approximately 9 million potential viewers were added to the Starz universe. That one-year promotion is set to end in a few weeks, so expect to see the "Spartacus: Vengeance" numbers drop considerably when those viewers don't have Starz available anymore. In fact, because of those additional 9 million viewers who were able to watch "Vengeance" this past weekend due to the promotion, the ratings for "Vengeance" were actually lower than "Gods of the Arena," despite more total viewers. Starz will offer 10 episodes of "Vengeance," down from the 13 episodes of the first season. After the death of star Andy Whitfield due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the lead character was recast with Aussie thesp Liam McIntyre. He co-stars with Lucy Lawless and Peter Mensah. Skein, which is produced by the pay cabler, was created by Steven S. DeKnight. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Massive Avengers superhero cameo spoiler revealed

[brightcove]1213024251001[/brightcove]If you hate spoilers, click away now as this is a bit of a major one. Seriously, if you want to go into Joss Whedon's Avengers unspoiled, close your eyes right now. Then attempt to navigate your way off this page. We wish you good luck.Because we love comic-books at Total Film we're eagerly anticipating the Avengers.Not least because it's the first superhero flick to combine Marvel's biggest characters into one movie, in the grand tradition of the comic-book crossover.And it looks like Whedon is lining up the ultimate movie crossover, throwing in a character we hadn't expected to see until a distant Avengers sequel.According to Jenny Agutter, the first Avengers flick will feature a surprise appearance from Marvel's greatest superhero. That's right, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man."I'm sworn to secrecy. I wasn't allowed a script until I got there, and when I did I felt like a complete child being on big sets and a huge parking lot full of Winnebagos," Agutter told The Radio Times.Agutter went on to say one of those Winnebagos was reserved for Iron Man and one was for Spider-Man. We imagine it's red and blue, and contains a fridge full of flies and science books.Now, Agutter's statement does make our spider-senses tingle a little bit - after all, Sony owns the rights to Spider-Man's big screen adventures, and Marvel owns the Avengers, so the studios would have had to draw up some fairly complicated contracts to make this happen but the fact this is a Joss Whedon film gives us hope.This is exactly the kind of awesome Joss brings to his projects, and we really, really hope he's pulled it off.And surely Sony wouldn't pass up a bit of free promotion / goodwill for The Amazing Spider-Man, which is out a couple of months after Avengers?Either way we can't wait to see The Avengers. Now more than ever. Excelsior![brightcove]1069347403001[/brightcove]

Dakota Fanning Is An Extremely Good Girl

And thus is Elizabeth OlsenIf you had been planning an indie film and were searching for two stars considered towards the top of their game for the reason that area, you would be challenged to conquer casting Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen. Director Naomi Foner had exactly the same thought, and it has finally locked them in alongside Anton Yelchin for Excellent Women.If you wouldn't think either lady prone to struggle getting dates, Women will discover Olsen and Fanning as two long term close friends likely to spend their summer time after graduation senior high school finally losing their virginity. Like a lot of teens before them, they view it like a vital coming of age into their adult years. There is however a hitch: both of them fall for the similar boy (Yelchin), and shortly things become very complicated...Foner continues to be looking to get the film made for some time now, with her cast in position can goal to begin shooting this June in NY. "The film handles female sexuality and friendship in ways we've not seen before," she informs Deadline. "These women is going to be stunning youthful women over a couple of years, but they have battled through senior high school with only one another. Just about everyone has had the experience. This is actually the summer time where they finally reach touch real existence."Olsen is presently taking pleasure in more Sundance acclaim in Josh Radnor's Liberal Arts and it has Martha Marcy May Marlene going to hit United kingdom movie theaters, and Fanning will appear in the finish of the season as psycho vamp Jane within the Twilight Saga:Breaking Beginning Part 2.

Joe Paterno dies at 85

By Genaro C. Armas, AP Sports WriterJoe Paterno, the longtime Penn Condition coach who won more games than anybody in main nfl and college football but was fired among a young child sex abuse scandal that damaged his status for winning with integrity, died Sunday. He was 85.His family launched an argument Sunday morning to announce his dying."He died because he resided," the statement stated. "He fought against hard before the finish, remained positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everybody of methods fortunate his existence have been. His ambitions were significant, but he never thought he needed to leave this Happy Valley to attain them. He would be a guy dedicated to his family, his college, his gamers and the community."Paterno built his program around the credo "Success with Recognition," and that he found both. The guy referred to as "JoePa" won 409 games and required the Nittany Lions to 37 bowl games and 2 national titles. A lot more than 250 from the gamers he trained continued towards the National football league."He'll go lower because the finest football coach within the good reputation for the overall game," Ohio Condition coach Urban Meyer stated after his former team, the Florida Gators, beat Penn Condition 37-24 within the 2011 Outback Bowl.Paterno's boy Scott stated on November. 18 that his father had been treated for cancer of the lung. Cancer was identified throughout a follow-up visit for any bronchial illness. A couple of days next thought, Paterno also broke his pelvis following a fall but didn't need surgery.Paterno have been within the hospital since Jan. 13 for observation for which his family had known as minor complications from his cancer remedies. Not lengthy before that, he carried out his only interview since losing his job, using the Washington Publish. Paterno was referred to as frail then, speaking mostly inside a whisper and putting on a hairpiece. The other half of these two-day interview was carried out at his bedroom."Because the last 61 years have proven, Joe made an amazing impact," stated the statement in the family. "That impact continues to be felt and appreciated by us as 1000's of letters and well wishes together with numerous functions of kindness from people whose lives he touched. It's apparent also within the 1000's of effective student sports athletes who've gone onto multiply that impact because they disseminate across the nation.InchThe ultimate times of Paterno's Penn Condition career were easily the most difficult in the 61 years using the college and 46 seasons as mind football coach.It had been because Paterno would be a this type of sainted figure -- more memorable than any one of his gamers and among the best-known coaches in most of sports -- that his downfall am startling. Throughout one breathtaking week at the begining of November, Paterno was engulfed with a scandal and forced from his job, while he unsuccessful to visit law enforcement in 2002 when told a youthful boy was molested within the football complex."I did not know which approach to take ... and instead of enter there making a mistake," he stated within the Publish interview.Jerry Sandusky, the previous defensive coordinator likely to succeed Paterno before retiring in 1999, was billed with sexually attacking 10 boys over fifteen years. Two college authorities walked lower once they were billed with perjury carrying out a grand jury analysis of Sandusky. But attention rapidly centered on an alleged rape that happened inside a shower within the football building, observed by Mike McQueary, a graduate assistant at that time.McQueary claimed he saw Sandusky attacking the kid which he'd told Paterno, who anxiously waited each day before notifying school government bodies. Police were never known as and also the state's top cop later stated Paterno unsuccessful to complete his moral responsibility by not getting in touch with police."You realize, (McQueary) did not would like to get specific," Paterno stated within the Publish interview. "And also to be frank along with you I'm not sure it might have done worthwhile, because I never heard about, of, rape along with a guy. And So I just did things i thought was best. I spoken to individuals which i thought could be, if there is an issue, that might be following on it."Around the morning of November. 9, Paterno stated he'd retire following a 2011 season. Younger crowd stated he was "absolutely devastated" through the abuse situation."This can be a tragedy," the coach stated. "It is among the great sorrows of my existence. With the advantage of hindsight, If only I'd done more."However the college trustees faced an emergency, and in desperate situations meeting that evening, they fired Paterno, effective immediately. Graham Spanier, among the longest-serving college presidents within the nation, also was ignored.Based on Lanny Davis, a lawyer maintained through the trustees being an agent, board vice chairman John Surma regretted needing to tell Paterno your decision over the telephone.The college handed the football team to 1 of Paterno's assistants, Tom Bradley, who stated Paterno "goes lower ever among the finest males, who maybe producing termed as an excellent football coach."Thick, smoky-lens glasses, rolled away khakis, jet-black athletic shoes, blue windbreaker -- Paterno was simple to just right the sidelines. His teams were just like simple to just right the area their whitened headgear and classic blue and whitened uniforms had the same kind of-school look because the coach.Paterno thought success wasn't measured positioned on the area. From his idealistic beginning, he'd implemented what he known as a "grand experiment" -- to graduate more gamers while keeping success around the area.He would be a frequent speaker on ethics in sports, a conscience for any world frequently treated by scandal and shady figures.His teams consistently rated one of the better within the Large Ten for graduation gamers. By 2011, it had 49 academic All-People in america, the 3rd-greatest among schools within the Football Bowl Subdivision. Basically two performed under Paterno."He shows us about really just becoming an adult and as being a guy," former linebacker Paul Posluszny, with the NFL's The city of jacksonville Jaguars, once stated. "Aside from the football, he's planning us to become good males in existence."Paterno certainly had detractors, too. One former Penn Condition professor known as his high-minded words on academics a farce. He was belittled to make broad critiques concerning the wrongs attending college football without supplying specifics. An old administrator stated his gamers frequently got special therapy in comparison to non-sports athletes. His training style frequently was considered too conservative. Some thought he held onto his job too lengthy. There is a push to maneuver him in 2004 however it unsuccessful.However the experts were within the minority, and the program never was reported for major NCAA violations. However, the kid sexual abuse scandal motivated separate research through the U.S. Department of your practice and also the NCAA in to the school's handling.Paterno performed quarterback and cornerback for Brown College and hang a defensive record with 14 career interceptions, a distinction he boasted going to his teams completely into his 80s. He graduated in 1950 with plans to visit law school. He stated his father wished he'd at some point be leader.As he was 23, an old coach at Brown was moving to Penn Condition being the mind coach and convinced Paterno to include him being an assistant."I'd no intention to teach after i got from Brown," Paterno stated in 2007 at Beaver Stadium within an interview prior to being awarded with a Hall of Fame. "Arrived at this hick town? From Brooklyn?"In 1963, he was offered employment through the late Al Davis -- $18,000, triple his salary at Penn Condition, along with a vehicle being gm and coach from the AFL's Concord Raiders. He stated no. Rip Engle upon the market as Penn Condition mind coach 3 years later, and Paterno required over.At that time, the Lions were considered "Eastern football" -- inferior -- and Paterno courted newspaper coverage to boost the team's profile. In 1967, PSU started a 30--1 streak.But Penn Condition could not reach the top polls. The Lions finished second in 1968 and 1969 despite perfect records. They went 12- in 1973 and handle fifth. Texas edged them in 1969 after Leader Richard Nixon, impressed using the Longhorns' bowl performance, declared them No. 1."Let me know," Paterno stated later, "how is the leader know so very little about Watergate in 1973, and thus much about nfl and college football in 1969?"A national title finally arrived 1982, inside a 27-23 conquer Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Penn Condition won another in 1986 following the Lions selected off Vinny Testaverde five occasions and beat Miami 14-10 within the Fiesta Bowl.They've made several title runs since that time, together with a 2005 go to the Orange Bowl as well as an 11-1 campaign in 2008 that gained them a berth within the Rose Bowl, where they lost 37-23 to Los Angeles.In the old age, physical conditions used that old coach lower. Paterno was go beyond around the sideline throughout a game title at Wisconsin in November 2006 and went through knee surgery. He hurt his stylish in 2008 showing an onside kick.An intestinal illness along with a bad response to anti-biotics recommended for dental work slowed down him for the majority of the 2010 season. Paterno started scaling back his speaking engagements that year, ending his summer time caravan of speeches to alumni over the condition.A receiver bowled over Paterno at practice in August, delivering him towards the hospital with shoulder and pelvis injuries and consigning him to teach much of year in the press box."The truth that we have won lots of games would be that the good The almighty stored me healthy, not because I am much better than anybody else," Paterno stated 2 days before he won his 409th game and passed Eddie Robinson of Grambling Condition which are more in Division I. "It is because I have existed considerably longer than anybody else."Paterno might be conservative around the area, particularly in large games, depending around the attempted-and-true formula of defense, the running game and area position."They have been playing great defense for 45 years," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz stated in November.Paterno and the wife, Sue, elevated five children in Condition College. Anybody could telephone him at his modest ranch home -- exactly the same one he made an appearance before around the evening he was fired -- by searching for "Paterno, Frederick V." within the phonebook.He walked by games and was welcomed and wanted best of luck by fans in the pub. Former gamers paraded through his family room for the opportunity to say hello. But typically, he remained from the spotlight.Paterno did possess a knack for joke. He known to Twitter, the social networking, as "Twittle-do, Twittle-dee."Younger crowd might be abrasive and persistent, coupled with his share of run-inches together with his bosses or managers. So that as his legend increased, so did the interest to his on-area choices, and also the questions regarding as he would retire.Requires his retirement arrived at a crescendo in 2004. The following year, Penn Condition went 11-1 and won the Large Ten. Within the Orange Bowl, PSU beat Florida Condition, whose coach, Bobby Bowden, left the Seminoles following the 2009 season after 34 many 389 wins.Like many more, he was outlasted by "JoePa." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Tilda Swinton Takes Aim At Snow Piercer

Jamie Bell also in talksBlimey, Bong Joon-ho isn't lazing around when it comes to casting his new indie drama Snow Piercer. Just this last weekend it was revealed that he's tempted Chris Evans away from shield-slinging for a while to star, and now comes word that Tilda Swinton and Jamie Bell are in talks to join him.Korean director Bong is making his US directorial debut with the film (though it'll shoot in Prague this coming March), and what we know about the plot so far has a train full of passengers trying to co-exist as they make their way through a frigid world of snow and ice. Bong wrote the script with fellow Korean filmmaking favourite Park Chan-Wook, and Park is producing.The cold weather should suit Swinton, who embodied the White Witch for the Narnia films. She's currently enjoying a BAFTAnomination for her role in tough drama We Need To Talk About Kevin and will next be seen in Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom.Bell can be heard rather than seen (though he did do the performance capture work for the movie) in Tintin and co-stars with Sam Worthington and Elizabeth Banks in Man On A Ledge, which will arrive here on February 3.

No 'Grey' areas for Carnahan

Director Joe Carnahan recruited his "A-Team" star Quinton "Rampage" Jackson to send out a menacing wolf-like howl as the lights went down Jan. 11 at the Regal Cinemas for the world preem of Open Road's "The Grey." At the Palm restaurant afterparty, Carnahan praised his headliner, Liam Neeson. "When your star isn't squawking or complaining, it sets a hell of an example for the others. We were on a 40-day schedule, so we didn't have the luxury of indulging temper tantrums or asshole behavior or some of the things associated with a quote-unquote name actor." Carnahan elaborated on Hollywood's growing perception of his career. "After my last movie, I started thinking to myself, is that how I'm being perceived? As this kind of schmuck who does 'A-Team?' I think what 'The Grey' has taught me, in the classic Woody Allen sense, is autonomy and control are really everything. We did this for $25 million, and that seems to be the sweet spot. I've had my big studio experience and was very thankful for that." n Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

American Beauty's Mena Suvari Files for Divorce

Mena Suvari American Beauty star Mena Suvari declared divorce Friday from husband Simone Sestito, TMZ.com reviews. Suvari, 32, filed the papers in the L.A. County Superior Court, stating irreconcilable variations. She's requested the judge to avoid Sestito from getting spousal support, as well as requested a title switch to drop his surname. Browse the relaxation of present day news The American Cake actress and Sestito, a 25-year-old concert promoter, get married this year in a private chapel in Vatican City. This is actually the second divorce for Suvari, who split with Robert Brinkmann in 2005.

ABC Not Concerned About Greys Anatomy Star Contracts Revenge Could Re-locate Of Hamptons

First Released: The month of january 10, 2012 2:43 PM EST Credit: ABC Caption Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Gray on Greys Anatomy, 2010LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempseys contracts to experience Greys Anatomys most well-known couple, Meredith and Derek, are up in the finish from the current season, but ABC entertainment leader Paul Lee stated hes not worried. We do not have any comments about individuals contracts, Lee stated when requested on Tuesday in the Television Experts Association Winter 2012 Session in Pasadena. Greys came roaring back. Its, artistically, still towards the top of its form, and [creator] Shonda Rhimes includes a vision like nobody. Lee stated the network has belief in Shondas future Greys plans, that have been being stored under systems. She knows what shes doing and she or he knows where shes going, he ongoing. Weve heard her vision, not only for that finish of year, however for beyond and it is really, really strong. Beyond talk of Greys, Lee confirmed that Revenge, the drama starring Emily VanCamp and Madeline Stowe may indeed leave the Hamptons his or her set locale later on, as was initially spoken about once the show was initially being marketed within the summer time. It's, Lee stated, whenever a reporter requested concerning the potential exiting from the seaside community. I shouldn't give anything away in regards to a reveal that people kind of take a seat on the advantage of the seats [to look at], but yes, it is incorporated in the cards. In related ABC news, Lee confirmed once more that Cougar Town is going to be in March, but rejected to announce to start dating ?. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

James Franco, 'Pick-Up Artist'? Stars Desires to Train You Ways to Snag Women

Exactly like you was without sufficient James Franco news now, let's drop his title a few more occasions, we're able to? The ubiquitous actor-director-novelist-host and mentor to super-intelligent apes is at discussions to star in 'The Game,' MGM's adaptation from the finest-selling book about acquiring women. Franco would star as Mystery, the man who trained author Neil Strauss how to become a effective pick-up artist. The particular-existence Mystery ongoing to star in the VH1 reality series referred to as 'The Pick-Up Artist,' which, given Franco's love of the things that meta (he's playing themselves in 'The Apocalypse' and trained a category on themselves), we wouldn't eliminate as his next new job. John Koppelman and David Levien will write and direct the film and Chris and Paul Weitz are attached to create. [via THR] [Photo: WireImage] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

WGA Nominees Introduced

The Authors Guild of America, West and Authors Guild of America, East have introduced their nominees to find the best scripts of 2011, which is an amazing group. So happy that doesn't only "Bridesmaids" snuck to the Original Script category, nevertheless the wonderful "50/50" and "Mutually Advantageous,Inch too. Not remarkably, "Evening amount of time in Paris" and "Youthful Adult" complete the course.In Modified Script, there has been no real surpries. Oscar management "The Descendants," "Hugo," "Moneyball," and "The AssistanceInch all received nods. Furthermore, "The Woman While using Dragon Tattoo" acquired a location.You have to note certain films were not qualified due to the peculiar WGA rules. Incorporated within this are competitors like "Drive," "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Beginners." CONTINUE Reading through through ON Behind The Curtain