Hurricane Irene: News Channels Airing Live Coverage From East Coast

On Saturday, Hurricane Irene hit the coast of North Carolina, making its way up the East Coast.our editor recommendsDirecTV Launches Hurricane Irene Information ChannelHurricane Irene: All Broadway Performances Canceled This WeekendBox Office Update: 'The Help' Braves Hurricane Irene to Stay at No. 1 CNN has dispatched reporters up and down the coast to cover Hurricane Irene every step of the way. Throughout the day, the news network plans to update viewers with scene reports and first-person accounts. In addition, its reporters have posted updates from the East Coast. One reporter, Aaron Brodie, wrote from the road in New Jersey early Saturday afternoon: "I had a nice motel all to myself on Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey before my CNN bosses told me they needed me to go to Atlantic City. Now I have a nice freeway all to myself." President Barack Obama met with FEMA officials on Saturday and made a statement about Hurricane Irene. "It's going to be a long 72 hours," he said. (Watch the video below.) Time was just one of several news organizations tracking the storm with up-to-the-minute updates, including a photo that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released of the storm in its raw form. STORY:Hurricane Irene Prompts New York Times to Drop Pay Wall MSNBC reported that almost half a million people were without power, with three people in North Carolina dead. The network aired live coverage from Nags Head, NC, with the the feed going in and out. Reporters along the east coast, including those in Ocean City, Maryland, gave frontline reports, with a state of emergency for the state. Fox News Channel, DirecTV and The Weather Channel were among those networks also covering Irene on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon, Fox News chatted with hurricane hunters and interviewed people via phone who had decided to stay put in their homes, even though their respective cities and governments had urged them to evacuate. At about 5 p.m. Eastern, the National Hurricane Center issued an update on Hurricane Irene, saying that the hurricane was heading northeast, and those from North Carolina up to Southern New England would be affected. Six to 12 inches of rain were expected to hit surrounding areas as well. Though the storm has passed through North Carolina, networks have reported that residents who want to return home were urged to wait. Hours before the storm was scheduled to hit New York City, the subway and bus systems were shut down. Related Topics Hurricane Irene

Martin Scorsese and William Monahan remaking The Gambler

The Departed team of director Martin Scorsese and film writer William Monahan are turning their focus on another remake: 1974's The Gambler.Scorsese aficionados is going to be unsurprised to understand the pair want their Departed leading guy Leonardo DiCaprio to star.The Hollywood Reporter states the pair are developing the remake, though taking Scorsese's growing to-do list into consideration (Silence, The Wolf Of Wall Street), it isn't obvious whenever we can really expect this.The initial Gambler starred James Caan being an British professor who's privately caught within the grip of the gambling addiction, which type of undercuts all individuals inspiring vibes he's been delivering to his students.Czech filmmaker Karel Reisz (Saturday Evening And Sunday Morning, In France They Lieutenant's Lady) directed the initial.It may sound like it is the type of role DiCaprio makes their own: a good-at-heart bloke come to breaking point by some demon or any other.And he's hardly prone to refuse to his old mucker Scorsese, getting starred in four from his five last features.We'll keep our ear down on that one, that will without doubt gather pace if D-Cappz signs on. In the end, the final time these men met up for any remake, it did not come out bad, right?Martin Scorsese's next, Hugo, is placed to spread out on 2 December 2011.

Phoenix Pictures to shutter in 2013

Mike Medavoy will close lower Phoenix Pictures in 2013 following 2 decades of film production including "Black Swan," "Shutter Island," "The Folks versus Ray Flynt," "The Thin Red-colored Line" and "Zodiac."Medavoy told Variety on Friday he would shutter the organization then sell the library in 2 years to be able to hang out with his family -- and to pay attention to passion projects outdoors the Phoenix banner."I wish to do what excites me and I wish to hang out with my loved ones, since i have are in possession of a 13-year-old boy," he stated. "Of course, I am ready for brand new challenges."Phoenix is presently in production on "What to anticipate When You are Expecting" and will also be the development entity on other existing Phoenix projects for example "The Final Voyage of Demeter," which Medavoy stated is most likely probably the most likely to enter production next. And he'll still focus on projects outdoors the Phoenix banner with Phoenix Leader Arnie Messer, co-presidents Bradley Fischer and David Thwaits and VPs Christopher Trunkey, Edward McGurn and Doug McKay.For instance, Medavoy and McKay introduced the other day that they acquired privileges to Ray Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine," which is created outdoors Phoenix. In This summer, Medavoy and McGurn arrived at an offer to build up and convey an element film concerning the 33 Chilean miners saved in the San Jos Mine this past year with Jos Rivera ("Motorcycle Journals") writing the script.Medavoy's tried a lot more than 300 films -- including seven which have won the very best-picture Oscar returning to 1975's "One Travelled Within the Cuckoo's Nest." He composed a 2002 biography, "You are Only just like The Next One: 100 Great Films, 100 Good Films and 100 that I Ought To Be Shot.""I have done a myriad of films -- 'Terminator,' 'Robocop,' 'Silence from the Lamb, 'Philadelphia' -- what exactly I'm able to say is when it's different, it intrigues me," Medavoy told Variety 2 yrs ago.The producer's more-than-four decade Hollywood career has placed stints as co-chief at U . s . Artists, Orion and Columbia. Phoenix, particularly, was inolved using more than 25 films with similar professional team in position.Its last first-look cope with The new sony -- to which Phoenix would supply area of the production costs -- expired in 2004 with "The Sixth Guy" the ultimate pic made under that arrangement. Phoenix's business design concentrates on the fundamental business of assembling packages, taking these phones galleries after which moving the expansion process, even when it requires years.Medavoy introduced in June he and Shanghai Film Group were joining on the feature film along with a TV miniseries -- both occur The Second World War in China.Medavoy, who had been born in Shanghai in 1941, resided the very first six many years of his existence there before immigrating to Chile and so the U.S. He also created the World war 2 thriller "Shanghai," which has not yet been launched through the Weinstein Co. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Adult Swim dives deep into alt rock

'Metalocalypse,' about the fictional metal band Dethklok, spawned a sell-out tour and the biggest-selling death metal album of all time. From "Metalocalypse," the death metal cartoon that spawned a sell-out tour featuring music from the show, to the forthcoming pilot starring rap sensation Odd Future, Adult Swim's absurdist comedy programming on the Cartoon Network has a distinctly musical bent, showcasing some of the most cutting-edge acts in America, both established and emerging.Once upon a time, young music fans might have tuned into MTV to hear the latest sounds by alternative bands. With MTV now firmly in the mainstream, Adult Swim is filling the void, showcasing the kinds of genres -- death metal, shock rock, screamo, South African rap, you name it -- you're unlikely to hear anywhere else on cable. "On all levels, Adult Swim is trying to bring you something quality and unusual, and we are very transparent about that," says Jason Demarco, creative director of sales promotions at the network, and A&R at Adult Swim's record label Williams Street Records. "I try to steer way from average pop-type music and so far the fan feedback we have gotten through the years shows they appreciate it."The white trash cephalopod show "Squidbillies" has featured music by southern rock and alt-country acts including Drive-By Truckers, Widespread Panic and Bonnie Prince Billy. Cee Lo Green played a character on "The Brak Show."This year, Queens of the Stone Age front man Josh Homme wrote the new theme song for the show "Aqua Unit Patrol Squad One"; the show also featured notorious underground hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse.This forward-thinking strategy has deepened the already strong loyalty between the Turner-owned network and its 2 million or so viewers. It also made it a bona fide destination for that coveted demographic -- the 18- to 24-year-old male cultural influencers and early adopters who appreciate the network's grasp of underground music as much as its subversive programming. It all happened very naturally, says Mike Lazzo, senior exec VP in charge of Adult Swim. The network launched in September 2001 and from day one, it was decided that the music heard by viewers should match the unconventional content."One of the things that did when we started making Adult Swim was the packaging," explains Lazzo. "For bumper music, we didn't want to use the typical music that you saw in a TV library. We went to Jason Demarco and said, 'Help us find interesting music.' And from there we just got in deeper and deeper."Hip-hop producer Danger Mouse, a friend of Demarco's, produced several "bumps," later teaming up with rapper MF Doom to form Danger Doom, releasing the "The Mouse and the Mask" collaboration album, featuring guest appearances from Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Harvey Birdman characters. From there came Metalocalypse, an animated show about fictional death metal band Dethklok, and Adult Swim's biggest commercial musical success. When Williams Street released the first Dethklok album in 2007, it charted No. 21 on the Billboard 200, making it the highest-rated death metal album of all time. The second Dethklok album hit No. 15 on the Billboard charts, selling around 800,000 records.Brendon Small, the show's creator, convinced the network and sponsors to support a full American Dethklok tour, featuring a live band playing along to animated footage; the tour sold out nationwide."We just headlined the Mayhem festival for 30,000 people," says Small. "It's insane."The alchemy of music and television is almost certainly what allowed for Metalocalypse's success, says Smalls. "It's a TV show and a metal band at the same time, so we have an unfair advantage over other metal bands," he says. "Oftentimes people say 'I don't know much about metal but I like Dethklok.' "Adult Swim continues to expand its reach into the music biz through genre-specific compilation albums spearheaded by Demarco, usually featuring music licensed from other labels. Williams Street Records is signing underground acts like Cerebral Ballzy, and have shot a pilot with L.A. rap breakthrough act Odd Future, whose dark, subversive lyrics were a perfect fit for the Adult Swim audience.All of this begs the question: why pour so much time, energy and money into music?Says Lazzo, "We're music lovers! From a business perspective, it definitely broadens our appeal and brings us to audiences who may or may not know what Adults Swim is. But the best part is that, as music fans, we are getting attention for doing things that we personally find interesting anyway. It's a win-win for the fans and the network." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Tangled Trails

Corporal Jack Borden, of the Northwest Mounted Police, trails the man who killed his partner to New York City. The killer is an unscrupulous promoter who is selling worthless stock in a gold mine. Borden, with the help of Blanche Hall, locates the man in a Bowery dive, but he escapes and Borden tracks him back to Canada. Along the way, he discovers that Blanche and his sweetheart, Milly, are long-separated sisters and brings about a reconciliation.

Comedy Central Sets Fall Premiere Dates

From the much hyped Roast of Charlie Sheen to the debut of new series Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution, the cable premiere of 30 Rock and the return of Tosh.0, Workaholics and South Park to Jeff Dunham, Donald Glover, Al' Yankovic, Craig Ferguson and Carlos Mencia specials, here are Comedy Central's fall premiere dates: Original Series and Specials Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen (World Premiere) Monday, September 19 at 10:00 p.m. Charlie Sheen's "winning" streak comes to a screeching halt as he becomes the next COMEDY CENTRAL Roastee, where his warlock skills and tiger blood won't stand a chance against the insults and jabs flying at him from our dais. With Roastmaster Seth MacFarlane, who returns for his third consecutive turn as the nights conductor. Tosh.0 (Fall Season Premiere) Tuesday, September 20 at 10:00 p.m. Daniel Tosh is back to break down the vast field of twarties, vlogs, hashtags, and deluded YouTube sensations for your viewing pleasure. Tune in for a brand new season of Toshs takes on the online universe. Workaholics (Season 2 Premiere) Tuesday, September 20 at 10:30 p.m. Adam, Blake, and Anders are back at work in an all-new season of the hit series, Workaholics. Dress codes, deadlines and waking up before noon are not things these guys are used to. They do their jobs and sometimes they even do them well, but they show up late, leave drunk and always live for the dayeven if they don't know what day it is. Best friends who work together from 9 to 5 and live together from 5 to 9, the gang is back to tackle their work/life balance in a new season of Workaholics. South Park Documentary (Title TBD) Sunday, October 2 at 10:00 p.m. COMEDY CENTRAL continues the year-long celebration of "South Park" by providing fans with an all-access pass to the behind-the-scenes world of creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone at South Park Studios in Los Angeles through this special documentary, providing an exclusive, insiders look into the making of a South Park episode. South Park (Fall Season Premiere) Wednesday, October 5 at 10:00 p.m. Season 15 and The Year Of The Fan continue with more outrageous escapades from Cartman, Kyle, Stan and Kenny. Nick Swardson's Pretend Time (Season 2 Premiere) Wednesday, October 5 at 10:30 p.m. Nick Swardson's twisted world of trust fund kitties, gay robots and the infamous Garry Gaga returns with an all-new season of the irreverent and twisted sketch show. Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution (Series Premiere) Thursday, October 6 at 10:00 p.m. It's time for the revolution! Come join the comedy party with Gabriel Iglesias as he hosts COMEDY CENTRALs brand-new series Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution. Filmed at Phoenixs newest club, Stand Up Live, the series features stand-up sets fromGabriel and his funniest comedian friends plusmusic from 3-time Grammy award winners, Ozomatli, as the house band. Keep the party going and make sure to tune-in Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. ET this fall beginning October 6 to make it loud with Fluffy and friends! Acquired Series 30 Rock (Cable Television Premiere) Weeknights at 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., beginning Monday, September 19 Running TGS with Tracy Jordan is not easy for head writer Liz Lemon, especially when she has to deal with stars that have the combined maturity of a fourth grader, an executive constantly dispensing corporate wisdom and a personal life one could charitably describe as "depressing." Catch all of the one-liners, behind-the-scenes action and wild humor from this multiple-Emmy Award-winning comedy weeknights at 7:00 and 7:30 p.m. when it has its COMEDY CENTRAL debut on Monday, September 19. Stand-up Specials Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos (World Premiere) Sunday, September 25 at 9:00 p.m. Jeff Dunham is back with an all-new COMEDY CENTRAL special that offers his millions of fans brand-new laughs and hilarious additions to his famed troupe of sidekicks. Find out what everyone has been up to, who Achmed's been silencing and even meet two new Dunham characters! Don't miss the premiere of "Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos" on Sunday, September 25 at 9:00 p.m. Weird Al' Yankovic Live! - The Alpcalypse Tour (World Premiere) Saturday, October 1 at 9:00 p.m. Shot this summer at the venerable Massey Hall in Toronto during Weird Al's tour to support the release of "Alpocalypse" (his first full-length studio album in nearly five years), "'Weird Al' Yankovic Live! - The Alpocalypse Tour" is his first televised concert special in over a decade and features hits off of "Alpocalypse" like "Perform This Way" (Weird Al's parody of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," which garnered over 6 million video views in its first week of release), as well as many of the legendary artist's greatest hits. Craig Ferguson: Does This Need to Be Said? Saturday, October 15 at 10:00 p.m. The gloriously ribald Scotsman and Late Late Shows host Craig Ferguson takes to the stage in this all-new comedy special for a night of jokes and storytelling peppered with the kinds of words he is not allowed to say on network TV. Before a hootin' and hollerin' Nashville audience, Ferguson tackles every topic from celebrity sex scandals to booze to his own hilarious heavy metal past. Pablo Francisco: They Put It Out There (World Premiere) Saturday, November 5 at 11:00 p.m. When Pablo Francisco hits the stage he weaves together his arsenal of characters, spontaneous outbursts and clever insights to create a stand-up show that resembles an hour-long comedic jazz riff. His unmatched outlook on all things pop culture has taken him into the ranks of the most popular touring comedians worldwide, leaving his audiences struggling to catch their breath. TJ Miller: No Real Reason (World Premiere) Saturday, November 12 (time TBD) The World Premiere of this COMEDY CENTRAL Original Stand-Up special from TJ Miller. Donald Glover: Weirdo (World Premiere) Sunday, November 20 (time TBD) The World Premiere of this stand-up special from Community's Donald Glover. Carlos Mencia Stand-Up Special (title TBD) (World Premiere) Sunday, December 4 (time TBD) The World Premiere of this COMEDY CENTRAL Original Stand-Up Special from Carlos Mencia.

Jake Pavelka On Those Bachelor Pad Promos & Becoming Friends With Vienna?

By Jolie LashBEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- In the promos for Monday nights season premiere of ABCs The Bachelor Pad, Jake Pavelka is caught on camera saying, I hope she falls 3,000 feet to her death, but the reality star said he isnt hoping for the demise of any of his fellow contestants. Im not gonna comment on editing, but I dont wish anybody to death, he told Access Hollywood at Sunday nights ABC Television Critics Association party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Youre gonna have to watch the episode [on Monday] to see what I was really talking about. It was in relationship to a challenge. Bachelor Pad host Chris Harrison told Access that the conflict revealed on the upcoming show between Jake and his former Bachelor fiancee, Vienna Girardi, is simply of a dramatic nature. No, Vienna was not hurt or killed in the production of the Bachelor Pad, he laughed. While this season brings together some of the biggest headline-grabbers in The Bachelor and Bachelorette franchises, including Girardis new beau, Kasey Kahl, Harrison said hosting the show isnt taxing despite being surrounded by lots and lots of drama. Its awesome to film Bachelor Pad Its the best show to host of all the shows I do, because its great. You have all these characters, they come back on their own volition, Harrison said. Theres no tricks. Youve come back, you know whats going on. Its a game showYou just kind of let them do their thing. Its phenomenal. Jake said filming Bachelor Pad has been enjoyable and he made plenty of pals. I became friends with everybody on the show. Probably, at a stones throw, I would say even Kasey and Vienna. At least Im ready for a friendship, I cant speak for her, Jake told Access. She can take baby steps and you know, whenever shes ready The former Bachelor said Viennas reluctance to speak with him over the last year actually served as an impetus for his joining the Bachelor Pad cast. We started a conversation about a year ago and she abruptly stopped the conversation and it was time to pick it up, he said. I reached out to her a couple of times throughout the year to no joy and I knew she was gonna be on Bachelor Pad and I thought, whatev, what a perfect opportunity, to get to her. Jake said he understands America is tired of it, referring to the drama between the former couple, which has continued to play out in the press, and hes ready to move on and let it be. She wasnt my girlfriend, she was my fiancee. You just gotta be mature about it. Quit talking about it after Monday night. Thats it, Jake said. This is the last go around and then thats it. Bachelor Pad premieres on Monday at 8 PM on ABC. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Guzman joins Dynamo Capital

TAULL, Spain -- Colombian private equity fund Dynamo Capital has tapped Alejandra Guzman as its director of investments.Her appointment comes as Dynamo Capital is closing its second film-financing vehicle. Dynamo's first near $10 million film fund expired Jan. 2.An open-ended revolving fund, the second vehicle will finance or co-produce three to five Colombian international co-productions per year of varying budgets, Guzman said. Guzman will oversee the second fund's investments, working alongside Cristian Conti, Dynamo Capital senior fund manager. A Harvard MBA graduate, Guzman is also involved in initial fund raising for a third, $150 million-$200 million private equity fund designed to invest in Latin American content, and film, TV and animation companies.Latter would include production houses that "we see as having potential in the region, but maybe haven't been able to expand from their own country due to a lack of capital, expertise, or because they don't have an international footprint," Guzman told Variety. Dynamo Capital has two films in post: Andi Baiz's "Bunker: The Hidden Face," a thriller with genre elements produced with Sanford Panitch's Fox Intl. Prods., and Spain's Cactus Flower and Avalon, and sold by FIP and Elle Driver; and serial killer thriller "Blind Alley," produced by Dynamo, Spain's Roxbury Pics. and Antena 3 Films, from scribe-turned-director Antonio Trashorras ("The Devil's Backbone").Dynamo is now looking for projects to invest in via its second fund. The idea is to always finance Colombian co-productions, which means having Colombian elements," Guzman said. "But that doesn't mean the film has to be a Colombian story, or have a wholly Colombian cast or be made for just a Colombian audience." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

First look: Anne Hathaway as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises

Exciting news for bat-fans! Warner Bros hasreleased the first official image of Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises.Hathaway is pictured astride one of Batman's favourite toys - the Bat-pod - in fetching blue-tinted goggles and a zip-up black leather catsuit, sporting a sensible ponytail.This seems to confirm rumours that director Christopher Nolan's version of the suit would be more practical and less sexy than other incarnations of the character, most notably Michelle Pfeiffer in Tim Burton's 1992 Bat-sequel,Batman Returns.Fans have been clamouring for a sighting of Hathaway as Selina Kyle's alter-ego ever since she was announced in the role in January. Now we're just baying for a proper gawp ofJoseph Gordon-Levitt and Juno Temple.

Manager sentenced for scam

A Hollywood talent manager has pleaded no contest to 1 count of operating funding-fee talent representation service and neglecting to file a $50,000 bond using the Condition Labor Commission. The La City Attorney's office introduced Thursday that Patrick W. O'Brien, 51, operator of Pat O'Brien Talent Management and Talent Marketing and Promotions Corporation., was purchased to pay for restitution for performing a $3,000 bait-and-switch scam on ambitious stars as well as their parents. Deputy City Attorney Mark Lambert punished the situation. Judge Yolanda Orozco sentenced defendant O'Brien to 3 years' probation and 3 months in jail or 45 times of community labor together with having to pay $6,000 restitution to 3 sufferers. He seemed to be purchased to seal lower the Talent Marketing and Promotions business, to not advertise any audition or employment chance and also to don't have any participation with any talent training service or talent listing service anywhere inside or outdoors the condition of California, including any seminar, camping or educational facility. Orozco also purchased O'Brien to not engage in any company that evolves or produces movies, television, the web or other entertainment enterprise. The situation involved an Arizona mother and her 15-year-old boy. Mom responded this past year to some casting notice for any teen sitcom project, after which it the boy was asked to audition in the Hollywood Center Galleries and subsequently before O'Brien. Throughout another interview, O'Brien signed the boy to some management contract. O'Brien also offered the victim a "photo shoot and acting classes" package for pretty much $3,000, which brought the household to relocate to California therefore the boy could take part in the classes. The Town Attorney's office stated a complete refund was asked for but never provided which following the situation was filed, two more parents approached the town Attorney's office and filed a complaint against O'Brien and the business. Another talent manager, Nicholas Roses, 21, pleaded no contest a week ago to 2 counts and was sentenced by Orozco to 3 years' probation and also to pay $10,700 as a whole restitution towards the three worrying witnesses in addition to $2,000 in investigative costs. Moves come annually following the city cautioned casting training courses and talent services it would enforce stiffened condition rules barring "pay to audition" ripoffs, with city attorney Carmen Trutanich delivering out about 200 letters to inform the operators the Krekorian Act choose to go into effect (Daily Variety, April 22, 2010). Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com