MTV Awards-Show Director Tapped for Oscars....British director Hamish Hamilton has long credit list of music shows, videos

MTV Awards-Show Director Tapped for Oscars

British director Hamish Hamilton has long credit list of music shows, videos.

By Josh L. Dickey .

The Oscars want their MTV.

Hamish Hamilton has been named director of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, a sign that first-time producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman may push the Oscars further into the musical performance-heavy territory that the telecast found critical and ratings traction with last time around.

The 43-year-old Brit has steered the stylish and freewheeling MTV Video Music Awards going back to 2006, and this year helmed “Neil Diamond: Hot August Night/NYC” and “Be the Change Inaugural Ball.”

“Hamish is a first-rate live-show director who will bring enthusiasm, experience and a fresh eye to the table,” said Shankman in a release.

“He’s also a master of working with all of the latest technology in television production, which speaks to the kind of cutting-edge show Bill and I are planning.”

Hamilton also directed “The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show” five out of the past six years and has several live musical and live awards telecasts to his credit.

He has worked with such diverse artists as U2, Evanescence, Peter Gabriel and Eminem.

Together Shankman, a choreographer and one of the judges on “So You Think You Can Dance?” and director of the film “Hairspray”; and Mechanic, the producer of “Coraline” and former chairman of Fox, chose Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin as co-hosts earlier this month.

Hamilton becomes only the fifth man in the last 38 years to direct the Oscar telecast.

Beginning in 1972, Marty Pasetta handed the job for 17 consecutive shows, largely inventing the modern Oscar show before he was bounced for being a little too imperious.

Margolis took over for eight years, beginning in 1989; Louis J. Horvitz followed with a dozen shows.

Roger Goodman directed the Oscar show earlier this year.

He apparently was chosen out of four finalists who spoke to Mechanic and Shankman. (Margolis was in the running; as were Goodman and veteran TV director Gary Halvorson.)

“Adam and I know that having Hamish at the helm will give us the right style and energy for the show we want to produce,” said Mechanic.

“And his approach definitely won’t feel like ‘business as usual.’”

'Let's Get Ready to Rumble' Worth $400M.....After Throat Cancer Last Year, Michael Buffer Keeps His Unmistakable Voice

'Let's Get Ready to Rumble' Worth $400M


After Throat Cancer Last Year, Michael Buffer Keeps His Unmistakable Voice


By JOHN BERMAN and MICHAEL MILBERGERNov. 9, 2009





When Hollywood producers cast a ring announcer in a boxing scene, they know there's only one man who can properly play the role: Michael Buffer.

Michael Buffer's "Let's get ready to rumble" can rouse crowds of thousands.

Cast in more than 20 movies and television shows, from "Rocky" to "South Park" to the new movie "2012," Buffer, 65, gives the scene an authenticity viewers demand.

His booming voice, dashing good looks and natural charisma demand attention, while his catchphrase 'Let's Get Ready to Rumble,' makes him unforgettable.

Those five words -- 'Let's Get Ready to Rumble' -- have made Buffer the undisputed king of boxing ring announcers and a hugely successful entrepreneur.

By trademarking his catchphrase, Buffer has generated over $400 million in revenue, selling the rights to music, video games, merchandise and while making personal appearances.

His business venture is so successful, Buffer doesn't even have to say his catchphrase to make money.

He makes more from the trademark than he does announcing in the ring.

His catchphrase has brought Buffer more than just fame and fortune.

It's also brought him family.

Raised by foster parents in Philadelphia, Buffer was re-united with his biological father and half-brothers in 1989 after his father saw him announcing on television.

Buffer's half-brother Bruce is now his business partner and the announcer for the Ultimate Fight Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts series.

Demi Moore's W Cover: Worst Photoshop??????????????

Everyone knows by now that magazines extensively airbrush the stars on their covers, and usually the celebs appreciate a little touchup and wouldn't want it any other way.

But imagine Demi Moore, 47, getting her first look at the latest (December) cover of W and finding that a huge chunk of her hip has been digitally removed

That's what the folks at Boing Boing called attention to yesterday.

The mistake hardly needs to be pointed out.

If you look at Moore's left hip (our right), it seems that what used to be flesh is now a great deal of white space.

But, don't worry, Mrs. Kutcher's thigh still seems normal, though now it appears to bulge out below her sarong.

Magazine covers go through an exhaustive process of approvals, so it's puzzling that this one made it to press with a mistake so obvious it's visible a few yards from the newsstand.

Victor Issa is one of the foremost figurative sculptors in America today, and is heralded for his remarkable ability to make bronze appear alive.

His artistic hallmark "Creating Living Bronze" is the embodiment of his life-focused spirituality, respect for the human figure, love of life, passion for perfection, and undaunted perseverance.

Victor has been sculpting professionally for nearly two decades.

His works have been featured in shows and exhibitions across America since 1985.

Victor's sculptures are displayed in private and public collections worldwide.

Active in the fine arts community, Victor is co-founder and president of the Loveland Sculpture Invitational Show & Sale, the largest sculpture show in the United States.

“Inviting Joy” is meant to depict the joy of living, loving and taking life in its fullest measure; open, welcoming, cherishing and stirring us deeply.

Invite this presence into your life to remind you of the joys of life daily.

LBN-INVESTIGATES:

The revenues generated from gambling is more than than those from

movies,

cruise ships,

recorded music,

theme parks and

spectator sports combined

WOMEN DISAPPOINTED BY QADDAFI'S PARTY:

"Seeking 500 attractive girls between 18 and 35 years old, at least 1.70 meters (5 foot, 7 inches) tall, well-dressed but not in mini-skirts or low cut dresses," the ad read.

Gaddafi girls: Women recruited to attend a reception held by the Libyan leader leave with copies of the Koran

There were promises of 60 Euros and Libyan gifts.

200 women in Rome turned up for Libyan Leader Muammar Qaddafis party.

Or so they thought.

Instead, they had to wait in a large hall until Qaddafi arrived.

Then he began lecturing them on the role of women in Islam.

Glamorous: The women were told not to wear mini skirts to the gala - but the dictator insisted 'heels are OK'

At the end, Qaddafi told them to convert to Islam and gave them each a Quran and a book of his wisdom.

"It was anything but the VIP party we were expecting, they didn't even give us a glass of water," one woman said.

Sony Pictures Beats Its Overseas Record

By Nikki Finke

Monday November 16, 2009 @ 2:03pm

Sony now claims 2012 "exceeded our estimates" yesterday by over $5 million worldwide.

So Roland Emmerich's disaster pic did $165.2 million overseas and $65.2 million domestically for a new worldwide total of $230.4 million.

That helped Sony Pictures set a new studio record for international box office with $1.634 billion for 2009, and counting, that broke the 2006 previous record.

The studio thinks it's on track for "the best box office year worldwide" in its history and issued a press release to that effect.

That's because of big overseas numbers for 2012, Angels & Demons ($352M), Terminator Salvation ($220.6M), District 9 ($88M), The Ugly Truth ($112M) and Michael Jackson’s This Is It ($155.2M).

Jeff Blake, chairman, Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing and Distribution said in a statement, “Our performance this year re-emphasizes the importance of the international marketplace and the enormous value of a release slate with global appeal."

Sony Pictures also says it's on track to make 2009 its best year ever worldwide and pass $3.334 billion, the record the studio set in 2006.

In addition, SPRI could potentially pass the $2 billion mark at the international box office, a number that has been reached by any studio only 4 times in history.

Latest Agency Signings & Hirings

By Nikki Finke

Monday November 16, 2009 @ 4:03am

Oscar winner Kim Basinger has left her longtime agency CAA to sign with UTA board member and talent head Tracey Jacobs over the weekend.

Basinger will continue to be managed by Oren Segal at Media Talent Group.

UTA has hired Jason Egenberg in the TV Talent department.

He was previously a manager at Rebel Entertainment.

CAA has signed actors:

Juliet Binoche, Academy Award winnerNasim Pedrad, a new SNL cast member.

Sherri Shepherd, Emmy Award winner, co-host of The View,

star of Sherri Rachel Bilson, of the Fox TV hit The O.C. and films The Last Kiss, Jumper, New York, I Love You

Ludacris, Grammy winner (Crash, Hustle & Flow, 2 Fast 2 Furious)

Willie Nelson, recording artist and actor

And the following writers and/or directors:Chris McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, X-Men, Valkyrie)

Audrey Wells (Under The Tuscan Sun, Shall We Dance, The Truth About Cats & Dogs);

Kevin Walker (Seven, Sleepy Hollow, The Wolfman)

Danny Cannon (Jerry Bruckheimer's Dark Blue, The Forgotten, CSI, CSI Miami, CSI NY

Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Felicity)Bryan Bertino (The Strangers)Clyde Phillips (Dexter)

Gersh has signed the following actors:

Selma Blair from CAA

Katee Sackhoff from WME

Rachelle Lefevre (The Twilight Saga: New Moon)

Eion Bailey (Almost Famous, Fight Club)

Parminder Nagra from WME (ER, Bend It Like Beckham)

The following feature writers and/or directors:

Donald Petrie from WME (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days)

Jon Harmon and Scott Elder from Paradigm (Snow White and the Seven Shaolin)

Chuck Russell from Paradigm (The Scorpion King, The Mask)

Comedy/Personal AppearancesNorm MacDonald from CAA (Saturday Night Live, Dirty Work)

Tom Green for PA (The Tom Green Show, Road Trip)

Christopher Titus from UTA (Titus)

Tommy Davidson from WME (Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, The Proud Family)

Carrie Fisher from APA (Family Guy, Sorority Row)

New Hire Carolyn Sivitz, feature lit agent from WMA

Paradigm signed the following actors:

Nia Vardalos from CAA (My Life In Ruins, My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

Jill Hennessy (Crossing Jordan, Law & Order)

Eugene Levy from WME (American Pie, Bringing Down the House, Cheaper by the Dozen 2)

Robert Patrick (Terminator 2, The X-Files, The Unit)

Thomas Kretschmann (Valkyrie, Wanted)

Natasha McElhone (Surviving Picasso, Laurel Canyon, The Other Boleyn Girl, Californication)

Jessica Jade Andres (The Last Airbender)

Carly Chaikin (The Last Song)

Kristen Johnston (Third Rock From The Sun, Bride Wars)

Damien Dante Wayans (Malibu's Most Wanted)

Feature & TV writers and/or directors:

David McKenna (Blow, American History X)

Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois from WME (Glory Road, The Fountainhead)

Jeremy Leven from WME (Alex And Emma, The Notebook, My Sister's Keeper, Don Juan DeMarco)

Scott Teems (That Evening Sun)

Jay Kogan (The Simpsons, Frazier, The George Lopez Show)

Bruce Vilanch from APA (Oscars, Tonys, Grammys, Emmys telecasts)

Ron Parker from ICM (Broken Trail, Joan Of Arc)

Chris Leitch (Miami Trauma, CSI, The Beast, Samurai Girl)

Murdoch No. 7 on Forbes world power list....Mogul outranks the pope, Hillary Clinton; Obama is No. 1

ISRAELI MODEL AMIT

Murdoch No. 7 on Forbes world power list

Mogul outranks the pope, Hillary Clinton; Obama is No. 1

By Paul Bond

Nov 11, 2009, 06:00 PM ET

Rupert Murdoch (Getty)

Rupert Murdoch is more powerful than the pope.

In its inaugural list of the world's most powerful people, Forbes has the News Corp. chief at No. 7, ahead of such luminaries as the king of Saudi Arabia (No. 9), Pope Benedict XVI (No. 11) and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (No. 17).

Topping the list is President Obama, followed by China president Jintao Hu, Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page.

Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, is No. 10.

Murdoch is the only pure media mogul to crack the top 10, though Brin and Page certainly dabble in media, as does No. 6 on the list Carlos Slim Helu, the Telmex CEO who recently purchased a 6.4% stake in the New York Times.

Other media bigwigs on the Forbes list of the 67 most powerful people include No. 13 Jeff Immelt, the CEO and chairman of NBC Universal parent GE.

Prime Minister of Italy and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi is No. 12, while New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, founder of the business news service that bears his name, is No. 20.

Oprah Winfrey is No. 45, New York Times editor William Keller is No. 51, Al Jazeera director-general Khanfar Wadah is No. 54, Apple founder and Disney director Steve Jobs is No. 57 and BBC director-general Mark Thompson is No. 65.

Forbes held its list to 67 "based on the conceit that one can reduce the world's 6.7 billion people to the one in every 100 million that matter.

"Its criteria consisted of:

the number of people one influences;

one's ability to project power beyond one's immediate sphere of influence;

control of or access to significant financial resources;

and how actively one wields power.

The list even includes a few of the more notorious drug traffickers, terrorists and other assorted outlaws.

Osama bin Laden, for example, is No. 37.

The entire list can be found at www.forbes.com/power.


Simon Cowell top male TV earner

'Idol' judge makes $75 mil; Donald Trump ranks No. 2

Reuters

Nov 10, 2009, 05:44 PM ET

Simon Cowell (Getty)

Simon Cowell -- the acerbic "American Idol" judge, creator of "America's Got Talent" and record producer -- is the top-earning man on primetime U.S. television with an estimated haul of $75 million, Forbes.com said Tuesday.

Cowell beat out "The Apprentice" host Donald Trump ($50 million) and "American Idol" presenter Ryan Seacrest ($38 million), based on estimated pre-tax earnings from June 1, 2008-June 1, 2009.

Most of the top earners have several entertainment-related ventures, Forbes said.

Cowell has his own record label, which has signed singers including Leona Lewis and Susan Boyle, in addition to his duties as a judge on "Idol" -- the most watched TV show in the United States for seven years.

Apart from "Apprentice," Trump lends his name to products ranging from neckties to vodka and reaps fees from speeches and books.

Seacrest, 34, has a Los Angeles morning radio show, is a celebrity TV host and developed the TV reality show "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," as well as hosting "Idol."

Rounding up the top five are "Two and a Half Men" star Charlie Sheen ($21 million) and "The Office" actor Steve Carell ($20 million).

The remainder of the top 10:

6. Howie Mandel ($15 million)

7. Kiefer Sutherland ($13 million)

8. Jeff Foxworthy ($11 million)

9. Hugh Laurie ($10 million)

10. David Caruso ($9 million)

CONFUCIUS SAYS..........TIMELESS WISE WORDS.........

LBN-HISTORICAL COMMENTARY BY

CONFUCIUS:

The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.

The greater man does not boast of himself, but does what he must do. (479 BCE)

LBN-SEE IT:

....Jeff Dunham and company outside his home in Encino, Calif.

Jeff Dunham has turned his puppet act into a multimillion-dollar empire.

LBN-MUSIC INSIDER:

***Carly Simon claims she was disadvantaged as an up-and-coming singer in her fight to conquer stage fright.

"Everyone in the '70s was stoned in order to get onstage, but I was afraid of drugs . . .

Now I've grown to love them," she told the crowd at the Bruno Walter Auditorium during the first New York edition of a series hosted by LA's Grammy Museum.

LBN-A DIFFERENT VIEW