Nick Nolte Recruited For Gangster Squad

As the chief of policeBecause it's been far too long since we wrote something about Warner Bros' Gangster Squad - a couple of weeks, at least! - director Ruben Fleischer has decided to feed our obsession by hiring Nick Nolte to join the cast even as he begins final preparations to start shooting. Nolte is one of the few big puzzle pieces left to slot in, signing on play Bill Parker, the new chief of police for Los Angeles, who arrives driven by the idea that the 1950's cop shop needs some honest officers. Specifically, a crack team dedicated to stemming the tide of organized crime represented by the likes of mobster and inveterate gambler Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn). So Parker, a World War Two veteran, sets about working with Josh Brolin's John O'Mara to make it happen. As you may already know, Ryan Gosling will be one of the other prime components, with Giovanni Ribisi, Anthony Mackie, Robert Patrick and Holt McCallany also on the team. Mireille Enos has been cast as Brolin's wife and Emma Stone will be a young woman who catches the eye of both Penn and Gosling. For his part, Nolte is enjoying something of a mini resurgence right now, between roles in Warrior and Parker already complete and his getting ready to work with Robert Redford in The Company You Keep. And that's without mentioning David Milch and Michael Mann's HBO horse racing drama Luck...

Moving from Musical to Nonmusical Roles

Moving from Musical to Nonmusical Roles By Les Spindle August 24, 2011 Photo by Ed Krieger "The Full Monty" Michelle Duffy cut her performing teeth as a rock singer and subsequently forged a successful acting career dominated by nonmusical roles. But during the past few years, she has been cast primarily in musicals, which she finds somewhat restrictive to her creative fulfillment and career goals. John Bisom, who got his first taste of the industry as a child extra on "Little House on the Prairie," had no singing or dancing training when he happened upon a career in musical theater. Both performers work hard to transition between musicals and nonmusicals, when given the opportunities. That 'Musical Woman' Duffy, born and raised in Wheeling, W.V., had been singing since she was a baby. She began studying piano and flute and went to choir camp as a child. In junior high, she took her first acting class, and her college degree program was musical theater. In high school and college, she supported herself with singing jobs. But as she says, "My bread and butter was singing, but my passion has always been acting." She says her early fascination with collecting every cast album gradually faded, except for Sondheim shows.Duffy received her Actors' Equity card after appearing in a play in Pittsburgh. She then moved to Chicago, where her first play was "My Children! My Africa!" She came to California in 1995, and in 1996 became a member of Burbank's Colony Theatre, where she did plays ("Our Country's Good") and musicals ("Putting It Together"). She says she loves playing Tennessee Williams' "terrific women's roles," such as Stella in "A Streetcar Named Desire," which she performed in San Francisco.But beginning in 2006, with La Mirada Theatre's "Johnny Guitar," Duffy fell into a cycle in which one musical seemed to lead to another. "I suddenly became this sort of musical woman," she says with a laugh. Cementing her in this new direction was her portrayal of the lead character of Pistache in director David Lee's revamp of Cole Porter's classic "Can-Can" at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2007. After that, prominent local groupsMusical Theatre West, Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities, and otherscontinued enlisting her services as a musical star. She returned to Pasadena Playhouse in 2008 for what she considered a particularly rewarding musical role: the biker mom Rusty in the stage adaptation of "Mask."Duffy began to realize that this string of tuners made it nearly impossible for her to get cast in plays anymore. She feels strongly that there is a bias against musical performers, and that once an actor is cast in that mold, it's difficult to get called in for nonmusical roles. Could some of it be attributed to artistic snobbery? "Oh, my God, yes," she replies. "It's not just from John Q. Public. I know many actors who don't like musicals. They will say that it's ridiculous to break into song walking down the street. They also think of musicals as not real acting." When this attitude exists in the casting community, it can be extremely limiting for performers like Duffy. "It's sort of like your legitimacy gets taken away from you," she says. She notes that much of this has to do with the general trend toward very specific typecasting, as actors are instantly thought of in a certain range, particularly for TV and film roles. "It's almost a detriment to be too versatile," she observes.Steven Glaudini, who has successfully worn many hats in the industryactor-singer-dancer, producer, director, theatrical agent (for Kazarian/Spencer/Ruskin & Associates), and artistic director (originally for Performance Riverside and currently for Musical Theatre West)considers Duffy a prime casting candidate for diverse roles. In fact, Glaudini was her agent when her string of musical roles began here. He recalls her as saying, "Hell has frozen over! I've booked a musical in L.A." He also agrees with Duffy that convincing some of those who cast to break down their stubborn bias against musical actors is an ongoing challenge.In Duffy's view, the ideal career is one in which an actor is able to do it all. "Doing many different kinds of projects helps keep me creative," she says. Fortunately, she is newly cast in Steven Dietz's play "Shooting Star," opening in mid-September at the Colony Theatre. Crooning for His Supper Bisom recently enjoyed his first job in a road production, playing Sam in the North American tour of "Mamma Mia!" Over the years, he has occasionally played nonmusical roles on television, did a voiceover role in the first "Shrek" film, and has been cast in nonmusical plays such as "As You Like It" and "After the Fall."Born and raised in Long Beach, Calif., Bisom has consistently received critical praise for his performances in Southern California musicals, appearing with virtually every musical company in the L.A. vicinity, such as Musical Theatre West and FCLO Music Theatre. He has also done regional work, as with the Sacramento Music Circus and Music Theatre of Wichita.Bisom says, "I completely stumbled into musicals. I had studied to be an actor at Long Beach City College and did plays there. Then about 1983, someone came to me and asked me to audition for a musical, and that's when I found out that I could sing." From there, the musical roles kept coming. Following those early breaks, Bisom took vocal and dance lessons, and he still gets brush-up vocal coaching, though he says most of his training has been on the job: "I met a lot of people who were willing to put me through some paces, and even teach me a little tap."Bisom adds, "I always thought of myself as an actor, and I still approach any role in musicals as an actor first. Fortunately, I have the ability to sing. Musicals are challenging. Exposing yourself out there by suddenly breaking into song isn't an easy thing to do. You're very vulnerable in a way." He believes the most successful nonsinging performers who pull off musicals are those confident enough to approach the role as an actor: "They might not have the best singing voice in the world, but they are able to carry it through the song, and you believe them."Glaudini thinks that in the current economy, actors who have musical skills as well as acting talent are sometimes wise to accept musical roles in favor of dramatic parts. As an example, he cites his wife, actor-dancer-singer Bets Malone, who a few years ago was delighted to be cast in a play at Milwaukee Repertory Theater but had to turn down the offer to accept a more lucrative job in the epic musical "The Ten Commandments." He says, "It would be great if we could all just live artistically and do what feeds our artistic souls, but you have to pay the bills."Bisom has hopes for the future. "I've always wanted to [play Atticus Finch in] 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' " he says. "That's one of my favorite characters and favorite books. And I'm finally getting to the age when I can do it." Moving from Musical to Nonmusical Roles By Les Spindle August 24, 2011 "The Full Monty" PHOTO CREDIT Ed Krieger Michelle Duffy cut her performing teeth as a rock singer and subsequently forged a successful acting career dominated by nonmusical roles. But during the past few years, she has been cast primarily in musicals, which she finds somewhat restrictive to her creative fulfillment and career goals. John Bisom, who got his first taste of the industry as a child extra on "Little House on the Prairie," had no singing or dancing training when he happened upon a career in musical theater. Both performers work hard to transition between musicals and nonmusicals, when given the opportunities. That 'Musical Woman' Duffy, born and raised in Wheeling, W.V., had been singing since she was a baby. She began studying piano and flute and went to choir camp as a child. In junior high, she took her first acting class, and her college degree program was musical theater. In high school and college, she supported herself with singing jobs. But as she says, "My bread and butter was singing, but my passion has always been acting." She says her early fascination with collecting every cast album gradually faded, except for Sondheim shows.Duffy received her Actors' Equity card after appearing in a play in Pittsburgh. She then moved to Chicago, where her first play was "My Children! My Africa!" She came to California in 1995, and in 1996 became a member of Burbank's Colony Theatre, where she did plays ("Our Country's Good") and musicals ("Putting It Together"). She says she loves playing Tennessee Williams' "terrific women's roles," such as Stella in "A Streetcar Named Desire," which she performed in San Francisco.But beginning in 2006, with La Mirada Theatre's "Johnny Guitar," Duffy fell into a cycle in which one musical seemed to lead to another. "I suddenly became this sort of musical woman," she says with a laugh. Cementing her in this new direction was her portrayal of the lead character of Pistache in director David Lee's revamp of Cole Porter's classic "Can-Can" at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2007. After that, prominent local groupsMusical Theatre West, Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities, and otherscontinued enlisting her services as a musical star. She returned to Pasadena Playhouse in 2008 for what she considered a particularly rewarding musical role: the biker mom Rusty in the stage adaptation of "Mask."Duffy began to realize that this string of tuners made it nearly impossible for her to get cast in plays anymore. She feels strongly that there is a bias against musical performers, and that once an actor is cast in that mold, it's difficult to get called in for nonmusical roles. Could some of it be attributed to artistic snobbery? "Oh, my God, yes," she replies. "It's not just from John Q. Public. I know many actors who don't like musicals. They will say that it's ridiculous to break into song walking down the street. They also think of musicals as not real acting." When this attitude exists in the casting community, it can be extremely limiting for performers like Duffy. "It's sort of like your legitimacy gets taken away from you," she says. She notes that much of this has to do with the general trend toward very specific typecasting, as actors are instantly thought of in a certain range, particularly for TV and film roles. "It's almost a detriment to be too versatile," she observes.Steven Glaudini, who has successfully worn many hats in the industryactor-singer-dancer, producer, director, theatrical agent (for Kazarian/Spencer/Ruskin & Associates), and artistic director (originally for Performance Riverside and currently for Musical Theatre West)considers Duffy a prime casting candidate for diverse roles. In fact, Glaudini was her agent when her string of musical roles began here. He recalls her as saying, "Hell has frozen over! I've booked a musical in L.A." He also agrees with Duffy that convincing some of those who cast to break down their stubborn bias against musical actors is an ongoing challenge.In Duffy's view, the ideal career is one in which an actor is able to do it all. "Doing many different kinds of projects helps keep me creative," she says. Fortunately, she is newly cast in Steven Dietz's play "Shooting Star," opening in mid-September at the Colony Theatre. Crooning for His Supper Bisom recently enjoyed his first job in a road production, playing Sam in the North American tour of "Mamma Mia!" Over the years, he has occasionally played nonmusical roles on television, did a voiceover role in the first "Shrek" film, and has been cast in nonmusical plays such as "As You Like It" and "After the Fall."Born and raised in Long Beach, Calif., Bisom has consistently received critical praise for his performances in Southern California musicals, appearing with virtually every musical company in the L.A. vicinity, such as Musical Theatre West and FCLO Music Theatre. He has also done regional work, as with the Sacramento Music Circus and Music Theatre of Wichita.Bisom says, "I completely stumbled into musicals. I had studied to be an actor at Long Beach City College and did plays there. Then about 1983, someone came to me and asked me to audition for a musical, and that's when I found out that I could sing." From there, the musical roles kept coming. Following those early breaks, Bisom took vocal and dance lessons, and he still gets brush-up vocal coaching, though he says most of his training has been on the job: "I met a lot of people who were willing to put me through some paces, and even teach me a little tap."Bisom adds, "I always thought of myself as an actor, and I still approach any role in musicals as an actor first. Fortunately, I have the ability to sing. Musicals are challenging. Exposing yourself out there by suddenly breaking into song isn't an easy thing to do. You're very vulnerable in a way." He believes the most successful nonsinging performers who pull off musicals are those confident enough to approach the role as an actor: "They might not have the best singing voice in the world, but they are able to carry it through the song, and you believe them."Glaudini thinks that in the current economy, actors who have musical skills as well as acting talent are sometimes wise to accept musical roles in favor of dramatic parts. As an example, he cites his wife, actor-dancer-singer Bets Malone, who a few years ago was delighted to be cast in a play at Milwaukee Repertory Theater but had to turn down the offer to accept a more lucrative job in the epic musical "The Ten Commandments." He says, "It would be great if we could all just live artistically and do what feeds our artistic souls, but you have to pay the bills."Bisom has hopes for the future. "I've always wanted to [play Atticus Finch in] 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' " he says. "That's one of my favorite characters and favorite books. And I'm finally getting to the age when I can do it."

'Paris' rules niche biz

The leggy "Night time in Paris" has gained a wider re-release. Christopher Plummer stars in Mike Mills' "Beginners," the very best B.O. artist one of the mid-summer time niche releases. "The Guard" In the niche B.O. this summer time, there is Woodsy Allen -- and precious very little else.Allen's "Night time in Paris" and Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Existence" got the summer time niche biz on a sparkling start because of extended runs both in arthouses and commercial plexes. However for distribs moving out photos purchased at Sundance along with other fests, it had been difficult to bust out in the B.O. this summer time, as "Night time" and "Tree" paid for for roughly 71% of niche earnings in the summer's top ten indie game titles."Individuals are really searching for an alternative choice to the summer's mainstream films," stated Michael Barker, co-prexy of The new sony Pictures Classics, which launched "Night time" Stateside on May 20.A lot more than 20 films out of this year's Sundance have bowed since May, with three more ("Our Idiot Brother," "Greater Ground" and "Circumstance") starting Friday. From the Sundance films already launched, only six have cumed a lot more than $a million.Starting fest pick-ups in summer time can risk crowding together the niche area. "Summer time, really, may be the earliest time to choose a Sundance pic, which means you finish up with many different movies from Sundance in June, This summer and August," stated Kerbside Points of interest prexy Howard Cohen.Remarkably, a few of the summer's top game titles were documentaries, including Sundance Selects' "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" and "Buck." Producers Distribution Agency's "Senna" opened up using the year's greatest per-screen average for any docu at $36,748. Werner Herzog's "Forgotten Dreams" has cumed $5.two million (it is the rare niche release to reap three dimensional premium prices), while domestic totals for equine whisperer docu "Buck" stand at $3.7 million.Commercial paperwork scoreSummer berths have demonstrated effective for paperwork with increased commercial appeal -- last summer time, "Babies," "Joan Rivers: A bit of Work" and "Restrepo" all clicked on in the summer time B.O.Which summer time, two more nonfiction photos also arrived one of the top 20 indies: The new sony Classics' "Beats, Rhymes and Existence: The Travels of the Tribe Known as Mission" and Magnolia Pictures' "The First Page: Within the New You are able to Occasions," each of which cumed around $a million. But one of the greater-profile docus that did not work, Roadside's Sundance buy "Project Nim" has cumed just $334,452 since starting on This summer 8.Barker cautions the doc onslaught makes it hard for individuals films to achieve followers. There have been 39 launched this summer time versus. 40 within the summer time of 2010 and 34 last year.InchYou will find a lot of documentaries opening from week to week that when you are getting in front of the pack, there's reached be something very distinctive concerning the film," Barker stated.For narrative features, Focus Features' Ewan McGregor-Christopher Plummer starrer "Beginners," with $5.six million since its release on June 3, makes probably the most associated with a mid-summer time niche release -- but nonetheless nowhere close to the total for "Night time," which entered $50 million locally, as well as "Tree of Existence" at $12.7 million.The Weinstein Co.'s Holocaust drama "Sarah's Key" has performed remarkably well following a film's This summer 22 bow, with only north of $3 million. TWC released "Sarah's Key" to some solid $23,142 per-screen average from five locations, then broadened the pic in the second weekend to 33 playdates having a perky per-screen average of $11,112.Michael Winterbottom's "The Trip" from IFC falls between nonfiction and narrative, and stellar reviews assisted the British made-for-TV pic cume a sturdy $1.8 million. (See separate story.)Irish cop comedy "The Guard," which The new sony Classics released on This summer 29, has totaled a decent $1.two million in only four days. The film continues to be carrying out extremely well in Boston, but metropolitan areas in Texas like Houston, Dallas and Austin are also notable strongholds for "The Guard."Some fest faves founderHowever, other fest faves including Sundance records "The Near FutureInch and "Another Earth," from Fox Searchlight, and Sony's SXSW pickup "Attack the Block" (with $616,000) have battled to locate an aud outdoors New You are able to or L.A.Miranda July's "The Near Future,Inch which Kerbside Points of interest acquired at Sundance, released exactly the same weekend as "The Guard" but has totalled only $333,997. July's sophomore directorial outing might have been too offbeat for many auds (pic includes a speaking cat)."I actually do think it's harder let's focus on a particular type of independent film," Cohen accepted, before rhetorically asking, "Has got the commercialization of independent cinema precluded independent cinema?"Searchlight spent around $two million for British-speaking territory privileges to "Another Earth" at Sundance. The complicated mixture of sci-fi and romance bowed This summer 22 and it has yet to hack $a million. In comparison, Searchlight's "Tree," which perhaps were built with a tougher plotline (but additionally had Kaira Pitt and Malick), arrived at $1.25 million after its second weekend.Searchlight ought to luck using the This summer discharge of Wayne Wang's "Snow Flower and also the Secret Fan," with $1.3 million."For those who have a brand new movie and also the stars are aligned, then you definitely often prosper,Inch Barker stated. "Still, that does not remove how hard it may be for more compact films." Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Lucy Punch joins 'Wedding Video'

LONDON -- Lucy Punch, Robert Webb and Rufus Hound are set to topline romantic comedy "The Wedding Video," a new pic from helmer Nigel Cole. Pic, which reunites Cole with "Calendar Girls" scribe Tim Firth, is described as a "Spinal Tap"-style expose on English society weddings, which sees a best man turn war reporter as he films his brother's wedding as it crashes and burns before his eyes. Punch recently starred alongside Cameron Diaz in "Bad Teachers." James Gay-Rees, whose recent docu "Senna" snapped up the audience award at Sundance, is on board to produce. Entertainment Film Distributors' Nigel Green and Timeless Films' Ralph Kamp are exec producers. Entertainment will distribute the pic in Blighty, while Timeless is handling international sales. Pic has begun lensing in London. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

First Trailer for Martin Scorsese's 'George Harrison: Living in the Material World' (VIDEO)

Paul and Ringo are still touring like there's no tomorrow, John already got his own documentary, and with the 10-year anniversary of his death in November, it's about time someone did the same for "the quiet Beatle," George Harrison. So who better to tackle the life story of one our greatest musical minds than the man behind 'No Direction Home' and 'The Last Waltz,' Martin Scorsese. After working on it for four years and collecting interviews from the likes of Eric Clapton, Yoko Ono, and fellow Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, among others, 'George Harrison: Living in the Material World' will chronicle Harrison's life and achievements during and after his time as one of the Fab Four. Tune into HBO on October 5 and 6 to catch the two-part documentary and click through to see the debut trailer for yourselves. So who's your favorite Beatle? [via Yahoo!]

Your Government Recap: Eviction 6

Daniele is on the pursuit to eliminate the Your Government house of "zombie" Brendon, but is he really a defunct guy walking? If he's, which means Shaun and Jordan will need to possibly formally bring among their alliances for an finish. Plus: Shelly's daughter has returned with another ton of cuteness. So, who had been kicked out? Let us discover.However: Because Your Government already compensated a camera crew to film Shelly's husband and daughter for that call at home, Shelly can also be this week's eviction-show spotlight contestant. The clips target the family's viewing parties, in addition to Shelly's tirade for that truth. Shelly worries that her daughter Josie is learning the incorrect training by watching her mother play the overall game, and Josie essentially verifies it. "She type of must stop laying," Josie states. Too cute.To the overall game: Brendon clearly isn't pleased to be selected as Daniele's alternative nominee. "I didn't fight my way in simply to get kicked out again," he states within the diary room. "Nobody will election to evict me two times." Bold words, friend. Bold. Meanwhile, according to Daniele's zombie speech, Shelly is certain that she isn't the target which despite the fact that she remains on the market, she'll be secure. Rachel, catty as always, is mad at Shelly for smiling when Brendon grew to become the alternative nominee. "Shelly had this evil grin," Rachel informs Brendon. "It had been so....evil." Well written, crybaby!Brendon tries to soothe the sobbing Rachel, who demands that Brendon warrants to stay in the home. She further places blame herself that he's at risk because she did not win mind of household. Whitened Dark night Brendon demands he returned in the home to help remind Rachel that they can win, with or without him. Aw, Bukie! With that, Rachel again turns fierce, asking the important question: Are Shaun and Jordan likely to election to maintain Brendon?Yes, it is the question from the evening. Brendon assumes that since Shaun and Jordan were former alliance people, he's their two votes together with Rachel's. So, he thinks winning over Adam or Porsche is sufficient to keep him in the overall game. (Either the relaxation of the home is unaware to Shaun and Jordan's side alliance with Shelly, of Brendon is simply stupid.) But Brendon provides it with his best shot: He informs Adam that he's on Daniele's hit list because he's a male. Further, he indicates that Adam should evict Shelly because when lengthy as Brendon is incorporated in the house, he'll remain the prospective. Adam concurs it's better "to possess a target before me than a friend behind me."Meanwhile, Rachel, who's always prepared to "fight for my guy" works to have a election for Brendon from Porsche. Porsche causes it to be obvious that voting to maintain Brendon last time did her not good and she's not thinking about playing that game again.With Shaun and Jordan hanging within the balance, Daniele decides to achieve to them. Her purpose is two-fold: She would like to ensure they are feel at ease enough to election out Brendon, but she's also wishing to broker an offer which will keep her safe should Shaun or Jordan win HOH. All of them agree that rivals have to win and Daniele causes it to be obvious that they was wrong for attempting to backdoor Shaun a couple of days back. She promises that they is going to do anything she will to utilize them, but her diary room comments demonstrate that she's probably coming smoke until she no more needs to. It is the right move in either case, as Shaun states he's leaning Daniele's way. Shaun and Jordan confirm to Shelly they will not election against her.Realizing they might possibly not have the votes, Brendon and Rachel request Jordan what she intends to do. She stated she'll election to maintain Brendon if he obtains Adam or Porsche like a swing election. She offers to give Brendon a manages when they intend to election him out, but she states she will not make more opponents by voting from the house and establishing a tie-breaker situation. (Dani would surely still evict Brendon anyway.)Shaun states exactly the same, which upsets Rachel, who demands when the shoe was alternatively feet, she and Brendon would election to maintain Shaun no matter exactly what the house wanted. Shaun informs Rachel what's done is performed, and when she would like to maintain dealing with him, she's reached lose her bad attitude. "Worst. Alliance. Ever," Rachel complains.So, not surprisingly, when the time comes for that votes, things shake out virtually the way you expected. Brendon - who vows to dedicate the following 5 years of his work to locating relief from cancer at U-C-L-A! - is kicked out for that second time this summer time with a 5-1 election. But it is not every not so good news: He's the very first person in this season's jury, and that he vows decide the very best competitor because the champion.Brendon's goodbye messages were the very best this year. Daniele and Kalia essentially chuckled in Brendon's face while Shaun stated he hopes this time around Brendon made instructions for how to approach Rachel. Despite the fact that she makes him crazy, he vows to take care of her. Rachel promises she'll go farther than Brendon did this past year which she's found her inner strength. (Forget about tears, then?)Regrettably, for that second week consecutively, the show finishes prior to the new HOH is crowned. For your we'll have to hang about until Sunday. But what have you think about Thursday's show? Pleased to see Brendon leave (again)? Who would you like to win HOH? And who do you consider will win the entire game? Election within our poll and share all of your comments below. show less

'RJ Berger' falls on hard times at MTV

MTV has canceled "Hard Times of RJ Berger" after two seasons. An MTV spokesperson confirmed the news, which was tweeted Seth Grahame-Smith, the series' showrunner and co-creator with David Katzenberg. Paul Iacono starred as the title character in the series, whose second season of 12 episodes ended in May. "RJ" premiered in 2010 to 2.6 million viewers and MTV's best launch at the time in the 12-34 demo since 2008, and reached as high as 3.1 million viewers with its season-two premiere (which followed the third-season premiere of "Jersey Shore"). By the end of its run, however, the aud for "RJ" had dropped below one million. "RJ" helped pave the way for MTV's commitment to scripted TV, which has deepened with current series including "Teen Wolf" and "Awkward." Additionally, MTV will sneak-peek "I Just Want My Pants Back" after the Video Music Awards on Aug. 28, then launch "Ridiculousness" with Rob Dyrdek and comedy-horror hybrid "Death Valley" the following night. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Tokai exex pay price for prank

TOKYO -- The prexy of Tokai TV, a station in Nagoya, publicly apologized on Thursday for a prank that mocked victims of the triple disasters that hit Japan last March. The station has not only punished staffers involved, but canceled the news and info show on which the prank aired. On Aug. 4 the show in question, "Pikkan Terebi," aired a list of winners of a studio promotion aimed at supporting the rice growers of Iwate Prefecture, one of the areas worst hit by the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and reactor meltdowns. What appeared on the screen, however, was a prank list of "prizes" such as "contaminated rice" and "winners" with names like "Mr. Cesium." When news of the prank went nationwide, the station was flooded with complaint calls from viewers, with the number reaching 15,300 as of Thursday, while 17 of the show's 20 sponsors pulled their ads. The maker of the list was later found to be a staffer of a company that does computer graphics work for the station. Station prexy Sekiya Iwano and three other top execs will take 30% to 50% pay cuts in their directors' compensation for periods up to three months, while the two top execs of the news production division have been demoted and the show's producer and director have been handed five-day work suspensions. The station is also investigating exactly how the prank list happened to air. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Director Justin Lin Exits Summit's 'Highlander' Remake (Exclusive)

John M. Heller/Getty Images Justin Lin is no more pointing Highlander, Summit's remake from the 1986 movie. The studio acquired the privileges to remake the film in May 2008 and Lin grew to become attached because the director in September 2009. Earlier this spring, however, Lin's career went into overdrive after the prosperity of Fast Five, and the dance card started filling with not just a sixth installment from the Universal franchise but additionally with your as projects like a potential new Terminator movie. The brand new timetable did not connect to Summit's need to move at some point on Highlander, and a week ago Lin elected to step aside. He'll, however, be engaged using the project as professional producer. Summit has become moving immediately to locate a new helmer. The project is really a priority for that studio, that is searching to build up another fantasy tentpole series to exchange its mega-blockbuster Twilight franchise, that will wind lower in 2012. Art Marcum and Matt Holloway authored the script. Neal H. Mortiz and Peter Davis are creating while RCR Media Group's concepts Rui Costa Reis and Eliad Josephson assists as executive producers about the film. The initial Highlander starred Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery and Clancy Brown as immortal creatures fighting humans, hunting lower each other and collecting more energy. Lambert performed Scottish swordsman Connor MacLeod, Connery described an Egyptian and Clancy would be a barbarian referred to as Kurgan. The film -- using its "There might be just oneInch catch phrase -- created four sequels and three television series. Email: Borys.Package@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Package Fast Five Justin Lin The Terminator Highlander

The Bachelorette Finale: Who Did Ashley Choose?

Ashley Hebert Spoiler Alert: The next discloses the end result from the Bachelorette finale. After traveling the planet and thinning lower a swimming pool of 25 males, Ashley has selected the individual she would like to marry. The 26-year-old dental student states she's excited to obtain engaged and thinks Fiji is the best spot to write the final chapter of her love story, before she will close that book, she's quite the emotional and rocky family meeting. J.P. meets Ashley's family first, but regrettably her sister Chrystie is skeptical of the relationship. "I do not think he's the main one,Inch she candidly informs Ashley, who's noticeably upset through the strong opinion. Ben's ending up in Ashley's family costs far better as Chrystie thinks both really are a better-suited (and wacky) match. Ashley has her final dates with each one of the males, who both tell her they are deeply in love with her. Ashley may love both, but is just deeply in love with one of these and it is ready for that final rose ceremony where she will finally verbalize the sentiment. Ben relates to meet Ashley and states a couple of words before reducing on a single knee and asking her to marry him. She's quiet, pulls him up, after which states, "I apologize," before he walks away. Ashley's upset about breaking Ben's heart, but her tears disappear at the view of J.P. "Constantly we have spent together continues to be the most joyful amount of time in my existence. I'm crazily deeply in love with you," he informs her. Ashley finally informs him how she truly feels and states, "I needed to inform you the way much I loved you for such a long time now. I'd rather not be around other people however, you forever." J.P. will get lower on a single knee, proposes, and she or he states yes. (And incidentally, TVGuide.com customers precisely predicted Ashley's choice with 62 percent of voters naming J.P. his or her pick.) Have you been pleased with in conclusion?