Seth Abramovitch

The Big Bang Theory

Weird Variations of Jim Parsons Day continues here at Movieline with the amusing story of an unauthorized knockoff of The Big Bang Theory from Belarus called The Theorists. Like Parsons’ Big Bang character, his Belarusian counterpart is a wiry, science-nerd know-it-all named Sheldon. And the similarities don’t end there, according to one of Bang creator Chuck Lorre’s signature, text-heavy vanity cards that ran after last night’s show:

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Superman

Warner Brothers has reportedly arrived at an executive decision on what to do with the man from Krypton, nearly four years after Bryan Singer’s limp-fisted, Maury-rrific knockoff of the original did little to reinvigorate the brand. Deadline says Christopher Nolan will serve as a “godfather” figure on Superman Reboots 2. But who will be kissing his ring and pledging to darken things up by detonating Lois Lane with 500 tons of plastic explosives? Here’s five directors who could save the seemingly hopeless franchise:

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Weekend Receipts

Weekend Receipts: Dear Jake

Written by Seth Abramovitch | 07 Feb 2010, 2:00 PM | 1 comment

Dear Jake,

For seven long weeks, you’ve been the only soldier for me. I’ll always cherish those long rolls on the boardwalk, when we’d get ice cream cones (you loved chocolate!) and plan our future together. But I have to be honest with you, Jake. Since you’ve taken off on a dangerous secret mission, stationed at some godforsaken outpost somewhere in the cosmos, I feel as if we’ve been steadily growing apart. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I think it would be best if we start seeing other movies. I hope you understand.

Fondly,

America

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The Last Word

The Devil Wears Nada

Written by Seth Abramovitch | 05 Feb 2010, 5:40 PM | 2 comments

annenada.jpg· Anne Hathaway “reveals all” for British GQ. (And full credit goes to Skinemax for that headline.) [GQ UK]

· Cable shuffle: Ryan O’Hara is out as president of TV Guide Network, Andrea Wong out at Lifetime. [Wrap, Deadline]

· FlashForward will have a new showrunner when it returns in March for its inevitable cancellation. Henry Winkler, meanwhile, will join Royal Pains, playing Mark Feuerstein and Paulo Costanzo’s dad. Hopefully they won’t de-Semitify him. [Live Feed, Live Feed]

· In his first interview since FriedChickenGate, ?uestlove feels a little bad about posting the questionable NBC Black History Month menu to his Twitter. [PopEater]

· Patrick Swayze, Joe Pesci, Mark Hamill, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sylvester Stallone, The Rock, Matthew McConaughey. All were considered. But who got the part? [MTV]

Written by Seth Abramovitch | 05 Feb 2010, 3:50 PM | 1 comment

Gym, Tanning, Oscars: shankman11.jpgHey, you know who works out a lot? Oscars producer/choreographer/tweetaholic Adam Shankman! And you know who’s noticed? Lane Brown from Vulture, who’s compiled every tweet relaying Shankman’s comings and goings to his “gym.” This guy just loves going to the gym and talking about it — sometimes twice in a day, even! In fact, Oscar night isn’t going to have any spectacular musical numbers at all; it’s just going to be Shankman with an iPod on a naked stage, sweating it out to Level 8 on an elliptical cross-trainer and singing Lady Gaga really loudly over the Best Supporting Actress nominees. [Vulture]

Written by Seth Abramovitch | 05 Feb 2010, 2:10 PM | 2 comments

Tillman's Time: tillmanst.jpgindieWire reports The Weinstein Co. has closed its deal on its second Sundance acquisition: the well-received Pat Tillman documentary, The Tillman Story. Let’s hope this thing gets a release sometime in our lifetimes, and that the original title (I’m Pat F—king Tillman) doesn’t spook TWC into employing a marketing campaign revolving around a square-jawed stick-figure in a football helmet.[indieWire]

The 2-Minute Verdict

If It's Merry Men and Seven-Layer Dip, It Must Be a Robin Hood Super Bowl Ad

Written by Seth Abramovitch | 05 Feb 2010, 1:50 PM | Comment

robinhoodsb.jpgOur ongoing efforts to free up your Sunday afternoon by posting the most essential Super Bowl movie commercials continue with this ad for Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood, a decidedly BraveHeartier take on the legend of the famed medieval outlaw. Had you seen the first trailer, you were already well aware that this wasn’t your tights-wearing-father’s Robin Hood, as Scott offers a (wait for it) darker, grittier take on the story we think we know. If you’ve missed Russell Crowe as the archetypal scowling warrior, then join him and his band of Surly Men on their royal-looting adventures. We’ll even throw in Cate Blanchett on horseback!

Verdict: THIS! IS! SHERWOOOOOOOD! Or something.

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Casting

News that Bill Condon has teamed with Tell Me You Love me creator Cindy Mort to write Tilda, a half-hour comedy pilot for HBO about “a powerful female online showbiz journalist with a no-holds-barred style,” has been the only thing on Hollywood’s minds and lips since it hit the wires last night. Would Condon and Mort finally crack the elusive code that could translate the scintillating world of people typing in their bathrobes into television worth watching? And after whom did they pattern their outrageously conceived title character? It’s just questions on top of questions on top of more questions! Well, I’m happy to report your friends at Movieline have some answers, as we have procured a copy of the casting breakdowns* for the next blockbuster HBO series that will have everyone saying, “It’s Not TV. It’s Tilda.”

(*Yes, it’s rare that casting breakdowns are circulated for a show that has yet to be written, much less greenlit. Isn’t that weird? It’s almost like we made them up.)

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The Last Word

Lost: A Side-by-Sideways Comparison

Written by Seth Abramovitch | 04 Feb 2010, 5:30 PM | 1 comment

· How closely did Lost’s original plane crash adhere to the flash-sideways recreation on Tuesday’s season premiere? Pretty darned close, save perhaps for the length of Jack’s buzz cut, and the speed at which Doc says, “Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need…roads.” [YouTube via The Daily What]

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Offensive Lunches

Offensive NBC Cafeteria Menu Probably Jay Leno's Fault, Somehow

Written by Seth Abramovitch | 04 Feb 2010, 3:00 PM | 14 comments

nbcblackhistory.jpgPosted to the Twitter feed of Jimmy Fallon bandleader and Movieline party D.J. ?uestlove was this snapshot (click for larger) of a Black History Month-themed lunch served today in NBC’s 30 Rock commissary. Shortly thereafter, an NBC rep tweeted this: “The sign in the NBCU cafeteria has been removed. We apologize for anyone who was offended by it.” Upper-management is now discussing the best way to proceed with the latest P.R. disaster to befall the beleaguered network, including the option of building a 10 p.m. show around the menu called The Racist Soul Food Variety Hour. [@questlove via The Wrap]