January 7, 2011
Silky-voiced homeless man copes with sudden voiceover fame
NEW YORK (AP) – A homeless man from Ohio with a smooth announcing voice indicates it’s been challenging dealing with sudden fame.
Ted Williams said on CBS’s “Early Show” on Friday that he had wanted a “nerve pill” on Thursday. But he says a psychologist has advised him to learn to “meditate and not medicate.”
Williams became an overnight celebrity after The Columbus Dispatch posted a web video of him this week. He had found himself on the streets in Columbus after his life was ruined by substance abuse. He says he’s been sober for two years.
He appeared on CBS with his mother, who said their reunion in New York on Thursday was the first time she’d seen her son in person in 10 years. New York City resident Julia Williams calls him a prodigal son come back home.
Fox Networks exec’s exit triggers reorganizationLOS ANGELES (AP) – The longtime chief executive of the Fox Networks Group is stepping down, triggering a reorganization for the TV unit of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.
News Corp. President and COO Chase Carey announced Thursday that Tony Vinciquerra will leave Feb. 11 after serving as chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group since 2002.
Carey lauded Vinciquerra for his work in building the company’s cable portfolio. In the past year, Vinciquerra led successful contract negotiations with cable operators to gain significant fee increases for carrying Fox networks.
David Haslingden, head of the Fox International Channels, will become president and chief operating officer of Fox Networks Group and handle most of Vinciquerra’s responsibilities, Carey said.
David Hill, chairman and CEO of Fox Sports Media Group, will take on oversight of Fox’s domestic joint venture with National Geographic Channels. Randy Freer and Eric Shanks will jointly direct the sports cable channels portfolio, reporting to David Hill.
Haslingden and Hill will report to Carey.
Peter Rice’s role as chairman in charge of entertainment for Fox Networks Group, including the Fox broadcast channel, remains unchanged, Carey said.
In a memo to colleagues Thursday released by News Corp., Vinciquerra said he’d thought about leaving for some time and intends to pursue other unspecified opportunities, adding they would probably be “entrepreneurial” in nature. Vinciquerra, 55, reportedly had two years left on his contract.
Vinciquerra noted corporate milestones that occurred during his tenure, including the “emergence of FX as a creative power in cable programming” and the growth of Fox’s regional sports networks. FX’s series have included the Emmy-winning “The Shield.”
Sean Penn earns producers award for social causes
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Sean Penn is receiving an award from Hollywood producers honoring his efforts to explore social issues.
The Producers Guild of America will bestow its Stanley Kramer Award on Penn at the group’s awards ceremony Jan. 22. The award is named for filmmaker Kramer, whose issue-oriented productions include “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “The Defiant Ones.”
Penn is the first individual to receive the Kramer Award. In the past, the award has been handed out for socially minded films such as “An Inconvenient Truth,” ”Hotel Rwanda” and Penn’s own “I Am Sam.”
Paula Wagner, chair of the Producers Guild Awards, says Penn is a committed activist who has “shed light on powerful stories, causes and individuals.”
Robert De Niro to head jury at Cannes Film Fest
PARIS (AP) – Robert De Niro will head the jury at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
The veteran American actor and director will lead a nine-member jury for the May 11-22 festival on the French Riviera.
De Niro’s charisma may provide a Hollywood boost to Cannes. Last year’s event was lighter than usual on star power and featured a lineup that left many critics unimpressed.
The Thai film “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives” won the top honor at the 2010 festival, while Academy Award winners Juliette Binoche and Javier Bardem earned acting honors.
De Niro said he felt honored by the invitation, calling it “a rare opportunity,” Cannes organizers said in a statement.
Matt Damon, J-Lo to present at Golden GlobesLOS ANGELES (AP) – Jason Bourne, a vampire heartthrob and an “American Idol” judge are going to the Golden Globes.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Tuesday on Twitter that Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lopez would present trophies at the 68th annual ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 16.
For the second year in a row, Ricky Gervais will host the event, which is seen as a predictor of how films will do at the Academy Awards on Feb. 27.
Damon will present the Cecil B. DeMille Award to previously announced recipient Robert De Niro.
‘True Grit,’ ‘127 Hours’ receive writers noms
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Huge hits such as “True Grit” and “Inception” will be up against smaller films such as “127 Hours” and “The Kids Are All Right” for screenplay honors from the Writers Guild of America.
“Inception” and “The Kids Are All Right” were among guild nominees Tuesday for best original screenplay, along with “Black Swan,” ”The Fighter” and “Please Give.”
“True Grit” and “127 Hours are in the running for adapted screenplay, along with “I Love You Phillip Morris,” ”The Social Network” and “The Town.”
Some of the year’s most acclaimed films, including “The King’s Speech,” ”Winter’s Bone” and “Toy Story 3,” were ineligible because they were not made under the guild’s contract guidelines.
Guild winners will be announced Feb. 5.
TV series follows electric car on 16,000-mile trip
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) – An eight-part BBC series that begins airing Saturday follows an electric car on its 16,000-mile trip from Alaska to Argentina.
In “Racing Green,” filmmaker Claudio van Planta follows postgraduate engineering students from England on their journey that began at Chena Hot Springs on July 1. They reached Argentina in 136 days.
Van Planta tells the Daily News-Miner the goal of the trip was to prove that electric cars have a place in the world today.
Information from: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, http://www.newsminer.com
Los Angeles TV writer found dead at Hawaii resort
HONOLULU (AP) – Police in Hawaii are investigating the death of a Los Angeles writer and producer who was found in a hotel room.
Big Island police say 50-year-old Aron Abrams was found dead Christmas morning at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii hotel on the Kohala Coast. An autopsy is set for Friday.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported that Abrams was a writer and co-executive producer of “Everybody Hates Chris,” starring Chris Rock.
He also was a supervising producer of “Grounded for Life,” co-producer of “3rd Rock from the Sun,” and a consulting producer of the long-running animated Fox series “King of the Hill.”
