News

HollywoodNews.com: Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Chris Lowell, Ahna O’Reilly, Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, Cicely Tyson and Mike Vogel to be honored at the Hollywood Film Awards Gala Ceremony.

The 15th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Film Awards, presented by Starz Entertainment, are pleased to announce that the cast of DreamWorks Pictures and Participant Media’s “The Help” – Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Chris Lowell, Ahna O’Reilly, Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, Cicely Tyson and Mike Vogel – will be recognized at the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony with the “Hollywood Ensemble Acting Award.”

The announcement was made today by Carlos de Abreu, Founder of the 15th Annual Hollywood Film Awards Gala Ceremony, which will take place on the evening of Monday, October 24, 2011, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The Hollywood Film Awards Gala launches the awards season.

Yesterday, NBC announced their full 2011-2012 TV lineup, which included six new drama programs. The network has released trailers, clips, and behind-the-scenes interviews from the fall dramas The Playboy Club, Grimm and Smash. Take a look at all of these new videos below.

The Playboy Club

Click to watch The Playboy Club Trailer!

Click to watch Introduction to the Playboy Club and Nick Dalton!

Click to watch Maureen, Alice and Brenda Watch Bunny Mother Carol-Lynne Perform!

Click to watch Nick Finds Maureen Standing Over a Dead Body!

Click to watch Nick Talks to Billy About Carol-Lynne Finding Out About Him and Maureen!

Click to watch Hugh Hefner Interview!

Click to watch Eddie Cibrian Interview!

Click to watch Amber Heard Interview!

The Playboy Club -- From Academy Award-winning executive producer Brian Grazer, The Playboy Club is a provocative new drama about a time and place that challenged the social mores, where...

NBC has introduced its 2011-12 primetime schedule, showcasing six new dramas and six new comedies from a roster of renowned hit-makers that includes Steven Spielberg, Lorne Michaels, Brian Grazer, Tom Werner, John Grisham and NYPD Blue, among many others.

The season's new dramas are Smash, Prime Suspect, The Playboy Club, Awake, Grimm and The Firm; and the new comedies are Up All Night, Whitney, Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, Free Agents, Best Friends Forever and Bent.

Returning shows include Parenthood, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, Harry's Law, Chuck (for its fifth and final season of 13 episodes), Community, Parks and Recreation, The Office, 30 Rock and Dateline NBC Among next season's returning alternative series are The Voice, The Sing-Off, Celebrity Apprentice, and The Biggest Loser, each in two-hour formats.

The new lineup combines schedule stability with strategic changes that position the network for future growth. Key facets of...

Here are clips from NBC's 2011-2012 drama lineup. The shows include Prime Suspect, The Playboy Club, Smash, Grimm, Awake, and The Firm. Earlier we shared the comedy clips and the schedule. I have been interested in The Playboy Club since when it was first announced. Smash looks pretty cool as well. Check out the clips below and share your thoughts!

Prime Suspect:

‘Prime Suspect’ -- Based on the critically acclaimed British television series of the same name, "Prime Suspect" has been redeveloped for American audiences by writer Alexandra Cunningham ("Desperate Housewives," "NYPD Blue"), director Peter Berg (NBC's "Friday Night Lights") -- and stars Maria Bello ("A History of Violence") as tough-as-nails Detective Jane Timoney. Timoney finds that being a homicide detective in New York City is tough enough and having to contend with a male-dominated police department to get respect makes it that much tougher. She's an outsider who...

It's that time again, and NBC has revealed it's 2011-2012 schedule. A couple of things have been kicked to the curb, and a host of new shows are coming to fill things in. I have a preview of the new fall shows, and the full schedule for you. There are a few surprises on the cut and not cut side of things, and the new shows have a bit of something for everyone. As usual, some of the ones that look the best to me are reserved for mid-season. And, NBC has apparently given up on Saturday altogether.

It's a whole lot of info, so let's just jump in.

NBC has introduced its 2011-12 primetime schedule, showcasing six new dramas and six new comedies from a roster of renowned hit-makers that includes Steven Spielberg, Lorne Michaels, Brian Grazer, Tom Werner, John Grisham and Peter Berg, among many others.

The season’s new dramas are “Smash,...

NBC announced their Prime Time slate for 2011-2012 today. Chuck has been moved to Friday night for it's final season. I am really looking forward to seeing how The Playboy Club turns out. It will also be interesting to see how Free Agents and Up All Night do on Thursdays. For a full overview of NBC's method to it's madness click Here.

NBC Fall 2011-12 Schedule (New programs in Upper Case)

Monday

8-10 p.m. – The Sing-Off

10-11 p.m. – The Playboy Club

Tuesday

8-10 p.m. – The Biggest Loser

10-11 p.m. – Parenthood

Wednesday

8-8:30 p.m. – Up All Night

8:30-9 p.m. – Free Agents

9-10 p.m. -- Harry’s Law

10-11 p.m. -- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Thursday

8-8:30 p.m. – Community

8:30-9 p.m. -- Parks and Recreation

9-9:30 p.m. – The Office

9:30-10 p.m. – Whitney

10-11 p.

American Idol alum Katharine McPhee has boarded the NBC pilot Smash.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Steven Spielberg musical drama revolves around a cross section of characters who come together to mount a Broadway musical inspired by silver screen icon Marilyn Monroe.

Playwright Theresa Rebeck wrote the pilot; Michael Mayer will direct.

Debra Messing and Jack Davenport (FlashForward) have been cast as the lyricist and choreographer, respectively.

Smash was originally developed at Showtime by new NBC entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt.

Katharine McPhee divides her time between singing and acting and now she'll be able to do both. She's been cast in a pilot for the NBC musical "Smash."

McPhee will join the previously cast Debra Messing (TV's "Will & Grace") and Jack Davenport in the project from Dreamworks TV, Universal Media Studios, and none other than Steven Spielberg.

The show will follow the inner workings of a new Broadway musical inspired by screen legend Marilyn Monroe and the characters who come together to make it happen.

The show's pilot was written by TV writer and playwright Theresa Rebeck. Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer, who also directed Broadway's "Spring Awakening" and "American Idiot," will direct.

Katharine McPhee divides her time between singing and acting and now she'll be able to do both. She's been cast in a pilot for the NBC musical "Smash."

McPhee will join the previously cast Debra Messing (TV's "Will & Grace") and Jack Davenport in the project from Dreamworks TV, Universal Media Studios, and none other than Steven Spielberg.

The show will follow the inner workings of a new Broadway musical inspired by screen legend Marilyn Monroe and the characters who come together to make it happen.

The show's pilot was written by TV writer and playwright Theresa Rebeck. Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer, who also directed Broadway's "Spring Awakening" and "American Idiot," will direct.

By Sean O’Connell

Hollywoodnews.com: As “American Idol” continues to weed out the competition for its 10th season, a former “Idol” contestant has found a new gig.

Katharine McPhee is the latest performer to join the cast of “Smash,” an NBC pilot produced by none other than Steve Spielberg. Debra Messing and Jack Davenport (of “FlashForward”) already have been cast as a lyricist and choreographer, respectively, working with a group of characters hoping to stage a Broadway musical inspired by the late Marilyn Monroe, THR reports.

Now we understand where McPhee’s considerable talents will fit in.

Naturally, “Smash” is going to draw comparisons to “Glee,” and the new pilot certainly wouldn’t exist if not for Fox’s smash hit (pun intended). But the NBC show has talent backing it up. Besides Spielberg, playwright Theresa Rebeck receives credit for writing the pilot, while Michael Mayer (of “Spring Awakening”) will direct.

American Idol alumna-turned-actress Katharine McPhee has landed a co-starring role in the NBC hourlong pilot Smash, which will feature the Idol Season 5 runner-up sing. The pilot, from DreamWorks TV and Ums, is based on an idea by Steven Spielberg and follows a cross section of characters who come together to put on a Marilyn Monroe musical on Broadway led by the musical's composer Tom and lyricist Julia (Debra Messing). McPhee will play a beautiful struggling actress who goes to all lengths to book the role of Marilyn Monroe in the musical. Also recently cast in the pilot, written by Theresa Rebeck and to be directed by Michael Mayer, are Jack Davenport  and Megan Hilty. McPhee, repped by Gersh and the Schiff Co., made her TV pilot debut last season with NBC's half-hour The Pink House. She will next be seen in the romantic comedy You May Not Kiss the Bride...

Exclusive: I hear FlashForward alum Jack Davenport will co-star opposite Debra Messing in the NBC hourlong pilot Smash, which was based on an idea by Steven Spielberg. The pilot, from DreamWorks TV and Ums, follows a cross section of characters who come together to put on a Marilyn Monroe musical on Broadway led by the musical's composer Tom and lyricist Julia (Messing). British actor Davenport will play Derek, a fierce and intelligent musical choreographer trying to find his next big project who loves the idea of the Marilyn Monroe musical. Davenport also joins Megan Hilty in the pilot, written by Theresa Rebeck and to be directed by Michael Mayer. Smash landed Davenport in a competitive situation as he was also holding an offer for the lead in Marc Cherry's ABC pilot Hallelujah. Davenport, repped by Gersh and Sanders Armstrong Caserta, also starred in the CBS' praised drama Swingtown and...

She won an Emmy for her role on NBC’s long-running “Will & Grace”, now Debra Messing is back at the peacock, as she has joined the pilot “Smash”, from executive producers Steven Spielberg, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

“Smash” is a show-within-a-show vehicle about a group of people who come together to put on a Broadway musical about Marylin Monroe. Messing will play Julia, the musical’s good-natured lyricist who might be somewhat against the idea of a Marylin Monroe-themed musical. The project, based on an idea by Steven Spielberg, had originally been developed for the pay tv-channel Showtime in 2009. Former Showtime head of entertainment Bob Greenblatt is now the entertainment chairman of NBC and resurrected the project for NBC.

Theresa Rebeck, whose writing credits include “Catwoman” and episodes of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “NYPD Blue”, has written the pilot script and will exec produce with Spielberg. “Hairspray” songwriters...

Former Will & Grace star Debra Messing is returning to NBC as the female lead of  another series project set in New York where the male lead is a gay man. Messing is finalizing a deal to star in NBC's hourlong pilot Smash, an ambitious drama about the mounting of a Broadway musical, which was based on an idea by Steven Spielberg. The pilot, produced by DreamWorks TV and Ums, follows a cross section of characters who come together to put on a Marilyn Monroe musical on Broadway. At the heart of the show are the musical's composer Tom, who is gay, and the lyricist Julia (Messing), who is somewhat against the idea of a Marilyn Monroe-themed musical. TV writer/playwright Theresa Rebeck wrote the script for Smash and is executive producing with Spielberg, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey of DreamWorks TV, Hairspray producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron  and...

NEW YORK -- Wagner/Cuban Companies' Truly Indie and Magnolia Pictures are partnering on the theatrical and DVD release of Mike Mayer's teen-heist film Graduation starring Chris Marquette, Adam Arkin and Huey Lewis.

Truly Indie will partner with Redwood Palms Pictures to produce the comedic thriller about a group of high school buds who plan a bank robbery to help a friend in need. Magnolia acquired DVD rights, and will release the film after it opens May 2 in Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, Berkeley and Minneapolis.

Los Angeles' gay and lesbian film festival Outfest has announced the lineup for the July 8-19 event with Angela Robinson's D.E.B.S. from Screen Gems kicking off the fest and Michael Mayer's A Home at the End of the World from Warner Independent Pictures closing the festivities. Opening night, to be held downtown at the Orpheum Theatre, also will include a tribute to Todd Haynes who will receive the fest's highest honor, the eighth annual Outfest Achievement Award. Haynes, whose films have had a profound impact on modern lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgendered cinema, according to the fest, directed Far From Heaven, Velvet Goldmine and Safe.

Warner Bros. has acquired domestic distribution rights for Michael Mayer's A Home at the End of the World, according to Variety. The adaptation of the first novel by Michael Cunningham (The Hours) stars Colin Farrell, Robin Wright Penn, Sissy Spacek and newcomer Dallas Roberts in a story of a complex friendship/relationship triangle spanning the 60s to the 80s. The film, which started shooting in Toronto in early April, is Broadway director Mayer's first feature.

NEW YORK -- Sissy Spacek is moving into director Michael Mayer's A Home at the End of the World, the big-screen adaptation of the novel by The Hours author Michael Cunningham. Spacek joins Colin Farrell, Robin Wright Penn and newcomer Dallas Roberts in the story of boyhood friends Bobby and Jonathan, who become enmeshed in an emotional love triangle with a woman they move in with in New York. Spacek will play Jonathan's mother, Alice, who provides the HIV-positive Bobby (Farrell) a safe haven even as her own marriage is failing. The film begins shooting next week in Toronto, with locations also planned in New York and Phoenix. Adapted by Keith Bunin and Cunningham, Home is being produced by Plymouth Projects' Tom Hulce, Killer Films' Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler and Hart Sharp's John Hart and Jeff Sharp. Spacek is repped by CAA. Working with New York vets Killer and Hart Sharp, the Plymouth banner -- which Hulce recently launched with producer Julia Rask -- is making its first feature with Home. The company's first theater project, Alan Bennett's Talking Heads, is set to open off-Broadway on Sunday at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Heads stars Lynn Redgrave, Kathleen Chalfant, Christine Ebersole, Daniel Davis, Valerie Mahaffey and Brenda Wehle.