'Idol,' new dramas lift Fox for week

'American Idol''Touch'"The American Idol ShowInch along with a trio of youthful dramas lifted Fox to some primetime rankings victory a week ago inside a frame that saw most of the top shows on competing systems air repeats. While "Idol" is constantly on the track at well below last year's start, still it finished towards the top of the rankings charts for that week. Moreover the internet, "Alcatraz" organized well in the second outing, "Idol" assisted Kiefer Sutherland drama "Touch" open nicely on Wednesday, and "Bones" spinoff "The Finder" hit a higher on Thursday. It had been additionally a large week for "The Large Bang Theory," because the CBS comedy tallied up its best Thursday amounts up to now and again beat "Idol" mind-to-mind in demos. Also, numerous repeats from the show lifted The best spinner's to the peak place in youthful-adult ratings among cablers. Overall, based on Nielsen, Fox brought in grown ups 18-49 (3. rating/8 share) -- well in front of CBS (2./6), NBC (1.8/5), ABC (1.6/4) and Univision (1.3/3). Internet also folded in grown ups 25-54 (3.4/8 to two.8/7 for CBS) while CBS brought as a whole audiences (9.3 million to eight million for Fox). The Wednesday hour of "The American Idol ShowInch was the week's No. 1 show in 18-49 (6.5/18) and total audiences (19.67 million) -- lower 8% from the opening hour 1 week earlier and off 24% in the comparable hour last year. "Idol" brought right into a special preview of "Touch" that carried out well (3.9/10, 12.01m) prior to its March 19 premiere, and "The Finder" discovered its best scores in the three airings (2.8/7, 8.44m), benefiting from drama repeats around the competish. Prison drama "Alcatraz" (3./7, 9.03m) meshed well with "House" (3.1/8, 8.76m), retaining 94% of their 18-49 premiere rating it joins "Not so long ago" and "Terra Nova" because the season's only rookie dramas to earn a demo score of three or greater within their second excursions. Around the weekend, Fox got a large boost Saturday from UFC action (2.4/8, 4.66m), roughly matching the combined demos around the evening for ABC, CBS and NBC. Fox's Sunday selection looked sluggish, using the third week of "Napoleon Dynamite" (2.1/5, 4.42m) softish between "The Simpsons" (2.4/6, 5.03m) and "Family Guy" (3.1/7, 5.92m). CBS walked on Wednesday with "Criminal Minds" (3.7/9, 13.81m) and "CSI" (3.4/9, 14.26m) the second, within the swan-song seg for original cast member Marg Helgenberger, gained the very best amounts for any regular 10 p.m. drama on any internet and evening this year. "The Large Bang Theory" (5.5/16 in 18-49, 16.13m) toppled Fox's "Idol" mind-to-mind (5.5 versus. 4.9 in 18-49 and 6.9 versus. 6. in 25-54), striking its best scores since moving to Thursday. And lead-out laffer "Take advantage of" held steady in the third week (3.5/9, 11.50m) -- many, especially facing "Idol."NBC was quiet until Sunday, once the NFL's Professional Bowl won the evening (4.3/11 in 18-49, 12.50m), though lower year upon year. Earlier, the net's Wednesday comedy hour of "Whitney" (1.4/4, 4.40m) and "Are You Currently There, Chelsea" (1.4/4, 3.80m) dipped further within their third week together, and "Chuck" ended its run Friday having a season high (1.3/4, 4.31m). ABC was paced by "Not so long ago" (3.5/8, 10.91m), Sunday's No. 1 series in demos. Also, "The Bachelor" hit some season levels (2.7/7, 8.30m), and Friday's selection of "Shark Tank" (1.5/5, 5.44m), "Primetime: How Would You React?Inch (1.7/5, 5.17m) and "20/20" (1.5/4, 5.73m) looked good within their second week together. In cable, "Jersey Shoreline" (3.8/10, 6.53m) centered its Thursday hour and rated sixth for that week in 18-49. "Kourtney and Kim Take NY" wrapped its season Sunday with the best scores ever to have an E! series (2.6/6, 4.48m), leading all television in the slot among women 25-54 (3.5/6). It had been a great week for Bravo's "Real Average women," as Monday's Beverly Hillsides edition (1.6/4 in 18-49, 3.03m) was cable's No. 1 show from the evening in females 25-54 (2.5/6). And Sunday's Atlanta version (2.1/5, 3.95m) tallied up the 2nd biggest aud for just about any episode in "RH" history. Discovery again shined on Friday with "Gold Hurry" (1.7/5, 4.24m) leading into "Bering Ocean Gold" (1.4/4, 3.66m), which saw the net's greatest-ranked series launch up to now no shows on tv that evening came more teenagers. ABC Family's "Pretty Little Liars" (1.4/4, 3.17m) was the week's No. 1 cable drama in 18-49 on Thursday, CNN's Republican debate came 5.36 million audiences, the net's biggest aud with this election cycle and also the SAG Honours on Sunday came 5.13 million audiences on TNT and The best spinner's, up a little from this past year (5.01m). Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com

'Chariots of Fire' being modified for stage

'Chariots of Fire'LONDON -- A stage adaptation in the Oscar-winning Olympic-designed pic "Chariots of Fire" leads the 2012 slate at London's off-West Finish Hampstead Theater.Opening just while watching London Olympics with previews beginning May 9, "Chariots of Fire" is modified within the 1981 Enigma Prods. film about two runners facing lower anti-semitism inside the 1924 Olympics. The pic won four Oscars, including best pic and original script for Colin Welland.Modified by rising U.K. scribe Mike Bartlett ("Cock," "Earthquakes employed in londonInch), it's produced by Miriam Buether, lit by Ron Fisher ("Billy Elliot") and helmed by Hampstead a.d. Edward Hall. The expansion may even feature music from Vangelis' Oscar-winning score plus additional music and plans by Jason Carr, Tony-champion for "Sunday neighborhood With George."Incorporated within the London 2012 Festival -- the finale in the Cultural Olympiad -- the theater may even host "DruidMurphy." Billed as "popular tale of Irish emigration spanning 1846-1980," this is often a cycle of three plays by Tom Murphy, "Conversations around the Homecoming," "A Whistle at nighttimeInch and "Famine," completed by Ireland's Druid theater company. Garry Hynes, Tony-winning director of "The Question Filled with Leenane," helms a company of 17 stars over the 3 game game titles.Hall's third season within the helm also sees two world preems inside the studio space. "Blue Heart Mid-day" by Nigel Gearing, can be a comedy about integrity and fame as spoken about having a Jewish songwriter together with a German celebrity beneath the shadow in the 1951 House Not-American Activities Committee. Helmed by Tamara Harvey it runs April 5-May 12. Nick Whitby's "The Complaint" can be a portrait from the lady lodging a complaint and spiraling lower in to a Kafkaesque nightmare that turns murderous. Helmed by Simon Usher, it runs May 17-June 16.The summer season features a co-production with British National Opera in the British-language preem of "Jacob Lenz" by German composer Wolfgang Rihm and Hall's all-male productions of Shakespeare's "Henry V" and "The Winter's Tale" along with his own Propellor theater company. Contact David Benedict at benedictdavid@mac.com

Sundance: Magnolia can get '2 Days'

Magnolia just nabbed its second Sundance title daily, as distrib introduced Saturday evening it had acquired U . s . States rights to "a few days in NY."Just hour searlier, the distrib introduced rights for the questionable drama "Compliance."The follow-around Julie Delpy's "a few days in Paris," "a few days in NY," can be a relationship comedy which stars Chris Rock.Distrib plans a theatrical release in primary areas together with a work on Magnolia's Ultra VOD program.CAA repped the acquisition. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Five Top Reasons To See 'The Grey'

Liam Neeson rejoins his "A-Team" director Joe Carnahan for your guy-versus-character thriller "The Grey," in theaters today (The month of the month of january 27). The ads might have you thinking it's only wolf punching, but there's much more happening. Listed below are our five top reasons to brave the winter season weather and visit "The Grey." 1. Liam the Badass has came back Neeson seems to pay attention to "Tough Guy In ControlInch roles, and you will find very few figures more badass than John Ottway, an oil-rig worker who leads a difficult gang of plane crash kids with the wilds of Alaska. Neeson is credible since the stern but caring father figure, who tries to keep his co-employees alive, then when he stares lower people angry baby baby wolves, you don't doubt he might drive them track of his bare hands. 2. The Supporting Cast is Super-Awesome Carnahan selected several gifted but under famous stars to accomplish his cast, as well as the options pay back. Connected Neeson using the backwoods can be a sturdy quantity of stars including Frank Grillo (Warrior), Dallas Roberts (3:10 To Yuma and Televisions The Truly Amazing Wife) together with a bearded, bespectacled Dermot Mulroney (J. Edgar then one of my very own faves, My Close Buddies Wedding). 3. Theres Stuff to think about The Grey is not only a horror/action flick featuring guy-eating baby baby wolves. The film touches on some very deep, thought-invoking subjects like belief, dying, loss and humanitys devote character. Its a smart movie, along with an entertaining one. 4. Its Darn Pretty Shot on location in Bc, Canada, The Grey is beautiful to behold. Grand hills, lush forests, apparent ponds—if this is just what middle-of-nowhere Alaska is actually like, I wouldnt mind hanging readily available for a while. Besides the truth that 5. The Snow is Real No matter how irritatingly cold you are this winter, it cant touch the agonizing experience experienced with the cast and crew in the Grey. With temps well-below zero and wind speeds up to 90 mph, the conditions on set were unforgiving, understandably. These devoted stars and crewmembers experienced to suit your needs, dear visitors, and that means you owe it to allow them to know for sure movie. Are you going to see "The Grey" a couple of days ago? Inform us inside the comments below and also on Twitter!

'Hunger Games' Tickets On Purchase February. 22

Hopefully the chances come in your favor on February. 22. This is the date tickets for 'The Hunger Games' continue purchase -- and likely become unattainable -- prior to the film's debut on March 23. This announcement comes 74 days in front of release, in recognition from the 74th annual Hunger Games, that are detailed within the film and YA best-seller. Fans can click the link to enroll in text updates and additional info on the advanced sales. You may also take a look at Moviefone's "Hunger Games" page to learn more. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woodsy Harrelson, Jesse Sutherland and Stanley Tucci, "The Hunger Games" is within theaters on March 23. Tweet using the hashtag #hungergames74 to allow everybody know whether you will be attending the pre-purchase ticket event. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Large National football league finale for NBC

The p facto playoff game between your NY Titans and Dallas Cowboys on Sunday obtained large for NBC. Football and New Year's Eve festivities outlined the rankings race for that final week of the season, which saw only two original series telecasts around the Large Four. NBC gone to live in charge in key demos on the effectiveness of the finale of "Sunday Evening Football," which came the biggest audience for just about any primetime regular-season National football league game in fifteen years. ESPN increased to second among teenagers using its final "Monday Evening Football" game of year along with a string of school football bowl games through the week. Excluding sports, the greatest factor happening a week ago was ABC's New Year's Eve coverage, which plastic box large amounts using its annual "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" (4.1/15 in grown ups 18-49, 12.92 million audiences overall) as well as an earlier, two-hour special commemorating the event's 40-year history around the internet (2.5/9, 8.36m). ABC centered coverage that evening (Daily Variety, Jan. 2), using the segment that incorporated the night time shedding from the ball in Occasions Square bringing in nearly 23 million audiences. Overall for that gently viewed 12 ,. 25-31 frame, NBC won in grown ups 18-49 having a 2. rating/6 share, then ESPN and CBS (both at 1.7/5), Univision (1.4/4), ABC (1.3/4) and Fox (1./3). The Peacock also won in grown ups 25-54 (2.5/6 to two.3/6 for CBS), as the Eye came probably the most overall audiences (8.two million to six.3 million for runner-up NBC). At NBC, the p facto playoff game between your NY Titans and Dallas Cowboys on "Sunday Evening Football" averaged a boffo 9.8 rating/24 be part of grown ups 18-49 and 27.62 million audiences overall. It edges the National football league Thursday opener of last season (27.5 million for Vikings-Saints) being the greatest regular-season primetime telecast since a game between your Cowboys and Eco-friendly Bay Packers came 35.a million on ABC in November 1996. Oddly, it had been basically the 4th best 18-49 score to have an National football league game on NBC this year -- behind its first three games of year in September. Once the Titans and Cowboys met three days previously NBC, the overall game did an identical 9.4 demo rating and 24.52 million audiences overall. This time around around -- without any school or work the following day for many -- about a million more kids 2-11 and a pair of million more grown ups 50-plus updated in. ESPN's large week began using the "Monday Evening Football" game between your Atlanta Falcons and Saints (5.6/16 in 18-49, 15.64m) as well as incorporated nfl and college football bowl games around the next five nights. Best amounts came for Thursday's Alamo Bowl (2.1/7, 6.92m for Baylor-Washington) and Saturday's Chick-Fil-A Bowl (1.7/5, 6.16m for Virginia-Auburn). There were not many series highlights for that week, with NBC's Monday gameshow "Who's Still Standing?" (1.5/4, 6.16m) and Friday drama "Chuck" (.8/3, 3.07m) the only real originals airing. CBS skedded its annual "Kennedy Center Honors" telecast for Tuesday behind a repeat "NCIS" (2.1/6, 12.58m), however it settled for any 1.1/3 in 18-49 and 8.4 million total audiences -- lower dramatically within the demo from last year's 1.5/4. Cable saw some original programming at the start of a few days, including instances of TNT's Monday dramas "The Closer" (1.1/3, 6.16m) and "Rizzoli and Isles" (1.1/3, 5.79m) and hot reality shows "Pawn Stars" on History (1.9/5, 5.23m) and "Teen Mother II" on MTV (1.9/5, 3.42m). Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com

Elton John Wants Justin Timberlake to Play Him in His Biopic

Finally, Justin Timberlake may have found the role that combines music and acting. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Elton John revealed that the former Mouseketeer is at the top of his list to play him in an upcoming biopic. "I've got a wish list of people. No. 1 on my wish list is Justin Timberlake, because he played me before in a David LaChapelle video of 'Rocket Man' and was superb," said John. As for the film itself, don't go expecting a normal biopic in the vain of, say, 'Ray.' "It's going to be a surreal look at my life, and not just a factual look at my life, more in the manner of a 'Moulin Rouge!' I just don't want it to be a normal biopic because my life hasn't been like that. And it only goes up to when I go into rehab in 1990. It starts with me going into rehab and ends when I come out," said John, also adding that the film might even include some new songs. However, before you 'Moulin Rouge' fans get too excited, Elton states that 'Rouge' director Baz Luhrmann was unavailable to do the movie. Instead, they have someone else on board, who John says he's "very excited about." Timberlake has appeared in box office hits and Oscar nominated fare, but can he actually pull off the British accent? At least Sir Elton is right about Timberlake's look, as you can see in the LaChappelle video below. [via LAT] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Rooney Mara: 'I Really didn't Even Want' 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'

When Rooney Mara isn't commanding the screen while using talent from the old professional in 'The Girl While using Dragon Tattoo,' she's trashing her previous companies. Merely a month after apologizing for saying her stint on 'Law & Order: SVU' was "so awful" and "so stupid," Mara notifies Entertainment Weekly that they didn't really desire to are available in the remake of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' that aided launch her film career. "You kind of learn to self-sabotage with stuff you will not would like to get,Inch she told EW in the new interview (quotes not online). "Sometimes you will not wish to go however, you perform a fantastic job and you also get it anyway. That was kind of [what went lower with] 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' -- I didn't really even require it. After which it I went in [to audition] which i had been like, [whispering] "Fuck, I certainly got that." Mara is constantly on the express later inside the interview that following 'Elm Street,' she "didn't desire to act any more.Inch It absolutely was only after locating the script for 'The Social Network' that Mara was "reinspired." Clearly, that collaboration with director David Fincher directly introduced to her casting in 'The Girl While using Dragon Tattoo.' All's well that finishes well. [via EW] [Photo: AP The the spanish language language] Best Performances of 2011 11. Uggie, 'The Artistཆ. Corey Stoll, 'Midnight in ParisƏ. Ryan Gosling, 'DriveƎ. Kristen Wiig, 'Bridesmaidsƍ. Michelle Williams, 'My Week With Marilynƌ. Meryl Streep, 'The Iron LadyƋ. Michael Fassbender, 'ShameƊ. Albert Brooks, 'DriveƉ. Charlize Theron, 'Young Adultƈ. Kaira Pitt, 'MoneyballƇ. Rooney Mara, 'The Girl While using Dragon Tattoo' See All Moviefone Galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

ROLL CALL: Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Celebrate Jonah Hills Birthday

First Published: January 3, 2012 1:48 PM EST Credit: WireImage Caption Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are seen a Moneyball screening and Q&A at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, Calif. on December 19, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Your Daily Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans Jonahs Star-Studded Birthday: Starring in Moneyball has its perks! For Jonah Hills recent 28th birthday party, the stars turned out, including his recent co-star Brad Pitt along with Angelina Jolie and Zooey Deschanel. They danced a little bit, a source told Us Weekly. Angelina had a glass of wine in her hand. And Brangelina werent the only ones enjoying the party. New Girl star Zooey was reportedly spotted tearing up the dance floor and the birthday boy was spotted dancing with several different girls. New Year Beach Bods!: Lots of stars hit the beach for the New Year and they werent shy about showing off a little skin! Jessica Alba was seen showing off her post-pregnancy body in Cabo San Lucas, HERE! Mischa Barton was spotted enjoying the sun in Miami, HERE! And Enrique Iglesias was spotted shirtless (and ripped) in St. Barts, HERE! More 2012 Action!: Which Dancing with the Stars pro rang in the New Year with the Kardashians? Which blonde bombshell rang in 2012 in Sin City? And, find out which two Hollywood hunks Sofia Vergara had on her arms on New Years Eve, HERE! In Case You Missed It!: 2012 daytime TV got off to an odd start on Monday when Snoop Dogg co-hosted Mondays The Price Is Right. Check out the rap star mixing it with host Drew Carey, HERE. Plinkizzle anyone! -By Jesse Spero Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.