Watercooler: In Praise of Glee's Santana

Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, Heather Morris See, this is why you should make Christmas lists, kids! Almost a year ago, Watercooler asked Santa for a few things in regards to Glee, and last night, we got the one we wanted the most: More Santana. In fact, it was like a "a very special Santanisode" that saw the spitfire who once declared "the only straight I am is straight-up bitch" officially embracing her Sapphic self and showcased the always-delicious Naya Rivera's ability to be all sorts of fierce, funny and believably vulnerable. Her version of "Constant Craving" with Idina Menzel? That was just extra awesome-sauce on the side. Not that this is the first time Rivera has gotten the attention she so richly deserves. All season, while the rest of us have been wondering if Karovsky will get more than one scene this year, Santana's coming-out storyline has been brewing, and two weeks back, we got that Finn slap that sounded an awful lot like "buckle yourselves in, it's gonna get Lima Heights-adjacent up in here!" Lawdy, did it ever! Between the scene with her grandma and the "I Kissed a Girl" number, the focus on La Lopez made up for many of the hour's lesser moments. Our only worry is where this story goes from here. Clearly, she'll need some help handling the aftershocks of being publicly outed (thanks to that anti-Sue commercial), so we really hope the writers handle it sensibly. Not responsibly - we'd never ask that from folks who just threw a teacher into bed with a student - just logically. Like, maybe use guidance counselor Emma as more than just an OCD punch line. Or have Blaine take a break from being smugly self-impressed to mentor her on how to become a well-adjusted gay teen with great hair like him. Just please, do not reduce her to yet another weepy, whiny martyr like last year's canonization of St. Kurt. That mess is now walking around in roll-neck ponchos and Santana deserves so much better than that. Do you agree? How should they handle Santana's story now that everyone knows she's "Lebanese"? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine today!

Start Looking: 227 Stars' Southland Reunion

Marla Gibbs, Regina King Regina King only agreed to be 14 when she began playing Brenda, the wise, sassy daughter of Marla Gibbs' Mary Jenkins around the NBC sitcom 227. 2 decades later, King is being careful of 80-year-old within the The month of january 24 episode of TNT's Southland. "This is actually the very first time we have behaved together since 227," states . "But Regina's still my daughter. I simply love her." , all retrieved from the stroke she experienced a couple of in the past, plays the grandmother of the wrongly accused suspect. "My character includes a little Alzheimer's disease, and so i call Regina 'Brenda,' thinking she's my grandson's ex-girlfriend." King was touched to reunite together with her former TV mother. "It had been much like old occasions," she states. "She's as sharp-witted as she was 20-plus years back.Inch Now let us get Jackée inside next! Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

The new sony TV arm plots overseas growth

Sony's Andy Kaplan, second from right, with Imax's Take advantage of Lister left, 3net's Tom Cosgrove and Discovery's Bruce Campbell, celebrate 3net's launch.A 26-year-old government clerk in one of India's weakest regions made head lines worldwide recently like a "real-existence 'Slumdog Millionaire'?" after he grew to become the very first contestant to win a $a million jackpot on India's version of "Who would like to Be considered a Uniform."Nobody was more happy to determine Sushil Kumar's win generate a lot attention as Andy Kaplan along with other executives at The new sony Pictures TV, since the incident demonstrates the depth of Sony's growing opportunities in worldwide TV systems and programming.India's edition of "Who would like to Be considered a Uniform" is transported around the The new sony Entertainment Television (SET) funnel that serves among the world's most populous nations. The excitement around Kumar's win has increased rankings for that funnel considerably -- a lot to ensure that it's rated because the No. 1 entertainment cable funnel within the highly competitive marketplace this season. In addition, The new sony Pictures TV is the owner of the show and privileges towards the "Uniform" format entirely through its acquisition in 2008 of Nederlander production company 2waytraffic (which acquired the home from original "Uniform" producer, Celador).Kaplan continues to be in the helm of this train for The new sony Pictures TV within the last nine years. As prexy of worldwide systems, he headed the push to plow new fields for Sony's key funnel brands -- The new sony Entertainment Television, AXN, Animax and The new sony Spin. Previously decade, The new sony has utilized the huge growth of TV platforms in Asia, Latin America along with other regions and it has 120 channels airing in 159 nations and 22 languages.The "Uniform" windfall was an unpredictable turn of excellent fortune for SET, which already is just one of India's most well-established entertainment channels. But the truth that The new sony had all the infrastructure in position to locate itself for the reason that position reflects Sony's resolve for trading in the portfolio of worldwide channels. Similar to the other Hollywood majors, The new sony brass see worldwide growth, particularly using their own proprietary channels, like a crucial engine of future studio profits.Kaplan, who's located in Culver City, lately signed a 3-year extension of his contract using the studio. He started his career at The new sony a lot more than two decades ago like a biz professional around the domestic production side. However when the chance to maneuver right into a job having a global purview emerged, he did not hesitate.Today, the channels wing utilizes about 1,500 folks offices all over the world. Kaplan also runs the studio's curiosity about 3net, the three dimensional cable funnel that's a partnership of The new sony, Discovery Communications and Imax Corp."The truly amazing factor relating to this business would be that the macroeconomic factors of every particular region and country are extremely different it's always difficult to start and run these companies," Kaplan states. "The enjoyment part is determining the way we run channels which have some (worldwide) commonalities but they are still various and specific to every territory."Sony's channels offer a mixture of U.S.-created entertainment fare, whether The new sony productions or shows using their company galleries, and in your area created programming."We acquire from everyone," Kaplan states. "Our obligation would be to program our systems using the best available programming to find the biggest audience."The flagship The new sony Entertainment Television brand was created like a general entertainment outlet (think USA Network) that has a tendency to draw more women audiences. AXN, using its focus on action-adventure fare, sways more male. Animax is customized to animation enthusiasts while Spin is targeted toward teens and teenagers. At the moment, Kaplan's focus is on adding more channels in regions where it already includes a large footprint, and stretching its achieve into key growth areas for example Poultry and also the Middle East.Sony's channels arm doesn't have shortage of competition from individuals run by Fox, Time Warner, Disney and Viacom, amongst others, and every one of the majors have noticeably been arriving the amount and profile of original programming. Kaplan leaped at the opportunity to use Canuck production giant eOne in creating a wholly original legal drama series for that AXN channels according to John Grisham's novel "The Firm" with author-producer Lukas Reiter ("Law & Order") along with other U.S.-based creatives onboard.The show switched the standard domestic-to-worldwide scripted series sales path on its ear if this arrived an offer with NBC -- lengthy after it had been already greenlighted for production for AXN along with other shops. "Firm" has become looking for an international rollout at the begining of The month of january.For Kaplan, the knowledge with "Firm" is a good example of just how much the company landscape for programming has become progressively more globally focused. Which puts The new sony inside a good position to succeed with the achieve and diversity of channels in the toolbox."Fundamental essentials types of things we are really looking forward to,Inch Kaplan states. "?'The Firm' is really a method of boosting our game and getting a significantly bigger creative presence in large-budget programming. Our channels is going to be first in line of these type of occasions." Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Grateful Dead Movie: Finally Happening?

The Grateful Dead are among a number of legendary rock groups -- Brought Zeppelin and also the Beatles also belong within this category -- whose music is nearly impossible to license inside a film. Unless of course you've got a massive budget to invest on music privileges (cough, Cameron Crowe), the probability of using 'Hey Jude' or 'Misty Mountain Hop' inside your movie are incredibly low. However, the Grateful Dead may no more have this issue. Based on Deadline, ICM continues to be given use of the band's catalog and can create a feature film built around their music. ICM's Bruce Kaufman, who did such like using the Beatles for 'Across the World,' is going to be heading in the project. So, an 'Across the Universe' for Grateful Dead music -- that might be bad or good news, based on that which you considered the film. Some Beatles fans loved the incorporation of Great Four music right into a feature film, others thought it was cheesy and unwatchable. Really, as lengthy because they include 'Sugar Magnolia' within this movie, we will not complain. [via Deadline] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

'The Muppets': Where's Elmo?

This story initially made an appearance within the November. 25 problem from the Hollywood Reporter magazine.our editor recommends'The Muppets' Premiere Red-colored Carpet Arrivals'The Muppets' at D23: Jason Segel Discusses Their Comedy Influence (Video) Fans of Elmo may be disappointed to understand the character doesn't come in Disney's November. 23 reboot The Muppets. PHOTOS: 'The Muppets' Premiere Red-colored Carpet Arrivals One of the disappointed is star and co-author Jason Segel, who had been rebuffed in ironic fashion. "I authored a scene where i was looking to get Elmo to become the celebrity host from the Muppet Show, anda team of lawyers informs us no," Segel stated November. 9 on Ryan Seacrest's radio show. "[Then] that's what really happened -- a team of lawyers told us Elmo wasn't available." VIDEO: The Muppets' Jason Segel On Way forward for the Film Franchise Disney bought the Muppets in the Jim Henson estate in 2004, but Sesame Street figures remain using the Children's Television Workshop. Crossovers have happened, but studio lawyers apparently made the decision against Elmo. Joked Seacrest, "Are you able to imagine likely to law school, which's that which you're protecting?" Disney rejected comment. Related Subjects Jason Segel The Muppets

Three Youthful Adult Clips Hit The Internet

More clips from Reitman's latest Youthful Adult reunites Jason Reitman with Juno author Diablo Cody, getting Charlize Theron along for that ride too.Playing a children's novel ghost author known as MavisGary, Theron reaches play a thirty something "psycho bitch" coming back home tosnatch away her senior high school love from underneath the nose of his wife and newborn child.For additional evidence of her bitchiness, take a look at these three clips Reitman and co. have launched to enable you to get looking forward to the film, starting off with that one from Moviefone:Accompanied by that one from Perez Hilton:And lastly that one, that is only located on Apple's trailer site.As individuals individuals who had been watching the entire trailer for Youthful Adult again and again and also over may have already observed, lots of what we should see during these three clips is visible mashed altogether within the full trailer, therefore it is not completely new, but it's, you realize, new. In ways.YoungAdult arrives on British screens on Feb 10, and really should receive lots of Oscar attention, knowing by its designers previous form...

Hammond: A Hard Governors Honours

At Saturday evening’s3rd annual Governors Honours, Oscar-winning film author Diablo Cody (Juno)was sitting alongside meand just before the show all of a sudden saidof being inside the room using the famous host the famous host oprah: “This is extreme personally. I am an The famous host the famous host oprah worshipper.”Afterthis year’s people receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award acquired a trio ofstanding ovations andended her emotional acceptance speech tobring thebig evening with a close,Cody found the final outcome, “I appear like I have just freebased The famous host the famous host oprah”. Indeedit was The famous host the famous host oprah’s evening in this room. It belonged for the other honorary Oscar individuals who win, too –makeup legend Dick Cruz and actor James Earl Manley, who recognized his awardfrom London’s Wyndham stagein a segment recorded earlier over the following day's a matinee performance of Driving Miss Daisy through which he's turning up alongside Vanessa Redgrave. Up to now I have been to all or any three Governors Honours occasions which i'd say this made an appearance most likely probably the most emotional of these with both Winfrey and Manley referencing their extended journey from Mississippi with this Hollywood moment. One attendee described afterwards, “I actually was moved with this particular greater than almost every other year”. If possibly the speeches may be this good round the Oscar reveal. Thenthe Academy wouldn’t worry about who hosts or produces the show. Academy Leader Tom Sherak made his entrance in the Darth Vader uniform (in tribute to Manley) and opened up track of similar line he familiar with introduce a screening in the Manley film, The Fantastic White-colored Hope on Friday evening: “How was your week?” It absolutely was an apparent reference to the the tumultuous occasions surrounding this year’s Oscar show. But that was really the only time a couple of days’s occasions emerged all evening. It had been a evening for your honorees and so they all made most likely the best from it. Before dinner a stirring reel was proven highlighting the entire 84-year good status for honorary Oscar individuals who win, a touching tribute to past Oscar show producers Laura Ziskin and Gil Cates who both died this year. Alec Baldwin got the show moving after dinner by adoring his The Quest For Red-colored-colored October co-star Manley saying, “Unlike many stars, James Earl Manley never required to get his career back as they never dropped it. He is probably the finest stars ever”. Glenn Close showed up in this area to praise him by referencing his Broadway triumph Fences. “He might be the only real actor which has broken me apart and transformed me until I used to be a screaming slobbering mess. James Earl Manley is really a global treasure.”Redgrave via tapesurprised her co-star by making Mister Ben Kingsley by getting an Oscar to supply to Manley.”You achieve what every actor is going after. You are always so damn good,” Kingsley recognized. Manley was truly taken aback. “If an actress’s nightmare continues to be onstage butt-naked and not knowing his lines, then what is is?” he jeered.”This is certainly an actress’s wet dream. I amgobsmacked as of this improbable moment throughout my existence. You cannot be an actress like I am and not come in a couple of from the worst movies like I have. However stand prior to deciding to deeply honored, mighty grateful, and basically plain godsmacked.” The region then converted to a lovefest for veteran makeup wizard Dick Cruz, the legend behind such amazing changes as Dustin Hoffman in Little Large Guy, Marlon Brando inside the Godfather, Robert P Niro in Taxi Driver, F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus, and Linda Blair inside the Exorcist who told everybody else: “I was stated to become the next Disney girl however acquired this movie and Dick Cruz switched me to the ugliest, sickest, most frightening monster ever.” Director J.J. Abrams gave top tips in the hat to Cruz within the filmSuper 8 but got the finest laugh in the nightwith an account about how precisely when he will be a kid almost 30 years ago he was passionate about Cruz and written him a follower letter. “One day a box turned up from Dick Cruz getting an email in my opinion nonetheless ‘Dear J.J. Here’s a vintage but clean tongue within the Exorcist - plus it was signed Dick. My mother was very concerned about who this person was and why he was delivering me tongues.” Seven-time Oscar champion and fellow makeup genius Ron Baker presentedSmith along with his Oscar (it’sDick’s second, getting won in 1984 for Amadeus) and referred to as him “my idol, mentor, and friend in excess of four decades, the best makeup artist ever”.Cruz teared up andbecame almost dumbfounded but handled to convey,”When I watch the wonderful films they just shown, I believed, ‘What a great career this fellow has received.’ I have loved like a makeup artist. To own were built with a lot kindness is just too much.” Among people tributing Winfreywere her good pals Travolta Qantas Video and producer Ray Gordon (getting a amusing story including lots of shared tequila), and Maria Shriver who referred to, “I am standing because this lady has was by me for 34 years. I’m also standing here since many people desire to love The famous host the famous host oprah.”To present the Oscar,a young Harlem girl walked around the podium:Ayanna Hall who received a scholarship within the The famous host the famous host oprah Winfrey Foundation and mentioned she was among 65,000 other students whom The famous host the famous host oprah has shipped to school. Noticeably overcome, Winfreyclaimedshe had not prepared a previous address. “I desired to feel what that is… It's unthinkable for anyone who is not just a black’colored girl’ in Mississippi in 1954 to understand what this means. Once I saw The Help and study the bookm it absolutely was my story. My grandmother will be a maid, her mother will be a maid, her mother before her will be a slave, my mother will be a maid. That is unthinkable… I'll save this Oscar in my desk to assist help remind me to take advantage in our life-style operating of one another. Personally this Oscar will represent love from everybody.” As they are the custom, the Governors Awardsisan opportune moment for prospective Oscarnominees to mix and mingle with Academy voters. All the art galleries buy tables and enable a couple of of the hopefuls. Working the Red-colored-colored Carpet, theyeven obtain photos taken while using large Oscar statues.And so the room was full of competitors. Here’s an incomplete list:Glenn Close and Jesse McTeer from Albert Nobbs, Demian Bichir and director Chris Weitz in the Better Existence, Jean DuJardin and director Michel Hazanavicious within the Artist, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer and director Tate Taylor within the Help, Michael Fassbender and director Steve McQueen from Shame, Shailene Woodley and Robert Forster within the Descendants, director Gore Verbinski from Rango, Evan Rachel Wood within the Ides of March, Gary Oldman from Mess Tailor Soldier Spy, Patton Oswalt from Youthful Adult, Director Bennett Burns from Moneyball, Woodsy Harrelson fromRampart, Tilda Swinton from We Must Discuss Kevin, Ellen Barkin and director Mike Levinson from Another Happy Day, film author Dustin Lance Black from J. Edgar,Melissa McCarthyfrom Bridesmaids. Wally Disney Art galleries’ Wealthy Ross, DreamWorks’ Stacey Snider, Fox Searchlight’s Nancy Utley, Kerbside Attraction’s Howard Cohen and Eric D’Abeloff,Summit Entertainment’s Make the most of Friedman and Fox Shot Entertainment’s Jim Gianopulos (the 2nd two both Academy board people) counseled me thereamong many other moguls and producers and talent. Missing were The Weinstein Company’sHarvey Weinstein who was simply inLondon to look for the nearly finished cut in the Iron Lady (December 30) for whichMeryl Streep can be a shoo-looking for another Best Actress nomination.

'Frozen River' Director Boards Reese Witherspoon Comedy 'Rule #1'

Courtney Hunt, who garnered a best screenplay Oscar nomination for Frozen River, has come aboard to direct Rule #1, a comedy that has Reese Witherspoon attached to star.our editor recommendsQ&A: Courtney HuntRyan Seacrest to Make Film Producing Debut with Reese Witherspoon (Exclusive)Toronto 2011: Emmett / Furla Films Partners With Envision for High Profile Slate Randall Emmett and George Furla of Emmett/Furla Films will produce and finance the project. Brad Epstein of Panther Films is also producing as is Witherspoon and her Type A Films banner. Rule #1 tells the story of a 34 -year old woman trying to cope with OCD, who takes in a young woman with ADD and her newborn baby in an effort to face her anxieties and ultimately get her estranged husband back. The resulting effort takes the woman's already chaotic world spinning into the next level. Terrel Seltzer (One Fine Day) wrote the script for Rule #1, which was initially set up at Fox Searchlight in 2009 before being put into turnaround. Courtney, repped by WME, made her feature directorial debut with 2008's Frozen River which, in addition to her Oscar nom, saw star Melissa Leo receive a nomination for best actress. Since then, Courtney has directed episodes of In Treatment and Law & Order: SVU. Emmett/Furla is in pre-production on Broken City starring Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe and Catherine Zeta-Jones and currently shooting Frozen Ground, a crime thriller starring John Cusack and Nicolas Cage, in Alaska. The company recently announced a new $250 million film fund with Envision Entertainment to finance a new slate of high-end, star-driven commercial feature films. Related Topics Reese Witherspoon Frozen River

'Happy Feet' first and last

Demian Bichir returns to his fave dish at Rosa Mexicano. Dork Navarro and Perry Farrell at the Belasco .MillerGeorge Burns is beyond happy getting made two "Happy Ft" features regardless of the extended absence behind your camera in one pic to another.InchIndividuals think, what went down in my experience?Inch Burns stated at Monday's Beverly Hilton Hotel press junket for that Warner Bros. follow up. "However I love 'Happy Ft.'"But what did happen?"I don't know what film I am will make next," Burns described. "Common and that i would create a 'Justice League' movie, also it was almost greenlit and fell away. No a person's fault: It happened. I had been going to do 'Fury Road,' the following Mad Max film, and we are to shoot within the Australian desert -- and unparalleled rains came. The dry earth has become a flower garden, and also the massive salt houses where they are doing record speed tests has become filled with pelicans and seafood. So we have lost the wasteland. Fortunately, many of these projects happen to be with Warner Bros."Can Burns tap his distance to another "Ft"?"Should you put a gun to my mind and stated, 'Come track of a tale for 'Happy Ft 3,' I'd say, 'Shoot me. I've no clue.' I have found you need to allow the tales come the tales sneak in you. In the event that happens and we have got the power, we'll perform a third one." - Stephen Schaefer* * *Hollywood geeked out Tuesday evening for that launch of "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" at downtown's Belasco Theater. Who understood that videogame preems came everybody from Christina Aguilera to John Cho?"Whenever I arrived at L.A., it's one of these simple, and so i expect this can be a regular Tuesday evening," joked East Coaster Todd Howard, director of "Skyrim."Jane's Addiction performed an hourlong set filled with nearly naked backup ballroom dancers, a climactic blast of confetti and profane rants about Modest Mouse fans from frontman Perry Farrell."You do not care," Farrell told everyone else. "You came for that free drinks."- Todd Kushigemachi* * *Chris Weitz's better existence nowadays means politics and marketing Demian Bichir, star of his "A Much Better Existence." "It is interesting where pointing may take you," stated the driving pressure behind the Summit pic. Tuesday's lunch happened at Rosa Mexicano, where Bichir accustomed to offer great guacamole. "As individuals are summing in the great performances of the year, Demian has been recognized as well as in the search so to speak," added the helmer-producer.Weitz's lick on current immigration issues has additionally meant "a politicization of me through the film. I've not made the decision what's next like a filmmaker. My concentration is on these little political attack advertisements I am making on the web.Inch- Stephen Schaefer Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com