Law & Order: SVU: Mariska Will Be Back, A Tense New Case and More!

Kitten Kay Sera takes extreme measures to maintain her "all pink everything" lifestyle. The self-proclaimed "pink lady" will be featured on Wednesday's premiere of My Crazy Obsession (TLC), an extension of the network's special, My Collection Obsession, which aired this past fall. Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com My Collection ObsessionMy Crazy Obsession

Helmer to steer non-profit org

GarretsonHelmer Katy Garretson continues to be named professional director from the I've got a Dream Foundation -- La.The appointment marks work change for Garretson, who'll lead the non-profit org that delivers coaching and scholarship funds to underprivileged students within the L.A. area."I used to be searching to segue into a new job that will let me hand back towards the community, and also the chance to utilize (the Dream Foundation) on the full-time basis is really a dream become a reality for me personally,Inch she stated.Garretson includes a lengthy resume like a TV helmer, mostly in sitcoms including "Frasier," "Reba," "George Lopez" and "Female friends." She's been mixed up in DGA, and was honored using the guild's Frank Capra award for service in the DGA Honours in The month of january. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Bernie Trailer Arrives

Jack Black could be a murdererAfter the rotoscoped animation antics of A Scanner Darkly and a trip into film history with Me And Orson Welles, director Richard Linklater decided to recruit a couple of old pals (Jack Black and Matthew McConaughey) and shoot something a little smaller in Texas. The result is Bernie, an odd story of true crime and a cranky old widow. Check out the trailer below.Bernie follows the misadventures of the titular character, a mortician (Black) who is known around the small, friendly town of Carthage as a community leader.But people wonder whether he's been sniffing the formaldehyde a little too deeply when he strikes up an unlikely friendship with Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine), a recently widowed woman with all the charm of a cobra. Still, the two seem to get along famously, jetting off on exotic holidays and spending lots of time together.Then comes another twist: Marjorie ends up dead, and while everyone in town can believe someone would kill her, no one can quite convince themselves that Bernie would be guilty. Enter the flamboyant local District Attorney, Danny Buck Davidson (McConaughey), who makes it his mission to find out the truth.Bernie will arrive in the US on April 27, but there's no word on a UK release date yet.

Past Giant Steps

The wide benefit of 'Sabado Gigante' is tied straight to the approach of host Don Francisco, above center and below.Don Francisco on 'Sabado Gigante'Now honoring an archive-breaking half a century on air, the important thing behind the durability of "Sabado Gigante" lies using its creator and host Mario Kreutzberger -- also known as Don Francisco -- whose pioneering spirit has driven the range show to remain fresh, topical and most importantly, entertaining.It had been in front of the curve even if Kreutzberger released it in 1962 in Chile, where television was still being a nascent industry."?'Sabado Gigante' featured singing competitions way before 'American Idol' and dancing contests years before 'Dancing Using the Stars,'?" states Antonio Ruiz, someone at premier U.S. Hispanic ad agency the Vidal Partnership.For five continuous decades, without any reruns, this three-hour program is a Saturday evening viewing habit for hundreds of countless The spanish language-loudspeakers worldwide, such as the U.S. Nielsen reviews that "Sabado Gigante" rated No. 1 among Hispanics 18-49 this year.InchThe show's greatest highlight -- and I only say this knowing that could be construed as adulation -- is its host, Don Francisco, who is able to change and present probably the most diverse segments, from interviews with presidents and professionals to conversations with kids, presenting new performers or established entertainers (and) taking part in comedy sketches," states Cuco Arias, Vice president-professional producer for "Sabado Gigante" and it is more youthful offshoot, talkshow "Don Francisco Presenta."Arias continues to be using the show since December 1986, a couple of several weeks after it released in April that year on Miami station WLTV-Funnel 23 and just like the chance of broadcasting it countrywide via Univision started that need considering. Once made the decision, Arias' initial task ended up being to hold auditions over the U.S. to find participants and talent for that show."In the beginning it had been hard to book participants or visitors, because Hispanics were not accustomed to taking part in Television shows within the U.S.," he recalls. "In the auditions, we attempted to obtain the most outgoing candidates, individuals who could lead something entertaining or lighthearted towards the show which were prepared to inform us a little regarding their lives, their own families.InchTalking from his winery in Chile, Kreutzberger relates how he earned Saturdays their own, growing what began like a one-hour show to fill some eight hrs. Then to finish it off, he carried out a 2-hour talk show, "Evening of Titans" at night.InchI had been on air for nearly 10 hrs per week from 1968 to 1986," he recalls.Then he made the decision to consider "Sabado Gigante" towards the U.S. and cut the show amount of time in half to be able to do four hrs in Chile and four in Miami. For many six years, he shuttled between Miami and Santiago p Chile, investing three-and-a-half days in every.In the autobiography "Existence, Camera, Action!" he relates the way it got so maddening within the race towards the airport terminal each week he was involved with a minimum of two vehicle crashes. In a single accident that totaled his vehicle, the guy whose vehicle he hit recognized him and rushed him towards the airport terminal."I had been supported only by my ego," he muses.Individuals madcap days are gone, and that he now produces the show just monthly in Chile, as the three versions of "Sabado Gigante" (U.S., worldwide and Chilean) are shot in Miami, with 50% done live.Younger crowd uses his visits to Chile to conduct a lengthy-running telethon that funds the making of hospitals, one of several philanthropic causes he champions."Sabado Gigante" is constantly on the achieve 1.4 million to at least one.5 million homes per week, a small dip from the peak between 2004 and 2006 of just one.six million to at least one.7 million homes. However it has additionally learned to sit in the advances in technology, social networking and audience habits."I was the first one to launch an internet page within the U.S. Hispanic market, even in front of Univision, some 17 years back,Inch Kreutzberger highlights.As Don Francisco, he never does not mention the show's Twitter and facebook accounts while bantering together with his studio audience."Within the long term, we want to improve the show's interaction to ensure that audiences in your own home might have more extensive participation within the surface the various platforms that are offered,Inch states Arias.Using the current proliferation of DVRs, Kreutzberger's insistence on integrating items and backed segments in the start makes him appear much more forward-searching than his peers and stored the show lucrative.This program also introduced closed captions in British at the begining of Feb, to achieve the short-growing bilingual and British-dominant Hispanics within the U.S."In early years, 'Sabado Gigante' attracted a typical age bracket of 33 years, however 45% of their audience is above 50," states Ruiz. "The show's primary challenge would be to capture a more youthful audience once again.InchAt the same time, Kreutzberger is focusing on a documentary about "Sabado Gigante" to become ready by year's finish. Festivities will culminate inside a live extravaganza in the Nokia Theater in September alongside flagship Univision station KMEX, that will also celebrate its 50th anniversary.'Sabado Gigante' at 50A good reputation for Giant Steps Francisco leaves his heart together with his profession 'Sabado' evening fever Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

John Davis to produce actioner 'Archetype'

John Davis has picked up rights to "Archetype," a short film written and directed by Aaron Sims. Sims will make his feature directorial debut on the adaptation of the short. The hyphenate runs the Aaron Sims Co. visual effects banner, which most recently worked on "Sucker Punch," "Clash of the Titans" and "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." "The Help" exec producer John Norris is on board to produce. Brittany Morrissey will oversee for Davis Entertainment. Newcomers Guy Busick and Ryan Murphy (not to be confused with the exec producer of "Glee" and "American Horror Story") will pen the script. Film will center around futuristic society in which robots are used to stave off rebellions until one robot joins the rebels. Project attracted interest from Hollywood after Sims' short went viral on YouTube last year. Davis Entertainment bought "Archetype" out of its discretionary fund. The Fox-based shingle most recently produced "Chronicle," a sleeper budgeted at $12 million which has grossed nearly $60 million since its Feb. 3 release. Sims' design credits also include "Big Fish" and "War of the Worlds." Paradigm reps Sims, Busick and Murphy. Brucks Entertainment and 3 Arts rep Busick and Murphy. Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com

Trio looking for 'Percy Jackson'

Birdsong"The Descendants" thesp Mary Birdsong, "Community" star Yvette Nicole Brown and Missi Pyle happen to be cast because the three Fates in Fox 2000's "Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Ocean of Monsters."Thor Fredenthal is pointing the pic from the script by Scott Alexander and Ray Karaszewski. Chris Columbus, who directed the very first film, will produce with Karen Rosenfelt and Michael Barnathan. Follow up, that is skedded for release on March 27, 2013, finds Jackson and the buddies going to the Ocean of Monsters to obtain the mythical Golden Fleece.Logan Lerman is coming back because the title character, while Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson, Mike Abel and Melina Kanakaredes will even reprise their roles in the first pic, which made $226.5 million worldwide in 2010. The 3 Fates is going to be described as taxi-driving siblings who bicker within the single eye they share."Large Love" thesp Douglas Cruz is another newcomer towards the franchise, playing the protag's half-brother, a Cyclops.Birdsong, who lately performed Zach Galifianakis' ex-girlfriend in Focus' "It's Type of an interesting Story," next stars in John O'Connell's indie comedy "Angry Whitened Guy." Thesp is repped by UTA and Abrams Entertainment. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com

Miscast Roles: The Situation For Mark Ruffalo in Rise from the Planet from the Apes

You realize this movie, and odds are that you simply loved this movie -- except for your one role that almost destroyed everything. Miscast Roles is how Movieline and it is visitors swap out individuals roles to really make it right. Certainly one of last years surprise critical and commercial darlings, Rise from the Planet from the Apes, impressed audiences, stoked many an honours-season debate and energized an essential sci-fi franchise - all while still controlling to attract moviegoers not really acquainted with the initial 1968 film (or that film's 1963 source novel). As chief chimp Caesar, Andy Serkiss performative collaboration using the motion capture prodigies from WETA would be a great spectacle, showing audiences having a beautifully made CGI-animated character. Yet one consistent flaw in Rise left me itching my mind: James Francos strangely aloof performance as researcher Will Rodman. The film presents Rodman being an Alzheimers disease investigator who states have discovered a remedy that necessitates extensive animal testing and, subsequently, leads to a race of intelligent, self-aware chimpanzees, along with the titular rise from the primate-centered culture where the relaxation from the series relies. Imagining Franco like a brilliant investigator even just in the very best of performances could be, allows face the facts, a little of stretch. But add the truth that this character is motivated with a need to cure their own father from the debilitating results of the condition under consideration - as well as Rodman's somewhat unhealthy attachment towards the first subject of his animal tests - and you have an intricate emotional palette that appeared to flat-out confuse Franco. A far greater option for this role could have been the significant Mark Ruffalo, an actress able to interacting precisely what was needed from the Rodman character within this story. This isn't to express that Franco is really a bad actor, not even close to it. His talents are simply misplaced here: Franco is better at lengthening the emotional distance between character and audience, arresting audiences attention through enigma and idiosyncrasy, instead of hooking up through direct emotional appeal. He rarely allows the viewer into his mind space, which role really needed someone with whom the crowd could immediately connect. Ruffalo, meanwhile, has behaved strongly in 2 films particularly - You Are Able To Rely on Me and Shutter Island - that needed precisely the two traits most significant towards the Rodman character: a palpable feeling of sympathy as well as an capability to play a straight-guy to some more eye-catching lead. Rodmans psychology, hanging between helplessness as well as an ambitious determination to create things right, was designed to parallel the emotional instability of his primate friend Caesar, because the latter scales from animal behavior in the steps of human cognitive development. Franco consistently hit the incorrect notes in the interaction with Serkiss Caesar, and frequently left John Lithgow, who performed the dementia-stricken father, adrift in scenery eating overtures. The moments between father and boy didnt work like they couldve, and also the possibility to cast the conflicting motivations competing for Rodmans attention when it comes to Caesars own dual character went unrealized. In Ruffalos breakthrough role in your soul Can Rely On Me, he demonstrated huge emotional range because the wayward brother to Laura Linneys maternally protective large sister character. You Are Able To Rely On Me highlights a youthful guys staggering crisis of identity, as performed out inside a family drama. [Clip NSFW] The film is a lengthy assurance by Ruffalos character that, wherever he may wander within the greater world, the bonds of family holding him and the sister together still remain. Seem familiar? Rise from the Planet from the Apes includes a strikingly similar theme, though its identity crisis and settlement of familial loyalty covers an inter-species bond. In Your Soul Can Rely On Me, Ruffalo plays the Caesar role to Linneys large sister he's the main one breaking out into new territory of self-determination, while its Linney who plays the concerned, yet ultimately quiescent protector. But Ruffalo reverses that relationship in the mentorship of Linneys youthful boy, performed by Kieran Culkin, there he shows some quite strong Rodman-type qualities. Meanwhile, Ruffalos pensive second fiddle to Leonardo DiCaprios go-for-broke investigator in Shutter Island also satisfies the needed qualifications for walking in to the Rodman part. Ruffalo stays without anyone's knowledge from the drama for many of Shutter Island, permitting DiCaprio to function as a fixed center towards the films horrifically shifting feeling of reality. The truth that the crowd is not said to be searching too carefully at Ruffalo eventually ends up being important, given plot developments. Yet when all is revealed, and Ruffalo is finally in a position to communicate what his careful, subdued presence within the film really entails, he stands out. Watch Ruffalos eyes within the final scene of Shutter Island within the clip below, and imagine how using that much cla of character adding to Will Rodman in Rise from the Planet from the Apes might have achieved positive results the entire production. Nathan Pensky is definitely an connect editor at PopMatters along with a contributor at Forbes, among many other shops. He are available on Tumblr and Twitter too.