Espresso - Backstage

'Glee' and 'Vampire Diaries' to be Recognized at PaleyFest

The Paley Center for Media has announced that the 27th annual PaleyFest television festival will honor freshmen series "Glee" and "The Vampire Diaries." During evening events of the Feb. 26-March 14, 2010, festival, audiences get to screen episodes or highlights of featured work and have the opportunity to ask the cast and creative team questions. The recognition of "Glee" as a "new season breakout hit" will be the first cast appearance kicking off the series' spring season launch.

Read the story at The Paley Center for Media

Pictured: "Glee"

Comcast Introduces New On-Demand Service

Comcast has officially introduced an online on-demand movie service, Fancast Xfinity TV. Still in its early stages, the service is thus far only available to high-speed internet and cable subscribers. According to The Wrap, Comcast interactive president Amy Banse said that the goal of the new system is to "change the way people watch video online" and eventually let customers access video content "anytime, anywhere, on any device." While launching with more than 900 on-demand movies from the company's partners, Showtime is currently holding out.

Read the story at The Wrap

Pictured: Amy Banse

'Dexter' Executive Producer Announces Departure

Following the recent record-breaking ratings of "Dexter" for the season four finale, executive producer Clyde Phillips is leaving Showtime's highest-rated program. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Phillips cited the desire to spend more time with his wife and daughter, who live in Connecticut, for his departure. While working on the series, he spent nine months of the year in Los Angeles, where "Dexter" is produced, and three with his family on the East Coast. Chip Johannessen, co-executive producer of "24," has been selected to run the show currently in the midst of a two-season pickup. The fourth season of "Dexter" has been nominated for two Golden Globes--best actor in a drama for star Michael C. Hall and best supporting actor for the season's recurring guest John Lithgow.

Read the story at The Hollywood Reporter

Pictured: Clyde Phillips and Michael C. Hall (Photo: Getty Images)

Polanski's Newest Movie to Debut at Berlin Film Festival

Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island" and the house-arrested Roman Polanski's latest film "The Ghost Writer" will debut at the 60th Annual Berlin International Film Festival this February, according to the Associated Press. The festival, which runs Feb. 11-21, is the first major European film festival of the year. "The Ghost Writer" is Polanski's first new film since 2005 and was recently picked up for North American distribution by Summit.

Read the story at the Associated Press

Pictured: Roman Polanski (Photo: Getty Images)

Jeff Austin to Replace Cassel on SAG National Board

According to Variety, the Screen Actors Guild's Hollywood division board has selected Jeff Austin to assume Seymour Cassel's slot on the national board. Cassel was removed from his seat on the board in October when found guilty of conduct unbecoming a member by an internal trial board. He was charged following allegations of sexually harrassing staff members last May. Austin belongs to the Membership First faction, which controls the Hollywood board but lost control of the national board in 2008.

Read the story at Variety

Pictured: Seymour Cassel (Photo: Getty Images)

Golden Globes Nominations Announced

At the Beverly Hilton, Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk, Justin Timberlake, John Krasinski, and Diane Kruger announced the Golden Globes nominations. Fox's freshman musical comedy series "Glee" led the television nominations with four nods, while "Up in the Air" edged out competing films and garnered six nominations. The full list of nominations is available from Back Stage. Ricky Gervais will host the award show Jan. 17.

Read the story at Back Stage

Pictured: John Krasinski, Diane Kruger, and Justin Timberlake (Photo: Getty Images)

Disney Animation Tops Box Office

Disney's "The Princess and the Frog" jumped to the top spot of the box office with an approximate weekend total of $25 million. The film revives the classic drawn animation that has recently yielded to the computer animation of the Disney/Pixar alliance. Warner Brothers' "The Blind Side" fell to second place with $15.5 million and a total gross of $150.2 million. Warner Brothers also took third with the release of "Invictus," starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Overall, the weekend's top ten movies grossed $84.4 million, an 8 percent increase from earners of the same weekend last year.

Read the story at the Hollywood Reporter.

Pictured: Disney's "The Princess and the Frog"

"Miracle Worker" Announces Cast Newcomers

According to Playbill, actors have been added to the Keller family tree for the upcoming Broadway revival of "The Miracle Worker" about the life of Helen Keller, starring Abigail Breslin in the lead role. Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Matthew Modine has been cast as Captain Keller, Helen's father. Jennifer Morrison, most known for her recurring role on Fox's "House M.D." will make her Broadway debut as Mrs. Keller. Tony nominee Elizabeth Franz returns to the Broadway stage for the first time in eight years as Helen's Aunt Ev.

Read the story at Playbill.

Pictured: Jennifer Morrison (Getty Images)

Gibson to Direct New Period Pic Starring DiCaprio

Producer Graham King will unite director Mel Gibson, writer William Monahan and three time Oscar-nominated actor Leonard DiCaprio for a new film depicting the drama of Viking culture. According to Variety, the currently untitled film will be co-produced by King's GK Films and Gibson's Icon Productions. The team is set to begin filming in the fall of 2010. King most recently collaborated with both DiCaprio and Monahan in the 2007 Oscar-winner "The Departed." The new feature marks a first time partnership between DiCaprio and Gibson.

Read the story at Variety.

Pictured: Mel Gibson (Getty Images)

Film Critics Deliver Verdict on this Year's Releases

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association voted this summer's "The Hurt Locker" as this year's best picture and the film's director, Kathryn Bigelow, best director. The movie examines how the experiences of a soldier stationed in Baghdad turned him into an adrenaline addict. The George Clooney starrer "Up in the Air" came in second for best picture, but won for best screenplay, written by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner. Jeff Bridges won best actor for his portrayal of a has-been singer/songwriter in "Crazy Heart" and Yolande Moreau won best actress for her role as a French painter in "Seraphine." "Fantastic Mr. Fox" from 20th Century Fox surprised, beating out Disney/Pixar's "UP" for best animated film.

Read the story at the Hollywood Reporter.

Pictured: George Clooney in "Up in the Air"