Thompson on Hollywood

Box Office Scandal: Circuit Dealing Pervades Small Towns, Flagship vs. Century Theatres

In a David vs. Goliath face-off, indie-owned Flagship Theaters recently won an appeal in its crusade against Cinemark’s Century Theatres. Does the age-old practice of circuit dealing — an unethical way for chain exhibitors to muscle studios — still persist? Anthony D’Alessandro digs further into this taboo topic: What is circuit dealing, exactly? It’s a predatory film booking practice whereby multiplex chains strong-arm studios for product in a specific market. If a studio decides to book with the competition in a given community, usually a Mom-and-Pop venue, then the exhibitor will threaten to bar that film (or future films) from playing the entire chain.

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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September 27, 2011 11:38 AM
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Walking Dead: Why Did AMC Fire Showrunner Frank Darabont? THR Blames AMC's Joel Stillerman

Many media folk have been trying to get to the bottom of why AMC fired showrunner Frank Darabont off its most successful show, The Walking Dead. THR's Kim Masters comes up with some answers, although AMC is keeping Darabont and others mum. Not surprisingly, two of the usual factors, greed and ego, are involved. What's astonishing is how much AMC's head of original programming, Joel Stillerman, the villain of Masters' piece, seems willing to risk the quality of his biggest hit in order to reap profits.

By Anne Thompson
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August 11, 2011 6:13 AM
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TCA News: Hamm To Direct Mad Men Premiere, AMC Offers No Darabont Details on Walking Dead Exit

The annual Television Critics Association panels are under way in Los Angeles. New news from Thursday's AMC panel: Mad Men star Jon Hamm will direct the Season Five premiere, which starts filming next week.

By Anne Thompson
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July 28, 2011 4:41 AM
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Comic-Con Exclusive: Gale Anne Hurd Talks Walking Dead, Comic Book Movies, Girls Gone Genre

There's a reason Gale Anne Hurd turned from producing movies like The Terminator, Aliens and The Punisher to cable series like The Walking Dead. HBO, AMC, FX, Showtime, USA and other cable networks are where the smart writing, production values and character development are. And Comic-Con demonstrated without a doubt that the organizers have to rethink who gets to go into Hall H.

By Anne Thompson
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July 25, 2011 8:29 AM
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Disney and Time Warner Chase AMC, Soap’s Second Life on Internet, Google+ Brand Pages

After AMC Network spun off from Cablevision last week, such buyers as Time Warner and Walt Disney Co. have made a run at purchasing the network, reports AdAge. One fund manager at GAMCO, who oversees some four million AMC shares, says that the network would benefit from a sale because of its current popularity due to acclaimed shows Mad Men, The Walking Dead, and Breaking Bad (pictured). In addition to AMC, AMC Networks also controls IFC, WE TV and the Sundance Channel.

By Maggie Lange
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July 8, 2011 6:43 AM
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Emmy Watch: Mad Men’s Matthew Weiner Talks Trend-Setting Future Seasons

Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner opened up during a Lionsgate-sponsored panel Wednesday at the Television Academy theater in North Hollywood that also featured cast members Jon Hamm, Elizabeth Moss, John Slattery, Robert Morse, Jared Harris, Kiernan Shipka and others. (We're getting closer to the June Emmy balloting period.) Amy Dawes reports:The news that two new shows steeped in early ‘60s style and social mores have made the networks’ fall lineup was not lost on Matthew Weiner. “For them to see that there’s some commercial potential in this area, four years after we got it going – that’s pretty brave,” he said sardonically, referring to ABC and NBC, which have picked up Pan Am and The Playboy Club, respectively.

By Amy Dawes
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May 20, 2011 5:29 AM
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Emmy Watch: Which New Scripted Series Will Make It to Emmy Contention? A Rough Ranking

Emmy Watch columnist Amy Dawes takes a hard look at the new shows that debuted this year, and ranks their chances of landing Emmy Nominations right off the bat.Nothing is more exciting – at least to an Emmy watcher - than when a brand new series not only entertains our socks off and reinvigorates the medium, but sweeps the awards its first time out. And despite a perception that members of the TV Academy are lazy and vote for the same ol’ same ol’, this has happened a fair amount in recent years.

By Amy Dawes
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April 28, 2011 8:28 AM
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The Killing: What Does Linden's Abstracted Look Mean?

One of my favorite things in The Killing, the successful new AMC series remake of the original Danish global hit, is the way homicide detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) takes a long slow burn as she susses out a new location. One of my friends calls it a "meaningful stare, that long, long shot when she is thinking, or being sympathetic." Another calls it an "abstracted" quality. It turns out that folks are debating what these slow reaction shots mean, exactly.

By Anne Thompson
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April 27, 2011 5:49 AM
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Hot Cable Series The Killing, The Borgias, Game of Thrones Boost Breakout Stars

Post-Oscar season, there's no question that these days, the best viewing to be found is on cable. Not only are AMC's critically-hailed Danish murder mystery remake The Killing, HBO's Tolkien light fantasy series Game of Thrones (adapted from George R.R. Martin's novels by top Hollywood scribe David Benioff and D.B. Weiss), and Showtime's The Borgias (adapted by writer-director Neil Jordan) compelling, gorgeously-mounted, well-written series, but they are breaking out --and reviving--talent as well.

By Anne Thompson
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April 26, 2011 8:06 AM
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Academy Premiering Digital Restoration of Bye Bye Birdie; Ann-Margret and Bobby Rydell to Attend

"I hate you Conrad, I really do," goes one of the many great songs in Bye Bye Birdie which stars singer-dancers Ann-Margret and Dick Van Dyke at their absolute best. The Motion Picture Academy is premiering a new digital restoration of the 1963 musical comedy classic on April 27 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Critic Stephen Farber will host the presentation, followed by an onstage discussion with stars Ann-Margret and Bobby Rydell. The film, which was an adaptation of the Broadway musical, was directed by George Sidney and was nominated for both Music and Sound Oscars. Jesse Pearson, Janet Leigh, Paul Lynde and Mary LaRoche also starred.