Spider-Man Ride Amped Up At Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando Resort today celebrated the reopening of “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man”, one of the world’s most popular theme park experiences. The attraction now features enhancements including all-new 4K digital high-definition ride animation, a new highly-sophisticated Infitec 3-D projection system, a new music score, and all-new 3-D Spider-Vision glasses:

Showtime professional segues to NBC Entertainment

Hatlestad Showtime alum Dianne Hatlestad has grew to become part of NBC Entertainment as veep of talent management.The hire reunites Hatlestad with NBC Entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt and PR topper Richard Licata, who both labored along with her at Showtime. She reviews to Rebecca Marks, NBC Entertainment's professional veep of publicity."Dianne's understanding of talent relations is high quality,Inch Licata mentioned. "She's a miraculous approach to balancing the needs from the network as well as the artists who result in the shows -- critical capabilities in shaping a brand name.InchHatlestad offered as director of talent relations for Showtime from 2006 before the month of the month of january. Before that, she labored just like a story editor and development professional for Montreal-based Incendo Media. Earlier in their career, she spent eight years just like a creative professional and manager for Norman Jewison's Yorktown Prods. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

A Evening By Helping Cover Their Psych's Dul Hill

Mira Sorvino Mira Sorvino has arrived the key role in CBS' drama pilot, Trooper. Created by Jerry Bruckheimer, the project follows K.J. Flaxton (Sorvino), a smart mother who turns into a NY condition trooper. As formerly introduced, Jay Hernandez will even star. Heroes scribe Aron Eli Coleite will write and executive-produce. Pilot Season: Obtain the scoop! Should Trooper get acquired, it might be Sorvino's first TV series. She won the Oscar for the best supporting actress in 1996 for Mighty Aphrodite and it is noted for her role in Romy and Michele's Senior High School Reunion. She last made an appearance around the small screen on House's publish-Super Bowl episode in 2008.

Benedict Cumberbatch On 'Star Trek 2': It's 'Great Fun'

It's not hard to understand why the cast of "Star Wars 2" is thrilled to possess Benedict Cumberbatch join their movies. The "Sherlock" star makes a splash to the Hollywood scene this season in movies like "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy" and "War Equine," and the presence certainly assisted improve both films. "Star WarsInch star Chris Pine lately told MTV News he loves the "intensity" Cumberbatch gives the "Star Wars 2" set, something he felt the Brit learned at acting school. Then when MTV News swept up with Cumberbatch at Elton John's publish-Academy awards party, it appeared only fair to request him about his classic training. "Well, it is extremely sweet to state,Inch Cumberbatch responded. "I really did annually at drama school, so I am not too trained I am not too classical, but I am flattered." And individuals aren't the only real compliments his costars had about him. Not surprisingly, Cumberbatch had only kind items to say back about his cast. "I believe they're brilliant on that demonstrate, and it is a genuine privilege to become on that set," he stated. "There is a patter along with a type of understanding of who they are playing and also the other primary figures, which I am learning so much from. It is simply good fun. It is good to utilize Chris. He's very professional. Same with Zach [Quinto], who I have been working in a lot with I enjoy him, he's an excellent, brilliant guy." The key reason why all individuals juicy set photos happen to be leaked lately happens because Cumberbatch's villainous role -- whatever that might be -- is finally kicking into high gear. Even though the guy also known as A Virtual Detective wouldn't give any understanding of why he was fighting with Quinto and Saldana, he'd discuss just how much fun he's getting on set. "My area of the film is actually sorta kicking in now. It is good fun, great, very exciting,Inch he stated. "But what I am saying is it is a great factor in the future into something which everybody's acquainted with and knows one another perfectly. Therefore it is [in] a strange way an easy factor to obtain up to date with, because everyone is really welcoming and will get together with each other." Are you currently excited to determine Cumberbatch in "Star Wars 2"? Inform us within the comments section below or on Twitter!

Spurlock's 'Comic-Con' docu opens April 6

Wrekin Hill Entertainment and the National Entertainment Collectibles Assn. will open Morgan Spurlock's documentary "Comic-Con Episode IV -- A Fan's Hope" on April 6 with a theatrical/VOD day-and-date release. Wrekin Hill and NECA will also kick off a multi-city tour of the film on April 5, beginning in Atlanta and followed by Orlando, Miami, Rochester, N.Y., Albany, N.Y., Philadelphia, Wallingford, Conn., Cincinnati, Chicago and Detroit. The tour stops are being planned as fan gatherings designed to recreate the Comic-Con experience. Along with a screening, each stop will include exhibitor booths, animator portfolio reviews, costumes and panels. The film was produced by Spurlock, Jeremy Chilnick, Matthew Galkin, and Thomas Tull. It written by Spurlock and Chilnick and is being presented by Stan Lee, Joss Whedon and Harry Knowles. "Partnering with NECA and adding in a live tour element to the film's release will give audiences a multi-dimensional look at the Comic Con experience," said Wrekin Hill topper Chris Ball. Wrekin Hill and NECA acquired "A Fan's Hope" in December as part of a strategic partnership for the companies to distribute four to five titles theatrically each year. Previous titles have included "Hesher," "The People vs. George Lucas" and "Spork." Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Weekend Box Office Feb. 17-19, 2012

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Diller backs digital broadcast venture

Craig Diller's IAC is most likely the backers from the startup company that could face legal challenges regarding its delivery of live broadcast TV to digital platforms. Aereo TV was introduced Tuesday at IAC's Manhattan headquarters having a completely new round of funding gathering $20 million from traders including Diller, who'll join their board of company company directors. The service charges clients $12 monthly to be used of HD broadcast TV systems in live linear form additionally to recorded programming saved on cloud-based Digital video recorder without any set-top box or wires. Aereo TV, which has launched invitation-only before a bigger deployment later, will probably be available only in NY to start with. "Aereo might be the very first potentially major technology that has the chance and give people utilization of broadcast television shipped on the web towards the device, big or small, they demand,In . mentioned Diller. But Aereo TV has not paid out retransmission consent costs towards the tv producers, a loophole the venture thinks it might exploit by applying a little antenna for everyone sub instead of the standard one-to-many transmission. Nonetheless, it cannot function as first service that thought it could sidestep the broadcast business only to be stopped inside the courts. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Freud on and off the rocks

Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley and Viggo Mortensen in London .It was drinks all around on Tuesday at the U.K. gala preem of Lionsgate's "A Dangerous Method."Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender, who took on the roles of psychology heavyweights Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, respectively, were joined by their onscreen patient Keira Knightley at the May Fair Hotel in London.Apparently, the pic's sadomasochistic scenes required some libation. Knightley elaborated on her vodka habit prior to filming the more risque scenes. "Michael's always quite good for keeping something in the freezer," she revealed.Fassbender shifted the blame, admitting, "We were all involved. That vodka was actually in Keira's freezer, but she wouldn't mention that. She's a lady."The pair ended the evening dancing at Mayfair's 34 Restaurant, no doubt following a few shots of their new-found freezer friend.

Exclusive Video: Extreme Couponing: Night time Madness Assumes Black Friday

Extreme Couponing: Night time Madness And also you thought the lady who pepper-dispersed people on Black Friday was intense... TLC's new special Extreme Couponing: Night time Madness, follows four super savers who navigate the greatest shopping day of the season: Black Friday. Within the exclusive sneak look below, Washington shopper Angelique lines up hrs early... despite being three several weeks pregnant. Now that's intense. Browse the video of Night time Madness, airing Sunday, The month of january 29 at 10/9c.

Detachment Trailer Online

Adrien Brody will get schooledDirector Tony Kaye's luck appears to change each year. He appeared as if he was onto a champion with American History X, but had the film removed in editing making couple of buddies later on. He then crafted abortion documentary Lake Of Fire, which roused acclaim and debate although not much when it comes to wider notice. Then came action thriller Black Water Transit, that is sitting waiting to become launched despite shooting in '09. Now, though, he's obtained a remarkable cast for his latest drama, Detachment, and it is set to produce the film this season. following a run finally year's Tribeca Festival You can view a clip at Apple.Detachment features the kind of Adrien Brody, Christina Hendricks, Marcia Gay Garden, Bryan "in two the flicks this seasonInch Cranston, William Petersen, James Caan, Lucy Liu and Tim Blake Nelson within the tale of Henry (Brody), a troubled substitute teacher. Coming in a falling apart, low-morale inner-city school, he finds a demoralised faculty and youngsters becoming lost within an educational black place.But when you are excited thinking of Kaye finally returning behind your camera and something of his films taking pleasure in a good release, you might like to stick the champagne back on ice. For now, the film will arrive on iTunes on Feb 24 after which see cinema screens inside a limited capacity across water-feature on March 16. There is no word whenever we could easily get it in England.

Tech gear revs engines at CES

Fords Evos concept vehicle connects for the cloud to supply drivers entertainment. Consult with designers from the vehicle company's entertainment system and they're quick to produce up two items: cell phones and pills.Around 24% of car entrepreneurs take advantage of the ipod device device or Very good music player to listen to music inside their automobiles, although that increases near to half when asking 18- to 24-year-olds, according to Arbitron, Edison Research and Scarborough Research. Around 6% stream The earth the planet pandora in the phone around 19% one of the most youthful set. Of people requested, 38% are interested in connecting up phones to activate with programs by having an infotainment system.Its not all infotainment designers are application-obsessed, however. Most caution that the objective of driving ought to be about focusing on watching the road and adjusting the automobile.Utilizing the ubiquitous adoption in the application-filled items around the globe, "entertainment is mobile," states Stuart Norris, senior design manager at General Motors' Cadillac division. "We're expecting a good deal from your cars now. You need connectivity wherever your home is and you also can't convey more mobile than in the automobile.InchAs a result, the automobile is the one other platform Jobs and also the team at Apple have affected forever.Just about any vehicle maker has refurbished or possibly is planning to unveil new infotainment systems that merely interact with cell phones, pills, offer Wi-fi compatability and numerous programs through large touchscreens that seem to be and operate like the graphically clever software of mobile items.The vehicle industry favors the term infotainment because furthermore to numerous audio platforms, the systems are adding more particulars to traditional systems (naturally, now in 3d!) like live traffic, weather, news, sports and stock updates, local gas prices and restaurant recommendations.Delivering that combination of info and entertainment are versions of familiar programs that fill apple apple iphones, iPads and Android items.Online music service The earth the planet pandora, for example, makes itself in your house in cars since it is putting on smart Televisions, videogame consoles and mobile items. Other application makers may also be going along for your ride. BMW recently brokered a deal with Yelp to provide restaurant reviews and native eatery ideas to drivers. Audi has Google Earth within the newer automobiles. And Toyota's Entune features Bing, iheartradio, MovieTickets.com, and OpenTable, with the planet the planet pandora. It's only determined by time before Netflix also hits the road.This week's Electronic Products Show introduces a lot more features, getting a keynote by Daimler's Dieter Zetsche aiming Mercedes-Benz's moves capture around its rivals with new infotainment options including gesture controls, 3d shows, handwriting recognition and software developed particularly for your apple apple iphone that will incorporate such social networking tools as Facebook.CES has become more vehicle-friendly over time, with Ford and Audi chiefs put in the confab's roster of official keynotes as well as the show hosting a pavilion for auto-related technology.Ford will promote its advanced Evos concept, a vehicle that connects to cloud-based services to supply information and entertainment, but furthermore track a driver's actions and predict preferences.The Evos "shows not able to where we view connectivity going," states Jim Buczkowski, director of electronic research at Ford Motor Co.Ford will even showcase updates of the popular MyFord Touch system, which enables programs from companies for instance The earth the planet pandora, Stitcher and OpenBeak being found in the cars through SYNC and voice controls, and may soon double that to include iHeartRadio, Slacker Radio, TuneIn and NPR.To make the deals, Ford together with other vehicle producers aren't always doing the heavy-lifting. They require drivers to be capable of access the entertainment they're already moving around by themselves phones and so are delivering that connection inside the vehicle -- any software updates are completed each time a driver updates the programs by themselves phone."We feel the telephone will most likely be very central to numerous people lives today and many people lives afterwards,Inch Buczkowski states. "The phone will be the entry method to encounters."Cadillac recently spent yesteryear three years creating its new Signal system (or Cadillac Buyer Experience) after apple apple iphone sales had removed as well as the iPad used to be couple of years away. It seems sensible a technique that might be easily mistaken for starters, having its large 8-inch touchscreen situated in the shiny piano black frame placed on the centerstack."I had been already inundated with this particular apple apple iphones in 2008 and desired to find strategies to scale this kind of (touch) interface for automotive," states Norris, who understood CUE's success might be influenced by seamless connections to cell phones to supply entertainment.Signal will debut in 2012 inside the Cadillac XTS and ATS luxury sedans and SRX luxury crossover."We experienced some time where i had been offering 40 gigabyte hard disks that people ripped their music to to have the ability to participate in it inside their cars," Norris states. "People do not want 15 different places where they have to save their music."When the application is supplied, it "needs to be connected with driving," states Filip Brabec, gm of product planning Audi of America. He sights programs "a completely new area which should be examined much much deeper. You'll find early good good examples of where the marketplace is going but it's determined by time before we view that in cars.""For people the key factor factor might be the driving experience which is a factor we will probably expand on," Brabec states. "You need to ensure it's entertainment that's meant for driving. You'll find only a lot of things you are able to transport out just like a driver. Calculating only receiving targeted complex with elevated traffic those getting good busy. People desire to progressively do things within their vehicle and you need to enable these questions safe atmosphere that's considering everything that are annoying to drivers."Consequently, designers are adding more voice controls or text-to-speech translations for his or her infotainment systems "to produce information available but with techniques making drivers dedicated to what's important, to operate a vehicle as well as your vision on the road,In . Buczkowski states.Because of that, vehicle producers have mainly dedicated to new audio features due to safe driving concerns."We completely support a stop on handed operation in the phone," Buczkowski states. "You must have a chance to enter your automobile and through voice command access features without requiring to get your phone."But new video options aren't an excessive amount of behind. While switch-lower screens in Sports utility automobiles and minivans and seatback screens inside luxury cars are actually playing Digital video disks, Cadillac is nearly the very first carmaker to assist Blu-ray."People are buying Blu-ray," Norris states. "It comes down lower to supplying individuals with utilization of what they've already got and making certain individuals who've a library of Blu-sun sun rays in your house can also enjoy them wherever they are going.InchOther people like Audi want to provide faster Online connections that will enable video from such services as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon . com . com and UltraViolet being streamed right to items."Once people will have a way to stream movies inside their back chair, that will completely affect the landscape of in-vehicle entertainment," specially when it calls for entertaining kids, Brabec states. While Audi, clearly, doesn't encourage drivers to determine video at the front chair, "there's no approach to limit it inside the vehicle," according to him.Really, future innovation of infotainment systems will be based heavily on the internet later on, with Ford and Mercedes' concept cars adopting cloud-based storage to supply entertainment similar to what Apple and Amazon . com . com now offer and art galleries are marketing through UltraViolet's digital lockers, to get into movies, games, books and music.Audi thinks about the problem about other available options, like connecting up its cars easily to parking meters and garages to produce obligations within the press of your mouse.InchOnce again it's strongly related the driving task," Brabec states. "We've had many of these suggestions for any very very long time, just one component that prevented us from carrying it out was the wireless systems. They weren't in place while using speeds where we preferred to complete things faster."Audi needed faster Internet speeds, so it turns to T-Mobile, and faster chips from NVIDIA to be capable of add Google Earth maps onto its cars' navigation system this season, due to the bandwidth needs in the software.The vehicle maker doesn't desire to get so bad where it has full Search functions inside its cars, rather, restricting search to particular terms while driving, departing full Internet convenience to cell phones and pills that interact with its Wi-fi compatability service."You'll find stuff that don't appear sensible inside the vehicle," for instance traditional Google searches, Brabec states. "You're far better doing that inside your tablet or smartphone. It is not right for driving."Cadillac also hopes Internet speeds might help it strengthen Signal afterwards.InchWe've already passed the objective of based on people cell phones to provide entertainment," Norris states. "Now we're focused concerning how to get third generation and 4G into our automobiles."All of this innovation is needing to repay for vehicle producers, invoice factoring into consumers' buying options when choosing which vehicle to purchase, key for brands in the competitive market. In line with the Electronic Products Assn., in-vehicle entertainment systems created $5.9 billion this season, up from $5.5 billion this season.For Ford, half of SYNC entrepreneurs the machine carried out an important role inside their purchase, getting market research of 2011 Ford Edge entrepreneurs showing that four in the top seven purchase reasons were facets of the MyFord Touch system: the touchscreen, controls controls, voice recognition and dashboard styling. One-third of Ford clients mentioned their impressions of Ford enhanced after dealing with a SYNC demo.You'll find now greater than 3 million Ford automobiles on the road running the first SYNC software, which launched for your late 2007 models, and was up-to-date with MyFord Touch this season. Similar options are available in Ford's Lincoln subsequently subsequently luxury brand."It's been very important for people,In . Buczkowski states. "When SYNC first launched it democratized telematics and was an affordable option to leverage their phone. We have found it's a distinguishing experience."Wi-fi compatability will be Google Earth among the top options Audi's customers consider, the business claims, thinking about that around the third of the clients own a tablet, greater than the normal of luxury vehicle customers.One key feature, however, is making certain scalping methods work.Although famous for SYNC and MyFord Touch, Ford hit some bumps inside the road for cumbersome controls, which introduced it to update the equipment this year with faster software which has simpler graphics that are better to take advantage of.Normally, these new entertainment options threaten Sirius XM's satellite radio's subscription-based service, as well as the aging Compact disk and advertising-dependent AM and Radio channels.There's however still time."Once network speeds still increase, increasing numbers of people will gravitate toward their mobile items," Brabec states. "But we don't expect that until more 4G speeds arrive,Inch that won't become "ubiquitous" until after 2014. n Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Holdovers liven New Year's B.O. party

'Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol'Thanks to solid holdover perfs from top players like "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" and "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," domestic B.O. stayed even with 2010's three-day New Year's frame -- but there could be a slight uptick, based on Sunday estimates. "Ghost Protocol" tallied a projected $40 million through Monday, while "Sherlock" grossed in three days an estimated $22.1 million. (Some studios have opted not to estimate grosses for the long weekend, which includes Monday's holiday.) Paramount's "Mission" four-peat, which rose 6% over last weekend's three-day holiday frame, has cumed as of Sunday $134.1 million domestically, pushing it past Warner Bros.' "Sherlock" sequel (at $132.1 million) to become the biggest-grossing Stateside holiday release. "Mission's" estimated cume through Monday stands at $142.9 million. Both "Mission" and "Sherlock" are performing well and likely will surpass last year's best-performing holiday pair, "Tron: Legacy" and "True Grit," which cumed just north of $170 million each. Though ringing in the new year usually isn't a big day at the plexes, Warner's "New Year's Eve" earned $6.7 million, more than twice as much as it did over last weekend's three-day Christmas frame. (That's also partly due to last weekend's Christmas Eve slowdown on Saturday.) In third place this weekend, Fox's "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" raked in an estimated $18.3 million from Friday to Sunday, repping a weekend-to-weekend surge of 45%. "Alvin" should cross the $100 million domestic mark by Monday. While there were no new wide releases entering the market this weekend, several specialty titles bowed limited. The Weinstein Co.'s "The Iron Lady" led the charge, posting a terrific per-screen average of $55,438 from four U.S. locations. Pic bowed Friday, as did Sony Pictures Classic's Iranian foreign-lingo Oscar submission, "A Separation," which averaged $22,199 at three playdates in NY and L.A. Meanwhile, Focus Features' "Pariah" debuted mid-week at four locations, but averaged from Friday to Sunday an estimated $12,424 per screen. Among the remaining top holdovers, Disney-DreamWorks' "War Horse," with $16.9 million in three days, edged out a narrow victory over Sony's "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," which posted through Sunday an estimated $16.3 million. Sony is predicting that "Tattoo" will add another $5.2 million on Monday, which would put the pic's Stateside cume at $62.3 million. In total, "War Horse" has grossed nearly $43 million domestically. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com