The Morning Fix: ESPN, Discovery jump on 3-D TV! Overhauling NBC’s ‘Chuck.’ Sandra Bullock’s touchdown.
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After the coffee. Before renewing the parking permits.
That didn’t take long. James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ has been out for less than a month, and in Russia it’s already the biggest movie in history. The Wall Street Journal looks at ‘Avatar’s’ performance around the globe.
What’s next? The huge success of ‘Avatar’ has Hollywood scrambling to copy, er, to figure out what will be the next big sensation, reports Kim Masters in the Daily Beast. Of course, one knee-jerk reaction would be that every movie must be in 3-D (no, I don’t need to wear funny glasses to see ‘Youth in Revolt’). Meanwhile, USA Today looks at the stars of ‘Avatar’ and whether they’ll get a boost or end up being blue about the whole thing (rim shot!).
3-D goes from big to small screen. Call it the ‘Avatar’ trickle-down effect. The 3-D revolution is coming to TV! Great, I get to wear funny glasses now in the privacy of my home. ESPN and Discovery Communications (the latter in a partnership with Imax and Sony) are both announcing new 3-D channels at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Details on ESPN from USA Today and on Discovery from the Los Angeles Times.
Bullock scores touchdown! Sandra Bullock’s ‘The Blind Side’ has become the first movie totally driven by a female star (whatever that means) to cross the $200-million mark in box office, per Variety. If you’re curious, ‘The Blind Side’ still has not passed ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding,’ which holds the honor for biggest box office featuring a star whose name no one can spell.
Déjà vu all over again. Just as Endeavor was founded by four disgruntled talent agents who fled their own firm, now three Endeavor/WME suits are hitting the street to set up their own shop. Deadline Hollywood has details.
Pivotal year for TV. The Wrap looks at what is facing the broadcast TV industry in 2010 and predicts radical change. Say goodbye to daytime and look for more reruns in prime time.
Beefing up ‘Chuck.’ NBC’s ‘Chuck,’ which is one of those dreaded critical favorites that can’t seem to get a big audience, returns next week with a new look and tone that the network and creator Josh Schwartz hope can make the show finally break through in a big way. The main character, nerdy Chuck Bartowski, has gone from ‘wimp to warrior.’ The risk for the show is that in trying to save it, the original appeal may be lost. Such is the life of a TV producer. ‘There are a lot of perks to do this show, but being sure of your future has not been one of them,’ Schwartz tells the New York Times.
Goodbye Pepsi, hello Dr. Pepper. With just a handful of spots left to sell for this year’s Super Bowl, soft drink Dr. Pepper has jumped in and purchased its first commercial ever in the big game, per the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Pepper, which is owned by Snapple, will fill the soda void left by Pepsi, which isn’t buying an ad in the game for the first time in almost 25 years. The spot will feature Gene Simmons of the ageless (or is it old) band Kiss. Hmmm, wonder if their song ‘Dr. Love’ will somehow end up being used in the ad. Or maybe just Simmons singing, ‘I drink Dr. Pepper and I’m proud ...’
Inside the Los Angeles Times: A look at Hollywood’s growing role at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show. Patrick Goldstein on ‘Avatar’ and politics.
-- Joe Flint
