Andrew Breitbart dies aged 43

Conservative media writer and activist Andrew Breitbart has died at age 43. Breitbart's website bigjournalism.com introduced Thursday he died of natural causes in La early in the day hrs. His dying was confirmed by Breitbart.com editor in chief Joel Pollak, who states he what food was in a healthcare facility. Breitbart was an open critic from the mainstream media. His efforts were behind questionable research that brought towards the resignations of former Repetition. Anthony Weiner and former Department of Agriculture official Shirley Sherrod. He was lionized by his fans for his efforts at subjecting government corruption and media prejudice. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

The Bachelor's Emily on her behalf account Surprising Exit: People Say I Dodged a Bullet

It might seem like the Good Wife's Alicia will have a new frenemy: Matthew Perry.The Pals star has signed on for just about any recurring role round the legal drama, CBS introduced Friday. Perry may have Mike, an attractive attorney who's leading the panel that's considering a suspicious ... Discover More > Other Links From TVGuide.com FriendsThe West WingJulianna MarguliesMatthew PerryStudio 60 round the Sunset StripThe Good WifeMr. Sunshine

Veraalba Santa...Got the Part

"Initially initially when i first see the script, it felt like if you awaken in the dream," recalls "Sweetness" star Veraalba Santa. "You are trying to revive it together as being a puzzle. Even though you can't quite explain what went lower, you've kept the intensity inside you.In . Fittingly, the first audition piece that showed up her a respected role inside the dramatic online video required it's origin from the virtually century-old dream.After posting herself for your role of Arianna, a dancer whose relationship is rapidly heading down hill due to her partner's alcoholism, Santa received a specific directive on her behalf first NY audition since graduation in the two-year conservatory enter in the area Playhouse last May. "The producers sent me some options from C.G. Jung's documents on dreams, which i wound up being to choose one making formulations an interpretation using text and movement," Santa describes. "It absolutely was very in tune using the kind of training I received in [my native] Puerto Rico.""Sweetness" director Josh Leuben reasons, "We didn't want anybody later on together with something they'd maybe prepared countless occasions already, since they might have been efficient at that particular piece." Response to the esoteric request was mixed. "Lots of people just didn't have clue and made an appearance really really irritating,In . he confesses, "but we understood the very best person brings existence to individuals linesthese dreamsand whose work might be completely tailor-made to that which you were trying to find.InchOn her behalf part, Santa discover the Jungian scenario where a youthful patient wants a frightened equine that tears through numerous rooms before jumping using a window towards the demise. Going through the opportunity to attract on her behalf account extensive dance training, she switched the potentially morbid exercise in to a wellspring of inspiration. "I practiced by myself in the event event gazebo in Prospect Park," she states, "which i chose to make use of dance heels to create the weather in the equine using numerous flamenco-like percussive steps which will use crescendo since the equine opted for the area.InchSanta's creation tore using the audition room by itself, winning around the passionate creative team that instantly understood it had finally found its Arianna. "The moment she started, what stuck out about Veraalba was they really needed it to heart. The means by which she shipped her lines was greater productivity of her body than her mouth. It absolutely was just what i had been trying to find,Inch states Leubin.Santa states that her character in "Sweetness" is "exorcised" and finds out to discover forgiveness through dance. "The text of movement can be very effective," she states. "It's very important will be able to always continue learning dance, because it really helps my acting. Essentially know very well what I'm doing with my figure, I realize things i am doing with my words."Santa is nonunion but is American Federation of Television and Radio Artistseligible. She expects to remain in NY for your expected future and might be contacted with the BackStage.com talent database.Has Back Stage aided you obtain cast formerly year? We want to see your story. Keep up with the weekly column by getting in touch with casting@backstage.com for NY or bswcasting@backstage.com for La with "I Obtained the Part" inside the subject line.

Amy Acker Embraces Playing Grimm's Alluring Black Widow

Amy Acker Amy Acker, known for portraying a sweet egghead who was enslaved on Joss Whedon's vampire-detective series Angel, won't be playing the victim on Friday's Grimm (9/8c, NBC). In "Tarantella," Acker plays Lena, an alluring woman who happens to be a deadly black widow-type of creature, or in Grimm-speak, a Spinnetod. "It's a spider-creature who, in order to survive, has to sacrifice or eat three men every five years," the actress tells TVGuide.com. From Castle to Grimm: A user's guide to TV procedurals Working on Grimm reunited Acker with Angel executive producer David Greenwalt. "I was excited that he was back doing something else again," she says. "And I just loved the whole concept of the fairy tales, the Grimm tales and detectives. It was something that when we were looking at all the new shows, I was like, 'I want to watch that one.' I was excited for this role because it seemed like it was going to be just a real challenge and it was going to be something that I definitely hadn't done before." Read more about Acker's conflicted character, the makeup involved and reuniting with Whedon for Much Ado About Nothing and The Cabin in the Woods: What can you tell us about Lena and her need to kill men?Amy Acker: That was what was interesting about playing this part is that you really, you kind of struggle with her as to what the right thing for her to do is. She's doing the wrong thing, but at the same time, it's kind of like, there's not another choice. She's not like Monroe, the Blutbad, who can become a vegetarian and still survive. Can't they develop a dietary substitute for Spinnetods, like the blood substitute that was developed for vampires on True Blood?Acker: Exactly. I feel like they need like a doctor who can help them solve all these people's problems. Maybe they should bring my character back to help solve this problem. Check out this video of another Spinnetod explaining her cursed existence: Were there discussions about how she chose her victims, so that at least she chose bad people, as the serial killer does in Dexter?Acker: There weren't, but it seemed to me like she chose people that, she felt like maybe there was something about them that made it easier to do what she had to do. What did you think about Lena's different disguises - like that great fedora - that she used to pick up men?Acker: That was what I called David Greenwalt about first: Is this just her, and she's in disguise? Or does she have to become someone else in order to do what she needs to do? He was like, "I think it's somewhere in the middle." He would kind of let me play around with it, so I kind of took the idea that it's not like she's a totally different person, but it was easier to do what she needed to do when she wasn't seeing herself doing it... Who knew a hat could be so important? First look: Amy Acker guest-stars on Grimm Can you describe the practical makeup effects you had to deal with to play the Spinnetod?Acker: It was interesting because I've done lots of shows with really big makeup effects, but I've always been the one watching the people getting it on while I'm done. I don't know that I had enough sympathy for the people; it's a long process. I would say I was in the chair between two and three hours. It's not as easy as it looks, but it was really fun to see how they pull this piece of, whatever it's made of, from a piece of plaster on your face and watching it transform over two hours. It's amazing how talented the people are. How did it feel to have all that makeup on you?Acker: The weirdest part of the spider makeup was actually the arm pieces. They were saying that usually when people have hands that they're kind of big gloves, and these were skintight. So I was like, "Is it normal not to have circulation in your hands?" And they're like, "We'll loosen that a little bit." But it looked so cool, and once you put it on, you're like, "OK, this is who the character is." It was fun because I was sending text messages home to my husband and kids. He's like, "You realize its bedtime and you're totally terrifying our children." Check out this promo that reveals Acker in her full Spinnetod glory: We see from the promo that there a few action scenes, like when Lena climbs up a pole. How many of these scenes did you do yourself?Acker: I got to do a good amount of the fighting here, but because of all of the makeup, there were some scenes that I was like, "You know, I think since I can't see or hold on, I'll let the professional do it." Your career got a kick start by working with Joss Whedon on Angel, and you got back together with him for the upcoming film The Cabin in the Woods. What can you tell us about your character?Acker: I don't know that I can tell you much about it. Everything I do is like a secret, I guess. But I did see it this weekend for the first time, and I loved it. I didn't really know what to expect, and I was in it. It's so original and different. They did a great job. I was scared. There was some screaming. You also worked on Whedon's adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. How was it working with other stars from the Whedon universe, like Nathan Fillion and Alexis Denisof?Acker: There was pretty much all of the favorite people there. It was nice. It was just like hanging out with a lot of old friends. I play Beatrice, and unfortunately Beatrice and [Fillion's character] Dogberry don't have one scene together, but I got to see him in passing, but Alexis Denisof was Benedick, so that was a mini-Angel reunion. The sci-fi and fantasy fandom has embraced you. Do you enjoy watching those genres?Acker: I do. I watch Grimm and Once Upon a Time. I like both of those shows, and we watch True Blood. Those are the shows for me that are fun to watch, because I like that part of escapism, and I think the acting is really fun to watch, and those are the characters I like to play. It sounds like you might have trouble watching horror movies though, judging by your reaction to The Cabin in the Woods...Acker: I'm sort of a wimp, but I'm getting better. I'm trying to like them. I feel like all of my friends and people keep being in them, so I keep having to watch them. You've done Grimm and will also make a guest appearance on Once Upon a Time later this month. Do you enjoy fairy tales? Does one stand out for you from childhood?Acker: I made all my brothers and sisters do The Little Mermaid. I was directing. My sister, Rachel, was the Little Mermaid, and my sister, Shelly, is still mad at me because I made her be Ursula. She still holds that over my head. I was playing Sebastian and every other part. Grimm airs on Fridays at 9/8c on NBC.

Pacha snares pair

Paris-based Pacha, the very first sales company devoted to Arab world content, has clicked up worldwide privileges to "My Buddy the Demon" and "The Final Friday."Created by London's Wild Horses Film Co. and Rooks Nest Entertainment, "Demon" may be the debut of Egyptian-Welsh helmer-scribe Sally El Hosaini. It won cinematography in Sundance's World Dramatic Competition. The gangster movie/same-sex love tale is occur a gritty London underworld."Friday" activates a lower-on-his-luck taxi driver scraping together funds for essential surgery. From tyro director-author Yahya Al Abdallah, resides in Jordan's Amman, "Friday" won San Sebastian's Cinema moving rough-cut showcase, then your Special Jury Prize, actor and music at December's Dubai Festival."Demon" screens in Berlin's Panorama, "Friday" in Forum.Pacha chairman Frederic Sichler, former Studiocanal Boss, thinks "Friday" indicates consolidation in Arab world filmmaking. "Using the Jordan Film Commission supporting the standard manufacture of films, Jordanian cinema is actually coming up," Sichler stated.Amman's Rula Nasser created "Friday." "There is a generation of recent producers emerging within the Arab World," Sichler stated, stating Nasser, Mohamed Hefzy (a Pacha partner who takes an professional producer credit on "Demon") and Tunisia's Habib Attia amongst others. "They represent a large bit of the Arab world cinema puzzle." Pacha also reps Hanan Abdalla's Panorama player, "Within the Shadow of the Guy," a portrait of ladies at the time of Egypt's revolution."The main alternation in Arab society within the last years may be the entry of educated women in to the labor force," Sichler stated. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Tune guild sets noms

The Guild of Music Supervisors has announced the nominees for its second annual Grammy Day awards brunch, to be held Feb. 12 in Los Angeles. The Guild, founded in 2008, will honor music supervisors in nine different categories, including three film awards, four television awards and one award each for trailers and videogames. Film supervisors such as Alexandra Patsavas, Dondi Bastone and Julia Michels are among the nominees. "We are thrilled to expand our awards this year and shed light on all the great work being done by music supervisors," noted Guild president Maureen Crowe. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'G.I. Joe' Photo Catches Rock And Bruce Willis In The War Room

"G.I. Joe: Retaliation" is shaping up to be one of the can't-miss movie events of 2012. Not only did it kick ass and take (a few) names during the MTV Movie Brawl, it also unleashed one of the greatest Super Bowl commercials of the entire game (which you can watch below), thanks to its star-studded cast led by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Bruce Willis. Those two real American heroes get the spotlight in a terrific new Hero Complex interview that also debuts a brand new photo from "Retaliation." See that photo above you, then click on for highlights from the interview. On Bringing In The Original Joe One of the things that everybody kept asking was, Who is Joe? Most of us who didnt grow up with the comic books or the animated series hear the name and think of a single person, not a group, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura said about bringing Joe Colton to the battle. People who did grow up with those comics think of it as a plural I was someone who grew up with the action figures, so when I saw the animated series I was like, What the hell is this? That wasnt the Joe in my imagination." On The Film's Star Power We have a couple of advantages: Channing is a bigger star [than he was when the first was released], Bruce is a well-established star and Rock is a well-established star, said the producer. Thats a big advantage over the first movie. That positions us in a way that we can say to the audience that were trying for a certain kind of film. On Rock's Fist-Flexing Factor Di Bonaventura explained: "In this world having the sort of physical capacity he has on top of the ability to deliver the humor thats a great combination for the franchise. Its great because [the series has] found the right tone and I think thats so much about what the challenge of a franchise is now finding the right tone. One of the things we talked a great deal about is that when someone gets punched, you feel the punch. It was one of the guiding principles of it. We really wanted you to feel the muscularity of the franchise." Tell us what you think in the comments section and on Twitter!

Sony, Sandler sweet on 'Candy Land'

SandlerHasbro is in final talks with Columbia Pictures and Adam Sandler's Happy Madison banner to develop "Candy Land," a live-action movie based on the bestselling Hasbro board game that Sandler is attached to topline. Kevin Lima ("Enchanted") is attached to direct from a script that Sandler and Robert Smigel are in talks to write. "Candy Land" will be produced by Hasbro prexy/CEO Brian Goldner ("Transformers") and Bennett Schneir ("Battleship"), Hasbro's senior VP and managing director of motion pictures, as well as Happy Madison Prods. Columbia exec Sam Dickerman will oversee the project for the studio. "Candy Land is more than just a game. It is a brand that children, parents and grandparents know and love," said Columbia prexy Doug Belgrad. "The world of Candy Land offers an extraordinary canvas upon which to create a fantastical, live-action family adventure film with a larger than life part for Adam. We are thrilled to partner with Hasbro and Happy Madison on this project." "The creative talent on board for this movie is amazing and we are excited to bring alive the world of Candy Land for kids and families everywhere," added Goldner. "Sony/Columbia has been a wonderful creative partner as we develop another of our games, Risk, for the big screen. We are looking forward to working with Sony/Columbia and Adam Sandler and his team at Happy Madison Productions on this film." Created in 1949, Candy Land has been played by generations of families. Game includes characters such as Princess Frostine, Lord Licorice, Mr. Mint, and King Candy, as well as fantastical lands such as the Peppermint Forest, the Gum Drop Mountains, and the Lollypop Woods. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Shows day a b - -.To. bang

'The Mountaintop'Broadway ongoing to sled lower the slopes from the month of the month of january doldrums in week 34 (Jan. 16-22), as sales typically productions declined, and a pair of shows ended their runs.All people shuttering productions, "Follies" ($878,880) and "The Mountaintop" ($693,128), needed advantage of the week's decreased sales bar to say a location inside the top. In the rare turn, "Mountaintop" increased being a couple of plays round the tuner-centered chart, alongside "War Equine" ($960,191).Also inside the top, the recently opened up up "Porgy and Bess" ($878,884) ongoing to log encouraging sales, while using revival upticking even at that time in the winter recession.Meanwhile, although "How you can achieve Business Without Really Trying" ($1,319,824) didn't close, the frame was the ultimate for star Darren Criss, who attracted in weekly sales more than $1.3 million three frames back to back.Virtually every production drenched a decline. The Broadway cume fell roughly $1.6 000 0000 to $19.3 million for your 28 shows round the boards, with overall attendance coming at 78%. The week's tally is well while watching same frame's receipts this season, but last year's $12.3 million was just for 19 total shows.Yesteryear week's 19 musicals made $15,597,013 for 80.6% in the Broadway total, with attendance of 169,104 plus an average paid out admission of 92.23The nine plays made $3,748,300 for 19.4% in the Broadway total, with attendance of 50,641 plus an average paid out admission of 74.02. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Participant lands 'Middle of Nowhere'

'Middle of Nowhere' opened within the Sundance U.S. Dramatic Competition.Participant Media has teamed with AFFRM to get U.S. Privileges to "Middle of Nowhere." African-American Film Festival Delivering Movement founder Ava DuVernay helmed the pic from the script he authored. Story focuses on a ladies separation from her imprisoned husband and her journey to keep her marriage and identity.Pic was created by by DuVernay, Howard Barish and Paul Garnes.AFFRM will distribute the film theatrically later this season, initiating marketing and marketing support through its broad grassroots collective run by a few of the nation's top black film organizations.DuVernay formerly helmed "I'll Follow," in regards to a lady whose existence is switched upside lower by tragedy, and those who emerge to assist her cope."?'Middle of Nowhere' is just Ava DuVernay's second feature, however it reflects the finesse and sensitivity of an even more experienced storyteller and also the type of quality filmmaking which has been a hallmark of Participant," stated Jonathan King, Participant Media's professional Vice president of production. "We are very excited to become joining forces together with her and her team at AFFRM, and anticipate creating a marketing and social-action campaign that fires up the film's styles and engages towns round the country."The offer was discussed by Ben Weiss from the Paradigm Film Group with Nina Shaw and Gordon Bobb of Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano, with respect to AFFRM, with Shaun Ivers of Participant. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com

Trigger steals the show at NATPE

MIAMI - The NATPE convention brings about all types: ambitious syndie yakkers, sitcom stars and stuffed toys -- as with taxidermy-stuffed toys.Pending within the convention's primary floor at Miami's Fountainebleau Resort would be the original Trigger (equine) and Bullet (dog) from "The Roy Rogers Show," enticing audiences into photo operations using the realistic duo against an oater-appropriate outside backdrop marketing cabler RFD TV.The lengthy-expired creatures were preventing in Miami on the 48-condition "Happy Trails tour," based on press material from RFD TV. A resource stated that Trigger cost $300,000 in a Christie's auction and Bullet commanded one more $15,000. The happy couple produced a significant stir around the convention floor.While large-ticket creative types flogging already-popular shows spend time in trendy suites within the hotel's three primary towers, workaday production companies seeking distribution slugged it on the ground for buyers' attention.Cartoon shingles were in heavy attendance this season, including anime concern Toei and more compact clothes like Korean company Toonzip.Just like this past year, Latin American purchasers and retailers were in the confab in pressure. The spanish language might be heard more frequently than British on the program floor as purchasers started the tires on cool product.The worldwide thrust of NATPE was apparent within the deals introduced on the very first day from the three-day confab.Electus inked deals to distribute season a couple of unscripted mafia existence shingle "Mob Spouses" around australia, Canada and far of South America. The Ben Silverman banner includes a large presence at NATPE, with Silverman one of the keynote loudspeakers along with a Tuesday-evening party planned for approaching NBC design skein "Fashion Star," which Electus is co-creating with "Project Runway" outfit Magical Elves.The best spinner's South America struck an offer with BBC Worldwide for any slew of music programs. One of the special offers incorporated within the deal are concert film "Radiohead: The King of Braches -- Live In the Basement," docus "Blur -- No Distance Left to operateInch and "Take That -- Think Back, Don't Stare" and kudocast "The Brit Honours 2012."Related News: Katie Couric activates charm at NATPE Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

Katheryn Winnick Joins The Black Marks

Starring with Kurt Russell...Brothers and schemes involving money: has no one learned the lessons of A Simple Plan or Before The Devil Knows You're Dead? These things never end well. Clearly Matt Dillon and Kurt Russell were unaware, as they're playing siblings hatching a scam in The Black Marks. And now actress Katheryn Winnick has decided to join the fun.Jonathan Sobol is directing the indie crime comedy based on his script. The plot follows Crunch Calhoun (Russell), a low-rent motorcycle daredevil and partly reformed art thief who agrees to go back into the criminal life for, you guessed it, one last big score. His brother Nicky (Dillon) convinces him that it will solve all their problems and they rope in another schmuck (Jay Baruchel) to help out. But when it all goes surprisingly well, the heist leads to another, riskier plan that Nicky has dreamt up and the brothers find that they're each working to their own agendas.Winnick has signed on to play a Ukrainian showgirl who happens to be Crunch's girlfriend and the majority of his support system. No doubt she'll also get dragged into the crime... She was last seen in Love And Other Drugs and has recently shot A Glimpse Inside The Mind Of Charles Swan III alongside Charlie Sheen.

Kristin Chenoweth To Dolly Parton: Get A Move On That Musical!

First Published: January 10, 2012 4:05 PM EST Credit: Getty Images LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Kristin Chenoweth speaks during the GCB panel during the ABC portion of the 2012 Winter TCA Tour held at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa, Pasadena, on January 10, 2012Kristin Chenoweth has two words for Dolly Parton Hurry up! On Monday, CNN quoted the country legend once again saying she would love for the pint-sized star to play her in a Broadway musical about the singers life, and on Tuesday after Kristin finished a panel to promote her new ABC show GCB at the Television Critics Association Winter Session in Pasadena, the actress and Tony winner said Dolly should get a move on. Yesterday I heard she said that I should play her again, it all started with her saying that many years ago and of course I want to play her, but she better freakin hurry up and write it! Kristin told reporters after the panel. Id love to play her. Whats not to love about her, Kristin continued of the legend, also a Southern, petite blonde, with big talent. I love her, she knows how I feel about her and Id love to play her. Right now, Kristin has a midseason show on her plate GCB where she plays Carlene Cockburn, queen bee of Dallas, who torments her former high school bully Leslie Bibbs Amanda Vaughn when Leslies character returns back to the Texas city, following a divorce. And Kristin knows a thing or two about being bullied. There was a daily horror of a person who said she just wanted to beat me up because I was so happy and I just kept telling her Im not worth the punch, Kristin said after the panel, referring to her school days. Ive had people say not such nice things about me, but thats OK, thats their opinion. The new show pairs her up with former Jag star David James Elliott, who plays her husband Ripp Cockburn, and it will keep her from tangling once again with Matthew Morrisons Will Schuester on Glee. This is my main priority now, Kristin said. April Rhodes has been a blast to play. I mean, she is a has-been drunk so thats fun, but Carlene has her own problems. GCB premieres Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 10 PM EST/PST on ABC. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Amy Poehler To Direct Upcoming Parks & Recreation Episode

First Published: January 8, 2012 2:18 PM EST Credit: Getty Images LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Amy Poehler attends Trevor Live: An Evening Benefiting the Trevor Project at Capitale in NY City on June 27, 2011Amy Poehler keeps fans laughing as the enthusiastic Leslie Knope on NBCs comedy, Parks and Recreation and now, the Saturday Night Live alumni is set to step behind the camera for an upcoming episode. TV Lines Michael Ausiello reports Amy will make her directorial debut at the helm of an upcoming episode which was also written by the talented star which finds her local government-loving character facing off against her opponent in a debate as she runs for Mayor of Pawnee, Ind. Its [expletive] great, executive producer Mike Schur said. Its an awesome, funny script. Schur remained tight-lipped regarding additional details, but did reveal that the debate will be moderated by Pawnees own Perd Hapley (played by Jay Jackson). The episode (this seasons 20th), will air during the May Sweeps period. In related Parks and Recreation news, Rob Lowe recently revealed audiences will soon see a different side of his overly-energetic, health nut character, Chris Traeger. Youre going to see a cool side to him cause we know hes enthusiastic, hes positive, hes upbeat, Rob told Access Hollywood during a junket for his upcoming Lifetime TV movie, Drew Peterson: Untouchable in NY City on Wednesday. The question is what happens to Chris when he gets depressed? And were going to find out and its not pretty. You do not want to see Chris Traeger depressed, he added. Parks and Recreation airs on Thursdays at 8:30/7:30c on NBC. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don Cheadle Goes for Laughs In the "Bold and Dangerous" House of Lies

Don Cheadle Don Cheadle realizes he's best known for dramatic roles in such films as Crash, Hotel Rwanda and Traffic. But he finds it odd that so many viewers aren't expecting to see him flex his comedic muscles from him in his new series House of Lies. "I do it all the time around my friends," he tells TVGuide.com with a laugh. "It's not a new side of me to me." VIDEO: Watch the premiere of Showtime's House of Lies The Oscar-nominated actor will show many new sides of himself in the new Showtime comedy, premiering Sunday at 10/9c. In the series, which he also executive-produces, Cheadle plays Marty Kaan, a ruthless, manipulative, selfish management consultant whose team travels around the world analyzing companies and helping them close big business deals. Marty's one of the best in the country. The only one better? Marty's crazy ex-wife Monica (Dawn Olivieri), who is also the mother of the couple's gender boundaries-pushing son who'd rather audition for the role of Sandy than Danny in Grease. "When you see a project that goes as far as this goes and is as bold and dangerous and funny as this is with this company that we were able to assemble - it was just a no-brainer," Cheadle says of his decision to pursue the project. Levity may be nothing new for Cheadle, but creator Matthew Carnahan says the actor's largely dramatic background was one of the reasons he got the part. "Don Cheadle is right for the role on so many levels," Carnahan says. "He's hysterically funny and his comedy is not tired because we don't think of him that way. So it's really a fresh thing to see him in a comedy." Luckily, Cheadle is surrounded on the show by a group of actors - Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz and Josh Lawson, the other members of Marty's team - who are more familiar in the comedy world. Since breaking onto the scene as a teenage wunderkind detective on Veronica Mars, Bell has moved towards more comedic material like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Couples Retreat and a two-episode arc on Party Down. Schwartz, better known to Parks and Recreation fans as Jean-Ralphio (RIP Entertainment 720!), is an Upright Citizens Brigade improv comedy group regular, and Lawson is an alum of the acclaimed improv troupe "160 Characters." "It was great to have a playground," Cheadle says of the environment his co-stars created. "It was great to have the opportunity to work with company members like this who are well-versed in it and just start throwing the ball around." Check out photos from House of Lies Cheadle's fellow company members seem to agree. "It ups your game. Don Cheadle's here and Kristen Bell's here, so I got to be the best version of me that I can when I'm acting," Schwartz says. "But at the same time, when its break time, they play with us and we joke around and become friends. It makes it so that you can't wait to come to work every day." House of Lies premieres Sunday at 10/9c on Showtime.

Bravo accumulates Kathy Griffin talker

GriffinKathy Griffin will host an every week hourlong yakker for Bravo turning around popular culture and superstar gossip. ''Kathy'' is specific to bow early in the year. Show will even feature recorded segs and standup programs from Griffin, an Emmy champion on her past Bravo series ''My Existence around the D List.'' Among other programming news from Bravo throughout its Saturday sesh in the Television Experts Assn. press tour in Pasadena, the cabler has set ''Iron Chef'' mainstay Cat Cora and Curtis Stone as hosts of their globe-trotting cooking competish ''Around the planet in 80 Plates.'' Frances Berwick, prexy of Bravo Media and elegance Media, recommended a 25 % spike in original programming for Bravo in 2012. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com