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