Broadway Takes 36% Hit in Weekly Box Office Amid Hurricane Irene Show Cancellations

NEW YORK - Broadway took a major box office hit with the gross for the week ended Sunday down 36 percent amid show cancellations due to Hurricane Irene,according to the latest data from The Broadway League. The box office for the week ended Sunday amounted to $11.62 million, down from $18.15 million during the same week of last season, according to the BroadwayLeague. Attendance for what was the 13th week of the season fell from 204,265 to 130,853, while average paid admission stayed about the same. All 66 performances scheduled for Saturday and Sunday were cancelled "as a result of suspension of public transportation, evacuations of many areas,closures of some highways and potential bridge closures by government authorities in preparation for Hurricane Irene," the Broadway League highlighted. Some shows though continued to do brisk business despite Irene. The Book of Mormon, for example, grossed $786,459, or 106 percent of its weeklypotential gross calculated based on potential attendance, according to the League's data. Still, the show slipped $487,785 from the previous week. Billy Elliot: The Musical had only four performances last week, grossing $358,485, down from $731,895 in the prior week when it had twice as many shows. Season-to-date, the Broadway box office stands at $268.4 million, up 1.1 percent compared with $265.5 million in the year-ago period. Attendance is down 0.9 percent at 2.97 million. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Topics The Book of Mormon Hurricane Irene

Nova Mind Over Money

n the aftermath of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, NOVA presents "Mind Over Money"an entertaining and penetrating exploration of why mainstream economists failed to predict the crash of 2008 and why we so often make irrational financial decisions. The program reveals how our emotions interfere with our decision-making and explores controversial new arguments about the world of finance. In the face of the recent crash, can a new science that aims to incorporate human psychology into financebehavioral economicshelp us make better financial decisions?

Telemundo Stations to Expand Local News Programming by 25%

our editor recommendsMore original content for Telemundo NEW YORK - NBCUniversal's Telemundo said Monday that its TV station group will increase local news and public affairs programming by more than 25 percent by January. As part of the move, the Spanish-language media company will launch local weekend news program in New York and local public affairs programs in LA and New York, the nation's largest media markets, among other things. Overall, it will add more than 1,000 hours of news and public affairs offerings. Comcast promised regulators when it acquired NBCUniversal that it would expand news and public affairs content on local stations. Management reiterated during a quarterly earnings call last week that Telemundo and boosting local TV news are key growth opportunities. The Telemundo Station Group on Monday announced the launch of morning news shows in LA and Houston; local weekend news programs in New York, Dallas and Puerto Rico; weekday news programs in Denver; and local public affairs programs in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix and Puerto Rico. They will all be launched by the end of Jan. 2012. The group also said it is making a multi-million dollar investment in upgrading local technical infrastructure at its top Hispanic market stations to give them local HD news production capability. "This expansion of local news and public affairs programming at the Telemundo owned stations reinforces our commitment to the communities we serve," said Ronald Gordon, president, Telemundo Station Group. "A focus on local service has been an ongoing priority at Telemundo, and we have made significant investments to enhance our local news programming, resulting in substantial ratings growth in our markets." As part of the news push, the hour-long weekday program Buenos Dias Los Angeles, returned to KVEA in the 6am slot as of June 13. Among other changes, starting in September, Telemundo will launch new public affairs programs, which will be locally produced, in eight markets. "These programs will help audiences understand the key role played by Latinos in our country and, as the 2012 election season approaches, will underscore the importance of Latino participation in our nation's political process," the company said. By January, new 30-minute local editions of weekend news will launch in New York (on WNJU) and other markets. They will air at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Related Topics Telemundo

Roseanne Barr Wants To Legalize Marijuana, Announces Run For President?

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The self-proclaimed original domestic goddess is ready to take her opinions to the highest office in the land. Yes, thats right, Roseanne Barr has announced shes running for President of the United States. Jay, I decided since youre the one who got Arnold Schwarzenegger elected as governor of California that I wanted to make my announcement here, on your show, because I really want to ask for your support, Roseanne told Jay Leno during an appearance on Thursdays The Tonight Show. My announcement is that I am running for President of the United States. The 58year-old former small screen star said she wants to join the 2012 race so that she can be part of the debates and represent the taxpayers. In fact, Im choosing the taxpayers as my Vice President, she told Jay, to rousing cheers from the audience. I want to put the questions to the panel about like, where the hell did our money go? Thats number one. In addition to an immediate accounting for the government bailout money, Roseanne declared she has another type of green on her mind. The legalization of marijuana is number one the end of all drug wars, she told the late night host of her top priorities. Roseanne, who moved to Hawaii in 2007 to farm Macadamia nuts a move which is chronicled on her Lifetime reality show, Roseannes Nuts said shes been inspired by former Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin in both her foray in reality television and a bid for Presidency. Its because of [Sarah Palin] that I decided to do a reality show. And also, I have feral pigs that overrun my farm and Id like to shoot them out of a helicopter, she told Jay with a smile. Thats kinda what got me to thinking that I too should run for President if she can. As for her potential party affiliations, Roseanne has no interest in being associated with either Democrats or Republicans. Im not for either party because they both suck and theyre both a bunch of criminals, she said. I made up my own party its Americas Green Tea Party. Thered be no taxes. Id forgive all student loans, all debts, she added before joking, Its really thought out. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Jersey Shoreline Italia: TV Review

More drama: Which was the rather improbable promise being produced by Jersey Shoreline executive producer SallyAnn Salsano about season four of MTV's bombastic human fireworks display.our editor recommends'Beavis and Butt-Head' Lick on 'Jersey Shore' in MTV Series Relaunch (Video)'Jersey Shore' Boss: The MTV Hit 'Is the very best and Worst Factor That Ever Happened to Me' (Q&A)'Jersey Shore' Air SallyAnn Salsano: The way the Cast Transformed in Italia and Deena Left Nothing Unturned'Jersey Shore' in Italia: Outtakes From THR's This summer Cover Story'Jersey Shore' Italia: 72 Hours within the Existence of the Drama QueenRelated Subjects•Jersey Shoreline Given all of the alcohol-fueled blow-outs, hook-ups, and all sorts of around fist moving lunacy of Seasons 1 through 3, boosting the ante on typically the most popular show within the network's history isn't any small task. Realizing that departing good enough alone might not be within the welfare from the franchise, Salsano discovered what appeared like inspired idea: moving the most popular Guidos and Guidettes to Italia for any season. PHOTOS: The Jersey Shoreline Hits Italia For better or worse, however, you are able to take Snooki & Co. from Jersey Shoreline, however, you can't go ahead and take Jersey Shoreline from them. Despite the fact that the physical surroundings might have switched decidedly more attractive, the mental picture remains decidedly exactly the same. In Florence, the smush search -- wonderful its titillating and untidy consequences -- resumes directly on signal. "I wish to look for a nice traditional Italian girl," states Vinny, alone from the cast who talks Italian. PHOTOS: MTV's Jersey Shoreline Italia In Production Also about the prowl is "Single Ronnie," whose turgid, slow-motion split up with Sammi consumed a lot airtime in Season 3. Deena bakes an ambitious pledge to "write out with individuals,Inch and Ronnie's ex declares you will see "forget about tears for Sammi Sweatheart." But undoubtedly the greatest growth and development of the off-months are this news that Mike "The ProblemInch has privately connected with Snooki 3 to 4 occasions. The issue? A minumum of one of individuals occasions happened while Snooks is at a committed relationship together with her current love, Jionni. Even stranger, Mike confides to Ronnie (and also the camera deck hands and also the viewing audience) he's falling on her. Deena, meanwhile, singles out Pauly D for many potential smushing. PHOTOS: The Hollywood Reporter Cover Tales Ensconced within their spacious new "castle," a large step-up in the Seaside Levels digs, hair hairdryers are blown out, and shots are consumed. Following the signature programs of a visit to the gym and also the return of sexual tension between Ronnie and Sammi, nov darkness creates a nightclub. There, the word what of spray tanned physiques helps bridge the culture gap. As Deena puts it, the growing season will feature "lots of hands motions and lots of trembling at the receiving end.Inch As the season premiere was content in tease the crowd with a few tongue licking between Deena and Pauly D, along with a rather-desperate attempt by Mike to re-establish themself with Snooki, the teaser for approaching episodes promises the type of drama that Solsano has boasted of taking in Italia: knockout blows, vehicle crashes, busts and much more drunken hook-ups. Quite simply, welcome to the Jersey Shoreline. Nicole Polizzi SallyAnn Salsano Mike "The ProblemInch Sorrentino Jersey Shoreline

HAMMOND: While Wall Street Loses Money, The HFPA Gives It Away

The stock market may havecontinued its August dive today, but just asnervous investors were losing tons ofcash, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association was giving awaymillions. At their annual lunchat the Beverly Hills Hotel, the HFPA presented a record $1,579,500 in financial grants to 46 film schools and nonprofit organizations. Over the past 17 years, the org best known for awarding Golden Globes in January has awarded $13.5 million through their grants program, according to newly elected HFPA president Aida TaklaO'Reilly. All this philanthropic activity comes even as the sometimes controversialgroup of foreignentertainment journalists remains embroiled in ongoing legal battles with their longtime Globes production company, Dick Clark Productions, over rights to their annualhighly rated awards show on NBC (and an Emmy nominee this year)as well as anotherlegal dust-up with former publicist Michael Russell. Despite the legal woes and bad Wall Street news, the HFPA luncheon was an upbeat affair, drawing numerousentertainment execs like Fox's Peter Rice, FX's John Landgraf, Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh and Fox Searchlight's Nancy Utley, among others. There was alsothe usualstarry turnout to help hand out the checks including Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Walhberg, Gerard Butler, Kevin Bacon, Yoshiki Hayashi, Jessica Chastain, Hugh Dancy, Lea Michele, Taylor Lautner, Elizabeth Moss, Elizabeth Olsen, Jim Sturgess, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Gabriel Macht, who all took turns introducing each other in the fast-paced, breezy presentation. Over the years, awards-season strategists havealsoseen the lunch asa great opportunity to get some of their potential awardscontenders in front of a captive audience of HFPA voters, and it was nodifferent this year as Butler, DiCaprio, Olsen and Chastain are all actors with upcoming releases expected to figure in year-end awards considerations. Last year at this lunch, for instance, I noticed Annette Bening and Nicole Kidman on the lineup, and both did end up with Globes (and Oscar) nods. The exposure certainly can't hurt as they say, especially in the overly crowded fall field of contenders. At the very least, the luncheon sort of serves as one of those "unofficial" precursors of the impending season. "I guess it's all starting all over again," one awards consultant still suffering battle scars from last year wearilytold me. Still, the person getting the most attention in the room was one whose main awards haul has been only at fan-voted events like the MTV Movie Awards, Teen Choice and People's Choice Awards, The Twilight Saga's Taylor Lautner.Glee's Lea Michele met him onstage like a drooling fan, "Oh my God, it's Taylor Lautner", she shrieked.Andpresenter Mark Wahlberg had words of warning about Lautnerfor fellow presenter DiCaprio. "Leo, I'm sitting at a table with a guy who'sbetter looking than you and in better shape than me. Boogie Nights and Titanic were a long time ago, pal. It's over," he said, pointing to the Twilight werewolf hunk who was on hand to accept a check for the Sundance Institute. DiCaprio, an HFPA favorite who has been nominated seven times, won once for The Aviator and nowstars in the upcoming Clint Eastwood dramaJ.Edgar, just announced for a Nov. 9 opening, was first up to accept the annual check on behalf of the Film Foundation, one of Martin Scorsese's passion projects. "For Steven (Spielberg), Marty, Clint and all directors, I accept this on behalf of the partnership between the Film Foundation and the HFPA, which has donated $3 million over the last 15 years for our preservation and film restoration projects," he said, noting that this year's check would go to the restoration of The Tales Of Hoffman, Death of a Salesman and Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion. He also noted that previous HFPA grants helped restore such classics as the 1933 King Kong, How Green Was My Valley, The River, Paths of Glory, The Red Shoes and many others.

Laurence Fishburne Is Perry White

In Man of Steel.... Now here's a casting choice likely to rile up a few comic book fans - Laurence Fishburne has been cast as Perry White in Zack Snyder's Superman pic Man of Steel. White, the grouchy editor of the Daily Planet where our hero's alter ego works, has been a key element of the Superman stories and his casting has been the source of any number of rumours. There's a chance this could spark some debate about colour-blind casting - after all, everyone remembers the fuss about Michael Clarke Duncan playing The Kingpin in Daredevil, or even the more recent nonsense complaints about Idris Elba in Thor. But one thing's for sure: the man who was Morpheus more than has the gravitas to growl at Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) and Lois Lane (Amy Adams) when they don't get their stories in on time. Fishburne, who just left the job of leading the CSI crime team on US TV, joins a cast that already includes Cavill, Adams, Kevin Costner, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe, Julia Ormond, Harry Lennix and Antje Traue. Thanks to seemingly endless bland set/location photo leaks, we know that work is already under way to prepare the movie to shoot in the autumn, ready for a June 2013 release date. And talking of Zack Snyder, there's a report today from Twitch that he might be planning to follow up the superhero story with a definite change of pace. It appears he's taking back the directorial reins to Afghanistan war drama The Last Photograph. Since Snyder and regular collaborator Kurt Johnstad wrote it, Photograph has attracted several directors (most recently Niels Arden Oplev) and has Christian Bale and Sean Penn circling the lead roles. While there's still no confirmed word on the casting, it looks like Snyder will be sitting down to direct the movie once he's sent Supes out into the world...