TV Ratings: 'Once Upon a Time' Finally Takes a Small Hit, Football Dominates for NBC and CBS

ABC The long Thanksgiving weekend ended on a solid note for NBC, which saw the Sunday Night Football match-up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs bring a victory in viewers and adults 18-49. The game pushed the network to a 5.4 rating in the demo for the night, with preliminary numbers giving the game a 6.7 rating on its own and an average audience of 16.6 million throughout its broadcast. On CBS, overtime from the Denver Broncos/San Diego Chargers game boosted the 7:00 p.m. hour, bringing the net to a 3.6 rating in adults 18-49 for the night. An original episode of The Amazing Race, also skewed by the NFL overage, earned a 3.6 rating for the night. It was followed by back-to-back repeats of freshman drama Person of Interest, which earned a 2.4 and a 1.5 at 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., respectively. ABC's new episode of Once Upon a Time dipped 11 percent from its last original outing two weeks ago. It still managed a 3.4 in adults 18-49, however, and an average audience of 10.7 million for the hour. The net's other original programming was sidelined for the TV movie Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith, which averaged a meager 1.1 in the demo, with an audience of 6.4 million. On Fox, the animation block brought in a 2.4 rating in 18-49s for the night. Allen Gregory continued to slip, however, reaching a new series low in the demo with a 1.5. Sunday, Nov. 27, Overnight Ratings: 7 p.m. CBS: NFL overrun (22.9 million viewers, 7.0 rating among adults 18-49) Fox: NFL overrun/The Cleveland Show (R) (8.8 million, 3.3) NBC: Football Night in America (6.9 million, 2.3) ABC: America's Funniest Home Videos (7.6 million, 1.8) 7:30 p.m. Fox: The Cleveland Show (4.0 million, 1.9) 8 p.m. NBC: Football Night in America (13.4 million, 4.7) CBS: The Amazing Race (15.4 million, 3.6) ABC: Once Upon a Time (10.7 million, 3.4) Fox: The Simpsons (5.6 million, 2.6) 8:30 p.m. NBC: Sunday Night Football - Steelers at Chiefs (17.1 million, 6.4) Fox: Allen Gregory (3.1 million, 1.5) 9 p.m. NBC: Sunday Night Football - Steelers at Chiefs (18.1 million, 6.8) Fox: Family Guy (5.5 million, 2.8) CBS: Person of Interest (R) (8.97 million, 2.4) ABC: Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith (6.4 million, 1.1) 9:30 p.m. Fox: American Dad (4.5 million, 2.2) 10 p.m. NBC: Sunday Night Football - Steelers at Chiefs (16.4 million, 6.8) CBS: Person of Interest (R) (6.8 million, 1.5) ABC: Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith (6.6 million, 1.0) TV Ratings

Endemol nabs 'Canada Sings' format

LONDON -- Endemol has nabbed worldwide format privileges to Shaw Media's talent show "Canada Sings." The offer requires the entertainment giant selling the format worldwide and creating local versions from the show via its regional production modems. "Canada Sings" was initially created for Shaw Media network Global Television by Insight Production Company, which produced and is the owner of the format. Once the skein bowed in Canada last summer time it had been viewed by 6.5 million audiences, based on Endemol. Shaw Media a week ago greenlit another season of "Canada Sings," that takes regular folk from places of work nationwide and challenges these to form glee clubs with co-employees. The teams, trained by professionals, compete inside a countrywide talent contest using the champion giving the prize money to some nominated charitable organisation. Global mind of format purchases at Endemol Grant Ross stated: "It is really an unabashed feel great format full of adrenalin, bravado, working together, courage and risk. "The show's performance in Canada talks by itself and also the elements which have driven that success could be converted in a territory." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Equity Honors 'Scottsboro' Chorus

Actors' Equity Association will show the Broadway musical "The Scottsboro Boys" using the union's fifth annual Advisory Committee on Chorus Matters Award for outstanding Broadway chorus on Friday.The ACCA Award honors the talents and contributions from the original chorus people of the Broadway musical. "The Scottsboro Boys"nominated for 12 Tony Honours in 2011was among twelve Broadway musicals considered with this year's recognition.The show is dependant on the nineteen thirties trial of nine African-American teens who have been wrongly charged with raping two whitened women. It went in the Lyceum Theatre from March. 7 to 12 ,. 12, 2010."The chorus people of 'The Scottsboro Boys' are gifted experts who exemplify the effort, dedication, and talent it requires to become outstanding inside a Broadway musical," stated Rebecca Kim Jordan, Equity's second v . p . and chair from the ACCA, inside a written statement.

Two left 'Happy Feet'

Zelda Williams and Robin Williams go feet first at the Chinese Theater.Common, Sofia Vergara and Elijah Wood mingle with the birds.George Miller with Jeff Robinov Pink picks up a soda pop and penguin. The animated penguins in Warner Bros.' "Happy Feet Two" know how to get down, but some of those integral to the film admitted they aren't so light on the dance floor.At Sunday morning's preem at the Chinese, helmer-scribe George Miller revealed, "I cannot sing and I cannot dance, but Savion Glover and Wade Robson are great dancers. We had wonderful, wonderful dancers."Hank Azaria, who voices a puffin masquerading as a penguin, admitted, "I am the worst dancer in the world, I think, maybe. It's really tragic."Life-size penguins waddled around the party delighting the day's smaller guests, though Azaria said he's wouldn't take a penguin home if given the chance. "Absolutely not. Smelly little creatures. Have you ever been to the zoo and smelled the penguins?" he asked.Pink picked up a stuffed penguin on her way into the theater as kids slipped around on the snow outside. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

2011 Holiday Movie Season: The Biggest in History?

The holiday season is a Hollywood hotspot for big movies. With the Oscars right around the corner and people taking extended vacations, the month of December has become a breeding ground for studios looking to highlight their best films of the year, but this winter is shaping up to be one of the most crowded seasons in recent memory. In today's NY Times, writer Michael Cieply looks at the upcoming slate of projects over the next two months. His conclusion? There are a lot of movies coming out! As Cieply points out, there were four major studio releases on or around Christmas Day in 2010, and three in 2009. This year, six major movies will come out "with a total production and marketing cost approaching $1 billion, from directors who have 25 past Oscar nominations among them." This list includes 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,' 'Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol,' 'The Adventures of Tintin,' 'War Horse,' 'We Bought a Zoo' and 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.' In addition, Meryl Streep's 'The Iron Lady' will be released on December 30. The end of this month will see the premiere of even more highly anticipated movies: 'The Artist,' My Week With Marilyn,' 'The Muppets' and 'Hugo' to name a few. Will the crowded slate of movies be too much for audiences to handle? With the number of films coming out, you would have to assume at least a few big budget projects will stumble. Either that, or the holiday season will break Hollywood out of its two-month long box office malaise. If you're still confused at what to see, our Holiday Movie Preview below may help out. Or you could always stay at home and watch the TNT 24-hour marathon of 'A Christmas Story.' [via NY Times] Moviefone 2011 Holiday Movie Preview 'Tower Heist''A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas''J. Edgar''Jack & Jill''Immortals''Happy Feet Two''Breaking Dawn Part 1''The Descendants''Arthur Christmas''Hugo''The Muppets''The Artist''My Week With Marilyn''A Dangerous Method''Shame''New Year's Eve''The Sitter''Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy''W.E.''Young Adult''We Need to Talk About Kevin''Alvin and the Chipmunks 3''Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows''Carnage''Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol''The Adventures of Tintin''The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo''We Bought a Zoo''In the Land of Blood and Honey''War Horse''Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close''The Iron Lady' See All Moviefone Galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Who's Testing for Company company directors Roland Emmerich, Akiva Goldsman and 'Die Hard 5'

Who's Testing for Company company directors Roland Emmerich, Akiva Goldsman and 'Die Hard 5' By Borys Package November 7, 2011 Photo by Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images Liam Hemsworth Stars will rise (or else), careers will live (or die), and agents will sweat (tons).The next day or two are shaping around deliver a maelstrom of casting news as art galleries attempt to construct large projects. Nowadays can give contour around large-budget tentpoles and passion projects, because the companies aren't always trying to find brand-title stars, the roles may be large breaks for people competing on their own account. Many in the stars in contention have names that middle America hasn't heard yet, as art galleries try to handle undeniable fact that no stars have showed up in the lead with techniques that Kaira Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio in addition to Mike Gyllenhaal have."The town is turning around six or eight males at this time around,Inch states one agent.Author-director Akiva Goldsman is trying to move forward on the love project "Winter's Tale," some time reincarnation story that's to determine at Warner Bros. Chemistry reads including Tom Hiddleston (Loki in Marvel's "Thor") and Benjamin Master (the arrival "Abraham Lincoln subsequently subsequently: Vampire Hunter") are scheduled with this particular weekend as each is mentioned to remain in this mix for your male role from the criminal away from home. For your female part of a crictally ill lady, this list includes Bella Heathcote (on-screen presently in "Over TimeInch), Elizabeth Olsen, Gabriele Wilde ("Three Musketeers") and Sarah Gadon ("A Dangerous Method"). Russell Crowe is loosely attached because the villain, despite the fact that entire project may hinge about it obtaining a third-party financier.More relative unknowns could possibly get their chance within the large-time with "Singularity." Inside a couple of days, Roland Emmerich's latest sci-fi extravaganza will search for its male lead when the director reads stars to do something as Adam, a young guy whose consists a swarm of nanobots, giving him a number of energy. What they are called available to determine include Luke Grimes (who came out in TV's "Brothers and sisters and Brothers and sisters" making his feature debut with "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane"), Logan Marshall Eco-friendly (from TV's "Dark Blue," who appears in Ridley Scott's "Prometheus"), Julian Morris (who came out in TV's "Pretty Little Liars" as well as the short-were living ABC show "My Generation") and Thomas McDonell (who came out in "Promenade" which is playing a young The Actor-kaira Pitt inside the approaching "Dark Shadows") among other names. Other names circling the part (while not involved inside the reading through through) are Ben Barnes and Luke Bracey.Tuesday will probably be "Akira's" turn at softball softball bat. Warners' adaptation in the Japanese classic is trying to find the actor to see Tetsuo, a young guy with telekinetic abilities who becomes a dangerous weapon. (Garrett Hedlund is at discussions to see Kaneda, the teen's older brother and leader from the motorcycle gang.) Ezra Burns, the emerging star of indie thriller "We Must Discuss Kevin," and Alden Eherenreich(who starred in Francis Ford Coppola's "Tetro") will be the names showing up most often while using reading through through. Warners may also be trying to nail lower its Arthur for David Dobkin's "Arthur & Lancelot." Package Harrington is re-testing as well as the studio is trying to create test handles Richard Madden, who plays Robb Stark in HBO's "Wager on Thrones," and Luke Evans, who's presently in theaters with "Three Musketeers" and contains "Immortals" in a couple of days. Toby Kebbell, who began in "RocknRolla," will even participate in the testing, that's mentioned being inside a couple of days. ("The Killing" star Joel Kinnaman is at discussions to portray Lancelot.) "Die Hard 5," that's now referred to as "An Excellent Day to Die Hard," will search for the youthful guy to see Bruce Willis' boy, with management Liam Hemsworth, Aaron Paul, and Ben Promote among people who'll take part in chemistry reads with Willis, reprising his role of John McLane, on November 12 and 13. (Were hearing negligence Hemsworth's to eliminate.) The Hollywood Reporter Who's Testing for Company company directors Roland Emmerich, Akiva Goldsman and 'Die Hard 5' By Borys Package November 7, 2011 Liam Hemsworth PHOTO CREDIT Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images Stars will rise (or else), careers will live (or die), and agents will sweat (tons).The next day or two are shaping around deliver a maelstrom of casting news as art galleries attempt to construct large projects. Nowadays can provide contour around large-budget tentpoles and passion projects, because the companies aren't always trying to find brand-title stars, the roles may be large breaks for people competing on their own account. The majority of the stars in contention have names that middle America hasn't heard yet, as art galleries try to handle undeniable fact that no stars have began towards the forefront with techniques that Kaira Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio in addition to Mike Gyllenhaal have."The town is turning around six or eight males at this time around,Inch states one agent.Author-director Akiva Goldsman is trying to move forward around the love project "Winter's Tale," some time reincarnation story that's setup at Warner Bros. Chemistry reads including Tom Hiddleston (Loki in Marvel's "Thor") and Benjamin Master (the arrival "Abraham Lincoln subsequently subsequently: Vampire Hunter") are scheduled with this particular weekend as each is mentioned to remain in this mix for your male role from the criminal abroad. For your female part of a crictally ill lady, this list includes Bella Heathcote (on-screen presently in "Over TimeInch), Elizabeth Olsen, Gabriele Wilde ("Three Musketeers") and Sarah Gadon ("A Dangerous Method"). Russell Crowe is loosely attached since the villain, despite the fact that entire project may hinge about it obtaining a third-party financier.More relative unknowns could possibly get their chance within the large-time with "Singularity." Inside a couple of days, Roland Emmerich's latest sci-fi extravaganza will search for its male lead when the director reads stars to do something as Adam, a young guy whose is composed a swarm of nanobots, giving him a number of energy. What they're known as available to determine include Luke Grimes (who came out in TV's "Brothers and sisters and Brothers and sisters" making his feature debut with "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane"), Logan Marshall Eco-friendly (from TV's "Dark Blue," who appears in Ridley Scott's "Prometheus"), Julian Morris (who came out in TV's "Pretty Little Liars" as well as the short-were living ABC show "My Generation") and Thomas McDonell (who came out in "Promenade" which is playing a young The Actor-kaira Pitt inside the approaching "Dark Shadows") among other names. Other names circling the part (while not mixed up in reading through through) are Ben Barnes and Luke Bracey.Tuesday will probably be "Akira's" turn at softball softball bat. Warners' adaptation in the Japanese classic is trying to find the actor to see Tetsuo, a young guy with telekinetic abilities who becomes a dangerous weapon. (Garrett Hedlund is at discussions to see Kaneda, the teen's older brother and leader from the motorcycle gang.) Ezra Burns, the emerging star of indie thriller "We Must Discuss Kevin," and Alden Eherenreich(who starred in Francis Ford Coppola's "Tetro") will be the names showing up most often while using reading through through. Warners may also be trying to nail lower its Arthur for David Dobkin's "Arthur & Lancelot." Package Harrington is re-testing as well as the studio is trying to create test handles Richard Madden, who plays Robb Stark in HBO's "Wager on Thrones," and Luke Evans, who's presently in theaters with "Three Musketeers" and contains "Immortals" in a couple of days. Toby Kebbell, who began in "RocknRolla," can also be mixed up in testing, that's mentioned being inside a couple of days. ("The Killing" star Joel Kinnaman is at discussions to portray Lancelot.) "Die Hard 5," that's now referred to as "An Excellent Day to Die Hard," will search for the youthful guy to see Bruce Willis' boy, with management Liam Hemsworth, Aaron Paul, and Ben Promote among people who'll take part in chemistry reads with Willis, reprising his role of John McLane, on November 12 and 13. (Were hearing negligence Hemsworth's to eliminate.) The Hollywood Reporter

Queen of the Mist

Andrew Samonsky manages Mary Testa when she becomes a celebrity after plunging over Niagara Falls in a barrel in Queen of the Mist. A Transport Group in association with Sarah Ackerman, Sase Sham, Benjamin D. Goldberg and Jennifer Orr presentation of a musical in two acts with book, music and lyrics by John Michael LaChiusa. Directed by Jack Cummings III; choreographed by Scott Rink. Music direction, Chris Fenwick.Anna "Annie" Edson Taylor - Mary Testa Frank Russell - Andrew Samonsky Jane, et al. - Theresa McCarthy Man With His Hand Wrapped in Handkerchief, et al. - Tally Sessions Carrie Nation, et al. - Jule Murney Mike Taylor, et al. - Stanley Bahorek A New Manager, et al. - DC AndersonAnna Edson Taylor, a struggling 63-year-old schoolteacher, threw caution to the wind in 1901, plunged over Niagara Falls in a barrel and lived to tell about it. Instant celebrity resulted, but she just as quickly plunged into obscurity. Until now, that is, as prolific musical maker Michael John LaChiusa has taken up Taylor's cause with "Queen of the Mist." An unusual story, a provocative score and inventive staging by Jack Cummings III combine to make this an intriguing offering from the Transport Group, buoyed by Mary Testa as the stubbornly contrary Anna. Testa has made a name for herself over the past 30 years working frequently with LaChiusa and William Finn while also attracting attention (and Tony nominations) in mainstream revivals of "On the Town" and "42nd Street." Testa's oversized talent and ferocious intensity, however, have at times overpowered her playmates. LaChiusa has written to her strengths; those wild comedic powers are all in view, but tempered by the dramatic requirements of the role. Testa shows how wide her range is in the final scenes. The leading lady -- given star billing on the houseboards, though not in the program -- is ably supported by a cast of six. Andrew Samonsky does a fine job as Frank Russell, Taylor's manager. Samonsky, who was a replacement Lt. Cable in the recent "South Pacific" (and played the role on the PBS broadcast), has a strong voice and holds his own against Testa. The others play multiple roles, acquitting themselves well in one or two featured spots. Theresa McCarthy, who spends most of the evening as Anna's respectable sister, stands out in her overbroad second act scene as a foul-mouthed and very funny pretender in a blonde wig. LaChiusa ("Marie Christine," "The Wild Party") has developed a reputation for shows that are more esoteric than involving. "Queen of the Mist" breaks the pattern: Here is an earthy, tabloid story of emancipation and celebrity with plenty of humor. Tale seems to spring from the author's roots in upstate Chautauqua, N.Y.; Taylor aspired to recognition by the Chautauqua Institution, the 19th century cultural citadel. Score is not only intelligent but more tuneful than recent LaChiusa efforts. Michael Starobin provides a strong orchestration for six pieces, including an effective French horn. Director Cummings' Transport Group, which delights in non-traditional playing spaces, returns to the Gym at Judson Memorial Church on Washington Square, scene of their June triumph "Lysistrata Jones." Stage is configured as a rectangle with bleachers on the two long sides, allowing Cummings and choreographer Scott Rink to stage the action effectively in tennis court fashion. The problem with many one-shot celebrities in our culture is that there is sometimes no second act. That is a bit of a problem here; after Taylor shoots the falls, there's relatively little left to happen in the less-involving and overlong second act. Fortunately, this is alleviated by some high-powered turns (like McCarthy's) and a strong finish. LaChiusa's musings on fame and celebrity have resonance, and not only with respect to the long-forgotten Taylor. The author also introduces us to a deranged anarchist at the 1901 Buffalo Exposition, who immediately after his (presumably fictional) exchange with Taylor goes off and shoots the President. The assassin was front page news until his execution, and then faded from memory. Nowadays, the once notorious Leon Czolgosz is known solely as a character in another modern musical, "Assassins" -- so much so that he gets a gasp of recognition from the audience some 110 years after his one, mad act.Sets, Sandra Goldmark; costumes, Kathryn Rohe; lights, R. Lee Kennedy; sound, Walter Trarbach; orchestrations, Michael Starobin; production stage manager, Wendy Patten. Opened Nov. 6, 2011. Reviewed Nov. 3. Runs through Nov. 20. Running time: 2 HOURS, 20 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Brian Cox Joins Dog Fight

As Zach Galifianakis' dadRise Of The Planet Of The Apes saw Brian Cox being mean to furry creatures for dramatic purposes, so we doubt he'll have much trouble being distant towards the equally hairy Zach Galifianakis in Dog Fight.According to Variety, Cox is in talks to join the comedy, which finds Galifianakis and Will Ferrell slugging it out as rival politicians looking to win a small North Carolina congressional seat.Cox's role will be Galifianakis' dad, a former senator who has always been highly critical of his son, joining a cast that includes Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott, Sarah Baker and Katherine LaNasa.With a script from The Other Guys' Chris Henchy and Eastbound & Down's Shawn Harwell, Jay Roach is set to start directing the movie this month in New Orleans. Given the big presidential election coming up next year in the US, it should be a timely film. But hopefully, mostly just funny.Cox has largely been acting in dramas and thrillers recently (though Red had some humour running though it). He'll next tackle horror thriller The Home and will be seen as Matt Busby in Theatre Of Dreams.