Gotham TV prod'n at record levels

Around the group of "Gossip Girl" at Silvercup Galleries in New York, Gotham mayor Michael R. Bloomberg introduced Thursday that 2011 was NY City's most popular year for television production on record. "The Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment is dedicated to spending so much time to make certain the industry keeps growing and expand in 2012, getting much more jobs for NYers," stated Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment commissioner Katherine Oliver. "Gossip Girl" is among the 23 series which have been shot in NY City throughout this year's-12 TV season -- a significant uptick in the mere nine that shot in Gotham in 2002. The series spent $200 million on development in your area and employed some 6,300 people, based on stats in the Mayor's Office. Mayor Bloomberg continues to be all pervading on NY City's production scene for a long time. Tubthumping the city's benefits ruffles some down in Albany (there's some private grumbling that Bloomberg provides a 5% tax break on the top from the state's 30% and takes 100% from the credit), but his efforts with respect to film and television shoots have introduced focus on local companies within an economy hammered through the decline of charitable giving on Wall Street following the housing crisis. The state's focus on tax credit issues continues to be important, too. This Year, the Empire State's legislature chosen to completely fund the loan for 4 years, giving series producers some space following a backlog of programs along with a couple of intransigent political figures drove shows like "Fringe" from the city in '09. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

'Letterman's' Eddie Brill axed

"The Late Show With David Letterman" has lost its comedy booker, Eddie Brill, who's also Letterman's warm-up comic. Ray Getlen of newcomer comedy industry mag Mirth reported Monday that Brill was handed the pinkslip for "talking with the press without authorization," along with a source confirmed the report. Brill triggered a stir a few days ago as he told the NY Occasions that "you will find much less female comics who're authentic. I see lots of female comics who to impress a crowd will behave like males." The content under consideration would be a profile of Brill by Jason Zinoman, and Brill was reacting to some question about why so couple of female comics were reserved on the program. The debate was dissected at Mirth, where Brill stated within the comments section that his words have been removed of context. Zinoman responded with transcribed questions and quotes, and Brill subsequently apologized to "all who've been impacted by this." Brill is anticipated to stay at Letterman as warm-up comedian, and also the booking process will probably go back to its pre-Brill system, by which comics scouted at standup venues is going to be asked to do for producers from the show. A speaker for "The Late Show" rejected comment. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

'Contraband' leads MLK weekend B.O.

Universal's weekend domestic B.O. champion "Contraband" enhanced on Sunday's $24.millions of three-day estimations to gross an altered $24.5 million from Friday to Sunday. That elevated the pic's four-day Martin Luther King Junior. weekend estimations with a total $28.8 million. In second place in your area, Disney's 3d retrofit of "Beauty as well as the Animal" showed up slightly much much softer than initially forecasted, with three-day grosses gathering $17.7 million -- only 4% under Sunday's projection -- and four-day figures at $23.5 million. (A Control Button likely over believed the end result in the holiday weekend on "Beauty.") The higher weekend require "Contraband" is promising news for your film since it gets into holdover mode. Pic acquired a great A- CinemaScore rating. Warner Bros.' "Pleased Noise," meanwhile, showed up line while using studio's original three-day estimations ($11.3 million) for just about any four-day take of $13.8 million. Not remarkably, "Noise" came strong responses from auds inside the South, with 73% as well as 78% over 25. Within the niche B.O., the Weinstein Co.'s Globes champion for actress-drama "The Iron Lady" acquired $6.5 million through Monday from 802 locations. Pic has cumed $7.millions of. The Globes pic individuals who win, "The Descendants" and "The Artist," produced in four days $2.5 million and $1.5 million, correspondingly. Fox Searchlight expects to help expand "Descendants" (getting cumed Stateside $47.5 million) on Friday Weinstein's "Artist," with $9.millions of in your area, also increases a couple of days ago. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Wahlberg States He Desires To Meet Reputed Mob Boss

First Launched: The month of the month of january 14, 2012 3:06 PM EST Credit: FilmMagic BOSTON, Mass. -- Caption Mark Wahlberg attends the Wendy's Foundation For Teens Graduate to go to Art galleries launch at Boys & Women Club of L.A. Harbor in San Pedro, Calif., on August 31, 2011 Mark Wahlberg states hes considering a jailhouse winding up in James Whitey Bulger, but a sufferers relative is demeaning the heavens fascination with the reputed former mob boss. Wahlberg told Bostons WAAF-Radio Friday that Bulger has showed up at out and thought Bulger desires to supply him with rights to his story. Bulger is billed with getting involved in 19 killings. He was caught a year ago after 16 years abroad. Steven Davis sister, Deborah Davis, was allegedly strangled by Bulger. Davis notifies the Boston Herald that Bulger destroyed his family and shouldnt be glamorized. Wahlberg states he feels to see relatives people of Bulgers sufferers, nevertheless the story has tremendous potential. A Massachusetts legislator has recommended a bill that enable only Bulgers sufferers to understand from his story. Copyright 2012 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Final contestants searching for Scripter Honours

The authors and screenwriters of "A Dangerous Method" "The Descendants" "Jane Eyre" "Moneyball" and "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy" are actually named final contestants for your 24th-annual USC Libraries Scripter Award. Champion will probably be introduced inside a Feb. 18 ceremony round the USC campus. Established with the Pals in the USC Libraries in 1988, Scripter honors the film author(s) in the year's most accomplished movie adaptation together with the writer(s) in the written work in which the script relies. The whole report on nominees are: "A Dangerous Method": film author Christopher Hampton, modified from John Kerr's book "A Most Dangerous Method: The Story of Jung, Freud, and Sabina Spielrein" and Hampton's 2002 stage play "The Speaking Cure" "The Descendants": screenwriters Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash, modified from Kaui Hart Hemmings' novel "Jane Eyre": film author Moira Buffini, modified within the 1847 Charlotte now now Bronte book "Moneyball": screenwriters Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin, based on Michael Lewis' "Moneyball: The ability of Winning an Unfair Game" "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy": screenwriters Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan, based on John le Carre's book. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Round The Set: Jeremy Sisto Reflects On Existence In Suburgatory

Jeremy Sisto, Surbugatory Engrossed in a white-colored robe and ornamented by clouds of rising steam, Jeremy Sisto keeps modifying his under clothes. He's filming a scene inside the sauna in the Chatswin Country Club, where his Suburgatory character, George, so anxiously desires to easily fit into, nevertheless the director isn't happy with how Sisto's boxers keep peeking out. "The steam room - where all the secrets happen," Sisto states getting fun. It's not secret the ABC comedy is probably the fall's finest breakouts, and also the on-screen daughter, Jane Levy, is quick to credit Sisto due to its success. "Jeremy basically has this presence," she states. "He's a title-drawing monster - and he's also pretty funny." Getting handled his share of dramatic roles formerly, the actor was ready for something lighter. "It definitely is somewhat frightening because senses of humor vary a great deal,In . confesses the 37-year-old. "But [I'm in] an exceptional position relating to this show because I buy to ground it to some extent. Therefore I make an effort to play everything getting a particular sense of reality." That reality isn't a far achieve. Maturing in Chicago, Sisto stood a taste in the suburban existence. "There's some time in secondary school when, for reasons uknown, I made a decision that suburbanites were my competitors or my rivals with techniques," states Sisto. Nevertheless it wasn't all bad. "The initial girl I kissed will be a suburbanite," according to him. "I used to be nervous, but she actually was awesome and kind of significant. It rocked my world!" At its heart, Suburgatory is about father-daughter associations, a component that came real-existence father Sisto for the role. "Numerous George's more prominent sides - whether good or bad - result from a have to do well, particularly, by his daughter," states Sisto. "Essentially feel my child continues to be passing up on something which may affect her progress just like a person, i rapidly become very neurotic and douse the issue with as much help as you possibly can.In . One experience he's searching toward talking about along with his own daughter is showing her to his old roles, including his legendary character, Elton, in 1995's Not aware. "It's a rare chance to be capable of visit your parent just like a youthful person," states Sisto. "She'll probably poker fun at me." Figures like Elton and George allow Sisto to educate yourself regarding part of acting he's attempting to perfect: "A great deal comedy arrives from the serious, deeply rooted need to start with or other, searching to have it and caring a great deal that you just lose your sense of self-awareness." Sisto breaks as he's known for one more scene, throws his arms in mid-air and laughs. "I am unsure where the f--- comedy arises from!In . he exclaims, running to create half-naked, robe billowing inside the wind. Suburgatory airs Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!