Fuse Lights Up Funny or Die's Comedic Game Show Billy on the Street

Billy on the Street Billy Eichner has a camera, a microphone and an astounding passion for pop culture. Let him loose on the streets of NY, and you have the basis for Fuse's new game show Funny or Die's Billy on the Street.Produced by the folks behind Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy's Funny or Die website, Billy on the Street features a hyper Eichner as he prowls Manhattan, barking questions at unsuspecting pedestrians. It's a surreal version of Cash Cab - without the cab - as these strangers are suddenly given a chance to win some money.But there's a catch: Eichner will sometimes make up the rules as he goes along. If he doesn't like your answer, he might just walk away (as he does in the first episode, when a contestant belittles rocker Pink, a favorite of Eichner's). And in the final round of questions, the answer is subjective -as contestants must somehow agree with Eichner's opinions."This is a larger than life version of myself," Eichner says. "I'm pop culture obsessed, but it's definitely exaggerated for the show. I thought it would be funny if I treated celebrity and my opinion about it as if it were war journalism and the most important thing in the world."Eichner first incorporated the idea into a live comedic stage show he did in NY. "People had a great reaction to it, and began to wait for it," he says. "We knew people liked it, but we held off putting it online for a while."The videos became instant viral hits once they were finally posted last year, and they soon caught the attention of Funny or Die. That then turned into a pitch for a TV show, which landed at Fuse (where it debuts tonight, at 11/10c) "The savvier audience members realize that I'm commenting on pop culture and how opinionated the media-drenched personalities have become," he says. "But there are also people who just like the fact that I'm messing around with people."Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Animator Dan Mills dies at 80

Animator and layout artist Dan Mills, whose credits included TV series "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" and "Family Guy," died Dec. 5. He was 80. Over the course of a career that lasted from 1956 until his retirement in 2002, Mills worked for Disney, Snowball, Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, Hyperion, Universal and Fox Animation.Mills was a layout supervisor for "He-Man" and "She-Ra: Princess of Power" in 1985, the 1989 series "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and the 1990 feature toon "Happily Ever After."As a layout artist he earned credits on films including "The Secret of the Sword," "Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night," "Freddie as F.R.O.7.," "Asterix Conquers America," "The Page Master" and "Cats Don't Dance" and TV series "Pandamonium" and "Family Guys."Animator credits include "Linus! The Lion Hearted" in 1964, the "ABC Afterschool Special" episode "Cyrano" and TV series "These Are the Days," "Partridge Family 2200 AD," "Jabberjaw" and "Godzilla."Mills was story director on three series in 1973, "Goober and the Ghost Chasers," "Inch High, Private Eye" and "Speed Buggy," art director for the 1965 series "Captain Fathom" and a model artist on "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids."In his final credit, he was a storyboard artist for the 2002 made-for-video pic "The Hunchback of Notre Dame II." Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

R.I.P. Bert Schneider

Bert Schneider, who produced the 1960s and 1970s counterculture hits Easy Rider and The Last Picture Show and Five Easy Pieces, diedMonday at a hospital in Los Angeles. He was 78.His daughter Audrey Simon said he had been in failing health.The rebellious son of Columbia Pictures president Abraham Schneider became a key figure in the new golden age of Hollywood when younger directors broke free of studio constraints and made films that celebrated the counterculture of the times.Schneider began his showbiz career at Columbia’s TV unit Screen Gems where he and director Bob Rafelson became partnerson The Monkees. The show’s financial success led to greater creative freedom and eventually the seminal filmEasy Rider (1969).Schneider produced 10 othermovies between 1968 and 1981including the Oscar-winning anti-Vietnam War documentary Hearts and Minds (1974) and Terence Malick’s Days of Heaven (1978). Schneider is credited with paving the way fordirectors with a flair for unconventional filmmaking such asGeorge Lucas, George Roy Hill, Paul Mazursky and Sydney Pollack.

Daniel Craig's 007 Author Days, and 5 Other Tales You'll Be Talking About Today

Happy Monday! Also in today’s edition in the Broadsheet: Much more about billed child molester who aided cast Super 8… Kirsten Dunst’s alleged stalker restrained (for the moment)… George Clooney shuts in around the Smothers Brothers and sisters biopic… Will the Academy exhaust Oscars?… plus much more. · Difficulties knows everything you considered Quantum of Solace, and contains one or more principal reason Skyfall will most likely be considered a noteworthy difference: It provides a real script. “[Y]ou swear that you just’ll never try shit such as this, plus it happens,” he mentioned in the new interview. “On Quantum, i had been fucked. We'd the simplistic from the script after which it there's a authors’ strike and there's nothing we are able to perform. We couldn’t make use of a author to accomplish it. I believe that to myself, ‘Never again,’ but who knows? There's me trying to rewrite moments — together with a author I am not.” Be advised! [Break London] · Within the WeHo News: Jason James Murphy, a 35-years of age billed child molester who nevertheless labored casting kids in films including Super 8, switched themselves per week ago to handle charges he violated condition sex offender registry laws and regulations and rules. Yeah, I’d inform them. [WeHo News via Deadline] · Speaking about skeeveballs, Kirsten Dunst has won a short constraint order against alleged stalker and confirmed Frenchman Jean Christophe Prudhon, who apparently offered his where you can travel and fulfill the actress. Alas, she must now stay the very least 100 yards from her. Well carried out! [THR] · George Clooney and creating partner Grant Heslov have optioned it Hazardously Funny: The Uncensored Story In The Smothers Brothers and sisters Comedy Hour and push the button in the new the new sony. That's… I'm speaking about… please, please get this. Unsure yet on whether Clooney would star and/or direct. [Deadline] · The Academy promises the labor dispute involving the Teamsters as well as the Chicago company that manufactures Oscar statuettes will not produce a shortage come February. States AMPAS leader Tom Sherak: “We’re always yearly ahead. We have accessories, because we don’t know the amount of people are gonna participate in confirmed year. I am in a position to’t inform you where they are, nonetheless they’re all under locksmith professional.” [LAT] · Gollum totally died the wrong method when he fell inside the lava inside the Return in the King. Let Science explain. [Wired via Daily Dish]

AFI Award Winners: Dragon Tattoo, War Horse, J. Edgar Make The Cut; Special Awards To The Artist And Harry Potter

LOS ANGELES, CA, December 11, 2011 The American Film Institute (AFI) today announced the official selections of AFI AWARDS 2011 the awards season event favored by artists and entertainment executives for its intimacy and collaborative recognition that records the years most outstanding achievements in film, television and other forms of the moving image arts: AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR Bridesmaids The Descendants The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo The Help Hugo J. Edgar Midnight In Paris Moneyball The Tree Of Life War Horse AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR Breaking Bad Boardwalk Empire Curb Your Enthusiasm Game Of Thrones The Good Wife Homeland Justified Louie Modern Family Parks And Recreation AFI SPECIAL AWARDS The Artist The Harry Potter Series

AFI reveals film, TV honorees

The Descendants acquired kudos steam Sunday by getting an AFI mention. Furthermore, it needed best pic honors from L.A. crix.'Bridesmaids''The Artist''Homeland'The Descendants acquired kudos steam Sunday by getting an AFI mention. Furthermore, it needed best pic honors from L.A. crix.'Bridesmaids''The Artist''Homeland'When the American Film Institute introduced its 10 movies of year on Sunday, the notable omissions mentioned just as much in regards to the race since the films that made this list.The 9/11-centered "Very Noisy and very Close," which director Stephen Daldry completed only yesterday, didn't make AFI's top, though its most likely probably the most noticeably American-designed films in contention. It absolutely was an unpredicted omission given AFI's directive to recognize American productions having its honours, the key reason why kudos-circuit darling "The Artist" and box office titan "Harry Potter" received special honours instead of being some the state list.It's tempting to question about "Very Loud's" Oscar chances carrying out a AFI snub, additionally to the neglecting to get honours within the trio of experts groups that introduced their options on Sunday: the La Film Experts Assn., the Boston Film Experts and NY Film Experts Online. Though last year's AFI list didn't are the U.K.-produced best picture Oscar champion, "The King's Speech," because of its British pedigree, every other film available did look at earn a nom, aside from "The Town.In . Incidentally, "King's Speech" didn't obtain the special recognition that AFI made a decision to offer to "The Artist," so its status just like a bellwether isn't perfect.However, positioning on AFI's list helps numerous films remain some the honours conversation inside a crucial time. For "The Help,In . "The Descendants" and "Evening amount of time in Paris," AFI nods really reinforce the idea people films remain likely competitors when the Academy announces Oscar nominations Jan. 24. For "The Woman While using Dragon Tattoo," AFI shown that several days of industry tests aren't actually the response to achieving recognition. The inclusion of "J. Edgar" and "War Equine" demonstrate that online sniping doesn't negate industry sentiment for veteran filmmakers. As well as the groundswell of honours buzz in regards to the summer season comedy "Bridesmaids," additionally to the supporting actress contender Melissa McCarthy, will most likely only get even even louder over the following month.Though AFI also released its TV list on Sunday, it's unlikely to change the outcomes of Thursday's Golden Globes nominations because ballots are due to the accounting firm by today.Nevertheless, AFI's tastes would be the wealthy historic drama "Boardwalk Empire" for the cutting-edge comedy "Louie." Showtime's newcomer series "Homeland," that's been a sizable ratings draw for your network, may also be on AFI's list.The movies and tv series can get honours within an invitation-only lunch on Jan. 13 within the Four Seasons Hotel in La. Honorees for film and tv are selected using the extent they advance the ability of the moving image raise the wealthy cultural heritage of America's talent inspire audiences and artists alike and/or produce a mark on American society."AFI Honours signifies the proudest of moments inside the Institute's calendar of occasions," mentioned Bob Gazzale, AFI leader and Boss. "The large event includes the year's top artists in the celebration of community, not competition."AFI movies of year are, from the to z: "Bridesmaids," "The Descendants," "The Woman While using Dragon Tattoo," "The Help,In . "Hugo," "J. Edgar," "Evening amount of time in Paris," "Moneyball," "The Tree of Existence" and "War Equine."AFI TV programs of year are "Boardwalk Empire," "Breaking Bad," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Wager on Thrones," "The Truly Amazing Wife," "Homeland," "Justified," "Louie," "Modern Family" and "Parks and Entertainment."The whole report on honorees follows:AFI Movies from the seasonInchBridal partyInchInchThe Descendants""The Woman While using Dragon Tattoo""The AssistanceInchInchHugo""J. Edgar""Evening amount of time in Paris""Moneyball""The Tree of Existence""War Equine"AFI Special Honours"The Artist"The Harry Potter SeriesAFI TV Programs from the seasonInchBusting Bad""Boardwalk Empire""Curb Your Enthusiasm""Wager on Thrones""The Truly Amazing Wife""Homeland""Justified""Louie""Modern Family""Parks and Entertainment" Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

FEINBERG & Buddies, Air. 8: Scott & Ladies and Hollywood's Melissa Silverstein around the Race (Audio)

NY - The 39th annual UBS Global Media and Communications Conference ended Wednesday mid-day following a slew of looks from media moguls, including Time Warner Boss Shaun Bewkes, CBS Corp. Boss Leslie Moonves, Viacom Boss Philippe Dauman, News Corp. leader and COO Chase Carey.our editor recommendsNetflix's Reed Hastings Calls Cinemax Go His Primary CompetitionStarz Not 'Reveling' in Netflix's Discomfort After Cutting Ties With the organization, States Top Professional Plus, Netflix Boss Reed Hastings turned up for his first "longest running show on Wall Street," as UBS loves to call the 3-day investor conference. This is a take a look at some key styles that emerged throughout the final major media investor event of the season. 1. Professionals SIGNALED THAT ADVERTISING TRENDS Look Great Starting The Brand New YEAR Moonves and Bewkes were among individuals that spoke of signs and symptoms of elevated ad interest in the very first quarter following a slight conditioning in recent days. Moonves stated that scatter market ad prices remain up within the mid-teen percentage range within the upfront, but added that CBS is probably doing much better than others. Younger crowd stated "there may continually be more demand," adding that heading in to the year-finish holidays demand from customers has enhanced. First-quarter cancellations remain low and consistent with historic trends. Japanese auto advertisements, that has returned back this quarter, should still flow early the coming year, he predicted. Bewkes stated the 4th quarter continues to be "a little much softer" when it comes to ad momentum, partially because some entrepreneurs drawn advertisements in to the upfront. "We feel happier about the very first quarter compared to 4th quarter," he stated. Basketball can help here, he stated. "We're pleased to have National basketball association back." Meanwhile, Dauman addressed the current rankings challenges of Viacom's Nickelodeon, which the organization has recommended might be because of an problem with Nielsen's rankings. As the current quarter's ad revenue momentum is going to be pulled lower through the Nickelodeon problem and "some gentleness generally scatter demand" during the last several days, things look better within the first quarter of 2012, he stated. The rankings problem is "an issue that'll be alleviated" because of more new shows on Nickelodeon compared to network ever endured soon, Dauman stated. Plus, Viacom's advertising sales from Nickelodeon can make up a significantly more compact area of the organization's total beginning next quarter, and there's a "better tone" on the market, he added. "We're feeling excellent,Inch Dauman made clear, repeating the Nickelodeon problem will turn to just be a "blip." 2. MOGULS Required Simple To Use ON NETFLIX After Netflix was frequently pointed out like a potential threat at this past year's UBS conference without having to be symbolized there, the image was much different now. Some periods didn't even mention Netflix, so when an analyst or investor requested about this, entertainment industry professionals were mostly upbeat. "We would like a proper Netflix," Moonves stated. In the end, the internet streaming firm has compensated up for library content handles his company. And Bewkes, when requested about past comments by which he'd in comparison Netflix using the Albanian military, stated: "Netflix is our friend." The 2 CEOs and Carey stressed though that Netflix along with other digital content marketers are mainly interesting like a place that content designers sell library content to. While Wall Street experts have wondered if the digital windfall will ended, Moonves stated needs it will likely be a recurring revenue stream moving forward. "CBS has completed several subscription VOD deals in the last year, all non-exclusive with only library content," authored UBS analyst John Janedis inside a note to traders. "We estimate they've inked a lot more than $400 million SVOD deals up to now." Oddly enough, Hastings themself stated he feels competition and more recent gamers like Netflix are great for entertainment companies and competition to create everybody more powerful and. He known as Cinemax Go his greatest threat. Like Cinemax, Netflix intends to spend $1 billion-$2 billion annually on content. Rivals like Amazon . com.com and Hulu Plus won't be risks until they invest in that greater degree of investing, he added. 3. CEOs REMAIN Careful ON Purchases, BUT A BANKER Provides A DEALS PITCH UBS top banker Aryeh Bourkoff opened up the conference using the suggestion that management teams shouldn't only manage is a result of quarter to quarter, but additionally have a longer-term view and explore purchases that may ignite the huge quantity of dry powder that companies are presently looking at. There is what's promising for bankers, but several professionals stated they'll still focus mainly on investing money on stock buybacks and returns, even when the bankers within the room might not prefer to listen to it. Carey suggested that some companies, by which News Corp. is the owner of merely a stake, could be either fully acquired or offered, quarrelling that the organization's stock value doesn't fully reflect these holdings. Bewkes stated TW continues to come back money to investors, but additionally outlined the conglomerate has continuously made more compact purchases, particularly abroad. Dauman seemed to be among individuals that stored the attention squarely on investors, vowing that Viacom would return $20 billion within the next 5 years via returns and buybacks. And News Corp. leader, COO and deputy chairman Chase Carey stated that the $5 billion stock buyback program from Rupert Murdoch's conglomerate might not just be a 1-time factor. And Moonves stated CBS Corp. could raise its dividend the coming year. Barclays Capital analyst Anthony DiClemente considered in around the problem of methods better to allocate capital inside a mid-week report. Wally Disney, which wasn't in the UBS conference, lately elevated its dividend, leading him to take particular notice at the proper way to use available cash. His favorite utilization of cash for media and entertainment titans is a rise in returns. "Also, with low borrowing costs for investment grade credit and corporate balance sheets flush with cash, we feel proper purchases, particularly for worldwide assets, may help boost relatively sluggish top line growth," he authored. Stock buybacks should come last, he recommended. They've "the possibility to eliminate investor value if shares are bought above intrinsic value, the best risk poor an uncertain macro atmosphere that could weigh on stock values," DiClemente stated. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects Time Warner Viacom CBS UBS

Jason Bourne: The Mission For Tom Cruise In Dubai

By Joel Hanek MTV News reporter Josh Horowitz and producer Joel Hanek are presently in Dubai since the world premiere of "Jason Bourne: Ghost Protocol." They are their tales. Producers log, day two: The mission to interview Tom Cruise continues. The premiere of "Jason Bourne: Ghost Protocol" is placed to start the 2011 Dubai Worldwide Film Festival. Being the investigative journalists that people are, MTV News reporter Josh Horowitz and that i suspected the stars of stated film could be in Dubai to advertise their movie and that we were so right. But meeting with the "MI:4" stars would not be until tomorrow, therefore we made the decision to find the the majority of this once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience. Yes, which was most likely all of the sun Josh needed. Therefore we headed towards the Dubai Mall, the biggest mall on the planet. Such as your grandma and grandpa, we spent the mid-day walking with the mall. After passing through the ice rink, aquarium, and indoor Sonic the Hedgehog amusement park, i was exhausted. To wind down in the adventure, we made the decision to mind 124 flooring as much as the top Burj Khalifa, the earth's highest building, as well as where a few of the more spectacular moments from the film were shot. We needed to get involved with the mindset from the stars before we interview them it's known as "method journalism." Much to the chagrin, they'd not let us repel in the top-floor observatory. Inside a couple of short hrs with many pastries still in the future, we'll finally come in person with this target. Think about this "Mission: Sorta Almost There." Inform us what you believe within the comments section as well as on Twitter!

'Prometheus' Isn't An 'Alien' Prequel, Swears Fox Studio Chief

Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" is one of the hottest projects to keep an eye on in 2012, no doubt about it. But among the film's many meritsincluding Scott's much awaited return to science fiction and a stellar cast that includes Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbenderthere is one nagging question is this movie an "Alien" prequel or not? "Prometheus" stars Fassbender and Noomi Rapace have both confirmed the "Alien" connection, but it's the word "prequel" that has some folks still scratching their heads. But there's at least one person connected to "Prometheus" who doesn't view it as an "Alien" prequel at all: none other than Fox Filmed Entertainment CEO Tom Rothman. "It is not [an 'Alien' prequel]. It's not," Rothman passionately defended when MTV News pressed him on the question at the Gotham Awards this week. "Hand on heart." When we pointed out that "Prometheus" taking place in the same universe as "Alien" and existing before that first movie technically qualifies it as a sequel, Rothman offered: "I suppose if you want to definitionally be that literal, but it does it a great disservice. I will tell you, here's the way to think about it. If you looked at the whole movie, 95 percent of it is entirely unto itself. Ridley said it right: If you're a fan and you look closely, you'll spot strands of DNA." Rothman also addressed the recent "Prometheus" trailer leak, which he described as "heartbreakingly unfair." "The quality of the visuals is as spectacularly beautiful, shot in 3-D compositionally the way only a master could do it," Rothman said. "For some early, early, early, early half-baked, half-assed test to leak, it's so unfair." Do you think "Prometheus" is a prequel to the "Alien" films or not? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter, and keep the conversation going with me @roundhoward!