· Steve Carell's new production shingle, Carousel Prods., will set up on the Warners lot, run by The Daily Show's Vance DeGeneres and college buddy Charlie Hartsock. "My idea was to partner with friends of mine, people I trusted, with whom I share a certain sensibility," Carell said, confident that employing his friends in these increasingly desperate times means he'll never want for a lift to the airport again. [Variety]
· Everyone's gaga for politics! On the eve of W's premiere, left wing and right wing releases are performing surprisingly well at the box office. (With the exception of An American Carol, as a distaste for unfunniness is the one true uniter.) [Variety]

After the jump: Which legendary Hollywood chicken-choker gets work?

· Hang in there, Ben! NBC is floundering in the ratings, with audiences for Heroes, Chuck, and Life dropping up to 20%. CBS won the night with their Monday comedy lineup that starts with The Big Bang Theory, a show we find ourselves inexplicably drawn to every week. [THR]
· Israeli animated documentary Waltz With Bashir isn't eligible for an Oscar because it failed to adhere to the Academy's one-week-screening-before-Aug. 31 qualifying rule. Which raises the question: couldn't distributor Sony Classics have just ponied up for a run if they were at all interested in winning it a trophy? [THR]
· Serial masturbationist Ernest Borgnine has signed on for Hallmark Channel's The Wishing Well. Just hope you don't fall in. [THR]