Fox Fighting to Filch Conan O'Brien?
You've laughed at Conan's withering monologue takedowns of NBC and Jay Leno. But Fox is really serious about wanting Conan on their network. It's too bad an almost hilarious contract oversight might rob Conan of his $45 million breach-of-contract award.
According to the Times, Conan's contract only guarantees he would be the host of a television program called "The Tonight Show"—it "contains no specific language about the time period the show would occupy." NBC is planning on sticking the "Tonight Show" name on Conan's new 12:05 slot like a Mickey Mouse band-aid on a gangrenous shark bite. This should make it harder for Conan to disentangle himself from his contract and possibly respond to Fox's overtures ("He would be a very compatible fit for our brand," said one Fox exec). Read the small print, late-night television hosts! [NYT]
•Action-filled news! Paramount has OK'd a 'G.I Joe' sequel, and an untitled 'Star Trek' followup has been slated for a June 29, 2012 release. Meanwhile, "Knockout," the revenge spy flick starring mixed martial artist Gina Carano, is in the process of adding "G.I. Joe's" Channing Tatum and Michael Angarano ("Snow Angels") to its already A-list cast (Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor and Dennis Quaid.). According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tatum will train with a Mossad agent in preparation. Angarano will train with a snow angel? [Variety] [THR]
•"Larry Crowne" is the Tom Hanks/Julia Roberts film you've been waiting for since 2007's "Charlie Wilson's War"! Hanks wrote the film and will direct. Roberts will make sure the film makes an improbable amount of money. [Variety]
•Talent show spin-off news! 'Glee,' don't turn into 'American Idol' on us now: The second season of 'Glee' will be preceded by a 'multipart special' on Fox which will follow a nationwide casting call to fill three new roles on the show. The real "American Idol" could take a hit with Simon Cowell's departure, says the LA Times. [TheWrap] [LAT]
•French New Wave filmmaker Eric Rohmer is dead at 89. Rohmer's 1969 "Night at Maud's" was nominated for best foreign-language film and best screenplay Oscars, and "The Marquise of O" won the Special Jury Prize at Cannes in 1976. [THR]
correction: A reader named "M. O'ribund" sends this note:
In your "roundup" post featuring Conan, you mention that Blake Lively
has been cast in the *Marvel* movie "Green Lantern". This is a DC
character, not Marvel.DC - Superman, Batman, Catwoman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Watchmen,
Swamp ThingMarvel - Spiderman, X-Men, Wolverine, Iron Man, Daredevil, Elektra, Hulk,
Fantastic Four, Punisher, Avengers, Ghost Rider, Thor, Nick Fury, Silver
Surfer