USA Sets Return Dates for White-colored Collar and Royal Pains, Premiere for Common Law

Matt Bomer White-colored Collar and Royal Pains will return on back-to-back nights within the month of the month of january, USA introduced Tuesday.Season 3 of White-colored Collar will premiere Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 10/9c, with Royal Pains, which heads into its third season, bowing the next evening at 10/9c.Lost's Sonya Walger joins USA's Common LawIn addition, new buddy-cop drama Common Law will premiere Thursday, Jan. 26 at 10/9c. The series stars Michael Ealy and Warren Kole as homicide detective partners that are bought into couples counseling by their captain.

Jackson Family Asks For Stiff Sentence Against Conrad Murray

First Published: November 29, 2011 12:28 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Defense attorney J. Michael Flanagan, Dr. Conrad Murray and defense attorney Ed Chernoff in court on November 3, 2011 in Los AngelesLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- A lawyer for Michael Jacksons family on Tuesday told a judge sentencing the doctor who caused the singers death that the family is not seeking revenge but wants a stiff sentence that serves as a warning to opportunistic doctors. The Bible reminds us that men cannot do justice, they can only seek justice, the family said in a statement read by attorney Brian Panish. That is all we can ask as a family, and that is all we ask for here. The statement went on to say, We are not here to seek revenge. There is nothing you can do today that will bring Michael back. Panish did not specifically request the maximum term of four years in jail for Murray but said the cardiologist should be punished in a way that reminds physicians that they cannot sell their services to the highest bidder. Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor was expected to sentence Murray later in the day after hearing from lawyers on both sides of the case. Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after a six-week trial that presented the most detailed account yet of Jacksons final hours but left many questions about Murrays treatment of the superstar with an operating-room anesthetic as he battled chronic insomnia. Prosecutors want Pastor to sentence Murray to a maximum four-year term that likely would be cut at least in half due to jail overcrowding. Defense attorneys want probation for the cardiologist, saying he will lose his ability to practice medicine and likely face a lifetime of ostracism. Several members of Jacksons family, including mother Katherine and siblings LaToya, Jermaine, Randy and Rebbie, attended the proceedings. Murray stared straight ahead as Deputy District Attorney David Walgren told the judge that Murray lacked remorse throughout the case. The doctor wore a suit in court. Jacksons death in June 2009 stunned the world, as did the ensuing investigation that led to Murray being charged in February 2010. Murray told detectives he had been giving the singer nightly doses of propofol to help him sleep as he prepared for a series of comeback concerts. Propofol is supposed to be used in hospital settings and has never been approved for sleep treatments, yet Murray acknowledged giving it to Jackson then leaving the room on the day the singer died. Murray declined to testify during his trial but did opt to participate in a documentary in which he said he didnt consider himself guilty of any crime and blamed Jackson for entrapping him into administering the propofol doses. His attorneys contended throughout the case that Jackson must have given himself the fatal dose when Murray left the singers bedside. In their sentencing memorandum, prosecutors cited Murrays statements to advocate that he receive the maximum term. They also want him to pay restitution to the singers three children Prince, Paris and Blanket. Its unlikely that Murray can pay any sizable sum, including the $1.8 million cost of his funeral. He was deeply in debt when he agreed to serve as Jacksons personal physician for $150,000 a month, and the singer died before Murray received any money. During Murrays trial, a jury heard a slurred recording of Jackson found on Murrays cellphone. The doctor or his attorneys never explained in court why he recorded the impaired singer six weeks before his death, but it revealed the ambition of the entertainer who burst on the scene as a baby-faced member of the Jackson Five in the 1970s. We have to be phenomenal, he was heard saying about his This Is It concerts in London. When people leave this show, when people leave my show, I want them to say, Ive never seen nothing like this in my life. Go. Go. Ive never seen nothing like this. Go. Its amazing. Hes the greatest entertainer in the world. Jacksons comeback attempt came after he had been pushed into obscurity. Despite his acquittal of child molestation in 2005, Jackson went into seclusion, leaving his lavish manor Neverland Ranch and moving to the Middle East and Las Vegas, where he first met Murray. Prosecutors said the mens relationship was corrupted by greed. Murray left his practices to serve as Jacksons doctor and look out for his well-being, but instead acted as an employee catering to the singers desire to receive propofol to put him to sleep, prosecutors said. The defendant has displayed a complete lack of remorse for causing Michael Jacksons death, prosecutors wrote in a filing last week. Even worse than failing to accept even the slightest level of responsibility, (Murray) has placed blame on everyone else, including the one person no longer here to defend himself, Michael Jackson. Murrays attorneys are relying largely on 34 letters from relatives, friends and former patients to portray Murray in a softer light and win a lighter sentence. The letters and defense filings describe Murrays compassion as a doctor, including accepting lower payments from his mostly poor patients. There is no question that the death of his patient, Mr. Jackson, was unintentional and an enormous tragedy for everyone affected, defense attorneys wrote in their sentencing memo. Dr. Murray has been described as a changed, grief-stricken man, who walks aroundunder a pall of sadness since the loss of his patient, Mr. Jackson. Pastor also will review a report by probation officials that carries a sentencing recommendation. The report will become public after Murray is sentenced. ___ Follow Anthony McCartney at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

SAG Honours Ballots Mail Now To Film & TV Nominating Committees: Due 12 ,. twelfth

La (November. 22, 2011) Ballots for your 18th Annual Screen Stars Guild Honours nominations will probably be mailed with this years SAG Honours film and tv nominating committees on Wednesday, November. 23, 2011. The Screen Stars Guild Award The Actor is presented for outstanding performances in movies and primetime television. The nominees for performances this season, like the distinctive ensemble honours as well as the stunt ensemble honors, will probably be selected by two separate film and tv nominating sections, each made up of two,100 SAG people from over the united states . States that have been randomly selected in April 2011. Distribution closed on October 27. Demands for nomination consideration inside several the heavens choosing were published by stars or, while using stars permission, by producers, art galleries/systems, agents, managers, or publicists. Votes for nominees may be cast online or via mailed paper ballot. The Guilds official teller, Integrity Voting Systems, must receive votes by Noon (PT) on Monday, 12 ,. 12, 2011. Nominations for your 18th Annual Screen Stars Guild Honours will probably be introduced on Wednesday, 12 ,. 14, 2011 within the Off-shoreline Design Center in West Hollywood, telecast survive TNT at 9:00 a.m. (ET) / 6:00 a.m. (PT) and webcast survive tnt.tv and also the best spinner's.com, preceded with the stunt ensemble honors nominations at 8:50 a.m. (ET) / 5:50 a.m. (PT), webcast survive tnt.tv and also the best spinner's.com . In the top industry honors provided to artists, only the SAG Honours are selected entirely by stars peers inside the Screen Stars Guild. Visitors in the 18th Annual Screen Stars Guild Honours will probably be introduced at occasions on Sunday, Jan 29, 2012, simulcast reside in the La Shrine Exposition Concentrate on TNT and also the best spinner's at 8 p.m. (ET), 5 p.m. (PT), 7 p.m. (CT) and 6 p.m. (MT). Visitors in the stunt ensemble honors will probably be introduced from the SAG Honours red-colored-colored carpet at 6:15 p.m., (PT) / 3:15 p.m. (ET) through the Red-colored-colored Carpet Pre-Show webcast on tnt.tv and also the best spinner's.com from 6-8 p.m. (PT) / 3-5 p.m. (PT). Final voting information will probably be mailed via postcard to all or any qualified voting people of Screen Stars Guild on 12 ,. 30, 2011. Online voting is advised. Paper ballots will probably be provided only upon request, that ought to be created by Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. All votes ought to be received at Integrity Voting Systems by noon on Friday, Jan. 27. Results will probably be sealed until they are opened up up onstage within the 18th Annual Screen Stars Guild Honours ceremony. The 18th Annual Screen Stars Guild Honours will probably be produced by Rob Margolis Productions in colaboration with Screen Stars Guild Honours, LLC.

Disney Jump-Starts Reese Witherspoon Comedy With 'Kung Fu Panda 2' Writers (Exclusive)

Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, the writers behind the international animation smash Kung Fu Panda 2, have been tapped to write Wish List, a Disney comedy fantasy that has Reese Witherspoon attached to star. Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray of Mayhem Pictures are producing.our editor recommends'Kung Fu Panda 2' Crosses $300 Million Offshore'Kung Fu Panda' Scribes to Pen 'Candyland' for Universal The new writers will kick-start the project, which was first set up at the studio in 2001 as a vehicle for a male comedy star. Witherspoon came on board during the summer, causing a search for scribes to re-engineer the script. The story centers on a career-oriented adult whose perfectly tailored life is thrown for a loop when all the wishes she made as a child are suddenly granted. PHOTOS: 10 Inappropriately Sexy Cartoon Characters Aibel and Berger, repped by WME and attorney Ken Richman, have staked out athriving career in animation and the family comedy arena. On top of writing the $663 million-grossing Panda 2, the duo worked on the first Kung Fu Panda and Monsters vs Aliens,as well as TV's King of the Hill. They also worked on Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and the latest Chipmunks installment, Chip-Wrecked, which opens December 16. The scribes will tackle Wish List after they finish writing a big-screen take of the Hasbro board game Candyland. Email: Borys.Kit@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Kit Related Topics Reese Witherspoon Kung Fu Panda 2

Foreign exchange Passes on Southern Crime Pilot 'Outlaw Country'

Foreign exchange is not ongoing to maneuver forward withOutlaw Country. The project, that's both a criminal offence thriller and family drama set in the backdrop of organized crime and royalty inside the south, happen to be awaiting an option for many days. The collaboration between Foreign exchange Productions and Fox TV Art galleries, which experienced some retooling this year's summer season, starredLuke Grimes, Haley Bennett, Mary SteenburgenandJohn Hawkes. Outlaw happen to be pitted against Foreign exchange's other pilot option, comic adaptationPowers.The waiting game moved on proper proper care of the network's have to start to see the latter's effects, but getting seen a finished product the network has requested similar retoolings, according to sources. Forces, a The brand new the new sony TV production, is founded on the extended-running Image/Icon comic series by John Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming can be a police procedural with supernatural element. Jason Patric stars as Christian Master, a cop who works inside the Forces division in the police and handles crimes including people endowed with special abilities. Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com Twitter: @LaceyVRose Related Subjects Foreign exchange

Black Nights unveils line up

MOSCOW -- Estonia's Black Nights Film Festival opens late next week with a rich line up of competition films to brighten the dark days of late November. The festival, now in its 15th edition, features three main competitions with focuses on European and Asian features, Baltic film and U.S. indie films that programmers feel have good potential for European distribution. Among the top picks in the main competition the International Eurasia Focus, Lynne Ramsay's film about a mother struggling to cope with her son's disturbing actions, "We Need to Talk About Kevin," is expected to draw strong auds. Other hot titles include "Rose" by Polish director Wojciech Smarzowski, about the harrowing treatment of Poles at the end of the World War II; French helmer Michel Hazanavicius' ode to the silent screen "The Artist," and Estonian Oscar entry, "Letters to Angel," directed by Sulev Keedus, which explores the battles an Estonian soldier has to fight on his return home from the Soviet era Afghan war. In the Tridens Baltic Feature Film Competition, the field includes documentaries "The New World" by Estoni's Jaan Tootsen, about a group of activists who attempt to change their corner of the world, and "How Are You Doing Rudolf Ming?," about a boy obsessed with violent films, shot by Latvian filmmaker Roberts Rubins. There is also a study of the Lithuanian activists who saved their ancient Sanskrit-based language from extinction in the 19th century, "The Book Smugglers" directed by Jeremiah Cullinane, a co-prod between Lativa and Ireland. In the North American Independent Film Competition esoteric American films include "Martha May Marcy Marlene," the Sundance hit about a girl suffering from paranoia and delusions after escaping a cult; Jonathan Levine's "50/50," a comedy about a man diagnosed with cancer, and "Win Win," director Thomas McCarthy's follow up to acclaimed films "The Station Agent" and "The Visitor." The festival runs Nov. 18-30. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Julie Taymor files 'Spider-Man' suit

Julie Taymor claims the 'Spider-Guy: Turn Off the Dark' producers have not successful to pay for on her behalf ongoing target the Broadway musical.Julie Taymor, the helmer of megabudget Broadway tuner "Spider-Guy: Turn Off the Dark," has filed a suit in the producers in the show."Since the suit filed today makes apparent, the accused have violated Ms. Taymor's creative rights becoming an author of 'Spider-Guy: Turn Off the Dark,'" mentioned Taymor's lawyer, Charles Spada, in the statement. "In addition, the producers have not successful to pay for Ms. Taymor for ongoing usage of her build up to now."Taken, happens Director and Choreographers' Society (SDC) filed an arbitration claim in the show's producers over delinquent pointing royalties to Taymor.Taymor as well as the show's producers have observed a patchy relationship since the helmer was driven to think about a measure in the musical spectacle toward the conclusion in the production's extended, rocky preview period. She did, however, attend the show's June opening, where she was among the designers to think about a bow.No matter the extra staging contributions of director Philip William McKinley, it absolutely was Taymor who was simply recently considered qualified that require thinking about for just about any Tony nomination inside the musical director category. Taymor is credited while using "original direction" in the show. She's also listed as co-book author and mask designer. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Movie mavens see healthy signs for industry

'The Help'It's unlikely that numerous will see daily the problem in the economy this season and passionately croon, "It absolutely was a great year," but as Endgame Entertainment Boss Jim Stern prepares to simply accept stage for your Condition in the Film Industry panel within the Variety Way ahead for Film Summit, he's confident about the fitness of the organization.InchHowever I could have been confident about film inside the 19 thirties when there's a depression happening and film was thriving," Stern states. "I've always cast a jaundiced eye when someone states, 'We're in the worse quarter than i had been a year ago, so the companies are heading lower.' Well, possibly, but it's also because the movies aren't pretty much as good. It is therefore due more to quality than alteration of consumer habits."The got the good thing the other day if the was reported that the quantity of spec scripts offered in October -- 18 -- might be the finest monthly tally by 50 percent years, as well as the 86 offered up to now this year is a lot more than 2009 and 2010 combined."It suggests that customers are assisting to release their purse strings, it suggests that authors are writing what they desire to produce, rather than what they're being commissioned to produce, that people think means a really quality level of scripts," states panelist Ron Nicita, Morgan Creek co-chairman and COO.Concurrently, Hollywood remains processing the economic crisis inside a vacation in a holiday in greece, that's threatening to destabilize the entire Eu."Previously, when there's a sizable (economic) hiccup, many overseas entrepreneurs went bankrupt and flicks that have been lucrative films fell to the red-colored-colored because people weren't getting paid out," Stern highlights. So, today, "when films are funded getting a powerful outlook during the products people will probably return overseas, it's a serious concern."Nevertheless the finest question for panelists might be, with DVD revenues foundering, you'll be able to chance VOD and streaming will probably be riding can provide relief soon?InchI believe we'd all prefer to say video is carried out and VOD is at,In . states panelist David Glasser, COO in the Weinstein Co. "It is not by doing this by yet, but hopefully this is when we're headed."RELATED LINKS Photos plug into buzz Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Branagh joins U.K. agency Troika

Branagh LONDON -- "Thor" helmer Kenneth Branagh has signed with U.K. talent agency Troika.He will continue to be repped in the U.S. by longtime manager Judy Hofflund for acting and Robert Newman at WME for directing.Branagh will next be seen in "My Week With Marilyn," playing Laurence Olivier opposite Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe.He is currently filming the third series of BBC's "Wallander" and he recently completed a run on stage in Belfast with Rob Brydon in "The Painkiller."Branagh will be jointly repped at Troika by partners Conor McCaughan and Michael Duff.Troika clients include Michael Fassbender, Matt Smith, Juno Temple and David Walliams. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com