Accommodations and eateries at Sundance

Canyons ResortHyatt Escala LodgeAn believed 40,000 to 50,000 Sundance festgoers descend on Park City -- with a permanent population of the mere 8,000 -- throughout the annual film blowout, blocking roads, pathways and eateries, and creating transportation bad dreams. Although screening venues in Salt Lake City might be less crowded, most industryites would rather be in which the action is: on -- or simply off -- Park City's historic Primary Street.By early The month of january, lodging for that fest's first four days is going to be confined however, day five with the fest's closing weekend typically offer more options. Minimal costly remain in Park City may be the Chateau Apres, with $45 per evening/per person dorms (but limited availability). The booking firm Park City Crash Pads offers lower-cost qualities with amenities for example free wi-fi.Just outdoors of town, but accessible by free Park City buses, the Canyons Resort has several plush apartment-style lodging, additionally towards the Waldorf Astoria Park City (opened up in '09). The Hyatt Escala Lodge (opened up in November 2010) provides a discount for that other half from the fest.Salt Lake City hotels are less pricey the drive to fit City is simply under an hour or so based on weather.Websites VRBO.com and C-list are another resource for last-minute reservations -- though if your deal is simply too good to be real, well, you realize. Quick bites really are a fest must, because most greater-finish eateries are reserved web hosting dinners. Open 24/7, Fresh Market (formerly Albertsons) provides a sandwich counter as well as in-store Local cafe. Burritos from El Chubasco (near to festival HQ at 1890 Bonanza Dr.) are handy for wait-list lines, and also the year-old Sammy's Bistro (within the same minimall at 1890 Bonanza Dr.) has sandwiches, sauces and preparing salads. Frequently overlooked, the cafeteria at Park City Mountain Resort's Legacy Coffee shop is really a reliable option for breakfast and lunch, and it is on the shuttle route.The Yard event space (formerly the place to find non-official gifting lounges) in a former lumber yard close to the Yarrow Hotel is going to be the official festival venue this season, hosting New Frontier films. Onsite is really a 400-vehicle parking area along with a stop for that express shuttle towards the Temple Theater. Inside the Yard is a coffee shop having a recently installed NY-style pizza oven. Run through the entrepreneurs from the Blind Dog Restaurant and Sushi (also inside the complex), the Yard coffee shop will open most probably daily from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. after which transform in to the fest's latenight lounge.Other new eateries include: Park City's first-ever kosher restaurant, the Bistro in the Canyons Resort the in your area filled Farm in the Canyons Resort as well as for a higher-altitude nosh, Yama Sushi in the Montage Resort in Deer Valley. Easy Street in the Sky Lodge lately added gluten-free menu products the hotel's roof Sky Blue bar remains a civilized retreat above Primary Street's craze.Music is an essential part of Sundance activities. Even though sheriff padlocked the city's biggest music venue Harry O's captured, it will likely be re-incarnated as Park City Live throughout the fest. The ASCAP Music Coffee shop returns to reduce Primary Street throughout your day a course that changes nightly will showcase music from festival films -- a celebration that will need a fest credential together with tickets offered at the primary box office.Fest coordinators will tweet arranging changes, tests and ASCAP Music Coffee shop night time shows via @sundancefestnow. A totally free Sundance festival cell phone application can be obtained for apple iphone, iPad and Android customers.The first kind Racquet Club Theater has returned, reconstructed with 550 seats and re-named the MARC. Expect an broadened concession stand (in the same suppliers in the Library Theater) because the popular Racquet Club Grill isn't any more.Of course, warm socks and ibuprofen ought to be at surface of any packing list. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

The Grateful Cast of 'Lysistrata Jones' Opens Up

NY (AP) Backstage in a tiny room at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway, four theater buffs are geeking out."This is Angela Lansbury's dressing room!" one says, referring to the time when the "Murder She Wrote" star was in a revival of Stephen Sondhein's "A Little Night Music.""Yes!" says another, looking around."And Bernadette Peters," says a third."Bernadette was upstairs, I think," corrects another.To be backstage is clearly something these four relish. But they're not just passing through: They've moved in.Patti Murin, Liz Mikel, Josh Segarra and Lindsay Nicole Chambers are starring in "Lysistrata Jones," a musical update of Aristophanes' play "Lysistrata" by Douglas Carter Beane. Half have been on Broadway before, but as understudies. It marks the first time all four are originating a Broadway part.Murin, a 5-foot-4 actress from upstate NY who is playing the plucky Lysistrata, has claimed the dressing room used by such luminaries as Edie Falco, Gabriel Byrne and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Mikel, a Dallas native making her Broadway debut, is sharing with Chambers the dressing room once occupied by Lansbury, Lauren Bacall, Kristin Scott Thomas, Elaine Stritch and, more recently, Ben Stiller during the recent run of "The House of Blue Leaves."For Segarra, who nabbed Jennifer Jason Leigh's old dressing room, just being in the Walter Kerr Theatre is special enough. Toward the end of his high school career, he and his dad visited the theater to watch "Take Me Out" and the teenage Segarra was so impressed that he decided to become a stage actor on the spot."I was like, 'This is what I want to do. This is it,'" says Segarra, 25, from Longwood, Fla. "For me, this is really surreal to know that I get to perform on this stage, where it comes full circle."He and his three co-stars have had a strange trip to this point, having taken the show from a 99-seat basement church gymnasium in Greenwich Village to a 950-seat theater in Times Square. The three actresses have been with it even longer, having been with the show since it debuted last year at Dallas Theater Center.Beane and his real-life partner, composer and lyricist Lewis Flinn, have taken the 2,400-year-old comedy about Athenian women withholding sex until their men stop fighting and plopped it to present day Athens College, where the basketball team hasn't won in decades. Enter transfer student Lysistrata Jones, who dares the squad's fed-up girlfriends to stop "giving it up" until their boyfriends win a game. The musical has real basketballs bounced, passed and shot into hoops.The show is full of Beane's signature arch humor but also deftly explores the tension between determinism and choice. Chambers, 31, who was an understudy on Broadway for "Hairspray" and "Legally Blonde," says the mix of yuks and sentiment was a key reason she signed up. Campy is not fun if you're just being crass, says the Columbus, Ohio, native who is engaged to Chris Barron, the lead singer of the Spin Doctors. "It's much more fun to be campy when you do have a real heart."While parts often get recast with big names when shows jump to Broadway, the team behind "Lysistrata Jones" refused, partly because the Transport Group-produced musical needs athletic, young-looking actors. And partly as a matter of loyalty for a group who had sacrificed much."When people signed on to do that show in Greenwich Village, it was for less money than unemployment. Literally, if you got jury duty, it would have been a pay hike," says Beane, who nixed any idea of replacing his brood. "I'd go to theater jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200."The cast has a dozen actors and actresses who director and choreographer Dan Knechtges says are "overflowing with soul." He says his main job was to get out of the way so the audience could see their vibrant personalities."We sort of picked not necessarily the best triple threats around. But we picked people who had the most interesting personality, the most unique voice, the most unique look and out of that we tried to them make them do all of those things," says Knechtges.Murin, 31, a lithe blonde from Hopewell Junction, N.Y., is perfectly cast as a cheerleader, having been one at Syracuse University while studying musical theater. She was an understudy in Beane's "Xanadu" on Broadway and recently played the title role in "Emma" at The Old Globe in San Diego.She's been with the show since the beginning in Texas and in addition to singing, acting and dancing, has been asked to shoot three baskets on stage during the show, one of which is particularly tricky.If she misses, she vows to continue trying until she makes it. Her husband, a basketball nut and fellow actor Curtis Holbrook, has advised her not to be scared of failing. "There will be times I know I'll get into slumps," she says. "I guess it is a little bit of added pressure but it's OK. I'm learning to deal with that."The cast bonded recently during a five-day basketball clinic led by Chris Mullin, the retired NBA All-Star. He taught the actors the fundamentals of the sport and they say he gave them confidence.For Segarra, who plays a dimwitted baller and Lysistrata's love interest, dribbling comes second nature. A NY University graduate, he made his high school basketball team during his freshman year, but quit after being cast in a school production of "The Sound of Music." Unlike some of his fellow actors, Segarra is comfortable with a ball in his hand."That's when I have the most fun. That's when I get to show off because I know people are in the audience going, 'Let's see these theater boys play basketball,'" he says. "And I'll just drop it and start going. And I'll watch people's faces go, 'Oh.' That's my most prideful moment."Mikel, a veteran of the Dallas theater and music scenes who was best known nationally as Corinna Williams on the TV series "Friday Night Lights," is making her Broadway debut, but says she isn't making a huge deal out of it."Having done this professionally for 20 years now, I didn't want to psyche myself up and say, 'Oh, this is Broadway,'" she says. "It's another show. This is what I do. I'm grateful it has this geographical location, but it's what we do."One clear benefit to being in such a high-energy show is that none of the cast needs to go to the gym any more. Sweat rolls off them even before the finale, a 15-minute intense sequence of dancing and singing and layups."We can eat anything that we want!" says Chambers."I've never been skinnier in my life," agrees Murin, who is somewhat shocked to find herself snacking on chocolate bars. "You can't really talk to a whole lot of people about it. They're like, 'Oh, that sucks for you, doesn't it?'"Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Mark Kennedy December 12, 2011 "Lysistrata Jones" PHOTO CREDIT Joan Marcus NY (AP) Backstage in a tiny room at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway, four theater buffs are geeking out."This is Angela Lansbury's dressing room!" one says, referring to the time when the "Murder She Wrote" star was in a revival of Stephen Sondhein's "A Little Night Music.""Yes!" says another, looking around."And Bernadette Peters," says a third."Bernadette was upstairs, I think," corrects another.To be backstage is clearly something these four relish. But they're not just passing through: They've moved in.Patti Murin, Liz Mikel, Josh Segarra and Lindsay Nicole Chambers are starring in "Lysistrata Jones," a musical update of Aristophanes' play "Lysistrata" by Douglas Carter Beane. Half have been on Broadway before, but as understudies. It marks the first time all four are originating a Broadway part.Murin, a 5-foot-4 actress from upstate NY who is playing the plucky Lysistrata, has claimed the dressing room used by such luminaries as Edie Falco, Gabriel Byrne and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Mikel, a Dallas native making her Broadway debut, is sharing with Chambers the dressing room once occupied by Lansbury, Lauren Bacall, Kristin Scott Thomas, Elaine Stritch and, more recently, Ben Stiller during the recent run of "The House of Blue Leaves."For Segarra, who nabbed Jennifer Jason Leigh's old dressing room, just being in the Walter Kerr Theatre is special enough. Toward the end of his high school career, he and his dad visited the theater to watch "Take Me Out" and the teenage Segarra was so impressed that he decided to become a stage actor on the spot."I was like, 'This is what I want to do. This is it,'" says Segarra, 25, from Longwood, Fla. "For me, this is really surreal to know that I get to perform on this stage, where it comes full circle."He and his three co-stars have had a strange trip to this point, having taken the show from a 99-seat basement church gymnasium in Greenwich Village to a 950-seat theater in Times Square. The three actresses have been with it even longer, having been with the show since it debuted last year at Dallas Theater Center.Beane and his real-life partner, composer and lyricist Lewis Flinn, have taken the 2,400-year-old comedy about Athenian women withholding sex until their men stop fighting and plopped it to present day Athens College, where the basketball team hasn't won in decades. Enter transfer student Lysistrata Jones, who dares the squad's fed-up girlfriends to stop "giving it up" until their boyfriends win a game. The musical has real basketballs bounced, passed and shot into hoops.The show is full of Beane's signature arch humor but also deftly explores the tension between determinism and choice. Chambers, 31, who was an understudy on Broadway for "Hairspray" and "Legally Blonde," says the mix of yuks and sentiment was a key reason she signed up. Campy is not fun if you're just being crass, says the Columbus, Ohio, native who is engaged to Chris Barron, the lead singer of the Spin Doctors. "It's much more fun to be campy when you do have a real heart."While parts often get recast with big names when shows jump to Broadway, the team behind "Lysistrata Jones" refused, partly because the Transport Group-produced musical needs athletic, young-looking actors. And partly as a matter of loyalty for a group who had sacrificed much."When people signed on to do that show in Greenwich Village, it was for less money than unemployment. Literally, if you got jury duty, it would have been a pay hike," says Beane, who nixed any idea of replacing his brood. "I'd go to theater jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200."The cast has a dozen actors and actresses who director and choreographer Dan Knechtges says are "overflowing with soul." He says his main job was to get out of the way so the audience could see their vibrant personalities."We sort of picked not necessarily the best triple threats around. But we picked people who had the most interesting personality, the most unique voice, the most unique look and out of that we tried to them make them do all of those things," says Knechtges.Murin, 31, a lithe blonde from Hopewell Junction, N.Y., is perfectly cast as a cheerleader, having been one at Syracuse University while studying musical theater. She was an understudy in Beane's "Xanadu" on Broadway and recently played the title role in "Emma" at The Old Globe in San Diego.She's been with the show since the beginning in Texas and in addition to singing, acting and dancing, has been asked to shoot three baskets on stage during the show, one of which is particularly tricky.If she misses, she vows to continue trying until she makes it. Her husband, a basketball nut and fellow actor Curtis Holbrook, has advised her not to be scared of failing. "There will be times I know I'll get into slumps," she says. "I guess it is a little bit of added pressure but it's OK. I'm learning to deal with that."The cast bonded recently during a five-day basketball clinic led by Chris Mullin, the retired NBA All-Star. He taught the actors the fundamentals of the sport and they say he gave them confidence.For Segarra, who plays a dimwitted baller and Lysistrata's love interest, dribbling comes second nature. A NY University graduate, he made his high school basketball team during his freshman year, but quit after being cast in a school production of "The Sound of Music." Unlike some of his fellow actors, Segarra is comfortable with a ball in his hand."That's when I have the most fun. That's when I get to show off because I know people are in the audience going, 'Let's see these theater boys play basketball,'" he says. "And I'll just drop it and start going. And I'll watch people's faces go, 'Oh.' That's my most prideful moment."Mikel, a veteran of the Dallas theater and music scenes who was best known nationally as Corinna Williams on the TV series "Friday Night Lights," is making her Broadway debut, but says she isn't making a huge deal out of it."Having done this professionally for 20 years now, I didn't want to psyche myself up and say, 'Oh, this is Broadway,'" she says. "It's another show. This is what I do. I'm grateful it has this geographical location, but it's what we do."One clear benefit to being in such a high-energy show is that none of the cast needs to go to the gym any more. Sweat rolls off them even before the finale, a 15-minute intense sequence of dancing and singing and layups."We can eat anything that we want!" says Chambers."I've never been skinnier in my life," agrees Murin, who is somewhat shocked to find herself snacking on chocolate bars. "You can't really talk to a whole lot of people about it. They're like, 'Oh, that sucks for you, doesn't it?'"Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source: Lindsay Lohan Has Completed Community Service For Next Hearing

First Launched: December 9, 2011 1:24 PM EST Credit: WhoSay Caption Lindsay Lohan showcase her new smile on October 30, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner needs to be surprised about Lindsay Lohans progress hearing inside a couple of days the actress has apparently completed the current a part of her court-mandated community service and psychological therapy needs before schedule. Lindsay has completed her community service and therapy needs, an origin near the 25-year-old told Access Hollywood on Friday. The embattled star will return to court on Wednesday for your progress report hearing. As formerly reported on AccessHollywood.com, Lindsay, whose first official images from her Playboy shoot will debut on Thursday, has acquired an excellent status around the county morgue (where shes serving her mandatory community service), according to TMZ. A police source apparently told the site the actress remains polite and hard-working, which she never gripes in regards to the work. Lindsay spent under five several hours inside the Century Regional Detention facility in Lynwood, Calif., captured, after being bought for everybody a 30-day jail sentence for breaking probation following a actress was started in the community service assignment within the Downtown Womens Center in La. Furthermore for the jail sentence, Judge Sautner bought Lindsay to pass through psychological therapy periods and serve 423 several hours within the county morgue by March 29, 2012. The judge also mentioned Lindsay can forget about leave the country and really should possess the permission of her new probation officer to go to outdoors California. When contacted in regards to the positive news on Friday, Lindsays repetition told Access, We never discuss Lindsays community service progress. The truth is she's being diligent and submission wonderful court-mandated needs. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Lowe's Pulls Ads from TLC Show 'All-American Muslim'

First Look Pictures Investors in the 2009 Nicolas Cage film Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call-New Orleans have filed a lawsuit against Nu Image and First Look Studios, claiming that proceeds from the motion picture have not been shared and that top executives have siphoned off revenue. Polsky Films, a film production outfit founded by brothers Alan and Gabe Polsky, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. According to the complaint, Polsky put up $1.3 million to finance the print and advertising budget for the U.S. distribution of the film. The financing agreement allegedly stipulated that Nu Image and First Look had to establish a collection account at Comerica bank and was obligated to pay all U.S. proceeds from the film into this account. The agreement limited deductions to home video packaging, freight and delivery expenses. Once the money was placed into the collection account, the complaint says, the proceeds had to be distributed according to a specific plan. Besides reimbursement for its own P&A contributions, Nu Image wasn't supposed to collect money until residuals, bank financing and Polsky's P&A contributions were recouped. In its lawsuit, Polsky says that the defendants failed to properly set up the collection account and have exhibitors and licensees pay proceeds there. Instead, the defendants are accused of improperly deducting expenses, failing to disburse proceeds, and not accurately and truthfully accounting for all of the money. Co-defendants Avi Lerner, head of Nu Image, and Trevor Short, former CEO of First Look Studios, also are targeted in the complaint. The lawsuit includes allegations that the defendants fabricated "P&A Expenses" in order to profit themselves at the expense of the plaintiffs. Polsky, represented by Miles Feldman, is demanding compensatory damages and as a result of the breach, wants a declaration that it now owns distribution rights on the film. Nu Image hasn't responded yet to request for comment. Bad Lieutenantwas directed by Werner Herzog and was nominated for several awards at the Venice International Film Festival and the 2010 Independent Spirit Awards. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner

New DVD Releases: Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011

The Simpsons Highlights from this week's DVD releases:The Simpsons: Season 14 This four-disc (three-disc Blu-ray) set includes all 22 episodes, plus tons of bonus material. Commentary tracks, after being absent from previous releases, are back. Executive producers Al Jean and Mike Scully can be heard on every track, along with various writers, producers and directors. Also included are original sketches, deleted scenes, an animation showcase, and a special 300th episode featurette.(Buy the DVD)(Buy the Blu-ray)Big LoveThe four-disc Season 5 set includes the series' final 10 episodes, plus a look back with the Big Love: End of Days, or Inside the Episodes featurettes with the creators of the show. The complete series set contains all 53 episodes on 20 discs, and includes all the bonus material from season five, as well as seasons one through four.(Buy Season 5) (Buy the complete series)Alvin & the Chipmunks: Driving Dave CrazyHave you already tired of your Alvin & The Chipmunks Christmas album and are looking for a different way to get your Chipmunks fix? Pick up this single-disc release of six episodes of the popular '80s cartoon. Episodes include "Dave's Getting Married," "Every Chipmunk Tells a Story," "Romancing Ms. Stone," "Maids in Japan," "Incredible Shrinking Dave" and "Mother's Day."(Buy Alvin & the Chipmunks: Driving Dave Crazy)

Neil Smit Named Boss Of Comcast Cable Communications

PHILADELPHIA, PA December 7, 2011 Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), one of the cell phone industry's leading media, entertainment and communications companies, introduced today it's named Neil Smit Boss of Comcast Cable Communications. Mr. Smit, who also may serve as Leader of Comcast Cable and makes up about every part in the companys cable business, grew to become part of Comcast in March 2010. He reviews to John L. Roberts, Chairman and Boss of Comcast Corporation. Neil is doing an remarkable job. He's driven innovation, enhanced the customer experience, elevated the speed of the introduction of new products, and contains extended we into new options for lucrative growth. I anticipate his ongoing leadership within our terrific cable team, mentioned Mr. Roberts. Mr. Smit grew to become part of Comcast from Charter Communications where he offered as Boss and Director from 2005-2010. Right before Charter, he was Leader of your energy Warners America Online Access Business controlling America Online (America online), CompuServe and Netscape ISPs. More youthful crowd offered by America online as Executive V . P ., Member Services, and Chief Operating Officer of MapQuest. Before that, Mr. Smit will be a regional leader with Nabisco and offered in lots of management positions at Pillsbury. For five . five years, he offered on active duty while using Navy Shuts Teams and outdated within the service just like a Lieutenant Commander.

Constraint Order Granted Against Terrence Howard

First Released: December 6, 2011 11:37 PM EST Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption Terrence Howard attends a screening of Precious in New york city, November. 5, 2009Terrence Howard was purchased Tuesday to remain 100 yards (90 meters) from his estranged wife after she stated the Oscar-nominated actor frequently threatened striking her throughout their marriage. The star declines the accusations. Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon granted the stay-away order searched for by Michelle Howard after she filed a extended declaration alleging abuse started inside a week from the couples The month of january 2010 marriage. Michelle Howard declared divorce annually later. The constraint order remains essentially until a Jan. 17 court. Inside a text a week ago, she claims Howard, 42, has frequently hit her and threatened her. She mentioned inside a sworn declaration that they is within constant anxiety about Howard and it has chronic health problems triggered through the stars treatment. Howard in the own sworn declaration authored he hasn't threatened his wife which she's frequently vowed to ruin his status and release private particulars. My home is constant anxiety about Michelles endeavors to ruin my status even supplying this declaration might result in my being exposed to some paparazzi blitz which wouldn't be great for my career, Howard authored. Michelle Howard authored that Howardhas hit her several occasions and threatened to throw her from the hotel balcony in Nigeria this past year. She incorporated a text she stated he delivered to her on Thursday by which he begged her to not pursue the divorce and threaten his career, ending the missive, I cant promise the way i will respond. Howard authored in the filing he immediately accompanied the content with another text proclaiming that he wasnt threatening her. Despite my efforts to get rid of myself physically from (Howards) existence, his periodic mood shifts from anger, risks and violence to claims of affection and demands for reconciliation continue and haven't gone away, she authored. Howard made an appearance within the first Iron Guy film and received an Oscar nomination in 2005 for his role in Hustle and Flow. His attorney Christian Markey III didn't immediately return an e-mail message seeking comment. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

IMDb Explains Why 40-Year-Old Actress Shouldn't Fear Blacklisting

Martin Scorsese will be honored at the 17th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards.our editor recommendsBox Office Report: Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo' Overperforms on ThanksgivingMartin Scorsese to Direct 'The Snowman' for Working TitleMartin Scorsese Calls Filming 'Hugo' in 3D 'An Enjoyable Headache' Chosen by the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), the Hugo director has been tapped to receive the Critics' Choice Music+Film Award. The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on VH1 on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012 at 8 p.m. from the Hollywood Palladium. PHOTOS: Martin Scorsese On Set The honor comes at an opportune time for Scorsese and Hugo, which was named best film by the National Board of Review. Scorsese was also named best director by the National Board of Review. "This year's Critics' Choice Movie Awards marks another gratifying collaboration with the Broadcast Film Critics Association and our partners at VH1," says Joey Berlin, president of BFCA. "With a very impressive lineup of films featuring the world's biggest stars under consideration this year, we look forward to a truly spectacular show highlighted by the presentation of the Music+Film Award to Martin Scorsese, one of the greatest filmmakers of all time." COVER STORY: The Dreams of Martin Scorsese The Music+Film Award honors a filmmaker who has touched audiences through cinematic storytelling and has heightened the impact of films through the use of source and music. Scorsese has had a storied career, with films like Mean Streets, The Departed, Goodfellas and music documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World. Quentin Tarantino received the first Music+Film Award. The Critics' Choice Movie Awards, held by the BFCA, honor the best in cinematic achievement. The BFCA is the largest film critics' organization in the U.S. and Canada. Nominees for the Critics' Choice Movie Awards will be announced Tuesday, Dec. 13. Nominating ballots went out to members on Dec. 5 and the deadline to return them is Dec. 11. The awards ceremony is executive produced by Jesse Ignjatovic for Den of Thieves, Berlin for Berlin Entertainment and Lee Rolontz for VH1. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Martin Scorsese: Into the Past Related Topics Martin Scorsese Hugo

The Muppets Are Brainwashing Your Children, According to Fox News

Get your pitchforks ready -- those wackos in Hollyweird are trying to brainwash your children into thinking terrible evil things. Using their agents of propaganda, they are attempting to corrupt an entire generation of impressionable viewers with false information, in an effort to lead this country's future into a perilous decline. Parents take heed: to protect your children, you must not take them to see 'The Muppets'; it may appear to be a holiday comedy for the whole family, an attempt to carry on the message and spirit of its creator Jim Henson, but that is mere deception. It is actually a weapon designed to trick your children into thinking that the oil industry -- and by proxy capitalism and America -- is evil. You can thank the good people at Fox Business Report for alerting us all to their dastardly motivation. Since there's clearly no other economic news important enough to cover, 'Follow the Money' host Eric Bolling spoke with Dan Gainor of the Media Research Center, and asked the question that needed to be asked: "Is liberal Hollywood using class warfare to brainwash our kids?" And the answer is a resounding "YES!" In the new 'Muppets' movie, Chris Cooper stars as Tex Richman, an oil baron who plans to tear down the famed Muppet theater and drill for the precious oil percolating underneath. He also plans to buy out the Muppets name and re-package them for a group of low-life Reno troublemakers because he believes that we live in a "hard, cynical world" and it deserves a "hard, cynical act." And 'The Muppets' has the gall to imply that these are less than admirable character traits. As Bolling and Gainor explain, the movie may deceive you into thinking that an unhealthy lust for personal wealth can you leave morally bankrupt, but don't buy it! 'The Muppets' -- like previous children's entertainment including 'Captain Planet,' Nickelodeon's 'Big Green Help' and 'Syriana' -- is trying to deceive your child into thinking capitalism is bad. Tex Richman is a successful businessman, and like Bolling reminds you, we should admire those people. Even though Richman blatantly flaunts his wealth in the Muppets' faces when they ask him for leniency, you shouldn't believe that someone with wealth would refuse to be charitable. (And the fact that Bolling made his fortune on the NY Mercantile Exchange, trading crude oil among other things, has nothing to do with his motivation; if you're just going to use that "fact" to question his "objectivity" then you can hop on the first bus back to Cuba.) Oil, that ever-lasting lifeblood of the planet Earth, provides an endless amount of benefits to the America people; if children believe the lies of 'The Muppets,' they could grow up with the ridiculous notion that there are negative consequences to the oil business. Now that you've had your eyes opened, don't think that all is lost. There is still suitable entertainment you can share with your children this holiday season, like 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked,' -- which coincidentally is also produced by the Fox corporation. It's kind of funny that the movie that poses the biggest financial threat to the potential audience of 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' just so happens to be mental poison to your child; it's a good thing the employees of the company were brave enough to point out this fact about their competition. [via MediaMatters] [Photo: Disney; Fox] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook