Why Hollywood Is Celebrating Eames

In light of the divorce filing just 72 days after marrying Kris Humphries, Kim Kardashian's wedding has definitely come under scrutiny. But now, one of the performers at the event is saying he felt something was definitely wrong at the nuptials.our editor recommendsKim Kardashian vs. 'Jersey Shore': The Frivolous Lawsuit Face-OffKim Kardashian's Fur Use Targeted With PETA Billboard (Photo)Tyler Perry Defends Kim Kardashian's 'The Marriage Counselor' Casting: She's a Role Model PHOTOS: 19 of Hollywood's All-Time Shortest Marriages "Honestly, in retrospect, I've got to admit it didn't feel right," Grammy nominated saxaphone player, Dave Koz, tells the Corpus Christi Caller Times. Koz was at the highly publicized Santa Barbara event in August, which eventually aired on a two-part special on E! in early-October. He performed his song, "Know You By Heart" and "Here Comes The Bride" as the wedding party walked down the aisle. PHOTOS: Inside Kardashian Inc. "I've played a lot of weddings," he recalls. "Of course, this is a television show. But it felt like it was scene from a wedding, like a movie and not an actual wedding, if that makes sense. Who knows whether they were in love or not, but it just didn't seem to have authenticity in that moment for me." Funk group Earth, Wind and Fire and singer Robin Thicke also performed at the event. The E! two-part special attracted more than eight million viewers combined over the two nights. VIDEO:Kim Kardashian Paints Picture of Happy Marriage in Marie Claire Interview Kardashian's quickie divorce caused many to rehash accusations that the wedding was a hoax and placed the entire Kardashian family in the spotlight as they defended the earnestness of the relationship. Kim couldn't escape the scrutiny during an unfortunately timed business trip to Australia the same week she filed for divorce and cut the trip short. She soon traveled to Atlanta to shoot her scenes for the Tyler Perry movie, The Marriage Counselor. Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro Related Topics E! Entertainment Kim Kardashian E! Keeping Up With the Kardashians Kris Humphries

Brad Pitt's 'Moneyball' to Kick Off Italy's Turin Film Festival

Tim Burton's "B.Boy" balloon was unveiled to the public Thursday as part of Macy's annual Thanksgiving parade in NY City.our editor recommendsTim Burton to Create Float for Macy's ParadeTim Burton Talks Frankenweenie at the Opening of His Star-Studded Museum Retrospective in Los Angeles The Alice in Wonderland director created the stitched-together character as part of the event's "Blue Sky Gallery" series, which invites artists to enter flying wonders for the procession. PHOTOS: 10 Inappropriately Sexy Cartoon Characters The character's backstory is that he was cobbled together from rejects of birthday party balloons left over from children's parties at a hospital. B. Boy was not allowed to play with other kids so he withdrew to his basement home and into the world of his favorite film, The Red Balloon. He hoped that one day he too would be able to fly above the city and bring joy to one small child. The blue B. Boy was a hit online, with one fan tweeting "My hero Tim Burton got his own float!? I actually teared up. Über dork alert:)" and another declaring "The Tim Burton balloon was my favorite this year." Film blogger Harry Knowles noted, "TIM BURTON BALLOON!!!! And He's there with Helena [Bonham Carter] and his kid and I have a really big smile. Love Macy's Parade." The Paul Frank-created monkey Julius was also a new addition to this year's parade, which featured Spider-Man, Kermit the Frog, Mickey Mouse, Hello Kitty and Snoopy balloons and appearances by Mary J. Blige, Cee Lo Green and Avril Lavigne. Neil Diamond also took part in the proceedings, belting out "Sweet Caroline" and other hits as his float cruised the streets of Manhattan. The 80th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was broadcast on NBC. Rebecca Ford contributed to this report. Related Topics Mary J. Blige Neil Diamond Tim Burton Cee Lo Green The Muppets

CBS sitcoms, ABC's 'Dancing' top Monday

CBS comedies again stated the very best four spots within the demo ratings Monday , brought by No. 1 show ''Two . 5 Men'' -- but were lower a little week to week, while ABC began the evening by having an above-average delivery for ''Dancing Using the Stars,'' that was trimmed for an hour because of its performance finale.Based on preliminary national estimations from Nielsen, CBS opened up the evening a demo champion with ''How I Met Your Mother'' (4.3/12 in 18-49, 10.a million audiences overall) and ''2 Broke Girls'' (4.4/11 in 18-49, 11.two million audiences overall) though both rejected some using their hot showings of a week ago. Also lower a little in demos were ''Two . 5 Men'' (5.2/13 in 18-49, 15.7 million audiences overall) and ''Mike and Molly'' (4.2/10 in 18-49, 13.a million audiences overall), though the lack of ''Dancing Using the Stars'' competition assisted them get more older audiences and therefore their biggest overall audiences in greater than a month.Rankings for ABC are susceptible to revision because the preliminary estimations incorporate a preemption for National football league football in Boston, but ''Dancing Using the Stars'' averaged a 3.6 rating/9 be part of grown ups 18-49 and 20 million audiences overall within the 8 o'clock hour , up versus. recent days however well behind last year's performance around the comparable evening. It had been then the debut of alternative series ''You Deserve It'' (2.1/5 in 18-49, 10. million audiences overall), which carried out decently and maintained comparable area of its lead-in audience as last year's ''Skating Using the Stars,'' which similarly bowed following a performance finale of ''Dancing.'' And shutting the evening, ''Castle'' averaged a couple.7/7 in 18-49 and 11.9 million audiences overall, though these amounts should come lower within the excellent. Fox's dramas still perform sluggishly, with ''Terra Nova'' (2.1/6 in 18-49, 6.5 million audiences overall) lower a few ticks week to week and remaining a distant third one of the Large Four within the 8 o'clock hour. And also at 9, ''House'' (2.5/6 in 18-49, 7.3 million audiences overall) held steady week to week in demos while obtaining some older audiences to enhance its overall audience. At NBC, ''The Sing Off'' (1.4/3 in 18-49, 4.3 million audiences overall) was up a tick, and 10 p.m. newsmag was lower a little (.9/2 in 18-49, 3.six million audiences overall).CW made an appearance to become on the slight uptick using its drama combo of ''Gossip Girl'' (.7/2 in 18-49, 1.5 million audiences overall) and ''Hart of Dixie'' (.7/2 in 18-49, 1.8 million audiences overall), with ''Gossip'' striking a season full of total audiences. The internet broadcast the football game in Might, so these preliminary, affiliate-based rankings might be modified within the excellent.Preliminary 18-49 earnings for that evening: CBS, 4./10 ABC, 2.8/7 Fox, 2.3/6 Univision, 1.5/4 NBC, 1.2/3 CW, .7/2.As a whole audiences: ABC, 14. million CBS, 11.8 million Fox, 6.9 million NBC, 4. million Univision, 3.5 million CW, 1.six million. Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com

Actor John Neville dies at 86

By VARIETY STAFF John Neville, a British-born Canadian actor and stage director who starred in "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" and appeared in TV series "The X Files," died Saturday in Toronto. He was 86 and was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Neville appeared in dozens of movies, television shows and theater productions during a career that spanned six decades. He was artistic director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in the 1980s, and in 1988 he played the title character in Terry Gilliam's fantastical film comedy "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen." In the '90s he played the recurring role of the Well-Manicured Man on TV's "The X-Files" and in the first "X-Files" film. Well before then, however, he was a stage favorite in London's West End during the 1950s. As a key member of the Old Vic Company, he played leading roles in many classical works of theater, including Romeo in "Romeo and Juliet" (which he repeated on a 1957 episode of NBC's "Producer's Showcase"and the title character in "Richard II." In a production of "Othello," he and Richard Burton alternated the parts of Othello and Iago. He showed a different side in "Lolita, My Love," a musical adaptation of Nabokov's novel, and took over the lead role in the original West End production of musical "Irma La Douce." Neville was born in Willesden, London. After serving in the Royal Navy during WWII, he trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and started his career as a member of the Trent Players. During the 1950s Neville also worked frequently on British and American television, starring in Shakespeare's "Henry V" on "BBC Sunday Night Theatre" in 1951, in "Hedda Gabler" on "ITV Play of the Week" in 1957 and in "Hamlet" in "The DuPont Show of the Month" in 1959. He made his film debut in 1960's "Oscar Wilde," starring Robert Morley and Ralph Richardson, playing Lord Alfred Douglas. On TV during the 1960s he was a regular on ITV's anthology series "The Company of Five" and starred in the BBC's 1969 miniseries "The First Churchills," which became the first series aired as part of "Masterpiece Theatre" when that show launched in 1971. Neville became artistic director of the new Nottingham Playhouse in 1963, and after he emigrated to Canada in 1972, he took up a.d. positions at a series of theater companies. In 1993 the actor appeared in an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" as Isaac Newton. He continued to work steadily into the 2000s, appearing in James Toback's "Harvard Man" in 2001, a 2002 adaptation of "Crime and Punishment," David Cronenberg's "Spider" and as recently as last year in a short called "Bradfordian Rain." Neville is survived by wife, Caroline Hopper, and six children. (Associated Press contributed to this report.) Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Morgan Freeman to obtain Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement at Golden Globes

Chris Pizzello/AP Photo The Hollywood Foreign Press Association introduced Wednesday that actor Morgan Freeman can get the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement within the 69th annual Golden Globe Honours on Sunday, The month of the month of january 15. Actress Could Be (The Muppets) and author/director Pedro Almodovar (The Skin Home Is) revelaed what is the news within a press conference.our editor recommendsMorgan Freeman's AFI Tribute: Betty White-colored, Helen Mirren and Clint Eastwood Recognition the ActorMorgan Freeman Sparks Outcry After Calling Tea Party RacistMorgan Freeman Ponders Aliens as well as the Afterlife for 'Through the Wormhole' PHOTOS: Morgan Freeman in 'Deep Impact' and 21 Other Movie Presidents The 74-year-old, whose thriving voice remains in comparison to God's, made his film debut in 1964. Inside the years since, he's given memorable performances in a lot of considerably and/or over the counter effective films. Among the finest known: Jerry Schatzberg's Street Smart (1987), Bruce Beresford's Driving Miss Daisy (1989), Edward Zwick's Glory (1989), Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven (1992), Frank Darabont's The Shawshank Redemption (1994), David Fincher's Se7en (1995), Steven Spielberg's Amistad (1997), Eastwood's Big Baby (2004), Film Clip's Gone Baby Gone (2007), Christopher Nolan's The Dark Dark evening (2008), and Eastwood's Invictus (2009). PHOTOS: Box Office Politics: The Flicks and Stars Dems versus. GOPers Love (And Prefer to Hate) Freeman has become five Academy Award nominations and five Golden Globe nominations, winning the most effective supporting actor Oscar for Big Baby as well as the best actor (musical or comedy) Globe for Driving Miss Daisy. Previous visitors in the recognition, which depends upon the HFPA's board of company company directors, include Alfred Hitchcock, Lucille Ball, Sidney Poitier, Sophia Loren, Sean Connery, Barbra Streisand, Martin Scorsese, and, at a year ago's ceremony, Robert P Niro.

Boxing Legend Joe Frazier Dies At 67 After Fight With Cancer

First Launched: November 8, 2011 12:15 AM EST Credit: WireImage PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Caption Professional Boxer Smokin Joe Frazier attends the Cinemax Documentary Screening of Thrilla in Manila at Cinemax Theatre, New you are able to city, on April 1, 2009He beat Muhammad Ali inside the Fight in the Century, fought against him nearly for the dying inside the Thrilla in Manila. Then Joe Frazier spent the comfort of his existence trying to battle his solution of Alis shadow. That was one fight Frazier could never win. He was once a heavyweight champion, together with an excellent one only at that. Ali would say as much after Frazier knocked him lower inside the 15th round in order to becoming the initial guy to overcome Ali at Madison Square Garden in March 1971. But he bore the duty to become Alis foil, which he paid out the price. Bitter for any very long time in regards to the taunts his former enemy once put his way, Frazier only in recent occasions found terms in what happened formerly and mentioned he'd pardoned Ali for everything he mentioned. Frazier, who died Monday evening carrying out a brief fight with liver cancer at 67, will forever be connected with Ali. But nobody in boxing would ever imagine anointing Ali since the Finest unless of course obviously he, too, was connected with Smokin Joe. You can't mention Ali and never mention Joe Frazier, mentioned former AP boxing author Erection dysfunction Schuyler Junior. He beat Ali, keep in mind that. They fought against against three occasions, two occasions in the center of NY City so when every morning in the steamy arena inside the Philippines. They went 41 models together, with neither giving an inch and both creating their all. Inside their last fight in Manila in 1975, they exchanged punches getting a fervor that made an appearance unthinkable among heavyweights. Frazier gave pretty much as good because he got for 14 models, then required to occur back by trainer Eddie Futch while he tried to visit out for your final round, unable to determine. Nearest step to dying that we recognize, Ali mentioned after. Ali was as cruel with Frazier in the ring while he was there. He referred to as him a gorilla, and mocked him becoming an Uncle Tom. But he respected him just like a fighter, especially after Frazier won an option to safeguard his heavyweight title in the then-unbeaten Ali in the fight that was so large Frank Sinatra was shooting pictures at front row and both mma fighters acquired a remarkable $2.5 million. The evening within the Garden four decades ago ongoing to become fresh in Fraziers mind while he discussed his existence, career and relationship with Ali a few several days before he died. I cant go nowhere where it's not stated, he told The Connected Press. That was the best component that ever happened throughout my existence. Though slowed down lower within the senior years and also the speech slurred with the toll of punches attracted within the ring, Frazier used to be taking part within the autograph circuit inside the several days before he died. In September he visited Las vegas, where he signed autographs inside the lobby in the MGM Grand hotel-casino shortly before Floyd Mayweather Junior.s combat Victor Ortiz. A vintage friend, Gene Kilroy, visited with him and seen Frazier work everybody else. He am nice to everybody, Kilroy mentioned. He'd tell these, `Joe Frazier, sharp just like a razor, what's your title? Frazier was small for just about any heavyweight, weighing just 205 pounds when he won the title by stopping Jimmy Ellis inside the fifth round from the 1970 fight at Madison Square Garden. But he fought against against every minute of every single round continuing to move forward behind a vicious left hook, and there has been handful of mma fighters who could withstand his constant pressure. His reign as heavyweight champion made it only four fights like the conquer Ali before he entered an infinitely more fearsome slugger than themselves. George Foreman taken proper care of immediately Fraziers constant attack by losing him three occasions inside the first round and three more inside the second before their 1973 fight in Jamaica was waved with a close as well as the world stood a new heavyweight champion. Two fights later, he met Ali in the rematch from the first fight, only this time around round the finish result was different. Ali won a 12-round decision, after which that year stopped George Foreman inside the Rumble inside the Jungle in Zaire. There must be considered another fight, though, and the like a battle it absolutely was. With Alis heavyweight title at risk, the two met in Manila in the fight that will extended be seared in boxing history. Frazier assaulted Ali round after round, landing his left hook with regularity while he made Ali backpedal across the ring. But Ali responded with left injections and right hands that found their mark again and again. The intense warmth inside the arena couldnt stop the two simply because they fought against against every minute of every single round with neither ready to concede a different one second in the round. They described Joe Frazier was through, Ali told Frazier sooner or later throughout the ideal. They lied, Frazier mentioned, before striking Ali getting a left hook. Finally, though, Frazier simply couldnt see and Futch wouldn't permit him to go out for your 15th round. Ali won the ideal throughout his stool, exhausted and thinking about themselves whether or not to take. It absolutely was the most effective fights ever, nevertheless it needed a toll. Frazier would fight only two more occasions, getting knocked out in the rematch with Foreman eight several days later before coming back three decades ago with an ill advised fight with Jumbo Cummings. They need to have both outdated following a Manila fight, Schuyler mentioned. They left just of talent they'd inside the ring tomorrow. Born in Beaufort, S.C., on Jan 12, 1944, Frazier needed up boxing early after watching weekly fights round the black and white-colored television on his familys small farm. He will be a top amateur for quite a while, and increased being really the only American fighter to win a gold medal inside the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, japan, japan despite fighting inside the final bout by getting an hurt left thumb. Joe Frazier needs to be appreciated the most effective mma fighters ever together with a genuine guy, promoter Bob Arum told the AP in the telephone interview Monday evening. Hes a guy which was up for themselves. He didnt compromise and then try to gave one hundred percent inside the ring. There's never a fight inside the ring where Joe didnt give one hundred percent. After turning professional in 1965, Frazier quickly increased being recognized for his punching energy, stopping his first 11 rivals. Within three years he was fighting world-class opposition and, in 1970, beat Ellis to win the heavyweight title he'd hold more than couple of years. It absolutely was his fights with Ali, though, which will define Frazier. Though Ali was gracious in defeat inside the first fight, he was as vicious along with his words while he was along with his punches in marketing the three fights which he never missed an chance to acquire a jab in at Frazier. Frazier, who within the senior years may have financial trouble and finished up controlling a gym within the adopted hometown of Philadelphia, needed the injections personally. He felt Ali made fun of him by calling him names and mentioned items that were not true only to get under his skin. People feelings were only magnified as Ali went from just as one icon inside the ring to most likely probably the most beloved people on earth. Carrying out a trembling Ali it the Olympic torch in 1996 in Atlanta, Frazier was asked for having a reporter what he considered it. They need to have thrown him in, Frazier responded. He mellowed, though, lately, selecting to think about the truly amazing from his fights with Ali instead of unhealthy. Before the 40th anniversary of his conquer Ali taken every day Frazier celebrated with parties in NY he mentioned he forget about felt any bitterness toward Ali. I forgive him, Frazier mentioned. Hes in the bad way. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'Like Crazy' Director Drake Doremus Reacts to Next Gen 2011 List (Video)

At an event at Milk Studios in Los Angeles on Saturday night, the agents, filmmakers execs and actors of The Hollywood Reporter's Next Gen 2011 gathered with supporters of the Motion Picture & Television Fund to celebrate the annual list and experience an evening of readings which told the stories of industry members and their families who have benefitted from MPTF's services over the years.our editor recommendsNext Gen 2011: Hollywood's Fastest-Rising StarsTHR's Next Gen Class of 2011Paramount Vantage Sets Release Date for Sundance Winner 'Like Crazy' PHOTOS: The Hollywood Reporter's Next Gen Class of 2011 Red Carpet Drake Doremus, who directed the Sundance-winning romantic drama Like Crazy talked to The Hollywood Reporter about being included on the list. "It's a true honor. There are so many great people on the list. So to be grouped in with them, it's really exciting," Doremus said. PHOTOS: THR's Next Gen Class of 2011 Like Crazy, which was bought by Paramount at Sundance last year and was released in theaters on October 28, has seen great success, praised for the performances of the stars Felicity Jones (who was also a part of Next Gen Class of 2011) and Anton Yelchin. "When we premiered the film at Sundance earlier this year we didn't know what to expect," he said. "It's amazing to watch people connect with it." STORY: Next Gen 2011: Hollywood's Fastest-Rising Stars Doremus also shared some advice for other young filmmakers who may aspire to be on THR's Next Gen list in the future. "Go make the movies you want to make. Don't let anybody get in your way and don't let budgetary concerns stop you from making your film. Set a deadline and make it, don't let anyone stop you," he said. The event, held at Milk Studios, was hosted by Robert Downey Jr. and featured readings performed by Jodie Foster, Jennifer Garner, Chris Pine, Nick Offerman and Josh Brolin. "Reel Stories, Real Lives" features readings which tell the stories of industry members and their families who have benefitted from MPTF's services over the years. A gallery exhibited also features photography by Scott Caan and Jeff Bridges. SUNDANCE REVIEW: Like Crazy THR's Next Gen list features a select group of 35 people working in the industry under the age of 35. Among those included on this year's list are: Armie Hammer, actor in J. Edgar; Adepero Oduye, actress in Pariah; Elizabeth Olsen from Martha Marcy May Marlene; Lauren Abrahams, director of production at Columbia Pictures; and Dana Archer, EVP at DDA PR. Over the years, the list has also included Stacey Snider, Mike De Luca, Ari Emanuel, Amy Baer, Ben Silverman, Sue Naegle, Donna Langley and Kevin Huvane. Related Topics Next Gen Drake Doremus Like Crazy Next Gen 2011

Unseen Footage From Extended Jobs Interview Likely to Theaters

Missing footage from the interview Jobs did more than about ten years ago for your Triumph in the Brainiacs: The Increase of Accidental Empires miniseries is making its approach to the silver screen.our editor indicates Jobs Bio Scores Finest Debut in the YearPixar's John Lasseter Pays Tribute to Jobs at Hollywood Walk of Fame CeremonyBill Gates Returns Steve Jobs' Critique With Praise (Video)Eulogy by Steve Jobs' Sister Sparks Sincere ReactionsYoko Ono presenting Flaming Lips' Jobs Tribute at MTV's O Music Honours Jobs: The Lost Interview, that make its approach to Landmark Movie theaters inside the U.S. on November. 16 and 17, develops from a conversation the Apple co-founder did with Robert Cringely for your 1996 small. The series, which broadcast on PBS, devoted towards the pc industry as well as the rise of Plastic Valley, in line with the La Occasions. PHOTOS: Jobs: 10 Memorable Key occasions in the Apple Co-Founder's Career Jobs and Cringely spoke more than an hour or so approximately, though ultimately product in the small, about 10 mins were utilized. When he was concentrating on Brainiacs 2..1, the followup to Triumph in the Brainiacs, his footage with Jobs could not be situated. But Paul Sen, director of Triumph in the Brainiacs, stood a VHS copy in the interview, that have experienced his London garage such a long time, but after Jobs' dying, he situated the tape. That motivated Cringely to get hold of Landmark Movie theaters' Mark Cuban to determine if he'd be thinking about screening the footage in theaters. In line with the Occasions, Cuban responded within a few minutes. PHOTOS: Apple Products in TV and flicks After Jobs died, Sen went searching to do the job interview. He told Cringely of his find and suggested that possibly Cringely can use it his technology blog I Cringely just like a "gift all over the world.In . A biography by Walter Isaacson, which matches into Jobs' personal existence, was the finest debut for just about any book this year and recently, an hour or so went a segment on Jobs. Jobs: The Lost Interview will probably be examined in NY, La as well as the Plastic Valley, along with other urban centers. Related Subjects Jobs

Andy Rooney dies at 92

RooneyLongtime CBS newsman Andy Rooney, who contributed more than 1,000 essays to "60 Minutes," died on Saturday as a result of complications following surgery. He was 92.Rooney's career at CBS spanned six decades, beginning in in 1949 when he was hired by Arthur Godfrey after telling the radio star he could use some better writing (the encounter took place in an elevator), and ending in October of this year, when he announced that his 1,067th "60 Minutes" essay would be his last.For more than 30 years, "A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney" aired as a regular feature of the award-winning CBS newsmagazine. Rooney's curmudgeonly and often humorous look at life's minor annoyances earned him three Emmy Awards as well as a devoted fanbase. He made his last regular broadcast on Oct. 2."Underneath that gruff exterior was a prickly interior," said longtime colleague Morley Safer, "and deeper down was a sweet and gentle man, a patriot with a love of all things American, like good bourbon, and a delicious hatred for prejudice and hypocrisy." Safer will lead a tribute to Rooney on Sunday, Nov. 6 on "60 Minutes."Covering topics ranging from paper clips and umbrellas to presidential politics and racism, Rooney established television essays as a viable commercial form. Time magazine once described him as "the most felicitous nonfiction writer in television." Indeed, Rooney won the Writers Guild Award for script of the year six times, at one time more than any other writer in the history of television. Rooney was born in Albany, N.Y. in 1919. He graduated from Albany High Schoo, attended Colgate University (he wrote for both schools' newspapers) and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1941 during his junior year. He served in an Artillery unit in England and was a correspondent for The Stars and Stripes for three years. He received the Bronze Star for reporting under fire at the battle of St. Lo.February 1943, Rooney was one of only eight correspondents who flew along with the Eighth Air Force on the first American bombing raid in Germany. The group of journos, dubbed "the Writing 69th," included United Press scribe Walter Cronkite, who would become Rooney's longtime friend and colleague at CBS News.Early in Rooney's career, Godfrey's show, "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scounts," became a top-ten hit by 1952; Rooney also wrote for "Arthur Godfrey and his Friends" along with a host of other radio shows, including "The Morning News with Will Rogers, Jr.," where he met Harry Reasoner.By the mid-1960's, Rooney was an institution at the Eye's news divsision and had begun developing essays for television broadcast, which he produced and reasoner narrated. The Reasoner-Rooney collaboration resulted in specials such as "An Essay on Bridges" (1965), "An Essay on Women" (1967) and "An Essay on Chairs" (1968). He also spent the sixties producing documentaries for CBS, including "Frank Sinatra: Living with the Legend" narrated by Cronkite, and "Black History: Lost, Stolen or Strayed," which earned him his first Emmy in 1968.Rooney and Reasoner left CBS for a short tenure at ABC News, from whence they returned in 1973. He nabbed a Peabody award for "Mr. Rooney Goes to Washington" and appeared on "60 Minutes" several times before being assigned to replace the program's "Point/Counterpoint" seg for the summer of 1978. By the next season, the final few minutes of the popular broadcast was Rooney's alone.His sour humor immediately hit a chord with audiences who appreciated his wry and honest look at every-day life. Rooney rarely strayed from the format that made him famous, but he made an exception in May 1996 when he did a longer feature on assisted-suicide advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian, who agreed to appear on "60 Minutes" only if Rooney interviewed him. Rooney also wrote a regular column for Tribune Media Services, which distributed it to hundreds of newspapers nationwide. He also contributed articles to Esquire, Life, Look, Reader's Digest, Harper's, Playboy and Saturday Review, among other publications.The prolific author also wrote numerous books, including "The Fortunes of War," "A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney," "Pieces of My Mind," "Word for Word," "Not That You Asked," and "Sweet and Sour."Controversy followed Rooney throughout his career, and not always for good reason. In 2005, Rooney felt the need to refute a racist essay written anonymously in a poor imitation of his style and disseminated online with Rooney's name attached.But sometimes the controversy was of Rooney's own making. Rooney's remarks about gay and black people - the former made on the air, the latter to an interviewer he said had misquoted him -earned him a month-long suspension without pay in 1990.Cronkite defended Rooney against charges of racism, but Rooney continued to stir the pot throughout the last few decades of his career. In a 1992 essay about Native American complaints of insensitivity (there had been a campaign to change the name of the Atlanta Braves), he said "We feel guilty and we'll do what we can for them within reason, but they can't have their country back. Next question." In 2002, he said that women had "no business" working at football games as sideline reporters; in 2007, he wrote a newspaper column saying that all of today's baseball stars are "guys named Rodriguez to me."Rooney was open to criticism. After a 1994 segment on the death of Kurt Cobain that drew significant viewer ire, he devoted the following week's seg to an apology and to on-air reading of negative feedback from people who had written him to challenge his perspective.Indeed, self-interest was demonstrably not a part of Rooney's curmudgeonly perspective - in 1990, he blamed CBS's problems with the WGA on chairman Laurence Tisch and dared Tisch to fire him. The most complaints CBS ever received about a Rooney broadcast came in 2004, when he called Mel Gibson and Pat Robertson "wackos" on the air. To hear Rooney tell it, he was just reporting the facts. "'Andrew,' God said to me - he always calls me Andrew; I like that - 'Andrew, you have the eyes and ears of a lot of people," Rooney said on "60 Minutes." "I wish you'd tell your viewers that both Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson strike Me as wackos. I believe that's one of your current words.""I think its' fair to say that he was the most popular person ever to appear on '60 Minutes,'" said fellow CBS Newsie Steve Kroft, "and I'm sure Andy would agree with that assessment. His wife of 62 years, Marguerite, predeceased him in 2004. He is survived by four children: Ellen, a photographer; Brian, an ABC News correspondent; Emily, the host of PBS's Boston public affairs show "Greater Boston; and Martha Fishel, who works for the U.S. National Library of Medicine; along with five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.Funeral services will be private. A memorial will be announced at a later date.Rooney lived in Manhattan. Contact Sam Thielman at sam.thielman@variety.com

Tribeca rises for 'Sleepless'

Tribeca Film has picked up U.S. rights to "Sleepless Night," the French thriller that Warner Bros. has hatched plans to remake. Frederic Jardin's actioner, which preemed at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this year, will get a 2012 U.S. release on VOD and theatrically. Toplined by Tomer Sisley, "Night" follows a Paris cop whose theft of a large haul of cocaine leads to a long, dangerous night that endangers his life and as well as his son's. Jardin penned the script with Nicolas Saada and Olivier Douyere. Marco Cherqui and Lauranne Bourrachot produce. Distrbution deal was pacted by Tribeca Film's Nick Savva with Gilles Sousa and Mathieu Robinet of Bac Films, which handles the pic's international rights. Film will also see release in territories including the U.K., Germany, Canada, Russia and Benelux. "Sleepless Night" joins a Tribeca Film slate that also includes upcoming offerings "Death of a Superhero" and "Detachment." Warner Bros. took remake rights to the film in September. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

The CW Sets Midseason Premieres for One Tree Hill, Return of Vampire Diaries

Sophia Bush, Nina Dobrev One Tree Hill will kick off its ninth and final season on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 8/7c, The CW announced Wednesday. The final 13 episodes will be joined on Wednesday nights by the new reality series Remodeled, which bows Jan. 18 at 9/8c. Check out the rest of today's news The Vampire Diaries (8/7c) and The Secret Circle (9/8c) will come back from the holiday break on Thursday, Jan. 5, followed by the return of Nikita (8/7c) and Supernatural (9/8c) on Friday, Jan. 6. The network's Tuesday night lineup - 90210 at 8/7c and Ringer at 9/8c - will return Jan. 10, while Gossip Girl returns Monday, Jan. 16 at 8/7c, and Hart of Dixie comes back with new episodes Monday, Jan. 23 at 9/8c.

TLC Renews Series New York Medium

TLC has restored unscripted series New York Medium for any second season having a 12-episode order. Season 2 is slated to premiere in March 2012. The very first season from the half-hour series averaged 1.3 million audiences. New York Medium follows real-existence psychic medium Theresa Caputo as she she juggles her blood pressure measurements and her family.