Vincent Graeff dies at 80

Vincent Graeff, a child actor who appeared in the "Our Gang" series of shorts with the likes of George "Spanky" McFarland and Robert Blake, died Feb. 8 in Henderson, Nev. He was 80. Credited as Billy Ray Smith, Graeff made his debut at the age of 6 in 1937's "The Pigskin Palooka." In the early 1940s he appeared in MGM shorts including "Baby Blues," "Fightin' Fools," "Robot Wrecks," "Helping Hands" and "Going to Press." As he grew a bit older, the young actor appeared in many uncredited feature roles, including in notable films such as "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," "The Valley of Decision," "The Harvey Girls," "The Dark Corner," "Sister Kenny," "The Babe Ruth Story," "The Set-Up" and "Cheaper by the Dozen." Graeff ended his acting career in 1951. Born in San Ysidro, Calif., Graeff served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, earning a Purple Heart. He had a career as a sheet metal worker. Graeff's brother Paul, who also appeared in films as a child actor, died in 2010. Graeff is survived by his wife, Pat; five children; and a number of grandchildren and great-children. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Oscars 2012: Live Coverage!

Empire's live ceremony commentaryWelcome to Empire's live coverage in the Oscar red-colored-colored carpet as well as the ceremony. We'll be departing comments round the Academy Awards' best (and worst) fitted simply because they arrive round the red-colored-colored carpet - then departing comments on all the individuals who win and nonwinners because they are introduced. Relax, grab a brew from the favourite beverage and like the evening around....

Spartacus, Episode 5: Items That Made Us Go "Ew!"

Dustin Clare On Friday's Spartacus: Vengeance, Gannicus has came back! But what havoc does the prior Champion of Capua wreak within the old gladiator stomping grounds? Don't have a look at Gannicus. Calculates it's Spartacus' males that are behind the finest, baddest arena bloodbath so far. Spartacus and Co. find new digs within an abandoned structure and learn that Rhaskos, Crixus and Oenomaus ought to be carried out. Spartacus surrender to trying in order to save them, even if this means entering an arena full of Romans who had been hunting him. Meanwhile, Gannicus has returned to Capua too as with his mind, becoming Oenomaus' executioner can provide the prior Doctore the glorious, noble gladiator's dying he warrants. That will totally replace sleeping along with his wife before she died! No awkward reunion whatsoever. From Wager on Thrones to Spartacus: TV's unsexiest sex moments Sparty and Agron disguise themselves incorporated within the Roman guard, while Mira leads several males to produce fire for the arena infrastructure. Within the height in the fighting, the stadium begins to interrupt lower. Row upon row of site visitors drop to the fiery dying below. Mayhem! Stress! Inside the chaos, Spartacus accidentally warrior warrior spears Cossutius (he was pursuing Glaber) and Albinius dies inside the big chunks of rock... by Glaber's speaking hands after he'd uncovered his disloyal wife's plan to divorce him and marry Varinius. But her father Albinius can't grant the divorce since he's dead! The save party leaves with Gannicus, an unconscious Oenomaus and hurt Crixus, who finally will probably be reunited with Naevia. Aww! Enough story... to the great stuff! The Physiques - Gannicus likes his wine and girls, which visit to a brothel is decidedly less bloody than that massacre within the premiere. And in line with the prostitute, he's certainly a god in their female arena. Nonetheless, the episode was somewhat light on sex to produce way of the slaughter. The Blood stream - A lot of the dying was implied since the site visitors who perished were consumed by flames offscreen. There's however still plenty of gross onscreen bloodshed to possess. Using the much to choose from, listed below are the standouts:1. One gladiator while using finest discomfort threshold ever is actually capable of progressively remove a spear that impaled his torso, remain true and wield it. Wow.2. The completely new retiarus (internet and trident guy) advances on another victim and there's much distance trained in blood stream spurting within the poor man's neck3. Thank you for going to the Spoliarium, where we'll take proper proper care of all your dead gladiator disposal needs. Just drag the unfortunate fellow in, slice the hands or legs, remove the entrails... and dump them inside the undercover water reservoir?!?4. Sooner or later Spartacus slashes at one fighter's belly, too as with the helpful overhead shot, we view part of the man's innards peeking out. We feel we are in a position to identify what he'd for supper (once we are losing ours)!5. Glaber killing Albinius wasn't an clearly gory scene, nevertheless it had been disturbing to look for the prater coldly get huge stone spar when it comes to remains after which it slam it lower on his dear father-in-law's face. If Ilithiya understood the thing that was ideal for her, she wouldn't wreak havoc on Glaber! Which moments disturbed you most? Which have been your chosen deaths? Spartacus: Vengeance airs on Fridays at 10/9c on Starz.

Edi Gathegi & Martin Landau Among Latest Pilot Castings

Edi Gathegi (Twilight) is set to co-star opposite Kyle Bornheimer in ABCs comedy pilot White Van Man. The single-camera is a blue collar ensemble based on the British format and centers on Jack (Kyle Bornheimer) who is forced to put his dreams on hold in order to take over the family handyman business from his father Tony (J.K. Simmons). Gathegi will play Darren, one of Tony’s workers. Also cast in the pilot is Johnny Pemberton as Tony’s teen nephew. The series takes its name from the UK phrase that describes the stereotype for drivers of light commercial vehicles, often self-employed or owning small businesses such as handyman services. The ABC Studios-produced adaptation was written by Bobby Bowman. Michael Fresco is directing. Gathegi, repped by ICM and Framework, recently starred in Tracy Letts play Superior Donuts at the Geffen Playhouse. Veteran Martin Landau has joined ABC’s untitled Roland Emmerich drama pilot, from ABC Studios and the Mark Gordon Co. Written by Emmerich and Harold Kloser and to be directed by Emmerich, the project centers on Carter (Max Thieriot), an astrophysics grad student in NYC who learns that he is the chosen one to destroy the forces of evil. Landau, repped by TalentWorks, will play Mr. Armin, a blind former German soldier in World War II who is the executor of Carter’s father’s estate and one of Carter’s only true friends. Nicole Gale Anderson (Jonas) and newcomer Nina Lisandrello have been cast in the CW’s drama pilot Beauty And The Beast. Loosely based on the 1980s CBS series starring Linda Hamilton, CWs Beauty And The Beast is described as a modern-day romantic love story with a procedural twist. It centers on Catherine (Kristin Kreuk), a tough-minded NYPD homicide detective and the Beast, Vincent Koslow, the survivor of a military experiment that went disastrously wrong. Lisandrello, repped by Leading Artists andInvictus Entertainment, will play Tess, Catherine’s partner and friend on the Homicide Squad. Anderson, repped by Paradigm and The Marshak/Zachary Co., will play Catherine’s younger sister. She has been recurring on ABC Family’s Make It or Break It. Summer Lyn Beard has joined Living Loaded, Foxs single-camera comedy pilot from the Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia duo of Rob McElhenney and Rob Rosell and FX Prods. Based on the book of the same name by Dan Dunn, Living Loaded centers on Dan (Mike Vogel), the loose partying blogger of the popular Living Loaded blog who is forced to change his career plans when he becomes an NPR radio host. Beard will play Dan and Bobby’s (Michael Marc Friedman) BFF.

But his heart belongs to Shaw

Scribe John Logan says even though his 'Hugo' came out this year, he prefers tragediesMelissa McCarthyMichelle WilliamsToday, playwright-screenwriter John Logan will receive the Oscar Wilde Award -- which recognizes the achievements of Irish-Americans in Hollywood -- at a ceremony in Santa Monica hosted by the U.S.-Ireland Alliance.Logan has had a good run in the past year or so: Recent credits include "Hugo," for which he is Oscar-nommed; "Rango," which is nommed in the Oscars' toonpic category; and the film adaptation of "Coriolanus," which Ralph Fiennes helmed.The Wilde Award recognizes a body of work that includes "Gladiator," for which Logan was Oscar-nommed alongside David Franzoni and William Nicholson; "The Last Samurai," "The Aviator"; which earned Logan another Oscar nom, and Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd."And then there's his stage work, including his 2010 Tony Award-winning play about Mark Rothko, "Red."The pace has shown no sign of slacking. He co-wrote James Bond pic "Skyfall," which Sam Mendes is lensing now, he is adapting tuner "Jersey Boys" for the bigscreen, and is collaborating with Patti Smith on a film adaptation of her memoir, "Just Kids."Logan cherishes his Irish heritage -- his parents were both emigrants from Ulster, and he has many relatives there -- but he sees it as a little ironic that he will be a recipient of an award bearing Wilde's name. Although Logan loves many Irish writers, he is not that fond of Wilde, as a playwright at least."He is a playwright I never warmed to," Logan says. "In those sort of bi-polar decisions you make as you go through life, where you have to decide 'Am I drawn to Ibsen or Strindberg?' you get to the point where you say, 'Am I drawn to Wilde or Shaw?' I'm drawn to Shaw."In an onstage interview at BAFTA last fall, Logan spoke of his "Irish attraction for the melancholy." He concedes that he is drawn to the darker side of life."Well, whether it has something to do with my Irishness or something else, who knows?, but Ireland is a land of bleak moors and crags and tors and cold Irish sea, and -- despite the fact that this year I happen to have 'Rango' and 'Hugo' come out -- I'm drawn toward darker material, and I always have been. You come to that point as a playwright where you think, Am I a tragedian or a comedian?, and I have always been a tragedian, in terms of things I'm interested in. So the stories I choose to write about, whether it is Mark Rothko in my play 'Red,' or anything from 'Gladiator' to 'Coriolanus' to 'The Aviator' to 'Sweeney Todd,' have very murky and morally complex and dark protagonists, and even something like 'Hugo' I always looked at as a very serious story."Logan advises budding screenwriters to study the works of the great playwrights, from the ancient Greeks to the present day, taking in all of Shakespeare's plays, and the works of Ibsen, Chekhov and Strindberg."The key to what we do as screenwriters and playwrights is we are dramatists. We are not novelists, we are not poets, and that means we do a very specific thing: we write lines for actors, and we write scenes for directors and producers and lighting designers, and it is about the engagement with other artists. And I believe that part of the way you learn that -- maybe the only way to learn that -- is to look at the continuum of the art form, see what you can learn and be inspired by those who have come before you. I think that is equally true for screenwriting: if you look at great screenplays from the past it'll help you, but it's much more important to go back thousands of years and look at Aristotle, in terms of the bedrock of dramatic literature, as opposed to prose, as opposed to poetry."And the next thing I will always say," he concludes, "is after you have versed yourself in the classics of drama start reading poetry because poetry will teach you about language, and part of the job of the playwright and the screenwriter is to create arresting language." And Michelle & Melissa make it threeReceiving Oscar Wilde Awards alongside John Logan will be thesps Melissa McCarthy and Michelle Williams.Both actresses have been nommed for Academy Awards this season: McCarthy for her supporting role in "Bridesmaids," and Williams for the leading role in "My Week With Marilyn," for which she won a Golden Globe.McCarthy, who won an Emmy last year for CBS comedy series "Mike & Molly," has recently completed writing feature pic "Tammy."Williams, whose agent is U.S.-Ireland Alliance advisory board member Hylda Queally, will next be seen in Sam Raimi's "Oz, the Great and Powerful." Contact Leo Barraclough at leo.barraclough@variety.com

Fall 2012 TV Scorecard: Which Shows Are Returning? Which Aren't?

This week's episode of Alcatraz was short on new mysteries, nevertheless it did raise a few pre-determined questions. Namely, because the crooks and pads of Alcatraz are returning to supply day, would they start aging again? The returning '63 now, Johnny McKee (Adam Rothenberg), poisoned 70 people, mostly since they weren't nice to him. Within our day, he works in the bar together with expensive hotels pool to root out bullies which makes them pay. To locate McKee, Rebecca (Sarah Manley) switched to his former cell neighbor, Jack Sylvane (Jeffrey Pierce), who offered up five words that might be crucial in identifying the story in the '63s. See which other new mysteries this week's Alcatraz elevated: Discover More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Jeffrey PierceLeon RippyParminder NagraSam NeillJorge GarciaSarah JonesDavid HoflinAdam RothenbergAlcatraz

Shawn Levy Talks New Frankenstein

Monster(s) will be mo-capVarious Frankenstein projects have been coming together on the operating table in recent years; two have had the necessary surge of studio power to help them rise up; and Real Steel director Shawn Levy has just been talking to Collider about the one that belongs to him.Broad details about Max Landis' screenplay have already emerged, not least from Landis himself. The Chronicle writer explained in a great interview with Shock last year that he's attempted to coherently combine elements from Mary Shelley's original novel, and from the unwieldy subsequent Frankenstein mythologies that have built up over the years. His story is from the point-of-view of Igor, who 'everyone knows' is Frankenstein's hunchback lab assistant... except that he isn't, and kind of never was. Check out Shock's interview for the full history...So the big reveal from Levy is not the story but the approach: his monster will be achieved with the same technology that brought the Real Steel robots to life."My whole approach with Frankenstein is based on a mo-cap SimulCam playback," Levy explains (if "explains" is quite the word). "I'll go to Europe, shoot the movie, do scenes with the real actors and I'll be able to see the motion-captured monster in real time due to SimulCam.It's not a dude with scars on his face. It's not just kind of latex and a costume; it will be a motion-capture performance of the monster, and I can give away maybe not too much by saying there's more than one monster in our version."Levy says that, rather than causing a potential problem per se, Stuart Beattie's I, Frankenstein, adapted from Kevin Grevoux's comics and starring Aaron Eckhart, has made Fox raise their game."I, Frankenstein is a wildy different movie to ours," says Levy (it's a modern-day story that casts the monster as a hero in a war between clans of immortals), "but in the culture it's another Frankenstein movie, and it's gonna come out next year. So if anything, that movie has kind of raised the bar for the studio and I to cast the living hell out of our Frankenstein. Everyone now knows, because people have seen Chronicle,that Max Landisis a hell of a goddamn writer and his script for Frankensteinis awesome.We've gotta make sure we cast it really, really right, and so that's the moment we're in right now."There's no start date yet, but while you're waiting, make sure you catch Chronicle while it's still in cinemas.

Pilot Season: Fox Orders Comedy from HIMYM's Craig Thomas, Carter Bays to Star Becki Newton

Becki Newton Becki Newton will have a regular TV gig soon. The Ugly Betty alum will star inside the Goodwin Games, lifting the cast contingency round the comedy which Fox just bought to pilot. Pilot Season: Have the scoop! The comedy, from Generate An Income Met Your Mother designers Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, follows three siblings and siblings, one of these simple carried out by Newton, who must reunite following a dying from the father, who leaves them his fortune only if they accept his terms. Fellow Generate An Income Met Your Mother producer Chris Harris may also be installed on write and executive-produce.

Start Looking: Disney Produces a brand new Dance for Phineas and Ferb's Platypus Day

The cast of Austin & Ally Make room, Macarena. Disney Funnel is wishing to begin a brand new dance craze timed to "Platypus Day," a vacation produced through the cable network to celebrate Perry the Platypus, the teal-colored, duck-charged secret agent from Phineas and Ferb. The 2011 Platypus Day, which happens on Saturday, March 3, will feature the development of "The Platypus Walk," a surf-rock tune that accompany an associated dance choreographed by Rosero McCoy (Camping Rock 2: The Ultimate Jam). The song will debut today on Radio Disney, and Disney Channel's website includes a tutorial towards the dance. Disney Funnel will air 11 hrs of Phineas and Ferb episodes from 9 a.m. to eight p.m. on March 3, timed towards the "holiday," while sister network Disney XD will air 12 hrs. Both channels also debut a music video for "The Platypus Walk," featuring Disney Funnel sitcom stars from Best Of Luck Charlie, Shake Up, Jessie, Kickin' It and Austin & Ally. Disney will even celebrate "Platypus Day" via occasions at its Disney Stores within the U.S. as well as in Canada as well as on Radio Disney stations. The big event may be the latest brand extension for Phineas and Ferb, that has already created merchandise, a TV-movie, soundtracks as well as an approaching feature film. Phineas was no. 1 animated series among kids 6-11 and 9-14 this year. Here is a start looking at a part of "The Platypus Walk" music video, featuring various Disney Funnel talent: Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

Pilot Season: ABC Orders Mistresses

ABC logo design ABC has purchased the drama Mistresses from executive producer Bob Sertner, whose credits include No Regular Family and Revenge.ABC orders pilot for Shonda Rhimes' period dramaWritten by K.J. Steinberg (co-executive producer of Gossip Girl and also the Nine), the series follows four women buffeted through the scandalous romantic lives they are leading.

'C Foundation' tops L.A. film shoots for week

Offlot production in Los Angeles stayed solid last week with 649 days of shooting -- up 12% from the 2011 weekly average. Features gained ground by 35% and spots were up 4% while TV slid 10%. Overall production in Los Angeles edged down 2% compared with the same week last year, according to figures provided Tuesday by the FilmL.A. permitting agency. Indie feature "The C Foundation" was the most active film shooting last week, with lensing at properties located on Carroll Avenue in Angelino Heights along with a day at the Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena. Other features shooting locally included "Channeling," "Smart Ass," "Susie Chambers," "The Shift," and "The Vortex/Crazy Town." TV shooting was led by Fox's drama "Touch" with 13 days. Other TV shoots included "Easy Chinese 2," "Germany's Next Top Model," "Hollywood Girls," "Stevie TV," "The Biggest Loser," "Bones," "Ringer," "The Client List" and "The Mentalist." As usual, TV dominated activity with 404 days. That number should begin spiking later this month due to pilot production. "Based on work volume, we've not yet seen the rush," said FilmL.A. spokesman Philip Sokoloski. "A low level of pilot production activity now takes place here year round, though." Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

First images from Disney's Wreck-It Take advantage of

The initial handful of images have turned up for Disney's Wreck-It Take advantage of, the arcade-set animation a great unloved character in the popular videogame.The film stars John C. Reilly as Take advantage of, the in-game villain who longs being as fashionable as designated "good guy", Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer). Frustrated with playing second fiddle, Take advantage of handles to sneak his distance to some completely new game, a preliminary person shooter where they can prove his gallantry.However, all doesn't go near plan, it is also not extended before Take advantage of sets loose a deadly enemy that expects all of the games inside the arcade. His hope? A game title title-sabotaging glitch named Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) who could be capable of throw a spanner inside the works...As premises go, it's pretty available, but you will see how Disney's trademark humour can come up, with many different videogame clichés to lick with.A lot more encouraging will be the film's lush pictures, as you have seen within the new images. The FPS section looks particularly exciting, and who'd wager against it being released becoming an actual videogame before too extended? Wreck-It Take advantage of opens inside the Uk on Boxing Day 2012.

Viola Davis books two feature roles

DavisWith an Oscar nomination and SAG Award in hands, Viola Davis finds her next two projects, landing supporting roles in Summit Entertainment's "Ender's Game" too as with Warner Bros. and Alcon's "Beautiful Creatures.""Beautiful Creatures" will probably be helmed by Richard LaGravenese. Erwin Stoff, Alcon cake cake toppers Andrew Kosove and Broderick Manley and Molly Cruz are coming up with. The LaGravenese-composed adaptation in the Margaret Stohl-Kami Garcia tome follows two teens who must confront a curse that has haunted the girl's family for many years. Davis plays a librarian and friend in the teenage boy's deceased mother who loves him as being a boy and can do whatever she'll to guard him.Alcon's also acquired rights to a different two books inside the Stohl-Garcia trilogy, "Beautiful Darkness" and "Beautiful Chaos."Summit will sell foreign rights to "Beautiful Creatures" at Berlin. Lensing will start in April in New Orleans.Gavin Hood is helming "Ender's Game," starring Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin and Harrison Ford.Hood composed the variation of Orson Scott Card's novel. Occur Earth's future, story follows a genius strategist employed with the government to help destroy a bug-like alien race.Davis may have a military mental health specialist who runs the emotional welfare of youthful students. She helps as well design the games that test their capabilities and resilience.OddLot, K/O Paper Products and Digital Domain are production partners on "Ender's Game." OddLot's Gigi Pritzker and Linda McDonough are coming up with with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman via their K/O Paper Products banner, additionally to Lynn Hendee, Robert Chartoff and Card. OddLot's Bill Lischak and K/O's Mandy Safavi will professional produce with Digital Domain's High high cliff Plumer and Erection dysfunction Ulbrich. Sierra/Affinity is handling foreign sales for your pic.This program is ideal for Davis to shoot "Ender's Game" first, with "Beautiful Creatures" following later around.Davis might be the 2nd actress nominee now to have a completely new project -- on Monday, Rooney Mara showed up the feminine lead in Steven Soderbergh's "Undesirable Effects."Davis may also be developing an untitled skein for Cinemax with "Pariah" helmer Dee Rees.She's repped by APA, Principal Entertainment and Michael Adler. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com