The Emmys: Doorways of perception

Winning an Emmy is really a rewarding personal achievement for stars, however the business benefits aren't as obvious-cut."I believe with any award, it's just like a fried egg: It's hot for some time after which it's cold," states Felicity Huffman, an Emmy champion for "Desperate Average women" in 2005. "When it is hot, it is good. So when it's cold, you decide to go, 'I have no idea what related to that?' "Hank Azaria states an Emmy ultimately means less business-smart than people might think.InchIt is lovely about the evening, and it is nice to become acknowledged, but beyond which i think it is a mistake to consider it is going to improve your career in certain of type of a large way," he describes. "You best be cautious if you are convinced that.InchAn Emmy can, however, sometimes be utilized for a negotiating nick. "Sometimes you are able to require more money and obtain bigger roles, however it is dependent," he states. "I have won four, and they have all done various things.InchKelsey Grammer, a five-time Emmy champion, states honours do "more for any show compared to they do to have an actor, but they are an excellent feather within the cap, plus they can boost the cost a bit in distribution. The private kudos are wonderful, but it is just window dressing."Adds Kathy Baker, a 3-time champion for "Picket Fences": "I believe you can win 10, also it wouldn't always matter. It is not the amount of Emmys it's the truth that you've won the Emmy. It is something a person always has regardless of what. They cannot ever take that from you."Jean Wise, who won two Emmys on her guest role on "Frasier" along with a third for "Samantha Who?," states she worries that the win often leads producers to consider, Oh, now she's most likely more costly."That isn't good, however i suppose if a person was unfamiliar with your projects may possibly not hurt. It can help to say, 'She won three Emmys,' " states Wise, who adds she was just disappointed that they did not win on her role because the first lady on "24." "I'll be honest which was like, aw, shucks. I'll provide you with among the 'Frasiers' back.' "Talent agency reps the business advantages of winning an Emmy vary with respect to the category: A lead actor award means greater than a supporting or guest actor jerk.When the time comes to negotiate an actor's deal, an Emmy win may be used to justify a request a bigger salary. Some stars even have an Emmy bonus written to their contracts: When they win an award, they get a financial benefit.An Oscar carries excess fat than an Emmy, and the need for an Emmy is greater in TV compared to the film world, agency reps say. Additionally, it does not take an Emmy to assist a movie career: Jon Hamm has none, but his film career continues to be increasing because the debut of "Mad Males."Emmy those who win say you will find intangible benefits to some win."Being an actor, it is good to obtain validated due to there being that a part of you that's going, 'I'm a fraud, I am no actor,' " Huffman describes. "It's self-validating, which really means you have more self-esteem whenever you enter the area for that audition, that is good."She states soon after an Emmy win, "People take your calls just a little simpler. Individuals are a bit more wanting to setup a meeting.InchEllie Delaney, a 1997 Emmy champion for "NYPD Blue," states an Emmy win can mitigate the requirement to "use as many conferences. People know about your projects.InchShe stated additionally, it benefits the next employer who would like to trade about the marketing worth of getting an Emmy-winning actor in the project.Jeremy Piven, a 3-time Emmy champion for "Entourage," states he never been told by his agents that his victories designed a business difference. However the actor stated it introduced him more respect nearer to home."I believe I impressed my niece, Gem," he stated. "She requested why Uncle Jeremy won an unexpected on tv, and so i think I might have acquired a little of ground with Gem. However with the, I am unsure.InchStreet Towards The EMMYS: Lower Towards The WIRE:Doorways of perception Burnett preps for Emmy kudocast Lynch readies for Emmy host responsibilities An abundance of top end Emmy parties Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

'Watch the Throne' tops album chart

Jay-Z and Kanye West's "Watch the Throne" makes a princely and predictable bow at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart this week with the second-best debut sales of the year.Rap superstars' Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam/Roc Nation collaboration shifted 436,000 units out of the box, according to Nielsen SoundScan data for the week ending Aug. 14. Only 2011 release to outdo that figure is Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," which topped the chart after a 1.1 million-unit week in June.Thanks to a four-day exclusive window at iTunes, "Throne" racked up 290,000 digital units, breaking a one-week record set at the Apple store by Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" in 2008.However, absence of a physical package for most of the set's debut week may have eroded overall sales, for album failed to match debut numbers for last solo projects by either Hova or Yeezy.It's been a pleasant week for the Shawn Carter clan: Jay-Z's missus Beyonce climbs to No. 7 with her former No. 1 entry "4" (Columbia). Set tracked 27,000 (down 22%) for the stanza, still good for a one-slot gain.Distant runner-up on this week's chart is Luke Bryan's "Tailgates & Tanlines," which arrives at No. 2 with 145,000 sold. Georgia-born country singer's previous best came in 2009, when "Doin' My Thing" reached No. 6. Bryan displaces fellow Capitol Nashville artist Eric Church, whose "Chief" falls three notches to No. 5 on a 37,000-unit week.The 39th edition of compilation "Now That's What I Call Music" rides in at No. 3 with 110,000 moved. Capitol-distributed package contains chart hits by Gaga, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, LMFAO and others.In the face of heavy competish, perpetual contender Adele's "21" (Columbia) drops to No. 4 from No. 1 with a 73,000-unit count (down just 4%).Week's only other major debut is rapper Ace Hood's "Blood Sweat + Tears" (We the Best/Def Jam), which arrives at No. 8 on sales of 26,000. Florida-born member of DJ Khaled's posse previously peaked at No. 23 with 2009's "Ruthless."Other top 10 holdovers include Jason Aldean's "My Kinda Party" (No. 6, 36,000 sold, off 13%), Jackie Evancho's "Dream With Me" (No. 9, 26,000, up 53%) and "Kidz Bop 20" (No. 10, 25,000, down 32%).Next week's debuts will include a highly publicized set by actor-singer Jeff Bridges. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Big Media's 2Q Earnings Roundup: Will The Economy Change The Story?

Now that Big Media's 2Q earnings season is over, the big question on Wall Street is: Did it give us any insight into the future? CEOs' cheery talkabout strong ad sales in TV's upfront market, the expected bumpnext year from political ads, and the revenues coming in from online streaming services may be irrelevant if the economy sinks into a deep, new recession.CEOs say they see no evidence of trouble yet. The industry's leading cheerleader, CBS chief Les Moonves, channeled his inner Buzz Lightyear last week saying that he has every reason to believe that we will deliver strong results throughout the rest of the year, into 2012 and beyond.Investors still sliced 6.3% off of CBS' market value. The Dow Jones U.S. Media Index is down about 16% in the last month as traders anticipate cuts in ad spending, ticket buying, subscriptions -- the works. If the pessimists are right, then the race is on: Which company will be the first to change its message from people will buy media because they have cash to people will buy media because it helps them to forget their problems? Here are other themes from the latest earnings reports: Jobs: Media companies still arent hiring. No one said that so baldly,but it's there between the lines:CEOs talked more about financial engineering cutting costs and returning cash to shareholders than about spending to become more competitive.Time Warner recorded $24M in layoff-related expenses, quadruple the amount from the same quarter last year, while Viacom spent $14M, up from zero last year. Yet virtually every media companyis repurchasing shares or increasing its dividend. The message? CEOs cant persuade investors that the companies know how to make a decent profit from their cash, andshareholders want it back. Pay TV: This was the weakest (quarter) in the industrys history, says Bernstein Researchs Craig Moffett. Analysts were startled to see the largest cable, satellite, and telco companies collectively lose about 195,000 video customers. The cord cutters don't fit the stereotype of well-to-do technophiles.Moffett says that all the evidence shows that a growing number of people-- especially young adults -- simply cant afford pay TV.Dish Network seemed to confirm that thesis by saying that it will shift its marketing focus to upscale consumers instead of bargain hunters.With the U.S. market stalled, it's easy to see why cable programmers want investors to look at their expansion efforts in growing markets overseas such as India, Russia, China, and Brazil. It is the current momentum and potential of our international assets that present a meaningful, unique opportunity for us, Discovery Communications CEO David Zaslav told analysts. Digital: Online streaming companies have become Big Media's new best friends.CEOs say they're delighted to license old movies and TV series to Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and possibly giants such as Apple and Walmart. NBCUniversal chief Steve Burke says that the kind of money that online video providers are paying for content is infinitely almost infinitely significantly greater than it was 18 months ago. Viacoms Philippe Dauman says his companys revenues from online licensing deals in the U.S. and abroad will grow at least by high, single-digit percentages for the foreseeable future. BTIGs Rich Greenfield says it feels as if everyone in Hollywoods new favorite drug is called 'digital' and it appears to be quite addictive. But he and others still wonder whether the industry is being short-sighted. With only so many hours in the day, Greenfield asks, is a massive ramp-up in on-demand viewing going to significantly reduce live TV (and live+3) ratings over the next few years? Movies:If there was any doubt, the 2Q reports made it clear that the bloom is off of the 3D rose. DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeff Katzenberg admitted that he was too optimistic about the appeal of the technology that requires moviegoers to pay higher ticket prices and wear glasses. Shares in 3D technology company RealD fell 33% to $12.35 -- well below its $16 IPO price a year ago after late July when it reported disappointing revenues for the June quarter.But some say there's a chance 3D sales will grow if studios stop using it so much for animated and family films. They "skew a little bit lower than the average for 3D ticket sales, Regal Entertainment CEO Amy Miles says. When you have more of a fan boy picture, that may skew at the higher end of the average. (Paramount's)Transformers was a good example of that.

'Footloose' Star Kenny Wormald on Updating a Classic '80s Soundtrack With the White Stripes

So far, fans of the 1984 fight-for-your-right-to-dance classic 'Footloose' are approaching the upcoming remake with cautious curiosity. The story remains the same: City boy Ren McCormack moves to a small, rural town where dancing and rock music have been banned; he meets a beautiful girl, teaches the kids how to dance and gets the whole town to party. But how much of the original's spirit will be preserved in the 2011 version? The just-released information on the remake's soundtrack reveals that many of the songs from the 80s classic have been updated for a modern audience: Ella Mae Bowen performs 'Holding Out for a Hero,' Jana Kramer covers 'Let's Hear It for the Boy' and country superstar Blake Shelton offers his take on the title track originally brought to life by Kenny Loggins. But there is one track -- central to the film -- that doesn't appear on the soundtrack. That's the song Ren McCormack punch-dances to all by himself in an abandoned factory, in one of the great frustration-venting scenes in pop-cinema history. Moviefone discovered the identity of that song -- and much more -- in an exclusive interview with the new Ren McCormack, Kenny Wormald. Moviefone: What has your training regimen been like for 'Footloose'? Kenny Wormald: I've been dancing forever, so the dance stuff came pretty naturally to me. We had a ton of rehearsals and a ton of sweating and a ton of hours just working on all the scenes with the dancing in it. I'd say the most grueling preparation was for the angry dance -- that's the big scene in the factory where I vent all my anger out through dance and there's a badass rock song playing. That was the most grueling and challenging, because it was just me the whole time and there were elements in there that were not just dance but jumping over things, running around. It was very athletic. I'm glad to hear that's being kept for the new movie because the warehouse scene is probably one of the most memorable moments of the original. That was kind of the focal point when Craig Brewer brought this new version to Paramount; he really focused on the angry dance. He was such a big fan of the original, and his love for it was infectious on set. We all just wanted to kill the whole movie, but especially that scene. So what does Ren McCormack punch-dance to when he needs to left off some steam in the year 2011? The song that I dance to in the film is by The White Stripes and it's called 'Catch Hell Blues.' I don't want to give away too much, but that's the kind of music you vent to. I think [Craig] found the perfect song. It's relatable and I think you understand through the song how much anger and how much venting the character is going through. You look for that crazy rock, strong drums and strong percussion. 'Catch Hell Blues' is exactly that song. Listen to 'Catch Hell Blues' by the White Stripes How are you guys planning to top Kenny Loggins and the original 'Let's Hear it for the Boy' and 'Holding Out for a Hero'? Well the thing about Craig Brewer is he's such a musical guy, his musicality is pretty perfect. He made some great decisions on using the older songs and remixing some of the older songs for this version. And then there's some completely new music. I don't think you can really top the soundtrack and were not trying to beat it by any means; we're trying to celebrate it. Craig Brewer is not exactly the first name you'd think of when tackling a 'Footloose' remake; what kind of element does he bring to the movie? His Southern grit is definitely a great call for 'Footloose.' The original one was filmed in Utah, but this one is filmed in the South, and you feel like you're in the South. He was in love with the original one and he stayed true to the original, but he sprinkled his Southern grittiness all over this film. Not only in the music but also in the picture and in the vibe and in the other people on screen. The search for the new Ren McCormack had been going on for a while. At one point Zac Efron had the part, at another point it was going to be Chace Crawford. What do you bring to the table that Efron and Crawford don't? Those guys are very successful in what they do and I think they are going to continue to kick ass, so I think the fact that a new guy got to come in and make some noise is a great cool thing -- and obviously it's me, so that's why I think that. When I heard those guys were in it, I thought it was cool and I was very excited to see what 'Footloose' was going to bring, but as a dancer I'm very honored and happy that they went with someone that could dance. You didn't need any doubles for me when I was dancing. Watch the trailer for 'Footloose' When was the first time you saw the original 'Footloose'? I saw the original when I was about 10 years old; I didn't see the original in theaters because I was born in 1984. What kind of advice have you sought from the original Ren McCormack, Kevin Bacon? I actually haven't spoken to him or met him at all. I look forward to the day in which that happens. I loved him in the original -- I think everyone did. It was such an iconic role, and he just absolutely killed it. I just hope that he enjoys this new version and we get his praise. Besides 'Footloose,' what other iconic dance movies are you a fan of? When I first started dancing, tap dancing was a big aspect of my life, so all the old movies with with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire were awesome. The first dance movie I got to be in was called 'You Got Served'; I can remember watching it on the big screen for the first time just blown away. It's pretty crazy because I've gotten the opportunity to be in those next-generation movies that kids are going to see now and hopefully get inspired the same way I did by all those old films. So how are you expecting your life to be different after the movie comes out? I don't know if you can expect anything. I'm just kind of going for the ride. I feel the trailer is just a small little taste of how cool this film is and I'm just excited for everyone to see it and I'm excited for all my girlfriends from junior high to call me. Are you looking to make them jealous? No, no... maybe a little. 'Footloose' arrives in theaters on Oct. 14.

Bruce Willis Makes its way into Discussions to experience the initial Joe in 'G.I. Joe 2' (Exclusive)

Kevin Winter/Getty Images Bruce Willis in foretells join the cast of Paramount's G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation, using the veteran action actor marked to experience the initial Joe. Willis, if your deal all comes together, would play General Joe Colton, the guy who in eighties comics begins the G.I. Joe strike team, known as the best freedom fighting pressure, and also got the handle G.I. Joe. Jon M. Chu is pointing the Lorenzo di Bonaventura-created action movie, that is getting a mostly new cast towards the franchise. Dwayne Manley, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Stevenson and RZA are probably the recruits for that second film. The film starts shooting later this month in New Orleans. Vital has secured out a June 29, 2012 release date. Willis, whose last starring gig was the hit Summit action movie Red-colored, most lately shot the thrillers Cold Light of Day, the Henry Cavill-starrer that's in publish-production, in addition to Looper, directed by Rian Manley. Willis is repped by CAA. Vital to rejected to comment. Email: Borys.Package@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Package Bruce Willis G.I. Joe 2

Green Lantern 2 not greenlit yet

A sequel to the DC Comics superhero movieGreen Lantern has not been given the green light yet.You may be forgiven for thinking that preparation has already begun on the second film, given yesterday's comments from Warner Bros. film group president Jeff Robinov that the sequel would be "edgier and darker". However, the CEO of Time Warner now says a follow-up film will be decided upon in "due course"."It did not live up to expectations - fell fairly far short of those," Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes told The Hollywood Reporter.However, Bewkes didn't completely rule out a sequel, saying: "We will be deciding that in due course."When asked about a Green Lantern sequel at the premiere of The Change-up, actor Ryan Reynolds said he hadn't been given the call up yet."I have no idea, that's not up to me. I don't write those checks. And if I did I certainly wouldn't be standing on a red carpet, I would be sunning myself somewhere," Reynolds said.

NBC's 'The Playboy Club' Argues It's All About Women's Empowerment