Weinsteins gamble on 'Lay the Favorite'

'Lay the Favorite'The Weinstein Co. is within active foretells acquire Stephen Frears' gambling dramedy "Lay the favourite,Inch though sources caution that the initial offer did not pan out, no deal has closed and you will find issues yet to operate on."Lay the favouriteInch stars Rebecca Hall, Bruce Willis, Vince Vaughn and Joshua Jackson. CAA is repping domestic privileges with respect to the filmmakers. D.V. DeVincentis authored the script, according to Janet Raymer's memoir. Scribe also created with Anthony Bregman and Paul Trijbits, in addition to Randall Emmett and George Furla. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

TLC greenlights new fashion series

TLC has greenlit eight episodes of a new fashion series, exec produced by Stacy London of "What Not To Wear." The untitled series will focus on husband-and-wife business owners Lisa and Jim Dolan, who operate a plus-size clothing store, and the experience of the customers who patronize it. Scott Shatsky will also exec produce with London and Julie Merson for Super Long Play. BBC Worldwide Prods. is producing. London has co-hosted "What Not To Wear" on TLC since 2003. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Fox Searchlight acquires 'Surrogate'

Fox Searchlight has closed an estimated $6 million deal to acquire worldwide rights to "The Surrogate," a drama starring John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy.Veteran helmer Ben Lewin wrote and directed the film, which Rhino Films CEO Stephen Nemeth produced with Judi Levine of Such Much Films.CAA negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.Hawkes, the Oscar-nominated star of "Winter's Bone" and "Martha Marcy May Marlene," stars as a disabled man with an iron lung who hires a sex surrogate (Hunt) to take his virginity.Fox Searchlight, which acquired last year's hot Sundance title "Martha Marcy," is expected to close a deal to acquire Benh Zeitlin's acclaimed "Beasts of the Southern Wild," as Variety first reported on Sunday night. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Katie Couric activates charm at NATPE

Among a charm offensive in the NATPE confab, Katie Couric and Shaun Zucker appeared to become taking pleasure in each other peoples company around the balmy weather in Miami on Monday. Disney-ABC Domestic TV's syndie yakker "Katie," starring the previous and created through the latter, continues to be offered in 93% of the nation, so at this time their focal points will be to get station managers looking forward to the show bowing within the fall."I am trembling babies and kissing hands," stated Zucker, the previous NBCUniversal topper in the show's NATPE suite within the Fontainebleau Resort."Shaken-baby syndrome is going to be our first show," deadpanned Couric.While Couric is area of the ABC News team additionally to her responsibilities on "Katie," she stated the brand new talkshow is by far her greatest priority. "I believe once this show begins, this can clearly take precedent," she told Variety. "I am pleased to lead after i can and often repurpose things -- maybe interviews that I am doing on my small show -- and promote them on other ABC qualities, but that is still being exercised, because I believe it is likely to take my full attention and time.InchAs particulars are settled, Disney-ABC is wishing the show will discover a natural home like a strong mid-day lead-directly into local news programs. Couric stated she's anxious to obtain in the driver's chair on the show with increased person-to-person contact on camera. "Around I appreciated and loved doing the evening news (on CBS), I truly felt like I skipped the bond I'd every single day using the audiences," she stated. "(After I what food was in 'Today') people accustomed to reach me and say, 'I seem like I understand you,' and I'd say, 'Well, you need to do!AInchThe happy couple stated the show will incorporate social networking whenever possible. "As being a syndicated reveal that airs in various timezones causes it to be just a little more difficult, however, you can easily use all of the different digital tools to include viewers' questions and reactions and ideas, although possibly not 100% instantly,Inch Zucker stated Couric stated they'll attempt to get as near as you possibly can.Zucker, too, is anxious to return to the daily grind. "I have told many people I spent the very first 1 / 2 of my career like a producer and also the other half being an executive, and also the first half was more enjoyable,Inch he stated. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

Kevin Federline Come To Hospital After Having Suffered Chest Pains On Aussie Weight Reduction Show

First Released: The month of january 23, 2012 12:10 PM EST Credit: Getty Premium SYDNEY, Australia -- Caption Kevin Federline bakes an appearance at Erectile dysfunction Sturdy Edward Street, Queensland, Australia, on November 26, 2009Kevin Federline was come to a hospital around australia on Sunday after worrying of chest pains while competing reducing weight reality show, Excess Baggage, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Federline, the ex-husband of Britney Warrior spears, however, was without cardiac arrest, a spokesperson for Funnel Nine, which airs Excess Baggage, told the newspaper. Based on the spokesperson, the truth star flattened while filming the show, after he completed challenging using the Greater Western Sydney Australian Football League team. The task involved running and catching. The paper reported that Federline was treated for signs and symptoms of minor cardiac event before he was come to a place hospital, where, after an ECG, it had been determined he'd not had cardiac arrest. Another representative for Funnel Nine stated when Federline is launched, a choice could be made about whether he'll continue taking part within the show. Based on the SMH, this is not the very first time K-Given has already established a medical situation on set. Earlier within the season, the previous backup dancer was put in the hospital with warmth exhaustion once the cast shot within the Kimberley, a backwoods area in Wa. Excess Baggage is Federlines second weight-loss reality show. He was formerly on VH1s Celebrity Fit Club. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Football fuels Fox to Sunday victory

The NY Giants' overtime victory inside the San Francisco Bay Area 49ers in football's NFC Championship game acquired monster ratings for Fox on Sunday -- drawing greater than four occasions the combined youthful-adult viewership of ABC, CBS and NBC. ABC's ''Once Upon a Time'' was the most effective-rated series, lower merely a tick from the other day. Reliable preliminary Nielsen estimations for your NFC Championship won't be accessible until later today, but Fox's stations averaged an 18.7 rating/40 participate grownups 18-49 and 50.millions of audiences overall for your full quantity of primetime Sunday. These amounts are needed to build up nicely inside the excellent because they do not precisely reflect West Coast viewing, and the sport started around 6:40 p.m. ET. The web than adopted at 10:57 p.m. ET getting a unique ''American Idol,'' which came a 7.9 demo rating and 19.8 million audiences, according to time zone-modified preliminary Nielsen amounts bought by Fox the web had wanted to acquire ''Idol,'' round the air earlier, nevertheless the late football finish resulted without anyone's knowledge music series ended up airing from primetime in much of the united states for essentially its initial few minutes. Earlier inside the day on CBS, the network's coverage in the AFC Championship involving the Gambling and Baltimore Ravens came a 29.1 household rating/51 participate Nielsen's metered-market overnights -- the most effective score with an mid-day AFC title game in 18 years game peaked getting a 34.9/56 within the final a quarter-hour. In primetime, the web broadcast ''60 Minutes'' (1.5/3 in 18-49, 7.9 million audiences overall), then ''Undercover Boss'' (2.2/5 in 18-49, 9.2 million audiences overall) and repeats of ''The Good Wife'' (1.1/2 in 18-49, 5.6 000 0000 audiences overall) and ''CSI: Miami'' (1.4/3 in 18-49, 6.2 million audiences overall). ''Boss'' was lower significantly from the other day if the didn't face football. ABC associated with its regular selection, opening with ''America's Funniest Home Videos'' (1.2/3 in 18-49, 5.2 million audiences overall) after which it surging at 8 p.m. with ''Once Upon a Time'' (3.2/7 in 18-49, 9.3 million audiences overall), which while low quality, was only slightly taken off the other day if the faced only the concluding 10 mins of football. Also in the tick was ''Desperate Housewives'' (2.6/5 in 18-49, 7.5 million audiences overall), and ''Pan Am'' closed the evening (1.3/3 in 18-49, 3.9 million audiences overall) up slightly from the other day. NBC broadcast a couple-hour ''Dateline'' (1.1/2 in 18-49, 5.2 million audiences overall) then two special original cases of the canceled cop drama ''Prime Suspect'' (.8/2 in 18-49, 4.3 million audiences overall at 9 and .7/2 in 18-49, 3.6 000 0000 audiences overall at 10). Preliminary 18-49 earnings for your evening: Fox, 18.7/40 ABC, 2./4 CBS, 1.6/3 NBC, .9/2 Univision, .8/2. In general audiences: Fox, 50.millions of CBS, 7.2 million ABC, 6.4 million NBC, 4.6 000 0000 Univision, 2.5 million. Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com

Bingham Ray put in the hospital at Sundance

PARK CITY, Utah -- Bingham Ray, lately named executive director from the Bay Area Film Society, was put in the hospital Saturday while attending the Sundance Film Fest using what was broadly reported like a stroke. "Our ideas and hopes are with Bingham for any fast and full recovery and our sympathies go to his family and the many buddies and co-workers at Sundance and through the independent film world," stated Pat McBaine, SFFS board leader. Ray, an old U . s . Artists prexy, was recuperating in a hospital in nearby Provo. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com