THE HELP NEEDS NONE IN WEDNESDAY DEBUT

DreamWorks’s The Help, based on the best-selling novel, got off to a solid if unspectacular start on Wednesday with an estimated $5 million. Box office forecasters are predicting that it should wind up with about $20-25 million by Sunday. The studio would by no means be disappointed with that result since the movie reportedly cost only about $25 million to produce. Also opening this weekend will be Glee: The 3D Concert Movie, but with 3D no longer the attraction that it once was, some forecasters predict that it will earn less than $10 million. Commented today’s (Thursday) Los Angeles Times: “Although ratings are solid for the show in its Tuesday night slot — with an average of about 10 million people tuning in this past season — that’s no guarantee that an audience is willing to pay 3D ticket prices for a film composed largely of set pieces that viewers can see for free every week.” Meanwhile, the original made-for-TV singing group, The Monkees, announced on Wednesday that they are canceling the rest of their reunion tour. No reason was given.