THE OFFICE WILL SHUT ITS DOORS IN MAY

The paper chase that is The Office will come to an end in May, executive producer Greg Daniels told reporters on Tuesday. Asked whether Steve Carell would be returning for the wrap-up then, Daniels would only say, “We would certainly wish for it.” Ratings for the show — never all that high despite the fact […]

MOVIE REVIEWS: SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightly, has found few friends among the critics. The story takes place as a massive asteroid is hurtling towards Earth, dooming it to annihilation. “At least it’s an ambitious misfire,” is about the best Betsy Sharkey in the Los Angeles Times […]

MOVIE REVIEWS: CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.

With a title like Crazy, Stupid, Love., the producers would appear to be making it easy for critics to bash it. The remarkable thing is that many are turning that title inside out. A. O. Scott in the New York Times, for example, begins his review by writing, “Crazy, Stupid, Love. is, on balance, remarkably […]

CARELL TO EXIT THE OFFICE BEFORE SEASON ENDS

Steve Carell will leave NBC’s The Office a month before the season finale, and the remaining four episodes will concern the chaos that ensues when the show’s regular characters vie for his job, producer Paul Lieberstein has told New York magazine’s Vulture blog. “If the show was ending, it would be about [Carell’s character leaving]. […]

DATE NIGHT TOPS HOME VIDEO CHARTS

The Steve Carell-Tina Fey-Mark Wahlberg comedy Date Night grabbed the No. 1 spot on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert DVD and Blu-ray sales charts and Home Media magazine’s rental chart for last week. Another comedy, Death at a Funeral, came in at No. 2. But appearing to reflect consumers’ lack of interest in paying premium […]

MOVIE REVIEWS: DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS

The worst thing about Dinner for Schmucks may be its title. Based on a French movie that was released internationally as The Dinner Game, the film is receiving some very decent reviews. A.O. Scott in the New York Times calls it: “an exemplary modern Hollywood comedy. It treads a careful boundary between nasty and sweet, […]

CALIFORNIA TAX INCENTIVE KEEPS CARELL MOVIE IN L.A.

The California Film Commission has approved more than $20 million in tax credits for Warner Bros.’ films being shot in and around Los Angeles this year, including $5 million for Steve Carell’s latest romantic comedy, currently untitled, which has a total budget of $35 million, the Los Angeles Times reported today (Wednesday). The newspaper said […]

STUDIOS WRANGLE OVER WHICH MOVIE FINISHED IN FIRST PLACE

In what appeared to be one of the tightest box-office finishes in memory, Date Night claimed to be the weekend winner Sunday with an estimated $27.1 million. But, according to the unofficial studio figures, the second week of Clash of the Titans was right behind with $26.88 million, while the third week of How to […]