Schreiber aboard for 'Ray Donovan'

Liev Schreiber remains cast since the lead in Showtime's drama pilot "Ray Donovan." Show, from "Southland" creator Ann Biderman, centers from the professional "fixer" for your wealthy and famous in contemporary La. Since the go-to guy in Hollywood, Schreiber's title character deftly solves the highly private problems in the city's most intriguing personas but he can't quite escape the injury within the own troubled family. "Ray Donovan" continues to be produced by Showtime, with Biderman, Mark Gordon and Bryan Zuriff set as professional producers. Production is predicted to begin early next season. The pay cabler, which recently reupped "Dexter" for just two more seasons which is getting excellent traction on new skein "Homeland," also provides aircraft aircraft pilots already bought. "Masters of Sex," with Paul Bettany circling for your lead role, compares the job of sex researchers William Masters and Virginia Manley, and half-hour docuseries "Gurland on Gurland," which stars Andrew Gurland, begins shooting inside a couple of days. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

ICM Signs Paul Reiser

Veteran actor-comedian Paul Reiser has signed with ICM. He was with UTA. Reiser most lately produced, executive created and starred within the Paul Reiser Show, which in fact had a short, low-ranked midseason operate on NBC. Reiser is better noted for co-creating/professional creating and starring in another NBC comedy series, the lengthy-running Mad In Regards To You. Reiser also offers written three books, most lately Familyhood, released captured, a follow-as much as Couplehood and Early childhood.

Scarlett Johansson Sings 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' with Dean Martin (AUDIO)

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it's time to focus your attention on that other holiday of epic travel, family gatherings and over-eating: Christmas! Out now is Dean Martin's 'My Kind of Christmas (2011),' which features the deceased crooner singing with none other than Scarlett Johansson on the holiday classic "I'll Be Home For Christmas," Frank Sinatra 'Duets'-style. Between this chestnut and Johansson's appearance in the Cameron Crowe-directed family film 'We Bought a Zoo,' expect Christmas to have a decidedly Scarlett hue. (Groan, obviously. It's Monday after the holiday; cut some slack.) Listen to the ScarJo/Deano duet ahead. 'My Kind of Christmas (2011)' is out now; 'We Bought a Zoo' is out Dec. 23. [via Indiewire/The Playlist] Happy Birthday, Scarlett Johansson See All Moviefone Galleries » Like Moviefone on Facebook Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Tyler Perry Pens Open Letter to 11-Year-Old Sandusky Victim

Fox Searchlight The next 24 hours are going to be a whirlwind for the talent, publicists, and journalists on the awards beat.our editor recommendsGotham Awards 2011: Honorees Charlize Theron, Gary Oldman Reveal the Inspiration Behind Their WorkGotham Independent Film Awards Tap Edie Falco and Oliver Platt as Co-HostsSpirit Awards Set for Feb. 25NY Film Critics Delay Voting to Nov. 29 PHOTOS: THR's Actress Roundtable 2011 Later this evening, the IFP will reveal the winners of this year's Gotham Awards (see the nominees here) during its annual dinner/awards ceremony at the historicCipriani Wall Street restaurant. Fox Searchlight's The Descendants and Martha Marcy May Marlene lead the field with three nods each, including best feature and best ensemble, the highest-profile categories. (Focus Features' Beginners also registered in those two.) The most interesting race to watch, however, is the one for best breakthrough actor, in which fast-rising stars Felicity Jones (Like Crazy), Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene), and Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) will duke it out along with lower-profile competitors Harmony Santana (Gun Hill Road) and Jacob Wysocki (Terri). Five of the category's last seven winners went on to score Oscar nods. Finally, career tributes will be presented to four people with stakes in this year's Oscar race, and who have a great opportunity to make a strong impression before a lot of industry insiders with a good speech tonight: actor Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), actress Charlize Theron (Young Adult), director David Cronenberg (A Dangerous Method), and Fox Filmed Entertainment chairman and CEO Tom Rothman. VIDEO: THR's Directors Roundtable 2011 Tomorrow morning, Film Independent -- which, like IFP, is dedicated to celebrating independent films -- will announce the nominees for this year's Independent Spirit Awards, or "Indie Spirit Awards," which will be presented the night before the Oscars. A nod can provide a big boost to a little film, and this year's top contenders include the aforementioned The Descendants, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Beginners, and Like Crazy. Other films that have a shot at being recognized in one category or another -- and could really benefit from a moment in the spotlight -- include A Better Life, Drive, Higher Ground, Margin Call, Pariah, Rampart, Shame, Take Shelter, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and Win Win. Finally, tomorrow afternoon, the NY Film Critics Circle will vote to determine the winners of its 77th annual awards, and will Tweet its decisions as they are made. The group recently stirred up controversy by moving its voting date ahead of that of the National Board of Review (which has historically been the first critics' group to announce), forcing some studios to screen their films for NYFCC voters even earlier than usual, and precluding at least one not-yet-finished film,Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, from being considered. It's incredibly hard to predict what the NYFCC will choose to celebrate, since their arcanevoting process often leads to stalemates that force compromise choices, as well as concerted efforts to spread recognition amongst many films. NYFCC choices also have limited value in terms of predicting what the Academy will do: although the two bodies have chosen the same best picture only 28 times, the NYFCC's winners in that category and the acting categories are almost always at least nominated for Oscars.This year, I gather from my sources that The Descendants, The Artist, Melancholia, Moneyball, We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Iron Lady, The Tree of Life, and Drive are particularly popular with many NYFCC members, so look for all or most of them to be represented in one category or another. My guesses: The Descendants, The Artist, or The Tree of Life for best picture; Alexander Payne (The Descendants) or Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life) for best director; George Clooney (The Descendants) or Jean Dujardin (The Artist) for best actor; Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady), Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia), or Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin) for best actress; Albert Brooks (Drive) or Christopher Plummer (Beginners) for best supporting actor; and Jessica Chastain (The Help and/or and/or Take Shelter and/or The Tree of Life and/or Coriolanus) or Octavia Spencer (The Help) for best supporting actress. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery THR's Awards Season Roundtable Series 2011: The Directors Independent Spirit Awards Gotham Awards George Clooney Jessica Chastain Meryl Streep Terrence Malick Elizabeth Olsen

24 Hours of Awards Season Madness

Borrowing a page from the movie marketers' playbook, the Democratic National Committee on Monday released a 30-second TV spot-a "trailer-style" video titled "Mitt v. Mitt"-that blasts the Republicans' presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney for being a politician who is "willing to say anything."our editor recommendsBox Office Politics: The Movies and Stars Dems vs. GOPers Love (and Love to Hate)President Obama Holds Secret Meet-and-Greet With Hollywood Execs and Influencers (Exclusive)Obama Addresses Hollywood: Reelection Won't Be as Sexy as His First Campaign PHOTOS: Box Office Politics: The Movies and Stars Dems vs. GOPers Love (and Love to Hate) According to the DNC, the TV ad is, in fact, a trailer for a longer video treatment available on the committee's new website, MittvMitt.com, which highlights the former Massachusetts governor's current contradiction of his former positions on a range of issues involving the economy, immigration, a woman's right to choose and workers' rights,. (The longer "treatment" includes sound bites from Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and Ronald Reagan.) PHOTOS: 10 Hollywood Players That Will Make a Difference in the 2012 Elections The anti-Romney videos underscore two important things about the Obama campaign: It clearly views the former Massachusetts governor as the president's chief foe, and the campaign is unafraid to use Hollywood-style promotional tactics (along with entertainment industry money) to fight him. The video seems likely to get an additional bounce from its timing, since much of the mainstream news media's current coverage of Romney is focusing on how he's attacking his surging rival Newt Gingrich for taking a position on undocumented immigrants that the former Massachusetts governor once advocated himself. VIDEO: Mitt Romney's 2007 'Meet the Press' Appearance Provides Fodder for Newt Gingrich Campaign The "trailer"-whose script was released by the DNC-begins with the sort of voice over familiar to theater goers: VO: From the creator of "I'm running for office for Pete's sake" CHYRON: From the creator of "I'm running for office for Pete's sake" CHYRON: Lawn work at Romney's home still done by illegal immigrants, Boston Globe, 12/04/07 VO: ...comes the story of two men trapped in one body. VO: Mitt versus Mitt EXCLUSIVE STORY: Mitt Romney Is First GOP Presidential Hopeful to Book Hollywood Fundraiser CHYRON: Mitt vs. Mitt MITT ROMNEY: I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose. CHYRON: Pro-choice, MittvMitt.com ROMNEY: The right next step... is to see Roe Vs. Wade overturned. CHYRON: Anti-choice, MittvMitt.com VO: Two Mitts willing to say anything. CHYRON: MittvMitt.com, Willing to say anything ROMNEY: We put together an exchange, and the President's copying that idea. I'm glad to hear that. CHYRON: Pro-health reform, MittvMitt.com VIDEO: Hollywood-Funded Super PAC Blasts Mitt Romney in Internet Attack Ad ROMNEY: Obamacare is bad news. CHYRON: Anti-health reform, MittvMitt.com VO: See it all at MittvMitt.com CHYRON: See it all at MittvMitt.com [DNC Disclaimer] STORY: GOP Flameout to Six-Figure TV Star: Analysts Weigh in on Who'll Make It The ad currently is running in Albuquerque, NM; Raleigh-Durham, NC; Columbus, OH;Pittsburgh, PA; Washington, DC; and, Milwaukee, WI on a mix of broadcast and cable. The strategy at work, according to the DNC, is that "Democrats don't need any dirty tricks to prove Mitt Romney has no core convictions and no new ideas for creating jobs. We need only to let him speak for himself." The trailer style has a proven record of drawing crowds into theaters. Now the Democrats are hoping they can use it attract voters to their polling places. Watch below: PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 10 Hollywood Players That Will Make a Difference in the 2012 Elections Related Topics Politics Mitt Romney

FX Announces Midseason Schedule

FX has set its midseason lineup, which will feature the return of Justified and Archer and the debut of new animated comedy series Unsupervised. The third season of drama Justified will premiere January 17 and continue to air Tuesdays at 10 PM. Comedy Archer will open its third season January 19 and will air Thursdays at 10 PM. The animatedArcher will be paired with Unsupervised, whose premiere will follow Archer on January 19 at 10:30 PM. Unsupervised, which will be animated by Archer executive producers Adam Reed and Matt Thompson, centers on two optimistic best friends navigating the harsh landscape of teenage life and trying to do what’s right without any parental guidance.The series, created and executive produced by Rob Rosell, Scott Marder and David Hornsby, features a voice cast that includes Justin Long, Kristen Bell, Fred Armisen, Romany Malco, Kaitlin Olson and Alexa Vega, along with Rosell and Hornsby. Unsupervised is produced by FX Prods, in association with Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton’s RCG Prods and Floyd County.

Liberty Media Professionals Keep Options for Starz, Sirius XM Open

NY - Liberty Media Boss Greg Maffei mentioned Thursday using the combination of monitoring stocks Liberty Starz and Liberty Capital the business, recognized for complex deals and possession structures, has converted into just a little simpler. But he didn't purchase potential future spin-offs of premium TV firm Starz or perhaps the firm's stake in satellite radio firm Sirius XM Radio. Speaking in regards to the simplification, the Boss quipped at Liberty's annual investor day: "Like Herman Cain, Liberty is all about simplicity." He then shown a slide proclaiming that Liberty stood a 9-9-9 strategy, including such things as nine original shows at premium TV firm Starz and nine monitoring stocks lately. Asked for how he feels about traders' disappointment that fully-possessed Starz wasn't fully spun off, and can typically be lumped together with other possibilities, Maffei mentioned that both Liberty Starz and Liberty Capital stocks were really up in the lower market. Traders seem to comprehend the planned combination, he found the final outcome. Speaking about about some traders that Liberty could spin off Starz, and possibly sell it off with a large media group, and spin off Sirius, Maffei mentioned they can't predict future spins or purchases at this time around. "We've no plans, no announcement to produce around the spin of Starz or Sirius," he mentioned. "However can't inform you they aren't potentials" in the future. Management also layed out Thursday the more effective capital structure for Liberty following a combination of the trackers enables the business to potentially increase its stakes in a few companies or make new possibilities. Because context, Liberty Media chairman John Malone mentioned Thursday morning's news in the mixture of both of these monitoring stocks gives his firm "more flexibility" to pursue any path that seems smart and opportunistic. Starz Boss Chris Albrecht earlier inside the day had defined future focus areas for his firm and guaranteed growth. "Starz remains getting a great run," Maffei mentioned within the finish in the event, highlighting that clients and operating profit are actually trending greater lately. Next season though, the final outcome will most likely take "a breather" because of the conclusion from the Netflix deal, possibly offset by another digital deal, and possibilities in original programming, he mentioned. 2013 and 2014 will probably be "betterInch given Starz have a look at digital deals and possibilities in original shows, Maffei mentioned. Several media and entertainment companies, through which Liberty Media is certainly a trader, gave bullish presentations with a Wall Street crowd in the firm's annual investor day. "We are searching toward a very strong 2012," Sirius XM Radio Boss Mel Karmazin told traders. Next season will dsicover revenue growth, lower interest expense reducing capital costs, which will all raise the conclusion. Karmazin mentioned the business's board will just decide how to operate the firm's free earnings, signaling smart purchases are more unlikely since they're nearly impossible to find, and for that reason returns of money to traders certainly are a much more likely option. Experts have suggested stock buybacks may be inside the cards for Sirius. Also at Thursday's investor event, William Lynch, Boss of Barnes & Noble, suggested the introduction of e-books, the business's Nook e-visitors and options to accomplish better business in stores carrying out a collapse of competitor Edges. Live Nation Boss Michael Rapino told the liberty Media investor day the live occasions firm has seen October and November ticket sales endure well. "Clients will probably concerts," if listed right, he mentioned. More youthful crowd stated several growth drivers. Incorporated within this really are a increase in the quantity of concerts in worldwide areas, the opportunity to develop ad and sponsorship revenue together with a focus on selling more tickets and taking better grosses via loyalty programs and social offers rewarding people to get pals. While he walked in the stage, Rapino also quipped he upstaged Albrecht, who had presented earlier, inside a recent Liberty Media board meeting through getting Shakira and showing her to Malone and Maffei. Maffei earlier inside the day had also mentioned that his team is content with how his firm's possibilities do, mentioning room for upside in many of them. Even Sirius, they referred to as a "tremendous investment" together with a slide behind him referred to as a "killer investment," has more upside, Maffei contended. He reported the launch of Sirius 2. services together with a formerly introduced cost increase as a few of the reason. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects John Malone Liberty Media