NBC's Sochi Olympics Coverage Averages 21.4 Mil Nightly Viewers
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FEBRUARY 25, 2014 Page 1 of 8
Da
i ly
NBC’s Sochi Olympics Coverage
Averages 21.4 Mil Nightly Viewers
By Michael O’Connell
T
h er e w i l l st i l l be mor e
numbers to come from the 2014
Winter Olympics — but as of
final ratings available on Monday,
NBC’s coverage of Sochi saw nightly
averages in line with what its first days
suggested. Sochi was up from 2006’s
Games in Torino, but down from the
Vancouver Games in 2010.
All told, NBC averaged 21.4 million
viewers in primetime between the Feb. 7
opening ceremony and the Feb. 23 clos-
ing ceremony. Sochi saw several spikes
along the way, but the last three days
of coverage were all down significantly
Sochi’s viewership average edged Torino’s 20.2 million by 6 percent, but fell 12 percent shy of Vancouver’s 24.4 million.
from recent games, due in part to Team
USA’s general absence from the eleventh the events and their stateside broadcasts down hindered the final night of cover-
hour events and medal ceremonies. did not work in Sochi’s favor regarding age. With the U.S. out of the men’s medal
Over the course of the games, Sochi’s the advertiser-targeted adults 18-49 competition by Saturday morning, Sun-
viewership average surpassed Torino’s demo. With an average 5.5 rating, Sochi day’s closing ceremony had no massive
Associated Press
20.2 million viewers by 6 percent, but fell was down 10 percent from Torino and lead-in like Vancouver. The finale aver-
12 percent shy of Vancouver’s 24.4 million 17 percent from Vancouver. aged 15.1 million viewers, down more than
viewers. The lengthy time delay between The lack of an evening hockey show- s e e pa g e 2
FEBRUARY 25, 2014 Page 2 of 8
tv news
F r o m pa g e 1 Gilligan penned the initial script for Kevin Reilly declared dead in January.
6 million from 2010’s closing ceremony.
the series, and House’s David Shore is Thus far this pilot season, the net-
NBC’s Sochi coverage again lost the set to serve as showrunner. The duo work has already picked up Lee Daniels’
demo to Sunday champ The Walking will both executive produce the Sony hip-hop drama, Empire, as a pilot order
Dead, and the AMC drama closed the Pictures Television and CBS Television with an eye toward series; Batman pre-
total-viewers gap with its rival of the last Studios drama alongside Breaking Bad’s quel Gotham, a pilot with a series commit-
three weeks by averaging 13.1 million Mark Johnson. Kal Penn will co-star as ment attached; Ben Affleck-produced
viewers in the common hour. NBC Ross’ partner. mafia drama The Middle Man as a pilot
Sports’ much-hyped Nancy & Tonya For McTeer, Battle Creek marks her with backup scripts; Red Band Society
documentary, while big, did not break latest small-screen role joining Starz’s as a series prototype with backup scripts;
any records with 12.7 million viewers. The White Queen. Other TV credits and Turkish remake Runner as an off-
The total number of U.S. Olympic include Parade’s End, Damages and cycle project with an eye toward series
impressions has yet to be released, but Sense & Sensibility. On the big screen, production in the summer, among others.
after the first week, NBC Sports noted McTeer has earned two Oscar nomina- The Home order brings Fox’s non-
that 151 million U.S. viewers had tuned in tions for her work in Albert Nobbs and traditional (and pilot) orders to 16 —
to the coverage through Feb. 13. Tumbleweeds. She’s repped by Curtis eight dramas and eight comedies —
Brown Group and The Schiff Co. on par with last year.
mcteer cast in CBS’ Bruckheimer Pilot
For his part, Home is Bruckheimer’s
second drama in contention this season.
Gilligan-shore Drama
By Lesley Goldberg Home Ordered by Fox
He also is reteaming with original CSI
executive producers Anthony Zuiker,
Carol Mendelsohn and Ann Donahue
CBS’ n ew cr i m e dr a m a ser i e s By Lesley Goldberg for a technology-focused spinoff set
Battle Creek has added a two-time Oscar J er ry Bruck h ei m er is l ook i ng to air as a back-door pilot this season.
nominee to its ranks. to settle in at Fox. Bruckheimer is repped by CAA and
Janet McTeer has been The network has ordered a series Bloom Hergott.
tapped to co-star in the prototype and additional scripts for the Coleite most recently rewrote The CW’s
detective drama created Bruckheimer-produced family drama Wonder Woman prequel Amazon, which
by Breaking Bad’s Vince Home, The Hollywood the network passed on in January. He’s
McTeer
Gilligan, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. repped by CAA and Jackoway Tyerman.
Reporter has learned. Home is described as a
Based on a 2002 spec, the drama
centers on Ross, a detective, and Milton,
family thriller/soap that
delves into the secrets lin- Bibb Tapped to Star
an FBI agent, with very different world-
views who are teamed up. Together, they
must answer the question: Is cynicism,
Bruckheimer
gering behind the facade
of a suburban family.
Heroes alum Aron Eli Coleite will pen
in NBC Comedy Relative
By Lesley Goldberg
guile and deception enough to clean up the script and executive produce along- L e sl i e Bibb is f u rt h er i ng h er
the semi-mean streets of Battle Creek, side Bruckheimer and his television relationship with NBC.
Mich., in the face of a complete lack of banner president Jonathan Littman. The actress, who guest starred in the
resources; or is the exact opposite true Jerry Bruckheimer TV executive vp pilot for the network’s About a Boy, has
— it takes naivete, trust and a boatload KristieAnne Reed will co-executive pro- nabbed the female lead in NBC’s Love
of resources? duce the Warner Bros. Television drama. is Relative, The Hollywood Reporter
McTeer will play Commander Guzie- Fox will film the prototype in the has learned.
wicz, Ross’ superior, who doesn’t under- summer, with additional scripts and From Borat’s Dan Mazer, the comedy
stand why he always wants to cut through materials to be prepared in advance to focuses on a wife and her husband and
the crap and the commander of the Battle allow the network to pick up Home to how they start to see their marriage in a
Creek Police Department. The charac- series. The network has used a similar whole new way when her newly divorced
ter is tough but soft with a sweet sense approach to development in the past brother moves in with them.
of humor. Polite, patient and smart, few months, as Fox looks to transition Bibb will play the wife, Rose, who
she’s the boss — but treats her cops with to year-round programming and break exudes an effortless cool from her sub-
respect, and believes in social niceties free of the traditional constraints of pilot urban kitchen. She’s a strong-willed,
before delivering bad news. season, which entertainment president s e e pa g e 3
FEBRUARY 25, 2014 Page 3 of 8
tv news
F r o m pa g e 2 Foxx, Channing Tatum, Robert Downey not succeed,” executive producer Gareth
opinionated, fearless and wry-humored Jr., Matt Damon, Billy Crystal and Jon Neame told The Hollywood Reporter on
“say anything” kind of woman who is Stewart. It helps that Kimmel’s studio Monday. “The fact that it’s grown every
proud of her wild youth. She’s married is located just across the street from year by such a significant audience means
to Nate and the mother of a 6-year-old the Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood & that people are still finding ways to catch
daughter and 18-month- Highland Center, where the Academy up with the show four seasons in.”
old son. Awards take place. Downton, unlike many contemporar-
Mazer will write the Last year, Kimmel premiered the trailer ies, has prompted viewers to catch up
script and executive pro- for the star-filled Movie: The Movie: TwoV, on other platforms. PBS’ streaming has
duce the 20th Century Fox a follow-up to 2012’s Movie: The Movie. benefited a great deal from
Bibb
Television single-camera Both trailers have become viral hits, gar- the show. Across online
comedy alongside Tom nering more than a combined 28 million vehicles, the public broad-
Werner and Tom Lassally. hits on YouTube. caster estimates more than
Bibb’s TV credits include GCB, After the Oscars will air following the 7.1 million streams of all
Popular, The Following, Burning Love, local news in the Eastern part of the content and 4.4 million Neame
The League and Crossing Jordan. She’s country and at 10 p.m. in the West. streams of full-length
repped by ICM Partners and John Carra- Downton episodes. It has been nearly a
bino Management.
Downton season Finale year since the show’s previous seasons
also jumped from Netflix to the lesser-
Kimmel Sets Star-Filled Draws Record Ratings watched Amazon Prime for exclusive
off-net streaming.
Post-Oscar Show Lineup
By Philiana Ng
By Michael O’Connell
Masterpiece Classic closed the
doors on another season of Downton
“Our Downton audience has stayed
true to the end, watching the fourth sea-
son in record numbers,” PBS president
J i m m y K i m m el’s a n n ua l post- Abbey on Sunday night — and keeping and CEO Paula Kerger said of Monday’s
Oscar show is set. with the PBS drama’s trend of ratings news. “We are grateful to Carnival Films
House of Cards star and two-time growth, it again improved on the previ- and Masterpiece for another must-see
Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey will be the ous year’s finale. year of dramatic twists and turns — and
guest for the ninth Jimmy Kimmel Live: The last episode of Downton’s fourth are eagerly awaiting Season 5.”
After the Oscars, which will season, which debuted in the U.K. two Downton’s growth has not been
follow the 86th Academy months ago, averaged 8.5 million view- without facing substantial competition.
Awards, set to air Sunday ers in its inaugural telecast. That’s up Going up against AMC juggernaut
on ABC. 300,000 from last February’s then- Walking Dead over the last three weeks,
Other guests slated record 8.2 million viewers who tuned in Downton has also had to contend with
for the hour-long special Kimmel
to see star Dan Stevens killed off. It was airing against the Golden Globes, the
include Oscar host Ellen TV’s third-most-watched show of the Grammys, the Super Bowl and the
DeGeneres, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, night behind NBC’s Winter Olympics Olympics this season.
Martin Scorsese, Chris Hemsworth, and AMC’s The Walking Dead. “We were No. 2 for all of those events,”
Liam Hemsworth, Christoph Waltz, Already in production on its fifth Neame said of both award shows and the
Ben Kingsley, Mandy Patinkin, Abbie season, Downton continues to improve Super Bowl. “We’ve been able to become
Cornish, Barkhad Abdi, Joseph Gordon- stateside. Latest averages have the the go-to drama after these events on
Levitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Seth Rogen, fourth run averaging 8.3 million weekly Sunday nights.”
Morgan Freeman, Andy Garcia, Adam viewers — a number that will go up when Other than Walking Dead, Downton
Driver, Queen Latifah, Gary Oldman all time-shifting is tallied. The growth has been the biggest Sunday scripted
and Anjelica Huston as well as others. has been mirrored nearly everywhere performer over the past two months.
Also expected to debut during the across the globe, except in its native U.K. A co-production of Carnival Films
broadcast are “new comedy videos,” December’s Christmas special was down and Masterpiece, Downton has a unique
according to the announcement issued by 1.5 million viewers from 2012, but the streaming setup — with free views allowed
Monday. show returned to a U.S.-best 10.2 million on PBS station websites, the PBS Video
Kimmel’s post-Oscar show has regularly viewers in January. Portal and PBS’ apps on Xbox, Roku and
featured A-list guests such as Oprah Win- “The great thing about PBS is that Apple TV for a limited time after each
frey, Tom Cruise, Ben Affleck, Jamie there is that space to work, to succeed or broadcast.
FEBRUARY 25, 2014 Page 4 of 8
movie news
There Will Be Blood Imagine’s Anna Culp is executive pro-
ducing.
Set in California’s Salinas Valley
for Warners, Cooper prior to World War I, the novel, pub-
lished in 1952, chronicles two families
over the course of two gen-
By Rebecca Ford and Borys Kit was a best-seller in his native country, erations, loosely alluding
Wa r n er Bros. h a s acqu i r ed and he went on to write two others — to the Biblical tale of Cain
American Blood, an upcoming crime By Any Means and Only the Dead. and Abel and focusing on
novel by Ben Sanders, with Bradley Now 24 years old, Sanders will make a father, his two sons and
Cooper attached to star and produce. his American debut with Blood, which the boys’ mother, who they Ross
At least one other studio had bid on is slated to be published in fall 2015 via thought was dead.
the project (which is currently a partial MacMillan. Blood is likely the first in a The book was famously adapted as
manuscript), and several series of books, which means that there a 1955 James Dean movie directed by
TV companies had also is franchise potential for the films. Elia Kazan. That film focused on the
expressed interest. Cooper, Oscar-nominated for his role second half of Steinbeck’s book and on
The story follows Mar- in American Hustle, will next star as the the second generation.
shall Grade, an NYPD voice of Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of Universal first acquired the rights
Cooper
officer-turned-mob infor- the Galaxy. He’ll next shoot Clint East- to the project in 2004 after the book
mant who, while living in wood’s American Sniper. was chosen for Oprah’s Book Club list.
the witness protection program in New Cooper is repped by CAA. The option lapsed and the producer and
Mexico, is pulled into a dangerous inves- Andy Lewis contributed to this report. studio had to go back to the estate to re-
tigation involving a missing woman. gain the rights.
Screenwriter Andrew Sodroski
(Holland, Michigan) is attached to helmer Ross to Write Universal and Imagine reacquired
the rights in September, this time with
adapt the script. John Lesher and
Adam Kassan will produce, while
Chantal Nong is overseeing for the
east of Eden Adaptation
By Borys Kit
Ross attached to direct the movie and
with Lawrence, whom Ross directed in
the first Hunger Games, attached to star.
studio. Cooper will produce through Ga ry Ross h a s sign ed on to pen Ross sitting down behind a keyboard
his 22 & Indiana banner, while Brendan East of Eden, a new adaptation of the isn’t a big surprise, as the last three films
Deneen of Macmillan Entertainment John Steinbeck novel that has Jennifer he has directed — 2012’s Hunger Games,
and Pouya Shabazian of New Leaf Lawrence attached to star. 2003’s Seabiscuit and 1998’s Pleasantville
Literary & Media will also produce. Brian Grazer and Imagine Enter- — he has also written.
Sanders, from New Zealand, published tainment are producing for Universal Ross is repped by CAA and attorney
his first novel, Fallen, at age 20. The book and Ross is already attached to direct. Alan Wertheimer.FEBRUARY 25, 2014 Page 5 of 8
movie news
Snow, Macy in Talks The release date puts the comedy up
against Neil Blomkamp’s sci-fi actioner
VOD release later this year.
The story centers on 13-year-old
for Indie Dial-a-Prayer
By Rebecca Ford
Chappie from Sony and Fox’s animated
The Penguins of Madagascar.
Jacob Wilson (Wiggins). Obsessed
with heavy metal, dirt-bike racing and
partaking in the occasional act of
Br i t ta n y Snow a n d W i l l i a m H.
Macy are in talks to join indie pic Dial-a- seyfried joins ted 2 vandalism with his band of delinquents,
Jacob’s behavior has begun to raise
Prayer, a drama that will shoot in March
in Michigan.
The film follows a young
in female lead role
By Rebecca Ford
concerns around town, especially when
it starts to involve his younger brother
Wes (fellow acting newcomer Deke
woman named Cora (Snow) A m a n da Sey f r i ed w i l l sta r i n Garner). While the boys’ father Hollis
who is sentenced to com- Ted 2, Seth MacFarlane’s sequel to his (Paul) loves his sons, he is still reeling
munity service working hit 2012 comedy, The Hollywood Reporter from the loss of their mother, spending
Snow
in a prayer request call has confirmed. more time drowning his sorrows at the
center. She discovers a Seyfried will play the local bar and working on his damaged
sense of accomplishment female lead in the Uni- beach house than being an active parent.
from the work until she versal and Media Rights When the local authorities catch wind
finds out a boy she thinks Capital film, which is slated of the increasingly volatile situation,
she helped save is hiding Seyfried
for release on June 26, 2015. Wes is taken into custody and placed
a secret from her. MacFarlane will return with his Aunt Pam (Lewis), leaving
Macy
The project is being to direct and voice the pic’s foul-mouthed Jacob and Hollis to fend for themselves.
produced by Jason Potash. teddy bear, while Mark Wahlberg also In Wes’ absence, Jacob becomes increas-
Snow’s recent projects include Pitch will return to star. ingly obsessed with two things: winning
Perfect and horror pic Would You Rather. Seyfried also stars in MacFarlane’s a local motocross championship and
Repped by ICM Partners and Magnolia upcoming Western comedy A Million getting his brother back.
Entertainment, she is set to return for Ways to Die in the West, set to hit theaters Discovered on YouTube, Wiggins
Pitch Perfect 2. May 30. Her most recent films include made a splash at Sundance with the
Macy most recently made his helming Lovelace and The Big Wedding. She is critically-hailed performance.
debut with Rudderless, which premiered repped by Innovative Artists and Frank- “Kat Candler has crafted an exquisite
in January at the Sundance Film Festival. furt Kurnit. and beautiful drama featuring towering
His upcoming projects include Walter Ted, released in June 2012, went on performances across the board,” said
and Stealing Cars. He’s repped by WME. to become the highest-grossing R-rated Sundance Selects president Jonathan
film that year, as well as the highest- Sehring. “The entire cast here — includ-
warners sets get Hard grossing original R-rated comedy of all
time with a worldwide box-office tally
ing Aaron Paul, as we have never seen
him before, and the remarkable arrival
for march 2015 release of $549.4 million. of young Josh Wiggins — make this film
an absolute must watch for any serious
By Rebecca Ford
Get H a r d, a wa r n er bros. com edy Sundance Selects Nabs filmgoer.”
Added Candler: “We couldn’t be more
starring Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart, has
been set for release on March 27, 2015.
Directed by Etan Cohen (writer of
candler Drama Hellion
By Tatiana Siegel
thrilled to find such a great home in Sun-
dance Selects. It’s an honor to be in the
company of so many of my favorite films
Men in Black 3), the film follows an inno- Su n da nce Sel ects h a s acqu i r ed that IFC Films and Sundance Selects
cent man who is convicted of a crime and North American rights to helmer Kat have released over the years.”
prepares for prison with help from the Candler drama Hellion. Kelly Williams and Jonathan Duffy
man who washes his car. The movie, also written by Candler, produced Hellion. Jeff Nichols, Sarah
The script was written by Ian Roberts stars Aaron Paul, Juliette Lewis and Green, Janice Beard, Tanner Beard and
and Jay Martel, who are executive pro- Josh Wiggins, who makes his feature- Suzanne Weinert executive produced
ducers on Comedy Central’s sketch com- film debut. the pic, and Paul co-executive produced.
edy show Key & Peele. Hellion made its premiere in January UTA repped the filmmakers. Arianna
Ferrell and Adam McKay are produc- at the Sundance Film Festival, and Sun- Bocco negotiated on behalf of Sundance
ing via their Gary Sanchez banner. dance Selects plans a theatrically and Selects.FEBRUARY 25, 2014 Page 6 of 8
business news
Shrek Attraction SLAPP hearing in May, and if Casey
lost, she would not only lose her claims
against HBO and Stewart, but she might
Heading for London have faced the possibility of paying the
defendants’ legal bills.
Instead, on Feb. 14, Casey filed papers
By Georg Szalai Said Merlin CEO Nick Varney: “Devel- to dismiss claims against HBO and
LONDON — DreamWorks Animation oping an attraction based on Shrek and Stewart with prejudice, meaning that a
has partnered with theme-park operator his friends is hugely exciting for Merlin lawsuit can’t be revived. The suit is only
Merlin Entertainments to create “Shrek’s Entertainments and the start of what we partially dismissed. Casey’s wrongful
Far Far Away Adventure,” hope will be a wider collaboration with termination claim against AHA contin-
a themed visitor attraction DreamWorks Animation. Merlin’s exper- ues. Attorneys for the parties weren’t
in London based on the tise in delivering memorable days out for immediately available to comment.
Shrek franchise. visitors and DreamWorks’ skill in develop- “We did not pay any money and there
“This landmark attrac- ing globally recognized entertainment was no settlement,” an HBO spokesperson
Katzenberg
tion, which will transport franchises will be a winning combination.” told The Hollywood Reporter. “We did
visitors through a live inter- agree not to pursue a claim for legal fees.”
active adventure featuring
Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Puss HBO Escapes Lawsuit Live Nation Reports
in Boots and other favorites
from the beloved franchise,
will see an initial rollout
Over Luck Horse Deaths Record Revenue in ’13
By Eriq Gardner
Varney
of six attractions over nine NEW YORK — Barbara Casey, who By Paul Bond
years,” the companies said. worked as director of production in the Live Nation Entertainment said
The first attraction will open in sum- American Humane Association’s film Monday that it set a record in 2013 for
mer 2015. This will be the first time that and TV unit until she was let go after annual revenue, free cash flow and ad-
Merlin, Europe’s largest and the world’s complaining about alleged horse mis- justed operating income due to increase
second-largest visitor attraction opera- treatment on HBO’s Luck, has dropped attendance at shows in general and the
tor, has worked with a Hollywood studio legal claims against the cable network and surging popularity of country music.
to create an entertainment experience. series producer Stewart Productions. In the most recent quarter, Live Nation
It is also the first time that DWA will Casey first filed her lawsuit on Dec. 31, said revenue grew 12 percent to $1.6 bil-
help to produce an attraction of this 2012, and alleged that her ex-employer lion with an operating loss of $51 million.
magnitude via a licensing deal. had wrongfully terminating her, and that For the year, revenue rose 11 percent to
“The 20,000 sq. ft. experience will be HBO and Stewart had aided and abetted $6.5 billion and operating income was
based on a brand-new adventure being a cover-up months before the series star- $140 million compared with an operat-
written by the DreamWorks team,” ring Dustin Hoffman was canceled. After ing loss of $22 million a year earlier.
the partners said. “It will feature a a judge expressed doubt whether such Live Nation said its concert atten-
Shrek interactive walkthrough adven- an aiding and abetting claim was proper, dance grew 19 percent as its concert
ture, a character courtyard where visitors Casey filed an amended complaint that division was the lead or exclusive pro-
will be able to meet Shrek and his swamp discussed how her former employer moter of 21 of the 25 top-grossing tours
friends, along with characters from Mad- looked the other way or covered up in North America.
agascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train animal abuse on such productions as “We increased both attendance and
Your Dragon.” Life of Pi, War Horse and The Hobbit. attendance per show at every type of
The Shrek films have generated more The plaintiff attempted to put some venue, from theaters and clubs to amphi-
than $3.5 billion in global box-office rev- focus on AHA’s relationship with HBO, theaters to arenas and stadiums, showing
enue. The original 2001 Shrek won the and how execs at the animal-rights group the consistent strength of our business,”
first Oscar for best animated feature. allegedly reaped special favor in Holly- Live Nation said Monday. “We are also
“We’re excited to work with Merlin to wood, but the pay cable network continued seeing this growth across all genres of
build something that we think is going to to insist that Casey wouldn’t ultimately music, with country music delivering the
be a singularly unique way to experience prevail in showing some form of second- greatest fan growth, up 2.3 million fans
Shrek and his world,” said DreamWorks ary liability over her termination. to nearly 7 million, increasing 50 percent
Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. The dispute was headed for an anti- from last year.”FEBRUARY 25, 2014 Page 7 of 8
obituary
Caddyshack Writer-Director,
Ghostbusters Star Ramis Dies
By Hilary Lewis of Ramis’ films including Animal House,
Com edy sta r H a rol d R a m is Stripes and the Ghostbusters franchise,
has died, his agency UTA announced directing the latter two, said in a state-
Monday. ment: “The world has lost a wonderful,
The actor, writer and director died truly original, comedy voice with the
from complications related to auto- passing of Harold Ramis. He possessed
immune inflammatory vasculitis, the most agile mind I’ve ever witnessed.
a condition he battled for the past four He always had the clearest sense of what
years. He was 69. was funny and how to create something
Ramis died Monday morning in his in a new clever way. He was very gener-
Chicago-area home, surrounded by ous about making everyone around him
family and friends. look better and smarter. Harold had an
Ramis was involved with the long-rumored Ghostbusters III.
He is likely best known for his acting extraordinary impact on my career, and
roles in Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, Ramis in both Ghostbusters films, said in I loved him like a brother. My heart goes
both of which he co-wrote. He also co- a statement that he’s “deeply saddened out to his children, and his lovely wife,
wrote National Lampoon’s Animal House, to hear of the passing of my brilliant, Erica. He will be profoundly missed.”
Stripes, Caddyshack and National Lam- gifted, funny friend, co-writer/performer Year One’s Black said of the writer-
poon’s Vacation, directing the latter and teacher Harold Ramis. May he now director: “Harold was a force of good
two films. Ramis co-wrote, produced get the answers he was always seeking.” in the universe. So funny, sweet and
and directed other comedy classics, Judd Apatow, who directed Ramis as thoughtful. He will be deeply missed.”
including Groundhog Day, Multiplicity in 2007’s Knocked Up, had fond memo- Ramis’ Ghostbusters co-star Sigourney
and Billy Crystal-Robert De Niro films ries of his films and the man himself. Weaver said in a statement: “Working
Analyze This and Analyze That. He di- “Harold Ramis made almost every with Harold on Ghostbusters was one
rected 2005’s The Ice Harvest, starring movie which made me want to become of the happiest experiences of my life.
John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton. a comedy director,” Apatow said in a He was amazingly talented, kind and
Most recently, Ramis wrote, co-produced statement. “Animal House, Stripes, Ghost- generous and always came up with these
and directed 2009’s Year One, starring busters, Vacation, Groundhog Day. These stealthy and incredibly funny lines. His
Jack Black and Michael Cera. films are the touchstones of our lives. movies are so brilliant, and Harold was
“His creativity, compassion, intelli- I interviewed him when I was 16 years so low-key about it all. It’s a huge loss.”
gence, humor and spirit will be missed old for my high school radio station, and Andie MacDowell, who starred in
by all who knew and loved him,” UTA he could not have been more gracious Groundhog Day and Multiplicity, said:
said in a statement. and hilarious. I looked up to him as a “I was fortunate to be able to do two
Ramis was born in Chicago and director, but even more so as a man. We movies with Harold Ramis. He was the
earned his bachelor’s degree from hired him to play [Seth Rogen’s] father kindest of all of the directors with whom
Washington University in St. Louis. in Knocked Up because we all saw him I have worked. I also considered him a
He got his start in comedy in 1969 at as the dream dad — funny, warm and genius. Aside from his talent, he could
Chicago’s famed Second City. wise. Harold was one of the nicest people do the New York Times crossword puzzle
Bill Murray, who worked with Ramis I have ever met and he inspired countless in record time. I was lucky to have known
on multiple films and other projects, people to go into comedy. His brilliant him as well as I did. I will miss him.”
said in a statement: “Harold Ramis and work will make people happy forever.” Ramis was involved with long-rumored
I together did the National Lampoon Crystal said in a statement: “Harold Ghostbusters III. He won a BAFTA,
show off-Broadway, Meatballs, Stripes, was a gentle funny man. He found the American Comedy Award and British
AP Photo/Jason DeCrow
Caddyshack, Ghostbusters and Groundhog perfect tone for Robert De Niro and I in Comedy Award.
Day. He earned his keep on this planet. Analyze This. He was a good man, and I He is survived by his wife, Erica Mann
God bless him.” am shocked and saddened at his passing.” Ramis; sons Julian and Daniel; daughter
Dan Aykroyd, who starred alongside Ivan Reitman, who produced many Violet; and two grandchildren.FEBRUARY 25, 2014 Page 8 of 8
tv review
Growing Up Fisher
By Tim Goodman
took from that was that I’d never watch
the third one. You might. I mean, these
kinds of soft, sentimental comedies with
I t ’s h a r d to f igu r e ou t w h at little learning lessons are all the rage (well,
NBC was thinking when it plotted out sure, they used to be … now, like Gold-
its Tuesday sitcoms. From 9 to 10 p.m. bergs, they come with more palatable
it’s a pretty tough field already, at least doses of snark to leaven the sweetness
quality-wise. Fox has New Girl and this and a whole lot more laughs).
Jenna Elfman and J.K. Simmons try to see their way
season’s hit comedy Brooklyn Nine- through a separation in Growing Up Fisher. But as a strategy, I get what NBC is
Nine. ABC counters with its own hit in trying to do. Both Boy and Fisher are
The Goldbergs and the underappreciated The series is narrated by Jason Bate- feel-good comedies. Compared with
Trophy Wife. NBC? Apparently the net man (Arrested Development), who pro- what Fox and ABC are offering, maybe
is launching the Saccharine Offensive. vides the grown-up voice of Henry (Bate- the thinking is people need less sarcasm
About a Boy (which had an excellent man is also executive producer). and negativity in their lives. It’s like a
pilot) had its premiere on Saturday after Created by DJ Nash (Up All Night) candy-gram bit of counterprogramming.
the Olympics, and Fisher had its sneak and inspired by his own life story, Fisher Actually, that can’t be completely true
peek as the Olympics concluded on Sun- revolves around 12-year-old Henry (Eli because Boy, when it’s good — meaning
day. Will that help launch them? Only Baker) and his two parents: blind father when it’s not trying to be super fuzzy
if people really, really love those overly Mel (J.K. Simmons), who’s an attorney; sweater — has its caustic elements. And,
sentimental Olympic features. No, desper- and Joyce (Jenna Elfman), who is some- to its credit, there are funny jokes in the
ately, weepily love them. And the second thing I can’t recall because I was flossing three I watched (whereas I didn’t laugh
episode of Boy is extremely sugary on the so I wouldn’t get a cavity. Or three. Well, once in two episodes of Fisher). But I’m
emotional end. Watching these two shows she’s a mom for sure. Although she kind also very wary of Boy, given that the
together is like going into a sugar coma. of wants to be best friends with her daugh- second episode is from the same Fisher
Fisher is about Henry, a boy coming of ter, Katie (Ava Deluca-Verley). DNA. If that tendency is increased,
age with a blind father. Well, the father When we meet Henry, he’s like a “wing- you’ve definitely got a huggy pair of
has always been blind — just hiding it man” to his dad. Once the separation/ sitcoms on your hands.
from the rest of the world until he and divorce news hits, dad has to get a dog If you like very obvious, very simple
his wife separate. In any case, that’s not named Elvis and Henry feels useless. lessons in your family comedies — that
entirely important or all that the show This allows for 22 minutes of story about was once a trend in TV — then by all
is about. It’s the kid. And the coming of how Henry really isn’t useless, but Elvis means embrace Growing Up Fisher
age. OK, and the blind thing. And a dog will help his dad through this new phase and its BFF, About a Boy. No doubt
named Elvis. And the soft goo of life les- and everybody will be happy. I’m not sure they will hug you back, earnestly.
sons (really obvious ones) encasing you that’s what I took from it, but I did watch
like a caramel hug. the second episode as well. And what I Airdate: Tuesdays, 9:30 ET/PT (NBC).You can also read
