‘iCarly’ duo take lead in ‘Best Player’
Trainor, McCurdy to star in original Nick telepic

Posted: Tue., Oct. 20, 2009, 6:36pm PT

By JON WEISMAN

Parlaying the built-in following of its Saturday night youth skein “iCarly,” Nick has cast series co-stars Jerry Trainor and Jennette McCurdy in an original telepic for the cabler, “Best Player.”
Trainor and McCurdy will play two online game addicts who encounter each other on and off the computer. Production begins Saturday in Vancouver for a 2010 premiere.

Damon Santostefano is directing a script originated by Rich Amburg and rewritten by Justin Ware. Sandy Climan and Christine Foy are exec producing with Jessica Horowitz, Lauren Levine and Nick exec veep of original programming and development Marjorie Cohn.

For 2009, “iCarly” is the top-ranked show on television in the 9-14, 2-11 and 6-11 demos on Saturday nights.

‘iCarly’ pals get own movie

By Maxine Shen
October 19, 2009, 1:45 PM ET

Two familiar “iCarly” faces are ditching the weekly show for a movie shot - but don’t worry, it’s only temporary.

Jerry Trainor and Jennette McCurdy — who play Miranda Cosgrove’s older brother and best friend in the hit ‘tween series “iCarly” — are set to star in the new Nickelodeon TV movie “Best Player,” which begins filming later this week. In the TV movie, scheduled to air next year, they’ll play a pair of master online gamers who enter a ferocious video tournament. Trainor plays Quincy, a 30-something champion gamer who’s reluctant to grow up and still lives in his parents’ basement. Meanwhile, McCurdy will be a teen nicknamed “Prodigy,” who’ll give him a run for his championship money.

The duo were natural picks for starring roles in “Best Player,” says Marjorie Cohn, Nick’s executive vice president of original programming and development. “Part of our movie strategy is to take not just the stars, but the burgeoning stars from our live-action hits and feature them in their own vehicles,” says Cohn. Trainor and McCurdy were “on the top of our list,” she says. As for the impact that the iCarly stars’ burgeoning movie careers will have on the series, fans can rest easy. As Cohn says, “I’m not foreseeing an end to ‘iCarly.’”

TV movies have become big business for channels like Nick and the Disney channel. They can be produced for relatively little money and are drawing unusually large audiences. A “Wizards of Waverly Place” movie on Disney — starring Selena Gomez — drew 10 million viewers last summer, the biggest non-sports show of the year.

Hilary Duff in ‘Business’ for new telepic
To star in comedy based on ‘Diary of a Working Girl’

By Nellie Andreeva
Aug 9, 2009, 11:00 PM ET

ABC Family is teaming with Hilary Duff for “The Business of Falling in Love,” a romantic comedy based on the book “Diary of a Working Girl,” by Daniella Brodsky.

Gil Junger has signed to direct the two-hour original movie, which will star Duff as a fashion reporter who goes undercover in the business world in the hopes of finding love while writing an article about dating men in suits.

In addition to starring, Duff will executive produce the film alongside Frank Von Zerneck, Robert Sertner, Ira Pincus and Jessica Horowitz.

The book was adapted for the small screen by writer Mike Horowitz (”Burn Notice”).

Junger is a familiar face at ABC Family. The director of the 1999 movie “10 Things I Hate About You” also is helming the ABC Family series of the same name that launched this summer.

Additionally, he directed one of ABC Family’s highest-rated original movies this year, the romantic comedy “My Fake Fiance.”

Former “Lizzie McGuire” star Duff, repped by CAA, is on board to play the female lead in the indie “The Story of Bonnie and Clyde.”

Features include 2 FREE Spectacular! tracks for RockBand, plus an exclusive Spectacular! ringtone! Spectacular! Video Diary with Victoria Justice, The 5 Things You Need to Be A Show Choir Superstar, Karaoke Music Videos, Behind-the-Scenes and Dance Tutorial!

Features include an Alternate Ending, the Director, Writer and Cast commentary and Behind-the-Scenes.

Mon., Jan. 12, 2009, 6:13pm PT

Autopsy
By DENNIS HARVEY

An After Dark Films release of a Seven Arts Pictures presentation of a Parallel Media, A-Mark Entertainment, Voodoo production. Produced by Jessica Horowitz, Steve Markoff, Bruce McNall, Warren Zide. Executive producers, Olga Mirimskaya, Raymond J. Markovich, Mike Marvin, Darrel Casalino, Michael Arata, Jerry Daigle, Harmon Kaslow, John Martin. Directed by Adam Gierasch. Screenplay, Jace Anderson, Gierasch, E.L. Katz.

With: Robert Patrick, Jessica Lowndes, Jenette Goldstein, Michael Bowen, Robert LaSardo, Ross Kohn, Ashley Schneider, Arcadiy Golubovich, Ross McCall, Janine Venable, Eric F. Adams.

Willfully crass shocker “Autopsy” checks the requisite hapless hotties into a rural Louisiana hospital where nobody ever checks out. Directorial debut by Adam Gierasch (co-scenarist with Jace Anderson of Dario Argento’s “Mother of Tears” and Tobe Hooper’s “Mortuary” and “Toolbox Murders”) takes a somewhat campy approach to lurid genre tropes via ridiculously over-the-top villains and gore. Still, it’s less sendup than homage to retro horror trash. Certain fanboys will be all over this After Dark Fest item once it hits DVD shelves in March.

Post-Mardi Gras partying, five twentysomethings suffer a car crash occasioned by an apparently escaped mental patient. The ambulance arrives without being called; alas, suspiciously underpopulated Mercy Hospital is more in the biz of ensnaring than caring. While her friends suffer serious breaches of medical ethics, Emily (Jessica Lowndes) proves most resilient at combating malevolent Dr. Benway (Robert Patrick) and his equally homicidal staff. A la Argento at his ’70s peak (he’s thanked in the end credits), corridors are lit in atmospherically incongruous rainbow colors. “Autopsy” is as gratuitously stylish as its no-brainer content is gleefully crude. Dull it ain’t, despite brief mayhem lulls.

Camera (color, HD-to-35mm), Anthony B. Richmond; editor, Andrew Cohen; music, Joseph Bishara; production designer, Dorian Vernacchio. Reviewed at Century 20, Daly City, Calif., Jan. 10, 2009. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 84 MIN.

PRESS RELEASE:

Nickelodeon’s original primetime TV movie Spectacular! rocks Presidents’ Day as it follows charismatic Nikko (Nolan Gerard Funk, Smallville) on an offbeat road to rock stardom that takes swift, sudden twists and turns. Unwavering, after he’s kicked out of his band and dumped by his girlfriend, the talented teenage rebel pulls out all the stops on and offstage, using dynamic new music to achieve his dream while facing fierce competition and learning some hard lessons in life and love along the way.

“Spectacular! is a riveting story with heart, great music and tons of tween appeal,” said Marjorie Cohn, Executive Vice President, Development and Original Programming. “It’s uniquely Nickelodeon because it stays true to our tradition of great characters driving the story, but the edgy music gives it a contemporary twist.”

The sparks fly when Nikko joins a musical group called Spectacular! led by preppy Courtney (Tammin Sursok, The Young and the Restless) and mentored by the absent-minded Mr. Romano (Greg Germann, Ally McBeal). A culture clash between the discipline of show choir and the spontaneity of rock and roll ends up producing a whole new musical style for the group (10 original songs take center stage) that could spell big trouble for a rival group. Two musical worlds collide as dueling teams of talented singing and dancing teens angle for a national championship.

When Nikko’s ejected from his band for playing by his own rules, he needs quick cash to record a solo demo. Courtney grabs the opportunity to recruit the wannabe rock star as lead singer for her floundering show choir group, Spectacular. Though a stickler for the rules, Courtney slips Nikko into the key spot vacated by Royce (Simon Curtis, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat), who has defected to rival group, Ta-Da. Nikko is wary at first of the glitzy group — dazzling attire courtesy of Oscar-winning costume designer Angus Strathie (Moulin Rouge) — but he’s also desperate to jump-start his solo career, and the potential prize money is a magnet. Fueling the competition further, Royce’s gorgeous new girlfriend Tammi (Victoria Justice, Zoey 101) leads Ta-Da. Will Courtney find a way to adapt to Nikko’s style? Can Nikko learn teamwork and can Courtney learn to “feel the music?” Can Spectacular compete with juggernaut Ta-Da? And above all, will Nikko remain loyal while his solo rock career waits in the wings?

Lauren Levine (Bridge to Terabithia, Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh) and Lion Share Productions’ Jessica Horowitz serve as executive producers of Spectacular! and Robert Iscove (She’s All That) directed a script by James Krieg (Monk). Nickelodeon’s Marjorie Cohn and Bill O’Dowd and Michael Espensen of Dolphin Entertainment also serve as executive producers.
Hitmakers Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil composed 10 original songs for the movie, which accompany two covers on the Spectacular! soundtrack from Nickelodeon/Columbia Records, debuting in stores on February 3. Two songs from the album, “Everything Can Change” and “Don’t Tell Me” are currently available on iTunes. Gerrard has penned hit singles for the likes of Nick Carter (Help Me), Kelly Clarkson (Breakaway) and Hilary Duff (I Can’t Wait), He also has contributed to the soundtracks of High School Musical, The Cheetah Girls 2 and Hannah Montana. Nevil is best known for his ’80s dance hit C’est La Vie and co-wrote the theme song for Hannah Montana as well as songs for the High School Musical soundtrack. Choreographer R.J. Durell, has choreographed tours and stage shows for Madonna and Britney Spears.

Nickelodeon will also offer a sneak peek of the movie, behind-the-scenes footage and a playlist of music videos on TurboNick and Nick’s wireless and third party online syndication partners. In addition, TurboNick will offer a post-premiere instant replay. Nick.com’s special Spectacular site will feature video and MP3 players, quizzes, games, a photo flipcard, star and movie info and various downloads (screensaver, wallpaper, buddy icons). Nickelodeon will also highlight the movie in its February VOD, offering a sneak peek, music videos and Zoey 101 episodes featuring Victoria Justice. The movie will be simulcast on Nickelodeon Mobile.

Nickelodeon, now in its 30th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 98 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 14 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com.