Cruel_Heartless Again

Whats becoming of you, that stint didn't last long at BBBA. You can do way better than that.

Marcia Hines get Tougher or Out

Judge Marcia Hines told to get tougher for Australian Idol

August 16th, 2008 12am

As the karaoke competition enters its sixth season, following a lacklustre 2007 series, word from behind the scenes is that Hines is no longer singing it softly to contestants.

Mother hen Marcia

Reports of the panel diva's new leaf have come from Channel 10's first attempt at a production make-over - new host and former Idol songbird Ricki Lee Coulter.

The new recruit said a string of changes had been put in place to make the competition "a lot more fierce", the pinnacle of which was Hines' stormy mood swings.

"Marcia's pretty feisty this year," Coulter said.

"Only when it's necessary does she really go for it, but I've been going 'Oooh, Marcia' at times."

Although adding that all three judges had been "a lot more harsh," the 22-year-old said Hines was set to emerge with her kitten claws sharpened.

"I've seen her in action and I wouldn't like to be on the receiving end."

"You've seen her go off at the judges before.

"Imagine her doing that to contestants."

While the judges' tough love approach has taken this year's hopeful stars by surprise, Coulter said the result was "an amazing top 24".

"The last few years contestants have gone in knowing what to expect so they kind of play the game," she said.

"This year that's all changed."

The national viewing public will be the judge when the revamped Australian Idol returns to the screens on August 24.

Link

This year 2008:
Hosts:
Andrew G., James Mathison
Ricki-Lee (backstage)

Judges:
Ian 'Dicko' Dickson
Marcia Hines
Kyle Sandilands

Who's the Most Bankable Star in Hollywood?

May 27, 2008, 8:27 pm

By Matthew Shepatin

(These figures are the latest available.)

With Harrison Ford dusting off his fedora in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and taking in $150 million over the last four days, is there any chance he can reclaim his rightful place as Hollywood’s all-time biggest star?

Not even close, if you're basing stardom on all-time total movie box office grosses, the traditional industry barometer for such things. Excluding voice roles, the biggest star in the world is Samuel L. Jackson with more than $4 billion in U.S. grosses and nearly $8 billion worldwide, earning the actor a page in the Guinness Book Of World Records. To overtake Jackson, Harrison Ford, who currently resides in fourth place, would need Indiana Jones to pull in $951.2 million domestically. (As Short Round might say, “Very funny, Dr. Jones! Very funny!”)

But ranking stars on total box office is woefully inadequate in determining a star’s true bankability. For one thing, it over rewards an actor like Samuel L. Jackson for appearing in 42 percent of the movies produced since 1985. (An overstatement, but not by much: Jackson has made roughly 80 movies over the last 20 years, an average of four a year.) “In general, this chart heavily favors people who have appeared in one or two high-grossing movie series,” says Bruce Nash, founder of the box-office stats site The Numbers. This is why Orlando Bloom tops the list for average box office gross, thanks to his appearance in the Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises. His other movies? Crap like Elizabethtown and The Kingdom of Heaven.

To help us devise a more accurate metric for determining a star’s true value, Nash created a brand-new stat, Box Office Power, which is based on a points system. To qualify for the chart, an actor or actress must have appeared in more than ten movies with a wide release, appearing in more than 1,000 theaters, in the United States. The scoring works as follows:

+3 points for each leading role in a wide release that is either a stand-alone movie or the first movie in a franchise, and that earns over $100 million at the box office.

+2 points for each leading role in a wide release that is the second, third, fourth, etc., movie in a franchise, and which earns over $100 million at the box office.

+1 point for each supporting role in a wide release (of any sort) that earns more than $100 million at the box office.

-1 point for each leading or supporting role in a wide release that earns less than $100 million at the box office.

So what do we find when we crunch the numbers? The all-time top star is Tom Cruise with a total score of 27. “What this says is that Tom Cruise has consistently delivered hits while appearing in a wide variety of movies,” said Nash. “Love him or hate him, he has a strong claim to being the most bankable star over the past twenty years.” While there’s no way to know if he will continue to be the most bankable star for the next thirty, what’s clear is that contrary to all the negative press (e.g., couch-jumping, attempts to be "down" with Kanye West, Scientology...) Cruise is still the safest bet in Hollywood.

Because the Box Office Power points system rewards quality over quantity, neither all-time grossing star Samuel L. Jackson nor eighth-best grosser Bruce Willis cracked the top 25. While Willis has made around 60 films, for every Sixth Sense ($293.5 million in the U.S.) he's had, there have been about five Fast Food Nations ($1 million) to go with it. The same goes for other "bankable" stars, like Robin Williams, the ninth-highest all-time grosser, and character actors Morgan Freeman (14th all-time) and Willem Dafoe (16th all-time). None of these men are on the new list.

Some stars have risen on the new list. Jim Carrey, the 33rd highest grosser, is fourth on the Box Office Power list, thanks to his ability to carry a wide variety of films, instead of investing his star power in franchise films. Box Office Power also rewards women, with Julia Roberts (#9), Cameron Diaz (#12), Maggie Smith (#14), Jodie Foster (#24), and Keira Knightley (#25) all cracking the list.

The one actor who might be more valuable to a studio than anyone realizes is Adam Sandler, who is only the 126th highest-grossing actor but is sixth in Box Office Power. Sandler is a perfect example of someone who has the underrated skill to have a smash with a stand-alone movie. After all, franchises come and go. In the end, what really matters is the rare actor or actress who can succeed if a numeral is in the title or not. This summer, we'll find out if The Zohan was worth messing with or not.

LINK

Nicole Kidman doesn't even get a look in.

Derogatory Posts at .NET - And The Area for Dispute

All comments and posts by Canis have been noted re myself and others. I sincerely hope they don't continue on .NET.

He starts with Allican, someone he cannot stand, moves on to 3chins, myself and finally DramaQueen. Kylie doesn't get a mention as she posts using that other nic at BBBA and Vinegar_Tits at .NET.

Any person who even dares to think he knows all this rubbish about other posters, sadly has something radically wrong with themselves. He is not a psychologist or analyst, but plugs away with numerous words and floods the page until one becomes totally offended. Can you imagine another doing the same to him? You will notice a trend with Canis, he befriends people then proceeds to cut them down. He talks about debate, fair and even discussion all the time, but if any person has an opposing viewpoint, the chop will come. It's all very one sided, sad really. What I don't believe Canis realises, continual putting down of people drives members away.

It appears I spoke too soon, the blunt axe has now struck Kylie.

The theory that I postulated about was wrong and thus I certainly did not publish same. Soz guys.

Posted as Guest 06/08 (For the record, now deleted from .NET)

"Beejay here..

I would like to say that I am sick to death of the rubbish being laid on me and the nic Durbsy. It needs to cease now, it is all petty crap and not deep and meaningful debate or conversation. And further I have no right of reply which is totally undemocratic. The last thing I want to do is turn my blog into one big "bitch fest".

I have also noticed PS has entered the fray, a person that knows very little about me at all, other than what she has been told by others. Time to concentrate on RL PS and more important matters.

Now this "Mindless Crap" nic, I stress I never shared that nic with 3chins, I originally set it up for her, which as I have privately discussed with DQ, it was a major error on my part.

So guys, how about, like adults we all leave sleeping dogs lay and get over bitching."

Daniel MacPherson May be New DWTS Host

Now Dan is a real spunk!

Host may be Dan MacPherson and not Larry Emdur

By Confidential August 02, 2008 08:12am

Host with the most ... Daniel MacPherson is tipped to be the new host of Dancing With The Stars. Picture: Channel 7

CITY Homicide star Daniel MacPherson yesterday firmed as strong favourite to host ratings juggernaut Dancing With The Stars.

Channel Seven is expected to officially announce MacPherson as Daryl Somers' replacement tomorrow, but yesterday gagged all involved with the production in an effort to keep it secret.

TV insiders believe that, after a little coercing from Seven, the 28-year-old personality has waltzed into the coveted role, reports Confidential.

MacPherson previously hosted the ill-fated X Factor on Ten in 2005, but his star has risen considerably following the success of cop drama City Homicide.

Here.