Musicians endorse SAG-AFTRA merger

The American Federation of Musicians has endorsed the proposed merger between the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, joining Actors' Equity in blessing the union. The exec board of the AFM said it is in "full support" of the merger pact. "When ratified by the groups' memberships, the uniting of the two groups will result in a more powerful and united face to represent workers in both film and broadcasting," the AFM said. Ballots went out this week to 120,000 SAG members and 70,000 AFTRA members, who include actors, broadcasters, DJs, singers and dancers, with a tabulation date of March 30. To be approved, the merger must receive at least 60% of the votes from each union. "The proposed merger is a historic step and is a symbol of unity for the entertainment sector and for the entire labor movement," said AFM president Ray Hair. "For decades, AFTRA and SAG have stood prominently and proudly for dignity and justice in the entertainment industry workplace. The joining of these two great unions will focus union power toward a better future for the media business, not only here in the United States but throughout the world." Should the SAG-AFTRA merger agreement be approved, new mergers would have to be approved by 60% of the voting membership or by 60% of the delegates of the new SAG-AFTRA. That means future combos with such performer unions as Equity and AFM could be OK'd without being subject to direct approval by the members of SAG-AFTRA. Merger proponents have long asserted that combining unions is a logical response to the increasing power of the mega-congloms and contended that the combined unions will have more bargaining clout. Merger opponents, who lost power at SAG in recent years, have argued that SAG will lose its unique character as a performers union and that the combined entity won't have more power at the negotiating table. SAG members voted down a proposed merger in 2003, when the merged union would have been called the Alliance of Intl. Media Artists. The Actors' Equity Council unanimously backed the "consolidation and affiliation" proposal in 2003. Opponents of the merger filed suit last week against SAG to block the combo, alleging that leaders have not conducted "the necessary due diligence." SAG's labelled the suit "a clear attempt at circumventing the will of the membership" and "a public relations stunt." Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Report: Stephen Colbert Takes Hiatus to look after Ailing Mother

Scott Speedman Felicity alum Scott Speedman will star opposite Andre Braugher in ABC's drama pilot from Shawn Ryan. In Last Measure, a renegade crew of the nuclear submarine, lead by Males of the Certain Age's Braugher, go on the move after repel a purchase to fireplace nuclear missiles. They find sanctuary in a NATO base where they declare the world's littlest nuclear nation. Speedman will have XO Mike Kendal, the 2nd-in-command from the U.S.S. Nevada, who's moral and sees every side of the confrontation. Pilot Season: Obtain the scoop! Also cast within the pilot is Camille p Pazzis, who'll portray Sophie, an understanding European researcher responsible for the NATO listening station the U.S.S. Nevada commandeers. As formerly introduced, Fall Reeser, Daisy Betts, and Serta Lissing will even star. The Shield's Ryan will executive-make the pilot, that they authored with Karl Gajdusek (Dead Much Like Me).

Ratings: Cougar Town Returns to all or any-Time Low

Courteney Cox and Busy Phillips Will we supply the Cougar Town crew a b - for trying?No matter the cast and producers' valiant guerrilla marketing effort for your extended-postponed third season, the comedy returned Tuesday to 4.8 million audiences together with single.8 rating inside the grownups 18-to-49 demo - both series lows.Social TV: Cougar Town creator offers ponies, drunken raves to loyal fansThe silver lining? The show experienced relatively small drops in measures - 4 and ten percent, correspondingly - within the Season 2 finale (if the broadcast on Wednesdays after Modern Family) and released the finest retention rate from Last Guy Standing (82 %) all season. Still, Cougar Town's premiere amounts are below people in the timeslot's previous (now-canceled) citizens Guy Up and Push The Button.Cbs television studios television galleries won the evening, run by NCIS, which came 19.4 million audiences together with a 3.9 rating.8 p.m.CBS: NCIS 19.4 million audiences (3.9 demo rating)ABC: Last Guy Standing 7.6 000 0000 (2.2) Cougar Town 4.8 million (1.8)Fox: Glee 6.9 million (2.8)NBC: The Finest Loser 5.8 million (2.) [8-10 p.m.]CW: Hart of Dixie (R) .7 million (.3)9 p.m.CBS: NCIS: La 16 million audiences (3.2)ABC: The Forest 4.9 million (1.7) Fox: New Girl 6.6 000 0000 (3.2) Raising Hope 4.68 million (2.1)CW: Ringer 1.07 million (.3)10 p.m.CBS: Memorable 10.9 million audiences (2.)ABC: Body of Proof 6.millions of (1.2)NBC: Motherhood 4.4 million (1.6)

Sports Illustrated's 2012 Bathing suit Edition Cover Leaks Online

Kate Upton, The 2012 Sports Highlighted Bathing suit Problem The previous Rookie of the season has switched professional. Kate Upton may be the cover girl for Sports Illustrated's 2012 Bathing suit Edition. Sports Highlighted was set to unveil the coverage Monday evening in an event, but a couple of issues were apparently sent early to some service station in Michigan and rapidly hit the web. TMZ.com published the coverage early online. Browse the relaxation of present day news Upton, one and actress, was named the Rookie of the season within the 2011 Bathing suit Edition. An e-mail to Sports Highlighted wasn't immediately came back.

New Horizons finds 'Jesus'

Reaching beyond its usual festivals and distribution procedures, Poland's New Horizons Assn. has boarded "Comrade Jesus," from helmer Urszula Antoniak. New Horizons, which runs the completely new Horizons Film Festival in Wroclaw, Belgium, also provides Przemyslaw Wojcieszek's "Secret" world premiering inside the Berlinale Forum. It's Wojcieszek's third film to unspool inside the section. New Horizons produced along with Dynamo Karuzela. New Horizons is creating "Comrade Jesus," starring Andrzej Chyra. Pic notifies the story of Jesus, who, while likely to a nouveau riche Polish family, won't leave to cause many trouble for your family members. New Horizons is presently hunting for a co-producer round the project. The ultimate film in the Polish-born and Holland-based Chyra was "Code Blue," which carried out in Directors' Week in Cannes this season. New Horizons distributed it in Belgium. Contact Carole Horst at carole.horst@variety.com

Henry Cavill In Talks For Historic Epic 'Great Wall'

Henry Cavill is heading from "Guy of Steel" to participate director Erection dysfunction Zwick within the "Great Wall." Meanwhile, Morgan Freeman might be the most recent actor to participate "Oblivion," Take advantage of Fiennes picks his next directorial effort and Haley Joel Osment is positioned to star in another sci-fi film. It's February 10, and you're simply attentiveness for current day casting call. Henry Cavill Heads For The "Great Wall" Henry Cavill is jumping in a single epic film to another. With production on "Guy of Steel" overall, Variety is verifying that Cavill is at predicts star in Erection dysfunction Zwick's approaching historic film "Great Wall." The film will think about the mystery behind how a Great Wall of China was created. Morgan Freeman Joins Tom Cruise In "Oblivion" The cast of Ernest Kosinski's "Oblivion" is constantly have more effective and much more effective. Deadline is verifying that Morgan Freeman has grew to become part of the cast inside an as-yet unknown role. He'll join Tom Cruise since the last guy around the publish-apocalyptic Earth, additionally to leading ladies Andrea Riseborough and Olga Kurylenko. Take advantage of Fiennes Will Star Within The Next Directorial Effort Screen Daily is verifying that Take advantage of Fiennes follows-up his directorial debut of "Coriolanus" while using period drama "The Invisible Lady." The film concentrates on an affection affair between Charles Dickens (being carried out by Fiennes) and also the mistress Nelly Ternan (Felicity Manley), with Fiennes's "The British Patient" costar Kristin Scott Thomas playing Ternan's mother. Stark Sands Goes "Inside Llewyn Davis" Broadway star Stark Sands might be the most recent youthful talent to participate the Coen Brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis." The "American Idiot" star may have a forlorn but gifted music artist, according to Deadline. He'll be joining a star-studded cast including Justin Timberlake, Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and John Goodman. John Cusack And Evan Peters Join Emma Roberts In "Adult World" Deadline is verifying that two new stars have grew to become part of Emma Roberts inside the cast of "Adult World." John Cusack originates aboard just like a famous poet named Rat Billings who's Roberts' character's idol and was the most effective poets in the 1990's. Peters, however, may have a personality named Manny. Haley Joel Osment Heads To Sci-Fi In "I'll Follow You Lower" Haley Joel Osment will most likely be headed to sci-fi territory inside the approaching Richie Mehta film "I'll Follow You Lower." Deadline is verifying that he'll be playing a man named Erol who discovers mysterious particulars about his missing father's disappearance. Reveal your opinions on current day Casting Make contact with should be genuine section below or on Twitter!

Watch The New 'Amazing Spider-Man' Trailer!

Spider-Man does whatever a spider can, and that apparently includes spinning amazing trailers in addition to amazing webs. The second trailer for "The Amazing Spider-Man" swung online early Tuesday morning (February 7), bringing fans their best look yet at Andrew Garfield's take on Peter Parker. If you ever doubted his ability to crack wise and have fun while busting bad guy butt, doubt no morebut make no mistake, there is a sense of realism and darkness here that was not present in the Sam Raimi era of "Spider-Man." Certainly an intriguing trailer, even if Lizard still looks just okay. Check out the trailer below, and tune into MTV Splash Page throughout the week for plenty more "Spider-Man" updates!