Matthew McConaughey Proposes to Camila Alves

Matthew McConaughey and Camilla Alves Mathew McConaughey gave his girlfriend Camila Alves a Christmas surprise because he sprang the question. "Just asked for Camila to marry me, #MerryChristmas," he tweeted along with this photo from the pair. See other stars who've become engaged this year McConaughey, 42, and Alves, 29, are actually dating since 2006 and so are parents to 3-year-old boy Levi and 23-month-old daughter Vida.

George Michael Released From Hospital: "I'm Lucky to Be Alive"

George Michael George Michael was released from an Austrian hospital Thursday after battling pneumonia for more than a month. "I'm very weak but I feel amazing," the 48-year-old "Faith" singer told reporters on Friday outside his home, according to The Daily Mirror. "I'm lucky to be alive." Check out photos of George Michael Talking to reporters, Michael called his medical ordeal "by far the worst month of my life" and held back tears when he thanked doctors for keeping him alive. "I'd say it was touch and go for a couple of weeks," he said. "We played it down because I didn't want to worry my fans too much - I'm sorry I couldn't contact them before now but I wasn't in any state to do so." Michael first experienced health problems in late October when he had to cancel a London date of his Symphonica tour due to a viral infection. On Nov. 21, he was admitted to a Vienna hospital after complaining of chest pains. It was later confirmed that Michael had pneumonia and was in an intensive care unit until Dec. 1. On Friday, Michael revealed he had had a tracheotomy (an incision in his neck to open his airways) during his hospitalization. Watch music videos of George Michael "The fact I've been so lucky and the fact that I still have plenty to live for - I have this amazing, amazing life and if I wasn't spiritual enough before the last four or five weeks then I certainly am now," he said. "I have to believe that somebody believes I've still got some work to do here." Michael said he plans to perform a concert for the doctors in Austria who saved his life, and also plans to resume his Symphonica tour, which was officially canceled once Michael was hospitalized. "I really from the bottom of my heart thank everyone for sending messages, and everyone in that ICU unit who saved my life," he said. "I'm a new man."

ABC News changes 'Picture'

Among ABC News prexy Ben Sherwood's top projects is visiting fruition: The whole division is starting a significant rebranding initiative beginning Monday. This news division's motto has become "Begin to see the Whole Picture," a slogan that appears tailor-designed to invite audiences anxious for many clearness throughout the 2012 election season -- and after, obviously. There is the new tagline in addition to a new leading picture of the net's entire on-air staff posed together inside a yearbook-style photo, with Barbara Walters in the forefront, in red-colored, flanked by Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer.The brand new campaign will stress ABC News' capability to make tales about far-reaching occasions highly relevant to American audiences, and puts major focus on the Alphabet's roster of personas.ABC's phone card continues to be the claim "More People in america obtain news from ABC News" since a minimum of 1988 (it has been around such a long time, reps for that network could not remember getting been without them), therefore the change is major. Sherwood told journos in October the "more People in america" statement was literally true, now more than ever before, as the organization joined with Yahoo to supply wider distribution because of its content.Throughout that deal, too, ABC recommended its bench of anchors and correspondents. Sherwood, who became a member of the internet just more than a year ago, has focued on talent moves in the newbie at work, sometimes compromising exclusivity to nab or have a major newsperson. Katie Couric became a member of the Alphabet after her departure from CBS, and can report for ABC News as she creates her new syndie yakker for ABC/Disney Domestic TV. And merely a week ago, ABC and CNN discussed an unparalleled deal to talk about Christiane Amanpour, to whom ABC's typically domestic-politics-heavy "NowInch appeared an unpleasant fit ("NowInch saw models located in both Libya and Egypt this season). Amanpour may have several special offers annually on ABC and can report for CNN.Because the campaign comes out through 2012, it'll stress that flexibility even while the division's achieve grows via Yahoo. The promotions can look on all ABC News broadcasts to start with, and can land on ABC News Radio, on abcnews.com as well as on Yahoo! in 2012. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

Michel Gondry's 'Taxi Driver': The Director's Lo-Fi Have a look at Travis Bickle

Right now, the American public can access a national treasure: 'Alvin as well as the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.' The rambunctious rats have been in it again in another madcap musical adventure this time around around Alvin, Simon and Theodore in addition to their Chipette options Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor, continue a cruiseship holiday using the always-irritable Dork Seville. But Alvin's hijinks lead to most six in the cute as well as the affectionate chipmunks getting stranded around the deserted tropical island. They have reached understand to use together to acquire home ... and employ more recent and much more effective tunes in route. You may read that plot description and think it's mindless fluff designed to entertain only the smallest children, but you'd be scoffing within the feature for just about any large juggernaut. Exactly how financially lucrative gets the 'Chipmunks' franchise been since it began in 2007? Moviefone has develop an expedient graph tell you! (Since the singing chipmunks were once lonely little orphans who've been saved by their talent manager, Moviefone made a decision to determine the Chipmunks' movie dollars having a couple of real charitable groups devoted to animal welfare and art achievement. Too as with recognition in the island setting of 'Chipwrecked,' we put inside an actual island for reference.) [Click image to enlarge] The initial 'Alvin' movie cost $60 million to produce the second one cost $75 million. Each movie then ongoing to produce hundreds of vast amounts in ticket sales. Therefore if you're among people weirdos that hates the 'Chipmunk' movies, you can now understand the quantity of an outcast you are why would many people under your own accord give their funds for the 'Chipmunks' movies once they were an undesirable factor? Watch a clip for 'Alvin as well as the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked' [Photo: last century Fox] (Special due to Chris Spurlock for graph design.) Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Ohayon to Magnet Media publish

Ohayon Producer-director Michele Ohayon has became a member of the finance-production company Magnet Media Group as leader of production and can produce sci-fi actioner "O2" with Magnet topper Jeanette Buerling.Magnet is fully financing "O2" with intends to shoot this summer time in Germany and also the U.K. on the $50 million budget. Ronnie Christensen ("Dark Tide," "People") authored the script "Gremlins" helmer Joe Dante is mounted on direct.Ohayon, a local of The other agents, started employed in films with 1984's "Pressure" and was nominated to have an Oscar for that 1997 docu "Colors Upright.Inch Various other paperwork include "It Had Been An Excellent Existence," "Cowboy Del Amor," "Steal a Pencil for me personallyInch and "S.O.S./Condition of Security," which opened in the Berlin Film Festival this year.InchOperating with Magnet provides me with top notch use of creating high budget films, and enables me to create my very own content input towards the table," Ohayon stated.Magnet's also developing "Married and Cheating," with Raymond P Felitta ("City Island") pointing their own script, to become shot in Paris within the summer time, and action thriller "Home Front" with Bill Chartoff ("The Auto technician"), Lukia Czernin, Buerling and Ohayon creating. "Home Front" is anticpated to be shot in Nigeria in September. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

'Kathy Griffin: Tired Hooker' Tackles Hugh Jackman's Broadway 'Fabulousness' (Exclusive Video)

TLC It would appear members of the conservative Florida Family Association are among the few actually paying attention to TLC's All-American Muslim.our editor recommendsRussell Simmons Calls for Lowe's Boycott, Personally Buys Ad Time on 'All-American Muslim'Travel Web Site Kayak Also Pulled Ads from TLC's 'All-American Muslim' (Report)Jon Stewart Skewers TLC, Lowe's Over 'American Muslim' Boycott'All-American Muslim' Targeted by PETA The reality series about Muslim families living in suburban Detroit, which lost advertising from Lowe's and other brands after FAA condemned it as propaganda, is languishing in the ratings. PHOTOS: 10 of TV's Biggest Television Show Controversies Only five episodes into its first season, the series ranked 78th among Sunday's cable broadcasts for Dec. 11. With only 908,000 viewers and a 0.3 rating among adults 18-49, it's being easily outperformed by series like History's American Pickers, Discovery's Moonshiners and its latest lead-in, Little People Big World: Holiday Surprise. This recent episode, which aired two days after news broke of Lowe's controversial departure as advertiser, continued a downward trend in numbers, not benefiting at all from the added attention. It dropped from a .4 rating in the key demo from the previous week, and fell below the 1-million mark for the first time. REVIEW: 'All-American Muslim' All-American Muslim did not get off to a terrible start, either. Boosted by a lead-in from the successful Sister Wives, its Nov. 13 premiere earned a 0.9 rating among adults 18-49 and 1.74 million viewers. It dropped 55 percent in its second outing to a 0.5 rating and 1.17 million viewers and continued a steady decline from there. So will there be no silver lining to all of the drama? The real test for how the series could get a boost from the attention will come with the Dec. 18 broadcast. Though the Lowe's story broke Dec. 9, it didn't gain momentum until this week, when celebrities such as Russell Simmons and Mia Farrow publicly threw their support behind the show. And it should not be forgotten how well scandal has treated TLC in the past. Nearly 10 million tuned in to watch Jon and Kate Gosselin's marriage unravel on the 2009 premiere of Jon & Kate Plus 8, doubling its previous ratings high after a few weeks of tabloid attention. TV Ratings TLC All-American Muslim

Nick Swardson to Work Again, and 5 Other Stories You'll Be Talking About Today

Happy Wednesday! Also in today’s edition of The Broadsheet: The man who helped make cinema safe for the counterculture has died… Kenneth Branagh’s back-up plan… Apologies worth considering… and more. · Watch out! Nick Swardson and TJ Miller have been cast in the stop-motion animated Hell & Back, “a comedy about two best friends who must rescue their pal when he is accidentally dragged to hell.” Which is to say, it’s about retrieving Rob Schneider from a screening of Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star. [Deadline] · Bert Schneider, the Oscar-winning producer whose astounding film credits include Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, The Last Picture Show, Hearts and Minds and Days of Heaven (not to mention creating The Monkees), has passed away at age 78. [NYT] · “I’ve always quite fancied owning a bookstore, or working in one.” So! If this acting/directing thing doesn’t work out for him, at least Kenneth Branagh has a Plan B. Good to know. [The NYer, subscription required] · In a remarkable act of guts and magnanimity, Big Hollywood editor John Nolte has publicly apologized for churlishly dismissing me as “one of left-wing Hollywood’s chief Palace Guards and water carriers” writing off the critical and commercial hit Rise of the Planet of the Apes before having seen it: “I was wrong. And I’m sorry.” Ahem. You’re still getting coal for Christmas, John. [Big Hollywood] · Stephen Daldry also issued regrets about the Daldry not screening in time for critics awards, telling Variety in an interview conducted on Dec. 1: “I’m sorry that critics didn’t get to see it in time, but I literally finished the final mix at 6 a.m. this morning. You have to make a choice about whether you’re going to compromise the film to make deadlines or finish it the best way you know how.” [Variety] · “Yeah, I’m like this is stupid, why am I wearing a mask?” Paris Jackson speaks! But does she say anything? [Reuters via Yahoo!]

Mark Burnett teams with ACTV8

Mark Burnett is adopting tech firm ACTV8 to cope with second-screen encounters for TV series produced by his company. Android and iOs clients will have a way to savor content strongly related Burnett shows synchronized to wireless items, additionally to integration with leading social-media platforms. "It is my dream to make a much much deeper plus much more engaging relationship while using audiences within our shows," mentioned Burnett. The Burnett-ACTV8 deal signifies one other way different factions in the media business are generating a land grab inside the second screen world. Burnett has already established a dynamic fascination with the tech space, getting also dedicated to YouToo, which enables audiences to upload their particular video content with a cable tv funnel. Series produced by Burnett include "The Voice," "Survivor," "The Apprentice" and "Shark Tank." There's no set timetable on when ACTV8 will probably be implemented for each shows. Taken, Burnett offered a stake within the production company to Hearst Corp. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Tom Shadyacs I'm Documentary To Debut Jan. 1 On The famous host oprah Winfrey Network

Tom Shadyac’s documentary I'm will start OWN: The famous host oprah Winfrey Network’s Super Soul Sunday programming block on The month of january 1, 2012. Onetime hit feature director Shadyac’s existence required a significant turn after he experienced a concussion inside a cycling accident that left him not able to get results for several weeks. The director of Liar Liar, The Nutty Professor and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective went through a profound transformation he stories within the movie. I'm follows Shadyac’s mission to reply to two questions: What’s wrong using the world” and So what can we all do about this?. He interviews notable males and ladies in the mobile phone industry's of science, philosophy, academia and belief — including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, David Suzuki, Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Lynne McTaggart, Ray Anderson, John Francis, Coleman Barks and Marc Ian Barasch. The famous host oprah Winfrey’s separate interview with Shadyac introduces the documentary. Super Soul Sunday airs 8-11 AM by having an encore beginning at noon. I'm is going to be available The month of january 3 on DVD. Watch a clip formerly published on Deadline here.

Ad Forecasters Say TV And Digital May Benefit Most Out Of 2012 Growth

Three of the very prominent ad-predicting firms began the UBS Annual Global Media and Communications Conference today — because they typically do only at that event — by unveiling their up-to-date predictions for 2012. Plus they virtually agree: 2012 will improve than 2011. MagnaGlobal is around the conservative side, projecting3.2% development in The United States, and GroupM is much more bullish at 4%. MagnaGlobal EVP Vincent Letang states the U.S. ad market will enjoy the most powerful-ever quadrennial effect with $2.4B striking the marketplace from political campaigns, and $600M associated with the Summer time Olympic games working in london. That’s why GroupM Futures Director Adam Smithwarns the ad-growth number in 2013 — with no quadrennial effect –”might be harder to check out.”The forecasters agree that television and digital will benefitmost in the development in ad investing.Butthey warn that pay TVproviders have to be careful: Monthly subscriptions “will go lower by 500,000 annually for next 5 years” partially because of competition from Web video companies for example Netflix, states ZenithOptimedia Boss Steve King, whose company launched its forecast last evening. Healso saysthat there’sareason to accept predictions with abig touch of suspicion. “The component that none people have incorporated is really a default” by European country.

Disney Channel's 'Good Luck Charlie' Holiday Movie Strikes Ratings Gold

Marni Grossman/CBS"Blue Bloods" It was another down week in the ratings following Black Friday, even with football as one of the programming choices on broadcast. CBS continued its reign atop a sleepy Friday, up against Fox's telecast of the first Pac-12 championship game between the Oregon Ducks and the UCLA Bruins. (Ducks won the game handily.) Averaging a 1.4 rating in the key 18-49 demo during primetime, CBS' lineup slipped across the board from their last originals -- with Blue Bloods seeing the biggest drop. A Gifted Man (8 million total viewers, 1.2 rating in adults 18-49 demographic) hovered around its usual demo home, but compared to two weeks ago, was down a tenth. CSI: NY (9.7 million, 1.4) dropped two tenths, while Blue Bloods (11 million, 1.6) plunged. Even so, CBS either tied (A Gifted Man) for No. 1 or won its hours (CSI: NY, Blue Bloods). Following CBS was Fox with the Ducks-Bruins football game. From 8-10 p.m., the matchup didn't prove to be a big draw as 4.3 million tuned in and the network averaged a 1.3. ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (4.8 million, 1.2) dipped slightly and Katie Couric's big 20/20 interview (4.5 million, 1.3) with a pregnant Beyonce didn't infuse a new energy at 10 p.m. ABC placed third on the night with a 1.2 average. The CW's midseason finale of Nikita (1.7 million, 0.5) dropped, while Supernatural (1.9 million, 0.7) held firm. NBC's telecast of Game of Your Life (2.2 million, 0.6) wasn't a ratings winner; Dateline (4.1 million, 1.0) followed with a steep drop. 8 p.m. Fox: Pac-12 Championship Game (4.3 million viewers, 1.3 rating in adults 18-49) CBS: A Gifted Man (8 million, 1.2) ABC: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (4.8 million, 1.2) NBC: Game of Your Life (2.2 million, 0.6) The CW: Nikita (1.7 million, 0.5) 9 p.m. CBS: CSI: NY (9.7 million, 1.4) The CW: Supernatural (1.9 million, 0.7) 10 p.m. CBS: Blue Bloods (11 million, 1.6) ABC: 20/20 (4.5 million, 1.3) NBC: Dateline (4.1 million, 1.0) PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Fall TV Death Pool: Will 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Whitney' or 'How to Be a Gentleman' Be Axed First? TV Ratings

Motley Crue Set for Las Vegas Residency

Spiegel & Grau, the Random House imprint, has bought The Lullaby of Polish Girls, the first novel from actress Dagmara Dominczyk, with a pre-emptive bid. The book is the coming-of-age tale of three girlfriends from Kielce, Poland. The story takes place in both Poland and the U.S., and follows their lives over several decades. Dominczyk also plans to develop the novel as a feature film. PHOTOS: 10 Biggest Book-to-Big Screen Adaptations of the Last 25 Years Dominczyk recently starred opposite Vera Farmiga in Higher Ground and will be seen next year as Ed Harris' wife in the submarine thriller Phantom. She also starred opposite Jim Caviezel in the Count of Monte Christo, playing Edmund Dante's fiancé Mercedes. Her TV credits include roles on The Good Wife, Suits, 24, and Third Watch. PHOTOS: 14 Thanksgiving Holiday Roadtrip Reads Dominczyk own life story roughly mirrors that of her characters in The Lullaby of Polish Girls. She was born in Kielce, but emigrated to the United States in 1983 as a political refugee because of her father's involvement in Solidarity, the political movement headed by Lech Walesa. The family relocated to NY City. Dominczyk graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1998 with a major in Drama. Julie Grau will be editing the book at Spiegel & Grau. Paradigm brokered the deal and will be handling the sale of film rights. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 10 Biggest Book-to-Big Screen Adaptations of the Last 25 Years Related Topics Books Books to Film