Kings Of Leon's Caleb Followill Expecting First Child

Lily Aldridge and Caleb Followill Kings of Leon lead singer Caleb Followill and his wife, model Lily Aldrige, are expecting their first child together, E! Online reports. The Victoria's Secret beauty, 26, is approximately three months pregnant, according to the site. Watch music videos of Kings of Leon The couple married in Santa Barbara last May after dating for more than two years. Kings of Leon is currently on hiatus after completing its world tour in November.

Lauren Bittner: A Back Stage Exclusive

"From the loving movies just like a kid so when they'd did a follow-up I could have been so disappointed whether it didn't meet my anticipation. But we did that!" Lauren Bittner confesses happily, about her record breaking box office hit "Paranormal Activity 3." Most broadly noted for playing Julie inside the Paranormal prequel, you might recognize Lauren from her roles in "Bride Wars" or "The Mighty Apple computer systems."Maturing in New You are able to Lauren started doing Community Theater, but didn't have clue this might be her career. She attended St. John's College and examined British. Sometimes she regrets not receiving a typical college campus experience. "If perhaps I'd done that, however again I wouldn't have something which I have now, also it was good, it kind of toughened me up and offered us a metropolitan experience."Lauren's exuberance is contagious and no matter subject, bad eighties fashion, the NY Mets, her TV obsession or online dating, she will get a point of view together with a distinctive perspective. She's the most effective girlfriend many of us wish we'd.Selected as this week's Actor2Watch, Lauren will probably be featured inside numerous articles, fun particulars and social media tweets through now for clients of Girl2Watch.com.Throughout school Lauren was undertaking in "Little Shop of Problems" each time a friend aided quick start her professional career being an actress. "Tara increased to become very amazing friend and extremely was encouraging of my career with techniques that we wasn't even. She will be a TV and film major and was working and interning inside the City inside a talent agency. She was like, 'I think you ought to have a real estate agent.A I used to be pretty not aware, it needed people to look at me in the play and say you are able to perform this. In my opinion lots of people do plays which is great plus they have fun, but people don't always say you must do that for a job, but everybody was proclaiming that in my opinion well, i needed it seriously. Tara mentioned to fulfill her inside the City eventually which i visited meet her in the office. I met individuals within the talent agency where she labored, who've been wonderful and so they asked for her, 'Is your friend an actress?A She understood what she was doing. In those days I used to be blond which i looked various and that i fit the type of youthful cleaning cleaning soap opera girl factor to ensure that they started be a freelance worker with me at night.In . How did your experience interning inside a Talent Agency enable you to discover concerning the business? "I attracted mind shots, filed making copies of scripts. It had been like old-fashioned in individuals days, you understand, people acquired scripts, there's no e-mailing. I used to be really star struck because I'd each one of these mind shots. I'd see people on guest spots on "Law and Order." I'd finish up like I realize him I pull his mind shot all the time! Furthermore, it assisted me appreciate the task that switches into getting an audition. You have to submit plus you've got to obtain the appointment after which it when you're setting it up you're lucky." What's your philosophy on who audition? "You can't concentrate on the enormity in the situation when you're going looking for these items, now this can be a large problem of mine just around, you understand, to type of undergo every experience and choose how it is and become grateful. Going daily and not getting overcome due to it because that could spoil it, you understand. How will you prepare for an audition? Usually I'll consider the sides to determine which I'm trying to find after i am reading through with the script, only to know I must know when and why my character is at there whatsoever. I Rapidly read a script which i just read it very quickly once, simply with an overall feeling with this then I'll return. Usually Someone said them two occasions. Maybe it's a comedy script I'm searching to find out just what the tone from this is, the pacing and just what the character type is always that I'm apt to be who audition for. Can you always go out for a similar type? I'm pretty lucky I buy seen for several stuff. In my opinion I'm less specific as I used to be. Used to do formerly get seen for your girl nearby now I buy seen for mother stuff. I merely carried out a young mother inside the movie. In my opinion will have the ability to carry out the dark folksy girl which i might also carry out the girl nearby, you understand, so I've been lucky. Would you read a script and basically not respond to it? Not frequently because usually In my opinion that you will find probably something great which come from this which i probably can't locate it yet. Sometimes I have my husband make out the print and supply me another opinion because sometimes wherever you are tomorrow psychologically is the feelings about whatever you just read. Therefore I attempt to step away and acquire a little more objective about scripts. I aim to supply everything a try typically. You just have no idea, I've done some jobs that have switched to become the finest items that I didn't always think could be. Lauren Bittner: A Back Stage Exclusive Actor2Watch presented by Girl2Watch.com December 22, 2011 "From the loving movies just like a kid so when they'd did a follow-up I could have been so disappointed whether it didn't meet my anticipation. But we did that!" Lauren Bittner confesses happily, about her record breaking box office hit "Paranormal Activity 3." Most broadly noted for playing Julie inside the Paranormal prequel, you might recognize Lauren from her roles in "Bride Wars" or "The Mighty Apple computer systems."Maturing in New You are able to Lauren started doing Community Theater, but didn't have clue this might be her career. She attended St. John's College and examined British. Sometimes she regrets not receiving a typical college campus experience. "If perhaps I'd done that, however again I wouldn't have something which I have now, but it absolutely was good, it kind of toughened me up and offered us a metropolitan experience."Lauren's exuberance is contagious and no matter subject, bad eighties fashion, the NY Mets, her TV obsession or online dating, she will get a point of view together with a distinctive perspective. She's the most effective girlfriend many of us wish we'd.Selected as this week's Actor2Watch, Lauren will probably be featured in many articles, fun particulars and social media tweets through let's focus on clients of Girl2Watch.com.Throughout school Lauren was undertaking in "Little Shop of Problems" each time a friend aided quick start her professional career becoming an actor. "Tara increased to become very amazing friend and extremely was encouraging of my career with techniques that we wasn't even. She will be a TV and film major and was working and interning inside the City inside a talent agency. She was like, 'I think you ought to have a real estate agent.A I used to be pretty not aware, it needed people to look at me in the play and say you can do this. In my opinion lots of people do plays which is great and so they have fun, but people don't always say for you to do this for a job, but everybody was proclaiming that in my opinion well, i needed it seriously. Tara mentioned to fulfill her inside the City eventually which i visited meet her in the office. I met individuals within the talent agency where she labored, who've been wonderful and so they asked for her, 'Is your friend an actress?A She understood what she was doing. In those days I used to be blond which i looked various and that i fit the type of youthful cleaning cleaning soap opera girl factor to ensure that they started be a freelance worker with me at night.In . How did your experience interning inside a Talent Agency enable you to discover concerning the business? "I attracted mind shots, filed making copies of scripts. It absolutely was like old-fashioned in individuals days, you understand, people acquired scripts, there's no e-mailing. I used to be really star struck because I'd every one of these mind shots. I'd see people on guest spots on "Law and Order." I'd finish up like I realize him I pull his mind shot constantly! Furthermore, it assisted me appreciate the task that switches into getting an audition. You have to submit plus you've got to obtain the appointment after which it when you're setting it up you're lucky." What's your philosophy on who audition? "You can't concentrate on the enormity in the situation when you're relocating of those things, now this can be a large problem of mine just around, you understand, to type of undergo every experience and choose how it is and become grateful. Going daily and not getting overcome due to it because that could spoil it, you understand. How will you prepare for an audition? Usually I'll consider the sides to determine which I'm trying to find after i am reading through with the script, only to know I must know when and why my character is at there whatsoever. I Rapidly read a script which i make out the print very quickly once, simply with an overall feeling with this then I'll return. Usually Someone said them two occasions. Maybe it's a comedy script I'm searching to find out just what the tone from this is, the pacing and just what the character type is always that I'm apt to be who audition for. Can you always go out for a similar type? I'm pretty lucky I buy seen for several stuff. In my opinion I'm less specific as I used to be. Used to do formerly get seen for your girl nearby now I buy seen for mother stuff. I merely carried out a young mother inside the movie. In my opinion will have the ability to carry out the dark folksy girl and I am also capable of singing the lady nearby, you understand, so I've been lucky. Would you read a script and basically not respond to it? Not frequently because usually In my opinion that you will find probably something great which come from this which i probably can't locate it yet. Sometimes I have my husband make out the print and supply me another opinion because sometimes wherever you are tomorrow psychologically is the feelings about whatever you just read. Therefore I attempt to step away and acquire a little more objective about scripts. I aim to supply everything a try typically. You just have no idea, I've done some jobs that have switched to become the finest items that I didn't always think could be.

GWAR Horse! Watch as Heavy Metal's GWAR Reviews War Horse

I can’t believe it either, but I’ve chosen to accept GWAR — the satirical, Grammy-nominated heavy metal outfit — as real film critics. In a new clip, the costume-loving dudes both praise and rip on War Horse, unleashing a fiery badinage that Ebert and Roeper would have killed for. Just watch it, dammit. “I think they should change the name to Snore Horse!” Nice to know that heavy metal icons also enjoy pejorative puns as much everyday film critics. In fact, they should go by punnier monkiers: Might I suggest LOLnard Maltin and L.M.A.O. Scott? GWAR Reviews ‘War Horse’ [NextMovie]

Watercooler: Is Kathy Griffin Tired?

Kathy Griffin Who needs US Weekly once we have Kathy Griffin?Last evening, the gossip-fueled funny lady suited up for Tired Hooker, her fourth and final Bravo comedy concert of year. Too as with true Griffin form, it absolutely was an hour or so approximately of TMZ and tabloid mind lines, all gayed up and goes for just about any full house of fawning fans within the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City. Kim Kardashian's "marriage." Ashton Kutcher's divorce. Nancy Grace's DWTS puppy puppy nip slip. As well as, her favorite, longest-running punching bag, Lindsay Lohan.Maybe it had been the hoot we expected at a negative balance-colored menace? Right. Usually, Griffin kills it along with her A-list targets. Nobody skewers popular culture better, nor do many dare to battle the higher sacred subjects (The famous host the famous host oprah, Scientology) she does. Contemplate it seems like everyone on Facebook along with the shiny happy hosts of E.T as well as the Insider has clowned on these large-ticket celebrity ripoffs, plenty of Kath's material felt carried out out. Where she excelled, remarkably, was when she veered in the star-bashing to toss out personal anecdotes about her dog's penchant for eating unmentionables, her failure to get a pizza with unlikely new bestie Cher and her recently found adoration for Pajama Jeans. Because let's be realistic, really the only factor more amusing than pants that offer the form from the jean as well as the ease of pajamas is the idea of the entire in the D-List kicking in certain while eating a couple of slices with Chaz Bono's mother.Perhaps you have have a look at Kathy's latest show? Whoever else think?Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Daniels set as Manley in 'Magic Bird'

Kevin Daniels continues to be drawn on to portray La great Miracle Manley within the approaching Broadway play "Miracle Bird." Legit production, from producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo in colaboration with the National basketball association, is placed to spread out in Gotham early in the year. "Within the Levels" and "Lombardi" helmer Thomas Kail is pointing the play composed by Eric Simonson ("Lombardi"). The play will examine the connection between Bird and Manley, who have been bitter rivals both in college and professional basketball however created an endearing friendship. Daniels has lots of legit experience, including "Twelfth Evening" and "Suge Dark night." Around the smallscreen, Daniels has made an appearance in recent instances of "Modern Family," "Franklin and Party" and "House." Formerly, Tug Coker was cast as Boston Celtics great Ray Bird. He's guest starred in a number of TV series too, including "Torchwood," "CSI" and "Community." Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

'Warrior' Star Nick Nolte Scores a Knockout in a Role Close to Home

'Warrior' Star Nick Nolte Scores a Knockout in a Role Close to Home By Jenelle Riley December 16, 2011 Photo by AP Photo/Matt Sayles Nick Nolte At 70, Nick Nolte cuts an impressive figure. Though the actor is standing in a hotel room ensconced in a shapeless ensemble of oversize shirt and pants and smoking an e-cigarette, he manages to still look manly. He's here to talk about his latest film, "Warrior," in which he is earning raves as Paddy Conlon, the alcoholic father of two sons who end up facing each other in a winner-takes-all Mixed Martial Arts championship. The elder son, Brendan, played by Joel Edgerton, is a teacher and family man who has distanced himself from Paddy after a recent unspecified incident. The younger son, Tommy, portrayed by Tom Hardy, resents his father even as he asks Paddy to help him train. The role was written with Nolte in mind by director Gavin O'Connor, who lives in the same Malibu neighborhood as the actor. So it's probably not a coincidence that Paddy and Nolte share struggles. A lifelong battle with alcohol resulted in Nolte's arrest in 2002 for driving under the influence, producing perhaps the most famous mug shot in history. Nolte talks openly about his troublesin fact, he talks openly about everything. With a career spanning five decades on stage and screen and including such seminal projects as "Rich Man, Poor Man" and his Oscar-nominated role in "The Prince of Tides," Nolte is full of stories. For a half hour, he holds court on such topics as Marlon Brando being miscast in "A Streetcar Named Desire," Nolte's years in regional theater, and his latestand perhaps greatestrole.Back Stage: Paddy Conlon is a fantastic role; did you know when you read the script you had something special? Nick Nolte: I knew it was excellent material right away. And I was excited to do it because I knew Gavin well. I was supposed to do a film with him before, "Pride and Glory," and I walked on that. Back Stage: I thought you left due to needing knee surgery. Nolte: No. I walked two weeks before we started. Back Stage: And he still wanted to work with you? Nolte: Yeah. There were very specific reasons I left. He has the message on his phone explaining why I can't go on. And I told him I had to get my knee transplant done, which then obligated me to do that. So I did. I had some difficulties, but not with Gavin. There was some communication amongst the actors that wasn't quite right. And at my age, I won't do things chaotically anymoreI walk away. I used to sit through them, but it's just not worth it. Life is too short. Back Stage: At what point did he tell you he was writing a role for you? Nolte: When he was writing it, there was communication, but nothing specifically about the character. Then came the day he brought the script over, and I read it, and it was just brilliant. His writing is excellent. I wasn't thrilled with the MMA fighting. I wasn't a fan, I didn't watch too much of it, and it looked awful brutal to me. I called him and said, "I love this, it's really great, butdo we have to go down the MMA road?" He said, "I know it's ugly and violent, but you've really got to find out what it's about. Go to some of the matches, meet some fighters, meet their parents, meet their girlfriends, see their life. And you'll see it's not about violence." And I did. And it isn't about violence. I watch it now.Back Stage: The character of Paddy has some struggles that reflect your own life. Did that make you hesitate to take the part? Nolte: No, I embraced it. Because I have a drunk driving record and I have not been silent about my own addictions, it was a perfect vehicle. I understand addictions; I understand how destructive they are and how difficult they are to break. I was 48 before I got sober. I just didn't know you didn't drink. Brian James, an actor, said to me one day, "You know, if you ever feel like you don't want to, there's a little meeting up here at the school; you can come up." About two weeks later I was through a bottle or two and knew I should go. I walked into that meeting, and there were about 10 people who I had wondered where the hell they had gone to. I sat down next to a wet drunk, somebody who's been in the hospital hallucinating. This guy still had the willies; he was moaning and shouting. It was a quite frightening experience, when you catch on to yourself and you really know you got a problem. Because you know it's got to change, but you don't have the slightest idea how to do it. So I got through that meeting, and at the very end I was trying to get to the door and get the hell out of there, and this wet drunk grabbed me and said, "If you don't believe it right now, just pretend as if you do, and you'll be all right."Back Stage: Sort of like with acting. Nolte: Exactly. And I think that moment helped me more than anything else. I don't even know who he was.Back Stage: The audience has a lot of sympathy for Paddy, but we understand he's done some bad things in his past. Did you discuss that history with Gavin? Nolte: Yeah, we pretty much created the backstory. Living with an alcoholic just cannot be a happy experience, because you neglect everybody and everything. Brendan won't let Paddy come into his house, and I can tell you specifically the backstory I came up with there. Three Christmases ago, Paddy got a load on and went over there for Christmas and ran the car right through the living room, almost killing the kids. That's why he won't let me back in. I heard that story from an old guy I used to see at a bar. Back Stage: Was there anything you took away from playing Paddy? Nolte: Asking for forgiveness is just one of the most painful kind of experiences. It was very cathartic. If you know you've done something wrong and fess up to it, it's always a relief. To carry around that weight of knowing you've done something wrong; it's just emotional weight you can't get past. Outtakes Will next be seen opposite Dustin Hoffman on the HBO series "Luck"Other films include "Tropic Thunder," "North Dallas Forty," "Cape Fear," and "Affliction," for which he received his second Oscar nominationStudied at the Pasadena Playhouse and the Stella Adler Academy in Los AngelesPlaying the combative sons of Nick Nolte's character are rising stars Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, who revealed to Back Stage how they landed their roles. Tom Hardy: I had a lengthy process of begging. I knew if I auditioned for it, there was no way I would get it. I'd talked to Gavin on the phone about process and how I could get there and transform myself. A lot of my audition process was me saying, "Trust me! Just trust me!" And Gavin really did trust me. He invited me out to come talk to him, and I flew out and stayed with him for a week. Joel Edgerton: I showed up at Gavin's house as well, but I didn't stay. I was a little different from Tom because I had a history of martial arts; I had a black belt as a kid, and I've played a lot of sports. Then he called me in India to offer me the part. They wanted to send some people to me to put me through the Krav Maga class, too, and I also kept telling him to trust me. Then I snuck away and tried to lift as many weights as possible. 'Warrior' Star Nick Nolte Scores a Knockout in a Role Close to Home By Jenelle Riley December 16, 2011 Nick Nolte PHOTO CREDIT AP Photo/Matt Sayles At 70, Nick Nolte cuts an impressive figure. Though the actor is standing in a hotel room ensconced in a shapeless ensemble of oversize shirt and pants and smoking an e-cigarette, he manages to still look manly. He's here to talk about his latest film, "Warrior," in which he is earning raves as Paddy Conlon, the alcoholic father of two sons who end up facing each other in a winner-takes-all Mixed Martial Arts championship. The elder son, Brendan, played by Joel Edgerton, is a teacher and family man who has distanced himself from Paddy after a recent unspecified incident. The younger son, Tommy, portrayed by Tom Hardy, resents his father even as he asks Paddy to help him train. The role was written with Nolte in mind by director Gavin O'Connor, who lives in the same Malibu neighborhood as the actor. So it's probably not a coincidence that Paddy and Nolte share struggles. A lifelong battle with alcohol resulted in Nolte's arrest in 2002 for driving under the influence, producing perhaps the most famous mug shot in history. Nolte talks openly about his troublesin fact, he talks openly about everything. With a career spanning five decades on stage and screen and including such seminal projects as "Rich Man, Poor Man" and his Oscar-nominated role in "The Prince of Tides," Nolte is full of stories. For a half hour, he holds court on such topics as Marlon Brando being miscast in "A Streetcar Named Desire," Nolte's years in regional theater, and his latestand perhaps greatestrole.Back Stage: Paddy Conlon is a fantastic role; did you know when you read the script you had something special? Nick Nolte: I knew it was excellent material right away. And I was excited to do it because I knew Gavin well. I was supposed to do a film with him before, "Pride and Glory," and I walked on that. Back Stage: I thought you left due to needing knee surgery. Nolte: No. I walked two weeks before we started. Back Stage: And he still wanted to work with you? Nolte: Yeah. There were very specific reasons I left. He has the message on his phone explaining why I can't go on. And I told him I had to get my knee transplant done, which then obligated me to do that. So I did. I had some difficulties, but not with Gavin. There was some communication amongst the actors that wasn't quite right. And at my age, I won't do things chaotically anymoreI walk away. I used to sit through them, but it's just not worth it. Life is too short. Back Stage: At what point did he tell you he was writing a role for you? Nolte: When he was writing it, there was communication, but nothing specifically about the character. Then came the day he brought the script over, and I read it, and it was just brilliant. His writing is excellent. I wasn't thrilled with the MMA fighting. I wasn't a fan, I didn't watch too much of it, and it looked awful brutal to me. I called him and said, "I love this, it's really great, butdo we have to go down the MMA road?" He said, "I know it's ugly and violent, but you've really got to find out what it's about. Go to some of the matches, meet some fighters, meet their parents, meet their girlfriends, see their life. And you'll see it's not about violence." And I did. And it isn't about violence. I watch it now.Back Stage: The character of Paddy has some struggles that reflect your own life. Did that make you hesitate to take the part? Nolte: No, I embraced it. Because I have a drunk driving record and I have not been silent about my own addictions, it was a perfect vehicle. I understand addictions; I understand how destructive they are and how difficult they are to break. I was 48 before I got sober. I just didn't know you didn't drink. Brian James, an actor, said to me one day, "You know, if you ever feel like you don't want to, there's a little meeting up here at the school; you can come up." About two weeks later I was through a bottle or two and knew I should go. I walked into that meeting, and there were about 10 people who I had wondered where the hell they had gone to. I sat down next to a wet drunk, somebody who's been in the hospital hallucinating. This guy still had the willies; he was moaning and shouting. It was a quite frightening experience, when you catch on to yourself and you really know you got a problem. Because you know it's got to change, but you don't have the slightest idea how to do it. So I got through that meeting, and at the very end I was trying to get to the door and get the hell out of there, and this wet drunk grabbed me and said, "If you don't believe it right now, just pretend as if you do, and you'll be all right."Back Stage: Sort of like with acting. Nolte: Exactly. And I think that moment helped me more than anything else. I don't even know who he was.Back Stage: The audience has a lot of sympathy for Paddy, but we understand he's done some bad things in his past. Did you discuss that history with Gavin? Nolte: Yeah, we pretty much created the backstory. Living with an alcoholic just cannot be a happy experience, because you neglect everybody and everything. Brendan won't let Paddy come into his house, and I can tell you specifically the backstory I came up with there. Three Christmases ago, Paddy got a load on and went over there for Christmas and ran the car right through the living room, almost killing the kids. That's why he won't let me back in. I heard that story from an old guy I used to see at a bar. Back Stage: Was there anything you took away from playing Paddy? Nolte: Asking for forgiveness is just one of the most painful kind of experiences. It was very cathartic. If you know you've done something wrong and fess up to it, it's always a relief. To carry around that weight of knowing you've done something wrong; it's just emotional weight you can't get past. Outtakes Will next be seen opposite Dustin Hoffman on the HBO series "Luck"Other films include "Tropic Thunder," "North Dallas Forty," "Cape Fear," and "Affliction," for which he received his second Oscar nominationStudied at the Pasadena Playhouse and the Stella Adler Academy in Los AngelesPlaying the combative sons of Nick Nolte's character are rising stars Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, who revealed to Back Stage how they landed their roles. Tom Hardy: I had a lengthy process of begging. I knew if I auditioned for it, there was no way I would get it. I'd talked to Gavin on the phone about process and how I could get there and transform myself. A lot of my audition process was me saying, "Trust me! Just trust me!" And Gavin really did trust me. He invited me out to come talk to him, and I flew out and stayed with him for a week. Joel Edgerton: I showed up at Gavin's house as well, but I didn't stay. I was a little different from Tom because I had a history of martial arts; I had a black belt as a kid, and I've played a lot of sports. Then he called me in India to offer me the part. They wanted to send some people to me to put me through the Krav Maga class, too, and I also kept telling him to trust me. Then I snuck away and tried to lift as many weights as possible.

Brad Grey Inks New Contract to Remain Paramount Chairman

Last year, as Oprah Winfrey was attempting to set up lucrative carriage deals for her new TV network, she decided to negotiate personally with the executives at Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator.our editor recommendsGayle King Addresses Oprah Winfrey's Letter to Wendy Williams: Not RealOprah Winfrey Magazine, Website Struggle After End of Syndicated Talk ShowOprah Winfrey's Primetime Series to Launch on New Year's DayHollywood's Real Estate Deals of the Week: Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Willis, 'Twilight' Honeymoon House, Justin Bieber's Manager The Ceremony: Academy Honors Oprah Winfrey, James Earl Jones and Dick Smith in Emotional EveningOWN Shifting Attention to Its African-American ViewersOWN Expands Oprah Winfrey's 'Lifeclass'Oprah Winfrey's OWN Taps Susanne Daniels as a Consultant Winfrey traveled to the company's Philadelphia headquarters in the hope that a little Oprah magic would result in handsome fees for her joint venture with Discovery Communications. But according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the meeting, Comcast executives not only rebuffed Winfrey but characterized her pitch as "greedy" for an unproven network. After that, Winfrey did not attend other such meetings. PHOTOS: Oprah Through the Years The rude awakening is indicative of Winfrey's struggle to turn OWN into the kind of powerhouse she presided over during her 25 years as the queen of daytime TV -- a struggle that has taken on a new sense of urgency as Winfrey returns to television with the launch of her weekly interview show Jan. 1, OWN's first anniversary. As losses mount, industry observers and some former insiders are starting to wonder how long Discovery or Winfrey will stay in the ambitious effort to make OWN fly. Today, major service providers including Comcast pay nothing for OWN, which is not unusual for a network with no ratings history. (Comcast declined comment.) But Discovery is going without those fees as it has poured $254 million into funding the venture (far above its initial $189 million commitment). And the network faces an increasing number of "make-goods" after negotiating rich pacts with such blue-chip advertisers as General Motors and Procter & Gamble, which agreed to a $100 million multiplatform sponsorship deal personally shepherded by Winfrey. With these pressures, analysts suggest Winfrey should cover at least some of the costs of running OWN. Right now, the venture pays 7 percent interest on the $254 million investment, and Discovery recoups its investment first with profits split 50-50. From the start, Winfrey's reach has seemed to exceed her grasp with OWN. She attempted to launch the network while still hosting her syndicated show. And unlike competitors, OWN tried to program without a lineup of reruns of established shows. "It's hard to start without an existing library," says a source with firsthand knowledge of the situation. "The idea that [OWN] had to create almost all original programming was kind of daunting." VIDEO: The 5 Best Clips From 'The Oprah Winfrey Show Winfrey also is said to have been unfamiliar with the general television landscape, according to sources with firsthand knowledge -- one insider says that in the early going, she often expressed enthusiasm for ideas that seemed original to her -- but weren't. "Oprah has a bubble she lives in," says another. "She's not a fan of a lot of TV." Multiple sources also describe Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav as somewhat "starstruck" in his early dealings with Winfrey. These sources say Zaslav operated on the hope that Winfrey would be willing to appear on the network five days a week, even though she was "pretty firm from the outset" that she would not. "That claim is ludicrous," says Discovery spokesman David Leavy. "We are trying to build a business, a brand and a platform to nourish an audience and build value for the long-term. Any characterization beyond that is just ill-informed." One insider says Winfrey delayed signing her deal with Discovery in part because of ambivalence about the venture overall and escalating pressure to increase her role. Her pact was renegotiated in summer 2010, several months after she announced in November 2009 that she would end her daytime talk show. From the start, OWN has been beset with executive turnover. The most recent casualty was Discovery COO Peter Liguori, whose exit was announced Nov. 9. So far this year, OWN is averaging just 136,000 viewers per day (Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m.-6 a.m.), a decline of 8 percent compared to predecessor Discovery Health in 2010. Among women 18 to 49, OWN is down 12 percent. In primetime, OWN actually is up slightly among total viewers -- 2 percent, to 258,000 -- and is up 8 percent among women 25 to 54. But OWN is flat among younger women 18 to 49. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Top Earners If Discovery executives remain disappointed with OWN's ratings -- "below our expectations" is how Zaslav characterized them in May -- they say they remain committed to the network. "My job, Oprah's job, is to create a meaningful audience for OWN over the next two years," Zaslav said Dec. 7. Executives at Discovery stress that the network is looking at the long-term upside potential of OWN. "After 11 months, we're very pleased with where we are," says Leavy. "We remain extraordinarily enthusiastic about the venture and what the venture holds." So far, the top-rated OWN show has been The Judds, which averaged 724,000 viewers and wrapped its six-episode run in May. The No. 2 show is reruns of CBS' Undercover Boss (640,000 viewers). And while OWN is doing relatively well with the documentary series Our America With Lisa Ling (477,000 viewers) and docusoap Welcome to Sweetie Pie's (450,000 viewers), the much-hyped Rosie Show -- which marked the return of Rosie O'Donnell to the talk-show format -- has been a big disappointment, averaging only 244,000 viewers as of Dec. 4. The next test for Winfrey, 57, will come with the launch of Oprah's Next Chapter. The weekly interview show -- a promo features Winfrey in the New Hampshire woods with American Idol judge Steven Tyler -- will mark Winfrey's return to the format that made her famous, albeit in primetime and only once a week. The show will air Sunday at 9 p.m., a competitive time slot. But executives at OWN and Discovery are banking that a little Oprah will go a long way to shore up the network's disappointing fortunes. "A network's ratings can improve quite a bit with one oversized hit," says Eric Handler, an analyst at MKM Partners, adding that OWN was launched with "an unusually high cost structure for a cable network because Oprah was attached to it." STORY:OWN Shifting Attention to Its African-American Viewers On the positive side, SNL Kagan analyst Derek Baine predicts advertising revenue for OWN will hit around $56 million this year and more than $85 million next year, far better than Discovery Health's $15.1 million in 2010. But he expects affiliate revenue to be cut in half, from $62 million in 2010 to less than $30 million in 2012 as Discovery attempts to lure more carriers by giving the channel away. Further, he says programming expenses are likely to balloon from $29 million last year to $135 million this year and more than $155 million next year. What this means for OWN's overall financial picture is murky because Discovery is an equity investor and therefore doesn't fully consolidate its results in financial reports. Thus wildly divergent predictions: Baine estimates that cash flow will swing from $28.8 million in 2010 to a negative $55.6 million this year and a $67 million loss in 2012. Miller Tabak analyst David Joyce expects Discovery to report a loss of $17 million for its equity stake in OWN for 2011, which will reverse to a positive $26 million next year and positive operating cash flow of $81 million by 2016. Observers agree that an increased sense of urgency has surrounded OWN in recent weeks, as insiders wonder whether the company can increase carriage fees, and how much it will need to invest to do so. TV distributors would not comment on when their current carriage agreements with Discovery and OWN expire. With major service providers paying nothing for the network now, the hope is that by 2013 these providers would agree to pay 20 cents per sub, a hefty increase from the 7 cents Discovery Health was getting from some, if not all, carriers. Sources say some smaller operators, including Charter and Cox, have agreed to those terms. [OWN did sign up Cablevision -- which has more than three million subscribers in the NY City area -- in December 2010.] But OWN has so far been unable to turn major operators. SNL Kagan estimates that at least for those who are paying, average monthly carriage fees per subscriber for OWN dropped to 5 cents this year and will go to 3 cents in 2012 as OWN offers the network to providers for free. STORY:Oprah Winfrey Magazine, Website Struggle After End of Syndicated Talk Show Some believe requiring Winfrey to pony up more money is the smart move. "Discovery has deep pockets but not bottomless," says Handler. "I think getting Oprah to match Discovery dollar for dollar on new capital would be a great idea, and it would show investors that she remains serious about the long-term success of the network." Winfrey has said that she "lets other people worry about ratings." But the ratings -- and everything else about the network -- have become a big problem, leaving many industry observers wondering whether Discovery or Winfrey will have the stomach to continue the struggle. "If I were her, I'd pack my bags," says an OWN insider. "What does she need this for? Running a network is 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Anything short of that, forget about it." Georg Szalai contributed to this report. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery The 5 Best Clips From 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' Related Topics Oprah Winfrey

Youthful Adult

'Young Adult'A Vital release given Mandate Pictures from the Mr. Mudd production in colaboration with Right of Way Films and Colorado & Delilah Films. Produced by Lianne Halfon, Russell Cruz, Diablo Cody, Mason Novick, Jason Reitman. Executive producers, Nathan Kahane, John Malkovich, Steven Rales, Helen Estabrook. Co-producers, Kelli Konop, Mary Lee, Jesse Kono. Directed by Jason Reitman. Script, Diablo Cody.Mavis Gary - Charlize Theron Matt Freehauf - Patton Oswalt Buddy Slade - Patrick Wilson Jesse Slade - Elizabeth Reaser Sandra Freehauf - Collette Wolfe Hedda Gary - Jill Eikenberry David Gary - Richard Bekins Jan - Mary Jesse HurtAmerican comedies have spent the ultimate few years exploring the idea of the man-child -- physically mature, but psychologically stuck roughly secondary school and the adult years. Now we meet his female counterpart, which is not just a pretty sight. A great deal the higher: Reteaming pop-savvy scribe Diablo Cody with "Juno" director Jason Reitman, "Youthful Adult" revels in damaging the rules of safe Hollywood storytelling, casting Charlize Theron becoming an psychologically stunted YA novelist with limited appeal without any tidy character arc. A B - -.To. gamble, the deliberately prickly pic courageously risks problem audiences to achieve a truth beyond its genre's normal grasp. Cody finds herself on television crosshairs following a overnight acclaim of "Juno," even though the snark-meister has handled to sustain her unique brand through a combination of Twitter updates, Entertainment Weekly posts and edgy writing projects ("Jennifer's Body," "The united states . States of Tara"), "Youthful Adult" will definitely function as make-it-or-break-it project in several people estimation of her talents. Rather than be careful, Cody spins a person situation of writer's block -- possibly inspired by her gig adapting "Sweet Valley High" for screen -- in to a deeply unflattering, semi-autobiographical takedown of adult-onset insecurity and egotism, inventing the story from the self-absorbed teen-lit novelist who returns where you can rekindle things while using now-married boyfriend she dated in secondary school. Theron plays Mavis Gary -- beautiful, effective together with chaos. Mavis in the past accomplished her goal of having away the perceived oppression of small-town Mercury, Minn., to reside in the dream in Ontario. Exactly why is she so unhappy? "Youthful Adult" is stylish for the answer, but never preaches it outright: When people can hardly stand to get along with themselves, they carry on from and reinvent their lives until they address the fact the primary from the dissatisfaction lies within. Though Mavis is obviously fashioned from areas of her creator's own personality, the operating idea seems being that people don't change. Our prime-school full bee is going to be intolerable, and her fitting punishment will probably be requiring to simply accept herself -- that's precisely Mavis' situation when the film opens: divorced and achieving by on tv dinners then one-evening stands in the dumpy caricature of her cosmopolitan ideal. Such straits, an innocuous email announcing the birth of her old flame's baby is precisely what it takes to deliver Mavis' mind towards the glory days, when she and football star Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson, reprising his laid-back "promenade king" aura from "Small ChildrenInch) were the school's sweetest couple. Initially, "Youthful Adult" is about Mavis' delusional pursuit to steal her former love from new wife Jesse (Elizabeth Reaser in the sly supporting turn). Much much deeper lower, the film engages with the thought of maturity in the culture that takes note of such youthful ideals as beauty and instant gratification. In Mavis' situation, writing pulp melodramas for your Noxzema set encourages her to stay stuck inside an adolescent mindset. However, since comedy is tragedy that suddenly transpires with others, the film easily plays as satire, following different color leaves as Alexander Payne's shrewdly observant, gently condescending Midwestern portraits, featuring character moments so true, one can't help but laugh in pained recognition. While Cody forms around the less singular but nonetheless piquant voice on her behalf contempo figures in comparison to 1 heard in "Juno," Reitman and also the cast masterfully manage the film's tricky tone. Nonetheless, "Youthful Adult" seems content to remain small, retreating from Mavis' climactic moment of catharsis to supply an ending that breaks another extended-standing Hollywood rule, since the problematic heroine stares self-realization hard and intentionally decides not to study on her experience. In the film set on authenticity, it's not coincidence that Mavis seems being ornamented by inane reality-TV programming. Real existence is messier than that, as proven with the film's most encouraging character, a classic classmate named Matt Freehauf who was simply crippled with the awesome kids within a miscalculated gay-bashing incident. In the poignant, career-altering performance by comedian Patton Oswalt, Matt has every to become amplified, but, he's coped along with his adolescent issues a lot better than Mavis. Mavis, in comparison, leads to as being a vampire completely from one of the supernatural YA book series extremely popular nowadays. Shying in the sun, she eavesdrops on real teens for story ideas and stalks Buddy and also the new family, oblivious for the damage she's in a position to imposing on others. For Theron, this signifies another kind of performance from "Monster" and "North Country," that they won plaudits while enabling herself to look superficially unattractive. Here, the actress plays closer to home, inviting auds to determine the procedure by which she makes herself beautiful, painting on makeup, clipping her nails and affixing extensions to disguise her physical defects. Nevertheless the scowl etched on her behalf account face unveils the ugliness within, showing a naked candor -Body that stretches for the script itself -- that's plenty admirable, simply as it is so squirm-inducing to behold.Camera (Luxurious color), Eric Steelberg editor, Dana E. Glauberman music, Rolfe Kent music supervisor, Linda Cohen production designer, Kevin Thompson art director, Michael Ahern set decorator, Barbara Stewart costume designer, David Robinson appear (Dolby Digital/Datasat/SDDS), Ken Ishii supervisory appear editors, Warren Shaw, Perry Robertson, Scott Sanders re-recording mixers, Michael Craig, Eric Hirsch visual effects supervisor, John Bair visual effects, Phosphene stunt coordinator, Peter Bucossi assistant director, Jason A. Blumenfield casting, Suzanne Cruz Crowley, Jessica Kelly. Examined at DGA Theater, La, November. 15, 2011. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 93 MIN. Contact Peter Debruge at peter.debruge@variety.com

A Snow White Christmas

A Lythgoe Family Prods., Magic Pictures Entertainment and Parenting presentation of a musical pantomime in two acts by Kris Lythgoe. Directed by Bonnie Lythgoe. Musical director, Michael Orland; choreography, Spencer Liff; sets, QDos; costumes, Donna Maas; lighting, Chris Wilcox; sound, Phil Allen. Opened Nov. 30, 2011. Reviewed Dec. 2. Runs through Dec. 18. Running time: 100 MIN.With: Neil Patrick Harris, Lindsay Pearce, Marina Sirtis, Erich Bergen, Jonathan Meza, David Figoli, Italo Elgueta, Dashi Mitchell, Katie Reese, Morgan Larsen.After introducing Hollywood to the concept of English pantomime last year with "Cinderella Christmas," the Lythgoes return to the El Portal Theater with their take on another traditional fairytale in "A Snow White Christmas" -- and it's even more hilarious, rambunctious and high-spirited than their previous offering, inviting constant audience participation from excited children (and adults) and bringing new life to the well-known story thanks to the excellent comic timing of the ensemble cast that revolves around "The Glee Project's" Lindsay Pearce as Snow, Marina Sirtis ("Star Trek: Next Generation") as the sizzling wicked Queen and Neil Patrick Harris, who makes a screen appearance as her very knowing Mirror. It's the Mirror that starts the action, quickly setting up the story in a prologue with sly jokes and local references that other characters continue throughout the show. It's the first indication that this is not a Disney-fied Snow White. Indeed, the production owes more to an updated vaudeville style; in the first musical number the villagers dance in the town square as a very sassy Snow belts out Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" in true Broadway fashion. Every fairytale heroine needs a sidekick/secret admirer and Snow White's is court jester Muddles (Jonathan Meza, hilarious), so-called because he gets his words muddled up -- he longs to "liss the kips" of Snow -- a seemingly endless source of puns. When Prince Harry of Hancock Park (a wonderfully arch Erich Bergen) arrives in the village searching for the most beautiful girl in the realm to marry (his brother Wills recently tied the knot), it's Muddles who offers to help him. The Queen thinks she's a cert for Harry until her trusty Mirror tells her that she is no longer the most beautiful woman in the kingdom of Beverly Hills, it's her niece, Snow. Aghast, she orders her trusty huntsman Herman (Figoli) and Muddles to take Snow into the forest and kill her, bringing back her heart as proof. We all know they don't do that -- and when Queen discovers the deception, tipped off by that tell-tale Mirror, she sets the darkly eerie spirits that haunt the forest after Snow in a show-stealing version of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Snow is saved by the Seven Dwarves who take her home to their Young Miners' Cottage Alliance, setting up an effusive perf of the Village People's "YMCA" that everyone in the theater join in with. The dwarves have their own real-life fairytale story. Two sets of youngsters were chosen after an open casting call at the Culver City Westfields Shopping Mall attracted some 600 wannabes. In a nod to Disney, the tyros wear costumes topped with rubber heads that look like the characters created by the Mouse House and mime their parts to an audio track. Back in the castle, the Queen (cue boos and hisses from the audience) sings a darkly portentous version of the "True Blood" theme song, "Bad Things," as she cooks up the poison apple, transforms into an old hag and takes the fruit to Snow. Yes, our heroine eats it and dies. From here, the story differs from the trad fairytale but, suffice to say, it all turns out well via a hilarious scene where Muddles, aided by the dwarves, asks the Mirror's help but gets the spell wrong and calls up first "Dancing With the Stars" judge Bruno Tonioli and then Nigel Lythgoe, in his "So You Think You Can Dance" persona, before raising the Mirror (allowing Patrick Harris, finding himself surrounded by "small people" rather than small blue people, to drop in a promo for his "The Smurfs" movie). Bergen, Figlioli and Meza elicit howls of laughter every time they appear on stage in this high-energy production and the jokes flow thick and fast, many working on two levels, "Shrek"-style, to appeal to kids and their parents. Pearce's voice blends beautifully with Bergen's, who played Bob Gaudio in "Jersey Boys," while Sirtis' surprisingly deep tone was wonderfully menacing. By the time the snow falls on the happy couple in the finale as the cast sing "Celebration," everyone in the aud has the holiday spirit going full blast. Contact Bobbie Whiteman at bobbie.whiteman@variety.com