4A
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ENTERTAINMENT / FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
TELEVISION
Palin show sets new political standard
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
LOS ANGELES — Sarah Palin is the ultimate "American Idol" politician. Plucked from relative obscurity by the John McCain campaign, quickly costumed, coached and handed a set list created to play to her strengths, she leapfrogged over the traditional trajectory of a political career directly onto center stage where some viewers/voters loved her and many others didn't.
and many others alike.
So although it is unprecedented, it is not surprising that, in the aftermath of her unsuccessful vice presidential bid, Palin would quit her actual political job — governor of Alaska — to pursue a career in news, first as a commentator for Fox News and now as the star of TLC's new reality series "Sarah Palin's Alaska."
A show that is, in a phrase, breathtaking, though not so much in form as function. Certainly the Palins are a great-looking family and Alaska is a great-looking state, but it's not the image of a bear raising itself to full angry height or the grandeur of Mount McKinley or Willow Palin's boyfriend sneaking up to her bedroom that causes the viewer's jaw to, and not occasionally, drop. It's the fabulous shamelessness, the awful and yet admirable brilliance of the thing. Whether Palin will ever run for office or not, "Sarah Palin's Alaska" sets a new standard for political ads.
For years now TLC, once known as the Learning Channel, has specialized in fringe families. There is no judgment on TLC just a platform, for polygamists, Mormons and single moms alike, which makes it a perfect home for a woman who has accused the mainstream media of at least five of the seven deadly sins.
The Bottleneck
737 New Hampshire St • Lawrence KY
Friday, November 12th Donavon Frankenreiter w/ Xinana Sarinana
Saturday, November 13th
Riververd Horton Heat
w/ Spit Raily Playfield / Legendary Shack
Shakers
Monday, November 15th Matt Costa w/ Everest
Tuesday, November 16th Hill Country Review w/ Brody Buster Band
Thursday, November 18th
Airfield
*New Paintman Panthers/ Sohriquet
Friday, November 19th
Messy Jiverson
w/omscaphe
Saturday, November 20th
Sweet Band O Mine
A Guitar in Rosen Tribute
Monday, December 6th Lucero w/ John Henry & the Engine
Wednesday, December 15th
Jay Nash w/ Tony Lucca / Matt Dolce
Friday, December 31st
The Floozies w/ Beans &
Cornbread / Infect
Friday, January 28th Old 97s w/Langhorne Slim
www.thebottlenecklive.com
By Dave Green
Conceptis Sudoku
5 7
2 1
9 7 2 3
4 6 1
5 7
7 5 6
5 9 2 4
3 8 7
3 1
Difficulty Level ★★★★
THE NEXT PANEL
1 3 2 5 8 6 9 4 7
4 6 9 7 2 3 5 1 8
5 8 7 9 4 1 6 2 3
7 5 6 1 9 4 8 3 2
2 1 3 8 7 5 4 6 9
8 9 4 6 3 2 1 7 5
9 7 1 3 6 8 2 5 4
3 4 5 2 1 9 7 8 6
6 2 8 4 5 7 3 9 1
MOVIES
Answer to previous puzzle
Warner Bros. needs franchise to follow end of'Harry Potter'films
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
LOS ANGELES — Warner Bros. Pictures is about to lose a major rainstaker, so it's going to let him linger a little longer before letting him go.
that rainmaker, of course, is Warner's hugely profitable "Harry Potter" franchise. And by the time the box-office runs dry on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I" after its release this holiday season, the wizard of Hogwarts will have raked in more than $6 billion for Warner and its parent, Time Warner Inc. through seven films.
But when "Deathly Hallows: Part I" debuds Nov. 19 — almost nine years to the day that the first installment, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was released — it will be the last time the "Potter" series plops down in the middle of the holiday season and force the rest of Hollywood to plan their holiday films around it.
The question is, who will fill the void?
"It opens an opportunity. I don't know who jumps in there," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office for the website Hollywood.com. "We have to see. Sometimes these things just happen organically."
Consider that the first six installments made a cumulative $5.4 billion, or $900 million apiece in worldwide receipts. That makes the $6 billion threshold easily within range.
It's also possible that when Part II of that final "Potter" installment
hits theaters in July, the franchise could pile on that haul enough to make it $7 billion in eight films, plus countless more sales in home video and untold ancillary revenue from product tie-ins.
end from plain text.
But that will be it for what will end up being a film series that spanned nearly 10 years and lifted
the fortunes of Warner Bros. to a level that may be impossible to reach again.
It's no wonder that Warner is stretching out the series
Sales started climbing again and the last two films, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" grossed $938 million and $934 million, respectively.
"It's incredible how strong this franchise is, six movies in."
Brandon Gray, president of boxoffice tracker BoxOfficeMojo.com says that splitting one book into two parts in a blatant effort to rake in more money could backfire.
of seven books to eight films. Company officials make no pretenions about trying to give at least a little more life to the series before bidding it farewell; that's another $900 million in potential receipts left on the table, they say privately.
With many film series, each successive movie often ends up making less than the first. "Potter" went through the inevitable decline after "Sorcerer's Stone" — still the highest-grossing installment in the series — but got over it after the third movie, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", which still made $796 million
"It doesn't work too often but it may be that 'Harry Potter' is a unique phenomenon," Gray said.
BRANDON GRAY
BoxOfficeMojo.com
"It's incredible in strong this franchise is, six movies in."
The film industry will need every ounce of that success, and a few other hits, if it hopes to continue on a growth path
Thanks to a near-record increase in average ticket prices of 35 cents for 2010, the cumulative domestic gross since the beginning of the year is just under $8.8 billion, a rise of 3.3 percent from last year. But attendance is down nearly 2 percent.
for box-office receipts this holiday season, which began last weekend.
A more troubling trend has been developing since Labor Day, as a death of popular releases has left the fall season well behind the same period last year in both receipts and attendance.
It also doesn't seem as if there are any surefire blockbusters out there other than "Potter."
"I don't see any blockbusters coming out, but I look forward to being surprised," said Gray. "It's not predetermined as it normally is."
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ACROSS
1 Broom closet item
4 Radar screen noise
8 Campus area, for short
12 Big bother
13 Green land
14 Incite
15 Humongous
17 Carbon compound
18 Poor substitute
19 Under the weather
21 Youngster
22 Massachusetts, long ago
26 Harridan
29 Send quickly
30 Princess' insomnia cause
31 Equal
32 Fellows
33 Desirable engine sound
34 Before
35 Purchase
36 Bad lighting?
37 Rainbow selection
39 Judge Lance
40 — tai
41 Tailor's tool
45 Pump, e.g.
48 South American nation
50 Undesirable engine sound
51 Throat clearer
52 Wapiti
53 On the briny
54 Misplace
55 Ball-bearing item
Solution time: 25 mins.
DOWN
1 Spiked club
2 Stench
3 D.C. bigwigs
4 Give
5 "Hungaria" composer
6 401(k) alternative
7 Louisiana bird
8 Pacify
9 Grecian vessel
10 Past
11 Md. neighbor
16 Western
20 Bagel topping
23 Numbered composition
24 Pianist Peter
25 Tall tale
26 Detail, for short
27 Long lunch?
28 Film holder
29 “30 Rock” cast member
32 Broadway offering
33 Introductory matter
35 Auto-front protector
36 In
38 Last letter
39 “Rizzoli & —”
42 Help shadily
43 Anger
44 Benefit
45 Masseur’s workplace
46 Part of H.R.H. sometimes
47 Indivisible
49 Discoverer’s cry
Yesterday's answer 11-12
CRYPTOQUIP
D Y X W L T Y U S Y K Y M M H F
K H E V H U U H Q N X R H L U U S Y
D Y TU Q WEUT, N F H L M I U S N C R
SY GNTTYI SNT XLMMNCV.
Yesterday's Cryptoquip: SINCE I MADE THE EDITORIAL ADJUSTMENT UNTHINKINGLY, MIGHT YOU CALL THAT A KNEE-JERK REDACTION?
Today's Cryptoquip Clue: S equals H
CANCER (June 22-July 22)
Today is a 6
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
An older individual has the knowledge you need. Now grasp the theory and apply it yourself. Add your unique touch to the final product.
Even though you wish you could act independently, today you get better results working closely with a partner. Employ tried-and-true methods
GEMINI (May 21-June 21)
Today is a 7
HOROSCOPES
Today is a 6
Your desire to take independent action is supported by your bosses. Put your energy into changes that transform the philosophical landscape.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Today is a 7
Today fill your work environment with discussion and even argument. What seems obvious to you inspires lively conversation, which enriches the outcome.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
Today is an 8
Accept every opportunity that comes your way with enthusiasm. You may not be able to do it all, but your productivity will surprise you. Share time with friends later.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Today is a 6
Although your mind may be on the weekend and family activities, remain focused on work. The rewards come when the job is done. Enthusiasm moves it forward.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Today is a 6
Don't waste time arguing. It takes something to generate helpful conversation, but the results are worth it. Just handle the situation gracefully.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Today is a 6
Take time today to plan a social outing. You don't need to break the bank to have a wonderful time. Choose a spot you haven't tried before. Love blossoms.
Keep your eyes peeled for the chance to do something new today Independent thinking provides unusual opportunities for you and others. Keep an open mind.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today is a 5
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today is a 9
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today is a 7
If you were by yourself, you'd enjoy getting your work done without stress. Others want you to play now. Get them to help with the work first.
Group members come together to choose a unified direction. Enthusiasm builds as the work begins. An older person tracks the progress. Play your role.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 6
Relationships flourish, both publicly and privately. Each person maintains independence, while joining together to share old memories and make new ones.
1