- RTARIIER'f . TRIRSRAT,JIIIIRART 111.1112 Schienberg was most recently an associate with the law firm of Loeb& Loeb. She also practiced TV 'Addams' creator sues entertainment law with the firm of Copper, Epstein & Hunewttz. N EWYORK—Nickelodeon VP and general manager for She will be responsible for producers of film version has named Howard Smith VP of licensing and merchandising at contract negotiations in TV affiliate marketing for Hanna-Barbera Prods. in L.A. property acquisitions, 25 well 89 Conti:wadfraw pug, about the 103S of syndication value ■ rug, and Gomez's cigar-smoking, of the original if the film flopped, or Nickelodeon/ Nick at Nite, handling business affairs of the he will be responsible fur fencing and hobby of destroying competition from a new series if where NEW YORK—Rush Scovill Dick Clark Agency. ■ model trains. the film was a hit. building and supervising an has been named VP of affiliate marketing team that will A Paramount spokesman said he He later contacted Paramount operations for Nickelodeon develop strategies, direct trade Rick Montez has been named was not aware that Par had been when production switched to that Studios in Orlando. Fla., where advertising, provide materials she will be responsible for director of technical operations served with the lawsuit and could studio. Both companies ignored at Twentieth'idevision. Montr.z trot comment. his concerns, the suit said. and work with the Nickelodeon television production at the affdlate roundtable and MSOs. had been promoted to director The television series first ran on Alan named as is defendant was studios, including facilities, Smith has been with MTV of video operations in 1986 but ABC in the 1964-65 season with Paramount president Brandon crews, scheduling and all Networks for the past Six years, left Fos the following year to Levy listed as creator and executive Tartikoff. Tartikoff was not at Par- technical operations and most recently serving as VP of create trailers and sell film- producer under a production amount when the studio acquired maintenance. Before she joined marketing for Nickelodeon to-tape transfers. agreement with Filmways Televi- "The Addams Family" last March. Nickelodeon, Scovill was Studios. ■ sion Prods. Inc. Levy is currently an organizer executive producer of graphics Levy said he lint contacted with the Caucus for Producers, a for Henniger Video in Associate producer Vida Orion when he heard about the Writers & Directors. a TV industry lack Morris. has been flamed Washington. D.C. Pelletier has been named film because he was concerned lobbying and policy organization. executive vice president of • producer of entertainment for licensing and merchandising for Randy M. Schienberg has USA' Network a new post. She Dakin Inc, anew post. The been named director of business will be responsible for writing company has set up its first affairs at Dick Clark Prods, and producing openings for licensing and merchandising replacing David Woolson, who USA's movies. as well as video Sundance Film Fest launching office in Woodland Hulls recently left the company to head graphics, commercial editing with record corporate hacking Morrow formerly was senior theOregon Film Commission. and voiceovers. Contitta.dfpRge ; selves to raise more corporate do- &Kers Patricia K. Meyer and Car- nations than before." STONE ATTACKS SCRIBES FOR 'JFIC ITC, HSN mulling ole Isenberg; and film's musical Friday's opening-night film in composer and singer, Carly Park City. where majority of rest BASHING AT NAT'L PRESS CLUB MEET talk 'n' shop strip Simon. takes place, is "Mississippi Masa- Continued from pose Later, when asked whether his Opening-night pia will be host- 11." with other premieres to include its alleged distortions—fur not art differs from propaganda. Stone for fall premiere ed by cable company TCI in as• "Fool's Fire," "Light Sleeper," questioning the validity of the War. replied, "Good question. I'm not sociation with HBO. Other major "Storyville" "Night on Earth" ren Commission report. sure 1 can answer that" Fle then sponsors include Piper-Heidsieck„ and "Monster in a Box." "When confronted with the said he has "always said this film is pilot, but one commented. "It Entertainment Weekly, Columbia crime of the century. they stand a hypothesis." seems that it is neither fish nor Pictures, Warner Bros., United Festival. which centers on a dna- mute." said Stone. The director said he is "very fowl. In the past, those kind of (hy- Talent Agency, Ihiart Film & made and documentary compcti- Sarcastically, he asked, "How proud" the film has prompted brid) formats have had trouble get- Video, Eastman Kodak, Foto- tion involving some 33 indcpen- much work has the sage of Be- Congress to reconsider opening ting anyone's acceptance." Kem, Bank of America and the dent films, is a program of the thesda—George Will—done in government ides on the Kennedy The proposed barter program, Utah Film Commission. Utah-based Sundance Institute, the 20 years he has been a colum- assassination that were intended to which could be introduced as a late Beer said Sundance Stall had which was founded by Robert Red - nist to try to uncover the answers to remain scaled until the year 2029. addition at next week's National "set a very aggressive goal for our- ford in 1981. some of the dark secrets in Dallas Rep. Louis Stokes (D.Ohio), Assn. of Television Program Ex- 63? Will Tom Wicker and Dan chairman of a Hoose committee ecutives conference, would con• Rather spend their retirement that investigated the assassination. rain four minutes of national rinse EX-PAR EXEC HORBERG RETE.AMS years examining closely the pos- has hinted he might seek to open and eight minutes of local insen. sibility of a second or a third gun- the files in light of the interest tory. Greenberg, an indie producer man, or will they content them- spawned in the documents by who was previously aligned with WITH DORAN, POLLACK AT MIRAGE selves with savaging those who do? "LEK." Gaylord Prods. and Columbia Pic • Candoused from parr 2 than anything else. a production "What 'IFK' has brought out is Stone defended lint Garrison, runes Television, and who once scope Communications. Earlier, he company fur filmmakers. The high that those who talk the must of the New Orleans district attorney oversaw NBC's daytime sled as was president cf a Chicago-based rate= in which Bill is held within history have no commitment to it, who pursued the Kennedy assas- veepee, is reportedly still seeking a indie film production and distribu- the community makes him an ideal either" said Stone. sination. Garrison, said Stone, host and to-host for the program. tion concern called FutureVision. choice for us as we continue to Stone said he made the film "to "took on the establishment and Before he joined HSN, Green. In a prepared statement, Pollack build the company." make people think and re-examine paid a heavy price." burg produced infomercials for said of Horberg's appointment: Mirage is currently completing their history." He said he "tried to Stone was asked whether he two years. He has developed and "Bill's reputation among writers, the Ed Zwick .directed movie create a stall in the marketplace of would ever "take an" the picas in a produced programming for the directors and actors speaks for it- "Leaving Normal" for Universal ideas" and has offered a "version film. "That's a great subject," he network. cable. firstrun syndi. self We want Mirage to be, more and "Miss Sherri" directed by of what might have happened." said, "and possibly I will" cation and homevid markets. loan Micklin Silver, for HBO. The company's upcoming pro- ductions include "Lesitherheads," a comedy set in the early days of HBO unveils Shandling starrer, other '92 plans pro football, to be directed by Ca ainanifrata pop normal co-production from 11130, "there's on when they Eric Gardner to Gotham. Steven Soderbergh. and "The ILL Reynolds Nabisco corporate the BBC. Welsh Broadcasters SaC. want to watch." Lance LeGault back f tom Manta. Perez Family.- based on a novel by takeover—written by MASH pro• japans Fujisankei and Russia's In field testing. consumers re- Shelley Taylor Morgan in from Christine Bell. ducer, writer and director Larry Soyuzmuftifilm. It will present the sponded positively to multiplexing, Chi Other recent Mirage films in. Gelbart. lames Gamer will star as Bard's classic talcs, such as according to Fuchs He said com- Jason Stuart back from Corpus dude "Presumed Innocent," "The RIR chief exec Ross Johnson. with "Romeo and lulieL" "A Midsum- plaints of HBO's costs dropped Christi Fabulous Baker Boys," "King Glenn lordan ("Sarah. Plain and mer Night's Dream" and others. 2716 in markets where it has been Linda Yellen in from Gotham. Ralph" and "Major League." Tall") directing. Looking to the year ahead on the tested, with perceptions of too Michael Caine will star In the business side, Fuchs described many repeats dropping sharp- international spy thriller "Blue multiplexing—providing pay TV ly—from 52% to 35%. Ice." "Running Mates," starring subscribers with additional view- HBO is going to try to bring Diane Keaton. will tell the story of a ing options by delivering several more vitality into the pay P.■ busi- counter-programmed chan- writer who becomes engaged to a ness this year, by creating "the new Co-Starring politician making a bid for the nels—as "the most important concept of premium pay tele• on presidency. story for HBO in 1992" and "the vision." which multiplexing will important development in the last help achieve. HBO will add a new dramatic 10 years." LA. lAW series examining the challenges Fuchs said National Cable Tele- While the cable TV industry Tonight facing contemporary teens, "Life vision Assn. research shows that treats basic cable as the primary cable TV product. " there should be 10:00 NBC Lessons." Fact-based "Life Les- "HBO is still the most valued chan- sons" will take on explosive sub- nel among cable subscribers," but a way to sell all three (basic. pay TV Tnuancar and pay-per-view) as cable tele- Howard Taal vitae jects such as date rape, abortion that consumers feel it's expensive. 788-5.300 and AIDS. But multiplexing—"a simple, el- vision," Fuchs said. Commaroat Also in the works: An animated egant concept" in Fuchs' "The marketing of cable tele. Iry Schachter Co half.hour series "Shakespeare. words—has the potential to de vision is not at its sophisticated (3 t Ch 2784070 The Animated Tales," an interns- Bate subscriber complaints that highest," concluded Fuchs, 1:TellilieeSies elitettlelesete MAILY tAIIETT a `Trek,' spinoff HBO unveils series starring Shandling Oscar nom to journey on ere true identity, speaking frankly gramming genre. something BT./WISER PENDLETON on various subjects, including different- he said "Hopefully. the ballots going other real-life talkshow competi- series will be intrigut ng," Comedian Garry Shandling tors—by name. HBO will start filming the 13 out tomorrow parallel routes star in a new HBO comedy series, Shandling, who co-created half-hourepisodes in March in Les Academy Awards nomina- The Larry Sanders Show Star- IT JIM BENSON "Larry Sanders" with exec pro- Angeles. It expects to be on the air tion ballots will be mailed to- ring Garry Shandling," which ducer Dennis Klein, desribes in May, after the retirement of late morrow to voting members of casts the comic as a late night talk- twice-divorced Larry Senders as night talk show king luhnny Car- Paramount 's new "Star Trek: the Academy of Motion Picture show host who questions the "likeable and son. HBO has not yet assigned an The Next Generation" spinoff for Arts & Sciences throughout the mcaningof life. airtime for the series. firstrun syndication is reportedly self-aware," a world. along with a reminder Unlike spoofs of the taikshow person who HBO chairman and chief CACCIA- known under the working title of list of eligible films. genre that have populated the TV -gets caught in eve Michael Fuchs cited "The "Deep Space Nine" and will focus More than 4,950 members dial in the past, this series will por- the trap of Larry Sanders Show." as one of an life aboard a specestation, in the are eligible to vote in the frith tray the late night program showbiz," but the pay TV service's programming same time frame as "Star Trek; annual Oscar competition. straight, with real celebrities drop- is looking for highlights in an "HBO State of the TN G." Each branch votes to nominate ping by to plug their latest features. balance be- Union" address at the National The parallel story lines of the two 1991 achievements withm ire and other staples of that program- tween his per- Cable Forum of Television Critics' series will permit "TN G" cast own category or categories and ming genre. sonal and pro- Assn tour in Merin* del Rey yes- members to make crossover ap- Shialilag for best picture, with all voting But when the talkshow is over, fessional life. terday. pearances on the new show—pro- members of the Aced subse. Shandling's character will step Shandling said the show does Among its plans, HBO has bably most of them during sweeps queenly choosing the winners in backstage and assume Larry Sand- not fit into any traditional pro- added three new films to its 1992 periods—when it is rolled out in all categories. slate, plus two new series to its ros- lanuary 1991, Nomination polls close at 5 ter of family programming. pm., Fcb. 5. The Oscars will be To foot the bill for the two series, Ray Stark will produce a drama- awes-sled March 30 at the Dor- which are cads reported mix in the tization of the bestseller "Barbar- range 0151.2 million to S1.4 mil- ITC, HSN looking at syndie othy Chandler Pavilion of the ians at the Gale- store tithe Los Angeles Music Center. lion per episode, Par is expected to Tam re pipe 60 seek a barter split of seven minutes for the producer-distributor and talk/shopping strip for fall eve minutes for the stations, If the title for "Deep Space newly formed Home Shopping SUNDANCE FILM FEST LASSOS Nine" has a ring to it, that may he IT JIM limo!! Entertainment. The HSN subsid is because the new Warner Bros. In- devoted to infomercials, celebrity dependent program consortium ITC Entertainment and the alliances and joint entertainment RECORD CORPORATE BACKING Florida-based Home Shopping ventures. has already announced plans for stature of the festive: that we have "Babylon Five" — yet another Network may proceed with a pro• Some of the reps who saw the IT ANT 04WES been able ro raise 53% more than protect with a deep-space plot. posed syndication strip for this fall presentation said Greenburg de- last year," said Gary Beer, exec VP The WI effort is being produced called "Day by Day Live," which scribed having guests on the talk- The Sundance Film Festival. in- of the Sundance Institute. as a special two-hour telepic for would be the First interactive daily show plug projects, with viewers dustry's premiere showcase for Fest's 1992 budget is ap- consortium stations, but WB noted talk/ shopping show. invited to phone into HSN'3 American independent cinema, is proximately SI million, according that the show could become a If the partite come to terms, it Tempo/St. Petersburg studios boasting a record kn.!, of corporate to Beer, with half made up of cos. weekly series. It moss likely would will be the firet time that a cable (where the show would originate) sponsorship as it kicks off tonight penile cash donations and iniikind be viewed or a replacement in case network and distributor have if they were interested in what they in Salt Lake City with the world services and half Coming from tick- one of the first two consortium se. teamed on an original firstrun had to sell- premiere of 20th Century Fox's a sales and registration fees. ries bombs or. in the event they strip. Reps declined to comment on "This Is My Life." Festival box office is announcing both succeed as an Nickelodeon and sister division anchor for a the show's chances for succesa "Given the genera) state of the a 5% increase in advance ticket second night. Viacom Enterprises joined forces until they had a change io see a economy, we consider it a testa- sales over !Let year, marking the Industry sources suggested the several years ago for the live-action Turn supra. 60 ment to the growing success and seventh consecutive year of in- new Par space project, expected to kid strip "Double Dare" but that creased sales. be formally unveiled at a press con. show had already been on the cable Kickoff screening tonight at Salt Terence Windily at the National network before additional firetrun Lake's Crossroads Cinemas un- Assn. of Television Program Ex- episodes were produced for syndi- STONE ATTACKS SCRIBES' JFIC veils the directorial debut of Nora ecutives confab, could wind up un- cation. Ephron. a awe-time ieeademy dercutting the series potential of ITC axes declined to comment Award nominee for her scripts the Will project. on the project, but in videotaped BASHING AT NAIL PRESS CLUB "Silkwood" and "When Harry As previously reported ideally sales presentations to station rep Close ranks, criticize and vilify" Met Sally." Special guests ex- Variety, Ian. 101, Par is expected to Firma this past week the concept AY DENNIS Wile/IN:IN pected at the screening and open- target the new weekly space series was explained by Earl Greenberg, him her not accepting the "truly absurd" account of the Kennedy ing-night gala include Ephron; to stations carrying °TNG." who last April signed on as prexy of WASHINGTON —"WV di- assassination put forth by the War- "My Life" star Mlle Kanner; piles Benson rector Oliver Stone yesterday went ren Commission. producer, Lynda Obst; exec pro- on the attack at the National Press Storm singled out CBS anchor Tens la par .60 Femme directors Club against top journalists who Dan Rather. New York Times col- INDEX have criticized his film as propa- umnists TOM Wicker and Anthony ganda, claiming D.C. i6 "the wrong Lewis, Washington Post reporter fest set in Seattle city to ridicule people who Peewee George Lan:Met and syndicated Indies galled 4 Nnancr The sixth Ind Festival of Films in conspiracies," columnist George Will—five jour- by Women Directors will be held Many historians and journalists. nalists who have trashed "IFE" for as Gallic giants 6 Obituaries Ian. 22-Feb. a in Snide. Stone complained, have chosen to Trues to page 60 Moving its dates this year from 6 Syndie Ftatinge Chart iu former October setting. fest will swap screens unspool in the new, Venturi. 48 Cable Preduction Chart designed Seattle Art Museum and TV 'Addams' creator sues over film IT MICNAEL WILLIAM3 will open with the Australian film 51 TV Production Chart "Proof." Director loeelyri Moon The creator and executive pro• Creative elements that he says he PARIS—In a move that some house will be in attendance. ducer of "The Addams Family" either created or supervised the as a further threat ru inde- 60 Exec Shaffle here see In addition to eight feature film television series has sued the pro- creation of far the show. The ele- pendent exhibitors, Gallic film ma- names of the 62 Short Takes programs, the fest, which has an ducers of the movie "The Addams ments include the jors Rothe Cinema and Gaurnont interactive, discussion-oriented Family' for allegedly using ele- characters, the title of the series have reached agreement to ex- format shaped around maximum ments of the show he created with- and film, development of the pri- change more than 60 screens in REVIEWS public participation, will offer a out including him In the project. mary characters, and finger snap- seven cities. workshop on directing led by Bee- David Levy. in a complaint filed ping with the theme music. The move means that with the Z30 Film ban Kidron I-Oranges Are Not the in Lot Angeles Superior COtirl. Is In addition. Levy says he came exception of Paris, where Pathe Only Fruit," "Antonia Si lane"). asking at least 350 million In gen- up with a number of other aspects holds on to a dozen screens. the 35 Colleen Also on tap is a lecture by LA eral damages plus unspecified pu- for the series that were used in the peir will no longer be in WM pci • Weekly film critic Ella Taylor, and nitive damages from Paramount film including the light bulb in tion in any French city. 311 Ice Show a panel. "Shaping the Public Pictures, Orion Prods.. producer Uncle Fester's mouth. Morticia's Under the agreement. °ailment Image: Film Criticism and Distri- Scott Rodin and Illseisare Colyton, habit of pruning roses by rusting hands Parke 35 screens and with- 311 Hook bution in the '90e." Charles Addams' widow and heir oil the flowers, the use of French by draws from Caen. Grenoble. Nice. Another new feature will he a to hieestate. Morticia and Gomez. Lurch's key- 45 Legit Toulon and Aix-en•I'rovence, In historical program spotlighting the Levy also wants an injunction board playing, she growling bear return. Pattie gives up I1 screens, work of Marguerite Duras. against continued use of a series of Tom to fogy 60 Tore1 top/god