First Look: 227 Stars' Southland Reunion

Marla Gibbs, Regina King Regina King was just 14 when she started playing Brenda, the smart, sassy daughter of Marla Gibbs' Mary Jenkins on the NBC sitcom 227. Two decades later, King is taking care of 80-year-old Gibbs in the January 24 episode of TNT's Southland. "This is the first time we've acted together since 227," says Gibbs. "But Regina's still my daughter. I just love her." Gibbs, all recovered from a stroke she suffered a few years back, plays the grandmother of a falsely accused suspect. "My character has a little Alzheimer's, so I call Regina 'Brenda,' thinking she's my grandson's ex-girlfriend." King was touched to reunite with her former TV mom. "It was just like old times," she says. "She's as sharp-witted as she was 20-plus years ago." Now let's get Jackée in there next! Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Glee Club TV Competition Shows in Copyright Infringement Dispute

Fox Searchlight's Shame opens Dec. 2 with a restrictive NC-17 rating, but that may be a good thing for similarly classified films in the future.our editor recommendsNudity, Three-Ways, Hints of Incest: A Studio's Plan to Sell 'Shame' to Oscar'Shame' Officially Rated NC-17FEINBERG FORECAST: Can 'Shame' Crack the Major Categories Despite NC-17 Rating? National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) president John Fithian tells the Associated Press that the Steve McQueen-directed drama "is potentially an important step in the legitimate use of the NC-17." STORY: Nudity, Three-Ways, Hints of Incest: A Studio's Plan to Sell 'Shame' to Oscar "There just aren't very many movies released in the NC-17 rating anymore. We get maybe one or two a year. Filmmakers and movie studios are inappropriately afraid of the rating." Fithian reveals that in a recent survey, 97 of 100 theater owners said they would play an NC-17 movie. He argues that filmmakers and studios should embrace, not fight, the classification, "What we currently have is a system that's slightly flawed in the reluctance of filmmakers and distributors to use the NC-17. PHOTOS: 'Shame' Star Carey Mulligan at THR's Actress Roundtable "What they'll do is cut and trim and try to cram a movie into the R rating category so that it escapes the NC-17, and that's not a legitimate use of the system. We end up with a very broad R category." Box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian thinks Shame can capitalize on its uncommon status. He told AP, "R-rated movies are a dime a dozen. If Fox Searchlight can harness the power of the NC-17, they can turn it into a plus." VIDEO: 'Shame' Director Steve McQueen at THR's Directors Roundtable The MPAA said that the drama earned the rating because of "some explicit sexual content," which includes full-frontal nudity, oral sex performed on men and women, and group sex. Joan Graves, head of the group's ratings system arm, believes the "stigma" of NC-17 is due in part to negative press. She told AP, "I've always considered it a shame that for some reason some people consider it (a death sentence), and I blame the media in a way because they always act like it's gotten the kiss of death." "I think NC-17 is a badge of honor, not a scarlet letter. We believe it is time for the rating to become usable in a serious manner," Searchlight president Steve Gilula told The Hollywood Reporter. "The sheer talent of the actors and the vision of the filmmaker are extraordinary. It's not a film that everyone will take easily, but it certainly breaks through the clutter and is distinctive and original. It's a game changer." PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery The Dirty Dozen: Films that Narrowly Avoided an NC-17 Related Topics Carey Mulligan Michael Fassbender International Steve McQueen Shame

NBC Picks Up Imagines Sarah Silverman Comedy To Pilot

EXCLUSIVE: NBC continues its aggressive push this development season with early pilot orders. The latest project to get the green light is the comedy starring Sarah Silverman, which the network landed in August after a bidding war with a hefty put pilot commitment. The half-hour, from 20th Century Fox TV and Imagine TV, is a pet project of Imagine principal Ron Howard. Loosely based on Silvermans life, the untitled single-camera comedy stars the comedian as a woman readjusting to the single life after a decade-long live-in relationship. Silverman wrote the script with Dan Sterling and Jon Schroeder, who were writer-producers on her self-titled Comedy Central series. Silverman, Sterling and Imagine’s Howard, Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo are executive producing, with Schroeder serving as co-exec producer. The order for the Sarah Silverman project follows NBC’s recent pilot pickups for Beautiful People, a futuristic drama by Michael McDonald, and comedies Isabel and Save Me, which are now casting. Additionally, the J.J. Abrams/Eric Kripke adventure thriller Revolution and crime drama Blue Tilt have pilot production commitments at the network. NBC now houses 3 female comedians known for their raunchy, no-holds-barred standup: Silverman, Whitney Cummings, creator and star of her own eponymous comedy series, which has received a full-season pickup by the network, and Chelsea Handler, who is behind the midseason series Are You There, Chelsea?, which will be paired with Whitney.

Has Dr. Drew Sold Out?

Dr. Drew Pinsky On a recent episode of Dr. Drew Pinsky's new daytime show Lifechangers, 17-year-old fame oddity Courtney Stodden laid on an examination table in front of a live studio audience while an ultrasound technician poked and prodded her before making this pronouncement: Stodden's breasts are real!VIDEO: Are Courtney Stodden's boobs real? (And spectacular?)The whole spectacle seemed a bit beneath Pinsky, who is often considered the stark voice of reason in an age of overexposed celebrities and tabloid rumors. Had Pinsky officially sold out? Pinsky acknowledges that he agreed to "settle the score" regarding Stodden's plastic surgery, but that, in exchange Stoddard and her husband, Lost actor Doug Hutchison, 51, were supposed to discuss their controversial January-December relationship. It didn't work out that way. "We didn't set it up properly; we didn't get anywhere in understanding their relationship," Pinsky confesses. "So yea, it was... 'one of those episodes.' It's a new show and we're still trying to figure out how to do this stuff."In his defense, Pinsky probably can't be expected to get it right every time. Between Lifechangers, Loveline, his self-titled show on HLN, his part-time medical practice, and Celebrity Rehab, the guy's got a lot on his plate.Sean Young, Michael Lohan and Bai Ling check in to Celebrity RehabNext up: Rehab's sixth season premieres Sunday, Nov. 20 on VH1, and it's being called Celebrity Rehab "Revisited." Unlike previous seasons, Pinsky will check in on some of the show's most notorious former patients, including Rodney King, Andy Dick, Heidi Fleiss, and Janice Dickinson.When Pinsky, 53, was pitched the series five years ago, he doubted it could ever work. He worried about two things: the cameras and the motivation. "Most of the people come on to this program because they want to be on TV and they want to make money," he says. "I don't really want to help people that are not interested in getting well."Check out our holiday guideFive seasons later, though, Pinsky understands the show's effectiveness. "So many of the patients ended up really valuing the treatment that they got," he says. "And even if they didn't fully embrace sobriety, they still had a transformative experience." Take Tom Sizemore, for example, he says. "Tom is an amazing success story. We worked with him for years before he ever came on Celebrity Rehab and we could never get him sober. And by the grace of God he got sober on the show - and that's amazing."Pinsky's track record is comparable to that of non-celebrity rehab programs: Some stay sober, but many continue to battle the disease. The show features both eventualities. For every Sizemore success story, there are also tragic endings. Mike Starr, of the band Alice in Chains, cleaned up on Season 3; less than a year later, he died at age 44. Those closest to Starr say he died of a drug overdose.Former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr dies at 44"Our original intent was just to show the work we do," he says. "We got tired of people not understanding what treatment was, and how difficult, painful, and tough it is."Pinsky insists that his show is 100 percent real - no producers meddling with the patients. "If we ever hear of a story producer pulling somebody aside the way they do on other shows, I would bring the wrath of God down on them," he says. "These are patients in a hospital. They're sick and they're unhappy. If they get near the patients, I will walk off the set."Celebrity Rehab Revisited premieres Sunday, Nov. 20 at 9/8c on VH1.

George Clooney's 'The Descendants' Opens Strong

Behold, the energy of George Clooney. Based on the Hollywood Reporter, the actor's latest movie, 'The Descendants,' is off and away to a powerful begin in limited release. Despite opening in just five theaters on Wednesday evening, the film made $39,777, with typically $7,955 per location. That may not appear like a great deal of dough (specially when you consider the possibility $125+ million opening of 'Breaking Beginning, Part I' a few days ago), but it is pretty solid thinking about the amount of theaters. To place it in perspective, 'J. Edgar' made $52,645 from seven theaters to have an average $7,521 if this opened up in limited release last Wednesday, that is just beneath the 'Descendants' haul. (Take that Leo!) Starring Clooney, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard and Shailene Woodley (who spoke about Clooney's fart machine the 2009 week), 'The Descendants' follows the storyline of Matt King (Clooney) who looks to reunite together with his kids after his wife falls right into a coma. The film will open countrywide November. 23. [via THR] [Photo: Fox Searchlight] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Miramax Joins Parade Of Galleries Supplying Movies To Netflix In United kingdom And Ireland

This is actually the latest inside a recent number of Netflix deals to secure movies to stream within the United kingdom and Ireland. But this release doesn’t state that the Miramax agreement is different, a contrast towards the bulletins with Lionsgate and MGM. BEVERLY Hillsides and SANTA MONICA, CA November 16, 2011 Netflix Corporation. (Nasdaq: NFLX) and Miramax today introduced a brand new multi-year digital certification agreement which will bring an extensive selection of acclaimed Miramax films to Netflix people within the United kingdom and Ireland. Starting in early 2012, Miramax game titles is going to be readily available for Netflix people to look at instantly within the United kingdom and Ireland streamed on the internet to connected Televisions, pills, video games, computer systems and cell phones. Financial the deal aren't being revealed. Netflix introduced in October it would launch its service within the United kingdom and Ireland at the start of 2012. Netflix is proud to have the ability to provide the unmatched mixture of award-winning, independent and in a commercial sense effective films Miramax is renowned for, stated Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. Miramax films happen to be faves of Netflix people within the U.S. and Latin America and were sure theyll be incredibly well-liked within the United kingdom and Ireland too. “We are thrilled to develop our partnership with Netflix because they expand their platform in to the United kingdom and Ireland, stated Mike Lang, Boss of Miramax. “This agreement further stretches our larger worldwide digital distribution strategy, once we still offer customers all over the world our remarkable assortment of Miramax films. Additional Miramax game titles open to people of Netflix within the United kingdom and Ireland includes The Aviator, Bad Santa, The Boy within the Candy striped Pajamas, Chocolat, Finding Neverland, Gangs of NY, The Hrs, Kate & Leopold, Rounders, Sling Edge, The Gifted Mr. Ripley, and some of the Frightening Movie, Scream and Hellraiser films. A comprehensive choice of legendary Miramax game titles has already been open to Netflix customers within the U . s . States and Latin America.

Hot UK Trailer: The Iron Lady

The UK trailer for the Weinstein Co’s The Iron Lady hit the web today. It’s the best glimpse yet of Meryl Streep as Margret Thatcher, a performance that has positioned her as the Oscar Best Actress frontrunner. The biopic, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and co-starring Jim Broadbent, hits U.S. theaters on December 30.

Kenneth Starr's Ex-Stripper Wife Joins 'Wall Street Wives' (Report)

Diane Passage, the estranged wife of imprisoned money manager Kenneth Starr, has agreed to participate in the Wall Street Wives reality show currently in development. The former stripper filed divorce from the federal prisoner this summer. Starr -- not to be confused with former judge, Bill Clinton investigator and Baylor University judge Ken Starr -- is currently doing time for fraud and money laundering. Passage is Starr's fourth wife. She told the NY Times she joined Wall Street Wives because "it just seemed like fun. I had heard about it, but I thought it was on the air already." PHOTOS: THR's Reality Host Roundtable Passage adds that she "mentioned" the show to Starr during one of her prison visits but "he doesn't get a say" in whether she does the series or not. Wall Street Wives is being produced by Devon Fleming. The show has not found a network home and Fleming is still rounding out the cast. Fleming is, however, happy to have landed Passage for the project. She tells the Times, "She's got a lot of stuff. She still visits her husband in jail a lot, and she couldn't be nicer." Related Topics TV Development

Steve James honored at IDFA

James'The Occasions of Harvey Milk''Grey Gardens''Hoop Dreams''28 Up''The Staircase'"It is primarily the 8,000-pound gorilla," Steve James states of his 1994 landmark docu, "Ring Dreams. "It's forced me to possess perspective about my career. Individuals are going to evaluate things i do against that film and I am Comfortable with that."And they are IDFA developers. Fest will recognition James' work, including "Dreams" and the six subsequent docus, inside a retrospective.Following within the actions of maverick docu filmmakers including Werner Herzog and Krzysztof Kieslowski, the Chicago-based, 56-year-old helmer will even present his 10 favorite docus ever included in IDFA's annual Top Ten program. (See story this site.)James isn't any stranger towards the Amsterdam fest. He's been attending off and on since 1994, when he introduced "Ring Dreams" towards the fest. In 2002, his "Stevie" won the Joris Ivens Award for docu, he came back annually later to screen "The Brand New People in america," and was in 2008 to host a masterclass and offer "In the Dying House Door," co-directed by Peter Gilbert. His latest film, "The Interrupters," will screen within the Reflecting Images: Masters section."What's to not like about IDFA?" James states. "It's in Amsterdam and those who run it will always be searching to stretch the limitations and program provocative films."Regarding his top ten docu list, James states, "The flicks I selected are each influential (in my experience) when it comes to making my very own films and exactly how I consider documentary. This is exactly why many of them are older paperwork. They struck me at about the time after i was trying to puzzle out what type of filmmaker I thought about being.InchWayne states it had been Apted's "28 Up" (area of the "7 Up" series) that "grown the seed" for which would get to be the legendary "Ring Dreams," that was shot on the 4 1/2-year period."I had been amazed by '28 Up' -- amazed that Apted have been capable of making a movie which had this idea of following people with time. To chart an individual's existence and just how it transformed and did not change. Such a brilliant idea!""Dreams" won every major experts award in addition to a Peabody and Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award in 1995 and was lately selected for that Library of Congress' National Film Registry.Although James attempted his hands at narrative filmmaking after "Dreams," including writing-pointing Disney's 1997 "Prefontaine," he ultimately made the decision to concentrate exclusively on his doc career. Now 14 years later, he's reconsidering the genre."I am thinking about going after narrative film again. I've not designed a narrative which i feel nearly as good about as a few of the paperwork I have made. I am prepared to repeat the process and get it done better. I'll keep documentaries undoubtedly. That's something I do not see ever altering."Steve James' Top Ten Docus"28 Up," Michael Apted, United kingdom, 1984"American Movie," Chris Cruz, USA, 1999"Fallen Champion: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson," Barbara Kopple, USA, 1993"Golub: Late Works Would be the Catastrophes," Jerry Blumenthal & Gordon Quinn, USA, 2004"Gray Gardens," Albert Maysles & David Maysles, USA, 1976"Le joli mai," Chris Marker, France, 1963"Our Visit to Africa," Peter Kubelka, Austria, 1967"The Staircase," Jean-Xavier p Lestrade, France, 2004"The Occasions of Harvey Milk," Robert Epstein, USA, 1984"Tongues Untied," Marlon Riggs, USA, 1989RELATED LINKS Docus' Nederlander landing Contact Addie Morfoot at news@variety.com

Areu is right-hand man inside Perry's empire

AreuAlthough Tyler Perry, as creator, has been the main force behind "House of Payne," Ozzie Areu has been a key lieutenant.Areu, a native Californian, began working for Perry in 2006 and became president of Tyler Perry Studios in March 2008. In addition to serving as exec producer of "Payne," he is also doing the same for upcoming series "For Better or Worse."At Tyler Perry Studios, he oversees more than 300 employees on a studio that covers 30 acres. He has responsibility for all film, television and play productions in various producing and casting capacities.He has produced nine Perry films, including "Madea's Big Happy Family," "For Colored Girls" and the upcoming " Good Deeds." Areu is also in charge of 34th Street Films, a film development and production company owned by Perry."It has been an outstanding experience to see and be a part of history," Areu says. "Tyler sets his goals and achieves them, delivering positive entertainment for the entire family."Tyler Perry's 'House of Payne' 200th Episode:'Payne' yields pleasure for Perry, TBS | Perry's bet on himself pays off handsomely | Charity no rarity | Pipeline full for Mr. 'Deeds' | Areu is right-hand man inside Perry's empire | 'Payne' cast reflects on top memories Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com