Charter losses narrow to $67 mil

Charter Communications, with new CEO Tom Rutledge at the helm, said net losses narrowed last quarter to $67 million from $70 million a year earlier.Revenue at the St. Louis-based company owned by Paul Allen nosed up to $1.83 billion in the quarter ended Dec. 31 from $1.79 billion on higher Internet, telephone and commercial sales."This will be an important year for Charter and our customers, and I'm excited to be a part of it," Rutledge said. A highly regarded cable exec, he shocked the industry when he bolted from his longtime perch at NY operator Cablevision in late December to move to Charter.Charter's total customer base grew 8,700 in the fourth quarter, compared to a loss of 35,700 in the year-ago quarter. Residential Internet customers grew 67,700, more than double the number of a year ago.Video losses of 45,000 were down from 62,000 in the year-ago quarter. But Charter added fewer telephone subscribers than it had the year before.Charter put out a separate release for fast-growing commercial services division Charter Business, where revenue jumped 20% for full-year 2011 to $583 million. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Adele Offers the Finger Throughout Acceptance Speech at Brit Honours

Obama First lady Michelle Obama recognized to Jay Leno that Leader Obama sings constantly, and clearly, she wasn't lounging.Within a blues concert for Black History Month within the White-colored House Tuesday evening, Obama chimed together with music tales B.B. King and Mick Jagger around the performance of "Sweet Home Chicago." VIDEO: Obama products out Al Eco-friendly lyricsIf you'll recall, Obama infamously paid out tribute to soul legend Al Eco-friendly by singing a few bars of "Let's Stay Together" within a fundraiser event within the month of the month of january.

VIDEO: The Particular Regular folks of O.C.'s Gretchen Describes Fallout with Vicki

The Particular Regular folks in the O.C. Who'd have believed The Particular Regular folks of Orange County's Gretchen and Tamra could be pals? In the last three seasons in the Bravo series, the castmates are actually every single other bands throats. From Tamra probing into Gretchen then-fiancé Jeff's relationship, to Gretchen's famous "evil eye" comment, the women have barely been not competitors. When Season 7 builds up, that will finally change. "I used to be beyond shocked [we reconciled], but concurrently I really went to the season knowing I desired to move past it," Gretchen notifies TVGuide.com. Though Gretchen and Tamra awesome lower, the drama will get warmer with Vicki. (Just watch the conclusion from the clip.) Watch the interview below for further by themselves approaching showdown and what set Gretchen inside the edge. The Particular Regular folks of Oc airs Mondays at 10/9c on Bravo.

DreamWorks Plans New Rebecca

Steven Knight's writing the scriptBecause it certainly is exercised very well previously (the maligned Psycho remake the still-delayed latest peck in the Wild birds), someone will have a crack at re-doing another Alfred Hitchcock film. Yup, DreamWorks and dealing Title are joining as much as bring the planet a brand new Rebecca.Before all of us hurry to judgement, this news about who'll possess the first stab at writing the script should bring some comfort: Eastern Promises/ Dirty Pretty Things' Steven Dark night.Based on Variety, he'll return to the Daphne du Maurier novel, which sees a naive youthful lady getting betrothed to some wealthy widower and getting into his mansion. Sadly on her, the housekeeper and also the relaxation from the staff continued to be dedicated to his departed first wife (the titular Rebecca) and constantly attempt to undermine the brand new arrival. Soon, you will find major facts, a chilly situation analysis and various mental trouble.Dark night continues to be busy lately: he done Serta Brown adaptation The Lost Symbol for The new sony and it is getting set to direct his first film, Hummingbird, featuring Jason Statham within the lead.What exactly would you think about the galleries searching to consider a brand new pass in the novel? Could it go with no hitch (sorry), or could it be a lot of old... rubbish?

Pilot Season: Daisy Betts Cast in ABC's Last Resort

Daisy Betts Daisy Betts has been cast in ABC's drama pilot Last Resort, TVGuide.com has confirmed.Executive-produced by Shawn Ryan (Lie to Me), the series follows a U.S. nuclear submarine crew led by Capt. Marcus Chaplin, who defies orders to fire nuclear missiles. As a result, they set up a camp on an island that is home to a NATO listening station.Pilot Season: Andre Braugher lands lead in Shawn Ryan's Last ResortBetts, who has appeared in Harry's Law and Persons Unknown, will join Andre Braugher in the pilot. The actress will play Grace Shepard, the gutsy newbie to the submarine crew who is a family friend of Chaplin (Braugher).

Private Practice Scoop: Sam's Sister Has Arrived!

Anika Noni Rose and Taye Diggs Sam's sister has arrived! Corrine, played by Tony winner Anika Noni Rose, made a brief appearance in last week's episode when Sam (Taye Diggs) bailed her out of jail after she robbed a convenience store. First impressions aside, she's no common criminal, and despite what the promos lead you to believe, she's not just some drugged out, desperate woman. She's actually mentally ill. Exclusive: Paul Adelstein to direct an episode of Private Practice "She's bipolar," Rose tells TVGuide.com. "She doesn't know she's bipolar, she's been misdiagnosed many times. No one actually knows what her deal is. She's been drugged for so long and on the streets for so long, and also self-medicating to try to feel better, but it turns out that she is bipolar and they're trying to find a way to treat her." Now that Sam has her in his care, he'll turn to Sheldon (Brian Benben) to try to figure out exactly what's wrong with her. "She's a little skeptical of the diagnosis because she's been diagnosed before and people have been wrong," she says. "She's been given medication before and it hasn't worked, so that's difficult, particularly for somebody who's fighting with a mental illness because the moment you start to feel better, you think you're better." Through this process the siblings will finally be able to reconnect. "They were close at one point, and then estranged; that will be revealed more as the episodes progress," Diggs says. "They're trying to make up for lost time and reintroduce themselves to each other." Get the exclusive details on the Grey's Anatomy-Private Practice crossover Because of their new found connection, Sam will be in denial over his sister's illness. "With the people that are closest to you, you don't want to look at the truth," Diggs says. 'It's the situation where it can happen to everybody else but you. In this situation, something obviously is going on with his sister and he just doesn't want to believe it." Though Addison (Kate Walsh) and Sam are broken up, she'll be there to support him through this trying time. "She lives right next door, so she sees first-hand what's happening and transpiring," Walsh says. "She's trying to be his friend and be there for him." Private Practice airs Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC.

Chichester taps Cattrall

Regional theater giant Chichester Festival Theater can have two world premieres, the 76th play from legendary Brit scribe Alan Ayckbourn ("The Norman Conquests") together with a string of classic revivals plus a output of "Antony and Nefertiti" starring Kim Cattrall. Among the preems is "An Excellent Year For Apples," a completely new thriller by Hugh Whitemore occur 1956 through the political turmoil in the Suez crisis, which introduced Britain for the fringe of war. Helmed by Philip Hotdogs, the expansion runs May 11-June 2 getting a May 17 press evening. Meanwhile, playwright Michael Wynne, whose Royal Court play "The Priory" parcelled up this year's Olivier to get the best comedy, makes his Chichester debut with "Canvas." A comedy three couples around the camping holiday discovering that the rural idyll isn't the simplest approach to avoid everything, show is directed by Angus Jackson and runs inside the Minerva Studio May 18-June 16 getting a May 24 press evening. Ayckbourn will direct their very own play "Surprises" following its premiere earlier around at his home venue, the Stephen Ernest Theater in Scarborough. A comedy set afterwards, it examines an interconnected group whose anticipation about love are overturned. The play will run along with Ayckbourn's own revival of his 1972 hit "Absurd Person Singular," while using two-play egagement set to function August. 8-Sept. 8. Really the only tuner round the slate can be a new staging of "Hug Me Kate" helmed by Trevor Nunn. Running June 18-Sept. 1, the musical is choreographed by Stephen Mear ("Mary Poppins"). Opening the summer season can be a new output of Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" (March 30-April 28). Helmed by Jeremy Herrin -- whose Chichester output of "South Downs" will get in free air travel Finish in April -- "Vanya" stars Roger Allam, Dervla Kirwin and Timothy West. That's then new productions of William Congreve's Restoration comedy "The obvious method of the earth,In . helmed by Rachel Kavanaugh, and "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui," directed by Chichester a.d. Jonathan Chapel and starring Henry Goodman. Derek Jacobi leads Richard Clifford's new output of George Bernard Shaw's "Heartbreak House," because the Cattrall-toplined "Antony and Nefertiti," initially produced at Liverpool's Everyman Theater this season now co-starring Michael Pennington, runs Sept. 7-29. Helmed by Jesse Suzman, the expansion is presently eying a later West Finish berth. The summer season is rounded offered by Anna Chancellor and Toby Stephens starring in Jonathan Kent's new output of Noel Coward's "Private Lives" (Sept. 21-March. 27). Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Film Movement nabs 'Off White Lies'

Film Movement has acquired North American distribution rights to Israeli comedy "Off White Lies," with plans for a year-end national platform release. "White Lies," from debut director Maya Kenig, is loosely based on news stories and family events experienced by Kenig as a young mother during the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon. The film will screen in competition at the Berlin Film Festival's Generation program early next week. Film Movement plans to kick-start the film's Stateside theatrical run in NY during the third quarter. That's meant to coincide with a day-and-date VOD rollout. Deal was negotiated by Film Movement veep of acquisitions and distribution Rebeca Conget, along with Virginie Devesa and Keiko Funato from the newly formed French sales company Alpha Violet. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Universal, Fandango team on promo

Studios aren't just using the Super Bowl to unveil trailers for their upcoming tentpoles. With more than 100 million people watching the big game each year, the majors are hoping to sell tickets to those pics, too. Universal Pictures and Fandango have paired up to add a tag directing viewers of the "Battleship" spot to Fandango's mobile apps and the company's microsite for Hasbro's boardgame-based actioner; users can sign on to receive a FanAlert email notifying them when "Battleship" showtimes and tickets are available in their area. Film sails into theaters in May. Promo, which includes a 15-second Fandango spot that will also air during NBC's Super Bowl pre-show, will give away five years' worth of free movie tickets. Ad will alert viewers that "a battle is coming," teasing the "Battleship" trailer that will air during the game. Online, Fandango will also promote the "Battleship" promo to its Facebook and Twitter fans. Campaign marks the first time Fandango has partnered with a studio in an on-air trailer spot to directly boost advance ticket sales, said Rick Butler, exec VP and general manager of Fandango. "We anticipate supporting all of our studio partners with on-air FanAlert promotional opportunities for upcoming films in the future." NBC is charging marketers up to $4 million for each 30-second ad during the Super Bowl. And by partnering with Fandango, U has found a way to find more value for its pricey ad buy. "This is an innovative collaboration that brings together the nation's leading moviegoer destination, Universal's epic film and the power of the Super Bowl," said Nick Lehman, president of digital for NBCUniversal Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media, which includes Fandango. "We are breaking new ground for effective movie marketing. By featuring a direct 'call to action' linking on-air movie promotion to advance ticket sales, Fandango will be instrumental in building enthusiasm among fans and helping to fill theaters with avid moviegoers." Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com