LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Liam Neeson thriller 'Taken 2' captured the No. 1 spot on movie box office charts over the weekend with a brawny $50 million take from theaters in the United States and Canada.
'Taken 2' stars Neeson as a former CIA agent kidnapped during a vacation in Istanbul. The movie added $55 million from some 50 international markets for a global opening of $117 million including Korea where it opened earlier, distributor 20th Century Fox said.
The strong debut for 'Taken 2' pushed last weekend's winner, family flick 'Hotel Transylvania,' to second place. The movie about a hotel run by Dracula earned $26.3 million from Friday through Sunday, according to studio estimates compiled by Reuters. Comedy 'Pitch Perfect' snagged the No. 3 slot with $14.7 million.
North American (U.S. and Canadian) sales for 'Taken 2' were more than double the original film's, which opened in January 2009 with $24.7 million and ultimately grossed a surprising $227 million around the world. The movie lifted Neeson to the ranks of Hollywood action stars, leading to roles in movies such as 'Clash of the Titans' and 'The Grey.'
'This so exceeded our expectations going in,' said Chris Aronson, executive vice president of domestic distribution at 20th Century Fox, noting that Fox had anticipated something 'in the mid-30s range' after what he called a 'sluggish market' since the summer.
'The come in at $50 million is really remarkable, and a testament to this character that Liam has created,' Aronson told Reuters.
The executive noted that the audience was almost evenly split male-female, and also played strongly across age groups, with more than half over the age of 25.
Fox co-financed the film with Europa Corp, the company run by 'Taken' writer and director Luc Besson, and contributed $36 million to its budget, Aronson said. Reports have put the total budget at about $50 million.
'Hotel Transylvania' won the weekend battle for pre-Halloween family filmgoers, leaving new Walt Disney Co movie 'Frankenweenie' in fifth place. Through two weekends, 'Transylvania' has grossed $76 million in the domestic market.
'Pitch Perfect,' about a college all-girls singing group moved up the charts as it expanded nationwide following an impressive limited opening last weekend. The movie stars Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow.
'There's a lot to be said about this little engine that could,' said Nikki Rocco, president of domestic distribution for Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp, noting that the film only cost $17 million.
'It's on the road to very nice profitability for Universal,' she said, adding that the studio expected 'word of mouth, which we know is great' would help the film develop legs beyond its core, targeted audience, which, Rocco said, 'loves it.'
Rounding out the charts, time-travel movie 'Looper' earned fourth place with $12.2 million domestically. Sales for the movie starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt reached $40.3 million for the two-week run.
Disney's 'Frankenweenie' grossed $11.5 million at domestic theaters. The black-and-white stop-motion film directed by Tim Burton tells the story of a boy who brings his beloved dog back to life using Frankenstein-like science. The movie cost $39 million to produce.
News Corp's 20th Century Fox studio distributed 'Taken 2.' Sony Corp's film studio released 'Hotel Transylvania' and 'Looper.' 'Pitch Perfect' was distributed by Universal Pictures, a unit of Comcast Corp.
(Additional reporting by Chris Michaud; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
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Sunday, October 7, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
In "The Details," a grown-up role for Tobey Maguire
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Tobey Maguire's boyish looks have played no small part in landing him a succession of roles as the youthful hero in films such as 'Spiderman' or the underdog jockey in 'Seabiscuit.'
Now, the 37-year-old actor is finally growing up on screen in 'The Details,' a dark comedy which marks a return to the lower budget, experimental fare favored by Maguire long before he first donned Peter Parker's blue and red suit.
Maguire plays Dr. Jeff Lang, a married father who strays from his wife Nealy - played by Elizabeth Banks - by sleeping with a former medical school friend (Kerry Washington). 'The Details' will be released on video-on-demand and iTunes Friday, ahead of a theatrical run in November.
'I did have a 10-year period where a lot of my time was taken up doing the 'Spider-Man' movies and I was heavily identifiable as that character,' Maguire told Reuters of the three films in the series, released in 2002, 2004 and 2007.
'Because Peter Parker is such a young and iconic figure, I think there is a heavy identification with me as a more youthful kind of guy,' he said.
Maguire, who made his name playing coming-of-age roles in 1990s movies like 'The Cider House Rules,' 'Pleasantville' and 'The Ice Storm,' said the latest film is tonally very different from anything he has done before.
In 'Details,' written and directed by Jacob Aaron Estes, Maguire's Dr. Lang battles both raccoons wrecking his back lawn and a marriage that has turned stale.
His affair sets in motion a chain of events that escalates into absurdity, involving an extortion, organ donation and murder. Laura Linney, Ray Liotta and Dennis Haysbert also star.
'I do enjoy films where the screws come down on a character,' Maguire said of playing Dr. Lang. 'I can understand how this guy got to a point where he made a bad decision and then in trying to retrieve that, it all unravels.'
The film casts him in the adult role of father and husband which he plays in real life as well, with his wife Jennifer Meyer and their two children.
'It's great that I'm of an age where I feel like there are more interesting roles and opportunities,' he said.
While the filming schedule and promotional duties of 'Spider-Man' had limited Maguire's opportunity to work on other films, the actor is less constrained now.
This summer, he shot the Jason Reitman-directed film, 'Labor Day,' an adaptation of a Joyce Maynard book about a mother and son who pick up a convicted murderer who has escaped prison.
For his next project, Maguire returns to blockbuster territory in Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of 'The Great Gatsby,' where he plays outsider Nick Carraway, opposite old friend, Leonardo DiCaprio, in the role of the mysterious and wealthy playboy, Jay Gatsby.
(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Bernadette Baum)
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Now, the 37-year-old actor is finally growing up on screen in 'The Details,' a dark comedy which marks a return to the lower budget, experimental fare favored by Maguire long before he first donned Peter Parker's blue and red suit.
Maguire plays Dr. Jeff Lang, a married father who strays from his wife Nealy - played by Elizabeth Banks - by sleeping with a former medical school friend (Kerry Washington). 'The Details' will be released on video-on-demand and iTunes Friday, ahead of a theatrical run in November.
'I did have a 10-year period where a lot of my time was taken up doing the 'Spider-Man' movies and I was heavily identifiable as that character,' Maguire told Reuters of the three films in the series, released in 2002, 2004 and 2007.
'Because Peter Parker is such a young and iconic figure, I think there is a heavy identification with me as a more youthful kind of guy,' he said.
Maguire, who made his name playing coming-of-age roles in 1990s movies like 'The Cider House Rules,' 'Pleasantville' and 'The Ice Storm,' said the latest film is tonally very different from anything he has done before.
In 'Details,' written and directed by Jacob Aaron Estes, Maguire's Dr. Lang battles both raccoons wrecking his back lawn and a marriage that has turned stale.
His affair sets in motion a chain of events that escalates into absurdity, involving an extortion, organ donation and murder. Laura Linney, Ray Liotta and Dennis Haysbert also star.
'I do enjoy films where the screws come down on a character,' Maguire said of playing Dr. Lang. 'I can understand how this guy got to a point where he made a bad decision and then in trying to retrieve that, it all unravels.'
The film casts him in the adult role of father and husband which he plays in real life as well, with his wife Jennifer Meyer and their two children.
'It's great that I'm of an age where I feel like there are more interesting roles and opportunities,' he said.
While the filming schedule and promotional duties of 'Spider-Man' had limited Maguire's opportunity to work on other films, the actor is less constrained now.
This summer, he shot the Jason Reitman-directed film, 'Labor Day,' an adaptation of a Joyce Maynard book about a mother and son who pick up a convicted murderer who has escaped prison.
For his next project, Maguire returns to blockbuster territory in Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of 'The Great Gatsby,' where he plays outsider Nick Carraway, opposite old friend, Leonardo DiCaprio, in the role of the mysterious and wealthy playboy, Jay Gatsby.
(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Bernadette Baum)
This article is brought to you by ALTIMA CARS.
Actress Daryl Hannah arrested in Keystone pipeline protest
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Actress Daryl Hannah was arrested in Texas on Thursday after she stood in front of an earth-moving machine clearing ground for the construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, her representative said.
The protest took place outside Winnsboro, Texas, about 80 miles east of Dallas, said Hannah's agent, Paul Bassis.
Hannah, 51, a longtime environmental activist, was arrested last year outside the White House in another protest against the pipeline. The Keystone XL pipeline, a project of TransCanada Corp, would ship more than half a million barrels a day of oil sands-derived crude to the Texas Gulf Coast from Canada.
On Thursday, Hannah stood in front of an excavator being used to clear trees and brush in order to build the pipeline, Bassis said. Joining her was the site's property owner, Eleanor Fairchild, 78, whose land was taken by eminent domain for the project, he said.
'Ms. Hannah and Ms. Fairchild were defending Ms. Fairchild's property from eminent domain abuse by TransCanada,' Bassis said.
A spokeswoman for the Wood County Sheriff's Office said no officials were available to discuss the incident.
Booking information from the Sheriff's Office said Hannah was held on charges of trespassing and resisting arrest.
A representative for TransCanada could not be reached for comment, but a company statement said the pipeline would be 'safe and reliable.'
The southern section of the pipeline - the project Hannah was protesting - will take oil from the glutted Cushing, Oklahoma, storage hub to refineries in Texas. President Barack Obama lent his support to the project, which is being built.
But the northern section of the $7.6 billion project, which would take crude across the Canadian border into the United States, was rejected by Obama last year on environmental and water supply grounds about its route through Nebraska.
TransCanada has reapplied to the State Department for approval of the full project. The State Department has jurisdiction because the line would cross a border.
Hannah played the mermaid in the 1984 film 'Splash,' and also had roles in films such as 'Wall Street' and 'Blade Runner.'
(Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis and Peter Cooney)
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The protest took place outside Winnsboro, Texas, about 80 miles east of Dallas, said Hannah's agent, Paul Bassis.
Hannah, 51, a longtime environmental activist, was arrested last year outside the White House in another protest against the pipeline. The Keystone XL pipeline, a project of TransCanada Corp, would ship more than half a million barrels a day of oil sands-derived crude to the Texas Gulf Coast from Canada.
On Thursday, Hannah stood in front of an excavator being used to clear trees and brush in order to build the pipeline, Bassis said. Joining her was the site's property owner, Eleanor Fairchild, 78, whose land was taken by eminent domain for the project, he said.
'Ms. Hannah and Ms. Fairchild were defending Ms. Fairchild's property from eminent domain abuse by TransCanada,' Bassis said.
A spokeswoman for the Wood County Sheriff's Office said no officials were available to discuss the incident.
Booking information from the Sheriff's Office said Hannah was held on charges of trespassing and resisting arrest.
A representative for TransCanada could not be reached for comment, but a company statement said the pipeline would be 'safe and reliable.'
The southern section of the pipeline - the project Hannah was protesting - will take oil from the glutted Cushing, Oklahoma, storage hub to refineries in Texas. President Barack Obama lent his support to the project, which is being built.
But the northern section of the $7.6 billion project, which would take crude across the Canadian border into the United States, was rejected by Obama last year on environmental and water supply grounds about its route through Nebraska.
TransCanada has reapplied to the State Department for approval of the full project. The State Department has jurisdiction because the line would cross a border.
Hannah played the mermaid in the 1984 film 'Splash,' and also had roles in films such as 'Wall Street' and 'Blade Runner.'
(Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis and Peter Cooney)
This news article is brought to you by FREE ROMANTIC DATING SITE BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
A Minute With: Tim Burton about his new "Frankenweenie" film
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Filmmaker Tim Burton returns to his stop-motion animated roots this Friday with 'Frankenweenie,' a black-and-white 3D movie about a boy who uses science to bring his beloved dog back to life.
This film is from Walt Disney Co, which fired him more than 20 years ago for his first, short version of 'Frankenweenie.' Burton, 54, spoke to Reuters about wish fulfillment and why the story is so personal for him.
Q: 'Frankenweenie' takes its roots from a relationship you had with your dog as a young boy. Tell us about the dog.
A: 'I had this strong connection with a mutt we had named Pepe, and it was a good connection. Like your first love. It was very powerful. The dog was not meant to live very long because of a disease he had, but he ended up living quite a long time. So you have this strong connection, and then you think: 'Well, how long is this going to last?' You don't really understand those concepts of death at the time.'
Q: 'Frankenweenie' was a live-action short film that you directed for Disney in 1984. What made you decide to do this feature-length film as stop-motion animation?
A: 'It feels like the right medium for this. I always enjoyed the structure of movies like 'Frankenstein' and then later on 'House of Frankenstein,' where they incorporated other monsters ... I tried to be very clear not to just pad out the short. So I took the heart and sprit of what 'Frankenweenie' (the short) was, took the Frankenstein story, and went in to the other Frankenstein structures where the other kids - or monsters - come in to play.'
Q: Why 'Frankenstein?'
A: 'I knew about death from watching 'Frankenstein' and 'Dracula.' Though you don't really understand it, you get it. And that's the whole purpose of those stories - to kind of prepare you for the abstract things that you don't really know.'
Q: The original short got you fired from Disney because they felt it was inappropriate for children. Do you think they were right about that?
A: In this 'Frankenweenie' film, I make a reference to 'Bambi' because Disney founded itself on exploring those things - Bambi's mother dying, for example. Or 'The Lion King' - there's death all over that movie. I find that people at the company forget the history of Walt Disney movies. 'Old Yeller,' 'Snow White' - the movies had scary elements. I felt 'Frankenweenie' was a pretty classic Disney movie.'
Q: How scary is the new one?
A: 'There's no yelping and screaming. No bodies being crushed. I felt like it's the safest and most positive way to explore those themes. It's more of a fantasy, a wish fulfillment. Do I really want to bring my dead dog back? My dead grandmother? My dead parents? Not really.'
Q: Obviously Disney must be happy with this film. You didn't get fired this go-around!
A: 'I've been in and out of Disney both positively and negatively. (Getting fired) has happened to me so many times! I will say that there were no fights about (shooting this movie) in black and white, which was great because I wouldn't have done it without doing that. They could have made that an issue and they didn't. I'm always grateful for anything like that - where they at least try to see it the way you do, and then accept it.'
Q: Pepe was a mutt in real life, but in the live-action short and in this film, both dogs are bull terriers. Why that breed?
A: 'My original drawings for the film are quite abstract. They don't really identify a breed so much. I was trying to make the dog more general with the right kind of spirit. But when it came to going with a real dog, (using a bull terrier) definitely felt like the right type. They're quite special-looking. The ones I've known have got good personalities.'
Q: Working with real dogs is one thing, but what about clay ones?
A: 'They break a lot. We had a puppet hospital because there's a lot of wear and tear. The mouth splits, things open up, there are tears in the legs and you need more stitching.'
(Reporting by Zorianna Kit; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Lisa Von Ahn)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE CRITIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
This film is from Walt Disney Co, which fired him more than 20 years ago for his first, short version of 'Frankenweenie.' Burton, 54, spoke to Reuters about wish fulfillment and why the story is so personal for him.
Q: 'Frankenweenie' takes its roots from a relationship you had with your dog as a young boy. Tell us about the dog.
A: 'I had this strong connection with a mutt we had named Pepe, and it was a good connection. Like your first love. It was very powerful. The dog was not meant to live very long because of a disease he had, but he ended up living quite a long time. So you have this strong connection, and then you think: 'Well, how long is this going to last?' You don't really understand those concepts of death at the time.'
Q: 'Frankenweenie' was a live-action short film that you directed for Disney in 1984. What made you decide to do this feature-length film as stop-motion animation?
A: 'It feels like the right medium for this. I always enjoyed the structure of movies like 'Frankenstein' and then later on 'House of Frankenstein,' where they incorporated other monsters ... I tried to be very clear not to just pad out the short. So I took the heart and sprit of what 'Frankenweenie' (the short) was, took the Frankenstein story, and went in to the other Frankenstein structures where the other kids - or monsters - come in to play.'
Q: Why 'Frankenstein?'
A: 'I knew about death from watching 'Frankenstein' and 'Dracula.' Though you don't really understand it, you get it. And that's the whole purpose of those stories - to kind of prepare you for the abstract things that you don't really know.'
Q: The original short got you fired from Disney because they felt it was inappropriate for children. Do you think they were right about that?
A: In this 'Frankenweenie' film, I make a reference to 'Bambi' because Disney founded itself on exploring those things - Bambi's mother dying, for example. Or 'The Lion King' - there's death all over that movie. I find that people at the company forget the history of Walt Disney movies. 'Old Yeller,' 'Snow White' - the movies had scary elements. I felt 'Frankenweenie' was a pretty classic Disney movie.'
Q: How scary is the new one?
A: 'There's no yelping and screaming. No bodies being crushed. I felt like it's the safest and most positive way to explore those themes. It's more of a fantasy, a wish fulfillment. Do I really want to bring my dead dog back? My dead grandmother? My dead parents? Not really.'
Q: Obviously Disney must be happy with this film. You didn't get fired this go-around!
A: 'I've been in and out of Disney both positively and negatively. (Getting fired) has happened to me so many times! I will say that there were no fights about (shooting this movie) in black and white, which was great because I wouldn't have done it without doing that. They could have made that an issue and they didn't. I'm always grateful for anything like that - where they at least try to see it the way you do, and then accept it.'
Q: Pepe was a mutt in real life, but in the live-action short and in this film, both dogs are bull terriers. Why that breed?
A: 'My original drawings for the film are quite abstract. They don't really identify a breed so much. I was trying to make the dog more general with the right kind of spirit. But when it came to going with a real dog, (using a bull terrier) definitely felt like the right type. They're quite special-looking. The ones I've known have got good personalities.'
Q: Working with real dogs is one thing, but what about clay ones?
A: 'They break a lot. We had a puppet hospital because there's a lot of wear and tear. The mouth splits, things open up, there are tears in the legs and you need more stitching.'
(Reporting by Zorianna Kit; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Lisa Von Ahn)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE CRITIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Natalie Portman mulling several film roles
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - So what isn't Natalie Portman being courted for these days? There are several roles on offer to the 'Black Swan' actress, include 'Code Name Sasha,' which is being described as a female 'Training Day' meets 'La Femme Nikita' and 'Last Witness,' among others.
'Code Name Sasha' revolves around a single mother who has been engaged in criminal activity since she was a teenager. She is given a chance to get out when the FBI asks her to go under cover to bring down the world's largest gun-running organization. Alexandra Milchan is producing for Paramount.
At Fox, Portman is also being eyed for the film 'Last Witness' for producers Davis Entertainment. She would play a psychologist working with the sole survivor of a bombing in a café in Boston who is suffering from amnesia. Portman is also being courted for the Jackie Kennedy drama 'Jackie' at Fox Searchlight, some media outlets have reported.
A representative for the actress said that Portman has yet to make a decision about these films. Portman has already been announced for the 'Untitled Terrence Malick Project,' 'Thor: The Dark World' and 'Jane Got a Gun.'
Portman will also serve as a producer on 'Jane Got a Gun.'
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'Code Name Sasha' revolves around a single mother who has been engaged in criminal activity since she was a teenager. She is given a chance to get out when the FBI asks her to go under cover to bring down the world's largest gun-running organization. Alexandra Milchan is producing for Paramount.
At Fox, Portman is also being eyed for the film 'Last Witness' for producers Davis Entertainment. She would play a psychologist working with the sole survivor of a bombing in a café in Boston who is suffering from amnesia. Portman is also being courted for the Jackie Kennedy drama 'Jackie' at Fox Searchlight, some media outlets have reported.
A representative for the actress said that Portman has yet to make a decision about these films. Portman has already been announced for the 'Untitled Terrence Malick Project,' 'Thor: The Dark World' and 'Jane Got a Gun.'
Portman will also serve as a producer on 'Jane Got a Gun.'
This news article is brought to you by PERSONAL FINANCE BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Monday, October 1, 2012
"Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane to host Oscars
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Outspoken comedian Seth MacFarlane, creator of 'Family Guy', will host the Oscars ceremony in February in a choice seen aimed at attracting younger viewers to the movie industry's biggest night.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which produces the Oscars, announced the selection on Monday of first-time host MacFarlane, known for his no-holds-barred humor and cultural satire on 'Family Guy'.
Oscars telecast producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said in a statement they picked MacFarlane, 38, because 'his performing skills blend perfectly with our ideas for making the show entertaining and fresh,' calling him the 'consummate host'.
'My thoughts upon hearing the news were, one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don't find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen Roast,' Macfarlane said in a statement, alluding to a televised sendup of Sheen on the Comedy Central channel.
The Academy Awards, which will next take place on February 24, 2013, are the highest honors in the movie business and the hosting job is a coveted spot, held in the past by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson and Steve Martin.
The Academy has struggled in recent years to appeal to a younger audience. Rookie hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco were drafted in for the 2011 ceremony but the show became one of the least-watched Academy Awards in the past decade, drawing 37.6 million Americans, and critics slammed the young hosts.
More than 39 million Americans tuned in to watch Oscars veteran Billy Crystal take the helm this year, but some critics called the show old-fashioned.
Comedian MacFarlane rose to fame and gained a cult following as the creator of Fox's edgy comedy animated series 'Family Guy,' which follows the outrageous antics of Peter Griffin and his dysfunctional family.
MacFarlane has come under fire from watchdog groups including the Parents Television Council, who regularly feature 'Family Guy' on their 'worst prime-time shows for family viewing' on grounds it may include 'gratuitous sex' or 'obscene language'.
He made his directorial debut on the big screen this year with 'Ted,' an R-rated comedy film starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis, about a pot-smoking, foul-mouthed teddy bear.
'Family Guy,' which attracts a strong audience in the coveted 18-34 year old demographic, has in the past depicted former U.S. President Bill Clinton smoking marijuana and a barbershop quartet singing about AIDS, as well as mocking various religions.
The success of 'Family Guy' led MacFarlane to create two animated spin-off series, 'The Cleveland Show' and 'American Dad'.
MacFarlane, who voices the characters of Peter, Brian and Stewie on 'Family Guy,' has often embraced song and dance numbers on the animated show and has hosted 'Rat Pack'-themed nights at his home in Los Angeles where he performs.
He has also performed to sold-out audiences at London's Royal Albert Hall and New York's Carnegie Hall, and earned two Grammy nominations for his debut 2011 album, 'Music is Better Than Words'.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and Andrew Hay)
This news article is brought to you by ADVANCED DATING ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which produces the Oscars, announced the selection on Monday of first-time host MacFarlane, known for his no-holds-barred humor and cultural satire on 'Family Guy'.
Oscars telecast producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said in a statement they picked MacFarlane, 38, because 'his performing skills blend perfectly with our ideas for making the show entertaining and fresh,' calling him the 'consummate host'.
'My thoughts upon hearing the news were, one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don't find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen Roast,' Macfarlane said in a statement, alluding to a televised sendup of Sheen on the Comedy Central channel.
The Academy Awards, which will next take place on February 24, 2013, are the highest honors in the movie business and the hosting job is a coveted spot, held in the past by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson and Steve Martin.
The Academy has struggled in recent years to appeal to a younger audience. Rookie hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco were drafted in for the 2011 ceremony but the show became one of the least-watched Academy Awards in the past decade, drawing 37.6 million Americans, and critics slammed the young hosts.
More than 39 million Americans tuned in to watch Oscars veteran Billy Crystal take the helm this year, but some critics called the show old-fashioned.
Comedian MacFarlane rose to fame and gained a cult following as the creator of Fox's edgy comedy animated series 'Family Guy,' which follows the outrageous antics of Peter Griffin and his dysfunctional family.
MacFarlane has come under fire from watchdog groups including the Parents Television Council, who regularly feature 'Family Guy' on their 'worst prime-time shows for family viewing' on grounds it may include 'gratuitous sex' or 'obscene language'.
He made his directorial debut on the big screen this year with 'Ted,' an R-rated comedy film starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis, about a pot-smoking, foul-mouthed teddy bear.
'Family Guy,' which attracts a strong audience in the coveted 18-34 year old demographic, has in the past depicted former U.S. President Bill Clinton smoking marijuana and a barbershop quartet singing about AIDS, as well as mocking various religions.
The success of 'Family Guy' led MacFarlane to create two animated spin-off series, 'The Cleveland Show' and 'American Dad'.
MacFarlane, who voices the characters of Peter, Brian and Stewie on 'Family Guy,' has often embraced song and dance numbers on the animated show and has hosted 'Rat Pack'-themed nights at his home in Los Angeles where he performs.
He has also performed to sold-out audiences at London's Royal Albert Hall and New York's Carnegie Hall, and earned two Grammy nominations for his debut 2011 album, 'Music is Better Than Words'.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and Andrew Hay)
This news article is brought to you by ADVANCED DATING ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
'Family Guy' creator Seth MacFarlane to host 85th Oscars
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - 'Family Guy' creator Seth MacFarlane will host the 85th Oscars ceremony in February, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which produces the Oscars, said on Monday.
'It's truly an overwhelming privilege to be asked to host the Oscars,' MacFarlane said in a statement.
'My thoughts upon hearing the news were, one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don't find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen Roast.'
The annual Academy Awards is Hollywood's big night to pay tribute to the film industry and honor the year's best films, actors and actresses, and the hosting helm is a coveted spot, held by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson, Whoopi Goldberg and Steve Martin.
Comedian MacFarlane, 38, has risen to fame as the creator of Fox's hit edgy comedy animated series 'Family Guy,' which follows the outrageous antics of Peter Griffin and his dysfunctional family.
He also made his directorial debut on the big screen this year with 'Ted,' an R-rated comedy film starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis, about a pot-smoking, foul-mouthed teddy bear.
MacFarlane, who voices the characters of Peter, Brian and Stewie on 'Family Guy,' has often embraced song and dance numbers on the animated show and has hosted 'Rat Pack'-themed nights at his home in Los Angeles where he performs.
Oscars telecast producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said they picked MacFarlane because 'his performing skills blend perfectly with our ideas for making the show entertaining and fresh,' calling him the 'consummate host.'
The comedian follows in the footsteps of this year's host Billy Crystal, a veteran host of the Oscars, and 2011's rookie hosts, Anne Hathaway and James Franco.
The 85th Academy Awards are scheduled for February 24, 2013, in Los Angeles.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Patricia Reaney; desking by G Crosse)
This news article is brought to you by GOING GREEN NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
'It's truly an overwhelming privilege to be asked to host the Oscars,' MacFarlane said in a statement.
'My thoughts upon hearing the news were, one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don't find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen Roast.'
The annual Academy Awards is Hollywood's big night to pay tribute to the film industry and honor the year's best films, actors and actresses, and the hosting helm is a coveted spot, held by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson, Whoopi Goldberg and Steve Martin.
Comedian MacFarlane, 38, has risen to fame as the creator of Fox's hit edgy comedy animated series 'Family Guy,' which follows the outrageous antics of Peter Griffin and his dysfunctional family.
He also made his directorial debut on the big screen this year with 'Ted,' an R-rated comedy film starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis, about a pot-smoking, foul-mouthed teddy bear.
MacFarlane, who voices the characters of Peter, Brian and Stewie on 'Family Guy,' has often embraced song and dance numbers on the animated show and has hosted 'Rat Pack'-themed nights at his home in Los Angeles where he performs.
Oscars telecast producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said they picked MacFarlane because 'his performing skills blend perfectly with our ideas for making the show entertaining and fresh,' calling him the 'consummate host.'
The comedian follows in the footsteps of this year's host Billy Crystal, a veteran host of the Oscars, and 2011's rookie hosts, Anne Hathaway and James Franco.
The 85th Academy Awards are scheduled for February 24, 2013, in Los Angeles.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Patricia Reaney; desking by G Crosse)
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