Pilot Season: Jordana Spiro Lands Lead in Fox Surgical Drama

Lindsay Lohan is determined to prove she's gotten her life back on track. Before she hosts Saturday Night Live this week, she sat down with Today's Matt Lauer, and spoke candidly about wanting to show everyone she can be trusted again. "I think that takes time," Lohan said during an interview that will air on Thursday's show. "Because... Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Saturday Night LiveTodayElizabeth TaylorLindsay Lohan

Vaudeville to stage Orton farce

Joe Orton's 1967 farce classic "What the Butler Saw" will open in a new production at the West End's Vaudeville Theater on May 16 for a strictly limited season. Produced by MJE Productions, co-producers of the West End and Gotham-bound tuner "Ghost," the show is headlined by British-Iranian thesp/stand-up U.K. Omid Djalili ("Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "The Love Guru"). The production is helmed by Sean Foley, who also directed the hit legit version of "The Ladykillers," currently running at the West End's Gielgud theater. Running May 4-Aug. 25, "What the Butler Saw" will be designed by Alice Power with lighting by Johanna Town. Further casting has yet to be announced. Contact David Benedict at benedictdavid@mac.com

'Artist' poised for post-Oscar B.O. boost

'The Artist'Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne and Jim Rash nabbed the Oscar for adapted screenplay for Paynes Hawaiian-set The Descendants. Oscar's top-prize winner also looks to be the biggest box office beneficiary of the kudos race. "The Artist," which nabbed four other statuettes (actor for Jean Dujardin, director for Michel Hazanavicius, score for Ludovic Bource and costume for Mark Bridges) could end up with a 60% or more B.O. bump domestically after the Oscars thanks to a planned expansion into smaller markets across the country. The Weinstein Co. has taken a slow and steady approach to rolling out the silent, B&W film, starting with a limited theatrical bow on Nov. 25. Domestic cume is an estimated $31.9 million. Stateside theatrical business is just one prize in the post-Oscars money game, however. Many of this year's winners continue to roll out overseas. "The Artist," which bows April 7 in Japan, should cross $80 million worldwide through Sunday; "The Descendants," which won the Oscar for adapted screenplay, has cumed more than $156 million globally. Beyond the multiplex, wins could help boost downstream revenues from outlets including foreign TV rights and streaming deals. TWC recently signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Netflix that includes "The Artist." The distrib plans to nearly double the pic's current theater count to 1,500 locations or more in the coming weeks -- supported mainly by an aggressive rollout in smaller core markets outside of NY and L.A. What's more, kudocast exposure could help lure younger moviegoers. "Our exit polling over the last 14 weeks shows that audiences of all ages are loving the film," said Weinstein distribution head Erik Lomis. Aside from "The Artist," "The Descendants" may also see a positive box office effect from its award. "The Descendants" is already helmer Alexander Payne's highest-grossing film, and fourth-highest for Fox Searchlight, with a domestic cume of $78.5 million. Searchlight first released the film in the U.S. on Nov. 11 and widened the pic on Feb. 3 to its biggest location count to date at 2,038. Fox Searchlight has said that whether "The Descendants" expands depended on Sunday's outcome. The film is currently at 889 locations. Box office boosts for "Hugo," which nabbed five tech Oscars, and "The Help," which one a single statuette for Octavia Spencer in the supporting actress contest, are expected to be marginal. "Hugo" arrives Tuesday on homevid, while "The Help" launched on DVD and Blu-ray more than two months ago with domestic sales close to $70 million. "The Help" is this year's highest-grossing best picture nominee with $169 million domestically; "Hugo," meanwhile, approaches $70 million and is still playing at just north of 500 Stateside locations. Among the pic nominees, 2011 lacked the one blockbuster that's become an Oscar standard in recent years. (Think of pic nominees "Toy Story 3," "Inception" or "Avatar.") "The Artist" has performed strongly on the coasts, but its five Oscars could help draw attention in flyover states as well. Weinstein will add multiple locations in smaller U.S. cities where the film is overindexing like Louisville, Ky., and Topeka, Kan. "That's what the Academy can do for us," Lomis said. "A win can help the film broaden out in those smaller markets." As with previous pic winners like "Slumdog Millionaire," which cumed $141 million domestically, many moviegoers weren't able to see the film in theaters until closer to the Oscars telecast. "Slumdog," which won eight awards including picture, expanded to north of 2,000 domestic locations for the first time during the weekend of the ceremony in 2009. "Slumdog" wound up tallying $43 million (or 30% of its total domestic cume) post-Oscars. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Next time, maybe not

Adele puts her finger on the problem at BRIT Awards. The 32nd BRIT Awards began with a bang, literally, on Tuesday night as London's O2 Arena rained fireworks during Coldplay's opening-act number. Later at the U.K. music industry kudos, Rihanna splattered the boards with paint, Florence and the Machine transformed the stage into an ethereal kingdom, George Michael made his first appearance at the awards in 17 years and video tributes to Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse unspooled.Adele added two more Brits to her substantial gong collection. After being cut off mid-speech for her album of the year honor, she gave a one-fingered salute in annoyance. "I'll see you next time around, yeah?" she promised.Bruno Mars jazzed up "Just the Way You Are" after accepting the award for international male solo artist. "This is almost taller than me," he quipped, sizing up his Brit Award.Post kudos, Universal Music's guests were treated to the DJ spins of will.i.am and Florence Welch at the Tate Modern. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Make the most of Corddry in talks for 'Pain and Gain'

"Children's Hospital" star Make the most of Corddry is at predicts join Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Manley and Erection dysfunction Harris in Michael Bay's low-budget Vital pic "Discomfort and Gain." With various true story first told inside an article within the Miami New Occasions, film follows several bodybuilders who in an offer of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida. Corddry may have John Mese, a classic competitive bodybuilder who now has a health club where Wahlberg's character works just like a fitness instructor. His past becoming an accountant and notary makes him an excellent though reluctant part of Wahlberg's plan. Bay is creating with Jesse P Line and Ian Bryce. "Captain America" scribes Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely written the script. Production is predicted to begin noisy . spring. Corddry features a busy year of red-colored-colored carpets before him, while he stars in Summit's zombie pic "Warm Physiques," and co-stars inside the Weinstein Company's comedy "Butter," additionally to "Seeking a pal for your Finish around the world,In . which Focus releases June 22. Adult Frolic in the water will begin airing the fourth season of "Children's Hospital" this summer season. Corddry is repped by WME, Principato-Youthful Entertainment and attorney Ken Richman. Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com

Fox Produces Interactive "Choose Your Adventure" New Girl Video

Hey Girl video Who's that girl doing the chicken? It's Jess. Who's that girl in the costly mob? It's Jess. Who's that girl inside a beach party? It's Jess. Fox produces Tuesday evening comedy block, Glee continues extended hiatus In Fox's New Girl video chat, audiences can decide what Jess can perform next, looking for a long version in the comedy's appealing theme song "Hey Girl." Using more than 950 versions in the video, there are many adventures available, whether it is acquiring a consider Schmidt's ultimate fantasy (Cece's naughty pillow fight) or searching at Nick's dancing capabilities (or lack thereof). See the video here watching your building from it below: New Girl airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Fox.