The Muppets to create Hunger Games parody

The Muppets have released a completely new parody trailer, this time around around lampooning approaching fantasy smash The Hunger Games. Yes it's true, despite only making their solution of cinemas, the Muppets have a very DVD to market, and they're returning for the spoof formula that shown extremely popular inside the increase for the film's initial release.Granted, this latest parody probably isn't most likely probably the most inspired teaser we view out of your furry pals, but we're not able to resist a bit of Muppert clowning, even when they aren't firing on all cylinders.Take a look within the new trailer below...Ah, people crazy Muppets... will there be no film they're not going to skewer? We are saying "skewer", but possibly "reference tangentially" might be a more fitting expression...The completely new trailer comes hot round the heels of Jason Segel's announcement the Muppets follow-up is within the pipeline, but he won't be starring for again. "Transpire wound up being to create the Muppets back," mentioned the star. "I did so a few things i set to complete, now I wanna pursue more human-related projects!"Regardless, we could probably expect a few greater quantity of these just before the DVD makes its approach to the shelves. A Muppets undertake Prometheus? Or possibly a forward use The Dark Frog Increases? We wouldn't put it past them...

Jim Henson to create BBC puppet show

LONDON -- The BBC is coping with the Jim Henson Company to make a weekend U.K. Tv program fronted with a brand new puppet who'll interview stars in the chat show-style format. An plane pilot episode in the show, whose working title is "Nsa,Inch continues to be prepared in cahoots while using shingle most broadly known for your Muppets. If greenlit show will probably be produced in-house with the BBC's entertainment department inside the U.K. with puppets supplied by Henson. The BBC's executive editor for entertainment, Karl Warner, told local media he'd "high hopes" for your project. He added: "The idea is it may be very firmly moored in the world in the chat show, but with different completely new character created with the Henson Company. "The Muppets were a massive phenomenon and nobody seems to own been developing anything in this area for just about any very very long time. "The Henson Company has proven us some puppets, in addition to their versatility is very exciting, but we are still only in talks at this time.Inch A collection could bow next season round the corp.'s U.K. flagship web, BBC1. Meanwhile Disney, which bought the rights for the Muppets' figures in 2004, is concentrating on a follow-up to "The Muppets" following a return of Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and pals ongoing to earn greater than $154.8 million within the worldwide box office. James Bobin, who helmed "The Muppets," and co-author Nicholas Stoller, will write the script for your follow-up. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Pilot Season: Friends' Matthew Perry to Star in NBC's Go On Comedy

Jessica Lange Ryan Murphy already revealed that Jessica Lange will play a whole new character on American Horror Story's second season, but now we know more about the importance of her role.Murphy says that this time around, Lange, who played a supporting character in Season 1, will be the star of the show, according to EW. "We have designed the second season of American Horror Story completely around her character," Murphy said. Jessica Lange will return to American Horror Story"Last year Jessica came in with Connie Britton and Dylan McDermott. This will really be the Jessica Lange show, so I'm very excited about it," he said. "We are designing this amazing new opposite of the Constance character for her. She and I have spoken about different things. She has a lot of ideas, and has a lot of input into her character. She told me some things she has always wanted to play as an actress. She's a great collaborator and a great friend."Lange will be joined by three other cast members from the show's first season (who will also play new roles), but Murphy hasn't indicated which just yet.Are you excited for Season 2 of American Horror Story?

Rupert Murdoch Lifts Suspension Of UK Journalists Suspected Of Bribery

The News Corp chief sought to reassure journalists at The Sun by announcing his plan to launch a Sunday edition of the UK tabloid — and by offering his support for thefive senior staffers who were arrested last weekend for allegedly paying cops for tips and information. “We are doing everything we can to assist those who were arrested — all suspensions are hereby lifted until or whether charged and they are welcome to return to work,” he said in a letter to employees. “News Corporation will cover their legal expenses. Everyone is innocent unless proven otherwise.” He added, though, that the company also will cooperate with a police investigation into the scandal and “will turn over every piece of evidence we find — not just because we are obligated to but because it is the right thing to do.” Here’s the full letter he sent: Dear Colleagues: I’ve worked alongside you for 43 years to build The Sun into one of the world’s finest papers. It is a part of me and is one of our proudest achievements. The Sun occupies a unique and important position within News Corporation. I have immense respect for our heritage, your exceptional journalism and, above all, you, the talented women and men who work tirelessly every day to ensure our readers have access to such a trusted news source. I believe this newsroom is full of great journalists and I remain grateful for your superb work and for the stories you uncover to inform and protect the public. None more so than over the last three weeks. My continuing respect makes this situation a source of great pain for me, as I know it is for each of you. We will obey the law. Illegal activities simply cannot and will not be tolerated at any of our publications. Our Board of Directors, our management team and I take these issues very seriously. Our independently chaired Management & Standards Committee, which operates outside of News International, has been instructed to cooperate with the police. We will turn over every piece of evidence we find — not just because we are obligated to but because it is the right thing to do. We are doing everything we can to assist those who were arrested — all suspensions are hereby lifted until or whether charged and they are welcome to return to work. News Corporation will cover their legal expenses. Everyone is innocent unless proven otherwise. I made a commitment last summer that I would do everything I could to get to the bottom of our problems and make this Company an example to Fleet Street of ethical journalism. We will continue to ensure that all appropriate steps are taken to protect legitimate journalistic privilege and sources, which I know are essential for all of you to do your jobs. But we cannot protect people who have paid public officials. I am confident we can live by these commitments and still produce great journalism. We will build on The Suns proud heritage by launching The Sun on Sunday very soon. Our duty is to expand one of the worlds most widely read newspapers and reach even more people than ever before. Having a winning paper is the best answer to our critics. I am even more determined to see The Sun continue to fight for its readers and its beliefs. I am staying with you all, in London, for the next several weeks to give you my unwavering support. I am confident we will get through this together and emerge stronger. Thank you, Rupert Murdoch

Simon Pegg Hates 'Star Wars: The Phantom Menace'

I love "The Phantom Menace." I realize I'm inside a small club of folks that don't think the initial entry inside the "AlienInch prequel trilogy is wholesale trash. Which I understand it is really an unpopular group to get familiar with, however uphold my membership. Sure, the initial two several hours are virtually garbage, nevertheless, you receive duel in the fates! Darth Maul getting a double-edged lightsaber! It's so wonderful! But Simon Pegg disagrees. He thinks there's nothing whatsoever to relish about "Phantom Menace." Inside the latest episode of After Several hours, he's doing his best Red-colored-colored Letter Media impression and tears the 1999 "AlienInch movie to shreds in the quick two-minute assault. It's tough to disagree with him on any kind of his points, really. But no volume of sense or logic occasion to convince me that duel in the fates isn't awesome. Learn about Pegg's "Phantom Menace" vendetta in this particular week's After Several hours.

Rankings: The American Idol Show Holds Steady in Demo

Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson Individuals covering the inexorably decreasing rankings of yankee Idol will need to stand lower not less than each day because the amateur talent competition remained despite a week ago in the market-valued 18-to-49 demographic, based on preliminary Nielsen figures. Now, we'll have to ascertain if the high cliff-hanger including the hopeful who fainted and fell from the stage gooses the rankings for Fox. (In comparison, fair or otherwise, NBC's The Voice snapped up 17.69 million audiences having a 6.6 demo rating Monday evening on its first regularly scheduled airing.) Read our The American Idol Show recap Meantime, the premiere of CBS' Individual to individual reboot, featuring George Clooney, Jon Bon Jovi and Warren Buffett, got weak amounts, and ABC's comedy block steadily remained steady or inched up from the other day In the new time slot, Rock Center with John Williams, spotlighting Meredith Vieira's interview using the Whitened House intern who's flogging her book about her affair with Leader Kennedy, ended up a distant 4th. Both newsmagazines published single.1 demo rating. In prime-time last hour, CSI: Crime Scene Analysis dropped some 20 % from the last original episode a week ago, when Marg Helgenberger's swan song was the attraction. Browse the relaxation from the day's news on TVGuide.com 8 p.m.CBS: Individual to individual 6.02 million audiences (1.1 demo rating)ABC: The Center 8.48 million (2.6) Suburgatory 7.27 million (2.5)Fox: The American Idol Show 18.94 million (6.) NBC: Whitney 4.07 million (1.5) Are You Currently There, Chelsea? 3.68 million (1.4)CW: One Tree Hill 1.29 million (.7) 9 p.m.CBS: Criminal Minds 13.61 million audiences (3.4 demo rating)ABC: Modern Family 12.85 million (5.5) Happy Being 6.90 million (3.)Fox: Mobbed 8.77 million (3.)NBC: Rock Center with John Williams 5.28 million (1.1)CW: Renovated 713,000 (.4) 10 p.m.CBS: CSI: Crime Scene Analysis 11.44 million audiences (2.7 demo rating)ABC: Revenge 7.58 million (2.5)NBC: Law & Order: Special Sufferers Unit 6.74 million (2.2)

'Great' gig for Bening

BeningAnnette Bening is placed to topline director Gillian Armstrong's "The Truly Amazing,Inch in line with the existence of Catherine the truly amazing, which Bankside Films is unveiling to purchasers in the Berlinale.Bening will have the Russian empress within the pic, composed by Tony McNamara and created by Marian Macgowan of Oz's Macgowan Films and Lago Films' Marco Mehlitz."The Truly Amazing,Inch that has already pre-offered to Icon Film Distribution in New zealand and australia, is scheduled to lense in September.Bankside will even sell U.K. producer Damian Jones' ("The Iron Lady") 1700s-set "Belle," inspired through the existence of Dido Elizabeth Belle who had been the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of John Lindsay, the nephew from the Earl of Mansfield.Amma Asante ("A Life-style") will helm the pic, that is casting and skedded flowing in This summer.Also around the Bankside slate is Pad Whitecross' "Spike Island," about five teen boys who visit Spike Island in summer time 1990 to determine their rock heroes, the Stone Roses. Revolver is disbursing in Blighty.Bankside can also be selling Helen Mirren starrer "The Doorway,Inch helmed by Istvan Szabo, that is getting its market world preem in the EFM. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com