Hwood Hopes For T-Day Weekend Bounty: Breaking Dawn Still #1, The Muppets #2, Hugo #3, Happy Feet #4, Arthur Xmas #5

THURSDAY PM/FRIDAY AM, 3RD UPDATE: My sources are giving me these estimates for North American movie openings and for the 5-day Thanksgiving holiday. “Things really bounced around Thursday with pics flying in both directions,” one studio exec emails me. “Won’t know how it affects the 5-day estimates until Friday when the kids pics should come roaring back.” Already it’s looking like some of the new family fare won’t speed out of the theatrical gate, leaving a clear path for Summit Entertainment’sholdover Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 1 to win the weekend derby. Hollywood will havehissy fitsif the North American box office slump keeps continuing. The good news is that critics are bestowing good reviews and audiences are giving great CinemaScores to today’s opening pics: Disney’s rebootedThe Muppets earned an ‘A’, and Sony Pictures’ Arthur Christmas an ‘A-’.But the big news Thursday wasthe$2.3M made by Martin Scorsese’s 3D film Hugo that’s playing on 2,000 less screens than all the competition. Paramount is gleefully estimating $14M for its first 5 days on just 1,277 screens and noting its 97% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. But I’m still going to wait until Friday night to draw any major conclusionsabout this weekend’s grosses. Meanwhile, The Weinstein Co is platforming its Oscar-buzzed My Week With Marilyn and expands from123 theaters and adds another 121 runs in 61 markets including Canada on Friday.It’s made $150K Wednesday and $162K Thursday for around $2M for the 5-day holiday.The Weinstein Co’s other Academy Awards-touted film The Artist debuts in 4 locations in NY and LAFriday. Full analysis later: 1. Twilight Saga’s Breaking Dawn Part 1 (Summit) Week2 [4,066 Theaters] Wednesday $12.5M, Thursday $7.6M Estimated 5-Day Holiday $55M, Estimated Cume $179M 2. The Muppets (Disney) NEW [3,440 Theaters] Wednesday $7.3M, Thursday $5.5M Estimated 5-Day Holiday $40M 3. Hugo 3D (Paramount) NEW [1,277 Theaters] Wednesday $1.6M, Thursday $2.3M Estimated 5-Day Holiday $14M 4. Happy Feet Two 3D (Warner Bros) Week2 [3,606 Theaters] Wednesday $3M, Thursday $2M Estimated 5-Day Holiday $17.5M, Estimated Cume $30.2M 5. Arthur Christmas 3D (Sony Pictures) NEW [3,376 Theaters] Wednesday $2.8M, Thursday $1.8M Estimated5-Day Holiday $16M 6. Jack & Jill (Sony) Week3 [3,438 Theaters] Wednesday $2.1M, Thursday $1.8M Estimated 5-Day Holiday $14M, Estimated Cume $47M 7. Immortals 3D (Relativity) Week 3 [3,120 Theaters] Wednesday $2.2M, Thursday $1.8M Estimated 5-Day Holiday $13M, Estimated Cume $59.8M 8. Puss In Boots 3D (DreamWorks Animation/Par) Week5 [3,005 Theaters] Wednesday $2M, Thursday $1.3M Estimated 5-Day Holiday $10M, Estimated Cume $127.8M 9. Tower Heist (Universal) Week4 [2,474 Theaters] Wednesday $1.4M, Thursday $1.5M Estimated 5-Day Holiday $9.8M, Estimated $58M 10. The Descendants (Fox Searchlight) Week2 [390 Theaters] Wednesday $1MK, Thursday $1.1M Estimated 5-Day Holiday $7.1M

Former Idol Lauren Alaina Flubs National Anthem At Lions/Packers Game: I Messed Up

First Published: November 24, 2011 3:32 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Lauren Alaina performs the National Anthem before the Green Bay Packers take on the Detroit Lions during the Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field, Detroit, November 24, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- She performed live in front of a television audience of millions week in and week out on Season 10 of American Idol, but at the Detroit Lions/Green Bay Packers game on Thanksgiving, Lauren Alainas nerves got the best of her as she flubbed the National Anthem. Unlike Christina Aguilera, who, at last years Super Bowl actually sang the wrong lyrics to The Star-Spangled Banner, but kept singing, on Thursday, Lauren completely went silent for about five seconds in the middle of the song. What so proudly we hailed, through the twi she trailed off into silence. Brian Baumgartner, who plays Kevin Malone on NBC comedy The Office, was one of the many fans who caught Laurens singing snafu and Tweeted about it, quickly propelling her name into a top 10 Twitter trending topic. Oh Lauren Alaina Poor you. Poor poor you. he wrote. Lauren was able to jump back in on the line, Whose broad stripes and bright stars and, with a smile on her face, finished to the delight of the patrons in the sold-out stadium, who cheered loudly. FOXs Joe Buck, the TV announcer for the game, summed it up best, saying, Its all about how you finish. On Thursday afternoon, Lauren took ownership for her flub in response to a Tweet of encouragement from fellow Idol alum, Kellie Pickler. HEY DOLL! YOU HANDLED YOURSELF LIKE A PRO! SEND THE BULLIES MY WAY & ILL TELL EM WHERE TO GO, Kellie Tweeted. thank you so much, Lauren responded. Im not a robot. I have No excuses. I messed up. You know what can ya do. At Least didnt fall down again. Thank you everyone for the kind words, she added a little later. But the truth is I messed up. Im gonna spend the rest of the day being thankful for all my blessings. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

GUNS N ROSES

Presented by AEG Live. Band: Axl Rose, DJ Ashba, Ron Thal, Richard Fortus, Tommy Stinson, Dizzy Reed, Chris Pitman, Frank Ferrer. Reviewed November 18, 2011 Timing is everything in the world of Guns N Roses. From the oft-ridiculed span it took to create the ultimately disappointing "Chinese Democracy" album to Axl Rose's curfew-busting, occasionally riot-inducing lateness, the band might as well incorporate a clock and/or a calendar into its logo. At this, the only Gotham-area stop on the band's first North American tour in five years, time was on Guns n Roses' side. Onstage by eleven a mere hour after openers Asking Alexandria played their final tune the band bobbed and weaved through a full three hours of material, a surprising amount of it culled from the catalogs of other bands. Depending on your point of view, that made for a perf that was either incredibly generous or wildly bloated. The main body of the set started promisingly, with the title track to "Chinese Democracy" segueing into "Welcome to the Jungle" (a surprisingly early airing to what was arguably the evening's most anticipated song). Rose's voice, a point of much internet discussion, was strong. He can't really hit the high notes that characterized his singing in his twenties, but he's no longer stretching and missing them, choosing instead to re-interpret tunes like "It's So Easy" and "Estranged" for a lower register. While there was no criticizing his vocal performance, Rose's overall vibe was a bit off-kilter. He left the stage for enough costume changes to make Diana Ross nod in approval and also took his leave at random points during instrumental passages and solos, of which there were many (including guitarist Ron Thal's take on the Pink Panther theme and an all-hands on deck vamp through "Another Brick in the Wall.") The sheer number of covers from a Tommy Stinson-sung rave-up on "My Generation" to not one, but two forays into AC-DC's catalog was striking, given the number of vintage originals that were left by the wayside. Then again, the ensemble seemed most electrified when going down that road. Even Rose himself looked happiest when seated at the piano for a solo "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." While purists yearn for lightning to strike, prompting a reunion of the original G n R lineup, which imploded nearly two decades ago, the current incarnation actually operates more effectively as a band. No, the three-guitar, two-keyboard combo currently backing Axl Rose isn't as dynamic or personality-driven as its long-ago predecessor, but it is far more coherent and cohesive, never threatening to spin off the rails or generate an onstage fistfight. Does that mean that this incarnation of Guns 'n Roses has an iconic album in it? Doubtful. But if the band could rein in some of the excesses that saw it playing to a half-filled venue at 2 a.m., its potential as a touring juggernaut is considerable. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

CBS Mind Scolds Kutcher Over Penn Condition Tweet

First Launched: November 17, 2011 8:53 PM EST Credit: WireImage La, Calif. -- Caption Ashton Kutcher waves while he heads to the Late Show with David Letterman within the Erection dysfunction Sullivan Theater, New you are able to city, August. 24, 2011Ashton Kutcher knows this type of tough day is similar to. Demi Moore introduced that shes ending their marriage, and Kutcher acquired a slap from his top CBS boss for just about any questionable Twitter posting. Within a Q-and-A session Thursday inside a TV industry meeting, CBS Corp. Chief Leslie Moonves mentioned hes pleased with the ratings for refurbished two and a half Males with new star Kutcher aside from his comments about Penn Condition, Moonves added. The other day, Kutcher condemned the firing of Penn Condition football coach Joe Paterno after which it recanted the Twitter posting after it came a flurry of critique. The actor mentioned hed been unaware in the child sex-abuse scandal engulfing the school. On Thursday, the 49-year-old Moore introduced she was splitting from Kutcher, 33, the subject of gossips of alleged infidelity. The happy couple got married in 2005. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Anna Kournikova Is Off NBC's 'Biggest Loser' (Exclusive)

Anna Kournikova will not be returning for next season of NBC's The Finest Loser, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.our editor recommendsAnna Kournikova Makes Debut as 'Biggest Loser' Trainer Viewer Reaction Mixed 'Biggest Loser': Anna Kournikova Altering Jillian Michaels PHOTOS: 2011 Glamour Women of year Honours Kournikova was hired by NBC to host and become trainer on season 12 in the reality fat loss series, following Jillian Michael's exit. It made an appearance like advisable in those days: she's attractive, camera friendly together with a significant athlete. But staffers say they clashed along with her, along with a couple of from the participants found her just a little brash. Whereas Michaels was soothing, encouraging in addition to advantageous, Kournikova did not understand her overweight participants, frequently allowing them to learn about her own tough upbringing once they weren't impressed with training being hard. VIDEOS: Emmy Roundtable With Reality TV An origin around the program really referred to as Kournikova "a nightmare." She'd certainly not need been mistaken for just about any existence coach. STORY: Anna Kournikova Makes Debut as 'Biggest Loser' Trainer Viewer Reaction Mixed Kournikova and her reps did admit to THR they is departing the show after one season, as well as the tennis star launched this statement to us: "I loved time round the Finest Loser ranch. Although I will not be returning just like a full-time trainer on season 13, I'll always play in the Finest Loser family and my persistence for enhancing lives through health and fitness continues.Inch Related Subjects NBC The Finest Loser

Warren Buffett Makes Tech Foray With 5.4 Percent Stake in IBM

Warren Buffet seems to be overcoming his aversion to technology. Having spent his career as a billionaire investor steering clear of computing brands, he revealed that he's now in business with IBM. Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway fund now owns a 5.4% stake in IBM. He disclosed Monday, during an interview with CNBC, the fund has spent $10.7 billion on shares since March. "Well, I didn't buy railroad companies for a long time either," he said of his tech transition. "I've had two interesting incidents in my life connected with IBM, but I've probably read the annual report of IBM every year for 50 years. And this year it came in on a Saturday, and I read it. And I got a different slant on it, which I then proceeded to do some checking out of. But I just -- I read it through a different lens." Buffett says that he had not told IBM chief executive Sam Palmisano about the stake before he announced it on television, adding that he has no plans increase his shares at the time. One of the richest people in the world, Buffet has a track record for buying undervalued stock. "I don't think there's any company that I can think of... that's done a better job of laying out where they're going to go and then having gone there," he continued. "They have laid out a road map and I should have paid more attention to it five years ago where they were going to go in five years ending in 2010. Now they've laid out another road map for 2015." IBM's shares rose slightly after the CNBC broadcast, but the company has yet to comment publicly on Buffet's vote of confidence. Related Topics IBM Warren Buffett

House's Jesse Spencer on Chase's Return, Playing Energy Games and Molding New Team People

Jesse Spencer This guitar rock band has returned together.On Monday's House (9/8c, Fox) Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) finally fishing lures Drs. Chase (Jesse Spencer) and Taub (Peter Jacobson) to Princeton-Plainsboro to rejoin his team of diagnosticians. Unlike a few of the other paperwork, Spencer informs TVGuide.com that Chase has little reservation about returning under House's wing.House Season 8 scoop: Cuddy fallout, new bloodstream along with a go back to the show's roots"Chase may be the earliest team member on the program,Inch he states. "They know what he's getting themself into. House's games don't really worry him an excessive amount of. He really just really wants to work under this genius diagnostician and then further his career."Possibly the larger hurdle for Chase is going to be once more dealing with Foreman (Omar Epps), Chase's former peer and friend who's the Dean of drugs calling the shots. "There's clearly a push and pull," Spencer states. "With respect to the situation, he's going against Foreman and joining House or going against House and joining Foreman. He really eventually ends up playing energy games between the pair of them.InchIt is this constant bet on people attempting to one-up one another," Spencer continues. "But simultaneously, the finish consequence of the overall game would be to cure the individual. So, it is a harmful game, and they're really careful the way they listen to it. However they do wish to win since they're ambitious plus they will have something to prove."House: The brand new Dean of drugs talks!Also searching to prove are the team's two latest people, Dr. Jessica Adams (Odette Annable) and Dr. Chi Park (Charlyne Yi). Because the veteran around the team, Chase attempts to show the brand new doctors the fastest methods to win House over."[He's teaching them] ways to get onto House's wavelength, how you can understand him, how you can interpret him," Spencer states. "He has a tendency to finish up counseling the brand new team people about how exactly House toys and plays games and just how they need to react to House's demands. ... Essentially, Chase is attempting to mold these new doctors so that they are House's puppets for that better."That becomes particularly tricky in Monday's episode, once the Patient each week (Jamie Bamber) needs to show some dark, harmful tips for best facilitate his treatment.House exclusive: Obtain a start looking at unseen photos"We make use of this creative approach to breaks to resolve some things,Inch Spencer states. "How can we obtain the truth from patients? How can we skirt round the problem, and arrive at the truth each time therefore we can really enable them to? House's rule may be the finish always justifies the means. [You've to experience dirty a bit to obtain what you would like.InchDespite the fact that Chase usually sees eye to eye with House, Spencer states this season - which may be the Fox drama's last - may examine the effects of bending the guidelines as part of your.InchThere is kind of a feeling of foreboding," Spencer states. "If it's the final season, large stuff will probably be heading down this season. House can't carry on only at that pace. So something huge will happen."House airs Mondays at 9/8c on Fox.

Junkhearts

A Soda Pictures discharge of a Coded Pictures and Hustle Prods. presentation. Created by Karen Katz. Directed by Tinge Krishnan. Script, Simon Frank.With: Eddie Marsan, Candese Reid, Romola Garai, Tom Sturridge, Valerie Gogan, John Boyega, Chris Coghill.That hoary proverb about charitable organisation beginning in your own home would seem to be the muse for shorts director Tinge Krishnan's murky debut feature, "Junkhearts." However the moral of the structurally addled urban drama might be summarized another way: It's generally not recommended to allow destitute addicts transfer to your apartment. Youth violence, publish-Iraq trauma and also the class ladder are probably the floating concerns of Simon Frank's alarmist script, however the compressed, splintered narrative offers no room to understand more about one coherently. Presence of Eddie Marsan and Romola Garai as headliners will not be sufficient to draw in eyeballs outdoors the U.K. In bleakest East London, brooding ex-soldier Frank (Marsan) rather rashly consumes prickly black teen Lynette (erratic newcomer Candese Reid), who's sleeping outdoors his local liquor store regrettably, her volatile Irish boyfriend, Danny (Tom Sturridge, miscast), follows. Elsewhere, chic career lady Christine (Garai) frenetically juggles single motherhood, employment along with a robust drug habit: This parallel thread is rarely visited, nevertheless its link with Marsan's story is too apparent. Logic falters because the pic pushes for inexpensively ironic reversals over-ambitious, focus-shy lensing style does not clarify matters.Camera (color), Catherine Derry editor, Alastair Reid music, Christopher N. Bangs production designer, Kristian Milsted costume designer, Camille Benda. Examined at BFI Southbank, London, Sept. 26, 2011. (Also working in london Film Festival -- New British Cinema.) Running time: 95 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Dimension Acquires Rights To Michael Keaton Thriller Penthouse North

Dimension Films has landed U.S. distribution rights to director Joseph Ruben’s thriller Penthouse North, which stars Michael Keaton and Michelle Monaghan and begins shooting in December in Ottawa. David Loughery wrote the script and is producing with Ruben, Jeff Sackman and Michael Baker; Jon Shiffman is executive producer. The story centers on a sadistic criminal named Hollander (Keaton) who plays a cat-and-mouse game with Sara Taylor (Monaghan), a photojournalist who was blinded in Iraq and also has a fortune of stolen diamonds hidden in her apartment. Hollander uses psychological and physical torture in an effort to find them, but Sara fights back. Dimension’s Andrew Kramer and Michal Steinberg negotiated the deal with Sackman and ICM, which helped package the film and co-repped U.S. rights.