Emmys 2011: Predictions from THR's Tim Goodman

Don't blame critics for second-guessing Emmy voters. They brought it on themselves through a history of mystery. As in: "What? How did Show X not get nominated?" But I've already written my annual and ever-more-contemptuous Emmy rant column, so let's move on (with only a brief flare-up here and there). While it's common practice to hedge your bets, even as a critic, perhaps no awards show is more tailor-made for the "should win/will win" backhanded compliment. Here, then, are my picks for some of the Emmys' most important categories.our editor recommendsEmmy Nominations 2011: Full ListEmmys 2011: Five TV Critics Share Their PredictionsEmmys 2011: '30 Rock' Director Recalls Live Episode Challenges and 'SNL' Parallels (Q&A)Emmys 2011: 'Dexter's' Michael C. Hall Celebrates Emmy Nomination with Carmageddon Preparation Emmys 2011: Five TV Critics Share Their Predictions DRAMA SERIES Both Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire are intriguing nominees -- and certainly a credit to Emmy voters. But Thrones is perhaps too new and unproven to get the nod, and Boardwalk, while lush and amazing, is still seeking its level of greatness. PHOTOS: Emmy Snubs and Shockers Should and Will Win: Mad Men, a series that knows all about greatness. The only way Mad Men loses is if voters feel a need to share the riches. (They shouldn't.) COMEDY SERIES I would love to see 30 Rock get recognized yet again, despite its uneven year. Here's why: It's more brilliant than not and works, knowingly, on several different levels of comedy. However, if it's going to lose, I have a replacement handy. Emmys 2011: 5 Big Trends That Will Shape Awards Night Should Win: Parks and Recreation. Like 30 Rock (and many other comedies), it took a handful of episodes before Parks found its stride, but since then -- from season two onward -- it has done a fantastic job of fleshing out minor characters and finding humor in fresh places. Will Win: Of all the sitcoms in this category, Modern Family seems right in the wheelhouse of Emmy's voting bloc. It's funny but safer than Louie and less aggressively immersed in sarcasm than 30 Rock. DRAMA ACTRESS Oh Lord, talk about a category that could really go sideways and end up all kinds of wrong. (And, yes, it needs to be said again: The lack of Katey Sagal and Khandi Alexander here is criminal.) Mireille Enos' understated performance on The Killing will get unfairly lost, and years of fantastic work probably won't do much for Connie Britton on Friday Night Lights, a series Emmy voters ignored for years. Emmys 2011: The Magnificent Seven of the Drama Actor Races Should Win: Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss. She has been nailing this nuanced performance for years. Will Win: Julianna Margulies. I'm guessing Emmy voters are leaning toward the mainstream this year, and Margulies' fine performance on The Good Wife will be rewarded. DRAMA ACTOR Any nominee could win, and an argument could be made to support that win. Q&A: Emmys 2011: Why Kyle Chandler Embraces His Underdog Status Should and Will Win: Jon Hamm. This is the right pick. Three consecutive wins for Bryan Cranston were certainly deserved, but Hamm is long overdue. Let it be. COMEDY ACTRESS Uh-oh, I'm trying to tamp down the urge to rant. Let's just say it's unfair to have supremely talented actresses from non-comedy series entered here. (On the plus side, none of those shows turned up in the outstanding comedy category, so that's progress.) Should Win: Tina Fey. I would be perfectly happy with Parks' Amy Poehler or Raising Hope's Martha Plimpton getting the nod, but there's already enough hedging in this format. Fey consistently finds the funny in any scenario. That can't be overstated. Will Win: Laura Linney. She's an astonishing actress who can do drama and comedy. Unfortunately, like Showtime winner Edie Falco before her, the material she's given on The Big C is not that funny. COMEDY ACTOR Again, not a category where there would be egregious oversight picking one nominee over another. They all do fine work in various formats of funny. Emmys 2011: Will 'The Big Bang Theory' Cancel Itself Out of the Comedy Actor Race? Should Win: Louis C.K. It won't happen, but wouldn't it be phenomenal if it did? He does everything on Louie; his fearlessness and willingness to go anywhere give the show a welcome originality. Will Win: Steve Carell, whose farewell episodes of The Office were funny and touching -- that's catnip to Emmy voters. MINISERIES/MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE What an excellent and varied allotment (finally!): Starz got in with The Pillars of the Earth; PBS got in with Downton Abbey; ReelzChannel got in with The Kennedys, even though it shouldn't have -- but still, ReelzChannel at the Emmys! How strange and fresh. And, of course, category-dominant HBO got in with Cinema Verite, Mildred Pierce and Too Big to Fail. Emmys 2011: 10 Long Shots Worth Watching Should Win: Downton Abbey. Duh. Is there even a doubt? Will Win: Mildred Pierce. In many ways, it's too big to fail. Voters are unlikely to sidestep the all-star cast, even though the entire affair was as flawed as it was lovely. WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES Television is a writer's medium. What that means is these are very important races, the backbone of what makes a great series. Seems a shame only one statuette gets handed out in each genre. Should and Will Win: Mad Men. Nothing against Friday Night Lights and especially the superb Thrones, but Mad Men is nominated twice in this category for a reason. Mad Men is ethereal, which belies the visual reasons people tune in -- lots of people don't realize they're hooked on an existential drama. Q&A: Emmys 2011: '30 Rock' Director Recalls Live Episode Challenges and 'SNL' Parallels WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES An argument could be made (and won) that finding brilliance in drama writing is easier than finding it in comedic writing. Comedy is simply more subjective. Physical humor, standard setup/punch-line affairs, nuanced callbacks, absurdism -- it just comes down to what makes you laugh. But look at this wonderfully diverse gamut of shows: Louie, Modern Family, Episodes, Office (well, that spot should have gone to Parks). Should Win: 30 Rock. You can't just dismiss genius. Will Win: Modern Family. A safer bet, but not as ambitious as 30 Rock or Louie. EMMYS 2011: THR's FULL COVERAGE Related Topics Emmy Awards Primetime Emmy Awards Jon Hamm Laura Linney Steve Buscemi Tina Fey Mad Men 30 Rock Emmys 2011

Today on indieWIRE: 'Our Idiot Brother' Review, Gus Van Sant Retrospective, Ryan Gosling: Hero

Today on indieWIRE, we examined a clip for 'Weekend,' 'Our Idiot Brother' got examined, and also the critique just continues comin' to Terrence Mallick's 'Tree of Existence,' even from their own stars. indieWIRE's Weekend Recap: Listed Here Are Eight Tales You Might Have Skipped: Just in case you had been from your computer a few days ago, here is a tidy package in our weekend coverage which includes this week's indie and mainstream box office reviews, Pixar news and much more. Watch: Prepare to Fall madly in love in Trailer for SXSW-Winning Romance 'Weekend': If you are keen on of affection tales within the vein of 'Before Sunrise,' odds are you'll choose Andrew Haigh's much-over-blown festival darling 'Weekend.' REVIEW Paul Rudd Far outshines the Mediocrity in 'Our Idiot Brother': Hiding behind a shaggy beard along with a stoner grin, Paul Rudd plays an amusingly oblivious shlub in 'Our Idiot Brother,' however the movie can't maintain his comic inspiration. Box Office: 'One Day' Struggles 'Senna' Scores In Sophomore Frame (Up-to-date): Focus Features unleashed its significantly challenged British romance 'One Day' on the wide 1,721 screens a few days ago and also the outcome was a little more spectacular compared to film's reviews. FIRST PERSON: The way a Burn Pile of Scripts Brought Vera Farmiga to create 'Higher Ground': Inside a first-person feature for indieWIRE, Oscar-nominee Vera Farmiga reveals about how exactly her directorial debut, 'Higher Ground,' found be, and why she made the decision to visit behind your camera. indieWIRE's Project during the day: Narrative Feature 'fenêtre' Boosts Awareness About Child Marriage: This is the daily dose of the indie film happening in the finish each week, you will have the opportunity to election for the favorite. INTERVIEW Guillermo del Toro, Part I: Videogames, Transmedia and Here's His E-mail: Guillermo del Toro's title decorates posters for that horror remake 'Don't Hesitate from the Dark,' which opens now, however the director offers quite a bit more about his mind apart from how you can scare people. iW's Movie during the day: Ryan Gosling Saves a Existence (Well, Kinda) in New york city: Everyone knows Ryan Gosling is a superb actor, charming as all hell and it has abs that may cut steel. Works out the Canadian heartthrob is a great Samaritan too. Go figure. Gus Van Sant Retrospective at Astoria's Museum from the Moving Image: Award-winning American director Gus Van Sant may have his work featured inside a retrospective in the Museum from the Moving Image from Sept. 9-30. Financing Gets near On 'Lunatic at Large' 2 More Unmade Kubrick Projects Continue Toward Production: Nearly as legendary because the films Stanley Kubrick did complete in the lifetime would be the numerous projects that went unmade, but a couple of of individuals are becoming a brand new lease on existence. Anatomy of the High-Brow Art Debate: Sean Penn and also the Bitch-Slapping of Malick's 'Tree of Life': It is going such as this. Sean Penn foretells Le Figaro and suggests (Exhibit A) that Terrence Malick underutilized him in 'The Tree of Existence.'

Pixar Announces Two New Movies

Dinosaurs! The Brain! Coming soon!This weekend saw the Walt Disney Company hosting its D23 convention, a sort of mini-Comic-Con focused on Mouse House products and movies/TV shows. The definite highlight was Saturday morning's big studio presentation, where a lot of new movies were showcased, including The Avengers and The Muppets. But possibly most exciting was the announcement of two new films currently in active development by the Pixar team. The first, which will be directed by studio veteran Bob Peterson, focuses on dinosaurs, which lends credibility to the rumours that the company was working on something dino-related that sprang up last year. Peterson and producer John Walker arrived on stage to announce the movie, admitting that it doesn't yet have a title. So right now, it's called The Untitled Pixar Movie About Dinosaurs. And the plot? They wouldn't say much beyond the basic info Disney gave out: "What if that life-changing asteroid missed Earth? The hilarious tale depicts a world where dinosaurs never went extinct. The only element on display for now was one piece of concept art, showing a child riding the head of a dinosaur. That film will arrive on November 27, 2013. Even further away is the second project announced on stage, with Monsters, Inc/Up director Pete Docter at the helm and producer Jonas Rivera by his side. It's another untitled production so far, currently called The Untitled Pixar Movie That Takes You Inside The Mind, described by Docter as a comic look at how ideas come together and the inner workings of our brains. We have to wait until May 2014 for that one. Pixar's next two films, of course, are Brave - from which a new scene was shown featuring the suitors trying to win heroine Merida (Kelly Macdonald)'s hand in marriage - and prequel Monsters University, which was pimped via live a appearance by Billy Crystal and some concept art. Brave hits us on August 17 next year. Monsters University will gradate July 19, 2013.

Chely Wright Marries Girlfriend

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Chely Wright is a married woman! The country artist, who came out last year, has married her girlfriend, Lauren Blitzer, according to People. The 40-year-old singer wed her now-wife at Laurens aunts Connecticut home in front of more than 200 guests, according to the mag. While both brides donned white gowns for the nuptials, neither wanted to wear traditional veils. We like our hair too much! Chely told the mag. As Chely is Christian and Lauren is Jewish, the newlyweds ceremony was presided over by both a reverend and a rabbi. As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Chely came out in 2010 after years of keeping silent. Historically, weve never had an out country music artist, ever, Chely told Access Hollywoods Shaun Robinson in a May 2010 interview. Early in my life, I went through what I think a lot of gay people go through, thinking that I could change and pray it away, she explained at the time. Chely told Shaun that she felt she was living a lie, especially when it came to her relationship with fellow country music star Brad Paisley, who was not aware that she was gay. When I realized he was wanting forever with meI could see the damage I was doing to him, and I cut him off completely, cold turkey, she added. The country star also revealed that she even considered taking her life in 2006. I was looking at myself in a mirroras I was about to do it, she explained. I just looked at myself and something snapped and I started to cryand I realized I have too much to live for. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Netflix Showcases Kid-Safe Streaming

LOS GATOS, Calif., Aug. 16, 2011 -- Netflix has made it easier and more fun for kids and families to instantly watch a huge range of kid-friendly TV shows and movies with its new "Just for Kids" experience. Members can now click on the "Just for Kids" tab at the top of the Netflix home page and find a newly-designed section featuring content that's perfect for children 12 and under. Kids will now be able to click on icons of their favorite characters from "SpongeBob SquarePants" to "Dora The Explorer", and from "Phineas and Ferb" to "Big Bird" and find a deep selection of great TV shows and movies featuring that character. Kids, parents and caregivers will also be able to scan through row after row of movies and shows organized by easy-to-understand genres like superheroes, princesses, dinosaurs and girl power, featuring clear and simple descriptions of the plot of each title. To develop these selections, Netflix used ratings and reviews from Common Sense Media, a leading non-profit that provides independent, trustworthy ratings, reviews, and information to help parents make great media choices. "Kids discover and categorize movies and TV shows differently than adults," said Todd Yellin, Netflix Vice President of Product Innovation. "Just as we have revolutionized the way people find the movies and shows they want to watch when and how they want to, we're making it easier for kids and parents alike to have the best possible Netflix experience." Netflix designed the "Just for Kids" experience in recognition that kids are among the most ardent consumers of TV shows and movies. Almost half of the 25 million Netflix members in the United States and Canada have instantly watched at least two movies or shows made for kids in the last 90 days. "Family movie night is a great way for parents to connect with their kids in our 24/7 media culture, and over the last few years, Netflix has recreated the concept, bringing kids and parents together around great, quality entertainment on multiple platforms," said Amy Guggenheim Shenkan, president and COO, Common Sense Media. "We've partnered with Netflix for many years and our work informs the overall quality and scope of the "Just for Kids" experience, helping parents to make great media choices for the entire family." Currently, the "Just for Kids" experience is available via the Netflix website, with similar functionality to come on the Wii, iPad, Xbox, Playstation and many other devices over the next year.

Henson, Bunim/Murray developing 'History' skein

Bunim/Murray Prods. and Henson Alternative have teamed up with former "Daily Show with Jon Stewart" writer Chris Regan to develop "History Of," a scripted project featuring the Henson puppets. Regan will serve as exec producer and showrunner of the project, which will irreverently reenact pop culture events and also feature celebrity cameos. "We've set our sights on increasing our scripted productions, particularly those that reach the same core 18-49 demo that our reality series do," Bunim/Murray chairman Jonathan Murray said. "Working with Henson Alternative on 'History Of' will allow us to bring iconic pop culture moments to life in an entirely unique and refreshingly humorous way -- with puppets." Said Lisa Henson, CEO of the Jim Henson Co.: "This project has a unique point of view and pop culture sensibility that is perfect for Henson Alternative. Partnering with Bunim/Murray, we'll bring broadcasters an exciting and hysterical take on pop culture unlike any other series on TV." Regan was Stewart's first writer hire on the "Daily Show" and worked there from 1999-2006, with five Emmys and two Peabody Awards to his name. His other credits include "Talkshow with Spike Feresten," "Saturday Night Live" and "Lopez Tonight." Henson, Murray and Gil Goldschein will also exec produce. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Beautiful Bitch

Enticed into Germany by a corrupt ex-policeman under the promise that she will earn the money needed to help out her younger brother, a Bucharest teen becomes hopelessly entangled with a young group of pickpockets in this downbeat drama from director Martin-Theo Krieger. Bica is a fifteen year old girl who is better known on the streets by the nickname "Bitch." Approached by crooked former lawman named Cristu with an offer to raise the money her family so desperately needs, Bica travels to Germany only to discover that she will not be working a legitimate job, but instead inducted into a clandestine pickpocketing organization. There, under harsh conditions, Bica and numerous other teens are taught how to life the wallets of unsuspecting adults without being caught. One day, while out on the rounds, Bica meets friendly teenager Milka and begins to ponder what it might be like to live a "normal" life. When Cristu discovers that his latest catch might be gravitating away from a life of crime, however, he quickly resorts to violence as a means of controlling the frightened young Bica.

Taylor Lautner's Abduction Reportedly Lionsgate VOD Guinea Pig

In spite of that high-powered anti-VOD campaign by James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro and some of Hollywood’s top filmmakers, it appears Lionsgate is moving forward with a plan to offer its movies to home viewers via early release video on demand. As reported late Tuesday, the studio may release John Singleton’s action thriller Abduction, starring Taylor Lautner and Lily Collins, on VOD before it hits DVD and Blu-ray in 2012. Click ahead to find out when you can see Lautner slide across broken glass and throw vehicular caution to the wind from the comfort of your own home. According to Bloomberg News, Abduction will be available on television a mere three months after its theatrical release for as little as $6.99 (which is much more reasonable than the original suggested price point of $30 for DirecTV’s Home Premiere service). That means that shortly before the film’s January home video release, Twi-hards will be able to rent the movie through their cable VOD provider for ten days, beginning Dec. 23. If it happens, this will be Lionsgate’s first experiment with VOD, which drew complaints from theater owners and filmmakers who figure that the early home release will cut into their own profit. Studios brainstormed this video distribution strategy as a means to make up for declining DVD sales and rentals. Lionsgate declined to comment on its Abduction VOD plans to Bloomberg. Look for Abduction in theaters on Sept. 23. · Lionsgate Said to Plan Early Pay TV Rentals of Lautner ‘Abduction’ Film [Bloomberg via THR]

Scott Rosenbaum Hits the Right Chord With 'The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll'

Scott Rosenbaum Hits the Right Chord With 'The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll' By Cheyanne Gustason August 10, 2011 For moviegoers, two topics that seem to never lose their magnetism are fraught relationships between two men as close as brothers and rock 'n' roll. Love and betrayal between the best of friends is high-stakes emotional drama that satisfies human fascination, and rock 'n' roll offers just the right mix of glamour, sex, and danger to grab audiences in concert halls and movie theaters. Director Scott Rosenbaum's debut feature, "The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll," combines these potent threads into a richly entertaining and multidimensional film."It's something I've known I wanted to do my entire life," Rosenbaum says about the film he wrote, directed, and produceda project he started nearly 10 years ago. A writer and journalism major in college, Rosenbaum had made films at home and in school as much as he could. But after graduating, "I went for the respectable day job and thought that I would be able to write screenplays at night," he explains.Struggling to balance his pragmatic and creative impulses, Rosenbaum was compelled to action by an event that shook the nation. "Being down on Wall Street on September 11 really was a life-changing experience," he says, "as it was for many people, and it kind of was that moment where I thought, 'If I never finish a screenplay in my entire life, I will be extremely disappointed in myself.' And that's when I started writing what ultimately became 'The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll.' "The film does justice to its lengthy gestation, as it offers a stirringly watchable drama about megastar rock frontman Spyder (Kevin Zegers) and his humble music-teacher best friend, Eric (Jason Ritter). The ups and downs of their relationshipon the brink of Spyder's most important album release, an event that requires Eric's assistance after a bitter estrangement and a Route 66 road tripare volatile and honest.The film hits timeless chords central to the history of rock 'n' roll, an attribute that was key for Rosenbaum. He notes that the point where character and rock meet was pivotal: "The archetypal acrimonious relationship between lead singer and guitar playeryou see it time and again, for all my favorite bands. The conflict between Mick and Keith, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Axl and Flashit just goes on and on. That's where the genesis of the story started to come together."Zegers and Ritter capture the dynamic that Rosenbaum sought, due not only to their estimable acting but also their real-life friendship, which Rosenbaum learned of during his casting session with the two. "They had been friends in and around Hollywood," he says, "and a lot of similar dynamics that take place between Eric and Spyder sort of had occurred between those two guys over the years. And for me, it was just a confirmation that they were the right guys for the role, and I really think it played out in their performances. It was definitely a fortuitous reality that those two guys had a prior relationship. It wasn't something I thought I would be able to achieve in casting; it was a lucky break for sure. This was definitely the thing that I wanted to say, the story that I wanted to tell." Scott Rosenbaum Hits the Right Chord With 'The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll' By Cheyanne Gustason August 10, 2011 For moviegoers, two topics that seem to never lose their magnetism are fraught relationships between two men as close as brothers and rock 'n' roll. Love and betrayal between the best of friends is high-stakes emotional drama that satisfies human fascination, and rock 'n' roll offers just the right mix of glamour, sex, and danger to grab audiences in concert halls and movie theaters. Director Scott Rosenbaum's debut feature, "The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll," combines these potent threads into a richly entertaining and multidimensional film."It's something I've known I wanted to do my entire life," Rosenbaum says about the film he wrote, directed, and produceda project he started nearly 10 years ago. A writer and journalism major in college, Rosenbaum had made films at home and in school as much as he could. But after graduating, "I went for the respectable day job and thought that I would be able to write screenplays at night," he explains.Struggling to balance his pragmatic and creative impulses, Rosenbaum was compelled to action by an event that shook the nation. "Being down on Wall Street on September 11 really was a life-changing experience," he says, "as it was for many people, and it kind of was that moment where I thought, 'If I never finish a screenplay in my entire life, I will be extremely disappointed in myself.' And that's when I started writing what ultimately became 'The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll.' "The film does justice to its lengthy gestation, as it offers a stirringly watchable drama about megastar rock frontman Spyder (Kevin Zegers) and his humble music-teacher best friend, Eric (Jason Ritter). The ups and downs of their relationshipon the brink of Spyder's most important album release, an event that requires Eric's assistance after a bitter estrangement and a Route 66 road tripare volatile and honest.The film hits timeless chords central to the history of rock 'n' roll, an attribute that was key for Rosenbaum. He notes that the point where character and rock meet was pivotal: "The archetypal acrimonious relationship between lead singer and guitar playeryou see it time and again, for all my favorite bands. The conflict between Mick and Keith, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Axl and Flashit just goes on and on. That's where the genesis of the story started to come together."Zegers and Ritter capture the dynamic that Rosenbaum sought, due not only to their estimable acting but also their real-life friendship, which Rosenbaum learned of during his casting session with the two. "They had been friends in and around Hollywood," he says, "and a lot of similar dynamics that take place between Eric and Spyder sort of had occurred between those two guys over the years. And for me, it was just a confirmation that they were the right guys for the role, and I really think it played out in their performances. It was definitely a fortuitous reality that those two guys had a prior relationship. It wasn't something I thought I would be able to achieve in casting; it was a lucky break for sure. This was definitely the thing that I wanted to say, the story that I wanted to tell."

Alec Baldwin to Host SNL for Record-Setting 16th Time

Alec Baldwin Your move, Steve Martin.Alec Baldwin will host Saturday Evening Love an archive-setting 16th time once the show returns in September.Take a look at photos from SNLBaldwin is presently tied with Martin, his close friend, for many hosting stints, his last arriving May 2010. (Martin most lately located in The month of january 2009.)NBC has additionally confirmed The Brand New You are able to Times' are convinced that Mike & Molly and Bridesmaids star Melissa McCarthy will host the 2nd episode of year.The 37th season of SNL premieres Sept. 24.

UPDATE: 'Two And A Half Men' Premiere To Feature Charlie Harper's Funeral, His Girlfriends Back & His House For Sale

UPDATE MONDAY: I've got more information on the shrouded-in-secrecy ninth-season premiere of CBS' comedy Two and a Half Men, which will feature the debut of new star Ashton Kutcher and which I now hear will be a two-parter. I have been able to confirm that Charlie Sheen's character Charlie Harper is indeed dead and the season premiere will feature his funeral. Charlie's girlfriends will come back for the occasion, and his house indeed will be put on the market. The episode will feature potential buyers coming to see the house (as I reported earlier, the list is expected to include real-life celebrities and stars from Men co-creator Chuck Lorre's other series), with Ashton Kutcher among them. However, I hear he will not be the rightful owner of Charlie Harper's digs by the end of the premiere episode, with the storyline expected to be extended into Episode 2. As part of CBS and Men producer Warner Bros. TV's efforts to keep details of the premiere under wraps, I hear the cast has been asked to sign non-disclosure agreements, something potential audience members for the Friday taping will be required to do too. PREVIOUS SUNDAY 6 PM: Speculation over the plot of the rebooted Two and a Half Men is expected to go into overdrive next week when production on the upcoming ninth season begins. Co-creator/executive producer Chuck Lorre has been mum on the setup for Two and a Half Men 2.0 and the way new star Ashton Kutcher will be introduced to the series. In keeping with the secrecy, I hear the cast members of the show were supposed to get their scripts for the season opener on Friday night, only two days before the Monday table read. As for what is in the script, the few in the know are keeping details close to the vest, but I hear that the Malibu beachfront house where Charlie Sheen's character Charlie Harper lived with his brother (Jon Cryer) and nephew (Angus T. Jones) is put up for sale. Word is that a number of real-life Hollywood celebrities, including stars from other current and/or previous Lorre series, may tour the house, possibly joined by Kutcher. (It is unclear whether he will play a character or himself.) As for Charlie Harper, there has been speculation that Lorre won't be able to resists killing off the character after being verbally savaged (and sued) by the actor who played him. The signs point in that direction -- the Season 9 premiere is expected to feature all or most of Harper's numerous ex-girlfriends. In terms of production next week, I hear that attendance at the table read will be kept to a bare minimum, but the Friday taping will be done in front of a live audience, not on a closed set. Still, I hear that some key scenes may be filmed separately with no audience and that producers will try to prevent leaks as much as they can, including banning press from the taping. But keeping details under wraps will be virtually impossible in the era of texting and Twitter.