Moody's: TV Station Groups Face Financial Threat from Networks

Lawyers representing the convicted assassin of Robert F. Kennedy hope to prove their client's innocence... 43 years later. In newly filed court documents obtained by the AP, Sirhan Sirhan's legal team allege that a bullet was switched in evidence at his trial, and that Sirhan was hypnotized to fire shots as a diversion from the actual killer. The lawyers, William F. Pepper and Laurie Dusek, also claim that new audio tests from the 1968 assassination prove that there were 13 shots fired from multiple guns -- five more than Sirhan could have fired from his pistol. In the original trial, eight bullets were counted. Three hit Kennedy, and the rest struck five other victims who were able to recover. PHOTOS: 12 of Hollywood's Most Mysterious Deaths The shooting occurred at L.A.'s Ambassador hotel on June 5, 1968, as the Senator was celebrating his victory in the California and South Dakota primary elections for the Democratic nomination of President. Kennedy was fatally wounded as he walked through the hotel's kitchen on his way to the exit. He survived nearly 26 hours after the incident, dying on June 6 at the Good Samaritan hospital, where he had been treated with surgery. With Kennedy that night was friend and actor/writer George Plimpton (Nixon, Good Will Hunting), who helped wrestle Sirhan to the ground and disarm him. Plimpton was aided by Olympic gold medalist, Rafer Johnson and professional football player, Rosey Grier. Rosemary Clooney, a strong Kennedy supporter, was also on hand that evening. PHOTOS: Actors Who've Played Politicians The fateful night was immortalized in the 2006 film Bobby, written and directed by Emilio Estevez. The 62-page federal court brief is the latest in a number of appeals filed on Sirhan's behalf, all of which were previously turned down. The Palestinian immigrant hopes to be deported to Jordan and "quietly live out the rest of his life with family and friends," the filing states. "But at long last he would, at least, have received long delayed justice." During his trial, Sirhan admitted that he had killed the Senator "with 20 years of malice aforethought." He later rescinded his confession. The lawyers have asked that the judge set an evidentiary hearing to reexamine the case, stating that Sirhan lacked adequate assistance of counsel during his trial. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 12 of Hollywood's Most Mysterious Deaths Related Topics Politics

Hut within the Forest (Huette im Wald)

An Outrageous Bunch Germany discharge of an outrageous Bunch Germany, Kahuuna Film production in co-production with SWR, Arte, using the support of Deutsche Filmfoerderfonds, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. (Worldwide sales: Elle Driver, Paris.) Created by Hendes Weingartner, Jonas Dornbach. Executive producers, Ulrich Herrman, Georg Steinert. Directed by Hendes Weingartner. Co-director, Cuneyt Kaya. Script, Weingartner, Kaya.With: Peter Schneider, Timur Massold, Eleonore Weisgerber, Henrike von Kuik, Andreas Leupold, Julia Jentsch, Hannes Wegner. (German, Russian dialogue)Whenever a psychologically unstable math wizzard from Berlin eventually ends up destitute, he befriends a similarly vulnerable youthful Ukrainian boy to locate solace in character in "Hut within the Forest," helmer Hendes Weingartner's competent but fractionally too sentimental drama. Although thesps Peter Schneider and Timur Massold make an affecting duo, pic is have contracted a twee, publish-hippy strain of German Romanticism, as the script makes its large author's-message points with thudding obviousness, additionally a flaw natural in Weingartner's earlier photos, "The Edukators" and "Reclaim Your Mind.Inch Soon after fest forays, pic will open locally in Feb. Martin Blunt (Schneider) is intentionally accepted to some mental hospital after which, apparently a while later, launched. Works out Martin includes a beautiful but unbalanced mind that enables him to resolve Sudoku problems within minutes, but his dependence on amounts has cost him his job in an urban planning firm and the relationship with g.f. Petra (Julia Jentsch), who shacked track of another person while Martin was institutionalized. Inside a detail that nicely elides what may have been days or several weeks, Martin is kicked out for neglecting to pay his rent. Meanwhile, 10-year-old emigre Viktor (Timur Massold) comes back home to locate his mother overdosed on smack and merely handles to flee in the government bodies, who wish to put him into care. Martin and Viktor meet inside a derelict squat, and even though they cannot speak each other peoples languages, they synergy to construct the titular hut within the forest outdoors Berlin. There, they reside in peace and mutual cooperation, subsisting on money gained by recycling thrown away bottles and cans. Auds well experienced within the conventions of photos concerning the psychologically ill will rapidly exercise that does not things are because it appears here one of the leading figures is struggling with delusions, also it works out that some early occasions are really expensive-forwards -- which is supposed to advise a disturbed mind's shaky grasp promptly and reality. Regrettably, this causes it to be impossible to sort out what is happening within the final reels once the script ropes inside a pretty dental hygienist (Henrike von Kuik) like a love interest for Martin. Otherwise, it's obvious enough that Weingartner, and co-author/co-director Cuneyt Kaya are attempting to make sure concerning the restorative energy of character and innocence, organized as opposed to the inefficient, materialistic city, which chews people up and spits them out. An identical fuzzy idealism was at play in Weingartner's earlier films, but here's its performed with increased importance. Fortunately, Schneider ("Schroeder's Wonderful World"), giving an remarkably physical perf, has got the chops to lend gravitas and dignity to some role that, at its core, simply is not perfectly written. Craft contributions are professional enough, although not especially outstanding. Editing, matching images to lyrics from non-source tunes by MOR singer-songwriter Damien Grain, is simply too frequently on-the-nose.Camera (color), Henner Besuch, Stefan Ciupek editors, Andreas Wodraschke, Dirk Oetelshoven music, Milena Fessmann production designer, Sebastian Wurm costume designer, Christian Roehrs seem (Dolby Digital), Joerg Kidrowski, Garip Ozdem seem designers, Bjoern Wiese, Stefan Soltau re-recording mixer, Wiese visual effects supervisor, Andreas Schellenberg stunt coordinator, Volkhart Aficionado assistant director, Christian Hoyer, Andrea Picht casting, Karen Wendland, Silke Koch. Examined on DVD, Hoveton, U.K., November. 26, 2011. (Working In London Film Festival -- World Cinema Rio p Janeiro Film Festival.) Running time: 116 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Jennifer Aniston: I 'Prefer' Pointing

Jennifer Aniston may well be a global-famous actress, but that doesn't mean sherrrd like to continue starring in movies. Inside an interview by having an hour on Sunday evening, Jolie spoke about her adoration for pointing (her directorial debut, 'In the Land of Blood stream and Honey,' opens 12 ,. 23), and why she'd would rather be behind the digital camera instead of before it. "I like obtaining the spotlight on another person, which i much prefer it," she confesses. Considering Jolie is amongst the taken photos of individuals on the planet, her comments seem sensible. However, the 36-year-old actress remains unsure about 'Blood and Honey,' an appreciation story from the soldier and also the prisoner through the Bosnian War. "I am nervous that people won't realize it.In . Furthermore to her turn just like a director, Jolie spoken about her previous career aspirations, together with a desire to have as being a funeral director (a thing that had initially been reported a long time earlier). "It might seem similar to this very strange, dark, eccentric step to complete. However, I lost my grandfather which i had been very upset along with his funeral," confesses Jolie. "So, we spoken about this maybe you will discover ways where this complete idea of how somebody passes and the way somebody handles this passing and what dying is, needs to be adressed diversely. When the acting factor didn't exercise, that might be my backup." Jolie also discusses her existence the primary attraction, how it's like obtaining the paparazzi follow her every move, and her strained relationship along with her father, actor Jon Voight. You will see the entire interview over with an hour. [with an hour] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Crew Member Dies in G.I. Joe 2 Set Accident

Tragic news from the New Orleans set of G.I. Joe: Retaliation, where a crew member suffered fatal injuries after an accident while breaking down the set. Filming closed earlier this week under director Jon M. Chu, who had already Tweeted his departure from the set days before the incident occurred. The tragedy marks the latest in a string of on-set accidents on big budget studio productions including The Expendables 2 and The Hobbit. From TMZ: Sources connected to the production tell us … the man was working on a “condor” — a high-powered lift — when the machine tipped over and the man sustained fatal injuries.Paramount released a statement saying, “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the [crew member’s] family at this time.”The statement continues, “The safety of our cast and crew is our top priority and the studio is fully cooperating with all investigating agencies as they examine the circumstances surrounding this unusual accident.” In October, Nu Image/Millenium Films confirmed that one stunt man died and another was injured while filming an explosion scene for The Expendables 2. Earlier this summer an Avengers stunt performer was injured during a 30 ft. fall, suffering injury to his head. And in May, two crew members on The Hobbit were caught in a workshop explosion with minor injuries. ‘G.I. JOE’ SEQUEL Crew Member Dies After Accident On Set [TMZ]

Splendid reups with RTL2

BERLIN -- Splendid Film has reupped its licensing pact with German broadcast channel RTL2. The deal covers titles like "Kate & Leopold," "Ip Man" and "Ip Man 2," "Inferno" and "Jackie Chan Is Nobody." Financial details were not available. Acquisitions by Splendid this year have included apocalyptic action/thriller "The Day," Gabriele Muccino's romantic comedy "Playing the Field," starring Gerard Butler, and Heitor Dhalia's thriller "Gone," with Amanda Seyfried. Splendid also has nabbed Simon West's "Medallion," starring Nicolas Cage as a former thief searching for his kidnapped daughter, Timo Vuorensola's sci-fi laffer "Iron Sky," and Jackie Chan actioner "Chinese Zodiac." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'Family,' 'X Factor' top Wednesday rankings

Fox's ''The X Factor'' won three of their four half-hrs among teenagers Wednesday, lifting the internet to some demo victory. ABC's ''Modern Family'' was again the night's No. 1 series, however the entire net's selection came back lower some after being preempted for that CMA Honours a week ago.In accordance to preliminary national estimations from Nielsen, ''The X Factor'' averaged a 3.8/10 in 18-49 and 11.two million audiences overall from eight to ten p.m., growing with every half-hour as well as on componen with a week ago. In grown ups 18-34 (3.4/10), the background music contest had its best showing for any regular episode since its premiere.At ABC, ''The Middle'' (2.9/9 in 18-49, 9.a million audiences overall), ''Suburgatory'' (2.8/8 in 18-49, 8.a million audiences overall), ''Modern Family'' (5.5/14 in 18-49, 12.9 million audiences overall) and ''Happy Endings'' (3.2/8 in 18-49, 7.a million audiences overall) all rejected using their hot showings of two days ago, while 10 p.m. drama ''Revenge'' (2.6/7 in 18-49, 8. million audiences overall) slid probably the most but nonetheless held onto a share from the 18-49 lead in the hour. ''Modern Family'' was the night's No. 1 enter in 18-49 and total audiences, beating the ''X Factor'' by 4 shares within the demo.CBS saw ''Survivor'' (3.3/9 in 18-49, 11.5 million audiences overall), ''Criminal Minds'' (3.7/9 in 18-49, 12.5 million audiences overall) and ''CSI'' (2.6/7 in 18-49, 10.5 million audiences overall) all edge up from a week ago once they were substandard opposite the CMA Honours on ABC. ''Survivor'' edged out ''X Factor'' mind-to-mind in 25-54 whilst winning as a whole audiences, and ''CSI'' tied for that 10 o'clock hour's lead in 18-49 and won both in 25-54 and total audiences.At NBC, ''Up All Night'' (1.9/5 in 18-49, 4.8 million audiences overall) was up slightly week to week, while ''Harry's Law'' was lower (1.1/3 in 18-49, 7.two million audiences overall) and ''Law and Order: SVU'' was flat (1.9/5 in 18-49, 7.3 million audiences overall).CW's ''America's Next Top Model'' (.8/2 in 18-49, 1.9 million audiences overall) was flat or up slightly in certain groups week to week.Preliminary 18-49 earnings for that evening: Fox, 3.8/10 ABC, 3.3/9 CBS, 3.2/8 Univision, 1.7/4 NBC, 1.5/4 CW, .6/2.As a whole audiences: CBS, 11.5 million Fox, 11.two million ABC, 8.9 million NBC, 6.two million Univision, 3.9 million CW, 1.5 million. Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com

Lego Is A Go

Warners greenlights the toy-based picSlowly clicking into place since Warner Bros. nabbed the rights to make a film from the plastic stuff back in 2008, the Lego movie is now making a move towards production, with the studio setting a rough 2014 release.Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs co-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller are still attached, having re-written the script originally drafted by Dan and Kevin Hagerman. And they've got a new recruit aboard to help with the directorial workload: Chris McKay, who's usually to be found bringing characters to life on Robot Chicken.There are still no solid details about the plot out there, but the film will apparently comprise 80% animation with live action actors, and the search for the humans is scheduled to start in January. But the studio already has its eye on a 'toon team to handle the plastic fantasy elements: Australian company Animal Logic, best known for their Oscar-scooping work on Happy Feet (and now its sequel) is aboard. Their presence means the movie scores some handy tax breaks from Down Under.Despite the stiff cloak of secrecy, Lord talked a little about the concept last year, explaining that the idea is to craft a universe of the knobbly plastic bricks, with everything from water to explosions formed of the stuff. More info should start to leak as casting gets underway and after a news conference set for next week in New South Wales.Lord and Miller will get to work on making the thing once they've put the finishing touches to their live-action debut, 21 Jump Street, which is out here on March 16, 2012.

EXCLUSIVE! Brian Grazer Telling Hollywood He Will Produce Oscars & Looking For Host

Brian Grazer Will Step In To Produce 84th Academy Awards Brett Ratner Out As Oscar Producer WEDNESDAY 3:50 PM, 3RD UPDATE: The Academy Of Motion Pictures & Arts Sciences just made it official. 3:30 PM, 2ND UPDATE: Imagine Entertainment is confirming that Brian Grazer will produce the 84th Academy Awards with Don Mischer. Still no official AMPAS announcement, though. And there’s more news on this fast-breaking story: As much as the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences hoped thatEddie Murphy would reconsider his exit as host, insiders tell me that Brian Grazer has moved on this afternoon.”We are not going back to him. No way,” I’m told. 2 PM, UPDATE from Nikki Finke: I have just learned that Brian Grazer was offered and has accepted to produce the 84th Academy Awards. Nothing has been announced yet, but Grazer is telling Hollywood that he’s committed to the gig. The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences owes Brian big-time for stepping into the breach left when Brett Ratner exited because of the scandal which the director had created around himself. Immediately, Grazer began calling around town looking for the Oscar host (see HAMMOND: Eddies Exit Throws Oscars Into Further Chaos; So Who Should Host Now?) and speed-dialed the top agencies checking availabilities for big talent. But the Academy still wants Eddie Murphy to host, and Grazer is tasked with first trying to convince the actor to do it. Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment produced Tower Heist, which Ratner directed and co-stars Murphy. If anyone can get Eddie back in, it’s Brian. For Grazer to take on the Oscarsdemonstrates a dedication to the movie community that I hope the Academy won’t soon forget.Grazer’s name frequently comes up for the Irving G Thalberg Memorial Award, the most coveted Oscar honor for anyone in Hollywood, and almost received itfor the 76th annual Oscars.Somaybe sooner rather than later it should be Grazersturn for the Thalberg.I say give it to him next year. 11 AM, Mike Fleming reports: Right now, the Academy Awards are still in disarray, but a name that is making the rounds is Brian Grazer as a potential replacement for Brett Ratner. This is unconfirmed and might have made more sense when Eddie Murphy was still the host. Grazer partners in Imagine Entertainment with Ron Howard, and he just produced Tower Heist, the Ratner-directed film that stars Murphy. Developing.

Disney Orders 4th Season of Emmy-Winning Phineas and Ferb

Phineas and Ferb Stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb will keep having more adventures, while poor Candace will keep trying to bust them. Disney Funnel has purchased a 4th season of their hit animated comedy Phineas and Ferb, the funnel introduced Wednesday. The brand new episodes will unveil through 2014. True Blood's Stephen Moyer battles Michael J. Fox for Anna Paquin's affection on Phineas and Ferb The brand new episodes includes more musical interludes, such as the one-hit question "Phineas and also the Ferb-tones," a commemoration of Platypus Day (Perry is going to be thrilled), along with a winter vacation special. Phineas and Ferb may be the No. 1 animated series among kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14. It won a Daytime Emmy this year for Outstanding Writing in Animation and Emmys for Jill Daniels and John Forest for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation. Are you currently happy that the Phineas and Ferb fix continues?

Rosie ODonnell: Confused Over The Kardashians

First Published: November 8, 2011 4:08 PM EST Credit: Getty Images LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Rosie ODonnell speaks during the The Rosie Show panel during the OWN portion of the 2011 Summer TCA Tour held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, on July 28, 2011Rosie ODonnell may head up her own talk show, but one thing she wont be discussing on her Oprah Winfrey Network program is Kim Kardashians divorce. Ive never seen any of the Karadshian shows, I dont really know the family or the story, all I know is Bruce Jenner looks weird, right? Rosie told Billy Bush on Tuesdays The Billy Bush Show. When that all that [happened], the writers were like, Weve got a bunch of Kim Kardashian jokes. And I looked at them and I went I dont really care. Rosie admitted she isnt even sure which sister is which. I dont really know them. I saw recently, when Kim was doing her, Sorry, I got divorced tour, I saw the other sister who I thought was the older sister, but apparently is the younger sister, who said on the air, I know I got married in nine days. Im thinking, I missed that whole thing, Rosie said, clearly referencing Khloe Kardashian. Theres so much to catch up with them. I feel like theyre the Gabor sisters of this era. Its like Zsa Zsa and Eva at the height of their fame, she continued. I think that in some ways, theyre the new Gabor sisters, but I dont have time. One thing The Rosie Show host has plenty of time for is sending her eldest son, Parker, care packages at his new school a military academy he recently enrolled in, in August. Rosie admitted her sons fellow cadets-in-training are gaga for the surprises his mom sends. [Parker told me], The whole platoon, they all eat the stuff you send, Rosie said. I do maybe over-mother him, but I think its the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Known for her strong political beliefs, Rosie admitted to Billy she was a little taken aback when Parker began pushing the idea of going to military school. He chose on his own actually begged to go to a military academy. And I was like two years of No way, Rosie explained. Truth is, since he was a little boy, thats his area of interest. The same way I love Streisand and Bette Midler and entertainment, he can tell you any general in any war, what kind of tanks they had, what the battles were like, and so I finally gave in and truthfully, hes excelling and hes very happy. And Rosie admits that Parkers choice fits perfectly in line with a teenager forging his own identity, apart from his parents. How do you really piss off your really left wing and peace-loving mother? You join the military, she told Billy in a Rosie-comedy style rant. He couldnt get tattoos and have a girlfriend and [be] doing nasty things in the bedroom where I catch him. No, because that I wouldve been, Oh, thats all right, youre a teenager. Hes like, Mother, Id like to serve the Nation. Im like crying, Serve me instead! The Rosie Show airs weeknights at 7/ 6 C on OWN. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.