Oliviers take New You'll be able to stage

The Olivier Honours, U.K. theater's most exclusive honours, is going to be provided in NY this year the first time utilizing a live show relay from London's Royal Opera House.Ceremony, presented with the Society located in london Theater, could make its Stateside debut incorporated inside a Gotham reception. In your house, the large event can get extensive coverage on BBC TV, radio an online-based.Press blitz marks a considerable step-up for your kudofest, now within the 36th year, carrying out a 2010 appointment of SOLT chief professional Julian Bird, who elevated the event's industry and media profile a year ago by moving it for the Theater Royal Drury Lane within the hotel which had formerly been held.The Broadway celebration will contain British stars and-profile industry figures gathering within an so far surprise venue to celebrate the honours."NY City and London share a extended tradition of theatrical productions that have moved from Broadway for the West Finish and the other way round,Inch mentioned Gotham Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "It doesn't matter in the event you spell it 'theater' or 'theatre' musicals and plays certainly are a top attraction for travelers, which we anticipate hosting more than millions of site site visitors within the United kingdom in next season.InchErina Ball and Imelda Staunton, the leads inside the forthcoming West Finish revival of Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd," will host the large event, that is further extended utilizing a free bigscreen live show relay inside the Covent Garden piazza.SOLT will announce the whole report on nominees March 15. This year noms will probably be broadcast live online the first time. Contact David Benedict at benedictdavid@mac.com

Brian Lowry: Gervais monologue wasn't so bad

Well, that wasn't so bad, was it? ''Boy, he's fun,'' said Johnny Depp after Ricky Gervais' six-minute opening Golden Globes monologue, and it's hard to argue. The inspired choice of Ricky Gervais to host the Golden Globes in 2010 soured a bit last year, when the multifaceted star's ''fearless comic'' persona prompted him to go beyond his debut in the insult department and leave award-show decorum in an uncomfortable shambles. ''So, where was I?'' Gervais began, before proceeding to poke fun (repeatedly) at the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., which presents the Globes; and NBC, which televises them. He even likened the corrupt immigrants in ''Boardwalk Empire'' to the HFPA, and quipped that the Globes are to the Oscars ''what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton,'' which actually sounds about right. Gervais danced up to the line with a naughty joke about the Jodie Foster-directed ''The Beaver,'' but otherwise there was nothing to make the room or the censors blanch. Moreover, Depp's appearance up front reinforced the ''It's all in fun'' mentality, given Gervais' jabs at him last year over ''The Tourist.'' We've reached the first commercial break, and nobody's been maimed yet. So far, so pretty good. Contact Brian Lowry at brian.lowry@variety.com

FCC chairman taps chief of staff

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski has tapped Zachary Katz as his chief of staff, succeeding Eddie Lazarus, who is departing at the end of the month. Katz has been chief counsel to Genachowski after joining the FCC in 2009 and serving as legal adviser to Genachowski and deputy chief of the commission's Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis. He has led initiatives including the creation of the Connect America Fund, which reformed the agency's Universal Service Fund and Intercarrier compensation programs. He served in the White House Counsel's office and practiced at Munger, Tolles & Olson in Los Angeles. Before pursuing a legal career he worked with technology companies at a strategic consulting firm in Silicon Valley. Genachowski also announced a series of new appointments. Sherrese Smith, senior counsel and legal adviser, will become chief counsel and senior legal adviser; Amy Levine, currently special counsel and legal adviser, will become senior counsel and legal adviser. Michael Steffen, currently in the office of general counsel at the FCC, joined Genachowski's office as legal adviser. And Josh Gottheimer, senior counselor to Genachowski, will lead a new team at the FCC directing public-private initiatives. Contact Ted Johnson at ted.johnson@variety.com