'Downton' change causes Emmys to ponder

Downton Abbey, the PBS tale of wealthy and servants inside the The Very First World War era, will compete inside the drama category as of this years Emmys. The move of PBS' "Downton Abbey" from miniseries to drama series with this particular year's Primetime Emmy race might be the impetus for your TV Academy to develop the drama series category to 10 nominees next season. So states John Leverence, honours chief within the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, who stressed the first any change sometimes happens would be the 2013 Emmy race. "It's enough riches," Leverence told Variety. "Maybe someone will say we should have 10 nominees, like the movie academy. That argument may be created for the amazing abundance of shows. Maybe six isn't enough." The Academy of motion Picture Arts and Sciences extended its best picture category to 10 nominees for your occasions kept in 2010 and 2011, however gone to live in some weighted percentage system that created nine nominees for your Oscar race that wrapped Sunday. The Tv Acad has elevated its series nominee slots too lately, growing from five to six inside the drama and comedy groups. Getting "Downton Abbey" switch from miniseries to drama was began with the Academy, not PBS, which carries typically the most popular British drama incorporated in the "Masterpiece" series. In line with the Emmy rule book, a show can be a miniseries when it is "with various single theme or narrative, that's resolved within the piece." The go to a drama series is precipitated when there's an "ongoing theme, story and primary figures that are presented beneath the same title and possess continuity of production supervision." The bottom line is, Leverence referred to, "The essence from the miniseries can be a single theme or story that's resolved in the given year." If the was apparent the sprawling family drama occur pre- and publish-The Very First World War Britain, may have another season, the nominating committee began to own discussions about moving it to drama series. "Downton" surprised bizzers last fall if the beat a area that incorporated HBO's high-profile "Mildred Pierce" to win the Emmy for miniseries or movie -- just before the Brit import captivated relating to this side water-feature PBS did not generate a fight inside the category switch. Mentioned "Masterpiece" professional producer Rebecca Eaton: "We know the Academy's decision. You'll find great shows inside the drama series category and will also be exciting to own 'Downton Abbey' competing together.Inch Also making the modification in the longform area up up to the more competitive drama series warmth will probably be British import "Luther," which airs on BBC America. Star Idris Elba was Emmy nommed a year ago and acquired a Golden Globe within the month of the month of january. Because the vary from promising small to drama series is unusual, it is not unequalled. Leverence listed three other shows which make the switch: In 2005, USA Network small "The 4400" was moved on for the drama series category yearly later. Also developing a category transformation was Showtime's "Sleeper Cell" in 2007 and USA's "The Starter Wife" in 2008. With both "Downton Abbey" and "Luther" inside the drama series mix, the course might have a range of top candidates. Furthermore to last year's six nominees, five that'll be competing for the next chance to repeat -- "Mad Males" (champion), "Boardwalk Empire," "The Truly Amazing Wife," "Dexter" and Wager on Thrones" -- you'll find several beginners trying to find kudos recognition. Newcomer series that will goal to obtain honours love include Showtime's "Homeland," NBC's "Smash," ABC's "Revenge," HBO's "Luck," AMC's "Hell on Wheels," FX's "American Horror Story," and USA's "Suits." "It's tough to calculate,Inch mentioned one network publicist about how precisely the race may have out. "It's kind of a unknown quantity at this time around. It will likely be interesting certainly.Inch Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Rankings: Academy awards Publish Slight Gain

Tamra Barney When The Real Average women of Orange County's Tamra needed to be stuck on the deserted island and among her castmates, who'd she choose? Not her Best friend Vicki or new bestie Gretchen. "Louise!" Tamra informs TVGuide.com. "She's a lot of fun and that i know she'd have champagne packed somewhere." VIDEO: The Actual Average women of O.C.'s Gretchen describes fallout with Vicki Within the video below, Tamra plays our game brand-new game, "Which Housewife?" throughout which she informs us which from the show's cast people may be the fakest, who is easily the most sincere and that has the very best spontaneity. Plus: Will Tamra and current boyfriend Eddie walk lower the aisle soon? The Actual Average women of Oc airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Bravo.

Starz sales rise 8% to $432 million

John Malone's Liberty Media Thursday reported greater revenue and earnings from Starz, its greatest holding. The pay net's sales rose 8% to $432 million for that 4th quarter, largely on greater home video revenue from the 2011 distribution agreement using the Weinstein Company.Operating profit rose 24% to $87 million. The network had 19.six million customers at year-finish, up from 18.two million the prior year.Boss Chris Albrecht recommended original programming and new pacts. ''We couldn't become more happy with the performance of ''Spartacus: Vengeance,'' which is constantly on the set record new viewership marks for any Starz original series,'' he stated. ''The anticipation for April's 'Magic City' keeps growing and that we are heartened through the strong demand received within the global marketplace.'' He stated recent deals, affiliation with ATandT U-verse and movie certification with Lionsgate, have increased the net's distribution business and lengthy-term content pipeline. Parent Liberty Media stated its quarterly revenue increased 96% to $1 billion within the 4th quarter and operating earnings leaped 241% to $293 million, mostly associated with the main one-time recognition of formerly deferred revenue and charges at division TruePosition.Malone, who constantly tinkers together with his holdings, also introduced a brand new structure for Liberty Media's sister company, Liberty Interactive Corp.Liberty Interactive can create two new monitoring stocks to higher stick to the companies it holds.One monitoring stock, still known as Liberty Interactive, covers QVC, the e-commerce companies, Liberty's 34% of HSN, $500 million in cash and a variety of investments. The 2nd new stock, Liberty Endeavors, will track interests in Expedia, TripAdvisor, Time Warner, Time Warner Cable, America online, Interval Leisure Group, Tree.com, Liberty's eco-friendly energy opportunities, $1.25 billion in cash.Liberty's status being an investment company, no operating company, has led to waves of spinoffs and monitoring stocks that appear and disappear through the years because he attempts to align his companies for traders and tax efficiencies. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Parisot seeing 'Red 2'

Dean Parisot is within final discussions to direct ''Red 2,'' the follow up to Summit's sleeper hit starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren.Parisot, who directed the 1999 cult classic ''Galaxy Mission,'' is putting the ultimate touches on the deal to sequelize the pic that made a lot more than $90 million domestic following its October 2010 bow.Production on ''Red 2'' might be a ways off yet, like a busy Willis has yet to sort out his schedule along with other people from the ensemble cast are waiting for deals, however the studio is securing in the helmer for what's shaping as much as be among the final couple of feature productions launched underneath the Summit banner before it combines with Lionsgate. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Josh Duhamel, Sharon Osbourne and More Lend Their Voices to Jake and the Never Land Pirates

Ben, Emily Of all the poor judgment that The Bachelor's Ben Flajnik has demonstrated this season, cutting Emily may have been the worst. But don't weep for Emily: She now says she thinks she dodged a bullet. We checked in with the bright, goofy epidemiologist from North Carolina to ask her how she really feels about Courtney and who she thinks Ben should end up with. On her exit:Viewers may have been surprised by Emily's ouster, but she wasn't. "To be honest, I wasn't totally shocked," she says. "When Ben pulled Courtney aside, it was the last glimmer of hope for me. I thought maybe he's finally listening to all of us. But I kind of knew at that point he was going to keep Courtney and Rachel and I were going home." The Bachelor's Chris Harrison: I never would've predicted this negative reaction to Ben Her feelings toward Courtney:"My impression of Courtney was that she was just not a nice person, no matter how you slice it or dice it," Emily says. "The comments were unprovoked, and that's what made me angry. No one else displayed that kind of behavior." If she thinks Courtney actually likes Ben:"When I watch [the show], she doesn't seem all that interested in him and what he's saying," she says. "We all cry and it was an emotionally draining situation, but I'm not sure the tears were 100 percent for him. She would turn around and say things like, 'If he doesn't give me a rose on this date, I'm going to turn around and leave.' If you're really head over heels and emotionally invested, you don't make demands like that." Harrison: Ben and Jamie's kiss was one of the most horrifying moments in Bachelor history Why Ben isn't the guy for her:"I wish he supported and encouraged me and not reacted in the way that he did [when I talked to him about Courtney]. It felt like a threat at the time," she says. "I'm looking for someone who respects me as a person, and when I have an opinion they take that to heart and can at least respond in an appropriate way." How her feelings toward Ben have changed:"My respect for him as gone down certainly since the show aired and since I've gotten perspective on things," she says. "I've had people say I dodged a bullet and others say I dodged a locomotive with a nuclear bomb strapped to it. I think for sure we're not meant to be together and I started to feel that a little toward the end, but it has been completely confirmed in my mind watching." Who Ben should choose:"Honestly, I won't be happy if Ben winds up with Lindzi, Nicki or Kasey," she says. "I think they deserve someone a little bit different and maybe a little bit more on their level and who's grounded. I think Ben and Courtney are what each other are looking for."

Supporting actor analysis

KENNETH BRANAGH "My Week With Marilyn" Why he'll win: He portrays Laurence Olivier! And with his crisp, verbal delivery and forceful physicality, he does so quite credibly, adding some needed energy to the film. Playing his fellow Shakespeare enthusiast capped a strong year that included helming commercially successful comicbook adaptation "Thor."Maybe not: Olivier never won an Oscar outside of two honorary awards, so why should Branagh? He has been nominated five times now, but his work in "Marilyn" was largely overshadowed by the actress playing the title character.Critic's quote: "Branagh has become jowly in middle age, but his looks are passably close to Olivier's. He has mastered Olivier's elegantly phrased, caressing graciousness and his indignant bellow," says David Denby, NYer.JONAH HILL "Moneyball" Why he'll win: Could appeal to younger voters since he's the only nominee here under the age of 50. Hill's "Moneyball" acting, and newly trimmed down physique, was revelatory to many who only knew him from the R-rated comedies made with Judd Apatow's troupe.Maybe not: Comic actors rarely win Oscars. Much of Hill's work in the movie comes from observing and reacting and while his timing is perfect, it's not the kind of role that generally wins an Academy Award.Critic's quote: "Hill's at his most comically froglike here and 'Moneyball' plays his presence in the holy sanctum of the scouts' office for maximum awkwardness. He's the accountant in the boxing ring," says Ty Burr, Boston Globe.NICK NOLTE "Warrior" Why he'll win: Hollywood survivor enjoying a welcome career resurgence at the age of 70 thanks to his raw depiction of an alcoholic father trying to heal old wounds. Profile currently heightened with ongoing role in HBO's critically lauded racetrack series, "Luck."Maybe not: "Warrior" had a disappointing commercial run, and its violent MMA fighting scenes may make it an unlikely screener choice for older Academy members. Some voters may be inclined to let Emmy counterparts reward him come fall.Critic's quote: "Nolte is pitch-perfect as the recovering alcoholic father. He alternates between gruff and pathetic, and while we feel for the sons he wounded emotionally, we sense his lonely anguish," says Claudia Puig, USA Today.CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER "Beginners" Why he'll win: For starters, he has won nearly every precursor leading up to the Oscars. Then there's the work itself, a graceful and dignified turn that feels like a marvelous cap to a distinguished career that has yet to be rewarded by the Academy.Maybe not: Von Sydow and Nolte split the senior vote? Too many Academy members forced to endure repeated viewings of "The Sound of Music" by their big sisters? It's hard to make a case how Plummer doesn't make it to the podium.Critic's quote: "Is Plummer skipping along the surface of the man? Anything but. He's portraying, with brilliant empathy, a man elated to be skipping along the surface of his life -- a surface on which he had never been permitted to tread," says David Edelstein, NY Magazine.MAX VON SYDOW "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" Why he'll win: Took what could have been a gimmicky role -- a mute man who communicates solely through the words "yes" and "no" inked on his palms -- and imbued it (and the movie) some much-needed gravitas. He's 82. He worked with Bergman and played chess with Death. How many more chances will he have?Maybe not: Rival Plummer is also 82. And the year's other nominated silent performers -- Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo from "The Artist" -- might have muted the distinctiveness of his work.Critic's quote: "Briefly, thanks to von Sydow's superbly evocative work (speaking volumes without words), the story loses its artifice and comes brightly alive," says Rick Groen, Toronto Globe and Mail.Eye on the Oscars: The Actor & The ActressNewbies shock 'n' roll And the nominees are:Best Actor | Best Actress | Best Supporting Actor | Best Supporting Actress Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com