In what will be their sixth collaboration, Tim Burton will direct Johnny Depp in a film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd, about a murderous 19th-century barber who seeks revenge over his wrongful imprisonment. Depp, says a DreamWorks spokesperson, is expected to do his own singing. Lemme guess — in the style of Keith Richards?
ABC Newswoman Elizabeth Vargas and her husband, Marc Cohn, are the proud parents of a second son, named Samuel Wyatt, a network rep tells the Associated Press. Mom and newborn are said to be "doing incredible." Cutesy home video at 11.
The nominees for the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy awards were announced Thursday morning, and Fox's 24 led the pack with 12 nods, including outstanding drama series, while NBC's Will & Grace exited on a high note with 10 noms, the most of any sitcom alive or dead. Among the notable snubs: Lost's major players got overlooked, Veronica Mars' Kristen Bell was slighted again, and Alfre Woodard was the only Desperate housewife to get a nom. (Consolation for shouldering a C story?) Also: Where is Hugh Laurie? Jason Lee? Any of Steve Carell's Office mates? Great new voting system there. But I digress. Here's a sample:Outstanding Drama Series: Grey's Anatomy, House, The Sopranos, 24 and The West WingOutstanding Comedy Series: Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office, Scrubs and Two and a Half Men Lead Actress/Drama: Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under), Geena Davis (Commander in Chief), Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU), Allison Janney (The West Wing) and Kyra Sedgwick (The...
Charles Gibson has been named the sole anchor of World News Tonight, effective May 29, it was announced Tuesday by ABC News president David Westin. Gibson, who will perform double duty as coanchor of Good Morning America until the end of June, will replace Elizabeth Vargas, who upon returning from her imminent maternity leave will anchor 20/20 and contribute to prime-time specials. Says Vargas in a statement, "My doctors have asked that I cut back my schedule considerably, and what works best for me and my family is to return to 20/20 as I raise my new baby and young son." The naming of Gibson to World News' anchor chair also affords Vargas' coanchor, Bob Woodruff, time to recover from the injuries he suffered while reporting from Iraq. "All of us look forward to that day [when Woodruff returns]," Westin says. "But it will be on Bob's timetable, not ours."
The Star Trek franchise is being given new life by the Genesis experiment Lost cocreator J.J. Abrams, the man behind this summer's Mission: Impossible III, Variety reports. The as-yet-untitled feature, slated for a fall 2008 release, will focus on the early adventures of James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, including their first meeting at Starfleet Academy; Abrams will direct as well as help write and produce the pic. Is anyone else getting goose bumps, or am I just a big ol' Star Trek geek? Seriously, no one's Kirk Halloween costume could ever compare to mine.