Fox Orders Ancient Egypt Drama 'Hieroglyph' Straight to Series

Fox is making a big bet on an Egyptian fantasy.

The network is moving forward with a 13-episode straight-to-series order for Hieroglyph, a fantastical action-adventure show. The series, set in ancient Egypt, centers on a notorious thief who is plucked from prison to serve the Pharaoh, navigating palace intrigue, seductive concubines, criminal underbellies and even a few divine sorcerers.

The ambitious drama, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television and Chernin Entertainment, is being written by Pacific Rim’s Travis Beacham. Chernin Entertainment's Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope, along with Beacham and Fringe’s Miguel Sapochnik, will serve as executive producers. Sapochnik, who helmed Repo Man, also is on board to direct the premiere episode, which is scheduled to begin production in early 2014.

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“We wanted to do a show about deceit, sex, intrigue in the court and fantastical goings-on -- no better place to set that than ancient Egypt,” Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly said in a statement announcing the news Thursday. “Travis Beacham has an inventive mind, and he has wrapped this all together in this intoxicating new drama.”

Hieroglyph becomes the latest project ordered straight to series this development season. Fox also handed out a series commitment to Gotham, a Batman prequel series revolving around Commissioner Gordon as well as a comedy from 30 Rock trio Tina Fey, Matt Hubbard and Robert Carlock. Fox also handed out a series order to a John Mulaney (Saturday Night Live) comedy originally developed at NBC. CBS, meanwhile, has 13 episodes of the Vince Gilligan and David Shore drama Battle Creek, based on a 2002 spec from the Breaking Bad creator. 

In an executive roundtable published this week in The Hollywood Reporter, Reilly explained his motivation for bypassing the pilot system when the project calls for it.  As he said during a spirited conversation about the state of the television business, making straight-to-series orders is a way to “unwind us off the cycle" in broadcast. Reilly spoke candidly about the inefficiencies of the current development system, which he described as “silly.”

STORY: TV Executive Showdown, Fox's Reilly Calls Development Season 'Welfare State,' Sarandos New Threat

“A lot of this town was sustained by the pilot system, where we were making an enormous and inefficient amount of product,” he said in conversation with Netflix's Ted Sarandos, Showtime's David Nevins and FX's John Landgraf. “Maybe one of the healthier things that could evolve as there are more series opportunities is to get off of that inefficiency of just throwing spaghetti at the wall. But it's very difficult to unwire the town. Even agents are still in this mode of ‘pilot season.’ What the hell is pilot season? It's an artificial boundary that makes no sense, and it makes you do things under duress.”

Beacham, whose other credits include Clash of the Titans, is repped by WME, Anonymous Content and Hansen Jacobson; Sapochnik is repped by WME, Casarotto Ramsay and Sloane Offer.

E-mail: Lacey.Rose@THR.com

Twitter: @LaceyVRose

 

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/television/~3/7C5CMAAsALs/story01.htm
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Get the No. 1 Android app that Apple refuses to approve!

We've had more than a few folks ask us to bring the official Android Central App to iOS. And, frankly, we'd be happy to do it. Unfortunately, any attempts to do so have been thwarted. And, so, we're Android-only ... for now. We've got a few ideas, though, and maybe iOS isn't the only other route to go. More on that later, though.

For now, be sure to check out the latest version of the official Android Central App. And swing by our downloads section for more ways to keep up with the latest Android news while you're at it!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/7SRvHXoKKu4/story01.htm
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You’ll Pay for This, GOP

President Obama at the White House on Oct. 17, 2013, drawing lessons from the shutdown.

Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

“There are no winners here,” President Obama declared at the White House this morning. Then, with an elegant air of nonpartisanship, Obama began to fashion the shutdown into a political weapon. Here’s how he’s going to deploy it.

1. Economic excuse. Obama noted that before the shutdown, the economy was recovering, and the deficit was falling. The fiscal standoff changed all that: “Every analyst out there believes it slowed our growth.” Obama rattled off the damage: families going without paychecks, home buyers and small businesses unable to get loans, consumers cutting back on spending, CEOs reporting that the fiscal anxiety had “set back their plans to hire over the next six months.” Even the “threat of default,” said the president, “increased our borrowing costs, which adds to our deficit.”

Today, this litany of laments looked like simple compassion from the president. But over the next year, it can serve as an excuse. If economic growth or deficit reduction isn’t where we’d like it to be, Obama can blame the shortfall on the “Republican shutdown” or the “Tea Party shutdown.” He’d be following in the footsteps of his predecessor, who spent three years after Sept. 11, 2001, blaming economic disappointment on the damage done when “the enemy hit us.”

2. Republican downgrade. Two years ago, when Standard and Poor’s downgraded the government’s credit rating, it cited our high deficits as well as the 2011 debt ceiling standoff. Ever since, Republicans have argued that the deficits, not the standoff, caused the downgrade. This time, we haven’t been downgraded, but we’ve been put on a credit watch by Fitch, another ratings agency. And this time, there’s no ballooning deficit. Obama wants to make that difference stick. He wants the downgrade threat of 2013 to reinforce the Democrats’ narrative about the downgrade of 2011. “The agency that put America’s credit rating on watch the other day explicitly cited” the congressional standoff, Obama pointed out. The Fitch report, he went on, said that “our economy remains more dynamic and resilient than other advanced economies and that the only thing putting us at risk is—and I’m quoting here—‘repeated brinkmanship.’ ” “That wasn’t a political statement,” Obama added, politicizing the statement.

3. National security. Even after killing Osama Bin Laden, Obama is constantly accused of weakness. No matter what he does in Iran, Egypt, Libya, or Syria, the old portrait of the Democratic president as soft on foreign policy never goes away. What usually helps Democrats in this area is economics. Their devotion to American labor at the expense of free trade comes across as tough on foreigners. But the fiscal showdowns of 2011 and 2013 could add a new twist. This morning, Obama reported that U.S. diplomats have

been hearing from their counterparts internationally. Some of the same folks who pushed for the shutdown and threatened default claim their actions were needed to get America back on the right track, to make sure we’re strong. But probably nothing has done more damage to America’s credibility in the world, our standing with other countries, than the spectacle we’ve seen these past several weeks. It’s encouraged our enemies. It’s emboldened our competitors. And it’s depressed our friends who look to us for steady leadership.

If Republicans stage another big fight over the next debt ceiling, that would be three in a row. It might facilitate a significant political development: the transformation of debt payment into a national security issue. Republicans could become the deadbeat party. Obama seems quite willing to attack them from this angle. And in framing economics as the key to American power, he has reality on his side.

4. The value of government. What happened in 1995 and 1996 has happened again: Closing the government has made Americans miss it. In his remarks today, Obama proposed,

One of the things that I hope all of us have learned these past few weeks is that it turns out smart, effective government is important. It matters. I think the American people, during this shutdown, had a chance to get some idea of all the things, large and small, that government does that make a difference in people’s lives. You know, we hear all the time about how government is the problem. Well, it turns out we rely on it in a whole lot of ways. Not only does it keep us strong through our military and our law enforcement—it plays a vital role in caring for our seniors and our veterans, educating our kids, making sure our workers are trained for the jobs that are being created, arming our businesses with the best science and technology so they can compete with companies from other countries. It plays a key role in keeping our food and our toys and our workplaces safe.  It helps folks rebuild after a storm. It conserves our natural resources. It finances startups. It helps to sell our products overseas. It provides security to our diplomats abroad. So let’s work together to make government work better, instead of treating it like an enemy.

Congratulations, Tea Party. In the midst of Obamacare’s glitch-ridden debut, you did the one thing that could make us love our government: You took it away and held it hostage. Don’t expect any thanks from the president you helped.

Source: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/frame_game/2013/10/_2013_shutdown_politics_how_obama_will_make_the_debt_fight_a_weapon_against.html
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Lena Dunham Instagrams 'Girls' return date

2 hours ago

Rather than spread the news in an interview or through a press release, "Girls" creator Lena Dunham took to her Instagram account Wednesday to announce the return date for her acclaimed HBO dramedy. Along with the phrase "We're comin' right back #GIRLS," Dunham posted a selfie photo that reads "1/12/14 10 p.m. EST" scrawled (possibly in lipstick) on a mirror.

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The show's third season has been highly anticipated for months, partially due to shake-ups within the cast. Christopher Abbott (who played Marnie's on-again, off-again love interest, Charlie) left the series back in April following creative struggles with Dunham. Michael Zegen ("Boardwalk Empire", "The Walking Dead") signed on back in June and — perhaps in response to criticism of the show's almost entirely white cast — Danielle Brooks ("Orange Is the New Black") will join the season as well. "I will be the first black woman to be on 'Girls,'" Brooks said in an interview with Ebony, "so that's exciting for me."

Despite its many controversies, "Girls" has earned consistently strong reviews in its first two seasons. The series earned five Emmy nominations at this year's ceremony, including nods for outstanding directing for a comedy series (for Dunham) and outstanding comedy series.

Though the show won't be back on TV until January, HBO recently gave fans a taste of the third season with this promotional teaser.

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Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/girls-creator-lena-dunham-uses-instagram-announce-shows-return-8C11406531
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No plans to bring HTC One Max to Canada

'The current HTC line up of devices is sufficient for the Canadian marketplace'

U.S. carriers Sprint and Verizon might be getting their hands on the HTC One Max later in the year, but there's no such luck for anyone looking to pick up the gianormous HTC handset north of the border. A statement from the company's Canadian arm confirmed to MobileSyrup that there are no plans to launch the 5.9-incher in Canada —

“HTC devices differ from country to country, we work closely with carrier partners in each region to determine what is best for their consumers. Every market is different and has specific needs and demands. We consider a number of factors such as, the HTC devices currently available, the competition etc. At this time the current HTC line up of devices is sufficient for the Canadian marketplace.”

On the other hand we weren't exactly blown away by the One Max during our time with the device, so with the more compelling HTC One already widely available in Canada, perhaps Canadians aren't at such a disadvantage.

More: HTC One Max review

Source: MobileSyrup

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/vN04V1b_WCA/story01.htm
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Rice joins playoff committee as 'student of game'

The most scrutinized committee in sports has been set. The members say they'll need thick skin, plenty of time and the ability to leave their loyalties behind to pick the four teams that will play for college football's national title next year.

They say they are ready for the pressure.

"I think I've experienced plenty of heat in my life," former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

Rice, former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne and College Football Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning are among the 13 people who will be part of the College Football Playoff selection committee in 2014. The committee was officially unveiled Wednesday.

The College Football Playoff will replace the Bowl Championship Series. The selection committee will work similarly to the one that picks the teams for the NCAA basketball tournament, though instead of 68 teams it will choose and seed four to play in the semifinals.

The winners of those games, played on a rotating basis at six bowl sites, will meet a week later for the national championship.

"There will undoubtedly be people who disagree with the outcome," Rice said.

Rice was a surprising pick to be part of the committee because she has never worked directly in college athletics, though when she was provost at Stanford the athletic department was under her supervision and she hired Tyrone Willingham as football coach.

She called herself a "student of the game."

"What I can hopefully bring to this committee is critical judgment and the willingness to work real hard ... to put the best four teams on the field," she said.

Rice, who grew up in Alabama, said college football has been trying to come up with a way to crown a champion for years and mentioned how the 1966 championship was muddled when Notre Dame and Michigan State played to a tie. Notre Dame was voted champion by the coaches' and AP polls, but Alabama went 11-0.

"It enhances head-to-head competition," Rice said about the new system.

She said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott approached her about being part of the committee.

"Condi definitely earned her spot on this committee," said Bill Hancock, the executive director of the BCS. "Obviously, part of this is going to be the ability to make judgments under scrutiny, and Condi has that."

Rice is the only woman on the committee.

Some, such as former Auburn coach Pat Dye and former Georgia star and ESPN analyst David Pollack, have said they would prefer only those who have played football to be on the committee.

"I've been in enough positions to respect people who have different views," Rice said. "I will work very hard reviewing film to make good judgments."

She added: "I don't feel I'm carrying the banner for anyone except those of us who love college football."

The panel is made up of five current athletic directors, former players and coaches and college administrators, and a former member of the media.

"Our work will be difficult, but rewarding at the same time," Arkansas athletic director and committee chairman Jeff Long said. "We have important judgments to make during that process. We realize we represent all of college football."

The rest of the members are:

—Barry Alvarez, athletic director, Wisconsin.

—Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy.

—Pat Haden, athletic director, Southern California.

—Tom Jernstedt, former NCAA executive vice president.

—Oliver Luck, athletic director, West Virginia.

—Dan Radakovich, athletic director, Clemson.

—Steve Wieberg, former college football reporter, USA Today.

—Willingham, former head coach of Notre Dame, Stanford and Washington.

—Mike Tranghese, former commissioner of the Big East Conference.

Hancock said term limits for committee members will eventually be three years, but that will not be the case for all the current members because they do not want to replace the entire committee at once.

"We haven't worked out the stagger yet," Hancock said.

Committee members will recuse themselves when a team they have a direct relationship with comes up in meetings.

"It's imperative for all committee members to check their loyalties and affiliations before entering the meeting room," Jernstedt said.

Hancock said the committee members will be allowed to examine whatever data they believe is relevant.

"No one single metric will be identified as paramount over all other data," Hancock said.

Long said the committee likely will release four or five top 25 rankings during the season, starting around midseason, before the final decisions are made at the end of the regular season.

"I know it's going to have long hours involved," Alvarez said. "Obviously, criticism will be a part of it."

___

AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins in Irving, Texas, and freelance writer Benjamin W. Worgull in Madison, Wis., contributed to this report.

___

Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rice-joins-playoff-committee-student-game-225127163--spt.html
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Small Amount Of Money From Pink NFL ... - Business Insider

Getty Images

It's October and the NFL is once again covered head-to-toe in pink accessories and equipment as part of the league's Breast Cancer Awareness initiative.

While fans can also purchase pink clothing and accessories to support the cause, a shockingly small amount of the fans' money is actually going towards cancer research.

According to data obtained from the NFL by Darren Rovell of ESPN, the NFL "takes a 25% royalty from the wholesale price (1/2 retail), donates 90% of royalty to American Cancer Society."

In other words, for every $100 in pink merchandise sold, $12.50 goes to the NFL. Of that, $11.25 goes to the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the NFL keeps the rest. The remaining money is then divided up by the company that makes the merchandise (37.5%) and the company that sells the merchandise (50.0%), which is often the NFL and the individual teams.

Then consider that only 71.2% of money the ACS receives goes towards research and cancer programs.

BusinessInsider.com

In the end, after everybody has taken their cut, only 8.01% of money spent on pink NFL merchandise is actually going towards cancer research (see right).

According to the NFL, any money they take in, that is not donated to ACS, is used to cover the costs of their breast cancer awareness program, "A Crucial Catch." The NFL also told Business Insider they donated approximately $1 million per year to the ACS in the first three years of the program.

Still, there are unanswered questions about where the money is going and who is profiting.

The most popular place to purchase pink merchandise is at the NFL's online shop, official team stores, and at the stadiums. In these cases, the NFL and the individual teams are acting as the retailer.

It is unclear how much of the 50% markup for items being sold directly by the NFL and the teams is going to the ACS, if any at all.

Of course, in addition to money, the NFL is also raising awareness for breast cancer and it is hard to put a value on that.

If fans want to show support for their team and for breast cancer awareness, that is great. But if the point is to actually help fight cancer, fans would have a much bigger impact if they skipped the NFL and donated directly to the ACS or other organizations working to fight cancer.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/small-amount-of-money-from-pink-nfl-merchandise-goes-to-breast-cancer-research-2013-10
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