Ian Abercrombie dies at 77

British-born actor Ian Abercrombie, who memorably carried out Mr. Pitt, Elaine's wealthy, persnickety boss, on "Seinfeld," died Thursday, Jan. 26, in La from complications of kidney failure. He was 77 and recently happen to be recognized with lymphoma. Lately Abercrombie had recurred becoming an 800-year-old wizard on Disney Channel's "The Masters of magic of Waverly Place," did voicework for "Alien: Clone Wars" as Chancellor Palpatine and Darth Sidious and will be a series regular on "Wild wild birds of Prey" (as Alfred Pennyworth, Batman's butler). But because they will be a near-constant presence round the smallscreen since the late sixties -- with 127 TV credits, in line with the IMDb -- and came out in a lot of films, Abercrombie considered themselves a stage actor to begin with. Born in Grays, Kent, Abercrombie began his showbiz career just like a dancer onstage throughout Second world war. Later he gained his U.S. stage debut in the 1955 output of "Stalag 17" with Jason Robards and completed in plays in summer season stock, regional and Off Broadway venues. Drafted to the U.S. Military in 1957, he offered in Special Services situated in Germany, pointing a output of "Separate Tables" and turning up with Olivia p Havilland in their touring show. The actor settled in California after his Military stint. Stage credits within the last 4 decades include "Mary Stuart," with Marsha Mason "Crucifer of Blood stream," with Charlton Heston "The Wrong Box," with Bill Hutton "Bent" "The Vortex," with Rupert Everett "Lettice and Lovage" "Sweet Prince," with Keir Dullea "A Doll's House," with Linda Purl and "The Arcata Promise" opposite Anthony Hopkins. The actor came recognition from the primary one-guy show "Jean Cocteau -Body Image" and carried out Alfie Doolittle in "My Fair Lady." After making his smallscreen debut in 1965 on "Burke's Law," Abercrombie ongoing to produce guest looks on "Dragnet" and "Get Smart" on "Columbo," "Barnaby Manley," "Cannon" and "The 6 000 0000 Dollar Guy" and, through the eighties, on shows including "Quincy," "Happy Days," "Fantasy Island," "Three's Company," "L.A. Law" and "Moonlighting." Through the decade more youthful crowd stood a recurring role round the NBC cleaning cleaning soap "Santa Barbara," which he guested on primetime sudsers including "Falcon Crest" and "Empire," while later he came out on "General Hospital" and "Occasions in our Life-style.Inch Through the the 19 nineties he came out on "The Nanny," "Murphy Brown," "Northern Exposure," "Blossom," "Touched by an Angel" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," to title only a few. Recent credits incorporated "Desperate Regular folksInch and "Generate An Income Met Your Mother." Abercrombie's film credits include "Military of Darkness" (through which he carried out Wiseman), "Wild Wild West," "Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School" and David Lynch's "Inland Empire," which he did voicework on animated photos including "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties" and last year's "Rango." The actor will be a founding member and former board part of BAFTA-LA additionally to some board member for your Stars Fund. Abercrombie is managed to get by three brothers and sisters. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

GSN blesses 'Bible' pilot

GSN has greenlit hourlong pilot "The American Bible Challenge," with Michael Davies, Tom Forman professional creating. GSN programming professional veep Amy Introcaso-Davis stated the show "remembers America's adoration for the Bible within an entertaining, unconventional format which makes (it) more available to everyone.Inch Teams will compete to win money to aid their belief towns. Relativity Real (Forman) and Embassy Row (Davies) are creating together with Journey Systems. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Steven Spielberg's Moses: Casting The Biblical Icon

Steven Spielberg is reportedly very close to signing on to direct a biopic of the biblical hero Moses, and that makes this Good Jewish Girl very happy. Of course Mr. Spielberg, VIJ (Very Important Jew), can be trusted to tell the story of Moses with his usual brilliance. But who will be the lucky fella to portray the man who shepherded his people to freedom? Below, some casting suggestions! 1. Liam Neeson: He defied the Nazis in Schindlers List, bravely battled the seriously scary Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and stared down flesh-hungry wolves in The Grey. Who better to challenge the evil Pharaoh than Neeson? 2. Tom Hanks: Moses was the quintessential Everyman, frequently doubting his own ability to lead a nation to the Promised Land. Hanks is Hollywoods Everyman, so hed be a natural choice to play the guy who parted the Red Sea while he and his fellow Hebrews fled Pharoahs army. Run, Moses, run! 3. Daniel Craig: A blond-haired, blue-eyed Moses? Sacrilege! But they said the same thing about Bond, and they were proven wrong. Also, theres nothing improper about presenting a gritty, muscled Moses hey, it worked for Charlton Heston. 4. Benedict Cumberbatch: With roles in War Horse, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Hobbit and J.J. Abrams upcoming Star Trek sequel, Cumberbatch is definitely having a moment. Why not add another prestige project to his CV? Hes certainly got the acting chops to go head-to-head with a burning bush. 5. Haley Joel Osment: Hes been mostly MIA in recent years, but a role as juicy as Moses could revive his movie career in a big way. Cant you just imagine him whispering into the dark, echoing chambers of the Egyptian palace, I see my people let them go! All of these actors have worked with Spielberg before so they have the benefit of familiarity. But he may very well choose an unknown actor to fill Moses sandals and thats certainly his prerogative he is Spielberg, after all. Who do you want to see as Spielberg's Moses movie? Tell us in the comments section and on Twitter!

ABC orders 'Beauty and the Beast' pilot

Steinberg Let the battle of the "Beasts" begin.ABC announced Tuesday an order for a pilot based on the "Beauty and the Beast" legend--one week after the CW did same, albeit with a different take on the story.From ABC Studios, ABC's "Beast" is a fantastical reimagining of the classic fairy tale set in a mythical, dangerous world wherein a beautiful and tough Princess discovers an unlikely connection with a mysterious beast.The project is from Jon Steinberg ("Jericho"), who will executive produce with Mojo Film's Gary Fleder and Mary Beth Basile.The CW's "Beast," from CBS TV Studios, is loosely based on the CBS drama from the late 1980s. It's described as a modern-day romancer "with a procedural twist." Jennifer Levin ("Without a Trace") and Sherri Cooper ("Brothers and Sisters") penned the pilot and exec produce with Paul Witt, C. Anthony Thomas, Ron Koslow and Bill Haber. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

U.K. awards for National fare

The National Theater emerged triumphant at the U.K.'s Critic's Circle Drama Awards, taking five of nine available nods. In a show of strength, the venue's haul was spread across four productions. Benedict Cumberbatch took the actor kudo for Danny Boyle's production of "Frankenstein," which also garnered the design nod for set designer Mark Tildesley. Richard Bean's Gotham-bound "One Man, Two Guvnors" won for new play, while Mike Leigh took the director trophy for his own play "Grief," and the Peter Hepple Award for musical went to experimental tuner "London Road," by Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork. Remaining four awards reflected the diversity of London theater, with spoils split between commercial, not-for-profit and fringe venues. Sheridan Smith, winner of a 2011 Olivier for her perf in "Legally Blonde," nabbed an award for her highly praised turn in Trevor Nunn's Theater Royal Haymarket revival of Terence Rattigan's "Flare Path." Eddie Redmayne picked up the John and Wendy Trewin Award for Shakespearean perf for "Richard II" at the Donmar Warehouse. In the new talent categories, the promising playwright laurel went to Tom Wells for "The Kitchen Sink" at the Bush Theater, and the Jack Tinker Award for promising newcomer went to helmer Blanche McIntyre for her productions of "Accolade" and "Foxfinder" at the Finborough Theater. Contact David Benedict at benedictdavid@mac.com

Nominee reaction: Brad Pitt

PittAlthough he's been nommed twice before, Brad Pitt feels his lead actor bid for "Moneyball" is a little more meaningful to him because of all that he and the filmmakers went through to get the baseball pic to home base. It's been a "really nice ride so far and I was really happy to see 'The Tree of Life' get in there as well as 'Moneyball' because we thought we were all but forgotten," said Pitt. "This one (the nomination) was a little more special because of the uphill battle to get ('Moneyball') made. In the past people would have run for the hills when things went wrong but (Sony Pictures chief) Amy Pascal really doubled down and made sure this film happen. So I think this nomination for me carries a little more (significance) more previous ones." Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Sundance Leads To A-List And Indies Stars

While using kickoff in the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, as many A-listers are likely to Park City, Utah as industry beginners. The fest is surely a place for established stars and filmmakers to branch out and go indie for just about any movie or two. We've seen the scheduled tests and set together all of the a couple of from the celebrity participants as well as the projects they're representing at Sundance this year. Healing For Healing For Peter Jackson "The Hobbit" director Jackson is walking from Middle-earth and into Park City to assist "West of Memphis," a completely new documentary he produced in regards to the West Memphis Three. The doc tales the convictions of teens Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley for your 1993 killings of three boys in Arkansas, unearths new evidence implicating another suspect inside the killings, and follows by way of the August 2011 relieve the three males after 18 years jail time. Jackson and also the creating partner Fran Walsh were positively mixed up in effort to prove Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley's innocence. John Krasinski Krasinski is not any stranger for the streets of Park City, getting taken his directorial debut "Brief Interviews with Hideous Males" to Sundance last year. He returns this year just like a actor in "Nobody Walks," where he plays a husband and father tempted with the lady residing in the pool house, carried out by Olivia Thirlby. "WorkInch star has always maintained his great deal of indie cred, with "Nobody Walks," he's as being a progressively more familiar face within the festival. Robert DeNiro Among Hollywood's most legendary stars has lost some his esteemed lately. (He's at "New Year's Eve," afterall.) There's however room like Sundance to earn numerous that back. He'll star in "Red-colored-colored Lights," director Rodrigo Cortés' follow-around his 2010 festival favorite, "Hidden." The film follows a mental health specialist who checks paranormal activity together with a global-famous psychic. DeNiro leads a thrilling-star cast including Sigourney Weaver, Cillian Murphy and Elizabeth Olsen. Bradley Cooper Every once in awhile, you'll find a Sundance entry by getting a b-list cast that rivals most major studio releases. Bradley Cooper leads a cast including Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde and Dennis Quaid in "What,Inch a drama in regards to the fallout carrying out a author claims the task of one other his or her own. The film will represent a considerable change of pace for Cooper, Wilde and Saldana who've made names by themselves recently with large budget studio pictures. Kirsten Dunst Dunst experienced a little of labor boost a year ago round the festival circuit with "Melancholia," at Sundance this year, she'll use start a hot streak with "Bachelorette." The film also stars Isla Fisher and Lizzie Caplan and sounds from most explanations as being a deeper version of last year's marriage ceremony hit, "Bridesmaids." Dunst came some serious honours speak with "Melancholia," and this may be the next phase to the height. Zac Efron The prior "Secondary School Musical" star has spent the ultimate few years attempting to re-establish themselves just like a legitimate leading guy with roles in "Charlie St. Cloud" and "The Lucky One." So Sundance seems like the natural place to choose your kind of new job. Efron will star alongside Sundance-breakout Elizabeth Olsen and author-director Josh Radnor in "Liberal Arts." The film follows a college professor who falls in a single of his a lot more youthful students. Spike Lee One of the pioneers of recent-day independent film returns to Sundance getting a film inside the vein of individuals that made him famous. "Red-colored-colored Hook Summer season" brings Lee to Brooklyn, the setting of his monumental "Carry out the Right Factor." But Brooklyn isn't the main character returning from "Carry out the Right Factor." Lee's character Mookie is creating a feel and look too. Stick to MTV Movies for all that you should find out about Sundance 2012.

Weather Channel flies into 'Hurricane'

The Weather Channel has greenlit four halfhour episodes of ''Hurricane Hunters,'' with a premiere set for July. ''Hurricane'' will be a character-driven nonfiction series centered on pilots from a Mississippi-based Air Force squadron who fly into hurricanes to gather meteorological data. For many of the pilots, it is a moonlighting job amid complicated day-to-day lives. ''The appeal of shows like this for the Weather Channel is that these are real people, and the type of work they do helps safeguard people and potentially saves lives,'' said network and content EVP and g.m. Bob Walker. Christian D'Andrea, Aleco Bravo and Rich Battista will produce in association with High Noon Entertainment. The next premieres for the Weather Channel will be in March: ''Lifeguard'' and ''Braving the Elements.'' Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

MTV Movie Brawl 2012: 'Hobbit' Versus. 'Woman In Black'

The MTV Movie Brawl 2012 is formally on! Following the initial play-in, wild card and Sweet 16 models, only eight movies still compete in a number of mind-to-mind single elimination matches within our March Madness-style bracket. Ultimately, only one of these simple movies could be crowned the can't-miss movie of the season, and also the option is entirely your decision. Which movie will win the brawl for this all? Election at MTV Movies Blog making your decision known! Discover scared of "The Lady in Black," you ought to be. Rated at number seven around the east side from the MTV Movie Brawl 2012 bracket, the Daniel Radcliffe starring horror film shocked viewers by dethroning "Snow Whitened and also the Huntsman," considered a popular within this competition because of the Billy Burke group of followers and also the film's crossover appeal with genre and fantasy fans. To refer to it as an upset is a little of the understatement. But Radcliffe's latest continues to have its work eliminate for this as "Lady" takes an "Unpredicted Journey" for the first installment of Peter Jackson's two-part "Hobbit," that has seen a significant quantity of support from fans desiring coming back visit to Middle-earth. Thinking about that Radcliffe used to be rumored to defend myself against charge role of Bilbo Baggins within the "The almighty from the Rings" prequels, this might shake to be rather the grudge match.

Teen Mother 2's Leah Messer Pregnant With Twins Again

Leah Messer Pregnant Leah Messer may have two new play pals on her behalf twin women, Alianna and Aleeah. The Teen Mother 2 star looks like it's pregnant with twins, according to In Touch Weekly. The dad is Messer's new guy and fiance Jeremy Calvert. Teen Mother 2's Leah files for divorce "She just discovered the other day,In . an origin notifies playboy. Messer, 19, is "absolutely thrilled." The foundation also claims that Messer sees her incoming twins in order to enjoy better paychecks. "She thinks the babies might help her get her spin-off show," states the insider.""Meaning a considerably bigger salary... Sherrrd like her series and her brand, similar to Kate [Gosselin]." Messer had her first number of twins with ex-husband Corey Simms. The Two declared divorce in April after being married for six several days.

Fox's 'Chronicle' cues QR code blitz

Using its ticking clock and located footage-style hooks, a clip for Last Century Fox's "Chronicle" produced lots of internet buzz if this first showed in October. Now, the studio is striving to grow on that interest throughout Sunday's opening round from the National football league 2010 nfl playoffs. Fox Network will air a five-second "billboard" clip of the QR code throughout the Atlanta Falcons-NY Titans wild-card game. The code, which may be scanned on mobile products, links the consumer for an online clip from the Max Landis-composed film. "We are really looking forward to the film, so locating a different way to interract using the audience is definitely the aim,Inch Fox prexy of domestic theatrical marketing and chief marketing officer Oren Aviv told Variety. Aviv stated that the quantity of social-media buzz produced through the pic's trailer led to the choice to provide the film an additional push on Sunday. Studio is expecting a lot more than $ 30 million individuals to begin to see the billboard. "Facebook stated they'd never witnessed anything enjoy it,Inch Aviv stated, observing the online networking site told the studio it saw about 15 million interactions round the movie. "When Facebook states 'Wow,' you listen." "Chronicle" is docu-style account of three Tigard teens who develop superpowers after being uncovered to some mysterious substance within the forest. Pic also offers attracted attention for exhibiting the talents of numerous fresh faces. Film marks the feature directorial debut of Josh Trank and stars relative beginners Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly and Dane DeHaan. Author Landis offered the project to Fox this past year. Scribe also optioned spec "Good Time Gang" to Robin Schorr's RCR Pictures and it is presently at the office on the Frankenstein work for Fox-based Davis Entertainment. "Chronicle" opens February. 3. Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com