First Look: Amy Acker Guest Stars on Grimm

Amy Acker She's a serial killer with a secret. Sci-fi fave Amy Acker (Angel, Dollhouse) guest stars on the Feb. 10 episode of NBC's fairy-tale cop drama Grimm as a spiderwoman who seduces and slays a string of Portland men by sucking out their organs and leaving their bodies mummified. Don't be looking for some feminist statement here. "This is not one of those revenge-against-men-type stories," Acker says. "She's a black widow who is facing a very difficult inner struggle. She's doing what she must to survive." To attract her victims, the character goes undercover in various hot disguises, then when it's time to do the nasty, suddenly sports fangs, extra arms and lots of body hair. You can also find Acker on the March 4 episode of that other fairy tale series, ABC's Once Upon a Time - as a love interest for Grumpy the dwarf! Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

AFI, Levi's synergy on shorts

Budding filmmakers might have the opportunity to earn a showcase within the AFI Fest next fall. The American Film Institute has teamed with Levi's in short-film contest that will cull six individuals who win who'll receive $5,000 to produce their film together with a $500 Levi's wardrobe for cast. Competitors are asked for to submit remedy for any five-minute pic while using theme "a tomorrow that's a lot better than today." Individuals who win can get 10 several hours by getting an AFI mentor and a holiday in La. Records might be published at ShowUsTheWay.Levi.com through March 30. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Four more arrested in U.K. hacking probe

London's Metropolitan Police this weekend arrested four News International journalists on suspicion of bribing police, along with one officer, as the U.K. phone hacking probe continues unabated. News Corp. said in a statement Saturday that the arrests of four current and former employees of The Sun newspaper in so-called Operation Elveden resulted from information it provided to police, who also raided the paper's offices.News Corp. last July set up an internal Management and Standards Committee to review all titles run by its U.K. subsidiary and "proactively cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities if potentially relevant information arose at those titles," the media conglom said."As a result of that review, which is ongoing, the MSC provided information to the Elveden investigation which led to today's arrests." News Corp. said it couldn't comment on the nature of the information.It said it also provided the option of immediate legal representation to the four arrested staffers.News Corp. shuttered the News of the World, the first paper implicated, last summer at the height of the scandal.News International CEO Tom Mockridge said in an email to staff that the division "is confronting past mistakes and is making fundamental changes about how we operate." "Despite this very difficult news, we are determined that News International will emerge a stronger and more trusted organization," he wrote.The arrests, according to news reports, include The Sun's crime editor Mike Sullivan, its head of news Chris Pharo, former deputy editor Fergus Shanahan and former managing editor Graham Dudman, now a training director at News International.Thirteen people have been arrested in the investigation but none charged. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Ron Livingston Joins The Conjuring

Alongside Lili TaylorAnd then there have been two... more. Yes, mere days after Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga signed onto star in Saw veteran James Wan's new horror film, we've learned a couple of things. One: Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor have became a member of the film and 2: it no more includes a title.Presently referred to as Untitled Warren Files Project, the film formerly referred to as Conjuring will still concentrate on a couple team of psychic researchers (Wilson and Farmiga) taking around the most terrifying situation of the career in a Rhode Island farmhouse.It's there that the couple (Livingston and Taylor) have moved using their children, simply to uncover the place includes a frightening demonic/ghostly presence and certainly does not would like them around.Chad and Carey Hayes wrote the script in line with the real-existence encounters of researchers Erectile dysfunction and Lorraine Warren, nobody did attempt to assist the Perron family within the seventies. And, since he's clearly not carried out with haunted houses (or Wilson) after Insidious, Wan is preparing to shoot next March in New York.Livingston, who last popped up in Going The Length, will next be observed in Disney's The Odd Existence Of Timothy Eco-friendly. Taylor, meanwhile, was last observed in Public Opponents.

Simon Cowell and Fiance Going for a Break

Simon Cowell and Mezhgan Hussainy Simon Cowell and fiancée Mezhgan Hussainy take a rest, Cowell informs the Daily Mirror. "The correct answer is an elaborate relationship," he stated. "It's this is not on, it isn't off, it's somewhere in the centre. I'm not sure basically is ever going to got married, however i am happy." See other couples who've split this season Cowell, 52, met Hussainy in 2003 when she labored like a makeup artist on The American Idol Show. They were given involved in Feb 2010. The X Factor judge states he and Hussainy haven't seen one another inside a month but "continue to be incredibly close."

'The Artist' Wins Best Picture at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards

"The Artist" was named best picture at the 17th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards, which were celebrated at the Hollywood Palladium Thursday night. "I don't like to speak so much," admitted director Michel Hazanavicius during his acceptance speech. He then invited all the actors onto the stage to celebrate the honor.Hazanavicius was also named best director for "The Artist." "There are so many beautiful people here. I have to force myself not to ask for autographs," he said in his acceptance speech.The nearly silent movie also picked up awards for its costume design and score.George Clooney received the award for best actor for "The Descendants." "I'm very proud to be in this film," said Clooney during his speech.Viola Davis was named best actress for "The Help." "I consider it an honor to pay homage to these woman who at that time period were not allowed to dream," said Davis in her powerful acceptance speech.Davis' co-star, Octavia Spencer, was named best supporting actress for "The Help."Christopher Plummer was given the best supporting actor award for his work in "Beginners." "I feel terribly young tonight," he told the audience during his acceptance speech. "You brought back my youth."Best acting ensemble went to Tate Taylor's "The Help." Spencer spoke for the group, thanking Steven Spielberg, Chris Columbus, Tate Taylor and Kathryne Stockett."Bridesmaids" took the best comedy award. Producer Judd Apatow, who was censored three times during his speech, ended his acceptance with, "Jerry Lewis once said that he didn't think that women were funny. I'd like to say, with all respect, f--ck you."Best adapted screenplay went to "Moneyball." Steve Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin accepted the award.Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" was named best original screenplay."Rango" was named best animated film. Director Gore Verbinski accepted the award, saying, "Thanks for this tonight, it's a tremendous honor.""A Separation" was named best foreign film, with director Asghar Farhadi accepting the award.Thomas Horn from "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" received the best young actor or actress award.The awards are voted by the more than 250 members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, comprised of more than 250 TV, radio and online critics, who pride themselves on being a predictor of eventual Academy Award nominations and wins.Last year, the BFCA chose "The Social Network" as best picture, although the corresponding Oscar ultimately went to "The King's Speech." But its four best acting winners Colin Firth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale and Melissa Leo all proved to be victorious on Oscar night.This year, heading into the Critics Choice Awards, both "The Artist" and "Hugo" led the list of nominees, with 11 nominations each. They were followed "The Help" and "Drive," with eight noms each, and then by "The Descendants" and "War Horse," which both collected seven noms.Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer served as co-hosts of the awards ceremony, broadcast live by VH1.Complete list of winnners:Best picture: "The Artist"Best actor: George Clooney, "The Descendants"Best actress: Viola Davis, "The Help"Best supporting actress: Octavia Spencer, "The Help"Best supporting actor: Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"Best acting ensemble: "The Help"Best director: Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"Best animated film: "Rango"Best foreign film: "A Separation"Best young actor or actress: Thomas Horn, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"Best documentary feature:" George Harrison: Living in the Material World"Best adapted screenplay: "Moneyball," Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, story by Stan ChervinBest original screenplay: "Midnight in Paris," Woody AllenBest cinematography(Tie): "The Tree Of Life" AND "War Horse"Best art direction: "Hugo"Best editing: "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"Best costume design: "The Artist"Best make-up: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2"Best visual effects: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"Best sound: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2"Best comedy: "Bridesmaids"Best action movie : "Drive"Best song: "Life's A Happy Song" "The Muppets," Performed By Jason Segel, Amy Adams And Walter, Written By Bret Mckenzie And The MuppetsBest score: "The Artist"Joel Siegel Award: Sean PennCritics' Choice Music+Film Award :Martin Scorsese The Hollywood Reporter

Nicolas Cage Birthday: What's His Best Bad Movie?

On Jan. 7, 1964, Nicolas Kim Coppola was created in Lengthy Beach, Calif. to August Coppola and Pleasure Vogelsang. To prevent the look of nepotism (that Coppola surname is individuals Coppolas Nicolas is Francis Ford's nephew), the kid transformed his surname to Cage some time after he started acting. 48 years later, Cage has won an Oscar, starred in enough terrible movies to latter careers ('Season from the Witch,' Ghost Rider' and much more), and it is famous enough to possess a running parody of themself on 'Saturday Evening Live.' Pretty good, Nic! But what's his best bad movie? Good question! Cage is really a schlockmeister extraordinaire, but picking the very best of his worst is really a struggle. First, what counts nearly as good bad? Does 'The Rock'? (It does not, blasphemers it is simply good.) Does 'Con Air'? (It most likely does not either?) Does 'Bad Lieutenant: The avenue for call New Orleans' qualify? Or 'Trespass'? Possibly 'The Wicker Man'? OK, well that 4g iphone certainly is not the solution. 'The Wicker Man' isn't good bad. Comically bad. To refresh your memory about its badness, watch the amusing clip below, then weigh-in: what is the best bad Nicolas Cage movie? Champion will get within the Cage? [Photo: AP] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Turner realigns ad sales wing

Turner Broadcasting stated Friday that Donna Speciale of MediaVest USA will join the organization as leader of Turner Entertainment and Animation sales. In a number of staffing moves targeted at better integrating the sales procedures at its various models, Turner also named longtime professional Greg D'Alba towards the new publish of leader, News and Turner Digital Ad Sales. Speciale and D'Alba will each lead an organization working over the Turner domestic portfolio of television systems, Internet sites and digital platforms. ''Realigning our sales procedures will permit greater integration in our companies and leading portfolio of linear, digital and mobile brands to higher serve our advertising partners,'' stated David Levy, leader of sales, distribution and sports for The best spinner's Corporation. He credited d'Alba with considerably growing the need for CNN's multi-platform brands and stated Speciale's ''vast experience around the agency side from the business, brand-management expertise and proven history of innovation and inventive thinking is a great match Turner Broadcasting.'' Speciale presently can serve as prexy of Investment and Activation and Agency Procedures for MediaVest USA, managing national and native video investment, posting, digital and out-of-home for the organization dealing with high-profile clients like Kraft, Masterfoods, Procter and Gamble and Coca-Cola. Her Turner portfolio includes entertainment, kids and youth systems The best spinner's, TNT, truTV, Cartoon Network and Adult Go swimming. She'll also co-lead Cartoon Network Businesses, including consumer items, certification, home video/DVD and retail development, with Stu Snyder, leader and chief operating officer of Turner's Animation, Teenagers and youngsters Media. Frank Sgrizzi who most lately offered as senior v . p . of NY ad sales and procedures for Turner Entertainment, continues to be named towards the recently produced position of professional Vice president of Turner Entertainment Ad Sales. In the capacity, Sgrizzi will oversee ad sales for The best spinner's and TNT, confirming straight to Speciale. Joe Hogan will relocate from Chicago to NY and assume the recently produced position of executive v . p ., truTV, Cartoon and Adult Go swimming Ad Sales, also confirming to Speciale. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com