Variety has issued its annual Women's Impact Report, highlighting women who have made an impression at all levels of entertainment. Just like last year, the list includes executive powerhouses, household-name performers, and lesser-known talents. Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be spotlighting some of the women whom I find particularly noteworthy. Today's pick: producer Stephanie Savage.
Josh Schwartz gets most of the credit for The OC and Gossip Girl, but Savage, his co-producer, should get a ton of credit for Schwartz being a phenom in the first place. As the Variety profile points out, she was working for McG's production company when she "plucked Josh Schwartz from obscurity" and gave him a chance to run The OC.
That move made Schwartz a household name, but Savage has stayed more behind the scenes. Still, it gave her a boost as well: With Schwartz's help, she segued into writing, and now she carries a lot of the weight for Gossip Girl when Schwartz is looking after Chuck. She told Variety she loves writing about teens; to see what she had to say about them, just read more
The hourlong dramedy, which is getting a put pilot commitment, is not a remake of the hit feature. . .The lead in the TV version will still be a young Latina from the Bronx working at a Manhattan hotel who tries to make it in the world. But the series will focus mostly on her relationships with co-workers.
Writer Chad Hodge apparently connected with the idea for the show, saying, "I imagine being a writer in Hollywood is often very similar to being a maid in Manhattan." Somehow. . . I doubt that.
Jennifer Lopez has been "very involved, providing 'a fountain of ideas,' Hodge said. 'She will be very integral in the pilot and series.'" The network figures this series will be a good one to pair up with Ugly Betty because, as the article puts it, Betty "also centers on a hardworking young Latina in New York with big dreams."
I'm all for the hardworking young Latina-driven TV shows, but Maid in Manhattan? Seriously? Huh.
Some of the best comedy provocatively pushes the envelope, and when done well, it can allow us to not take life too seriously. But sometimes it can go really wrong, and feel less like a keen observation and more just mean-spirited. There is a thin line that certain comedic movies walk between hilarious and offensive. As Tropic Thunder, with all its controversies, hits the theaters, I was reminded of other comedies in recent years that were met with some protest. Controversy doesn't always affect ticket sales, though sometimes over-the-line comedy seems to influence the way a movie is received. To see some examples, just hit "Start."
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One of my saddest moments at Sundance this year was not being able to get into a screening of Phoebe in Wonderland, which looks like a darkly whimsical, adorably bizarre film all about the incredible imagination of a little girl. The girl at the heart of it is Phoebe (played by Elle Fanning), who is talented, gifted, and obsessed with a powerful fantasy life. She has trouble with her rule-filled world, and finds relief and inspiration in her quirky teacher (Patricia Clarkson). Felicity Huffman and Bill Pullman play Phoebe's frustrated parents.
We already got a tiny taste of the movie, which opens in limited release Sept. 12, and this new trailer for it makes me a little weepy (perhaps it's the use of both "Everybody Hurts" by REM and "Imagine"). To see it for yourself, read more
Now that the Twilight series's popularity has reached a deafening pitch with the release of Breaking Dawn, there is starting to be a bit of blowback, particularly concerning the messages it might be sending to young, female readers. Many have noted Bella's low self-esteem, stating that she may not be the best role model for the young tweens captivated by this tale of vampire love.
But Twilight is not the first young adult series to cause a stir. C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia books were often accused of having heavy religious undertones, while Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy (which includes The Golden Compass) has weathered the opposite criticism as a purportedly negative portrayal of organized religion.
Do you think young adult authors have a greater responsibility to their readers when it comes to messages they might be sending? Or is the simple fact that they get kids reading good enough?
As Fall gets closer, I'm finding myself looking more and more forward to watching more of The Starter Wife, USA's 2007 miniseries that's now getting another shot on TV as a regular series. They've already made a few changes that I can fully support (giving Debra Messing's character, Molly, a new love interest who is definitely not Sam the homeless guy, for one), and some of the things I liked most about the mini — including Judy Davis as the acerbic Joan — are staying put.
We got to see a couple of clips at the TCA press tour, including one funny moment where Molly's having a crisis about being a writer (Joan suggests Molly would be awesome at collecting urine samples). I don't think that particular scene has turned up online yet, but I caught a promo with some new footage while watching the Olympics the other day, and it still gave me a good feeling about the series. It is weird not to see Peter Jacobson as Kenny Kagan, but I'm liking the addition of Hart Bochner a lot.
How are you feeling about this miniseries-turned-real-series at this point? To check out the clips, just read more
Nicky Hilton was spotted leaving The Ivy restaurant after a day of shopping with sister Paris. Her casual yet stylish outfit, which consisted of skinny jeans, tall black boots and an Alice + Olivia military blazer, was perfect for the occasion.
Variety has issued its annual Women's Impact Report, highlighting women who have made an impression at all levels of entertainment. Just like last year, the list includes executive powerhouses, household-name performers, and lesser-known talents. Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be spotlighting some of the women whom I find particularly noteworthy. Today's pick: producer Stephanie Savage. 
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