HBO Developing China Doll Family Drama From Big Love Creators

EXCLUSIVE: The creators of polygamist series Big Love are developing another unconventional family drama for HBO. Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer are behind China Doll, a show in the works at the pay cable network about a mixed-race family and their humanoid robot. The project combines Scheffer’s passion for technology and Olsen’s interest in Chinese history and politics. “It is about China, Chinese Americans, robots, the effect of technology on our lives and the China moment in American consciousness,” said Olsen, referring to China’s current economic ascendance that is changing the dynamic in the U.S.-Chinese relationship. China Doll centers on a successful California construction subcontractor, his Asian American wife who is a university professor, and a robot as they straddle both sides of the Pacific with extended families on two continents. Despite the presence of a robot, “this is not a sci-fi show,” Scheffer said. “It is ambitious but is set in the present day.” China Doll stems from CAA-repped Olsen and Scheffer’s overall deal at HBO for their Anima Sola Prods, which has been ramping up development in both TV and film. Last year, the company brought in Lisa Bellomo as a development executive.

Vague 11-11-11 Trailer Leaves You Wondering What the Hell 11-11-11 Is About

Darren Bousman (Repo! The Genetic Opera) has directed three Saw movies — a fact which the trailer for next month’s horror pic 11-11-11 makes a point to tell you. That pedigree, plus a handful of vaguely comprehensible images, shadowy scenes, a static shot of a statue, and (unintentionally) cheesy voice over tell you everything you need to know about the movie! Well, except for its plot. And who’s in it. And why anyone should care. Watch the teaser and stick around for more Buzz Break. The film’s actual plot follows a man who, after the deaths of his wife and child, starts seeing the number 11 everywhere. It has a religious significance! Something’s going down on November 11, 2011… which is, coincidentally, the day this film is released! [Shock Til You Drop] The “R. Pattz for American Idiot” rumor resurfaced last week, thanks to… VH1’s Pop Up Video? [MTV] Magnolia will release Sarah Polley’s Take This Waltz, the domestic infidelity drama starring Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen, next summer. [Press release] SNL announced their upcoming line-up of guest hosts for November Jason Segel, Emma Stone, and (huzzah!) Charlie Day! [Collider] Arnold Schwarzenegger’s next movie, The Last Stand, begins filming today. Let me remind you of the plot: When a gang of runaway convicts head for Mexico, only LAPD VET-TURNED-AMERICAN BORDER SHERIFF ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER stands in their way. Good luck to all involved, including castmembers Forest Whitaker, Johnny Knoxville, Luis Guzman, Rodrigo Santoro, Jaime Alexander, Harry Dean Stanton, Peter Stormare, Eduardo Noriega, and that one kid from Friday Night Lights. [MovieWeb]

Ratings: Pan Am Lower Again

Pan Am Bunnies and angels and stewardesses, oh my gosh! Pan Am continues its descent, showing it's not an excellent season for fake feminism. Fall TV Recognition Contest: What new shows have won you over? ABC's sixties drama about stewardesses options for girls needed on just 5.89 million audiences due to its fourth episode Sunday evening, finishing a distant third in prime time's final hour. Only to chart the downward trajectory in the previous days: Viewership has totaled 10.87 million, 7.75 million and 6.42 million. As of this rate, the show soon will join the not brilliant-and-canceled scrap heap while using Playboy Club and Charlie's Angels. Concurrently, CSI: Miami clicked up 10.51 million people together with a couple.4 rating although fans were tuning the Sunday Evening Football game since the Chicago Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings. The sport averaged an uncharacteristically low 14.74 million, a figured drawn lower with the 12.61 million who hung inside from 10 to 11 p.m. EDT. Fall TV Eye Chocolate: Typically the most popular males and girls in the year At 9/8c, CBS' The Truly Amazing Wife attracted 10.4 million fans (2.1 rating), whileDesperate Housewives' clicked up 8.56 million (2.7). In prime time's first hour Sunday, Amazing Race had 9.26 million versus. Extreme Transformation: Home Edition's 7.ten million. A distinctive Sunday airing in the X Factor attracted in 8.60 5 million people while posting a 3.4 demo rating.

Influential Hollywood Agent Sue Mengers Dies

Sue Mengers Sue Mengers, probably the most influential Hollywood agents throughout the sixties, '70s and 1980s, died following several small strokes, Vanity Fair reviews. She stated to become 78 years of age, however, many sources stated she was 81. Based on Vanity Fair Editor Graydon Carter, Mengers died Saturday at her Beverly Hillsides home encircled by close buddies, Ali MacGraw, Joanna Poitier (widow of Sidney) and Boaty Boatwright. Remember other celebs we lost this season Mengers was created in Germany and gone to live in the U . s . States together with her parents in 1938 throughout the Holocaust. She began within the entertainment industry in 1955 when she labored in a receptionist at MCA, then your William Morris Agency. She left the second company in 1963 being a real estate agent and her first couple of large clients incorporated Broadway actress Julie Harris and Psycho's Anthony Perkins. Until her retirement in 1986, Mengers labored at Creative Management Affiliates and Worldwide Creative Management and was among the pioneering female agents in the commercial. Her clientele incorporated Candice Bergen, Michael Caine, Cher, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman, Sidney Lumet, Steve McQueen, Nick Nolte, Burt Reynolds, Cybill Shepherd and Barbra Streisand, who offered as Mengers' bridesmaid in her own 1973 wedding to Belgian author-director Jean-Claude Tramont. (Tramont died in 1996). Mengers seemed to be the muse for that character described by her client, Dyan Cannon, within the 1973 film All of the Sheila. Mengers maintained a stronghold within the film community lengthy after her retirement in the business side. "When she wound her career lower within the 1980s, Agent Sue grew to become Hostess Sue-and she or he being more effective in her own new vocation," Carter authored in the tribute. "Dinner at Sue's was like walking right into a Hollywood you imagined, but rarely experienced."

Fox States It Is A Good Day To Die Hard

McClane's latest will get title and dateAmerican visitors! Eager to discover that perfect date movie for any romantic evening in the cinema on Valentine's, 2013? twentieth century Fox has got the solution: why don't you go and find out A Great Day to Die Hard, the 5th outing within the John McClane series? It is simply what you ought to set the best mood. You realize, using the explosions and also the frustrated cop and everything.Yes, Fox has set an american release date for Bruce Willis' next go-around within the filthy vest, because the new Die Hard film will indeed arrive on Feb 14, 2013. There is no word on whether it will be a synchronised United kingdom release too (possibly unlikely, since we have always needed to wait a couple of days) and when the title will remain intact throughout its trip across water-feature (you may recall Live Free or Die Hard grew to become the bland-as-old-grain-pudding Die Hard 4. here to get rid of any Americano-centric misconceptions).What we should can say for certain to date is: Max Payne's John Moore is pointing from the script by Skip Forest. Willis has returned as McClane and this time around around, the plot might find him dealing with nasty criminal types in Russia alongside his boy (what, no return engagement for Mary Elizabeth Winstead's spunky Lucy?) Moore and also the producers haven't yet cast the brand new sprog, but we are surely not far from whether surprise announcement or perhaps a lengthy string of wish lists, whispers and whittling lower before some youthful buck lands the coveted role.While speaking in the Die Hard date, Deadline also pointed out that Taken 2 will release its particular group of abilities again in reviews 2012, and don't be surprised the following Percy Jackson film (yup, they are really moving ahead with this) at the begining of 2013.

Rain delay bumps tonight's 'X Factor'

Fox is holding Wednesday's scheduled episode of "The X Factor" due to a rain delay for Game 4 the American League Championship Series. The initial in the series' three extended two-hour episodes devoted to idol idol judges getting participants home will go to Thursday, that have lately been limited to the second episode. That installment will go to Sunday, thumping a couple-hour animation selection--unless of course obviously the ALCS has a game title title 7. The Next installment will remain on Tuesday, March. 18. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

'Life Unexpected's' Shiri Appleby to Star in Alloy's 'Dating Rules' (Exclusive)

The organization behind Gossip Girl and also the Vampire Journals has drawn on Shiri Appleby to star in the approaching web series, Dating Rules From My Future Self.our editor recommends'Life Unexpected's' Liz Tigelaar, Gary Fleder Sell Drama Project to ABC Galleries Dating, an authentic Alloy Entertainment concept compiled by Wendy Weiner, focuses on a 29-year-old lady (Appleby) who will get texts from herself ten years later on warning her to significantly change her dating strategy. STORY: Emma Roberts, AnnaSophia Robb to Star in 'Anything But Regular' The first kind Existence Unpredicted star will even produce the project, slated for nine episodes, with Alloy's Josh Bank, Bob Levy and Tripp Reed. Production is placed to start in La this month, with plans for any The month of january 2012 premiere. STORY: ABC Nabs Drama From 'Vampire Journals,' 'Gossip Girl' Producers This news may come as Alloy is constantly on the build its programming slate web TV. Dating is going to be the organization's six Web effort, joining First Day 2: First Dance and Wendy, starring Tyler Blackburn and Meaghan Martin. On tv, Alloy can also be behind the CW's newcomerThe Secret Circleas well as ABC Family'sPretty Little Liarsand the lately uppedThe Laying Game. The organization will unveil live-action music seriesHow to Rockon Nickelodeonin The month of january. Appleby is repped by Gersh and John Carrabino. Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com Twitter: @LaceyVRose Related Subjects The Vampire Journals Shiri Appleby The CW Gossip Girl