Nick solicits animated ideas

Nickelodeon is starting an animated shorts program made to attract new talent because of its development slate. The aim of this program would be to produce 10 minute-lengthy shorts which will spark potential animated comedy series for Nick or Nick.com. Nickelodeon Animation Galleries will make the projects. "The brand new shorts program provides for us an chance to make use of comedy talent from a variety of sources," stated Brown Manley, animation prexy for Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family. "We are excited to provide this excellent chance to artists and comics with all of amounts of experience, where their creative voices and perspective is a potential pipeline for brand new animated series." Support is going to be deliver to artists, designers, authors and company directors, based on their degree of experience, and selected comics may also be joined with designers in some cases. Nick stated it's seeking shorts which are original, funny and character-driven, featuring a couple of comedy figures, which all animation styles and methods are welcome. Full recommendations cam be located at world wide web.nickshortspitches.com. The submission deadline is March 30. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

New Ice Age 4 Trailer Debuts

The world is falling apartBy now, you can pretty much predict what we'll be getting from new instalments of the incredibly profitable Ice Age franchise. Kiddie pleasing laughs from the likes of John Leguizamo's Sid, Denis Leary's Diego and Ray Romano's Manny, a variety of other guest voices and some, new Earth-shattering environmental aspect. All are present and correct in the latest trailer for Ice Age: Continental Drift, which you can glimpse over at Apple.In fact, they're taking the Earth-shattering bit literally this time, with the continents starting to form, stranding our heroes on a floating ice chunk and sending them off for adventures with some odd pirates (including Peter Dinklage's Captain Gutt). We'll also get to enjoy voice work from Nick Frost and Wanda Sykes, who play's Sid's Granny. There's also some potential romance for Diego, in the shape of slinky female feline Shira (Jennifer Lopez).So, yeah, not much looks truly different here, but then, given the previous successes, would you mess with the formula? Thought not. And yes, Scrat is of course on his usual acorn-hunting frenzy.Ice Age: Continental Drift will crash into cinemas on July 6.

Teri Everett Tapped To Head Communications At Time Inc

That didn’t take long. Teri Everett left News Corp at the end of last month as Rupert Murdoch’s chief communications officer, and now she has landed at Time Inc as EVP Corporate Communications. Her duties at the Time Warner publishing arm will includemedia relations and publicity, executive and employee communications, corporate philanthropy, government affairs and social responsibility. She starts March 5 and will report to Time Inc CEO Laura Lang. “One of our priorities is to create a transparent, open dialogue about Time Incs goals and strategies both within the company and to our external constituents,” Lang said in the release announcing the move. “Teris honest and direct approach and strong track record make her the ideal executive to lead our communications efforts.Everett’s departure at News Corp came as Murdoch’s empire has taken fire for a phone-hacking scandal at its UK newspaper unit.

Ferrell, Galifianakis to present at Oscars

Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis have joined Michael Douglas and Tina Fey on the list of presenters for Sunday's 84th annual Academy Awards ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced Tuesday. Previously announced presenters include Halle Berry, the cast of "Bridesmaids," Bradley Cooper, Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez. Chris Rock, Ben Stiller and Emma Stone. The Oscar ceremony, hosted by Billy Crystal, will be broadcast live on ABC. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

The Bachelor's Chris Harrison: I Never Would've Predicted This Negative Reaction to Ben

The Bachelor, Ben and Courtney Chris Harrison is well aware that the majority of Bachelor viewers are outraged at both Ben Flajnik and front-runner Courtney. "You never know how America is going to react, and even during filming, I wouldn't have predicted they'd feel this way," Harrison tells TVGuide.com. "People say, 'Why haven't you warned him about her?' But he hears what she's saying and plenty of the women tried to caution him." Harrison: Ben and Jamie's Kiss Was One of the Most Horrifying Moments in Bachelor History While much of the hate this season has been focused on Courtney, a model from Arizona, viewers are increasingly frustrated watching Ben melt in front of her while eliminating contestants such as Emily. Harrison says he was shocked by the epidemiologist's exit this week, but attributes it to two factors. "He was starting to see Emily as more of a sister," Harrison says. "She's perfect on paper - smart, beautiful, funny -but it wasn't there. She also couldn't redeem herself after talking to him about Courtney [in Episode 4]. That really bothered him and he saw it as a personality flaw." VIDEO: Bachelor's Chris Harrison Says if Fans Hate Courtney Now, Wait Until Next Week Although Harrison understands the blame aimed towards Ben, he does say that he wished viewers could see the deliberations. "He and I spoke before he pulled Courtney aside, and I think if viewers saw that, they would've seen just how much I pushed him on it and why he ultimately started to question her," he says.Harrison adds that next week's episode will include the taped deliberation and that it will be much different than people expect. "The pecking order changes after hometown dates, more so on this season than in the past," he says. "That week changes everything."The highlights of those visits, according to Harrison: Watching Kacie B.'s dad giving Ben a hard time and meeting Courtney's mom. "I think everyone is dying to see where Courtney came from," Harrison says with a laugh. Watch Bachelor: The Morning After With another season almost in the books, Harrison says he's relishing the fact that while people may be ripping on The Bachelor, they're still talking about it. Whether it's an auto-tuned mash-up, Kelly Ripa's spot-on Courtney impression ("She does Courtney better than Courtney does Courtney," Harrison jokes) or Fergie and her mom mentioning the show on the Grammys red carpet, the show is clearly still relevant in Season 16. "This season may not be a Trista and Ryan fairytale or an Ashley and J.P. situation where everyone's rooting for them ... but as long as people have opinions about it, that's what matters," Harrison says. "It's when they're indifferent that it's bad." Watch this week's Bachelor: The Morning After

Grahame-Cruz Updates On Beetlejuice 2

Michael Keaton is excitedLast we heard, Tim Burton was waiting on Seth Grahame-Cruz for just about any status group of the extended-mooted Beetlejuice follow-up. Grahame-Cruz just told Shock he's not written it yet, but he's spoken to Michael Keaton, and been completely advised to exhibit round the juice and discover what shakes loose."I met with Michael the other day,In . states Seth, "and also the excitement level is large. We spoken for any couple of several hours about large-picture stuff. He's been considering doing the work for 25 many he'll consult with anybody relating to this who'll listen!"Incredibly, it is been in addition to that, since the original Beetlejuice first terrorised audiences in 1988. Ever since then we've stood a kooky cartoon series and there's talk for just about any very very long time a great official follow-up in Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, which eventually found nothing.Grahame-Cruz states that this time around around, Beetlejuice 2 is greatly a going concern: "It's a priority for Warners which is essential for Tim." But he's keen to worry he doesn't desire to taint the initial movie. "I have got an enormous reverence for Tim together with an enormous reverence for the film generally,Inch he promises. "I don't think we ought to make it happen once we shit round the legacy. Michael confirms. So, at this time around, it remains to look. I have got a number of story ideas, but we're very early out."The writer's immediate next project is certainly an animated film for Burton, which he'll follow getting a script for his comic-book adaptation Unholy Evening. It's only after people two that he'll be capable of turn his full concentrate on the ghost with.The Grahame-Cruz-composed Dark Shadows is going inside the Uk on May 11, and Abraham Lincoln subsequently subsequently: Vampire Hunter follows on August 2.

Viacom profits fall 5%

Viacom mentioned Thursday internet earnings from ongoing methods fell 5% to $591 million. Revenue nosed greater 3% to $3.95 billion for your fiscal first quarter brought to December. Vital lost $31 million versus an earnings of $68 million the last year, despite a rocking year within the box office, on lower home video revenue with no bump observed around before from selling some Marvel distribution rights to Disney. Film revenue rose 4% to $1.6 billion. Operating earnings at cable systems introduced by MTV Nets elevated 7% to $1.13 billion. Revenue rose 3% close to $2.5 billion. Viacom mentioned a soft ad market was offset by simply strong affiliate fee growth. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com