Morning Call Sheet: Perry Mason Lives, Stupid Lawsuits, And Why We Love TV

DISNEY AND PIXAR TO RE-RELEASE FOUR FILMS IN 3D IN 2012 & 2013

Well, why not? With “The Lion King” 3D making a fortune 17 years after its initial release, this makes perfect sense.

I do think, though, that “The Lion King” is special and that, for the other films, the novelty will wear some. If I recall, the theatrical re-release of “Star Wars” did much better than “Empire” and “Jedi.”

WARNER BROS. AND DOWNEY JR. TO REBOOT ‘PERRY MASON

Man, it’s just all brand-brand-brand-brand-brand now. I have never in my life been so uninterested in seeing the latest movies. I walk up to a Redbox these days having seen nothing new in months and can’t find anything worth the energy required to watch and return it.

Why would I want to watch “The Green Lantern” when I have “Superman II” at home on DVD? Why would I want to watch the latest nihilistic indie offering when I have “Abbott and Costello Go to Mars” at home? Why would I want to watch “Sucker Punch” when the original “Mission: Impossible” television series streams on Netflix?

And I don’t think it has to do with my middle age. The films made to attract teenagers when I was a teenager still entertain. Nothing I enjoyed as a younger man has lost any of its appeal.

Am I crazy or a curmudgeon or do movies simply suck like a black hole today?

‘BLACK SWAN’ LAWSUIT STIRS INTERN DEBATE: EDUCATION OR EXPLOITATION?

Talk about poisoning the well.

If production companies and producers are put into a position where they have to pay — and worse — fill out a ton of paperwork to justify an intern, the damage will only be done to those hoping to break into the industry.

It’s no secret that if you want to work in the entertainment business, you get yourself on a film or television set by any means necessary. Keep your mouth shut, work your butt off, be reliable, be resourceful, and get to know the rest of the crew. Most importantly, be willing to do this for free.

Smart, reliable people are hard to find and they always stick out. This is how you meet people and create the relationships that will eventually bring paying gigs and readings of your screenplays.

Unless your last name is Barrymore or Hanks, you really have no other way in.

If this lawsuit in any way messes with the system, Hollywood will become even more closed and cliquish than it already is.

NETFLIX STREAMERS MOSTLY WATCHING TV SHOWS

One of the greatest pleasures of a television series on home video, be it DVD or streaming, is being able to watch one episode after another. Whether the program is in long-story format like “Mad Men” or has self-contained episodes like “The Rockford Files” or is a mixture of both like “Burn Notice,” the ability to spend time with your favorite characters and linger in their world for as long as you wish is a wonderful exercise in escapism.

Moreover, television is simply better than films today, so that might help to explain this phenomenon, as well.

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SCOTTDS’ EPIC LINK-TACULAR

CLASSIC FILMS YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER SEEN

FIRST LOOK: RUSSELL CROWE AS JOR-EL IN MAN OF STEEL

COEN BROTHERS MAKE FIRST FORAY INTO TV WITH FOX COMEDY

IS MR. ED COMING TO THE BIG SCREEN?

‘BLACK SWAN’ INTERN LAWSUIT: THE STUDIO’S SIDE OF THE STORY

FILMMAKER WERNER HERZOG TO PLAY VILLAIN IN TOM CRUISE’S “ONE SHOT

10 CLASSIC DR. WHO EPISODES FOR NEW FANS TO CHECK OUT

10 THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT ‘STAR TREK: TNG’

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LAST NIGHT’S SCREENING

“Prohibition: Part 2”: Good stuff but it’s fascinating how director Ken Burns is now using “progressive” in place of “liberal.”

Hey Ken, instead of being called “conservatives” we’d appreciate being called “The Party That Doesn’t Hate America.”

Thanks in advance.

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CLASSIC PICK FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6

TCM:

10:00 PM est: Band Wagon, The (1953) — A Broadway artiste turns a faded film star’s comeback vehicle into an artsy flop. Dir: Vincente Minnelli Cast: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant. C-112 mins, TV-G, CC.

My number-one favorite musical of all time.

And… Cyd Charisse. Ohmydeargawdinheaven, Cyd Charisse.

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-Please send tips/suggestions/requests/complaints to jnolte@breitbart.com

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