Etta James Condition Better, Removed Respirator

First Launched: December 30, 2011 6:44 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Etta James works in your own home of Blues in Chicago, Illinois on April 30, 2009RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Etta James manager states the crictally ill blues singer is breathing by hand after being removed a respirator. Lupe P Leon states Friday the alteration of her condition is great news that the entertainers blood stream pressure is typical. P Leon states James was positioned on a respirator when she was make the hospital in La on 12 ,. 21 because she was getting trouble breathing. James remains recognized with terminal leukemia which is battling with dementia. She has been receiving mostly at-home care. Captured, a judge reserve $350,000 on her behalf healthcare. James is much better recognized for the hit Finally. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Physician: George Michael Succeeding

First Launched: December 20, 2011 4:23 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption George Michael starts his 25 Live tour in Hillcrest, The Following Month, 2008VIENNA, Austria -- Your physician coping with George Michael states the British pop star does mainly because he rebounds from pneumonia, but cannot say if he'll be capable of spend Christmas in your house. Christoph Zielinski mentioned everyone knows that he's succeeding which we're usually tolerant of his recovery. Zielinski told condition broadcaster ORF Tuesday that whether Michael goes home for Christmas is a factor that we are not inside the position to find out. He mentioned that's something which must certainly be made a decision in consultation while using patient. The ex-front guy for your pop group Wham was recognized to Viennas AKH hospital late lately after getting rid of a performance inside the Austrian capital. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'Help,' 'Artist' lead SAG race

"The Help" has received plenty of help from Hollywood thesps as the drama dominated Screen Actor Guild award nominations with four, follwed by "The Artist" with a trio of nods. "The Help" took nods for cast, Viola Davis for lead actress, and Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer for supporting actress. "The Artist" scored for cast, Jean Dujardin for lead actor and Berenice Bejo for supporting actress. The SAG noms, announced Wednesday morning, also offered a surprise boost to "Bridesmaids" with a pair of nominations for cast and Melissa McCarthy for suopporting actress and to "A Better Life" with Mexican thesp Demian Bechir scoring a lead actor nomination for a film that grossed $1.8 million. "It's a huge surprise in one way and not so much in another because I've always wanted people to know my work," Bechir told Variety."It's a tremendous honor since it's from a place where there are so many great actors." "Albert Nobbs," "The Descendants," "J. Edgar," "Moneyball" and "My Week with Marilyn" also received two noms while single SAG nods went to "A Better Life," "Beginners," "The Iron Lady," "Midnight in Paris," "Warrior," "We Need to Talk About Kevin." Noms were announced by Judy Greer and Regina King at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. "Modern Family" dominated in TV nominations with five, with individual actor nods for Ty Burrelll, Eric Stonestreet, Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara. "30 Rock" and "Dexter" scored three noms each while "Boardwalk Empire," "Breaking Bad," "Game of Thrones," "The Good Wife," "The Office," "Too Big to Fail" and "Mildred Pierce" each took a pair. Alec Baldwin, who has won the comedy series actor award for five consecutive years for "30 Rock," received another nom in the category as did last year's drama series winners Julianna Margulies for "The Good Wife" and Steve Buscemi for "Boardwalk Empire." Betty White, who won last year's SAG lifetime achievement award and the comedy series trophy for "Hot in Cleveland, remained a fave among thesps with nominations for "Cleveland" and "Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Lost Valentine" in the miniseries category. Besides "The Help" and "The Artist," the ensemble cast noms went to "Bridesmaids," "The Descendants" and "Midnight in Paris." With actors comprising about 23% of the voters in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the SAG nominations are a closely watched indicator of Oscar sentiment. "The King's Speech" won the SAG cast award last January and went on to win the Oscar for best picture. The SAG cast winner has matched the Oscar best picture winner in eight of the past 16 years. Besides Dujardin and Bechir, lead actor noms went to a trio of Hollywood heavywights -- George Clooney for "The Descendants," Leonardo DiCaprio for "J. Edgar" and Brad Pitt for "Moneyball." It was the fourth individual SAG nomination for both Clooney and DiCaprio and the second for Pitt. Besides Davis, lead actress noms went to Glenn Close for "Albert Nobbs," Meryl Streep for "The Iron Lady," Tilda Swinton for "We Need to Talk About Kevin" and Michelle Williams for "My Week with Marilyn." Close was also nominated for actress in a TV drama series for "Damages." The supporting actor category offered a mix of veterans -- Kenneth Branaugh in "My Week with Marilyn," Nick Nolte in "Warrior" and Christopher Plummer in "Beginners" -- and relative newcomers with Armie Hammer in "J. Edgar" and Jonah Hill in "Moneyball." Besides McCarthy, the supporting actress category saw Melissa McCarthy of "Bridesmaids" and Janet McTeer of "Albert Nobbs" join Bejo, Chastain and Spencer. McTeer was nommed in 2000 for "Tumbleweeds" while the other supporting actress contenders are first-time nominees. Notable awards season contenders overlooked by SAG voters included Albert Brooks in "Drive," Kirsten Dunst in "Melancholia," Michael Fassbender in "Shame," Judy Greer and Shailene Woodley in "The Descendants," Woody Harrelson in "Rampart," John Hawkes and Elizabeth Olsen in "Martha Marcy May Marlene," Ben Kingsley in "Hugo," Rooney Mara for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," Charlize Theron in "Young Adult" and Max von Sydow for "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." The SAG nominations are based on voting by two panels -- one for film and one for TV -- each composed of 2,100 randomly selected guild members. Winners, based on voting by SAG's 120,000 members, will be announced Jan. 29 in ceremonies at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. To be eligible, voters must be dues-current and vote by Jan. 27. The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations are:THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURESOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading RoleDemin Bichir / Carlos Galindo - "A Better Life" (Summit Entertainment)George Clooney / Matt King - "The Descendants" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)Leonardo Dicaprio / J. Edgar Hoover - "J. Edgar" (Warner Bros. Pictures)Jean Dujardin / George - "The Artist" (The Weinstein Company)Brad Pitt / Billy Beane - "Moneyball" (Columbia Pictures)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading RoleGlenn Close / Albert Nobbs - "Albert Nobbs" (Roadside Attractions)Viola Davis / Aibileen Clark - "The Help" (Dreamworks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)Meryl Streep / Margaret Thatcher - "The Iron Lady" (The Weinstein Company)Tilda Swinton / Eva - "We Need To Talk About Kevin" (Oscilloscope Laboratories)Michelle Williams / Marilyn Monroe - "My Week With Marilyn" (The Weinstein Company)Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting RoleKenneth Branagh / Sir Laurence Olivier - "My Week With Marilyn" (The Weinstein Company)Armie Hammer / Clyde Tolson - "J. Edgar" (Warner Bros. Pictures)Jonah Hill / Peter Brand - "Moneyball" (Columbia Pictures)Nick Nolte / Paddy Conlon - "Warrior" (Lionsgate)Christopher Plummer / Hal - "Beginners" (Focus Features)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting RoleBrnice Bejo / Peppy - "The Artist" (The Weinstein Company)Jessica Chastain / Celia Foote - "The Help" (Dreamworks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)Melissa Mccarthy / Megan - "Bridesmaids" (Universal Pictures)Janet Mcteer / Hubert Page - "Albert Nobbs" (Roadside Attractions)Octavia Spencer / Minny Jackson - "The Help" (Dreamworks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture"The Artist" (The Weinstein Company)Brnice Bejo / PeppyJames Cromwell / CliftonJean Dujardin / GeorgeJohn Goodman / Al ZimmerPenelope Ann Miller / Doris"Bridesmaids" (Universal Pictures)Rose Byrne / HelenJill Clayburgh / Annie's MomEllie Kemper / BeccaMatt Lucas / GilMelissa Mccarthy / MeganWendi Mclendon-Covey / RitaChris O'Dowd / RhodesMaya Rudolph / LillianKristen Wiig / Annie"The Descendants" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)Beau Bridges / Cousin HughGeorge Clooney / Matt KingRobert Forster / Scott ThorsonJudy Greer / Julie SpeerMatthew Lillard / Brian SpeerShailene Woodley / Alexandra King"The Help" (Dreamworks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)Jessica Chastain / Celia FooteViola Davis / Aibileen ClarkBryce Dallas Howard / Hilly HolbrookAllison Janney / Charlotte PhelanChris Lowell / Stuart WhitworthAhna O'Reilly / Elizabeth LeefoltSissy Spacek / Missus WaltersOctavia Spencer / Minny JacksonMary Steenburgen / Elaine SteinEmma Stone / Skeeter PhelanCicely Tyson / Constantine JeffersonMike Vogel / Johnny Foote"Midnight In Paris" (Sony Pictures Classics)Kathy Bates / Gertrude SteinAdrien Brody / Salvador DaliCarla Bruni / Museum GuideMarion Cotillard / AdrianaRachel Mcadams / InezMichael Sheen / PaulOwen Wilson / Gil PRIMETIME TELEVISIONOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie Or MiniseriesLaurence Fishburne / Thurgood Marshall - "Thurgood" (HBO)Paul Giamatti / Ben Bernanke - "Too Big To Fail" (HBO)Greg Kinnear / Jack Kennedy - "The Kennedys" (Reelz Channel)Guy Pearce / Monty Beragon - "Mildred Pierce" (HBO)James Woods / Richard Fuld - "Too Big To Fail" (HBO)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie Or MiniseriesDiane Lane / Pat Loud - "Cinema Verite" (HBO)Maggie Smith / Violet, Dowager Countess Of Grantham - "Downton Abbey" (PBS)Emily Watson / Janet Leach - "Appropriate Adult" (Sundance Channel)Betty White / Caroline Thomas - "Hallmark Hall Of Fame: The Lost Valentine" (CBS)Kate Winslet / Mildred Pierce - "Mildred Pierce" (HBO)Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama SeriesPatrick J. Adams / Mike Ross - "Suits" (USA)Steve Buscemi / Enoch "Nucky" Thomson - "Boardwalk Empire" (HBO)Kyle Chandler / Eric Taylor - "Friday Night Lights" (DirecTV)Bryan Cranston / Walter White - "Breaking Bad" (AMC)Michael C. Hall / Dexter Morgan - "Dexter" (Showtime)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama SeriesKathy Bates / Harriet Korn - "Harry's Law" (NBC)Glenn Close / Patty Hewes - "Damages" (DirecTV)Jessica Lange / Constance - "American Horror Story" (FX)Julianna Margulies / Alicia Florrick - "The Good Wife" (CBS)Kyra Sedgwick / Dept. Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson - "The Closer" (TNT)Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy SeriesAlec Baldwin / Jack Donaghy - "30 Rock" (NBC)Ty Burrell / Phil Dunphy - "Modern Family" (ABC)Steve Carell / Michael Scott - "The Office" (NBC)Jon Cryer / Alan Harper - "Two And A Half Men" (CBS)Eric Stonestreet / Cameron Tucker - "Modern Family" (ABC)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy SeriesJulie Bowen / Claire Dunphy - "Modern Family" (ABC)Edie Falco / Jackie Peyton - "Nurse Jackie" (Showtime)Tina Fey / Liz Lemon - "30 Rock" (NBC)Sofia Vergara / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett - "Modern Family" (ABC)Betty White / Elka Ostrovsky - "Hot In Cleveland" (TV Land)Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble in a Drama Series"Boardwalk Empire" (HBO)Steve Buscemi / Enoch "Nucky" ThompsonDominic Chianese / Leander Cephas WhitlockRobert Clohessy / Ward Boss Jim NearyDabney Coleman / Commodore Louis KaestnerCharlie Cox / Owen SleaterJosie & Lucy Gallina / Emily SchroederStephen Graham / Al CaponeJack Huston / Richard HarrowAnthony Laciura / Eddie KesslerHeather Lind / KatyKelly Macdonald / Margaret SchroederRory & Declan Mctigue / Teddy SchroederGretchen Mol / Gillian DarmodyBrady & Connor Noon/ Tommy DarmodyKevin O'Rourke / Mayor Edward Bader Aleksa Palladino / Angela DarmodyJacqueline Pennewill / LilianVincent Piazza / Lucky LucianoMichael Pitt / Jimmy DarmodyMichael Shannon / Agent Nelson Van AldenPaul Sparks / Mickey DoyleMichael Stuhlbarg / Arnold RothsteinPeter Van Wagner / Isaac "Icky" GinsburgShea Whigham / Sheriff Elias ThompsonMichael Kenneth Williams / Chalky WhiteAnatol Yusef / Meyer Lansky"Breaking Bad" (AMC)Jonathan Banks / MikeBetsy Brandt / Marie SchraderRay Campbell / Tyrus KittBryan Cranston / Walter WhiteGiancarlo Esposito / Gus FringAnna Gunn / Skyler WhiteRj Mitte / Walter White, Jr.Dean Norris / Hank SchraderBob Odenkirk / Saul GoodmanAaron Paul / Jesse Pinkman"Dexter" (Showtime)Billy Brown / Chicago MikeJennifer Carpenter / Debra MorganJosh Cooke / LouisAimee Garcia / Jamie BatistaMichael C. Hall / Dexter MorganColin Hanks / Travis MarshallDesmond Harrington / Joey QuinnMaria Doyle Kennedy / SonyaRya Kihlstedt / MichelleC.S. Lee / Vince MasukaEdward James Olmos / Professor GellarJames Remar / Harry MorganLauren Velez / Lt. Maria LaguertaPeter Weller / LiddyDavid Zayas / Sgt. Angel Batista"Game of Thrones" (HBO)Amrita Acharia / IrriMark Addy / King Robert BaratheonAlfie Allen / Theon GreyjoyJosef Altin / PyparSean Bean / Lord Eddard "Ned" StarkSusan Brown / Septa MordaneEmilia Clarke / Daenerys TargaryenNikolaj Coster-Waldau / Ser Jaime LannisterPeter Dinklage / Tyrion LannisterRon Donachie / Ser Rodrik CasselMichelle Fairley / Lady Catelyn StarkJerome Flynn / BronnElyes Gabel / RakharoAiden Gillen / "Littlefinger" Petyr BaelishJack Gleeson / Joffrey BaratheonIain Glen / Ser Jorah MormontJulian Glover / Grand Maester PycelleKit Harington / Jon SnowLena Headey / Queen Cersei LannisterIsaac Hempstead Wright / Bran StarkConleth Hill / Lord VarysRichard Madden / Robb StarkJason Mamoa / Kahl DrogoRory Mccann / Sandor CleganeIan Mcelhinney / Barristan SelmyLuke Mcewan / RastRoxanne Mckee / DoreahDar Salim / QothoMark Stanley / GrennDonald Sumpter / Maester LuwinSophie Turner / Sansa StarkMaisie Williams / Arya Stark"The Good Wife"(CBS)Christine Baranski / Diane LockhartJosh Charles / Will GardnerAlan Cumming / Eli GoldMatt Czuchry / Cary AgosJulianna Margulies / Alicia FlorrickChris Noth / Peter FlorrickArchie Panjabi / Kalinda SharmaGraham Phillips / Zach FlorrickMakenzie Vega / Grace FlorrickOutstanding Performance By An Ensemble in a Comedy Series"30 Rock" (NBC)Scott Adsit / Pete HornbergerAlec Baldwin / Jack DonaghyKatrina Bowden / CerieKevin Brown / DotcomGrizz Chapman / GrizzTina Fey / Liz LemonJudah Friedlander / Frank RossitanoJane Krakowski / Jenna MaroneyJohn Lutz / LutzJack Mcbrayer / Kenneth ParcellTracy Morgan / Tracy JordanMaulik Pancholy / JonathanKeith Powell / Toofer"The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)Mayim Bialik / Amy Farrah FowlerKaley Cuoco / PennyJohnny Galecki / Leonard HofstadterSimon Helberg / Howard WolowitzKunal Nayyar / Rajesh KoothrappaliJim Parsons / Sheldon CooperMelissa Rauch / Bernadette Rostenkowski"Glee" (Fox)Dianna Agron / Quinn FabrayChris Colfer / Kurt HummelDarren Criss / Blaine Anderson Ashley Fink / Lauren ZizesDot Marie Jones / Coach BeisteJane Lynch / Sue SylvesterJayma Mays / Emma PillsburyKevin Mchale / Artie AbramsLea Michele / Rachel BerryCory Monteith / Finn HudsonHeather Morris / Brittany PierceMatthew Morrison / Will SchuesterMike O'Malley / Burt HummelChord Overstreet / Sam EvansLauren Potter / Becky JohnsonAmber Riley / Mercedes JonesNaya Rivera / Santana LopezMark Salling / Noah 'Puck' PuckermanHarry Shum, Jr. / Mike ChangIqbal Theba / Principal FigginsJenna Ushkowitz / Tina Cohen-Chang"Modern Family" (ABC)Aubrey Anderson-Emmons / LilyJulie Bowen / ClaireTy Burrell / PhilJesse Tyler Ferguson / MitchellNolan Gould / LukeSarah Hyland / HaleyEd O'Neill / JayRico Rodriguez / MannyEric Stonestreet / CameronSofia Vergara / GloriaAriel Winter / Alex"The Office" (NBC)Leslie David Baker / Stanley HudsonBrian Baumgartner / Kevin MaloneCreed Bratton / Creed BrattonSteve Carell / Michael ScottJenna Fischer / Pam Beesly HalpertKate Flannery / Meredith PalmerEd Helms / Andy BernardMindy Kaling / Kelly KapoorEllie Kemper / Erin HannonAngela Kinsey / Angela MartinJohn Krasinski / Jim HalpertPaul Lieberstein / Toby FlendersonB.J. Novak / Ryan HowardOscar Nuez / Oscar MartinezCraig Robinson / Daryll PhilbinJames Spader / Robert CaliforniaPhyllis Smith / Phyllis Lapin-VanceRainn Wilson / Dwight SchruteZach Woods / Gabe LewisSag Honors For Stunt EnsemblesOutstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture"The Adjustment Bureau (Universal Pictures)"Cowboys & Aliens (Universal Pictures)"Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Warner Bros. Pictures)"Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (Paramount Pictures)"X-Men: First Class" (20th Century Fox)Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series"Dexter" (Showtime)"Game Of Thrones" (HBO)"Southland" (TNT)"Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena" (Starz)"True Blood" (HBO)Life Achievement AwardMary Tyler MooreAWARDS TALLYTheatrical Motion Pictures With Multiple Nominations"The Help" - 4"The Artist" - 3"Albert Nobbs" - 2"Bridesmaids" - 2"The Descendants" - 2"J. Edgar" - 2"Moneyball" - 2"My Week With Marilyn" - 2Primetime Television Programs With Multiple Nominations"Modern Family" - 5"30 Rock" - 3"Dexter" - 3"Boardwalk Empire" - 2"Breaking Bad" - 2"Game Of Thrones" - 2"The Good Wife" - 2"The Office" - 2"Too Big To Fail" - 2"Mildred Pierce" - 2 Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Rooney Mara on her behalf account 'Girl While using Dragon Tattoo' Merkin: There Has Been 'A Great deal of Discussions Around That'

Rooney Mara has 'The Girl While using Dragon Tattoo' by getting an expert that rapidly places her one of the better stars of her generation -- a payback which will come from intense pre-production work that incorporated from piercings to binge-consuming. The thing that was one detail of creating Lisbeth that could go individually distinct? Try her merkin. Inside the R-rated thriller, Mara disrobes many occasions -- sometimes, sadly not of her volition -- meaning some wardrobe factors were needed on her nether regions. "There's plenty of discussion that joined my merkin for your movie, because I used to be naked a great deal,Inch Mara told Metro in the recent interview. "Which I do not believe lots of people will notice all of the attention that joined that. But there's plenty of discussions around that." For people who aren't familiar, a merkin can be a pubic hairpiece that was initially employed by hookers dating back to the 1400s to combat pubic lice. "Inside the book she's made to have strawberry-blonde hair initially and he or she dyes it," Mara ongoing, "and then we stood a special merkin made that was, you understand, strawberry-blonde to make sure that it could fit." And, scene. [Metro via Vulture] [Photo: AP] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Matt Damon Blasts Tony Gilroy's Bourne Ultimatum Script: 'It Was Unreadable'

“I don’t blame Tony for taking a boatload of money and handing in what he handed in,” Matt Damon told GQ recently about Gilroy’s script for the third Jason Bourne film, The Bourne Ultimatum — a script Gilroy agreed to write for “an exorbitant amount of money” as long as he only had to provide one draft and pay no regard to studio notes. “It’s just that it was unreadable. This is a career-ender. I mean, I could put this thing up on eBay and it would be game over for that dude. It’s terrible. It’s really embarrassing. He was having a go, basically, and he took his money and left.” Gilroy wrote and directed the latest Bourne film The Bourne Legacy, due in theaters this August with Jeremy Renner starring. [GQ via indieWire]

'Taps' at 30: Where Could They Be Now?

When 'Taps' first showed 3 decades ago (on December 9, 1981), the venerable George C. Scott got top billing, despite the fact that he seems in hardly any from the film the particular star of the drama of several cadets staging a siege to avoid their military academy from closing lower was recently-minted youthful Oscar-champion Timothy Hutton. In individuals days, Hutton was likely to go onto an outstanding career like a leading guy, while couple of compensated much focus on his youthful co-stars, unknowns like Sean Penn and Tom Cruise. Could anybody have imagined then how these actors' careers would develop within the next 30 years? 'Taps' switched to be considered a pivotal movie for a lot of youthful stars-to-be. Here's a glance at what grew to become of countless Hollywood heroes who gained their stripes in 'Taps.' 'Taps': Where Could They Be Now? <a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/celebrity/timothy-hutton/1767716/primary" target="_blank">Timothy Hutton</a><a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/celebrity/sean-penn/1866261/primary" target="_blank">Sean Penn</a><a href="world wide web.moviefone.com/celebrity/tom-cruise/1848500/primary" target="_blank">Tom Cruise</a><a href="world wide web.moviefone.com/celebrity/evan-handler/1798967/primary" target="_blank">Evan Handler</a><a href="world wide web.moviefone.com/celebrity/giancarlo-esposito/1791873/primary" target="_blank">Giancarlo Esposito</a><a href="world wide web.moviefone.com/celebrity/harold-becker/1843838/primary" target="_blank">Harold Becker</a><a href="world wide web.moviefone.com/celebrity/george-c-scott/1870351/primary" target="_blank">George C. Scott</a> See All Moviefone Art galleries » [Top Photo: Everett Collection] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook Follow Gary Susman on Twitter: @garysusman

Olivier Marchal's star rises in France

MarchalOlivier Marchal has translated his police roots into films and TV, including latest pic, 'A Gang Story.'PARIS -- With his latest film, "A Gang Story," nearly sold out worldwide before its release date, cop-turned-filmmaker Olivier Marchal has cemented his reputation as the kingpin of French crime on the bigscreen -- and on TV. "A Gang Story" opened in France on Nov. 30 with 440 copies and has had a stronger bow than "36," Marchal's biggest success to date while his series "Braquo" continues to deliver auds for paybox Canal Plus."My films pay homage to the iconic filmmakers I grew up admiring -- Michael Mann, Sidney Lumet, Jim Jarmusch, Sergio Leone -- and French masters (Jean Pierre) Melville and Claude Sautet, to name a couple. All mixed well with my cop sensibility," says the 53-year-old French thesp-director. He cites Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West," Sean Penn's "The Pledge" and Lumet's "Serpico" as three pics that exerted a major influence on him." 'Serpico' is the film that made me want to become a cop," says Marchal, who joined Versailles' crime-busting unit in 1980 and later worked in an anti-terrorist brigade, before switching to acting and helming. His previous three directorial efforts -- "Gangsters," which earned $1.8 million at the box office; "36" ($16.9 million); and "The Last Deadly Mission" ($7.4 million) -- have earned critical praise and were commercially successful -- all sold to major territories. The first season of "Braquo," which aired in 2009, broke the record for French fiction dramas on Canal Plus, drawing an average of 1.2 million viewers, 18.6% of all Canal Plus subscribers. The second season, penned by Abdel Raouf Dafri ("A Prophet") and co-produced by Marchal, is currently airing and has been taking an average share of 20%. "Braquo" has also been acquired by international networks, including the U.K.'s FX, and a U.S. remake deal is in negotiation. Through his work, Marchal says he's demonstrated that "you can be an auteur, stay true to yourself and make entertaining genre films and TV series." Those so-called French auteur dramas where you can have lenghty sequence shots of a couple in bed or two guys in a kitchen -- they aren't made with an audience in mind and they bore me beyond words," says Marchal. "That's not my idea of cinema." Cecile Gaget, prexy of international sales at Gaumont, which has been distributing and selling all of Marchal's pics, apart from "Gangsters," says the helmer has loyal followers."Marchal is one of France's top four directors, along with Jacques Audiard ("A Prophet"), Fred Cavaye ("Point Blank") and Jean-Francois Richet ("Public Enemy Number One") who can make powerful, modern cop thrillers and crime movies that appeal to international audiences," says Gaget, pointing out that she and co-worker Yohann Comte sold the film to half the world based on a eight-minute promo at Berlin, while other territories, including the U.S. (with the Weinstein Co.), were closed this summer after Gaumont unveiled a cut of the film.Depicting the world of cops from the inside, Marchal's pics have been breaking away from the stereotypes of many French procedurals, giving a more authentic and nuanced view of policemen and gangsters.With "A Gang Story," Marchal strayed from his usual police drama to tell a story from a gangster's perspective -- he also worked with his biggest budget yet, some $20 million. Up next, Marchal has already signed his next two new projects, "Bronx" and "Montespan" with Gaumont and Paris-based production shingle LGM, headed by Cyril Colbeau-Justin and Jean-Baptiste Dupont. Described by Marchal as his "French 'Miami Vice,' " "Bronx" is set in the French Riviera and deals with the Georgian mafia. "Montespan" is an epic melodrama turning on Louis XIV's favorite mistress Although it sounds like a departure from the gritty world of cops and robbers he's known for, Marchal says "Montespan" weaves together some of the same themes as his police thrillers, despite it being a period piece, adding that it will be very dark and modern, a la Stanley Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon," one of his favorite films.On the TV front, Marchal is developing "Section Zero," a cop thriller set in 2030 Paris, for Canal Plus.Meanwhile, Marchal says he's been offered to direct an adaptation of Mario Puzo's "Omerta" but would rather make his English-language with a Western in the vein of Henry Fonda starrer "Warlock." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

TV Ratings: Grammy Nominations Concert Grows from 2010, Fox's 'Teenage Daughter' Off to Fair Start

Monty Brinton/CBS The X Factor topped Wednesday night among adults 18-49 and total viewers. The 90-minute episode, which saw the remaining contestants take on Michael Jackson tunes, brought in a 3.7 rating in the demo. The show was up from last week's Thanksgiving Eve telecast, but down from its last two hour outing. PHOTOS: Fall TV Death Pool: Which New Show Will Be Axed? Fox added a 2.8 in adults with the 9:30 premiere of its new comedy, I Hate My Teenage Daughter. The series held 76 percent of its X Factor lead-in with the demo, pushing the network to a winning 3.4 for the night. On CBS, Survivor was down to a little to a 3.1 in adults 18-49. It was followed by a repeat of Criminal Minds (2.1) and the 2011 Grammy Nominations Concert. The one-hour performance showcase was up 12 percent from its 2010 outing, grabbing a 1.9 in adults 18-49. An average 9.8 million viewers were clocked during the broadcast, which saw performances by the likes of Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Sugarland. ABC's Wednesday was visibly affected by the block of reruns. The network's typically strong comedy line-up (The Middle, Suburgatory, Modern Family and Happy Endings) followed by Revenge averaged just 1.8 among adults 18-49 during the night, tying it with NBC. NBC saw a 5% drop among the key demo for this year's Christmas in Rockefeller Center tree-lighting special, but repeats on CBS and ABC at 9:00 p.m. helped boost Harry's Law to a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49. It marked nearly a 30 percent gain for the modestly performing sophomore drama. At 10:00 p.m., Law & Order: SVU topped the competition with a 2.2 rating. PHOTOS: All of the Grammy Award Nominees The CW aired a timely Muppets Christmas special to the tune of 0.8 among adults 18-49, matching an original episode of America's Next Top Model. It marked the most-watched Wednesday night the network has seen in a year, with the best showing in the demo since May. Wednesday, Nov, 31, Overnight Ratings: 8 p.m. Fox: The X Factor (10.3 million viewers, 3.5 rating among adults 18-49) CBS: Survivor: South Pacific (10.9 million, 3.1) NBC: Christmas at Rockefeller Center (9.4 million, 1.8) ABC: The Middle (R) (6 million, 1.8) The CW: The Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (R) (2.4 million, 0.8) 8:30 p.m. ABC: Suburgatory (R) (5.3 million, 1.7) 9 p.m. FOX: The X Factor (12.1 million, 4.1) ABC: Modern Family (R) (7.2 million, 2.6) CBS: Criminal Minds (R) (7.5 million, 2.1) NBC: Harry's Law (9.9 million, 1.4) The CW: America's Next Top Model (1.9 million, 0.8) 9:30 p.m. Fox: I Hate My Teenage Daughter (6.8 million, 2.8) ABC: Happy Endings (R) (4.96 million, 2.1) 10 p.m. NBC: Law & Order: SVU (9.8 million, 2.2) CBS: Grammy Nominations Concert (5.6 million, 1.9) ABC: Revenge (R) (4 million, 1.2) TV Ratings