Globes' value in trial spotlight

The courtroom battle over the rights to the Golden Globes delved Friday into the question of just how much the kudocast is worth. One of the arguments that the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. is making in its suit against Dick Clark Prods. is that its longtime producer, in securing a new rights deal for the show with NBC without the HFPA's consent, prevented the HFPA from fetching higher offers from other networks. Already, in questioning of witnesses, attorneys for the HFPA have suggested that CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves was willing to offer $25 million or more per year. Dick Clark Prods. and the HFPA have a 50-50 partnership in the Globes telecast, but DCP contends that it could secure a broadcast deal with NBC and didn't need the HFPA's permission. DCP cites an "extensions clause" in a 1993 amendment to an earlier rights agreement that its lawyers say gives the company options to produce the telecast as long as it landed a deal with NBC. The testimony Friday offered a glimpse into the gamesmanship at work when high-stakes deals are done in Hollywood. Marc Graboff, former prexy of West Coast business operations for NBC Entertainment, testified in U.S. District Court about the 2010 negotiations that led to the Peacock network paying an average of $21.5 million annually for the show from 2012 to 2018. "I feel we paid a little too much for it," Graboff said. He admitted that he had earlier said that NBC's "butts were kicked" in the negotiations with Dick Clark Prods. Graboff said he was told by Mark Shapiro, the CEO of DCP, that he had to secure the approval of the HFPA to do a deal. Graboff said he was under the impression that the HFPA was "intimately involved" in the negotiations, even though the org's representatives were not present at meetings or in on phone conversations. Graboff said that on "one or more occasions," Shapiro or Ari Emanuel, the agent for DCP, told him that CBS's Moonves was "prepared to offer more.""That is something you hear in every negotiation," he said. "Les Moonves is everyone's favorite stalking horse." When the broadcast deal was signed on Oct. 29, 2010, Graboff said, Shapiro told him that he still had to take it back to the HFPA membership for approval but that it would be a "rubber stamp." In Graboff's mind, that came on Nov. 9. According to one of his notes from that date, Shapiro called him and Graboff thought that everything was OK. "HFPA had the meeting and we're all good," Graboff's note read. In fact, it was near the end of October that Shapiro first informed the HFPA of the NBC deal and that it was done, triggering the latest litigation. Shapiro, testifying again on Friday, once again said that telling Graboff that he needed the HFPA's approval (even though he believed he did not) was all part of a "negotiating strategy." His rationale was to get extra leverage in the negotiations, giving the sense that there was a "higher authority" that he had to answer to that was much less likely to budge on things like the rights to the pre-show and flexibility on the show's date. As it turned out, NBC didn't get anything more than an extension of its existing deal -- but for more than double what it had been paying. Graboff said that had he ever known there was a conflict between the HFPA and DCP over the "extensions clause," he would have halted negotiations. At points in 2010, the HFPA and DCP were talking about altering the terms of their deal, one that may have indeed settled the entire issue of the "extensions" clause, but nothing ever materialized. Shapiro said that during that time he told the HFPA only that he was "talking" to NBC. Dick Clark, who sold the company in 2002, is not expected to testify. Over the weekend, attorneys were to try to come to an agreement on how Moonves will offer testimony in the case -- in the courtroom, via videoconference or by written sworn statement. The trial is to resume on Tuesday, with testimony expected to wrap up by the end of the week. Contact Ted Johnson at ted.johnson@variety.com

"Iron" forges boffo B.O.

Meryl Streep's Globes win keeps 'The Iron Lady' a hot ticket.In a well-timed election coup that would do the woman on which the film is based proud, the Weinstein Co. successfully expanded Margaret Thatcher biopic "The Iron Lady" to 802 locations for a four-day domestic weekend take of $6.6 million, topped off by star Meryl Streep nabbing a Golden Globe for her performance as the former British prime minister. Weinstein timed the expansion to coincide with the Jan. 15 Globes ceremony, having sent the pic out in limited release on an Oscar-qualifying run Dec. 30. So far, the pic has tallied $7.8 million domestically. "Iron Lady" should continue to play nicely through to the Oscars, with an added B.O. boost if Streep is nominated. Nevertheless, the pic, directed by Phyllida Lloyd ("Mamma Mia!"), will be hard-pressed to duplicate the box office success of last year's Weinstein-released biopic about British royalty. Oscar winner "The King's Speech" cumed $138.8 million Stateside, and reviews for "Iron Lady" haven't been as glowing as those for "Speech." Overseas, "Iron Lady" reached $19.5 million from a reported eight territories. In the U.K., the film has tallied north of $8 million, followed by Australia, which has contributed $6.7 million. Beside the Commonwealth, "Iron Lady" is set to bow throughout February in Brazil (Feb. 3) and France (Feb. 15), looking to benefit from potential Oscar attention. Major Asian territories, such as South Korea and Japan, will get the pic between late February and early March. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

'Taken' helmer, 'Tetro' star ink with CAA

EhrenreichMorel CAA has signed "Taken" helmer Pierre Morel and "Tetro" star Alden Ehrenreich.Ehrenreich was initially discovered by Steven Spielberg in a video shown at a bat mitzvah before landing a lead role opposite Vincent Gallo in Francis Ford Coppola's semi-autobiographical film "Tetro." Thesp next stars alongside Elle Fanning in Coppola's horror pic "Twixt" and will also be seen as Mia Wasikowska's classmate in Fox Searchlight's thriller "Stoker." Morel served as cinematographer on such EuropaCorp films as "The Transporter" and "Unleashed" before making his feature directorial debut with the action pic "District B13." After 20th Century Fox's Liam Neeson starrer "Taken" became a surprise hit, grossing more than $226 million worldwide, Morel went on to direct John Travolta in the Luc Besson-produced actioner "From Paris With Love." Ehrenreich continues to be repped by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and attorney Patty Felker, while Morel remains repped by Sentient Entertainment and attorney Gretchen Rush. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Gay & Lesbian Critics Announce Film and TV Award Nominations

Gay & Lesbian Critics Announce Film and TV Award Nominations By Gregg Kilday January 11, 2012 Photo by Sony Pictures Classics "The Skin I Live In" In addition to such mainstream contenders as "Midnight in Paris," "The Artist," "The Descendants" and "The Tree of Life," the Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Assn. has nominated Pedro Almodovar's "The Skin I Life In," the tale of an obsessive plastic surgeon, and Andrew Haigh's "Weekend," a look at the emotional side of a gay hook-up, for best film of the year.The group, which consists of 50 critics, entertainment journalists and pop culture writers, announced its nominations for the 2012 Dorian Awards on Tuesday.In the category of LBGT-themed film of the year, the organization nominated "Weekend" along with "Albert Nobbs," "Beginners," "Pariah" and "Tomboy."Injecting some humor into awards season, it also singled out five films as nominees for Campy (International or Not) Film of the Year: They are "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," "Kaboom," "The Muppets," "Thor" and "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1."GALECA also nominated five films in the category of "Unsung Film of the Year": They are "50/50," "Insidious," "Jane Eyre," "Warrior" and "Win Win."For film performance of the year, its nominees are Christopher Plummer for "Beginners"; Leonardo DiCaprio, "J. Edgar"; Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"; Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"; Michael Fassbender, "Shame"; and Rooney Mara, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."Turning to television, the critics nominated "American Horror Story," "Downton Abbey," "Homeland," "Mildred Pierce" and "The Good Wife" in TV drama, and "Modern Family," "Louie," "30 Rock," "The Big Bang Theory" and "Happy Endings" for TV comedy.For "Wilde Wit of the Year," the group nominated Kathy Griffin, Kristen Wiig, Louis C.K., Rachel Maddow and the staff writers of "Happy Endings."Winners of the Dorian Awards will be announced Jan. 16, and a celebratory toast will be held Feb. 19 in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Reporter Gay & Lesbian Critics Announce Film and TV Award Nominations By Gregg Kilday January 11, 2012 "The Skin I Live In" PHOTO CREDIT Sony Pictures Classics In addition to such mainstream contenders as "Midnight in Paris," "The Artist," "The Descendants" and "The Tree of Life," the Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Assn. has nominated Pedro Almodovar's "The Skin I Life In," the tale of an obsessive plastic surgeon, and Andrew Haigh's "Weekend," a look at the emotional side of a gay hook-up, for best film of the year.The group, which consists of 50 critics, entertainment journalists and pop culture writers, announced its nominations for the 2012 Dorian Awards on Tuesday.In the category of LBGT-themed film of the year, the organization nominated "Weekend" along with "Albert Nobbs," "Beginners," "Pariah" and "Tomboy."Injecting some humor into awards season, it also singled out five films as nominees for Campy (International or Not) Film of the Year: They are "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," "Kaboom," "The Muppets," "Thor" and "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1."GALECA also nominated five films in the category of "Unsung Film of the Year": They are "50/50," "Insidious," "Jane Eyre," "Warrior" and "Win Win."For film performance of the year, its nominees are Christopher Plummer for "Beginners"; Leonardo DiCaprio, "J. Edgar"; Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"; Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"; Michael Fassbender, "Shame"; and Rooney Mara, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."Turning to television, the critics nominated "American Horror Story," "Downton Abbey," "Homeland," "Mildred Pierce" and "The Good Wife" in TV drama, and "Modern Family," "Louie," "30 Rock," "The Big Bang Theory" and "Happy Endings" for TV comedy.For "Wilde Wit of the Year," the group nominated Kathy Griffin, Kristen Wiig, Louis C.K., Rachel Maddow and the staff writers of "Happy Endings."Winners of the Dorian Awards will be announced Jan. 16, and a celebratory toast will be held Feb. 19 in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Reporter

NATPE sets Digital Luminary individuals who win

NASA and Yahoo are among visitors of NATPE's third annual Digital Luminary Honours, introduced Monday. An honours presentation will probably be situated by Alex Albrecht of Body body fat Dolphin on Jan. 25 within the Miami confab.NASA can get the organization Leadership in Movie award for "Mission Juno," an interactive doc about space. Yahoo will probably be honored for Leadership in Digital category due to its original video programming.The Very Best quality Entertainment Series award is going to be provided for the 10-episode comedy "Leap Year." Series was produced by CJP Digital Media for Hiscox Business Insurance. Charlie Todd can get the web video personality award for founding Improv Everywhere, a Gotham-based network of public pranksters.The first Content nods for drama and comedy series would go to "Goal High" and "Wainy Days," correspondingly. Released by Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, "Goal High" follows a 16-year-old U.S. agent. The My Damn Funnel exclusive "Wainy Days" has formerly received Webby Honours for comedy series.The honorees were selected by having an open distribution process by an advisory committee. Group is co-chaired by Make the most of Barnett, founder and Boss of My Damn Funnel, and Robert Friedman, prexy of media and entertainment for @radical media. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com