Neal McDonough joins TNT's 'L.A. Noir'

TNT has prepared the cast of Frank Darabont drama pilot "L.A. Noir" with the aid of Neal McDonough. McDonough, most recently seen on FX's "Justified," may have one of the drama's central roles, LAPD Capt. William Parker, inside the 19 forties period drama that examines links between police and underworld figures inside the Capital of scotland- Angels. The Parker character can be a hard-nosed cop devoted to rooting out corruption round the pressure on and on to create lower mobster Mickey Cohen. Jon Bernthal of "The Walking Dead" had formerly been cast since the L.A. cop within the center in the show. Milo Ventimiglia may also be inside the ensemble. The "Noir" pilot was composed and you'll be directed by Darabont, who professional produces with Michael P Luca and Elliott Webb. It's using the book "L.A. Noir: The Struggle for your Soul of America's Hottest City" by John Buntin. McDonough's repped by Paradigm. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Disney songwriter Robert B. Sherman dies

Robert B. Sherman, half in the prolific, award-winning group of brothers and sisters who composed instantly memorable tunes for "Mary Poppins," "The Jungle Book" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" -- together with probably the most-carried out tune in the world, "It's a Small World (Ultimately)" -- died of natural causes london on Monday. He was 86. Sherman, together with his brother Richard, won two Academy awards for Wally Disney's 1964 smash "Mary Poppins" -- best score and greatest song, "Chim Chim Cher-ee." Furthermore they acquired a Grammy to find the best movie or TV score. The Shermans' work was both complex and instantly memorable, for child and adult alike. Once heard, it absolutely was never forgotten. Their hundreds of credits as joint lyricist and composer have the movies "Winnie the Pooh," "The Slipper as well as the Rose," "Snoopy Go Back Home,In . "Charlotte's Web" and "The Miracle of Lassie." Their Broadway musicals incorporated 1974's "The Following!Inch and stagings of "Mary Poppins" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" inside the mid-2000s. The brothers and sisters totalled up 23 gold and platinum albums. They increased being really the only Us citizens ever to win first prize within the Moscow Film Festival for "Tom Sawyer" in 1973 and were granted having a Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 2005. "Something good happens whenever we sit lower together and work," Richard Sherman told the Connected Press in the 2005 joint interview. "We've been carrying it out our lives. Practically since college we've been cooperating.Inch Leader George W. Rose rose bush granted them the country's Medal of Arts in 2008, commending them for music that "has aided bring pleasure to millions." The Shermans began 10 years-extended partnership with Disney through the sixties after you have written hit pop tunes like "Tall Paul" for ex-Mouseketeer Annette Funicello and "You're 16," later recorded by Ringo Starr. "Today, regarding everyone at Disney, we mourn losing an amazing talent, Robert Sherman," mentioned Disney leader and Boss Bob Iger. "His legacy will endure forever using the miracle of his music. Robert, along with his brother Richard, written lots of Disney's most memorable and beloved tunes, which still enchant huge amounts of individuals around the globe to this day.In . They written greater than 150 tunes at Disney, like the soundtracks for such films as "The Sword as well as the Stone," "Parents Trap," "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," "The Jungle Book," "The Aristocats" and "The Tigger Movie." Alan Menken, composer of scores for Disney films including "The Little Mermaid," ''Beauty as well as the Animal" and "Aladdin," mentioned the Sherman brothers' legacy "goes past the craft of songwriting." "There is a miracle inside their tunes too as with the movies and musicals they breathed existence into," he mentioned. Robert Bernard Sherman was produced in NY and elevated there too as with Beverly Slopes. The brothers' father was Container Pan Alley composer Al Sherman. They credited him with challenging those to write tunes too for their adoration for lyrics. Al Sherman's tunes include "You Gotta Be described as a Football Hero," ''(What Can Perform Around the) Dew-Dew-Dewy Day" and "Round the Beach at Indonesia-Indonesia." Robert Sherman's affection for Britain was nurtured throughout his service while using U.S. Military in World war ii. One of the primary American soldiers to use the Dachau concentration camping -- and, his boy Jeffrey mentioned, really the only Jewish serviceman there -- he was shot inside the knee in Germany in 1945. Recouping in hospitals in England, he produced a fondness for and understanding of the united states that associated with him. He written for British figures in "Mary Poppins," ''Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "Winnie the Pooh," and spent the ultimate years of his existence london. Following a war, the brothers and sisters started writing tunes together. A lot of the tunes the Shermans written -- furthermore to being appealing and playful -- concentrate on multiple levels for a number of age groups, something they learned from Wally Disney. "He once told us, in the beginning inside our career, 'Don't insult the child -- don't write lower for the kid. And don't write just for the adult.' And then we write for grand dad as well as the 4-year-old -- and everyone among -- and many types of notice around the different level," Richard Sherman mentioned. In the piano, the two elevated families and attacked their unique interests, but nonetheless were living close to each other in Beverly Slopes and continuing cooperating well for their 70s. When "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" found Broadway in 2005, they added new lyrics and four new tunes. Robert Sherman is managed to get by his brother and four children: Laurie, Jeffrey, Andrea and Robert. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

'John Carter' Early Reviews Have Turned up!

Disney has lifted the embargo, as well as the early reviews for "John Carter" are here. Experts are split on when the fantasy epic lives around anticipation, nevertheless the resounding truth is that "John Carter" needs to be seen and spoken about, an sadly rare quality in blockbusters recently. Came McWeeny at HitFix expressed amazement the movie from the scope might be made and needed an over-all positive stance saying, "The positive thing is the fact that Andrew Stanton, one of the cornerstones of Pixar as well as the director of both 'Finding Nemo' and 'WALL-E,' constitutes a nimble jump to reside in-action, and of his movie is ingrained getting an outrageous, thrilling pulp energy together with an authentic sense of question. It is a charming science-fiction adventure making no apologies for which it's." More particularly, many authors, including Badass Digest's Devin Faraci, designated Lynn Collins's performance since the Martian princess Dejah Thoris. "Lynn Collins is magnificent as Martian princess Dejah Thoris. Rarely features a female character similar to this been noticed in a boy-centric blockbuster Dejah can be a investigator additionally to some princess, together with a fierce warrior additionally to some totally sexy bombshell." Faraci written. "Dejah Thoris may be the finest female character in sci-fiOrdream cinema since Ripley." Harry Knowles, who sooner or later was associated with developing the tales for your screen, tweeted a short opinion saying, "JOHN CARTER is spectacular. The second that Edgar sits to begin reading through through Uncle Jacks diary pure miracle up to the conclusion.Inch One of the common threads through both McWeeny's and Faraci's reviews was an trouble with Taylor Kitsch through the outlet sequence occur time in the Civil War. Both write-ups describe Kitsch as effective overall, but too modern for your historic setting. Experts and journalists are actually seeing "John Carter" for the days, but due to Disney's embargo, couldn't share their ideas, something these made an appearance thinking of doing. While using embargo set to operate out only a couple of days just before the discharge date, authors will have to delay until the final moment to discuss their recommendations, which generally made an appearance positive before they may formally say. An advertising campaign that left much being preferred and times of pleas from authors introduced to Disney abruptly lifting the embargo on reviews Thursday evening (March 1). "John Carter" opens in theaters March 9. Are you currently presently searching toward "John Carter"? Let us read your comments inside the comments below and also on Twitter!

TRAILER: Here's Your Best Look at The Avengers Yet

Marvel's The Avengers has the pressure of living up to years of hype resting on its shoulders, but a new trailer for the May 4 superhero pic looks promising, if not terribly complicated. Plot details, like what Loki's up to and why? Save it for the movie. This is the chance to give every one of the Avengers their close-up. Well, except for you, Hawkeye. Admittedly, Jeremy Renner's archery expert -- the least-well known character of the bunch, looking like the loner weirdo lurking around the popular kids at school -- does get a neat falling-backwards-through-the-air-while-shooting-an-arrow moment in the trailer, so there's that. Everyone else, though, gets to reveal a smidge of character in the span of two minutes: Nick Fury is concerned! Captain America is resentful! Tony Stark is bitchy! Black Widow is suggestive! We already know that our heroes will bicker before they unite to fight evil, blah blah blah. It is rather touching to see Hulk leap into the air to save Iron Man from eating pavement. I'm just waiting for fans to shout about how superior Ruffalo's Hulk is from the Ed Norton and Eric Bana versions, because guys? His Hulkface doesn't look that much better, does it? Verdict: Oh, who am I kidding? We're all seeing this one, aren't we? Anyway, head to Apple to watch the trailer in high res. The Avengers hits theaters on May 4.

Jennifer Lopez's Stylist: There Were No "Slips" at Oscars

Jan Berenstain Jan Berenstain, who wrote and illustrated the Berenstain Bears childrens books with her husband Stan, has died. She was 88.Berenstain suffered a stroke on Thursday and died Friday, her son, Mike Beresnstain, told The Associated Press.See other celebs we lost this yearBoth Philadelphia natives, Stan and Jan met at age 18 in 1941 on their first day of art school. Twenty-one years later, they published the first Berenstain Bears book, The Big Honey Hunt.Since then, the books have become preschool staples, with more than 300 titles being published in 23 languages. More than 260 million copies have been printed."They say jokes don't travel well, but family humor does," Jan Berenstain told the AP last year. "Family values is what we're all about."Get the rest of today's newsAfter Stan's death at 82 in 2005, Mike, an illustrator, collaborated with his mother on recent books, which focused on such modern issues as online safety and childhood obesity. "Every day she was very productive," Mike said. "She was working on two books and had been doing illustrations until the day before she passed away."Besides Mike, Berenstain is survived by her elder son, Leo, a writer who oversees the business end of the family franchise, and four grandchildren.What are your favorite Berenstain Bears books?

Oscars 2012: Why 'Take Shelter' Deserved A Best Picture Nod

Nine films are nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards this year, begging the question: who deserved a tenth spot on that list? "Oscars 2012: 10 Spot" answers that question, as the MTV Movies team highlights some of 2011's greatest films and argues why they deserved a nod as the tenth Best Picture nominee. Heres one of the big things for me when I contemplate my top films of any given year whats going to stick with me? Whats a film that will creep into my subconscious and always remain in some fashion? Whether its a comedy Ill return to in years to come (ahem, Fletch) or a precise and near perfect execution of genre staple (Im looking at you Unforgiven and Aliens and Manhattan). And then theres the stuff that just haunts you. You dont necessarily want it invading your thoughts and dreams and nightmares but there it is proof of how potent and provocative it is. Take Shelter is such a film. I first saw it over a year ago when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. In the year since its the film Ive probably thought about the most. Recalling a little bit of Malick and a dose of dare I say Kubrick even (Curtis descent into madness absolutely brings to mind The Shining for me), writer/director Jeff Nichols shows off a cool and confident direction throughout. And then there are the performances. Jessica Chastains awesome year has been well documented and deservedly lauded but this might be the forgotten performance in the bunch and thats a shame because its sublime. But of course, at the end of the day, Take Shelter belongs to the great Michael Shannon. Usually relegated to supporting a bigger name, Shannon gives a veritable master class in this one. At times manic and delusional (or is he?), at others sadly feeble and desperate, his portrait of Curtis is a full one. Hes not a boogeyman or someone off his rocker that can be marginalized. Hes, like all of us, trying desperately to hold it together, dealing with the baggage hes been dealt, and at times overwhelmed by the pressures on his shoulders. Take Shelter is a film for these times, yes. When the Mayan apocalypse comes, skip Roland Emmerichs oeuvre and go right to this one. But it will live on far beyond 2012. And thats what makes it special and sadly overlooked by Oscar. The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and on Sunday, February 26, tune into MTV.com at 5:30 p.m. ET for our three-hour red-carpet live stream and updates on the night's big winners.

TV Teaser: Mad Men Season 5

It’s been so long since anybody has seen anything new from four-time Best Drama Emmy winner Mad Men — as in we seem to recall there was some AMC series years ago about a good-looking but seriously flawed advertising guy and his co-workers set in the 1960s. But at last here’s the first teaser to the new season that begins March 25. Does it ring any bells?