NetCoalition disavows antipiracy handout

The NetCoalition, the business of Internet the likes of Google, Yahoo and eBay which was instrumental in going back anti-piracy legislation in Congress, is disavowing a handout that went under its title and reprinted a tale from Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment blog mentioning to industry unions as "thugs." The tough rhetoric was a part of a publish that cautioned that despite the fact that the legislation was sidelined it's not dead, which the MPAA, the RIAA along with a "host of union thugs" could be persistent for making sure it got back in line. Galleries, record labels and many of the industry's guilds and unions backed the legislation, as did the AFL-CIO and also the Chamber of Commerce. Markham Erickson, professional director from the NetCoalition, released an argument Thursday by which he stated the coalition "neither authored nor approved your blog publish." But he stated that certain of their media consultants, Black Rock Group, prepared the handout "regarding the a look and feel before a conservative organization." "This will not have happened and that we are stunned and deeply sorry it did," Erickson stated. "Throughout our efforts on piracy legislation, we've stored our objections centered on policy instead of politics. We remain dedicated to achieving consensus on legislation to deal with the problem of online piracy. We notice that consensus is quite possible only if all of the parties are given respect. The occasions of yesterday don't have any place for the reason that effort and that we again sincerely apologize on their behalf.Inch Nevertheless, the campaign to prevent the legislation came from opposite finishes from the political spectrum. Many left-leaning public interest groups protested the legislation, but competitors also made efforts to interact Tea Party groups to rally from the legislation as the second illustration of government overreach. Your blog publish basically leaves the sense the legislation would be a Democratic-motivated effort to impress its donor base in Hollywood, when antipiracy legislation typically has attracted bipartisan support and, in the newest situation, has additionally stirred bipartisan opposition. Repetition. Lamar Cruz (R-Texas) introduced the Stop Online Piracy Act in the home and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) was its chief backer within the Senate, while competitors ranged from Repetition. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) to Repetition. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) Contact Ted Manley at ted.manley@variety.com

worth the weight

It was a bittersweet season-three preem for the cast of Starz's "Spartacus: Vengeance" as they posed for pictures at the Cinerama Dome on Jan. 18 without lead actor Andy Whitfield, who succumbed to non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in September. "Replacing Andy was one of the most difficult things for everybody, not just professionally but personally. Everybody knew him and loved him," creator-scribe Steven S. DeKnight said about the actor who played the titular role in the first season. Fans were quick to embrace broad-shouldered Liam McIntyre, who takes on the role of Spartacus. "I didn't try and copy, I didn't try and mimic. I thought that would be a shadow of an already amazing performance," said the thesp. McIntyre's turn as the gladiatorial defector was not a lock, however. Originally, the Aussie actor was 45 pounds underweight. "He looked physically ill. I could have (beaten him up) at that weight," DeKnight said. "We put him on a workout retainer where he didn't have the job until he proved he could gain all the weight and look good." After the show's long hiatus, the crowd gasped and cheered at the blood sport onscreen that mirrored the cries for spectacular death in the arena. "They liked the blood and the gore. That's good to know going forward," DeKnight said at the Roman-themed afterparty at the Sunset Landmark. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Robert Downey Jr talks Iron Man 3

Amid all the hype for The Avengers, it's easy to forget that there is a third Iron Man film on the way. However, Robert Downey Jr still has Tony Stark on the brain, and is excited by the opportunity to make the best Iron Man movie yet..."I think that we have an opportunity with the third Iron Man to make the best of the three," he told Omelete, "and maybe one of the better superhero movies that's ever been made." "But I think we have to remember what made the first one good," he continues. "It was very character-driven. It was very odd. It was kind of outrageous. And so I think we have to have the courage to trust that the audience is really kind of cool, and smart."Oh Downey, you charmer. Meanwhile, the star also took the opportunity to discuss Tim Burton's rumoured Pinocchio project, which has seen Downey linked to the role of Gepetto. "I want to talk to him about it, yeah!," enthused the actor. "C'mon, it's Tim Burton!"Iron Man 3 is currently scheduled for a UK release on 3 May 2013, and if it can recapture any of the magic of director Shane Black's last collaboration with RDJ (the black crime comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), we should be in for a treat.

Situation Closed: Scientists Refuse Evidence of Foul Play in Dying of Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood Government physiques have determined no foul play was mixed up in dying of Natalie Wood, in line with the La Occasions.The analysis was reopened in November, nevertheless it has not switched up any new information suggesting the dying at 43 will be a homicide, William McSweeney, the sheriff's chief of detectives, mentioned Tuesday.Sheriffs reopen Natalie Wood dying situation, say Robert Wagner's not just a suspectMcSweeney added that he's doubtful more considering can alter the overall conclusion the actress' dying was any kind of accident.In November 1981, Wood drowned in the coast of Catalina Island, which scientists ruled any kind of accident. This Year, Wood's sister, Lana Wood, came out on CNN and pleaded with government physiques to reopen the problem. Wood mentioned she thought a quarrel between her sister and her husband, Robert Wagner, round the yacht's back deck preceded her drowning.Watch clips of Natalie Wood's moviesWood starred in Miracle on 34th Street and ongoing to produce Digital digital rebel Without any Cause, Splendor inside the Grass and West Side Story. She married Wagner in 1957. They divorced in 1962, then remarried in 1972.

Sean Bonniwell dies at 71

Sean Bonniwell, lead singer in the sixties La garage-rock-band Music Machine, died of carcinoma of the lung on 12 ,. 20 in Visalia, Calif. He was 71. This rock band had the hit single "Talk Talk" in 1966. Music Machine was considered most likely probably the most original bands in the garage era and was an important precursor in the punk bands which will follow inside the seventies. This rock band started out since the Ragamuffins in 1965 but soon increased being known to as Music Machine because of its energetic undertaking style. By 1967, the crowd began to destroy up. They released one album "(Turn On) The Music Activity Machine," which featured "Talk Talk." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com