Mena Suvari and Matthew Modine Get Caught Up In "Sex and Lies in Sin City"

Posted by Dayna G. 05/15/08 6:15pm GMT

Mena Suvari ("American Beauty") and Matthew Modine ("Weeds") are set to star in the Lifetime Original Movie "Sex & Lies in Sin City", based on the true story of the death of wealthy Las Vegas casino heir Ted Binion and the ensuing trial of his lover and her con artist boyfriend. The movie is based on the book Murder in Sin City by Jeff German. "Sex & Lies in Sin City," will premiere on Lifetime in September.

"Much like a trip to Vegas, this movie is a guilty pleasure," said Tanya Lopez, senior vice president, Original Movies, Lifetime Networks, in making the announcement. "Ripped from the headlines, 'Sex & Lies in Sin City' captures all of the true crime story elements and the madness that surrounded Ted Binion's life."

"Sex & Lies in Sin City" tells the story of the death of reckless casino executive Ted Binion (Modine), heir to the Binion Horseshoe Casino fortune. In September, 1998, Binion was found dead in his Las Vegas home by his beautiful ex-stripper girlfriend Sandy Murphy (Suvari). On the surface, it appears Binion died of a self-induced drug overdose, as he regularly abused illicit drugs. However, questions arise when Ted's younger estranged sister Becky Binion tells police she believes her brother was murdered. Meanwhile, police discover that Murphy, who met Binion after first coming to Las Vegas in search of a better life, was cheating on him and that 24 hours before his death, Binion had Murphy removed from his will. Also, within hours of the suspicious death, Murphy's lover, Rick Tabish, was caught trying to steal Binion's hidden silver bullion in the Nevada desert. Ultimately, a scandalous trial sheds light on the astonishing greed that culminated in the death of one of the Desert Oasis' most notorious men.

Mena Suvari is best known for her role in the Academy Award-winning film "American Beauty" for which she was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. Other acting credits include "Factory Girl," "Brooklyn Rules," "Rumor Has It," "Domino," "Beauty Shop," "Sonny," "Spun," "American Pie" and "American Pie 2." Suvari was also a recurring character in the critically acclaimed HBO series "Six Feet Under."

Matthew Modine is an acting veteran with more than 50 films to his credit including "Birdy," "Married to the Mob," "Vision Quest," "Full Metal Jacket," "Orphans," "Pacific Heights" and "On Any Given Sunday," to name a few. He won a special Golden Globe Award for his work in the ensemble cast of "Short Cuts." In television, he earned Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations for his performance in the critically acclaimed, Emmy-winning drama "And the Band Played On" and a Golden Globe nomination for "What the Deaf Man Heard." He was most recently seen on the Showtime series "Weeds."

"Living Proof" That Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick Jr. will team

Posted by Dayna G. 05/05/08 2:42pm GMT

Emmy® and Grammy® Award winner Harry Connick, Jr. ("Will & Grace," "Hope Floats") and Academy Award®-winning actress Renee Zellweger ("Cold Mountain," "Chicago")will join forces on the new Lifetime Original Movie "Living Proof," the moving true story of Dr. Denny Slamon, the UCLA doctor who developed the life saving breast cancer drug, Herceptin 2, and his relentless battle to keep the drug trials afloat and save the lives of thousands of women. Singer/actor Connick will star in the film, while Zellweger reteams with acclaimed film and television producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron ("A Raisin in the Sun," "Hairspray," "Chicago," "Life with Judy Garland: Me & My Shadows") to executive produce the Sony Pictures Television project.

In making the announcement, Tanya Lopez, Senior Vice President, Original Movies, Lifetime Networks, said, "This is truly a passion project for all of us at Lifetime. Dr. Slamon is an unsung hero in the fight against breast cancer and no one is better suited to play him than Harry Connick, Jr., who himself is committed to helping others. We are also thrilled to be collaborating with Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Renee Zellweger and Sony in this thought-provoking film."

Harry Connick, Jr. is a singer, pianist, composer, actor and humanitarian. His career has been highlighted with awards and recognition, including several multi-platinum and gold albums, Grammy® and Emmy® Awards, plus Tony Award® nominations. Connick made his film debut in 1990 in the drama "Memphis Belle." His additional films credit since include "Little Man Tate," "Copycat," "Independence Day," "Hope Floats" with Sandra Bullock, "My Dog Skip," "Life Without Dick," "Bug" and more recently "P.S. I Love You" with Hillary Swank. In 2001, he starred in the ABC television production of "South Pacific." From 2002 through 2006, he had a recurring role on NBC's "Will & Grace" as Grace's husband Leo. In 2006, Connick, starred on Broadway winning critical acclaim and a Tony nomination in "The Pajama Game."

Renee Zellweger won the Academy Award® for Best Supporting Actress in Anthony Minghella's "Cold Mountain" and received Academy Award® nominations for her work in "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Chicago." She recently starred in and executive-produced the feature film, "Miss Potter."
Zellweger's Academy Award® for "Cold Mountain" was accompanied by a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, a Golden Globe® Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, a BAFTA Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role and a Broadcast Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. In addition to her Academy Award® nomination for "Chicago," Zellweger also won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in Lead Role as well as a Golden Globe® Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Additionally, she was nominated for a BAFTA Award for her performance. Zellweger's additional film credits include "Bee Movie," "Cinderella Man," "Down with Love," "Bridget Jones's Diary" and its sequel, "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason," "Shark Tale," "Jerry Maguire," "Me, Myself & Irene," "Nurse Betty," "One True Thing," "White Oleander," "Dazed and Confused," "Reality Bites," "The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "My Boyfriend's Back." Zellweger can next be seen in "Appaloosa," alongside Viggo Mortenson and Ed Harris, who is also directing.

"Living Proof" will premiere during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month as the centerpiece of Lifetime's 14th annual multi-platform Stop Breast Cancer for Life public service and advocacy campaign, which reaches women and families in more than 96 million homes across the country in partnership with the Network's cable affiliates, advertising sponsors and twelve leading nonprofit organizations.

 

Author Patricia Cornwell Comes to Lifetime

Posted by Dayna G. 04/14/08 12:40pm GMT

In a ground-breaking agreement, Lifetime Television will become the first network ever to adapt acclaimed international author Patricia Cornwell’s novels for television. Her #1 New York Times bestseller, "At Risk," and its sequel, "The Front," to be published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons in May, have been optioned by the Network.

In making the announcement, Tanya Lopez, Senior Vice President, Original Movies, said: "As we continuously re-invent our popular Lifetime Original Movies, we’re expanding the genres and including more works by America’s leading women writers. Patricia Cornwell is in a class by herself and we are honored she has chosen Lifetime as the vehicle to bring these two brilliant novels to television."

Patricia Cornwell said: "I am excited and honored by this new creative partnership with such an outstanding network, and believe that together we can bring to life stories and characters unique to the crime writing genre."

At Risk centers on Massachusetts state investigator Win Garano, a shrewd man of mixed-race background and a not inconsiderable chip on his shoulder, D.A. Monique Lamont, a hard-charging woman with powerful ambitions and a troubling willingness to cut corners, and Garano’s grandmother, who has certain unpredictable talents that are not to be ignored.

At Risk was originally published in January 2006 as a 15-week serialization in the New York Times Sunday Magazine. When it was published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in May 2006, it became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. The Front is set to be released by Putnam next month on May 20th.

Valerie Bertinelli to star in "True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet"

Posted by Dayna G. 04/14/08 12:28pm GMT

Lifetime leading lady Valerie Bertinelli is making a return to the network in the new Lifetime Original Movie, "True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet." As a former child star herself, Bertinelli is familiar with the highs and lows of running with a fast crowd at an early age. Bertinelli stars as the aunt of a teen starlet (played by pop star Joanna 'JoJo' Levesque)who comes to live with her aunt after a stint in rehab. The movie, directed by Lifetime leading man Tim Matheson, is set to air in 2008.

“Project Runway” Hits The Catwalk and Struts Over to Lifetime in November '08

Posted by Dayna G. 04/07/08 3:37pm GMT

Lifetime Networks and The Weinstein Company have entered into a groundbreaking partnership that will move cable’s top reality series, “Project Runway,” to the top network for women, Lifetime Television, beginning November 2008 with the premiere of season six. In its most recent season, the hit show averaged a 3.8 W18-49 Live + 7 day rating* and the Live + 7 rating for the March 5th finale was a 6.1 W18-49 AA%.

Heidi Klum, "Project Runway's" international supermodel host, and Tim Gunn, Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc. and mentor to the show’s contestants, are both fashioning their new home at Lifetime. Read more...

"How To Look Good Naked" Gets a Second Season and You Could Appear on the Show!

Posted by Dayna G. 04/04/08 1:26pm GMT

After a season of fun and fashion, Carson Kressley will be back to help more women to embrace who they are, no matter their size. "How to Look Good Naked" features Kressley guiding women through a variety of activities, such as learning to dress appropriately for her body type, choose the correct undergarments and understand the right way to style her hair and make-up, ultimately helping to change her own self image, seeing her true self and loving the body she’s already got.

Lifetime is excited to bring Kressley's brand of magic to a new group of women. Susanne Daniels, President of Entertainment for Lifetime says, "This heartwarming series succeeds because it shows women they should accept, and even flaunt their healthy bodies, whatever shape or or type they are, without resorting to plastic surgery or extreme diets,” Adding, “The new one-hour format allows us to mix things up each week with more in-depth back stories, home visits, unique rotating experts and surprise reveals, just to name a few. Our audience fell in love with the witty and wonderful Carson Kressley, and we’re looking forward to him returning to undress America one woman at a time."



CASTING NOW FOR A SECOND SEASON
To be on the show please e-mail your name, phone number, a recent photograph and a brief summary of your story to:
ToLookGoodCasting@yahoo.com or visit www.MysticArtPictures.com

Heather Locklear Is "Flirting With 40"

Posted by Dayna G. 02/19/08 5:07pm GMT

Believe it or not, even Heather Locklear gets older. The ageless star, who appeared in "Nora Roberts' Angels Fall," the most-watched Lifetime Original Movie of 2007 (drawing nearly 5 million viewers), returns to the network in the new holiday-themed Lifetime Original Movie, "Flirting with 40." In the lighthearted and poignant story, Locklear portrays a divorced mother of two on the brink of her 40th birthday who, while on vacation, enters into an unexpected romance with a much younger man and learns that life can begin at 40. "Flirting with 40" will premiere in December 2008 on Lifetime Television.

Best known for creating some of television's most memorable characters, four-time Golden Globe nominee Heather Locklear has enjoyed a prolific career in both television and film. Locklear's television credits include "Spin City," "Melrose Place," "Dynasty," "T.J. Hooker," the HBO thriller "Double Tap," the NBC telefilm "Shattered Mind," the ABC miniseries "Texas Justice" and "Nora Roberts' Angel's Fall" in 2007 for Lifetime. Recently, she guest-starred on the CBS comedy "Rules of Engagement." In 2005, Locklear starred with Hilary Duff and Chris Noth in "The Perfect Man." She was also featured in MGM's "Uptown Girls" and in Warner Bros.' "Looney Tunes: Back in Action."

 

Who Says "Your Mama Don't Dance?"

Posted by Dayna G. 01/31/08 12:32pm GMT

In “Your Mama Don’t Dance,” some of America’s hottest dancers auditioned for a chance to be a part of a new dance competition show under the pseudonym “Dance Nation,” but none had any idea what was in store. On January 26, 2008, contestants gathered at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, where they soon discovered shocking news – that they would be competing with a partner and that their partner would be one of their parents! Flown in from all across the United States, the adventurous moms and dads participated in the big surprise to their unsuspecting kids, to be revealed in the first two episodes of the series as the competition kicks off.

Now, five female dancers will be fox-trotting with their fathers while five male dancers will be doing the mambo with their mothers as they vie for praise from the judges and for America’s votes. They must put aside their differences, not step on each other’s toes and work together as a team to become the grand champions of “Your Mama Don’t Dance.”

Following the initial surprise meeting, the duos will have less than a month to learn and rehearse new dances together with the help of professional choreographers. Each week, the judges will put the two teams with the lowest scores on the chopping block, then it’s up to America to determine which team stays in the competition via phone, text and online votes.