'Wrinkles' uses classic techniques to produce miracle

Published: Thu., 12 ,. 8, 2011, 4:00am PTBy 'Wrinkles'The bleak reality of the old folk's home meets magical surrealism in "Arrugas" (Facial lines), the hands-attracted animated feature from director Ignacio Ferreras, in line with the 2008 comic by Spain's National Comic Prize champion Paco Roca."Our large challenge was carrying out a whole feature just for two million ($2.7 million)," states producer Manuel Cristobal. "This is a very tight plan for animation, however it assisted a lot that Ignacio isn't just a really experienced animator and storyboarder but understood how you can tell a tale without needing an excessive amount of animation but still have great results. He could provide a higher style in feel and look, and that we also labored with experienced galleries like Cromasoma, which co-created it."Based on Cristobal, the majority of the animation was completed in The country, with roughly 25% outsourced towards the Philippines. In tugging together the creative team and funding for that project, it assisted to think about such precedents among adult-oriented animated features as "Persepolis," another stylized toon modified from the graphic novel."?'Arrugas' has offered perfectly in The country, Japan and all sorts of over Europe, and that we understood we'd a really effective story to inform,Inch Cristobal states. "Therefore we made the decision to follow along with the comicbook very carefully from both story and artistic perspective. Our film is the same, to ensure that was a benefit, and that we understood we're able to attain the 2D style and appear despite the fact that we'd so very little money. Because animation frontiers have broadened a lot, I understood we're able to consider using a drama such as this.Inch EYE Around The Academy awards: ANIMATION Animated photos boost property valuesWhether focusing on a shoestring hands-attracted project or pushing the limits laptop or computer-produced technology, the 2011 choices transformed major challenges in getting their animated visions to screen. Here's how:'Arthur Christmas' 'Chico and Rita' 'Gnomeo and Juliet' 'Rango' 'Wrinkles' 'Rio' Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Donald Trump's GOP Debate: Mitt Romney Becomes Third Candidate Who Won't Participate

Winner for the hottest topic in Hollywood: Netflix.our editor recommendsSony Executive Talks Early Digital Film Releases, Netflix, Future of Music Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes: 'Netflix Is Our Friend'CBS CEO Leslie Moonves: 'We Want a Healthy Netflix'Starz Not 'Reveling' in Netflix's Pain After Severing Ties With the Company, Says Top ExecNetflix Hires Former Skype Executive and FCC Advisor to Head Government Relations That's judging from an investors conference in NY that wraps up Wednesday and where some of the industry's biggest players are there to promote their own TV and film businesses, though they couldn't stop talking about Netflix. No wonder, then, when Netflix CEO Reed Hastings finally took the floor, it was standing-room, with heavy hitters like Harvey Weinstein joining an audience primarily of Wall Street bankers and analysts. Before Hastings sat down for a Q&A with UBS executive Aryeh Bourkoff, his ears must have been burning, since he and Netflix had already been discussed by Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei and others. "Last year you were a key topic here, but you were not here. There was a mix of fear, envy and mystique," Bourkoff said, noting that it was the first time Hastings appeared at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. "Now it's just pity," Hastings joked, a reference to a decimated stock price and a dented reputation brought about by a dramatic price increase and other public-relations misfires. Hastings told the audience that he considers the "quite impressive" HBO Go his primary competition. If the on-demand service for HBO subscribers was part of Netflix, it would account for 25 percent of its customers' streaming, he estimated. "They're not competing directly with us, but they can," Hastings said. "We'll push each other like two runners." Referencing Netflix's upcoming original series House of Cards, Hastings said of HBO in general: "They are becoming more like us and we are becoming more like them." Hastings also predicted that within 10 years about half of all TV viewing in the U.S. will come via the Internet, and it's that assumption that caused the company to charge head-strong into streaming even though, in hindsight, the move was "a little too fast" and he ended up irritating consumers. He acknowledged that he and the executives at Netflix rarely watch DVDs anymore, so he may have misread the typical consumer. "Our big obsession for the year was, 'let's not live and die by DVD,'" he said. Of the 60 percent price hike that got the company so much negative attention and cost Netflix about 1 million subscribers, Hastings said: "We berate ourselves tremendously for that lack of insight." Hastings said Netflix will stream 1 billion hours of content this quarter and, if House of Cards goes well, he could see the company eventually spending as much as 15 percent of its content-acquisition budget on original shows. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Netflix's 10 Most Rented Movies of All Time Related Topics Time Warner Leslie Moonves CBS Jeff Bewkes Liberty Media Netflix House of Cards Reed Hastings UBS

Angelina Jolie Sued For Copyright Infringement Over New Film

Jason Merritt/Getty Images Just weeks before Angelina Jolie is scheduled to release her directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey, the actress/filmmaker has been sued by Croatian journalistJames Braddock, who claims the forthcoming movie about a love affair during theBosnian Civil War violates his copyright on a book, The Soul Shattering.our editor recommendsAngelina Jolie Discusses 'Dark Past' on '60 Minutes' (Video)Angelina Jolie Eyes Iraq Pioneer Biopic 'Gertrude Bell' for Ridley Scott (Exclusive)Angelina Jolie Signs with Talent AgencyAngelina Jolie's 'In The Land of Blood & Honey' Trailer Released Braddock is demanding statutory damages plus an injunction against the film's release. Jolie isa goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and she certainly travels far and wide promoting humanitarian causes, but what is the likelihood she had seen Braddock's original book, which was published in Croatian in 2007? According to Braddock's lawsuit, the key figure might be an individual named Edin Sarkic, a co-defendant in the lawsuit who served as one of the film's producers and has been credited in the press with helping Jolie attain the necessary permits to film inSarajevo. PHOTOS: Hollywood's 10 Highest-Paid Actresses Braddock claims that after publishing his book in 2007, he traveled to Sarajevo to promote his work and create awareness for Bosnian war victims. There, he says he was allegedly approached by Sarkic, who told Braddock that he read The Soul Shattering and wanted to meet to discuss the book in further detail. Braddock and Sarkic allegedly met three more times in 2008 to discuss details about the book, "including plot and character development and the story's cultural significance and historical accuracy." The discussions are said to have evolved into the possibility of creating a film adaptation of the book. The two kept in touch over telephone and text messages over the next two years. Braddock also says he e-mailed an individual at one of Jolie's charities to propose a collaboration on a project to build villages across Sarajevo and New Orleans. VIDEO: Angelina Jolie Reveals Past Aspirations to Become Funeral Director Then, Braddock says he learned of Jolie's movie. He details some of the similarities, including the backdrop of war-torn Bosnia and Herzogovina in the early 1990s, a main female character who is captured and imprisoned and raped by soldiers, and a Serbian camp commander who falls in love with the woman and helps her escape. VIDEO: Angelina Jolie Reveals Inspiration Behind Her Directorial Debut, 'In the Land of Blood and Honey' It'll be up to a judge to determine whether the claimed "obvious" similarities meet the high threshold needed to prove copyright infringement. Braddock's lawyer, Kelly Saindon, will have to demonstrate substantial similarity in expression, not merely the use of unprotectable ideas. Besides Jolie and Sarkic, the other defendants areGK Films, FilmDistrict, and Scout Film. The film is scheduled to be released on December 23. Here's the complaint: E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery I'm Quitting the Biz: 16 Hollywood Retirements (and 'Retirements') Angelina Jolie In the Land of Blood and Honey

Dane Cook on His Days As a Stand-Up Therapist, Personal Tragedy and Answers to Nothing

comments: 0 || add yours Whether or not you buy into Dane Cook’s brand of humor, you must acknowledge that the Boston-born stand-up has cornered a sizable comedy market and successfully infiltrated the movie business. Up next, Cook attempts to make the most challenging transition of his career — from dependable funnyman to respected actor. Following smaller dramatic turns in Mr. Brooks and Dan in Real Life, Cook sinks his teeth into his most serious role yet with this weekend’s ensemble drama Answers to Nothing. As a conflicted therapist who struggles to get his wife (Elizabeth Mitchell) pregnant in between counseling a patient (Kali Hawk), dealing with his delusional mother (Barbara Hershey) and maintaining a mistress (Aja Volkman), Cook’s character Ryan searches for existential justification that may or may not be within reach. To discuss his latest dramatic turn, Dane Cook sat down with Movieline yesterday in Beverly Hills, where he also candidly revealed his career goals, recalled the time he played therapist and broke up a couple during a stand-up act and reflected on his own personal breakthrough moment. Hey Dane. How was your Thanksgiving? It was good. I had a stragglers Thanksgiving. I invited everybody who didn’t go home over the holiday. It was a bit of a potluck night. Everybody brought booze or some treat. It was great. So in Answers to Nothing, you play Barbara Hershey’s son. The last actor who played Barbara Hershey’s child won an Oscar for her role. Are you feeling stressed by this precedent? I am not feeling that but I am feeling very grateful — not only that people are acknowledging how incredible Barbara Hershey is as an actor, but to be able to parry and thrust in a moment with her — that was a highlight moment. Your character loves to play the “I have the worst mother in the world” game. He does but there’s a lot of identity stuff happening where you can really empathize with the fact that [my character] has this whimsical, glamorized idea of what his grandparents’ love meant and this anger at what his father is doing and why his mother refuses to acknowledge his absence. You can see though that in the scene [where my character insults his mother] that it comes from pure love. It’s just a disconnect in him. I think that speaks to all of us. The movie opens with Ryan recounting his grandparents’ courtship like it is a Disney fairytale — and then the camera pulls back revealing that as he is reciting this tale, he is receiving oral sex from his mistress. Were you concerned that the audience might not be able to get past this first image of your character as a total asshole? Yes! I read the script and thought, on a lighter scale, I’ve dug the deepest possible hole that I could put myself in and how would anyone want to hang with this guy? What redeeming quality would he have? Most of the discussions I had with our director were about that scene. 99 percent were, “How can I do this effectively? What needs to be done here?” But a lot of it is that Aja [Volkman], the actress playing my girlfriend — the hopelessness and neediness she felt, that desire to fill some kind of void with love — how she receives that scene that we play I think is what makes it buoyant. I’ve been talking a lot lately about breakthrough moments. We all hope for breakthrough rebirth moments. When you’re headed for a breakthrough moment it’s kind of scary because you say, “If I break through then I have to make great change in my life.” That means giving up on certain things whether it’s alcohol, some kind of addiction or you’re having an affair or you’re cheating or you’re about to get a promotion. Whatever it is, that breakthrough of truth alters your life. That’s what all of these characters are experiencing — that precursor to a breakthrough moment. How does everybody approach it and then once you’re in it, everybody isn’t just relieved. Sometimes it’s going to be harder for a long time. The sympatico and serendipity with these characters — those are the kinds of conversations I like to have when I watch an interesting movie that is character-driven. Like Pulp Fiction — that’s a very different kind of movie but I love leaving and discussing the characters and how they lent themselves to one another. I think all of the stuff here lent to a really great story. How do you think someone like Ryan can completely romanticize one marriage, almost to the point of obsession, while destroying his own? He is certainly affected by his absentee father. Anger has a way of seeping into every other emotion and planting itself in there. Speaking from personal experience, I teach comedy camp over the summers. I’ve done it for fifteen years for inner city kids. We do it on Saturdays at the Laugh Factory. It’s wonderful. It’s so rewarding to see these kids find their voices onstage. And as they are standing there and we are teaching them comedy, their stories are bone-crushingly sad. We ask them to tell stories about things they see around them. Some of them are funny and silly. Some of them will start telling a story like, “When I saw my mom get beat up by my dad…” and in that moment we’re laughing and we’re crying because in that moment we are allowing the truth to seep past even what this is — us being together and having a little bit of fun on Saturday before they have to go back to foster care. Some of them leave [the comedy camp] never the same again because the truth and the anger finally starts to dissipate because they’ve shared it. It’s incredible. How do you find that button between comedy and tragedy. Are some personal stories just too sad to ever be funny? We just try to keep the comedy and tragedy together. There are moments I’ve seen in screenings when people nervously laugh and what that says is that they are connecting with me. What’s happening onscreen is so real that they don’t know where to put it — how to interpret it. [They] have to protect themselves with laughter. That’s like ripping somebody’s shield down. That’s kind of the antithesis of vulnerability. I hope what this allows me is — because I’ve done some comedies and some smaller movies like Mr. Brooks and Dan in Real Life that showed my vulnerability in a completely well thought-out character — is to have more opportunities to play moments that are cathartic and funny. Like Woody Allen movies where you’re laughing but you’re touched. He is somebody I’d love to work with one day. How did you prepare to play a therapist? I say it with my tongue firmly planted in cheek but there’s truth to it — being a comedian is very close to being a therapist. When you’re working smaller clubs, you’re listening. You’re feeling an energy, you’re going with a tone but when people start yelling out, you almost start a conversation with people. I never looked at heckler situations as “What can I say that will smash them and shut them down?” I never wanted to just make fun of their hair real quick but I wanted to figure out, “Why did you yell up here?” The heckler was an interview moment for me. I always treated it like therapy. I always thought that if I got no love at all early in my standup career or I was god awful, I thought I’d get into psychology. Seriously! I’ve always read books and loved human behavior since I was ten or twelve years old. Maybe even that’s why I wanted to do comedy. I thought, “This is making people feel joy.” My family had a lot of hardship but we were all up watching Johnny Carson or Saturday Night Live and that made us feel okay. Has there been a moment in your stand-up career when you’ve really worked through an issue with a heckler? There was a moment with a heckler where [laughs] — I haven’t thought about this in so long — I think I was having such a strong performance that night that this guy’s date was attracted to my powerful energy — me being the guy performing. Maybe in this guy’s life, he was that powerful guy. Anyway, he shouted some shit at me. We had a little toe-to-toe and what I ended up doing is breaking down to this guy’s date why she shouldn’t be with a man like this. It was surgical the way I was going in and asking her questions and getting truth out of her. By the end of the show, they had stormed off angrily. Then two days later, I got an e-mail from her asking me out to dinner. Oh no! [Laughs] Yeah! She wrote, “I don’t want to be with a guy who’s like that.” So many truths had come to the surface just from what I — I learned that when you really get that eye contact with somebody and you’re on stage, you can pull the truth out of someone. Just like Howard Stern does on the radio. He pulls the truth out of his listeners before they even realize it. I kind of learned those tricks and how to get into audience members’ souls a little. I’d have therapeutic moments like that which would lead to somewhat life-altering moments. Sometimes they are miniscule but in this case, it led to the end of a relationship. He was a douchebag and maybe his date didn’t realize it until he behaved in that manner. I just brought it all out of him. Did you feel bad upon learning that you had broken up the couple? No. Not at all. Did you e-mail the girl back? No — I didn’t take her up on the dinner. I was in a relationship at the time. I think I told her to bring her next date to one of my shows but make sure he doesn’t interrupt [my act]. It seems like you are making a push towards more dramatic material. How conscious are you of this career transition and do you look to successful comedian-turned-actors like Bill Murray, Jim Carrey and Robin Williams for inspiration? There’s no master plan that says I want to do drama. I’m not going to be content with “just okay.” I want to be patient and do great work with great people around me. What appealed to me about this film is that it was an ensemble piece. Little movie, low budget and we were all going to be in the trenches together. We wanted to get it above the line, we hoped that it would get into theaters, we hoped people would see it. Those were the early conversations. Hopefully with this success and if people find the film, I’ll be up for more compelling roles that are not necessarily just dramatic but different kinds of comedy. Like Jason Reitman that I admire or Woody Allen. It’s funny because I love comedic directors that know how to utilize a comic’s ability for the tender moments as well. What is your dream role? Neil LaBute’s play Fat Pig — we were set to do that and we were about a week away from going back to rehearsal when we lost our key financier. So unfortunately now it’s looking like we might not be doing it until the spring, if we can do it at all. The part of Carter though, that I saw a few years ago when Chris Pine played him — I saw the play and immediately said, “That’s the character I want to play.” What about the character spoke to you? Well the play itself is really a morality tale about how we see image. It’s a four-person play. Tom, my character’s best friend, basically falls in love with an obese woman. We all think she is the greatest until we meet her. Based on physicality, I try to talk him out of this relationship. My character is just an asshole — a caustic, sterile, verbally abusive character. Yet, there is this great moment where Carter talks about his obese mother and what he experienced growing up with her. Similar to my character in Answers to Nothing, it starts out with my character being a complete jerk. No [audience member] is going to want this guy back and yet there is this tremendous floodgate moment where he just opens up and admits that he hated his mother because of her weight. I love roles where you take risks and I don’t mind that these characters polarize people. This is the second dramatic character we’ve talked about — and you’ve either played or are about to play — who has a love-vitriolic hate relationship with his mother that manifests itself in ugly, damaging ways. Is that just a coincidence? I love my mom so much and that could not be further from the relationship that I have with her. I would not be sitting here with you if it was not for my mom. My nickname for my mom was “The Compass.” She actually passed away a few years ago. She always knew the direction I had before I knew it. I had zero belief in myself growing up. I grew up very self-loathing. I was a phobic. I had anxiety. I had panic attacks. Once I left my house I was a wreck. Yet, here was this empowered, funny, very cool woman — my mom would listen to AC/DC’s “Hells Bells” with my friends in the car — and she would tell me, “You have a lot of soul, Dane. Every day, you have to believe in yourself.” I had so much insecurity though and she saw [my whole future] laid out. I can’t tell you how many times I’d call my mom to tell her, “I’m hosting SNL” and she’d just say, “I know.” She knew it was all going to happen. So you’ve talked about your character’s breakthrough moment, the breakthrough moment you forced upon comedy club audience members…what was Dane Cook’s personal breakthrough moment? I think mine happened sometime in the last few years. My mom and dad passed away from cancer. Within nine months, I lost both of my folks. Immediately after that, I had a horrible betrayal where my brother, who worked for me, stole a lot of my money. He’s in jail now. Here I was, reaching a larger success in my life but simultaneously dealing with this. My professional dreams were coming true while I was living a personal nightmare. It’s amazing the lessons that came out of that. I had to go inward and first, I had to accept my accomplishments which I had never done. I don’t think I ever sat and enjoyed them. I was always thinking, “What’s next, what’s next” or just trying to accomplish something for my folks. A gift that [those experiences] gave me was that they taught me to stop and appreciate what I’ve done. I’ve done a lot and it’s okay to share that. Now, I’m starting with something that is all for me. I don’t have to do anything for anyone else’s benefit anymore. I just want to exceed my own expectations. Follow Julie Miller on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter. Tagged: answers to nothing, dane cook, interview, neil labute, woody allen

Will 'The Artist' and 'The Descendants' Turn back Indie Spirit-Oscar Trend?

Will 'The Artist' and 'The Descendants' Turn back Indie Spirit-Oscar Trend? By Scott Feinberg November 30, 2011 Photo by Fox Searchlight The nominations for that 27th annual Independent Spirit Honours were revealed on Tuesday, and were centered through the Weinstein Company's "The Artist" and The new sony Pictures Classics' "Take Shelter," which obtained five nods each. In the past, Indie Spirit those who win have tended to obtain nominated for -- but lose -- in the Academy awards. That may change this year, however, with "The Artist" and "The Descendants," two films which have both resonated as strongly every with Academy people so far, both nominated for the best feature, best director and finest script."The Artist," "The Descendants" and "Take Shelter" will compete for best feature with "Beginners" (the large champion finally night's Gotham Honours), "Drive," and "50/50." Bizarrely, Woodsy Allen's "Night time in Paris," which is among the likeliest best picture Oscar nominees, was refused a place within this category (in addition to best director and finest script), despite the fact that it had been nominated for best supporting actor (Corey Stoll) and finest cinematography. Drake Doremus' "Constantly,Inch that also appeared to become a likely nominee, seemed to be snubbed.A couple of other films were excluded from the main groups for other reasons: Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Existence," using its $32 million budget, was too large to pass through being an indie with this group. Meanwhile, three critics' faves with Oscar aspirations -- Lars von Trier's "Melancholia," Steve McQueen's "Shame" and Lynne Ramsey's "We Want to Discuss Kevin" -- were considered to become foreign films and therefore ineligible outdoors from the category alotted for individuals.Lastly, two inexplicable snubs happened within the lead acting groups: George Clooney, the star of "The Descendants," remained from the best actor race, while Glenn Close, the star of "Albert Nobbs," was excluded from the very best actress area-- despite the fact that her co-star Jesse McTeer was nominated for the best supporting actress. (I wouldn't read an excessive amount of in to these particular final results indeed, it is extremely likely the Academy will reverse them.) I expect that individuals races will be won by Jean Dujardin ("The Artist") and either Michelle Williams ("My Week with Marilyn") or Elizabeth Olsen ("Martha Marcy May Marlene"), correspondingly, which Christopher Plummer ("Beginners") and Shailene Woodley ("The Descendants") will prevail within the supporting groups. The Hollywood Reporter Will 'The Artist' and 'The Descendants' Turn back Indie Spirit-Oscar Trend? By Scott Feinberg November 30, 2011 PHOTO CREDIT Fox Searchlight The nominations for that 27th annual Independent Spirit Honours were revealed on Tuesday, and were centered through the Weinstein Company's "The Artist" and The new sony Pictures Classics' "Take Shelter," which obtained five nods each. In the past, Indie Spirit those who win have tended to obtain nominated for -- but lose -- in the Academy awards. That may change this season, however, with "The Artist" and "The Descendants," two films which have both resonated as strongly every with Academy people so far, both nominated for the best feature, best director and finest script."The Artist," "The Descendants" and "Take Shelter" will compete for the best feature with "Beginners" (the large champion finally night's Gotham Honours), "Drive," and "50/50." Bizarrely, Woodsy Allen's "Night time in Paris," which is among the likeliest best picture Oscar nominees, was refused a place within this category (in addition to best director and finest script), despite the fact that it had been nominated for the best supporting actor (Corey Stoll) and finest cinematography. Drake Doremus' "Constantly,Inch that also appeared to become a likely nominee, seemed to be snubbed.A couple of other films were excluded from the main groups for some other reasons: Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Existence," using its $32 million budget, was too large to pass through being an indie with this group. Meanwhile, three critics' faves with Oscar aspirations -- Lars von Trier's "Melancholia," Steve McQueen's "Shame" and Lynne Ramsey's "We have to Discuss Kevin" -- were considered to become foreign films and for that reason ineligible outdoors from the category alotted for individuals.Lastly, two inexplicable snubs happened within the lead acting groups: George Clooney, the star of "The Descendants," was excluded from the very best actor race, while Glenn Close, the star of "Albert Nobbs," was excluded from the very best actress area-- despite the fact that her co-star Jesse McTeer was nominated for the best supporting actress. (I wouldn't read an excessive amount of in to these particular final results indeed, it's highly likely the Academy will reverse them.) I expect that individuals races will be won by Jean Dujardin ("The Artist") and only Michelle Williams ("My Week with Marilyn") or Elizabeth Olsen ("Martha Marcy May Marlene"), correspondingly, which Christopher Plummer ("Beginners") and Shailene Woodley ("The Descendants") will prevail within the supporting groups. The Hollywood Reporter

New Muppets Trailer Hits The Net

It's Slumfrog MillionaireWe've had the Eco-friendly Lantern one, The Hangover one, the Dragon Tattoo one, the Paranormal Activity one, the standard one and today it's Bollywood's turn. Yes, The Muppets have headed east for an additional among their loving, trailer-formed homages.We believe they might simply have been fibbing once they stated these were completed with the pastiche trailers but, hey, it is a Muppet fib therefore it does not count. Stay tuned, relax and let everyone's furry buddies sing and dance you into Friday evening. Yes, we all know it's Thursday but it is 24 hrs of fun. This is possibly the ultimate, final pastiche trailer (signal: The Muppets do Tree Of Existence), so simply to recap: Muppet fan Walter gathers your government Gary (Jason Segel) and the girlfriend Mary (Can Be) to assist him recruit Kermie and also the gang and save their old theatre from demolition. The guy to hiss at? Greedy oil maniac Tex Richman (Chris Cooper). Booooo! The Muppets has gone out in america on November 23 and arrives right here on Feb 17.

ABC Orders Full Seasons of Once Upon a Time, Last Man Standing, Happy Endings

Lana Parrilla, Tim Allen, Elisha Cuthbert Expect to see more evil queens and disgruntled men on ABC. The network announced full seasons of Happy Endings and freshman shows Once Upon a Time and Last Man Standing on Thursday. Five additional scripts for the '60s jet-setting period drama Pan Am have also been ordered. Once Upon a Time Tales: Meet the mistress of all evil, Maleficent In its sophomore season, the relationship sitcom Happy Endings has averaged 7.3 million viewers in its last six outings. The Oct. 23 debut of the fairy-tale drama Once Upon a Time gave ABC its best scripted series premiere numbers in two years. It drew in 12.79 million viewers and posted a 3.9 among the coveted 18-49 demo. Last Man Standing, Tim Allen's return to series television, premiered to 13.19 million viewers. The sitcom has slid in subsequent weeks, but still grabbed a respectable 9.3 million on Tuesday. Pan Am, which stars Christina Ricci, had a strong takeoff with 11.06 million viewers, but has been steadily descending in the ratings. Its last outing only drew 5.46 million viewers. Are you happy to see more episodes of these shows?