39th Saturn Award Nominations - Complete List

The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. Dr. Donald A. Reed devised the Saturn Awards in 1972 because he felt that genre films were frequently overlooked by mainstream entertainment industry awards. The Saturn Award trophy is a representation of the planet Saturn, surrounded with a ring of film.

Like the Oscars, the Emmys, and the Grammys, the Saturn Awards are voted on by members of a presenting Academy, in this case, the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. This Academy is a non-profit organization with membership open to the public.

Although the awards still primarily nominate films and television programs in the science fiction, fantasy and horror categories, the Saturn Awards have also recognized productions in standard dramatic genres. There are also special awards for lifetime achievement in the field, such as the George Pal Memorial Award.

If things work out for the 39th awards they did for the 38th, the qualifying period for the 39th annual Saturn Awards was Feb. 1, 2012, to Jan. 31, 2013. This year’s Saturn Awards will be presented some time in June 2013.

39th Saturn Award nominations:

Film Nominations:

Best Science Fiction Film:
Marvel’s The Avengers - Marvel / Walt Disney Studios
Chronicle - 20th Century Fox
Cloud Atlas - Warner Bros.
The Hunger Games - Summit / Lionsgate
Looper - Sony Pictures
Prometheus - 20th Century Fox

Best Fantasy Film:
The Amazing Spider-Man - Sony Pictures
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Warner Bros.
Life of Pi - 20th Century Fox
Ruby Sparks - Fox Searchlight
Snow White and the Huntsman - Universal
Ted - Universal

Best Horror/Thriller Film:
Argo - Warner Bros.
The Cabin in the Woods - Lionsgate
The Impossible - Summit / Lionsgate
Seven Psychopaths - CBS Films
The Woman in Black - CBS Films
Zero Dark Thirty - Sony Pictures

Best Action/Adventure Film:
The Bourne Legacy - Universal
The Dark Knight Rises - Warner Bros.
Django Unchained - The Weinstein Co.
Les Miserables - Universal
Skyfall - Sony Pictures
Taken 2 - 20th Century Fox

Best Independent Film Release:
Compliance - Magnolia
Hitchcock - Fox Searchlight
Killer Joe - LD Entertainment
The Paperboy - Millennium
Robot and Frank - Samuel Goldwyn Films
Safety Not Guaranteed - FilmDistrict
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World - Focus Features

Best International Film:
Anna Karenina - Focus Features
Chicken With Plums - Sony Pictures Classics
The Fairy - Kino Lorber
Headhunters - Magnolia
My Way Well Go - USA
Pusher - Radius

Best Animated Film:
Brave - Pixar / Walt Disney Studios
Frankenweenie - Walt Disney Studios
ParaNorman - Focus Features
Wreck-It Ralph - Walt Disney Studios

Best Actor:
Christian Bale, The Dark Knight Rises - Warner Bros.
Daniel Craig, Skyfall - Sony Pictures
Martin Freeman, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Warner Bros.
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables - Universal
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Looper - Sony Pictures
Matthew McConaughey, Killer Joe = LD Entertainment

Best Actress:
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty - 20th Century Fox
Ann Dowd, Compliance - Magnolia
Zoe Kazan, Ruby Sparks - Fox Searchlight
Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games - Summit / Lionsgate
Helen Mirren, Hitchcock - Fox Searchlight
Naomi Watts, The Impossible - Summit/Lionsgate

Best Supporting Actor:
Javier Bardem, Skyfall - Sony Pictures
Michael Fassbender, Prometheus - 20th Century Fox
Clark Gregg, Marvel’s The Avengers - Marvel / Walt Disney Studios
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, The Dark Knight Rises - Warner Bros.
Ian McKellen, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Warner Bros.
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained - The Weinstein Co.

Best Supporting Actress:
Judi Dench, Skyfall - Sony Pictures
Gina Gershon, Killer Joe - LD Entertainment
Anne Hathaway, The Dark Knight Rises - Warner Bros.
Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables - Universal
Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy - Millennium
Charlize Theron, Snow White and the Huntsman - Universal

Best Performance By a Younger Actor:
CJ Adams, The Odd Life of Timothy Green - Walt Disney Studios
Tom Holland, The Impossible - Summit / Lionsgate
Daniel Huttlestone, Les Miserables - Universal
Chloe Grace Moretz, Dark Shadows - Warner Bros.
Suraj Sharma, Life of Pi - 20th Century Fox
Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild - Fox Searchlight

Best Direction:
William Friedkin, Killer Joe - LD Entertainment
Peter Jackson, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Warner Bros.
Rian Johnson, Looper - Sony Pictures
Ang Lee, Life of Pi - 20th Century Fox
Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises - Warner Bros.
Joss Whedon, Marvel’s The Avengers - Marvel / Walt Disney Studios

Best Writing:
Tracy Letts, Killer Joe - LD Entertainment
David Magee, Life of Pi - 20th Century Fox
Martin McDonagh, Seven Psychopaths - CBS Films
Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained - The Weinstein Co.
Joss Whedon, Marvel’s The Avengers = Marvel / Walt Disney Studios
Joss Whedon, Drew Goddard, The Cabin in the Woods - Lionsgate

Best Production Design:
Hugh Bateup, Uli Hanisch, Cloud Atlas - Warner Bros.
Sarah Greenwood, Anna Karenina - Focus Features
David Gropman, Life of Pi - 20th Century Fox
Rick Heinrichs, Dark Shadows Warner Bros.
Dan Hennah, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Warner Bros.
Eve Stewart, Les Miserables - Universal

Best Editing:
Stuart Baird, Kate Baird, Skyfall - Sony Pictures
Alexander Berner, Cloud Atlas - Warner Bros.
Bob Ducsay, Looper - Sony Pictures
Jeffrey Ford, Lisa Lassek, Marvel’s The Avengers - Marvel / Walt Disney Studios
John Gilroy, The Bourne Legacy - Universal
Tim Squyres, Life of Pi - 20th Century Fox

Best Music:
Mychael Danna, Life of Pi - 20th Century Fox
Danny Elfman, Frankenweenie - Walt Disney Studios
Dario Marianelli, Anna Karenina - Focus Features
Thomas Newman, Skyfall - Sony Pictures
Howard Shore, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Warner Bros.
Hans Zimmer, The Dark Knight Rises - Warner Bros.

Best Costume:
Jacqueline Durran, Anna Karenina - Focus Features
Kym Barrett, Pierre-Yves Gavraud, Cloud Atlas - Warner Bros.
Sharen Davis, Django Unchained - The Weinstein Co.
Bob Buck, Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Warner Bros.
Paco Delgado, Les Miserables - Universal
Colleen Atwood, Snow White and the Huntsman - Universal

Best Make-Up:
Heike Merker, Daniel Parker, Jeremy Woodhead, Cloud Atlas - Warner Bros.
Gregory Nicotero, Howard Berger, Peter Montagna, Julie Hewitt, Hitchcock - Fox Searchlight
Peter Swords King, Rick Findlater, Tami Lane, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Warner Bros.
David Marti, Montse Ribe, Vasit Suchitta, The Impossible - Summit / Lionsgate
Naomi Donne, Donald Mowat, Love Larson, Skyfall - Sony Pictures
Jean Ann Black, Fay Von Schroeder, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 - Lionsgate

Best Special Effects:
Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams, Dan Sudick, Marvel’s The Avengers - Marvel / Walt Disney Studios
Grady Cofer, Pablo Helman, Jeanie King, Burt Dalton, Battleship - Universal
Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R. Christopher White, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Warner Bros.
Chris Corbould, Peter Chiang, Scott R. Fisher, Sue Rowe, John Carter - Walt Disney Studios
Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan de Boer, Donald R. Elliott, Life of Pi - 20th Century Fox
Cedric Nicholas-Troyan, Philip Brennan, Neil Courbould, Michael Dawson, Snow White and the Huntsman - Universal

TV Nominations:

Best Network Television Series:
Elementary CBS
The Following Fox
Fringe Fox
Once Upon a Time ABC
Revolution NBC
Supernatural CW

Best Syndicated Cable Television Series:
American Horror Story: Asylum FX
Dexter Showtime
Leverage TNT
The Killing AMC
True Blood HBO
The Walking Dead AMC

Best Television Presentation:
Breaking Bad AMC
Continuum Syfy
Falling Skies TNT
Game of Thrones HBO
Ken Follett’s World Without End - Reelz
Mockingbird Lane NBC
Spartacus: War of the Damned Starz

Best Youth Oriented Series on Television:
Arrow CW
Beauty and the Beast CW
Doctor Who BBC America
Merlin Syfy
Teen Wolf MTV
The Vampire Diaries CW

Best Actor:
Kevin Bacon, The Following Fox
Billy Burke, Revolution NBC
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad AMC
Michael C. Hall, Dexter Showtime
Joshua Jackson, Fringe Fox
Timothy Hutton, Leverage TNT
Andrew Lincoln, The Walking Dead AMC

Best Actress:
Moon Bloodgood, Falling Skies TNT
Mireille Enos, The Killing AMC
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Asylum FX
Charlotte Riley, Ken Follett’s World Without End Reelz
Tracy Spiridakos, Revolution NBC
Anna Torv, Fringe Fox

Best Supporting Actor:
Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad AMC
Giancarlo Esposito, Revolution NBC
Todd Lasance, Spartacus: War of the Damned Starz
Colm Meaney, Hell on Wheels AMC
David Morrissey, The Walking Dead AMC
John Noble, Fringe Fox

Best Supporting Actress:
Jennifer Carpenter, Dexter Showtime
Sarah Carter, Falling Skies TNT
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad AMC
Laurie Holden, The Walking Dead AMC
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Asylum FX
Beth Riesgraf, Leverage TNT

Best Guest Starring Role in a Series:
Blair Brown, Fringe Fox
Terry O’Quinn, Falling Skies TNT
Lance Reddick, Fringe Fox
Mark Sheppard, Leverage TNT
Ray Stevenson, Dexter Showtime
Yvonne Strahovski, Dexter Showtime

Home Entertainment Nominations:

Best DVD/Blu-ray Release:
Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike Atlas Distribution/Fox
Chained Anchor Bay
Cosmopolis Entertainment One
The Possession Lionsgate
A Thousand Cuts Lorber Films
Touchback Anchor Bay/Starz

Best DVD/Blu-ray Special Edition Release:
Jaws (Universal 100th Anniversary Edition) Universal
Lawrence of Arabia (50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition) Sony
Les Vampires Classics Edition Kino International
Little Shop of Horrors: The Director’s Cut Warner
Stanley Kubrick’s Fear and Desire Kino International

Best DVD/Blu-ray Collection:
Alfred Hitchcock (The Masterpiece Collection) Universal
Battle Royale (The Complete Collection) Anchor Bay
Bond 50 (The Complete 22 Film Collection) MGM
Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series MPI
The Ultimate Buster Keaton Blu-ray Collection Kino Lorber
Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Universal

Best DVD/Blu-ray TV Series:
In Search Of: The Complete Series - Visual Entertainment
Logan’s Run: The Complete Series - Warner
The River: The Complete First Season = ABC Studios
Shazam! The Complete Live-Action Series - Warner Archive
Spartacus: Vengeance (The Complete Second Season) - Starz/Anchor Bay
Star Trek: The Next Generation (Seasons 1 & 2) - Paramount


www.saturnawards.org

"The Hobbit" Leads 39th Saturn Award Nominations

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Life of Pi and Skyfall Lead Film Nominations for 39th Saturn Awards

Fringe, Dexter, The Walking Dead and Revolution Top TV Nominations from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films; Saturn Awards to Be Presented in June

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey received more Saturn Award nominations than any other film released last year, with Life of Pi and Skyfall close behind as the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films revealed the nominations for the 39th Annual Saturn Awards.

Marvel’s The Avengers, The Dark Knight Returns, Looper, Cloud Atlas, Argo and Les Miserables all received multiple Saturn Award nominations, underscoring the ways in which genre filmmaking has expanded beyond its roots as niche entertainment.

The only major awards dedicated to honoring the finest genre achievements in film, television and home entertainment, the Saturn Awards are planned to be presented in June, with the exact date and location to be announced shortly.

Nominees for Best Science Fiction Film are: Marvel’s The Avengers, Chronicle, Cloud Atlas, The Hunger Games, Looper and Prometheus. Nominees for Best Fantasy Film are: The Amazing Spider-Man, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Life of Pi, Ruby Sparks, Snow White and the Huntsman and Ted. Best Horror/Thriller Film nominees are: Argo, The Cabin in the Woods, The Impossible, Seven Psychopaths, The Woman in Black and Zero Dark Thirty. Best Action/Adventure Film nominees are: The Bourne Legacy, The Dark Knight Rises, Django Unchained, Les Miserables, Skyfall and Taken 2.

“From the grand adventure of Les Miserables to the visionary fantasy of Life of Pi and the magical realism of Beasts of the Southern Wild, this year’s films transcended the notion of genre filmmaking and brought us extraordinary visions of exaggerated or enhanced reality, making this one of the most intriguing lists of Saturn Awards nominees in a long time,” said Academy President Robert Holguin.

The Academy of Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Films has added a new film category to this year’s Saturn Awards, honoring the Best Independent Film Release. The nominees are: Compliance, Hitchcock, Killer Joe, The Paperboy, Robot and Frank, Safety Not Guaranteed and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.

On television, Elementary, The Following, Fringe, Once Upon a Time, Revolution and Supernatural are nominated as Best Network Television Series. For Best Syndicated/Cable TV Series, nominees are American Horror Story: Asylum, Dexter, Leverage, The Killing, True Blood and The Walking Dead.

The non-profit Academy of Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Films was founded in 1972 by noted film historian Dr. Donald A. Reed, who wanted to honor and recognize genre entertainment often overlooked by mainstream awards organizations.

For a full list of this year’s nominees, visit www.saturnawards.org.

38th Saturn Award Winners - Complete List

by Leroy Douresseaux

The Saturn Awards are presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video.  Last year, I posted the nominations for the 38th Saturn Awards, but not the winners.  Well, the nominations for the 39th Saturn Awards were announces, so that reminded me of my slip-up.

The qualifying period for the 38th annual Saturn Awards was Feb. 1, 2011, to Jan. 31, 2012. This year’s Saturn Awards were presented on July 26, 2012 in Burbank.

38th Saturn Award winners:

FILM CATEGORIES

Best Science Fiction Film:
Rise of the Planet of the Apes - 20th Century Fox

Best Fantasy Film:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - Warner Bros.

Best Horror/Thriller Film:
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Sony

Best Action/Adventure Film:
Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol - Paramount

Best Actor:
Michael Shannon, Take Shelter - Sony Pictures Classics

Best Actress:
Kirsten Dunst, Melancholia - Magnolia

Best Supporting Actor:
Andy Serkis, Rise of the Planet of the Apes - 20th Century Fox

Best Supporting Actress:
Emily Blunt, The Adjustment Bureau - Universal

Best Performance by a Younger Actor:
Joel Courtney, Super 8 - Paramount

Best Direction:
J.J. Abrams, Super 8 - Paramount

Best Writing:
Jeff Nichols, Take Shelter - Sony Pictures Classics

Best Music:
Michael Giacchino, Super 8 - Paramount

Best Production Design:
Dante Ferretti, Hugo - Paramount

Best Editing:
Paul Hirsch, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol - Paramount

Best Costume:
Alexandra Byrne, Thor - Paramount/Marvel

Best Make-Up:
Dave Elsey, Fran Needham, Conor O’ Sullivan, X-Men: First Class - 20th Century Fox

Best Special Effects:
Dan Lemmon, Joe Letteri, R. Christopher White, Daniel Barrett, Rise of the Planet of the Apes - 20th Century Fox

Best International Film:
The Skin I Live In - Sony Pictures Classics

Best Animated Film:
Puss in Boots - Paramount/DreamWorks Animation

TELEVISION CATEGORIES:

Best Network Television Series:
Fringe - Fox

Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series:
Breaking Bad - AMC

Best Presentation on Television (10 Episodes or Less):
The Walking Dead - AMC

Best Youth-Oriented Series on Television:
Teen Wolf - MTV

Best Actor on Television:
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad - AMC

Best Actress on Television:
Anna Torv, Fringe - Fox

Best Supporting Actor on Television:
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad - AMC

Best Supporting Actress on Television:
Michelle Forbes, The Killing - AMC

Best Guest Performer on Television:
Tom Skerritt, Leverage - TNT

HOME-ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORIES

Best DVD Release: (TIE)
Atlas Shrugged: Part One - Fox
The Perfect Host - Magnolia

Best DVD Special Edition Release:
Giorgio Moroder Presents Metropolis - Kino International

Best DVD Collection:
Stanley Kubrick: The Essential Collection - Warner

Best DVD Television Series Release:
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena – Starz

Special Awards:

The George Pal Memorial Award: Martin Scorsese

The Life Career Award: Frank Oz and James Remar

The Filmmakers Showcase Award: Drew Goddard

The Milestone Award: The Simpsons

The Innovator Award: Robert Kirkman

The Appreciation Award: Jeffrey Ross (for hosting the Saturn Awards)

www.saturnawards.org.

Filming Begins on "Prisoners," Starring Hugh Jackman

Filming Begins on Alcon Entertainment’s “Prisoners”

Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal head an outstanding cast in director Denis Villeneuve’s dramatic thriller

Principal photography is underway on location in Georgia for Alcon Entertainment’s “Prisoners,” a Warner Bros. Pictures’ release starring Oscar® nominees Hugh Jackman (“Les Misérables”) and Jake Gyllenhaal (“Brokeback Mountain”), under the direction of Denis Villeneuve, who helmed the Oscar®-nominated foreign language film “Incendies.”

How far would you go to protect your child? Keller Dover (Jackman) is facing every parent’s worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Heading the investigation, Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) arrests its driver, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), but a lack of evidence forces the only suspect’s release.

Knowing his child’s life is at stake, the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. The desperate father will do whatever it takes to find the girls, but in doing so, he may lose himself, begging the question: When do you cross the line between seeking justice and becoming a vigilante?

Led by Jackman and Gyllenhaal, the dramatic thriller “Prisoners” features an all-star cast, including Maria Bello (“Beautiful Boy”) as Keller’s distraught wife, Grace; Oscar® nominees Terrence Howard (“Hustle & Flow”) and Viola Davis (“The Help,” “Doubt”) as Franklin and Nancy Birch, whose daughter Joy went missing with the Dovers’; Academy Award® winner Melissa Leo (“The Fighter”) as Alex Jones’ Aunt Holly; and Paul Dano (“Looper”) as Alex Jones.

Denis Villeneuve directs the film from an original screenplay by Aaron Guzikowski (“Contraband”). Kira Davis, Adam Kolbrenner, and Academy Award® nominees Broderick Johnson and Andrew A. Kosove (“The Blind Side”) are the producers, with John Starke, Ed McDonnell, Stephen Levinson, Robyn Meisinger and Mark Wahlberg serving as executive producers.

Villeneuve is supported by a top-flight creative team that includes 10-time Oscar®-nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins (“Skyfall”), Oscar®-nominated production designer Patrice Vermette (“The Young Victoria”), Oscar®-winning editor Joel Cox (“Unforgiven”), editor Gary Roach (“J. Edgar”), and costume designer Renée April (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”).

Alcon Entertainment’s “Prisoners” is scheduled for release on September 20, 2013, and will be distributed domestically by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Review: Jennifer Lawrence is the Primary Builder of "House at the End of the Street"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 13 (of 2013) by Leroy Douresseaux

House at the End of the Street (2012)
Running time: 101 minutes (1 hour, 41 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and terror, thematic elements, language, some teen partying and brief drug material
DIRECTOR: Mark Tonderai
WRITERS: David Loucka; from a story by Jonathan Mostow
PRODUCERS: Peter Block, Hal Lieberman, and Aaron Ryder
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Miroslaw Baszak
EDITORS: Steve Mirkovich and Karen Porter
COMPOSER: Theo Green

HORROR/THRILLER

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Max Thieriot, Elisabeth Shue, Gil Bellows, Eva Link, Nolan Gerard Funk, Allie MacDonald, Jordan Hayes, and Craig Eldridge

House at the End of the Street is a 2012 horror movie and thriller starring Jennifer Lawrence. Directed by Mark Tonderai, the film focuses on the new girl in town who befriends an outcast boy with a dark past.

Seventeen-year-old Elissa Cassidy (Jennifer Lawrence) and her newly-divorced mother, Sarah (Elisabeth Shue), move from Chicago to Woodshire, an upscale small town surrounded by a lush forest. Elissa notices an abandoned house a short distance across the forest from their new home. Neighbors inform mother and daughter that a terrible murder occurred in that house four years earlier. A mentally disturbed girl named Carrie-Anne (Eva Link) murdered her parents and then, disappeared into the woods.

The house at the end of the street is not abandoned. Carrie-Anne’s older brother, Ryan (Max Thieriot), recently moved back, planning to restore the home and sell it. Elissa takes a liking to Ryan, but she learns that his family’s dark story is far from over.

House at the End of the Street is not a supernatural horror film, nor is it a slasher film. It is a horror-thriller of the variety that finds a high school girl (or young woman) being menaced. As such, Mark Tonderai is a competent director who delivers the thrills, and the last 20 minutes of this movie are quite exciting. The screenplay brings up some good dysfunction between the Cassidy women, but drops it – probably because dealing with family melodrama would take screen time away from what a scary movie should be doing. That is throwing scary things at the audience.

Beside the thrills and scares-delivered, the reason to see House at the End of the Street is Jennifer Lawrence. She makes this movie, which is a typical horror movie, soar. Chris Matthews of MSNBC may be right; Lawrence could end up being the best actor (or one of them) of her generation. I’m giving House at the End of the Street a grade of “B” because of her.

6 of 10
B

Monday, February 18, 2013

------------------------------

Farewell Dr. Jerry Buss

by Leroy Douresseaux

I've probably forced on you, dear readers, that I am a huge fan of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).  Lakers' owner, Dr. Jerry Buss, died on Monday, February 18, 2013, after a bout with cancer.  He was 80 years old.

He was born Gerald Hatten Buss on January 27, 1933.  Learn more of his rags-to riches story at this Yahoo Sports article while it is still up.  He was Dr. Buss because he had a Ph.D in physical chemistry.  He made his money in real estate, which is how he got the Lakers.  The team was part of a sports franchise and real estate deal for a total of $67.5, and only $16 million of that amount was for the Lakers... in 1979!  The Lakers won 10 NBA Championships with Buss as the owner, reportedly the most NBA titles won by any owner.

Current NBA commissioner David Stern released a statement on Dr. Buss' passing: "The NBA has lost a visionary owner whose influence on our league is incalculable and will be felt for decades to come. More importantly, we have lost a dear and valued friend. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time."

Here, is the Lakers' statement on Dr. Buss' passing.  I want to offer my condolences to Dr. Buss' family and the Lakers.  Rest in peace, Dr. Buss.

Paramount and WWE Unite to Promote Two Dwayne Johnson Films

PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND WWE® TEAM UP FOR “G.I. JOE: RETALIATION” AND “PAIN & GAIN” PROMOTION

Hollywood, CA AND Stamford, Conn. – February 19, 2013 – Paramount Pictures and WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced a promotional partnership to support Paramount’s upcoming feature film releases, G.I. JOE: RETALIATION and PAIN & GAIN. The cross-platform partnership includes integration opportunities on WWE programming at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event as well as appearances by film star and WWE Champion Dwayne “The Rock®” Johnson on Monday Night Raw® and WrestleMania® 29. In addition to storyline integration on its TV broadcasts, WWE will utilize all of its assets, including live events, digital and social media to promote the films and engage millions of fans each week.

G.I. JOE: RETALIATION is a co-presenting partner of Elimination Chamber with integration during the pay-per-view as well as storyline integration with stars D.J. Cotrona and Adrianne Palicki on Monday Night Raw on USA Network, leading up to the film’s release on March 29.

In the sequel to the 2009 release of G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA, which grossed more than $300 million worldwide, the G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra, they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) and Skydance Productions present in association with Hasbro. G.I. JOE: RETALIATION stars D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Stevenson, Elodie Yung, Channing Tatum with Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson. Produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Brian Goldner. Based on Hasbro’s G.I. Joe® characters. Written by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick and directed by Jon M. Chu. G.I. JOE: RETALIATION is in theaters everywhere March 29.

PAIN & GAIN will have a major presence at WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, April 7, and at WrestleMania Axxess, a four-day interactive WWE fan experience at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., from Thursday, April 4 to Sunday, April 7.

From acclaimed director Michael Bay comes PAIN & GAIN, a new action comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie, based on the unbelievable true story of three personal trainers in 1990s Miami, who, in pursuit of the American Dream, get caught up in a criminal enterprise that goes horribly wrong. Ed Harris, Tony Shalhoub, Rob Corddry, Rebel Wilson and Bar Paly also star. Produced by Donald De Line, Michael Bay and Ian Bryce. Based on the Magazine Articles by Pete Collins. Screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. Directed by Michael Bay. PAIN & GAIN opens in theaters everywhere April 26.


About Paramount Pictures Corporation
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About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 600 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.