Two Months 'Til Doomsday? Mayan Apocalypse Set for Dec. 21

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Box-office activity slows for 'Paranormal,' Perry

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This film image released by Paramount Pictures shows Kathryn Newton in a scene from "Paranormal Activity 4." (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures)

This film image released by Paramount Pictures shows Kathryn Newton in a scene from "Paranormal Activity 4." (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures)

Scary movie fans are still into "Paranormal Activity," though the horror franchise looks as though it's starting to run out of steam at the box office.

Paramount's "Paranormal Activity 4" debuted at No. 1 with $30.2 million, a big drop from the $40 million and $50 million opening weekends of the last two installments, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Perpetual hit maker Tyler Perry failed to find an audience for his new persona as an ace crime solver. Summit Entertainment's "Alex Cross," starring Perry as author James Patterson's brilliant criminal profiler, was a dud, opening at No. 5 with $11.8 million.

Perry has written, directed and starred in a string of hits featuring his sassy grandma Madea, which mostly have had opening weekends two and three times bigger than that of "Alex Cross." Fans didn't buy into Perry as the title character, who goes up against a diabolical serial killer.

"He's become so identified and so successful with the Madea franchise that when he steps outside of that, it doesn't necessarily follow that the audience is going along with him," said Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com. "It's fun for him to stretch out a little bit, but it didn't really pay off."

Ben Affleck's Iran hostage tale "Argo" held up well in its second weekend, remaining at No. 2 with $16.6 million, dropping just 15 percent from its debut. Big studio releases often drop 50 percent or more in subsequent weekends, but "Argo" has proven a hit with critics and audiences alike, earning Academy Awards buzz and strong word of mouth that should give it a long run at theaters.

Affleck, who also directed "Argo," plays a CIA specialist who concocts a wild plan to rescue six Americans hiding in Tehran after the 1979 takeover of the U.S. embassy there.

Released by Warner Bros., "Argo" raised its domestic total to $43.2 million.

Liam Neeson's action sequel "Taken 2," which had been No. 1 the previous two weekends, slipped to fourth place with $13.4 million, lifting the 20th Century Fox release's domestic haul to $106 million.

Adam Sandler's animated hit "Hotel Transylvania," from Sony Pictures, also held up well at No. 3 with $13.5 million, pushing its domestic earnings to $119 million.

While domestic revenues were way down for the fourth "Paranormal Activity" flick, the franchise remains a big moneymaker for distributor Paramount. "Paranormal Activity 4" was produced on a tiny budget of $5 million, continuing the franchise's trend of turning minimal investments into tidy profits.

"For us, the focus is always, what are these movies made for and how profitable are they? Within Paramount, it's a colossal success," said Don Harris, the studio's head of distribution. "A $5 million movie that has an opening weekend of over $30 million, it's really kind of irrelevant what No. 2 or No. 3 did. The movies really stand on their own."

Overseas, "Paranormal Activity 4" had a good start with $26.5 million in 33 countries, giving it a worldwide total of $56.7 million.

In limited release, Fox Searchlight's acclaimed drama "The Sessions" did solid business, opening with $121,005 in four theaters in New York City and Los Angeles, for a healthy average of $30,251 a cinema. By comparison, "Paranormal Activity 4" averaged $8,851 in 3,412 theaters.

"The Sessions" stars John Hawkes and Helen Hunt in the true-life story of a man, paralyzed by polio and stuck in an iron lung most of his life, who hires a sexual surrogate so he can lose his virginity. The film expands to more cities over the next month.

While "Paranormal Activity 4" fell short of the franchise's third installment, which opened over the same weekend last year, overall Hollywood revenues continued to rise after a late-summer slump.

Strong holdovers such as "Argo," ''Hotel Transylvania" and "Taken 2" made the difference, with domestic business totaling $131 million, up 8 percent from the same weekend a year ago, according to Hollywood.com. Revenues were up for the fourth-straight weekend.

"Last year, the box office was so top-heavy with 'Paranormal Activity 3,' and the rest of the films really underperformed," Dergarabedian said. "This year, we have a much more balanced lineup."

Estimated ticket sales are for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Paranormal Activity 4," $30.2 million ($26.5 million international).

2. "Argo," $16.6 million ($1.2 million international).

3. "Hotel Transylvania," $13.5 million ($14.5 million international).

4. "Taken 2," $13.4 million ($23.6 million international).

5. "Alex Cross," $11.8 million.

6. "Sinister," $9 million ($2.3 million international).

7. "Here Comes the Boom," $8.5 million.

8. "Pitch Perfect," $7 million ($320,000 international).

9. "Frankenweenie," $4.4 million ($4.1 million international).

10. "Looper," $4.2 million ($5.6 million international).

___

Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

1. "Paranormal Activity 4," $26.5 million.

2. "Taken 2," $23.6 million.

3. "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," $14.9 million.

4. "Hotel Transylvania," $14.5 million.

5. "The Impossible," $8.7 million.

6. "Asterix et Obelix: Au Service de Sa Majeste," $8.1 million.

7. "Ted," $8 million.

8. "Looper," $5.6 million.

9. "Perfect Number," $4.1 million.

10 (tie). "Frankenweenie," $4.1 million.

10 (tie). "Masquerade," $4.1 million.

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

http://www.rentrak.com

___

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-10-21-Box%20Office/id-d5db4cca5b07404d8260eeba1acf17a5

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Panthers GM Hurney fired after team's 1-5 start

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ? Marty Hurney admits the "losing environment" for the Carolina Panthers must end. He won't be a part of the effort.

Hurney was fired as general manager Monday, one day after star quarterback Cam Newton expressed his frustration with a 1-5 start. The Panthers have the worst record in the NFC in a season that began with big expectations. But a 19-14 loss to Dallas was Carolina's fourth straight defeat.

Hurney, the GM since 2002, took responsibility for the team's failures.

He spoke to owner Jerry Richardson before Sunday's game and had an inkling he might be fired if the Panthers lost to the Cowboys. He met with Richardson again for two hours after the game Sunday night and was told he was fired on Monday.

"It's simple. We're 1-5. We are 1-3 at home," Hurney said. "We laid in egg in front of the Giants on national TV (a 36-7 loss) and came back the last two weeks and lost against teams we felt like we had a good chance to beat. It can't continue to go this way."

Hurney said he fought for his job, but in the end couldn't blame Richardson. Hurney added he thinks the Panthers need more leadership.

"I think we need somebody to step up in the locker room and take hold," Hurney said. "I think there are people capable of that. I think we need some players to step up and say enough is enough."

Newton experienced virtually no losses before becoming a pro, and he was the 2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year. But this season has been a struggle, and he seemed at a loss for solutions Sunday.

"Well everybody's looking at it, it's not just me," he said. "(We) try to find ways to keep games close and whether it's me, I don't know. Whether it's the coordinator, I don't know ... but we've got to find a way to change that."

The first change came in the front office. Brandon Beane, the team's director of football operations, will handle day-to-day football matters until a new GM is hired. However, coach Ron Rivera said when it comes to personnel decisions he'll have final say in matters for now.

"If a decision has to be made involving the football team and players, it will all stop with me," Rivera said, who added he was surprised by the move.

Rivera said at this point no assistant coaches have been fired, but wouldn't rule that out.

"We're all being evaluated," said Rivera, who was hired by Hurney in 2011.

Hurney doesn't expect Richardson to hire a new general manager until after the season. Richardson could bring in an experienced interim personnel man to evaluate the team.

Hurney said he regrets not winning a Super Bowl in Carolina ? they lost 32-29 to New England for the 2003 title ? and the team's inability to post back-to-back winning seasons.

"I hope this change starts accomplishing the direction to those goals," Hurney said. "I am responsible for everybody in coaching, the players, the scouts and everybody in football operations. After six weeks, we are 1-5 coming off a 6-10 season."

Hurney was general manager when the Panthers went to the Super Bowl and the NFC championship games in the 2003 and 2005 seasons, as well as winning the NFC South in 2008.

"Marty made every effort to bring success to the Panthers and took the team to a Super Bowl and two NFC championship games," Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said. "Unfortunately, we have not enjoyed the success we hoped for in recent years. I have the greatest respect and admiration for Marty and will always appreciate the way he tirelessly served the organization."

Hurney was well liked and respected within the organization, but his personnel decisions in the draft and in free agency were routinely criticized by fans tired of the Panthers' losing ways.

Defensive end Charles Johnson, the team's highest-paid player, said on Twitter: "Marty wasn't the reason we are losing! ... Unbelievable!"

Carolina's last playoff victory came in 2005 when it reached the NFC championship game before losing at Seattle. The Panthers appeared to turn things around in 2008 when they won the NFC South and earned a first-round bye before getting upset 33-13 at home by the Arizona Cardinals. They haven't been back to the playoffs since.

Hurney's philosophy has been to build through the draft and re-sign proven players rather than going after high-priced free agents. But the team wasted a number of high draft picks through the years.

The personnel blunder fans that angered fans most was giving 34-year-old quarterback Jake Delhomme a five-year, $42.5 million contract months after he turned over the ball over six times in the playoff loss to Arizona.

Delhomme started 2009 with a five-turnover game against Philadelphia and was cut after the season. Delhomme cost the Panthers $12 million under the salary cap in 2009 even though he was no longer on the roster.

Eric Shelton, Dwayne Jarrett, Jimmy Clausen and Everette Brown were all drafted in the second round, but failed to meet expectations. Brown, in particular, was a costly choice in 2009 because the Panthers gave up their first-round pick the following year to San Francisco to get him. Brown lasted only two seasons in Carolina.

Hurney also was criticized for giving big contracts to keep the team's core intact following a 2-14 season in 2010.

He did well with first-round draft picks Jordan Gross, Jon Beason, Jonathan Stewart, Chris Gamble and Newton, last year's No. 1 overall pick.

___

AP Sports Writer Arnie Stapleton in Denver contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/panthers-gm-hurney-fired-teams-1-5-start-141450430--nfl.html

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Alabama Senate approves "monstrosity" that would tie legislators' pay to median income

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MONTGOMERY, Al.
 The Alabama Senate this afternoon approved a junked-up "monstrosity" of a bill to tie legislators' pay to the median household income in Alabama.
Senators voted 28-6 for the proposed constitutional amendment after tacking on multiple add-ons including that a 2007 pay raise would be repealed immediately, lawmakers would forfeit pay in times of high unemployment, and legislators would have to reimburse the state if they accepted a controversial 2007 pay raise.
Senators in favor of the bill said they weren't even sure if all the changes were constitutional.
"What came out today was a monstrosity that we want to correct in conference committee," Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said.
"The House is not going to concur with this. I'm going to beg them not to concur with this. We are going to send it to conference and fix it in conference," Marsh said.
The original proposal would change the way lawmakers are paid, giving them a base salary equal to the state's median household income. Additionally, they would be paid a daily expense allowance and mileage, identical to what state employees get, to cover travel expenses to Montgomery.
Lawmakers currently earn a minimum of $53,388 each year. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the state's 2010 median household income at $40,474.
Under the new proposal, a lawmaker who lived 128 miles from Montgomery, for instance, would make about $45,980, according to an estimate from the Legislative Fiscal Office.
The proposed change is a constitutional amendment that would take effect immediately after the 2014 general election if voters approved it.
The bill comes after a much-criticized pay raise that lawmakers approved in 2007 without a recorded vote. The 61-percent pay raise included automatic cost-of-living adjustments.
But senators engaged in a type of political race of who could be more in favor of slashing legislative pay.
Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, accused Republicans of presenting a "Trojan Horse," noting the bill would not repeal the 2007 raise immediately and it would stay in place if voters voted down the proposed constitutional amendment
Bedford put on an amendment that lawmakers would forfeit their pay any time the state's unemployment rate crept above 5.2 percent, saying lawmakers should follow the governor's example.
Marsh said some of the opposition was a "show" and countered with an amendment of his own that lawmakers would have to give back any pay raise they took if they were in office when the 2007 raise was approved. Marsh said he didn't take the pay raise.
"I've withstood as much hypocrisy as I can for one day," Marsh said.

Agnes Simpson, longtime owner of Dothan's WOOF radio station, dead at 87

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DOTHAN, Al.
 Agnes Simpson, longtime owner of Alabama's WOOF radio stations in Dothan and the first woman to be named Alabama Broadcaster of the Year, has died. She was 87.

Agnes Simpson

Simpson died Monday at her residence, officials with the Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home and Crematory said Tuesday.
"In the radio business, she and I are old school," said longtime General Sales Manager Hal Edwards. "Not just because we were old but because we still cling to the ideal of serving our listeners. We always agreed that at WOOF Radio, our job was 'To serve the public interest and our business is the promotion of legal commercial enterprise' and we did that."
Simpson was born in Prescott, Ariz. and attended the University of Alabama, where she met her future husband, R.A. Dowling. She served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and moved to Dothan after the war.
She and her husband got a license to operate an AM radio station in 1947 and launched WOOF. After her husband died, Simpson obtained a license for one of Alabama's first FM stations, which launched in 1964.
Simpson sold commercials and also did news broadcasts on both stations. She won awards for her broadcasting, including the Silver Medal Award from the Dothan Advertising Federation and Alabama Broadcaster of the Year.
Simpson served as the president of WOOF until recently when she took ill.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity.

Alabama Senate approves "monstrosity" that would tie legislators' pay to median income

To contact us Click HERE
MONTGOMERY, Al.
 The Alabama Senate this afternoon approved a junked-up "monstrosity" of a bill to tie legislators' pay to the median household income in Alabama.
Senators voted 28-6 for the proposed constitutional amendment after tacking on multiple add-ons including that a 2007 pay raise would be repealed immediately, lawmakers would forfeit pay in times of high unemployment, and legislators would have to reimburse the state if they accepted a controversial 2007 pay raise.
Senators in favor of the bill said they weren't even sure if all the changes were constitutional.
"What came out today was a monstrosity that we want to correct in conference committee," Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said.
"The House is not going to concur with this. I'm going to beg them not to concur with this. We are going to send it to conference and fix it in conference," Marsh said.
The original proposal would change the way lawmakers are paid, giving them a base salary equal to the state's median household income. Additionally, they would be paid a daily expense allowance and mileage, identical to what state employees get, to cover travel expenses to Montgomery.
Lawmakers currently earn a minimum of $53,388 each year. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the state's 2010 median household income at $40,474.
Under the new proposal, a lawmaker who lived 128 miles from Montgomery, for instance, would make about $45,980, according to an estimate from the Legislative Fiscal Office.
The proposed change is a constitutional amendment that would take effect immediately after the 2014 general election if voters approved it.
The bill comes after a much-criticized pay raise that lawmakers approved in 2007 without a recorded vote. The 61-percent pay raise included automatic cost-of-living adjustments.
But senators engaged in a type of political race of who could be more in favor of slashing legislative pay.
Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, accused Republicans of presenting a "Trojan Horse," noting the bill would not repeal the 2007 raise immediately and it would stay in place if voters voted down the proposed constitutional amendment
Bedford put on an amendment that lawmakers would forfeit their pay any time the state's unemployment rate crept above 5.2 percent, saying lawmakers should follow the governor's example.
Marsh said some of the opposition was a "show" and countered with an amendment of his own that lawmakers would have to give back any pay raise they took if they were in office when the 2007 raise was approved. Marsh said he didn't take the pay raise.
"I've withstood as much hypocrisy as I can for one day," Marsh said.

Agnes Simpson, longtime owner of Dothan's WOOF radio station, dead at 87

To contact us Click HERE
DOTHAN, Al.
 Agnes Simpson, longtime owner of Alabama's WOOF radio stations in Dothan and the first woman to be named Alabama Broadcaster of the Year, has died. She was 87.

Agnes Simpson

Simpson died Monday at her residence, officials with the Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home and Crematory said Tuesday.
"In the radio business, she and I are old school," said longtime General Sales Manager Hal Edwards. "Not just because we were old but because we still cling to the ideal of serving our listeners. We always agreed that at WOOF Radio, our job was 'To serve the public interest and our business is the promotion of legal commercial enterprise' and we did that."
Simpson was born in Prescott, Ariz. and attended the University of Alabama, where she met her future husband, R.A. Dowling. She served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and moved to Dothan after the war.
She and her husband got a license to operate an AM radio station in 1947 and launched WOOF. After her husband died, Simpson obtained a license for one of Alabama's first FM stations, which launched in 1964.
Simpson sold commercials and also did news broadcasts on both stations. She won awards for her broadcasting, including the Silver Medal Award from the Dothan Advertising Federation and Alabama Broadcaster of the Year.
Simpson served as the president of WOOF until recently when she took ill.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity.

Two Months 'Til Doomsday? Mayan Apocalypse Set for Dec. 21

To contact us Click HERE
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Box-office activity slows for 'Paranormal,' Perry

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This film image released by Paramount Pictures shows Kathryn Newton in a scene from "Paranormal Activity 4." (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures)

This film image released by Paramount Pictures shows Kathryn Newton in a scene from "Paranormal Activity 4." (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures)

Scary movie fans are still into "Paranormal Activity," though the horror franchise looks as though it's starting to run out of steam at the box office.

Paramount's "Paranormal Activity 4" debuted at No. 1 with $30.2 million, a big drop from the $40 million and $50 million opening weekends of the last two installments, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Perpetual hit maker Tyler Perry failed to find an audience for his new persona as an ace crime solver. Summit Entertainment's "Alex Cross," starring Perry as author James Patterson's brilliant criminal profiler, was a dud, opening at No. 5 with $11.8 million.

Perry has written, directed and starred in a string of hits featuring his sassy grandma Madea, which mostly have had opening weekends two and three times bigger than that of "Alex Cross." Fans didn't buy into Perry as the title character, who goes up against a diabolical serial killer.

"He's become so identified and so successful with the Madea franchise that when he steps outside of that, it doesn't necessarily follow that the audience is going along with him," said Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com. "It's fun for him to stretch out a little bit, but it didn't really pay off."

Ben Affleck's Iran hostage tale "Argo" held up well in its second weekend, remaining at No. 2 with $16.6 million, dropping just 15 percent from its debut. Big studio releases often drop 50 percent or more in subsequent weekends, but "Argo" has proven a hit with critics and audiences alike, earning Academy Awards buzz and strong word of mouth that should give it a long run at theaters.

Affleck, who also directed "Argo," plays a CIA specialist who concocts a wild plan to rescue six Americans hiding in Tehran after the 1979 takeover of the U.S. embassy there.

Released by Warner Bros., "Argo" raised its domestic total to $43.2 million.

Liam Neeson's action sequel "Taken 2," which had been No. 1 the previous two weekends, slipped to fourth place with $13.4 million, lifting the 20th Century Fox release's domestic haul to $106 million.

Adam Sandler's animated hit "Hotel Transylvania," from Sony Pictures, also held up well at No. 3 with $13.5 million, pushing its domestic earnings to $119 million.

While domestic revenues were way down for the fourth "Paranormal Activity" flick, the franchise remains a big moneymaker for distributor Paramount. "Paranormal Activity 4" was produced on a tiny budget of $5 million, continuing the franchise's trend of turning minimal investments into tidy profits.

"For us, the focus is always, what are these movies made for and how profitable are they? Within Paramount, it's a colossal success," said Don Harris, the studio's head of distribution. "A $5 million movie that has an opening weekend of over $30 million, it's really kind of irrelevant what No. 2 or No. 3 did. The movies really stand on their own."

Overseas, "Paranormal Activity 4" had a good start with $26.5 million in 33 countries, giving it a worldwide total of $56.7 million.

In limited release, Fox Searchlight's acclaimed drama "The Sessions" did solid business, opening with $121,005 in four theaters in New York City and Los Angeles, for a healthy average of $30,251 a cinema. By comparison, "Paranormal Activity 4" averaged $8,851 in 3,412 theaters.

"The Sessions" stars John Hawkes and Helen Hunt in the true-life story of a man, paralyzed by polio and stuck in an iron lung most of his life, who hires a sexual surrogate so he can lose his virginity. The film expands to more cities over the next month.

While "Paranormal Activity 4" fell short of the franchise's third installment, which opened over the same weekend last year, overall Hollywood revenues continued to rise after a late-summer slump.

Strong holdovers such as "Argo," ''Hotel Transylvania" and "Taken 2" made the difference, with domestic business totaling $131 million, up 8 percent from the same weekend a year ago, according to Hollywood.com. Revenues were up for the fourth-straight weekend.

"Last year, the box office was so top-heavy with 'Paranormal Activity 3,' and the rest of the films really underperformed," Dergarabedian said. "This year, we have a much more balanced lineup."

Estimated ticket sales are for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Paranormal Activity 4," $30.2 million ($26.5 million international).

2. "Argo," $16.6 million ($1.2 million international).

3. "Hotel Transylvania," $13.5 million ($14.5 million international).

4. "Taken 2," $13.4 million ($23.6 million international).

5. "Alex Cross," $11.8 million.

6. "Sinister," $9 million ($2.3 million international).

7. "Here Comes the Boom," $8.5 million.

8. "Pitch Perfect," $7 million ($320,000 international).

9. "Frankenweenie," $4.4 million ($4.1 million international).

10. "Looper," $4.2 million ($5.6 million international).

___

Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

1. "Paranormal Activity 4," $26.5 million.

2. "Taken 2," $23.6 million.

3. "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," $14.9 million.

4. "Hotel Transylvania," $14.5 million.

5. "The Impossible," $8.7 million.

6. "Asterix et Obelix: Au Service de Sa Majeste," $8.1 million.

7. "Ted," $8 million.

8. "Looper," $5.6 million.

9. "Perfect Number," $4.1 million.

10 (tie). "Frankenweenie," $4.1 million.

10 (tie). "Masquerade," $4.1 million.

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

http://www.rentrak.com

___

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-10-21-Box%20Office/id-d5db4cca5b07404d8260eeba1acf17a5

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Panthers GM Hurney fired after team's 1-5 start

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ? Marty Hurney admits the "losing environment" for the Carolina Panthers must end. He won't be a part of the effort.

Hurney was fired as general manager Monday, one day after star quarterback Cam Newton expressed his frustration with a 1-5 start. The Panthers have the worst record in the NFC in a season that began with big expectations. But a 19-14 loss to Dallas was Carolina's fourth straight defeat.

Hurney, the GM since 2002, took responsibility for the team's failures.

He spoke to owner Jerry Richardson before Sunday's game and had an inkling he might be fired if the Panthers lost to the Cowboys. He met with Richardson again for two hours after the game Sunday night and was told he was fired on Monday.

"It's simple. We're 1-5. We are 1-3 at home," Hurney said. "We laid in egg in front of the Giants on national TV (a 36-7 loss) and came back the last two weeks and lost against teams we felt like we had a good chance to beat. It can't continue to go this way."

Hurney said he fought for his job, but in the end couldn't blame Richardson. Hurney added he thinks the Panthers need more leadership.

"I think we need somebody to step up in the locker room and take hold," Hurney said. "I think there are people capable of that. I think we need some players to step up and say enough is enough."

Newton experienced virtually no losses before becoming a pro, and he was the 2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year. But this season has been a struggle, and he seemed at a loss for solutions Sunday.

"Well everybody's looking at it, it's not just me," he said. "(We) try to find ways to keep games close and whether it's me, I don't know. Whether it's the coordinator, I don't know ... but we've got to find a way to change that."

The first change came in the front office. Brandon Beane, the team's director of football operations, will handle day-to-day football matters until a new GM is hired. However, coach Ron Rivera said when it comes to personnel decisions he'll have final say in matters for now.

"If a decision has to be made involving the football team and players, it will all stop with me," Rivera said, who added he was surprised by the move.

Rivera said at this point no assistant coaches have been fired, but wouldn't rule that out.

"We're all being evaluated," said Rivera, who was hired by Hurney in 2011.

Hurney doesn't expect Richardson to hire a new general manager until after the season. Richardson could bring in an experienced interim personnel man to evaluate the team.

Hurney said he regrets not winning a Super Bowl in Carolina ? they lost 32-29 to New England for the 2003 title ? and the team's inability to post back-to-back winning seasons.

"I hope this change starts accomplishing the direction to those goals," Hurney said. "I am responsible for everybody in coaching, the players, the scouts and everybody in football operations. After six weeks, we are 1-5 coming off a 6-10 season."

Hurney was general manager when the Panthers went to the Super Bowl and the NFC championship games in the 2003 and 2005 seasons, as well as winning the NFC South in 2008.

"Marty made every effort to bring success to the Panthers and took the team to a Super Bowl and two NFC championship games," Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said. "Unfortunately, we have not enjoyed the success we hoped for in recent years. I have the greatest respect and admiration for Marty and will always appreciate the way he tirelessly served the organization."

Hurney was well liked and respected within the organization, but his personnel decisions in the draft and in free agency were routinely criticized by fans tired of the Panthers' losing ways.

Defensive end Charles Johnson, the team's highest-paid player, said on Twitter: "Marty wasn't the reason we are losing! ... Unbelievable!"

Carolina's last playoff victory came in 2005 when it reached the NFC championship game before losing at Seattle. The Panthers appeared to turn things around in 2008 when they won the NFC South and earned a first-round bye before getting upset 33-13 at home by the Arizona Cardinals. They haven't been back to the playoffs since.

Hurney's philosophy has been to build through the draft and re-sign proven players rather than going after high-priced free agents. But the team wasted a number of high draft picks through the years.

The personnel blunder fans that angered fans most was giving 34-year-old quarterback Jake Delhomme a five-year, $42.5 million contract months after he turned over the ball over six times in the playoff loss to Arizona.

Delhomme started 2009 with a five-turnover game against Philadelphia and was cut after the season. Delhomme cost the Panthers $12 million under the salary cap in 2009 even though he was no longer on the roster.

Eric Shelton, Dwayne Jarrett, Jimmy Clausen and Everette Brown were all drafted in the second round, but failed to meet expectations. Brown, in particular, was a costly choice in 2009 because the Panthers gave up their first-round pick the following year to San Francisco to get him. Brown lasted only two seasons in Carolina.

Hurney also was criticized for giving big contracts to keep the team's core intact following a 2-14 season in 2010.

He did well with first-round draft picks Jordan Gross, Jon Beason, Jonathan Stewart, Chris Gamble and Newton, last year's No. 1 overall pick.

___

AP Sports Writer Arnie Stapleton in Denver contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/panthers-gm-hurney-fired-teams-1-5-start-141450430--nfl.html

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Two Months 'Til Doomsday? Mayan Apocalypse Set for Dec. 21

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Box-office activity slows for 'Paranormal,' Perry

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This film image released by Paramount Pictures shows Kathryn Newton in a scene from "Paranormal Activity 4." (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures)

This film image released by Paramount Pictures shows Kathryn Newton in a scene from "Paranormal Activity 4." (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures)

Scary movie fans are still into "Paranormal Activity," though the horror franchise looks as though it's starting to run out of steam at the box office.

Paramount's "Paranormal Activity 4" debuted at No. 1 with $30.2 million, a big drop from the $40 million and $50 million opening weekends of the last two installments, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Perpetual hit maker Tyler Perry failed to find an audience for his new persona as an ace crime solver. Summit Entertainment's "Alex Cross," starring Perry as author James Patterson's brilliant criminal profiler, was a dud, opening at No. 5 with $11.8 million.

Perry has written, directed and starred in a string of hits featuring his sassy grandma Madea, which mostly have had opening weekends two and three times bigger than that of "Alex Cross." Fans didn't buy into Perry as the title character, who goes up against a diabolical serial killer.

"He's become so identified and so successful with the Madea franchise that when he steps outside of that, it doesn't necessarily follow that the audience is going along with him," said Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com. "It's fun for him to stretch out a little bit, but it didn't really pay off."

Ben Affleck's Iran hostage tale "Argo" held up well in its second weekend, remaining at No. 2 with $16.6 million, dropping just 15 percent from its debut. Big studio releases often drop 50 percent or more in subsequent weekends, but "Argo" has proven a hit with critics and audiences alike, earning Academy Awards buzz and strong word of mouth that should give it a long run at theaters.

Affleck, who also directed "Argo," plays a CIA specialist who concocts a wild plan to rescue six Americans hiding in Tehran after the 1979 takeover of the U.S. embassy there.

Released by Warner Bros., "Argo" raised its domestic total to $43.2 million.

Liam Neeson's action sequel "Taken 2," which had been No. 1 the previous two weekends, slipped to fourth place with $13.4 million, lifting the 20th Century Fox release's domestic haul to $106 million.

Adam Sandler's animated hit "Hotel Transylvania," from Sony Pictures, also held up well at No. 3 with $13.5 million, pushing its domestic earnings to $119 million.

While domestic revenues were way down for the fourth "Paranormal Activity" flick, the franchise remains a big moneymaker for distributor Paramount. "Paranormal Activity 4" was produced on a tiny budget of $5 million, continuing the franchise's trend of turning minimal investments into tidy profits.

"For us, the focus is always, what are these movies made for and how profitable are they? Within Paramount, it's a colossal success," said Don Harris, the studio's head of distribution. "A $5 million movie that has an opening weekend of over $30 million, it's really kind of irrelevant what No. 2 or No. 3 did. The movies really stand on their own."

Overseas, "Paranormal Activity 4" had a good start with $26.5 million in 33 countries, giving it a worldwide total of $56.7 million.

In limited release, Fox Searchlight's acclaimed drama "The Sessions" did solid business, opening with $121,005 in four theaters in New York City and Los Angeles, for a healthy average of $30,251 a cinema. By comparison, "Paranormal Activity 4" averaged $8,851 in 3,412 theaters.

"The Sessions" stars John Hawkes and Helen Hunt in the true-life story of a man, paralyzed by polio and stuck in an iron lung most of his life, who hires a sexual surrogate so he can lose his virginity. The film expands to more cities over the next month.

While "Paranormal Activity 4" fell short of the franchise's third installment, which opened over the same weekend last year, overall Hollywood revenues continued to rise after a late-summer slump.

Strong holdovers such as "Argo," ''Hotel Transylvania" and "Taken 2" made the difference, with domestic business totaling $131 million, up 8 percent from the same weekend a year ago, according to Hollywood.com. Revenues were up for the fourth-straight weekend.

"Last year, the box office was so top-heavy with 'Paranormal Activity 3,' and the rest of the films really underperformed," Dergarabedian said. "This year, we have a much more balanced lineup."

Estimated ticket sales are for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Paranormal Activity 4," $30.2 million ($26.5 million international).

2. "Argo," $16.6 million ($1.2 million international).

3. "Hotel Transylvania," $13.5 million ($14.5 million international).

4. "Taken 2," $13.4 million ($23.6 million international).

5. "Alex Cross," $11.8 million.

6. "Sinister," $9 million ($2.3 million international).

7. "Here Comes the Boom," $8.5 million.

8. "Pitch Perfect," $7 million ($320,000 international).

9. "Frankenweenie," $4.4 million ($4.1 million international).

10. "Looper," $4.2 million ($5.6 million international).

___

Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

1. "Paranormal Activity 4," $26.5 million.

2. "Taken 2," $23.6 million.

3. "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," $14.9 million.

4. "Hotel Transylvania," $14.5 million.

5. "The Impossible," $8.7 million.

6. "Asterix et Obelix: Au Service de Sa Majeste," $8.1 million.

7. "Ted," $8 million.

8. "Looper," $5.6 million.

9. "Perfect Number," $4.1 million.

10 (tie). "Frankenweenie," $4.1 million.

10 (tie). "Masquerade," $4.1 million.

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

http://www.rentrak.com

___

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-10-21-Box%20Office/id-d5db4cca5b07404d8260eeba1acf17a5

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Panthers GM Hurney fired after team's 1-5 start

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ? Marty Hurney admits the "losing environment" for the Carolina Panthers must end. He won't be a part of the effort.

Hurney was fired as general manager Monday, one day after star quarterback Cam Newton expressed his frustration with a 1-5 start. The Panthers have the worst record in the NFC in a season that began with big expectations. But a 19-14 loss to Dallas was Carolina's fourth straight defeat.

Hurney, the GM since 2002, took responsibility for the team's failures.

He spoke to owner Jerry Richardson before Sunday's game and had an inkling he might be fired if the Panthers lost to the Cowboys. He met with Richardson again for two hours after the game Sunday night and was told he was fired on Monday.

"It's simple. We're 1-5. We are 1-3 at home," Hurney said. "We laid in egg in front of the Giants on national TV (a 36-7 loss) and came back the last two weeks and lost against teams we felt like we had a good chance to beat. It can't continue to go this way."

Hurney said he fought for his job, but in the end couldn't blame Richardson. Hurney added he thinks the Panthers need more leadership.

"I think we need somebody to step up in the locker room and take hold," Hurney said. "I think there are people capable of that. I think we need some players to step up and say enough is enough."

Newton experienced virtually no losses before becoming a pro, and he was the 2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year. But this season has been a struggle, and he seemed at a loss for solutions Sunday.

"Well everybody's looking at it, it's not just me," he said. "(We) try to find ways to keep games close and whether it's me, I don't know. Whether it's the coordinator, I don't know ... but we've got to find a way to change that."

The first change came in the front office. Brandon Beane, the team's director of football operations, will handle day-to-day football matters until a new GM is hired. However, coach Ron Rivera said when it comes to personnel decisions he'll have final say in matters for now.

"If a decision has to be made involving the football team and players, it will all stop with me," Rivera said, who added he was surprised by the move.

Rivera said at this point no assistant coaches have been fired, but wouldn't rule that out.

"We're all being evaluated," said Rivera, who was hired by Hurney in 2011.

Hurney doesn't expect Richardson to hire a new general manager until after the season. Richardson could bring in an experienced interim personnel man to evaluate the team.

Hurney said he regrets not winning a Super Bowl in Carolina ? they lost 32-29 to New England for the 2003 title ? and the team's inability to post back-to-back winning seasons.

"I hope this change starts accomplishing the direction to those goals," Hurney said. "I am responsible for everybody in coaching, the players, the scouts and everybody in football operations. After six weeks, we are 1-5 coming off a 6-10 season."

Hurney was general manager when the Panthers went to the Super Bowl and the NFC championship games in the 2003 and 2005 seasons, as well as winning the NFC South in 2008.

"Marty made every effort to bring success to the Panthers and took the team to a Super Bowl and two NFC championship games," Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said. "Unfortunately, we have not enjoyed the success we hoped for in recent years. I have the greatest respect and admiration for Marty and will always appreciate the way he tirelessly served the organization."

Hurney was well liked and respected within the organization, but his personnel decisions in the draft and in free agency were routinely criticized by fans tired of the Panthers' losing ways.

Defensive end Charles Johnson, the team's highest-paid player, said on Twitter: "Marty wasn't the reason we are losing! ... Unbelievable!"

Carolina's last playoff victory came in 2005 when it reached the NFC championship game before losing at Seattle. The Panthers appeared to turn things around in 2008 when they won the NFC South and earned a first-round bye before getting upset 33-13 at home by the Arizona Cardinals. They haven't been back to the playoffs since.

Hurney's philosophy has been to build through the draft and re-sign proven players rather than going after high-priced free agents. But the team wasted a number of high draft picks through the years.

The personnel blunder fans that angered fans most was giving 34-year-old quarterback Jake Delhomme a five-year, $42.5 million contract months after he turned over the ball over six times in the playoff loss to Arizona.

Delhomme started 2009 with a five-turnover game against Philadelphia and was cut after the season. Delhomme cost the Panthers $12 million under the salary cap in 2009 even though he was no longer on the roster.

Eric Shelton, Dwayne Jarrett, Jimmy Clausen and Everette Brown were all drafted in the second round, but failed to meet expectations. Brown, in particular, was a costly choice in 2009 because the Panthers gave up their first-round pick the following year to San Francisco to get him. Brown lasted only two seasons in Carolina.

Hurney also was criticized for giving big contracts to keep the team's core intact following a 2-14 season in 2010.

He did well with first-round draft picks Jordan Gross, Jon Beason, Jonathan Stewart, Chris Gamble and Newton, last year's No. 1 overall pick.

___

AP Sports Writer Arnie Stapleton in Denver contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/panthers-gm-hurney-fired-teams-1-5-start-141450430--nfl.html

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Alabama Senate approves "monstrosity" that would tie legislators' pay to median income

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MONTGOMERY, Al.
 The Alabama Senate this afternoon approved a junked-up "monstrosity" of a bill to tie legislators' pay to the median household income in Alabama.
Senators voted 28-6 for the proposed constitutional amendment after tacking on multiple add-ons including that a 2007 pay raise would be repealed immediately, lawmakers would forfeit pay in times of high unemployment, and legislators would have to reimburse the state if they accepted a controversial 2007 pay raise.
Senators in favor of the bill said they weren't even sure if all the changes were constitutional.
"What came out today was a monstrosity that we want to correct in conference committee," Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said.
"The House is not going to concur with this. I'm going to beg them not to concur with this. We are going to send it to conference and fix it in conference," Marsh said.
The original proposal would change the way lawmakers are paid, giving them a base salary equal to the state's median household income. Additionally, they would be paid a daily expense allowance and mileage, identical to what state employees get, to cover travel expenses to Montgomery.
Lawmakers currently earn a minimum of $53,388 each year. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the state's 2010 median household income at $40,474.
Under the new proposal, a lawmaker who lived 128 miles from Montgomery, for instance, would make about $45,980, according to an estimate from the Legislative Fiscal Office.
The proposed change is a constitutional amendment that would take effect immediately after the 2014 general election if voters approved it.
The bill comes after a much-criticized pay raise that lawmakers approved in 2007 without a recorded vote. The 61-percent pay raise included automatic cost-of-living adjustments.
But senators engaged in a type of political race of who could be more in favor of slashing legislative pay.
Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, accused Republicans of presenting a "Trojan Horse," noting the bill would not repeal the 2007 raise immediately and it would stay in place if voters voted down the proposed constitutional amendment
Bedford put on an amendment that lawmakers would forfeit their pay any time the state's unemployment rate crept above 5.2 percent, saying lawmakers should follow the governor's example.
Marsh said some of the opposition was a "show" and countered with an amendment of his own that lawmakers would have to give back any pay raise they took if they were in office when the 2007 raise was approved. Marsh said he didn't take the pay raise.
"I've withstood as much hypocrisy as I can for one day," Marsh said.

Agnes Simpson, longtime owner of Dothan's WOOF radio station, dead at 87

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DOTHAN, Al.
 Agnes Simpson, longtime owner of Alabama's WOOF radio stations in Dothan and the first woman to be named Alabama Broadcaster of the Year, has died. She was 87.

Agnes Simpson

Simpson died Monday at her residence, officials with the Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home and Crematory said Tuesday.
"In the radio business, she and I are old school," said longtime General Sales Manager Hal Edwards. "Not just because we were old but because we still cling to the ideal of serving our listeners. We always agreed that at WOOF Radio, our job was 'To serve the public interest and our business is the promotion of legal commercial enterprise' and we did that."
Simpson was born in Prescott, Ariz. and attended the University of Alabama, where she met her future husband, R.A. Dowling. She served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and moved to Dothan after the war.
She and her husband got a license to operate an AM radio station in 1947 and launched WOOF. After her husband died, Simpson obtained a license for one of Alabama's first FM stations, which launched in 1964.
Simpson sold commercials and also did news broadcasts on both stations. She won awards for her broadcasting, including the Silver Medal Award from the Dothan Advertising Federation and Alabama Broadcaster of the Year.
Simpson served as the president of WOOF until recently when she took ill.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity.