'Without a Trace's' Eric Close Joins ABC Drama Pilot 'Nashville'

Former "With no Trace" star Eric Close is headed to "Nashville."The actor, whose credits include FX's "American Horror Story," continues to be drawn on to co-star around the ABC drama pilot from "Thelma & Louise" scribe Callie Khouri, "The Hollywood Reporter" is familiar with.The household cleaning soap, set from the backdrop from the Nashville music scene, involves one star at her peak and the other increasing. Close will have Teddy, the loyal and handsome husband from the up to now uncast 40-year-old Nashville celebrity Rayna. "Heroes'" Hayden Panettiere will have Juliette, increasing star with whom Rayna teams on the tour as her very own album sales are battling.Khouri and R.J. Cutler will write and executive make the drama project, which originates from ABC Galleries, Lionsgate and Gaylord Entertainment. The latter's Steve Buchanan assists being an executive producer, with Cutler pointing the pilot.Close performed Hugo Langdon, the husband to Jessica Lange's Constance, on FX's "American Horror Story." He's repped by Gersh, Untitled Entertainment and Sutton, Barth. The Hollywood Reporter

Disney, Rudin pic 'The Pet' adopts Hess

HessRudinDisney and producer Scott Rudin are getting an old pet project back up and running, tapping "Napoleon Dynamite" director Jared Hess to helm the long-gestating sci-fi family comedy "The Pet."Rudin, who moved his production shingle from Disney last year over to Sony, is producing the live-action pic alongside Craig Perry and Sheila Hanahan Taylor. Based on an original idea from Matt Lieberman ("Short Circuit"), "The Pet" centers on a man who's abducted by aliens, taken to their planet and turned into a family pet.Rudin originally boarded "The Pet" years ago at Disney when he had a first-look deal at Miramax. But the project became relatively dormant when he left the Mouse House -- in large part because Disney sold Miramax and refocused on family-friendly films, leaving Rudin's adult-skewing projects without a natural home."The Pet," however, fits the Disney mold."The Simpsons" helmer David Silverman had been attached to the family comedy, and despite a recent rewrite from scribe Tim Dowling ("This Means War"), "The Pet" is now in the hands of Hess, who will oversee all aspects of creative development going forward.The UTA-repped Hess' recent credits include the Jack Black starrer "Nacho Libre" and 2009's "Gentlemen Broncos." He and wife Jerusha Hess are also exec producing Fox's "Napoleon Dynamite" toon, based on the 2004 indie hit comedy.Rudin just wrapped another busy awards season, having produced "Moneyball" and "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." Contact Stuart Oldham at stuart.oldham@variety.com

VIDEO: White-colored Collar Goes Inside Yankee Stadium for Tim DeKay's Directorial Debut

The pitch-dark timeline is finished: Community will return on Thursday, March 15, NBC introduced Tuesday.Furthermore, the network introduced premiere dates for midseason shows Bent, Close Buddies Forever and Betty White's Business Rockers.In the schedule since December, Community will re-inherit its 8/7c slot from 30 Rock, which will switch to eight:30/7:30c, adopted ... Discover More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Law & Order: Special Sufferers UnitAmanda PeetDavid WaltonThe OfficeJessica St. Clair30 RockParks and RecreationCommunityLennon ParhamAre You There, Chelsea?BentUp All NightBFFWhitneyRock Center With John WilliamsBetty White's Business Rockers

Weinsteins, Michael Moore settle 'Fahrenheit' suit

Michael Moore and Harvey and Bob Weinstein have settled their suit over earnings for that 2004 documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11." The agreement remain under systems, although Moore initially searched for a lot more than $2.7 million in damages. Based on funds notice filed February. 8 in La Superior Court, lawyers will request the official settlement request by May 17. While lawyers for parties rejected to comment on the go, audit claims like the Moore suit usually don't reach trial. Moore's Westside Prods. initially prosecuted the siblings in March, alleging their "classic Hollywood accounting methods" scammed the director from earnings for his 2004 documentary. Suit named Weinstein shingle the Fellowship Adventure Group like a defendant, in addition to Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein individually. Duo setup the organization after Disney declined to produce "Fahrenheit" in 2004 with the Miramax banner, that the siblings headed at that time. Moore stated that Disney didn't desire to be associated with the pic, which accused the Rose bush administration of mishandling the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks for political reasons. "Bob and Harvey Weinstein's Fellowship Adventure Group and Michael Moore have amicably settled the suit including a cpa dispute on 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' plus they anticipate the possibilities of cooperating on future projects," Weinstein Co. stated inside a statement. Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com

Internet VOD challenges pay TV

The recording-on-demand marketplace for compensated rental fees is presently ruled by pay TV services, however the Internet-on-demand marketplace is growing in strength, based on the NPD Group. Pay TV VOD services hit $1.3 billion in revenue for 2011, based on the researching the market company, as the iVOD market arrived at $204 million. The report discovered that 4 million less pay TV customers compensated additional costs to look at movies in August 2011 versus. last year. Including the expertise of iTunes, Amazon . com, Vudu yet others, iVOD arrived at 7 million customers in comparison to 40 million for pay TV VOD. Internet VOD also poses a potential challenge for pay TV's non-movie services. "IVOD customers reduced their time spent watching television shows, news and sports via pay TV companies by 12% between August 2010 and August 2011," stated Russ Crupnick, senior veep of industry analysis for that NPD Group. "Pay TV operators now mustn't only defend their movie VOD revenues but additionally counter a growing threat to fundamental programming." Based on NPD, customers see iVOD as offering a much better value and movie title selection than pay TV. All findings derive from NPD's VideoWatch monitoring service, which doesn't consider free or compensated viewings of Television shows, subscription services for example Netflix streaming reely movies incorporated in pay TV monthly subscriptions. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Tribeca takes 'Giant Technical Man'

FischerTribeca Film has snapped up U.S. rights to romantic comedy "The Giant Technical Man."Pic, which is produced by and toplines Jenna Fischer, is skedded for a spring release across multiple platforms, including theatrical and VOD.Chris Messina ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona"), Topher Grace ("Too Big to Fail"), Malin Akerman ("Watchman," "Rock of Ages"), Rich Sommer ("Mad Men"), Lucy Punch ("Dinner for Schmucks") and Bob Odenkirk ("Breaking Bad") all also star in the pic.Story, written and helmed by Lee Kirk, follows the romance between a thirtysomething woman who lives with her overbearing sister and a street performer who finds out his talent as a "living statue" won't pay the bills. The two forge a relationship that helps the other to discover their true self.Fischer produced alongside Molly Hassell, Michael Nardelli under his Taggart Productions banner and Brent Stiefel. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Partnership puts Energy into pic plan

Management company Energy Entertainment has launched Energy Independent, by getting a watch toward developing, financing and creating two to four features every year. Energy Independent can be a partnership between Energy owner Brooklyn Weaver and SkyRock Venture, a financing and distribution company. Skyrock was founded by Paul Rock and Sameera Eligeti, who lead a consortium of high internet worth traders. Venture takes a "quality" over quantity" approach, with clients becoming creating partners. To begin with is "Picture Book," a supernatural thriller put together by Ben Magid ("13") with Alexis Wajsbrot & Damien Mace ("Red-colored-colored Balloon") installed on direct. Weaver is creating, with Rock and Eligeti professional creating alongside Magid. "Picture Book" concentrates on the mysterious occurrences inside the mansion from the famous children's author. The story is comparable to 2001's "Others,Inch getting a supernatural twist. Energy Independent may also be settling several filmmaker deals, with two apt to be consummated over the following four weeks. Deal was brokered with the Paradigm Movie Finance Group. Energy is creating found-footage project "13," which Universal bought pre-emptively lately and hang up tabs on U-based Strike Entertainment. WME as well as teamed last month's spec acquisition of scribe Kaira Ingelsby's actioner "Tell You The Evening" to Warner Bros. in the pre-emptive deal. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com