John Lithgow Joins Dog Fight

He's on for the comedy...Though he's already busy cranking the cameras* on his new comedy Dog Fight, Dinner For Schmucks director Jay Roach has still found time to add one more actor to the movie's roster: John Lithgow.Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis are starring as two less than adequate politicians engaged in a dirty tricks squabble over a congressional seat in North Carolina.There's no word on who Lithgow will be playing, but we do know he's joining fellow Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes cast member Brian Cox in the film, which also features Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott, Sarah Baker and Katherine LaNasa.With a script by Chris Henchy and Shawn Harwell, Dog Fight will be out some time next year.Aside from Apes, Lithgow was most recently seen in Leap Year alongside Amy Adams and has New Year's Eve arriving on December 8.*We'd guess he'll take the Thanksgiving holiday off, unless he's a dictator who forces his cast and crew to spend time away from their families...

Kristin Cavallari Shoots Lower Report She'd An Affair With Scott Disick

First Launched: November 16, 2011 6:32 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Kristin Cavallari, Scott DisickLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Kristin Cavallari is fighting back, shooting lower a completely new cover story from Existence & Style, which claims she'd an affair with Kourtney Kardashians baby father, Scott Disick, previously. To start with, its one hundred percent not the situation, Kristin told Access Hollywoods Billy Rose rose bush inside an interview for Access and Wednesdays The Billy Rose rose bush Show. I merely think, what convenient timing on the account utilizing their show premiering inside a couple of days with everything else thats happening for Kim [Kardashian], I appear like theyre attempting to accept warmth off her. Around & Styles new problem, the mag claims Kristin and Scott connected previously, before Kourtney Kardashian increased being pregnant with Mason, her boy with Scott. Kristin suggested to Billy the timing in the story was too close for comfort, apparently putting the reason for your story round the Kardshian clan. When there's a sizable story such as this, they always contact you and ask for if you want to comment and clearly undertake and don't declined it, so its very its really disrespectful in my opinion and Im in the committed relationship. Its disrespectful in my opinion and Jay [Cutler] but it really states a good deal regarding character, Kristin told Billy. While there's no reference from the comment around & Styles cover story from either Kristin or perhaps the Kardashians, a repetition for Existence & Style told Access Hollywood each side inside the story were contacted for your report. The repetition added the mag stands one hundred percent behind the verifying on its story. An origin near the Kardashians referred to as Kristins suggestions absurd. Like they might require publicity? the foundation added. For Jay, Kristin mentioned her on-again love, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay, didnt believe [the report] for starters second. People know anything they need, its crazy, it blows my ideas, Kristin added. Everyone states do not concern yourself relating to this, something such as this, it can make me mad. Season 2 of Kourtney & Kim Take NY premieres on E! on November 27. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Anna Kournikova to Exit Biggest Loser After This Season

Anna Kournikova Anna Kournikova will not be returning to The Biggest Loser next season, TVGuide.com has confirmed. "I enjoyed my time on the Biggest Loser ranch," Kournikova said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, who was first to report the exit. "Although I will not be returning as a full-time trainer on Season 13, I will always be a part of The Biggest Loser family and my commitment to bettering lives through health and fitness will continue." Read Dolvett Quince's Biggest Loser blogs for TVGuide.com NBC didn't immediately respond to TVGuide.com's request for comment. The 30-year-old tennis pro joined the NBC weight-loss show along with Dolvett Quince to fill the void when trainer Jillian Michaels exited after Season 11. Before the full-time gig, she visited the ranch to lead a tennis-themed challenge in Season 10.

Bruno Rubeo dies at 65

Italian-born production designer and art director Bruno Rubeo, a 1990 Oscar nominee for top art decoration-set decoration for his use Crispian Sallis on "Driving Miss Daisy," died of complications from pneumonia November. 2 in Foligno, Italia. He was 65. Rubeo had ongoing to use until recently, producing his last credit as production designer on Taylor Hackford's 2010 release "Love Ranch," starring Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci. Rubeo also labored with Hackford round the films "Blood stream In, Blood stream Out," "Dolores Claiborne," "The Devil's Advocate" and "Proof of Existence." He brought to several films directed by Oliver Stone too: "Salvador," "Platoon," "Talk Radio" and "Born round the fourth of the summer time," even coping with small roles in "Salvador" and "Talk Radio." Rubeo labored along with other top company company directors, including Ivan Reitman, Joel Schumacher, Mike Newell, John McTiernan, Michael Radford and John Dahl. Other high-profile feature projects incorporated "Old Gringo," occur old Mexico Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer "Kindergarten Cop" Civil War period piece "Sommersby" World war ii actioner "The Fantastic Raid" and photos in contemporary designs for instance John Grisham adaptation "The Client,In . airport terminal terminal dramedy "Pushing Container" and chic remake "The Thomas Crown Affair." In 2004 Rubeo was famous for his production design on Radford's bigscreen "The Merchant of Venice," starring Al Pacino. Rubeo was produced in Rome and acquired his first production designer credit round the 1982 comedy "Spring Fever." He's managed to get by his wife, costume designer Mayes Rubeo a boy, Marco, additionally a skill director together with a daughter. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Ratner comments stir ire, apologies

RatnerBefore he became producer of the Oscars, Brett Ratner's use of a homophobic slur might not have reverberated as much as it did.Ratner, after all, has cultivated a bad-boy reputation -- making buddy-based actioners, spending time on the party circuit and bragging about his actress conquests (and naming names). Good manners were never his calling card.But Ratner's comments came not just from a brash and polarizing Hollywood producer-director. They came from the guy recently put in charge of the 84th Academy Awards.According to entertainment blog Vulture, Ratner was asked by the moderator at an Arclight screening of "Tower Heist" on Friday whether he has his actors rehearse scenes. Ratner dismissed the notion, saying: "Rehearsing is for fags."The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences tried to maintain its usual prim control, issuing a no comment Monday. However, Academy prez Tom Sherak went rogue, talking to one website in which he excused Ratner by assuring that some of his best friends are gay, and clarifying that Ratner would not be relieved of Oscarcast duties. After the comment hit the web on Monday, Ratner was suddenly remorseful. In a statement issued to TheWrap.com, he said: "I apologize for any offense my remarks caused. It was a dumb way of expressing myself. Everyone who knows me knows that I don't have a prejudiced bone in my body. But as a storyteller I should have been much more thoughtful about the power of language and my choice of words."The Academy declined to address the matter formally, but the blogosphere weighed in Monday.Mark Harris, Oscar writer for the blog Grantland, was among the first to call for Ratner's head, saying: "There's not really a long, nuanced debate to be had about this. If he had used an equivalent racial or religious slur, the discussion would go something like, 'You're fired.' ... You don't get a mulligan on homophobia. Not in 2011."GLAAD, which decried Ratner's comments over the weekend, issued a response to his apology: "This apology is a good start, but we're working with Ratner's people for more action, to clearly send a message to Hollywood that the anti-gay slurs used by bullies and bigots have no place in the world of entertainment, or anywhere else."In recent weeks, Ratner has been touting his radical approach to the Oscars, saying he was shaking things up behind the scenes, and ruffling feathers in the process. He told Daily Variety's Peter Bart in Monday's column that he has brought in new writers, including Jeff Nathanson, and told the Los Angeles Times this week that the writing team would also include Ted Griffin (from "Tower Heist"), Alec Berg and David Mandel.Whether the Academy told Oscar-ceremony stalwart Bruce Vilanch -- who is openly gay -- that his services would not be required this season is a little less clear. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory's Leonard Stone Dies at 87

Leonard Stone Character actor Leonard Stone, who is best known for portraying Violet Beauregarde's dad in the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, has died, according to TMZ. He was 87.The actor, who died one day shy of his 88th birthday, had been battling cancer. See the other stars we've lost this yearStone's character in Willy Wonka famously uttered the line, "Violet, you're turning violet!" after his gum-smacking daughter ballooned into a human blueberry because she broke one of Wonka's rules.Stone earned a Tony nomination in 1959 for his role in Redhead. His TV credits include L.A. Law, Gunsmoke, M*A*S*H, General Hospital, Hill Street Blues and Mission: Impossible.

Lindsay Lohan Returns To Court

First Published: November 2, 2011 1:31 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images Caption Lindsay Lohan arrives for her probation violation hearing at the Airport Courthouse in Los Angeles on November 2, 2011 LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Lindsay Lohan has arrived at a Los Angeles courthouse for a probation violation hearing that could end with the actress being sent to jail. The 25-year-old actress arrived about 10 minutes early on Wednesday. A judge revoked Lohans probation two weeks ago after the actress was terminated from a community service assignment at a womens shelter. The Mean Girls star has since been performing community service at the county morgue. A city prosecutor is advocating the starlet be sent back to jail for her latest violation of a court order. She remains on probation for a 2007 drunken driving case and a misdemeanor theft case. Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner has expressed exasperation with Lohans behavior and has asked prosecutors to figure out how much jail time Lohan could receive. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.