The Descendants Writers Win Scripter Award

The Descendants screenwriters Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash won the USC Libraries Scripter Award tonight. It honors “the screenwriter/s of the year’s most accomplished cinematic adaptation as well as the author/s of the written work upon which the screenplay is based.” The winners used as source material Kaui Hart Hemmings’ novel The Descendants and her short story “The Minor Wars”. Nominees wrote Moneyball, Jane Eyre, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and A Dangerous Method. The awards dinner tonight included Paul Haggis receiving the2012 USC Scripter Literary Achievement Award.

Nick greenlights standup series

Prepping for its NickMom comedy block that scheduled to launch this fall, Nickelodeon has given a 26-episode order to a standup comedy series and moved several projects into development."NickMom Night Out" will offer parent-oriented laughs from such comedians as Judy Gold and Corey Kahaney. Overall, more than 50 projects in development are in development for NickMom, which will air on Nick Jr. from 9-11 p.m. seven nights a week. Johnson & Johnson and Target have joined General Mills and Reckitt Benckiser (who signed on in 2011) as sponsors for the ad-supported block (in contrast to the ad-free content normally on Nick Jr.)NickMom's gestating projects include: a sketch/talk series with Caroline Rhea and Emily Cohen starring and exec producing. "It's Nighttime with Annabelle Gurwitch," a mom-oriented talkshow which Gurwitch is hosting and exec producing with Elyse Roth ("The Daily Show with Jon Stewart") "The 5th Hour," a scripted comedy that would feature comics as members of a morning news show, exec produced by Madeleine Smithberg ("The Daily Show"), Sarah North and Jordan Tilzer. "The Judi & Kate Show," with real-life mom video bloggers, exec produced by Coolfire Prods. "Mommy Double," a show that rewards moms with extra help around the house, exec produced by Magda Liolis and Eileen Braun. "Oblivious," a trivia gameshow for unsuspecting contestants, exec produced by Scott Stone. "My 63 Moms." in which comic Andrea Rosen travels the country to learn everything she can about parenthood, exec produced by Rosen, Linda Schaeffer and Barbara Kanowitz Small. "Road Mamas," a reality series about three comedian moms and eight kids in one RV, exec produced by Chris Debeic and Triternal Studios. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

John Iacovelli on James Yarnell

Published: Comes to an end., February. 3, 2012, 4:00am PTBy 'Dancing using the Stars'IacovelliJohn Iacovelli on James Yarnell, production designer, "The American Idol ShowInch and "DwtsInchThe development style of some tv shows becomes instantly legendary. Think about "Hollywood Squares" or "Who would like to Be considered a Uniform." They inhabit our psyche and therefore are forever an element of the visual good reputation for the little screen.James Yarnell has produced such symbols together with his production designs for "The American Idol ShowInch and "Dwts,Inch both nominated through the Art Company directors Guild for the annual award for Excellence being produced Design. I had been given a backstage tour of those shows this past year within their massive adjoining soundstages at CBS Television City in La.Things I admire about both shows is that they have large-scale sets created for the closeness from the TV screen."Idol" includes a future-forward look. It claims, "This really is success, this really is triumph!" Eschewing the curtains and backstage Broadway look of earlier talent shows like "Star Search," the group of "Idol" rather brings up the pageantry of the coliseum and also the explosive technology of the rock concert. This is when stars are born.Around the flipside, walking in one stage to a different I had been astounded by the feeling of Hollywood glamour and grandeur within the gold and red-colored palette of "Dwts.Inch Like a viewer, you are feeling as if you've been asked towards the Governors Ball after an honours ceremony. This is when stars are reborn.John Iacovelli's credits include "Honey, I Reduced the children,Inch "Los People in america" and "Lincoln subsequently Levels."ADG Honours 2012Tightening the definitionDesigners on designProduction designers and art company directors discuss the ADG-nominated work of the peersJohn Muto on Dante Ferretti Greg Grande on Jefferson Sage Norm Newberry on Stuart Craig John Sabato on Patti Podesta Ken Averill on Christopher Glass John Shaffner on Steve Bass Dork Blass on Mark Worthington John Iacovelli on James Yarnell Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com