Johannes Heesters dies at 108

Nederlander-born artist Johannes Heesters, who made his title undertaking in Adolf Hitler's Germany and was dogged later within the extended career by debate over his Nazi-era past, died Saturday in Starnberg, Germany. He was 108. The tenor made his debut round the large stage within the Volksoper in Vienna in 1934. His career needed off in Berlin where, starting in 1935 -- couple of years following a Nazis needed energy -- he increased being a crowd favorite within the Komische Oper and Admiralspalast. He acquired fame by turning up in films for instance "Die Leuchter des Kaisers" (The Emperor's Candlesticks) and "Das Hofkonzert" (Legal Court Concert). Despite his recognition inside the Third Reich, Heesters was not ever billed with like a propagandist or anything aside from a designer ready to perform for your Nazis, as well as the Allies allowed him to continue his career following a war, because he needed Austrian citizenship. In Heesters' native Netherlands -- which was occupied by Germany for almost all the war -- some seen him as irredeemable given his looks beneath the Nazi regime. In February 2008, he braved protests to complete inside the Netherlands the first time in 44 years inside a theater within the native Amersfoort. In the earlier attempt, in 1964, he was booed in the stage in Amsterdam because he tried to look since the Nazi-disliking Captain Von Trapp in "The Appear of Music." Heesters mentioned it gave him a "heavy heart" to know he was "not wanted throughout my homeland." "What did I really do wrong? Sure, I socialized in films inside the Third Reich, entertainment films, which distracted many people inside and outdoors Germany from daily existence throughout war," he written later in regards to the reception he received. "But apart from my career -- cheap, through no-fault of my own, personal, Adolf Hitler was one of the fans of my art -- what have I done?" Experts centered on a holiday Heesters made to the Dachau concentration camping in 1941. In December 2008, Heesters lost the best bid to pressure a German author to retract accusations he sang for SS troops. Heesters maintained he'd been bought to go to Dachau with the Nazis to ensure that they are able to trick everyone in what actually was happening there, but mentioned the alleged performance "never happened." But Berlin author Volker Kuehn reported the interview with former Dachau inmate Viktor Matejka where the prisoner appreciated "I attracted the curtain for him, I used to be there, I saw him singing." At concerning the time in the court situation, Heesters was proven around the Nederlander tv series proclaiming that Hitler was "an excellent guy." His wife, Simone Rethel, immediately intervened, proclaiming that Hitler was the worst criminal in the world. "I realize, toy," Heesters responded. "But he was nice in my opinion.In . Rethel protested following a clip was broadcast, telling Nederlander papers he happen to be misled into making the remarks, which the program had eliminate the areas in the interview where Heesters condemned the Nazi regime. Heesters ongoing to become popular artist in Germany well into his later years, making regular looks on television and onstage. He gained 1,600 looks within the best-known role, as Count Danilo in Franz Lehar's operetta "The Merry Widow," and 750 as Honore inside the musical "Gigi." At 98, he put health problems for instance knee and appendix methods behind him to complete in Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard." While he switched 105 in 2008, Heesters was undertaking in the musical comedy in Hamburg. Heesters' first wife, Nederlander actress Louisa Ghijs, died in 1983. The happy couple had two kids. Heesters married his second wife, German actress Rethel, in 1992. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

'Young Adult' behavior

Diablo Cody and Ben Kingsley.Megan Colligan, Rob Moore and Brad Grey celebrate at the Academy Theater.Patton Oswalt with Jason Reitman Mindy Kaling and Charlize Theron On Thursday night, Charlize Theron celebrated the news of her Golden Globe nom earlier that day with the rest of the "Young Adult" cast at the Paramount pic's preem.But, of course, the work is what really counts. "I practically stalked him for a while," Theron said of helmer Jason Reitman. "So it was great when he finally brought me a project he thought would be great for me."Joining the festivities at the Academy Theater were Paul Rudd and "Young Adult" co-star Patton Oswalt. The two of them appeared earlier that night in a reading of "The Princess Bride" at LACMA that Reitman had put together.

New Report Values Facebook at $6.5 Billion; Site's 'Timeline' Feature Finally Rolls Out

Theo Wargo/WireImage/Getty ImagesRussell Brand Russell Brand is heading to TV with FX.our editor recommendsRussell Brand to Star in and Produce Comedy 'The President Stole My Girlfriend' (Exclusive)Russell Brand Pens an Essay on the London RiotsMTV Video Music Awards' Amy Winehouse Tribute: Russell Brand, Tony Bennett, Bruno Mars Pay Their Respects (Video) The male-skewing cable network has inked a deal with the comedian for a six-episode half-hour late-night series set to debut in the spring. Featuring Brand's take on current events, politics and pop culture, each installment in the six-episode project will be taped in front of a live audience and feature interactive components with those in attendance. "We're very excited to add Russell Brand's bracingly funny, original, and honest voice to the FX comedy lineup," FX executive vp original programming Nick Grad said in a statement announcing the news Thursday."We look forward to supporting Russell and his partner Troy Miller's ambition to strip down the hosted comedy format to its most fundamental elements and to create something daring and unfiltered for the FX audience." Produced by FX Productions in association with Branded Films and Dakota Films, the pact marks the first television deal for Branded Films. The comedian will serve as an executive producer alongside Miller and Nik Linnen, with Miller also serving as a director on the series. The project joins an FX lineup that features scripted comedies including Louie, Wilfred and the recently renewed The League, among others, and represents the network's entry into the late-night field. "I am so excited I'm on the point of climax, in fact I will put the 'O' into FX, which spells Fox, which is actually the channel's real name," Brand said. "That's the only thing that worries me about all this to be honest. At least I'll be able to have a Christmas drink with Bill O'Reilly." The news comes as Bravo also is expanding its foothold in the genre, growing Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens: Live to five nights a week; MTV has also been vocal in its desire to beef up its late-night block. Brand, best known for his bad-boy role as Aldous Snow in Judd Apatow's Forgetting Sarah Marshall, began his career as a stand-up coming before rising to stardom on the big screen. Miller is an 11-time Emmy nominee and two-time winner for directing, with credits including Flight of the Conchords, Parks and Recreation, The Office, Happy Endings and more. He has produced and directed short films which open the Oscar telecast and the MTV Movie Awards. FX topper John Landgraff told THR in March that he'd love to have a daily late-night show. "I would still love to have a daily show," he said. "I don't mean The Daily Show -- though, of course, I'd love to have that, too -- but a daily show. I think it's really great, as a channel, if you have something where original episodes are produced 30, 40 weeks a year. "I think both Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have invented entirely new shows that nobody's ever seen before," he said of how he'd tackle the genre differently. "If Dave Chappelle said, 'I want to do a half-hour comedy/variety show,' and he had the right people around him, he'd invent something that was different. So just because innovation is hard doesn't mean that it's impossible." Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Amy Winehouse Career in Pictures Russell Brand FX

PGA to fete Jolie's 'Blood and Honey'

Angelina Jolie's directorial debut 'In the Land of Blood and Honey' will receive the PGA's 2012 Stanley Kramer Award.The Producers Guild of America has tapped Angelina Jolie's directorial debut "In the Land of Blood and Honey" to receive the 2012 Stanley Kramer Award.The kudo will be awarded at the 23rd Annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony on Jan. 21 at the Beverly Hilton.The Kramer award was established in 2002 to honor films or individuals that illuminate "provocative social issues in an accessible and elevating fashion." Kramer's films include "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?," "High Noon," "The Caine Mutiny and "The Defiant Ones."Previous recipients of the Kramer award include "The Great Debaters," "An Inconvenient Truth," "Hotel Rwanda," "In America" and "Antwone Fisher." Sean Penn is the most recent recipient for his relief work in Haiti and the first individual to receive the award."'In the Land of Blood and Honey' is an extraordinary film that portrays a complex love story set against the terrors of the Bosnian War, especially towards women," said PGA presidents Hawk Koch and Mark Gordon. "This film truly embraces the legacy of Stanley Kramer."Producers are Tim Headington, Jolie, Graham King and Tim Moore. Set against the backdrop of the Bosnian War that tore the Balkan region apart in the 1990s, the pic tells the story of a soldier fighting for the Serbs and a Bosnian held captive in the camp he oversees.The film stars Zana Marjanovic, Goran Kostic, Rade Serbedzija, Vanesa Glodjo and Nikola Djuricko, and is executive produced by Holly Goline with associate producer Simon Crane. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Fassbender, Yun earn LAFCA kudos

Chastain PlummerFassbenderThe Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. has named Terrence Malick best director for "Tree of Life." Martin Scorsese earned a nod as runner-up for 'Hugo."LAFCA named Michael Fassbender best actor for several 2011 roles. Yun Jung-hee was named best actress for her work in "Poetry." LAFCA also named Jessica Chastain best supporting actress for her body of work in 2011 and picked Christopher Plummer as best supporting actor for his performance in "Beginners."Fassbender earned nods for his work in "A Dangerous Method," "Jane Eyre," "Shame," and "X-Men: First Class."Chastain was honored for her work in "Coriolanus," "The Debt," "The Help," "Take Shelter," "Texas Killing Fields" and "The Tree of Life."The group selected "The Tree of Life" for cinematography, "Hugo" for production design and "Hanna" for music/score.Next up: Animation--The latest winners: Best Director-- Terrence Malick, "The Tree of Life"/ Runner-up: Martin Scorsese, "Hugo" Best Actor-- Michael Fassbender, "A Dangerous Method," "Jane Eyre," "Shame," "X-Men: First Class" / Runner-up: Michael Shannon, "Take Shelter" Best Actress-- Yun Jung-hee, "Poetry" / Runner-up: Kirsten Dunst, "Melancholia" Documentary/Nonfiction-- "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" / Runner-up: "The Arbor" Best Screenplay-- Asghar Farhadi, "A Separation" / Runner-up: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, "The Descendants" Best Supporting Actor-- Christopher Plummer, "Beginners" / Runner-up: Patton Oswalt, "Young Adult" Best Supporting Actress-- Jessica Chastain, "Coriolanus," "The Debt," "The Help," "Take Shelter," "Texas Killing Fields," "The Tree of Life" / Runner-up: Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs" Best Cinematography-- Winner: Emmanuel Lubezki, "The Tree of Life" / Runner-Up: Cao Yu, "City of Life and Death" Best Production Design-- Dante Ferretti, "Hugo" / Runner-up: Maria Djurkovic, "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" Best Music/Score-- The Chemical Brothers, "Hanna" / Runner-up: Cliff Martinez, "Drive" Best Independent/Experimental-- "Spark of Being" Contact Justin Chang at justin.chang@variety.com