No Man's Range

Summoned by Ed Oliver, Jim Hale and sidekick Fuzz arrive at Oliver's ranch to find a range war in progress. Unknown to Jim, Ed Brady has kidnapped Oliver and replaced him with a stooge. Brady is after the Green ranch and Jim and Fuzz now set out to help Helen Green.

D23 promotes all things Disney

D23 Expo brought "Avengers" cast members Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Cobie Smulders and Tom Hiddleston together with Marvel Studios prexy Kevin Feige. Jason Segel and Kermit touted The Muppets to fans at D23.With its D23 Expo, Disney has figured out how to attract tens of thousands of the company's faithful fans to Anaheim without offering rides at Disneyland. Sarah Silverman joked of the feat as she took the stage Saturday to help promote the new toon "Wreck-It Ralph," smashing into theaters next year. During a nearly three-hour presentation of the company's upcoming films, Disney animation chief John Lasseter revealed the concepts of two upcoming Pixar pics (untitled projects about dinosaurs and the human brain) and introduced Jon Cryer as the lead voice in "Cars"-franchise spinoff "Planes" after discussing "Brave," "Monsters University" and "Wreck-It Ralph." Chief Rich Ross, prexy Sean Bailey and Marvel's Kevin Feige introduced new footage for "The Avengers," "The Muppets," "Oz: The Great and Powerful" "Frankenweenie," and Disneynature's "Chimpanzee." But given the Mouse House's various entertainment divisions, Disney has been eager to turn the Anaheim Convention Center confab, billed as "the ultimate Disney fan event," into its own biannual Comic-Con (Disney sat out Comic-Con this year). The successful inaugural edition, which saw the launch of the company's first official fanclub, was held in 2009. Organizers tweaked this year's program, paring it down to three days from four and moving the date from September to the vacation days of August. This year's confab sold 40,000 tickets, priced from $22 to $136, with Saturday selling out. Not much else changed, however. Most of the booths looked the same, and were just as small and cramped, as they were two years ago, undermining the magic Disney likes to tout. Even many of its costumed characters were missing, providing limited photo ops. And despite Marvel's full integration into the company, the comicbook giant didn't have a booth to show off its superheroes as it did at Comic-Con in San Diego. When asked about it during a panel presentation on Sunday, comicbook vet Joe Quesada, who serves as Marvel's chief creative officer, didn't know why. "Hopefully next D23," he said. The largest booths were taken up by the Disney Store, Disney Channel and Radio Disney, props from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise and a pair-up of Nordstrom with a line of apparel for "It's a Small World." Company also tubthumped the sizable expansion of Fantasyland at Orlando's Magic Kingdom and showed off its new theme park in Shanghai. In a parks and resorts pavilion, it also provided details of its Hawaiian resort and new cruise ship to launch, as well as updates on California Adventure's Cars Land. But most of this information had already been previously discussed this year, and D23 was short on real news. Ross didn't discuss the status of "The Lone Ranger" beyond saying that he was hopeful it would still get made. Feige didn't mention the titles of the two Marvel films that have already been dated for 2014. And "Tron" fans were still left wondering whether a sequel will follow "Tron: Legacy." 'Carter' caravan The biggest push was given to "John Carter," formerly known as "John Carter of Mars." Film's stars Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins and Willem Dafoe joined helmer Andrew Stanton ("Wall-E," "Finding Nemo") to introduce clips from the Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptation unspooling in March. Given the fantasy's pricey budget (which has reportedly risen to $300 million heights), Disney's talking points focused on the property's influences from "Star Wars" and "Avatar" to start getting auds excited about a property they may not be familiar with. But footage shown conjured up the dusty locales, alien creatures and vehicles of "Cowboys and Aliens," and seemed dated when compared to other sci-fi tentpoles. Disney's marketing brass will be working overtime to overcome such difficulties in the months ahead. The crowd of 4,000 that filled the convention center's Arena theater for the film presentation or the 40,000 that flocked the show floor didn't seem like the contingent that attends Comic-Con in July. Most lit up for appearances by Lasseter and Billy Crystal (on hand for his return to the "Monsters, Inc." prequel after 10 years), giving both a standing ovation. Thesps Jennifer Garner, Jason Segel, Jack McBrayer, Kevin McKidd, Kelly McDonald and, from "The Avengers," Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson also took the stage to surprise fans. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Woody and Buzz Lightyear joined Ross for his dog-and-pony show. He may have needed the support to win over fans who may still be faithful to former studio chief Dick Cook, who presented at D23 in 2009. Ross was quick to announce that he's been one of Disney's "biggest fans" since watching "Mary Poppins" in 1964. After that, "I was a fan for life," he said. The exec and Sean Bailey also weren't shy in letting fans know their value to the company. "You're the reason we do what we do," Ross told them. Bailey reflected on how Disney was the first studio lot he visited 20 years ago before quoting Walt Disney on the importance of making movies for people age 6 to 60. Lasseter also thanked the crowd for "how much you love Disney." And to make sure fans weren't left empty-handed, attendees received a cupcake to celebrate Pixar's 25th anniversary. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

1980s Child Stars: They Develop So Quick!

Tina Yothers Though they'll forever be maintained within the amber of distribution as well as on DVD, child stars develop too. Vacation lower memory lane through present at Snakkle, that has put together the gallery "Hold Onto Your Scrunchies! See Where Your Fave 1980s Sitcom Brothers and sisters Are Today." Meet up with (the very first) Becky from Roseanne (Alicia Goranson), Growing Pains' Ben Seaver (Jeremy Burns), Family Ties' Jennifer (Tina Yothers) and much more. Catch on present day news

International Programs

Great acting might be able to transcend languages, but that does not mean performers need to speak them all. Each of these international acting schools has programs taught in English.China Beijing Film Academy Founded in 1950, the school specializes in all aspects of the film and television industry and has good relationships with art institutes in the U.S., Russia, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Japan. Shanghai Theatre Academy Since 1945, this school has focused on traditional opera and dance. France Acting International This acting school in Paris has been specializing in theater and film acting for more than 30 years. Cours Florent This 46-year-old private drama school in Paris offers master classes with some of its famous alumni, including Diane Kruger. Ireland The Gaity School of Acting, The National Theatre School of Ireland With specific training for theater, film, and television, this 25-year-old Dublin institution boasts actors Colin Farrell and Olivia Wilde among its alumni. Italy A.B.I.T. Academy This school in Tuscany is known for creating theater pieces that can be understood by all cultures, although the official language used in class is English.The Netherlands Amsterdamse Toneelschool & Kleinkunstacademie The merger of the 137-year-old Amsterdam Theatre School and the 51-year-old Kleinkunst Academy in 2001 has produced this four-year program intended for new stage, film, cabaret, and musical actors in the Dutch capital.Russia St. Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy The 232-year-old institution is known for its acting and directing department but also offers courses in puppetry, stage technology, and set design.

Toronto fest unveils 26 Canadian pix

'Romeo Eleven' TORONTO -- The Toronto Film Festival unveiled its Canadian slate of 26 features (15 world preems) and 43 shorts Tuesday morning. Special Presentations delivers a hockey double-header with the world preems of Robert Lieberman's cross-cultural sports dramedy "Breakaway" (distribbed by Alliance in Canada), starring Rob Lowe, Russell Peters and newcomer Vinay Virmani, and Mike Dowse's ("Fubar II") hockey-bruiser comedy "Goon," starring Seann William Scott, Liev Schreiber and Jay Baruchel (also co-scripter with Evan Goldberg). For the second year running, Scott Speedman lands in two Canuck pics. He stars in Nathan Morlando's world-preeming "Edwin Boyd" (eOne in Canada), based on the true story of the notorious Canadian bank robber, and supports Lily Cole and Sarah Gadon in "The Moth Diaries," Mary Harron's Venice-preeming adaptation of Rachel Klein's 2002 vampire novel set in an all-girls boarding school. Guy Maddin's latest peepshow "Keyhole," a ghostly gangster tale starring Jason Patric and Maddin's muse Isabella Rossellini, world preems in Special Presentations, which also unspools the North American preems of "Trailer Park Boys" director Mike Clattenburg's warzone drama "Afghan Luke" (eOne in Canada, Alliance worldwide), "C.R.A.Z.Y." helmer Jean-Marc Vallee's Vanessa Paradis starrer "Cafe de Flore" (Alliance Vivafilm in Canada, several European territories sold) and Philippe Falardeau's "Monsieur Lazhar" (Christal in Canada). Ken Scott's "Starbuck" (Christal in Canada), starring Patrick Huard as man who discovers he's the biological father of 533 children, gets its North American preem in Galas, joining previously announced Canuck Galas David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Mind" and Sarah Polley's "Take This Waltz." Contemporary World Cinema world preems four pics -- Randall Cole's surveillance-shaped chiller "388 Arletta Avenue" (eOne, Optimum in the U.K.), starring Nick Stahl and Mia Kirshner, Barbara Willis-Sweete's screen adaptation of beloved Canuck musical "Billy Bishop Goes to War," starring Eric Peterson, Leonard Farlinger's road move "I'm Yours" (eOne), starring Rossif Sutherland, and "Sisters and Brothers," marking the sixth straight year Vancouver's Carl Bessai has preemed a pic in Toronto. Anne Emond "Nuit #1," Simon Davidson's "The Odds," and Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky's "The Patron Saints" world preem in Canada First!. The North American preems of Guy Edoin's "Wetlands" and Ivan Grbovic's "Romeo Eleven," and the Canadian preems of Yonah Lewis and Calvin Thomas' "Amy George" and Sheldon Larry's Sundance-preemer "Leave It on the Floor" round out the program. Lea Pool's "Pink Ribbons," investigating the politics of breast-cancer philanthropy, and Mathieu Roy and Harold Crooks' "Surviving Progress," a cinematic riff on Ronald Wright's bestselling "A Short History of Progress" world preem in Real to Reel. Vanguard also adds two world preems -- Ingrid Veninger's mother-daughter story "I Am a Good Person/I Am a Bad Person," and Dylan Akio Smith and Kris Elgstrand's psychological drama "Doppelganger Paul." Veteran Toronto director Bruce McDonald's rock'n'road-trip classic "Hard Core Logo" (1996) screens in Open Vault, and its sequel "Hard Core Logo II" (Alliance) finally bows to local auds in Masters. Short Cuts Canada showcases a cross-section of domestic talent in quick docus, dramas and animated fare presented in six programs and two pre-feature selections. On Tuesday the festival also released details of its Canadian awards and jury, Canadian industry initiatives and info on its Producer's Lab, Talent Lab and Pitch This event. The Toronto Film Festival runs Sept. 8-18. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Denis Leary & Peter Tolan To Co-Write Half-Hour Comedy For Leary To Star Tolan Gripes About "The Madness Of Pilot Season''

Ray Richmond is adding to Deadline's coverage of TCA. Using their seriocomic firemen drama Save Me ending its operate on Forex in September, series co-designers Denis Leary and Peter Tolan are starting on another series project together. "I suppose I'm able to say at this time that Mr. Leary and that i are tomorrow beginning writing on our next show, one half-hour for him to star in," Tolan told Deadline today following the TCA panel about the final season of Save Me. He referred to it as being "strictly a comedy, immaterial we have done before. It isn't a traditional comedy, most likely for cable. We are doing the work mainly on spec and taking it.Inch Before Save Me, Leary and Tolan co-produced the underrated ABC cop comedy The Task, that also starred Leary. Tolan stated that whenever ten years of cooperating, first at work and after that time Save Me, he figures he and Leary "possess some connection in our comic sensibilities." Leary has another half-hour project within the works like a author: He lately signed onto co-pen with Bob Fisher an adaptation from the approaching British series Sirens for USA Network. Tolan also reflected about this past development season, when he re-joined the broadcast arena with four projects that arrived purchasers. A couple of them, comedies Council of Fathers at Fox and Brave " New World " at NBC, visited pilot but did not result in the cut to series. Tolan thinks that "you will find different explanations why they did not go and that i understood all of them. You will find political and business causes of why all of a sudden something the network is actually at the top of does not get acquired. Things I will rail against may be the madness of pilot season ... that is somewhat made to pressure you into failure, especially due to casting, since the are just a lot of stars available, along with a situation arises and all of a sudden an actress is (considered) P Niro for 2 days. Also it becomes this insane putting in a bid war for an individual you might not have come across a few days before. It simply does not seem sensible.Inch

TCA: NBC Renews Overall Deal With Greg Daniels, Signs Pacts With Gary Sanchez Prods, Sean Hayes & More From Exec Panel

NBC has signed a new major two-year overall deal with The Office executive producer Greg Daniels, co-creator/exec producer of another NBC comedy series, Parks and Recreation. NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt announced the pact, which will encompass scripted live-action and animated programming as well as unscripted series, at the top of NBC's TCA session today. "He is one of the founding fathers of our Thursday comedy lineup," Greenblatt said. "We had a chance to work together at Fox when he was launching King of the Hill. The new deal is to develop all kinds of programming, but we also want to emphasize animation, I think he is going to do great things." NBC also has inked a development pact with Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez Prods., marking the company's first network pact. And former Will & Grace star Sean Hayes, who had segued to producing over the past few years, has signed a development deal to headline a half-hour series. "Sean is a friend, and I think its time for him to star in a comedy again," Greenblatt said. On the development side, NBC is developing a firefighter drama from feature writers Michael Brandt and and Derek Haas, produced by Dick Wolf and his new development exec Danielle Gelbar. Greenblatt also confirmed the deal for a karaoke bar comedy produced by The Voice star Adam Levine. NBC will do a holiday variety special with Michael Buble, executive produced by former NBC chief Ben Silverman and Saturday Night Live honcho Lorne Michaels. The network also has ordered a reality pilot, Celebrity Game Night. In other news from NBC's executive session, Greenblatt said that Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay will be in every episode of the series this coming season, and "my goal is to make sure that continues beyond this season." Greenblatt also announced that the post-Super Bowl episode of The Voice on Feb. 5 will serve as the show's second season premiere. The talent show will take over its regular Monday 8-10 PM slot the following night, leading to the series premiere of Smash at 10 PM. New comedy Up All Night starring Christina Applegate, Will Arnett and Maya Rudolph is being reworked with Rudolph and Applegate's workplace changed from a PR firm to a talk show. Rudolph will now play a "larger-than-life" talk show host, and Applegate her producer. In terms of The Office post-Steve Carell, My expectations are always very measured, Greenblatt said. He said James Spader as Robert California, the new company CEO, has a power to convince and manipulate, like a high-class weirdo Jedi warrior. He is completely different than Steve, with his own iconoclastic kind of acting style, and his character is very unique. Hes a perfect fit in that mix. Greenblatt said he was "optimistic" about the future of The Golden Globes on NBC, "at least for this coming year." The awards show is now the subject of a bitter lawsuit between the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. and long-time producer Dick Clark Prods. As for his development, Greenblatt said he he wants to do "upscale original shows that I hope appeal to the audience" and "bring some of the creative vitality" he established at Showtime "to NBC for broader and more commercial" fare. Comedy is a priority. "Do more of them and transplant them from Thursday," Greenblatt said. "And see if we can bring the respectability back to the multi-camera genre." Greenblatt's overall goal for NBC? "My desire is to take this venerable institution and raise it back up."