New ‘Star Trek’ movie to begin filming in fall
The long-rumored new “Star Trek” movie will begin filming this fall, Paramount confirms, under the direction of J.J. Abrams (“Mission: Impossible III,” “Lost,” “Alias”).
The script, about Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock’s meeting at Starfleet Academy and their first mission together, was written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who also did the “Mission: Impossible” screenplay.
The film is tentatively scheduled for release on Christmas Day in 2008. Casting has not yet been announced.
Flatts pumped for CMTs
Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood lead the nominees for Country Music Television’s 2007 CMT Music Awards with three apiece.
Rascal Flatts – which comes to the Spokane Arena on Wednesday (tickets available through TicketsWest outlets, 509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com) – was nominated for video of the year for its hit “What Hurts the Most.”
The song is nominated in the group video category along with “Life is a Highway,” the band’s remake of a 1992 Tom Cochrane pop hit.
Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” is up for female video, video of the year and director of the year, while Chesney’s “You Save Me” is nominated for male video, video of the year and director of the year.
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy will host the show, which airs on CMT on April 16.
Smart start
We may never know if Americans are smarter than a fifth-grader, but we do know that apparently people want to find out.
Fox’s “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” – which quizzes adults on fifth-grade level and below math, science and history – scored an audience of 26.6 million viewers Tuesday night, making it the network’s most-watched series premiere ever and the most popular debut of any series since 1998.
It aired after “American Idol” this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and will settle into a more difficult time slot beginning March 15: Thursdays at 8 p.m. That will force series creator Mark Burnett to compete against himself, since Burnett’s “Survivor” airs on CBS at the same time.
In the show, real-life fifth-graders stand by to offer help and serve up embarrassment. Host Jeff Foxworthy requires losing adults to look into the camera and declare: “I’m not smarter than a fifth-grader.”