HBO's Liberace Film "Behind the Candelabra" is a Ratings Hit - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 10-11-2011, 05:00 PM

Matt Damon, Michael Douglas to Star in HBO's Liberace Biopic
10/11/2011
by Lesley Goldberg

Michael Douglas and Matt Damon have been tapped to star in HBO Films’ Liberace biopic.

Behind the Candelabra will star Douglas as Liberace in the project that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the relationship between the legendary entertainer and Scott Thorson, his younger, live-in lover (Damon).

The project will be executive produced by Jerry Weintraub (Ocean's Eleven) and produced by Gregory Jacobs (The Informant!) and Susan Ekins (The Karate Kid series), with Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) directing the script by Richard LaGravenese (Water for Elephants).

"This is a story that's going to surprise a lot of people," HBO Films president Len Amato said Tuesday in announcing the casting.

"It's funny, heartbreaking and always fascinating, and we are delighted that Jerry and Steven brought the film to HBO. With Steven at the helm, directing such accomplished actors as Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, this is a dream project for us."

Production will begin next summer in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Palm Springs.

For Weintraub, the project marks a reunion with the premium cable network that aired his biopic, His Way this year.

"I've wanted to make a film about Liberace for a very long time, and after the amazing experience I had with HBO on His Way, I knew that they were absolutely the right place for this movie," he said.

"I am thrilled that we have the incomparable Michael Douglas to inhabit the role of Liberace, as well as the exceptional Matt Damon to play the pivotal part of Scott Thorson. Putting these two fine actors in the creative hands of Steven Soderberg -- it doesn't get better than that."

Soderbergh, meanwhile, noted HBO's "fearless approach" to original programming in bringing the project to the pay cabler.

"From the inception of this project, we've had two priorities: getting it right creatively, and getting as many people as possible to see it," he said.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...iberace-246667

JamesG · 02-06-2013, 07:10 PM

Matt Damon and Michael Douglas Strike a Pose in First Image From HBO's Behind the Candelabra
2/6/2013
by Seth Abramovitch

Liberace had a taste for the finer things in life, from floor-length furs to priceless jewels, and his taste in cars was no different.

In HBO's Behind the Candelabra, Michael Douglas plays the pianist opposite Matt Damon, cast as his younger lover, Scott Thorson. The couple met in 1977, when Thorson was just 18 and Liberace was 57. They remained together until 1982.

In this first official image from the hotly buzzed biopic of the flamboyant showman, the couple strikes a cream-colored pose in a bright showroom, standing next to a vintage Corvette coupe.

Director Steven Soderbergh told journalists at TCA in January that he had sought out to tell the story of a "real" relationship. Damon echoed the sentiment, saying: "We weren’t giggling about it. These were people's lives. We wanted to get it right."

The movie, based on Thorson's 1988 memoir, Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace, premieres on HBO in May.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...-strike-418840

JamesG · 03-04-2013, 07:37 PM

JamesG · 03-07-2013, 07:28 PM

JamesG · 04-01-2013, 12:40 PM

JamesG · 04-08-2013, 01:16 PM

JamesG · 04-23-2013, 05:25 PM

JamesG · 05-28-2013, 04:44 PM

HBO's "Behind the Candelabra" Premieres to Strong 2.4 Million Viewers
5/28/2013
by Michael O'Connell

A whopping 2.4 million viewers went Behind the Candelabra on HBO.

The cable network's Sunday premiere of the Liberace biopic brought in its best numbers for an original film since Something the Lord Made opened to 2.6 million viewers in 2004.

Starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, the two-hour film pulled an additional 1.1 million viewers for a nightly total of 3.5 million. The film saw its official premiere in Cannes, where it received positive reviews.

Behind the Candelabra tops last summer's HBO Film Game Change. The Emmy-winning drama about the 2008 election pulled 2.1 million viewers in its original broadcast, at the time the strongest since Something the Lord Made.

Ratings for the film, billed as director Steven Soderbergh’s last cinematic effort for some time, are all the more impressive considering the night it aired. Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend typically sees dips in TV usage.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...delabra-559136

10-11-2011, 05:00 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,121	HBO's Liberace Film "Behind the Candelabra" is a Ratings Hit Matt Damon, Michael Douglas to Star in HBO's Liberace Biopic 10/11/2011 by Lesley Goldberg Michael Douglas and Matt Damon have been tapped to star in HBO Films’ Liberace biopic. Behind the Candelabra will star Douglas as Liberace in the project that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the relationship between the legendary entertainer and Scott Thorson, his younger, live-in lover (Damon). The project will be executive produced by Jerry Weintraub (Ocean's Eleven) and produced by Gregory Jacobs (The Informant!) and Susan Ekins (The Karate Kid series), with Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) directing the script by Richard LaGravenese (Water for Elephants). "This is a story that's going to surprise a lot of people," HBO Films president Len Amato said Tuesday in announcing the casting. "It's funny, heartbreaking and always fascinating, and we are delighted that Jerry and Steven brought the film to HBO. With Steven at the helm, directing such accomplished actors as Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, this is a dream project for us." Production will begin next summer in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Palm Springs. For Weintraub, the project marks a reunion with the premium cable network that aired his biopic, His Way this year. "I've wanted to make a film about Liberace for a very long time, and after the amazing experience I had with HBO on His Way, I knew that they were absolutely the right place for this movie," he said. "I am thrilled that we have the incomparable Michael Douglas to inhabit the role of Liberace, as well as the exceptional Matt Damon to play the pivotal part of Scott Thorson. Putting these two fine actors in the creative hands of Steven Soderberg -- it doesn't get better than that." Soderbergh, meanwhile, noted HBO's "fearless approach" to original programming in bringing the project to the pay cabler. "From the inception of this project, we've had two priorities: getting it right creatively, and getting as many people as possible to see it," he said. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...iberace-246667 Attached Images
	Last edited by JamesG; 05-28-2013 at 04:45 PM.

02-06-2013, 07:10 PM	#2
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,121	Matt Damon and Michael Douglas Strike a Pose in First Image From HBO's Behind the Candelabra 2/6/2013 by Seth Abramovitch Liberace had a taste for the finer things in life, from floor-length furs to priceless jewels, and his taste in cars was no different. In HBO's Behind the Candelabra, Michael Douglas plays the pianist opposite Matt Damon, cast as his younger lover, Scott Thorson. The couple met in 1977, when Thorson was just 18 and Liberace was 57. They remained together until 1982. In this first official image from the hotly buzzed biopic of the flamboyant showman, the couple strikes a cream-colored pose in a bright showroom, standing next to a vintage Corvette coupe. Director Steven Soderbergh told journalists at TCA in January that he had sought out to tell the story of a "real" relationship. Damon echoed the sentiment, saying: "We weren’t giggling about it. These were people's lives. We wanted to get it right." The movie, based on Thorson's 1988 memoir, Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace, premieres on HBO in May. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...-strike-418840 Attached Images

03-04-2013, 07:37 PM	#3
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,121

03-07-2013, 07:28 PM	#4
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,121

04-01-2013, 12:40 PM	#5
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,121

04-08-2013, 01:16 PM	#6
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,121

04-23-2013, 05:25 PM	#7
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05-28-2013, 04:44 PM	#8
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,121	*HBO's "Behind the Candelabra" Premieres to Strong 2.4 Million Viewers* 5/28/2013 by Michael O'Connell A whopping 2.4 million viewers went Behind the Candelabra on HBO. The cable network's Sunday premiere of the Liberace biopic brought in its best numbers for an original film since Something the Lord Made opened to 2.6 million viewers in 2004. Starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, the two-hour film pulled an additional 1.1 million viewers for a nightly total of 3.5 million. The film saw its official premiere in Cannes, where it received positive reviews. Behind the Candelabra tops last summer's HBO Film Game Change. The Emmy-winning drama about the 2008 election pulled 2.1 million viewers in its original broadcast, at the time the strongest since Something the Lord Made. Ratings for the film, billed as director Steven Soderbergh’s last cinematic effort for some time, are all the more impressive considering the night it aired. Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend typically sees dips in TV usage. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...delabra-559136