Variety

Top News: Cable network also brings back 'Rizzoli' -- TNT has given renewals to three dramas: "The Closer," "Leverage" and frosh hit "Rizzoli & Isles."

TV News: Cop drama sees 20% increase in ratings -- ABC's decision to pick up Canadian series "Rookie Blue" for a second summer is looking like a good one after the cop drama rose nicely and led its broadcast competition in some categories. Overall, ABC, CBS and Fox were in a tight battle for the demo lead.

TV News: Cable network also unveils new 'Sanctuary' drama -- For its latest development slate, Syfy is calling up a few familiar action TV stars.

Fest Traveler: Locarno 2010: Pere slims down lineup but adds edgy auteur infusion -- Olivier Pere is putting his stamp on the event by cutting clutter while radicalizing the selection to include more edgy, ultra-indie and genre titles alongside the classic arthouse cinema.

Los Angeles: As film laffers become more profane, smallscreen comedies emphasize realism -- Comedy is, at its core, a suicide mission. It has to find completely original material without pushing the kind of extreme buttons that offend audiences, but it also can't risk the worse fate of not being funny at all.

Television Critics Assn.: Newspaper affiliation not as crucial anymore -- Gail Shister may no longer be affiliated with a major newspaper, but she's held onto something the entertainment industry still covets: credibility.

Los Angeles: '30 Rock' reign has no guarantee of continuing -- Taking a cue from last year's diverse batch, one can't accuse the Academy of staid, predictable nominations in the comedy series category. This is not only the year the multicamera was officially locked out; this year, comedy is a mystery category altogether.

Los Angeles: Seven straight wins dominate Emmy race -- A look at the nominees up for an Emmy in the variety, music or comedy series category.

Television Critics Assn.: 'Lost,' 'Breaking Bad' among program of the year candidates -- Before the Emmys have a chance to signal what they think is best, the Television Critics Assn. puts together a much less formal affair at the BevHilton where dedicated viewers get their say.

Legit News: 'Lear' staging added to NT Live slate -- London's Donmar Warehouse has partnered with the National Theater to add the Donmar's upcoming staging of "King Lear" to the National's NT Live lineup of international cinema broadcasts.

Publishing News: U.S. legislation limits suits on 1st Amendment grounds -- "Libel tourism" sounds like it refers to something like an egregious defamation of the Queen Mary II, but in the eyes of Congress, it is a First Amendment threat.

Indie News: Shearer documentary to plays theaters in August -- "The Big Uneasy," a feature documentary by Harry Shearer about the flawed preparation and response to Hurricane Katrina, is taking an unusual route to theatrical distribution, getting a one-day release Aug. 30 via the alternative programming arm of Gotham-based Screenvision.

Legit News: Laurels handed out at summer conference -- Lincoln Center Theater exec producer Bernard Gersten, Oregon Shakespeare Fest a.d. Bill Rauch and helmer Anne Kauffman are among the recipients of the 2010 awards from Theater Communications Group.

Headline Newsletter Film News: Brit tycoon pacts for production entity with Relativity -- British tycoon Richard Branson is moving aggressively into Hollywood in partnership with Ryan Kavanaugh.

International News: Festival slate includes Sofia Coppola, Casey Affleck -- The lineup for this year's Venice Film Festival looks to be a meticulously calibrated mix of classic auteur and genre fare alongside more esoteric offerings.

Television Critics Assn.: As leaders change cabler touts new shows at TCA -- With Robert Greenblatt officially cleaning out his Westwood office last week and David Nevins starting Monday, Showtime was literally a network in transition during the pay cabler's Television Critics Assn. press tour sesh on Thursday.

Exclusives: Indie horror-comedy is actor's first exec producing stint -- Josh Hutcherson has signed on to topline and exec produce the teen horror-comedy pic "Detention."

Weekend B.O.: Focus Features to expand indie nationwide -- Despite three wide releases crowding the weekend's domestic box office, Focus Features thinks there's still life in "The Kids Are All Right," expanding the pic nationwide this week from 201 to 847 engagements.

Headline Newsletter TV News: Company plots makeover for weak stations -- Tribune Co. exec Lee Abrams is making good on his promise to blow up the traditional TV news playbook.

Technology News: Enthusiastic reception for 'Tron' at Siggraph -- When the original "Tron" debuted in 1982, it wowed gamers and sci-fi fans with its vision of a world "inside the computer."