Hollywood digest

MORE RECORDS FOR 'SPIDER-MAN'

With an estimated $72 million in it second weekend, "Spider-Man," continued to do amazing business and rewrite the box-office record books.

The screen version of the Marvel Comics classic has now taken in $223.6 million in 10 days, to become the 29th biggest movie hit in U.S history. "Spider-Man" led the box office to a $112 million gross overall this weekend -- $43 million more than the same weekend last year.

So far this year, the overall U.S. box office has taken in $2.9 billion -- 16 percent more than it has up to this point last year.

Box-office analysts expect that "Spider-Man" and "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" will lead the U.S. box office to new heights next weekend.

The new Richard Gere-Diane Lane movie "Unfaithful" opened at No. 2 with $14.2 million, followed by the new DJ Qualls-Eddie Griffin comedy "The New Guy" with $9.5 million. "The Scorpion King" took in just $4.4 million in its fourth weekend, for a running total of $80 million.

ABOUT THE MONEY

As the upfront sales season opened, Daily Variety reported that broadcast and cable sales executives are cautiously hopeful.

Advance sales for networks are likely to outdo last year's $6.9 billion figure -- but that isn't saying much. The 2001 figure was down 14 percent from the 2000 upfront sales.

It was an even tougher sales environment for cable, which absorbed a 20 percent drop in sales.

Buyers and sellers now say the marketplace seems to have stabilized. But Bill Morningstar, senior vice president of media sales at the WB network, told Variety the upfront sales this week will not bring business back to where it was in 2000 -- when the dot.com economy was still roaring and ad sales had not yet tanked.

"It's better than it was a year ago," said Morningstar, "but it won't get back to 2000 levels next year, that's for sure."

Upfront sales amounted to $12.8 billion in 2000.

The paper said network sales executives expect this year's upfront could take in $11.4 billion for networks and cable -- which would represent a 5 percent increase over last year's performance.

NBC ADDS FIVE NEW SHOWS FOR 2002-03

NBC announced Monday that it will introduce five new series to its primetime schedule this fall, and leave the Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday schedule unchanged from the current season.

West Coast President Scott Sassa and Entertainment President Jeff Zucker made the announcement at Radio City Music Hall in New York, delivering NBC's portion of the annual ritual known as the upfront -- in which networks announce their upcoming schedules and sell up to 70 percent of their available advertising time at favorable rates to early buyers.

The Tuesday night schedule features two new comedies -- "In-Laws," starring Dennis Farina and Jean Smart, and "Hidden Hills," described as a look at "the lives of frenzied families" in suburbia. Tuesday will also feature "Just Shoot Me," moving from its current Thursday slot.

The hospital comedy "Scrubs" is moving from Tuesday to Thursday, which will also feature "Good Morning Miami" a comedy about a low-rated morning radio show from the Emmy-winning creators of "Will & Grace."

Dramas include the touching, one-hour family series "American Dreams," set against the backdrop of 1960s Philadelphia when "American Bandstand" was at the height of pop culture, and "Boomtown," from executive producers Graham Yost ("Speed") and Jon Avnet ("Fried Green Tomatoes").

The network also announced that it will run "Kingpin," described as "a gritty drama about a family-run Mexican drug cartel," at midseason -- when it will also air "Mister Sterling," starring Josh Brolin as an idealistic U.S. senator, and "It's Not About Me," starring Jason Bateman as a man who gives up a law practice to become a teacher.

NBC is staying pat on Monday with "Fear Factor," "Third Watch" and "Crossing Jordan." The Wednesday line-up of "Ed," "The West Wing" and "Law & Order" also remains intact.

Thursday leads off with "Friends," in its final season on the network, followed by "Scrubs," "Will & Grace," "Good Morning Miami" and "ER." NBC is sticking with "Providence," "Dateline NBC" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" on Fridays, and a movie night on Saturday. Sunday leads off with "Dateline NBC," followed by "American Dreams," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Boomtown" -- produced by Emmy-winner Graham Yost ("Band of Brothers") and director Jon Avnet ("Uprising," "Fried Green Tomatoes").

WB ADDS SIX NEW SHOWS

The WB is getting ready to announce a major shake-up of its primetime schedule -- adding four new comedies and two new dramas, and changing the primetime schedule for every night but Tuesday.

The network will also repeat its weeknight dramas on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

One new comedy features Tim Curry as Mr. French in an updated take on the CBS hit "Family Affair." Nickelodeon star Amanda Bynes stars with Jennie Garth ("Beverly Hills 90210") in "What I Like About You," described as a family comedy.

Newcomer Penn Badgley stars in "Do Over" as a man who gets another crack at getting it right in the 1980s. The WB will also feature a Latino family comedy, "Greetings from Tucson," and "Birds of Prey," based on a DC Comics storyline about three young female crime fighters.

Tuesday will still feature "Gilmore Girls" and "Smallville."

HONORS FOR PBS, ABC

PBS and ABC led the field on Saturday, each taking home nine creative Daytime Emmy Awards on Saturday.

CBS had eight awards, as the technical and creative daytime Emmys were handed out Saturday in Los Angeles.

Showtime was next with four trophies, followed by American Movie Classics and the Disney Channel with two each. ABC Family, Comedy Central, the Food Network, HBO, NBC and the WB each capture one trophy.

"Sesame Street" was PBS' secret weapon, taking five daytime Emmys -- including writing, directing, music direction/composition, costume design/styling and sound mixing-special class in a children's series.

ABC's long-running daytime drama "All My Children" won four awards -- casting, costume design, music direction/composition and technical direction/electronic camera for a drama. ABC's talk show "The View" won for outstanding achievement in hairstyling, makeup and live/direct to tape sound mixing.

CBS' long-running "As the World Turns" also won four technical Emmys -- art direction/set direction/scenic design, hairstyling, lighting direction and makeup.

The 29th Daytime Emmy Awards will be presented Friday.