Peter Rice to head Fox network

Peter Rice to head Fox network

 

In a broad shake up of senior News Corp. management, Fox Searchlight film chief Peter Rice is being put in charge of the Fox television network.

The move elevates a low-key executive. who has been responsible for shepharding some of the studio's most successful movies, into one of the most visible positions inside the company. Rice has no experience in television, but has shown himself adept at turning low-budget films such as "Juno" and the recent Oscar winner "Slumdog Milllionaire" into mainstream commericial successes.

 

The British executive is also close to News Corp. Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch, who is reorganizing management at the company in preparation of the depature of President Peter Chernin later this year.

Peter Liguori, who has headed the Fox network, is stepping down.

 

-- Dawn Chmielewski and Claudia Eller

 

More information on a key episode of 'Dollhouse'

There's a lot of buzz about the March 20 episode of "Dollhouse," which is titled "Man on the Street" and was written by series creator Joss Whedon.

In interviews, star Eliza Dushku and Tahmoh Penikett have said that this is the episode in which the show will kick into high gear.

"As everyone knows, we had somewhat of atumultuous start. There was a lot of speculation, a lot of bad press,and you inevitably get caught up in it a little bit," Penikett said. "Once I read thefifth and sixth episodes, specifically'Man on the Street,' I was like, 'This is it. This is the show.'"

And now it can be told: Patton Oswalt guest stars in the episode.

For more information on "Man on the Street," look below. Spoilers ahoy.

Dushku's character, Echo, who has a tailor-made personality implanted for each mission she is sent on by her employers, will head off on an "engagement" after having been made into the "perfect wife" for "lonely Internet mogul," who is played by Oswalt, according to Fox's press site.

She'll also meet up with FBI Agent Paul Ballard (Penikett's character) for the first time in the episode. Ballard has been searching for Echo and the "Dollhouse" that employs her.

The full episode description for "Man on the Street": "Echobecomes the perfect wife for a lonely internet mogul, and Sierra’s attacker is revealed. Meanwhile, Mellie’s life isin danger and Agent Ballard’s investigation takes a surprising turnwhen he comes face-to-face and goes fist-to-fist with Echo for thefirst very time."

In the March 27 episode, "Echoes," "a deadly viral outbreak at a college draws Echo to the campus, where pieces of her past are revealed," according to Fox's site.

For more coverage of "Dollhouse," look here.

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