Peter Breck dies at 82

Peter Breck, the-headed middle boy of Barbara Stanwyck within the sixties Western "The Large Valley," died February. 6 following a lengthy illness in Vancouver, Canada. He was 82.After his Navy discharge, Breck analyzed British and drama in the U. of Houston. His first film role was 1958's "Thunder Road," starring Robert Mitchum, who saw Breck on stage in "Guy of Future" and requested him if he thought about being inside a movie. He moved onto the Rita Hayworth starrer "I wish to Live" in 1958 and "The Beatniks" in 1960.However it was television that gave Breck his greatest success. He starred like a gunfighter-switched-lawyer on ABC's Western "Black Saddle" from 1959-60 and would be a regular on "Maverick," playing Doc Holliday. He guested on series in the nineteen fifties with the early 2000s, including "Perry Mason," "The Virginian" and "Fantasy Island."From 1965 to 1969, he starred as Nick Barkley on "The Large Valley," together with Stanwyck, Lee Majors, Richard Lengthy and Linda Evans as people from the 1800s ranching family.Frederick Peter Breck was created March 13, 1929, in Rochester, N.Y. His father, Frederick (Jobie) Breck, would be a jazz muscian who performed with Fats Waller and Billie Holliday. Together with his parents on the highway, Breck was raised together with his grandma and grandpa in Haverhill, Mass.He was preceded in dying by his boy Christoper, who died of leukemia. He's made it by his widow, Diane. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

'Battleship' Super Bowl Ad Unveils Humanoid Aliens

The team behind "Battleship" certainly saved the best for the Super Bowl. The upcoming alien invasion flick's Super Bowl TV spot unveiled one of the components of the movie that has me most intrigued: the aliens. While they have been teased in previous trailers, this spot really put the extraterrestrials in the forefront, and I was a bit surprised by how they ended up looking. The aliens themselves look like something out of "Halo" with their armored suits and advanced weaponry. Though that form of the "Battleship" baddies was teased in the last trailer for the film, this time around we also get to see them without their armor. It looks like these extraterrestrials are humanoid in form, albeit with larger-than-average, three-fingered hands and cat-like eyes. Still, they don't seem to be as alien as we could have imagined. I must admit, I was a bit surprised the aliens ended up being put at the forefront. The first trailer for the project made them seem like they would be kept a mystery, but there is nothing mysterious about this new TV spot. It could be that we're supposed to be curious about why the aliens have invaded Earth, but based on their offensive behavior I'd just assumed it's because they could. Either way, it seems safe to assume that no one quite dreamed up this outcome when they were playing "Battleship" as a kid. Except for those spinning, animal-like spiked aliens with the tails. Those are freaking awesome. What do you think of the "Battleship" aliens? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Julie Ashton Picks Up Two (More) Pilots

Julie Ashton Picks Up Two (More) Pilots By Pete Keeley February 1, 2012 Photo by CBS/Richard Cartwright Ashton also casts "2 Broke Girls" Julie Ashton is having a very busy pilot season. It's unsurprising, since she's pretty much busy all the time, as the casting director of USA's "Psych," Fox's "Bob's Burger," Disney XD's "Kickin' It," and CBS' "2 Broke Girls" as well as the occasional film project.This week she picked up two more pilots, both CBS comedies. The first is currently titled "Partners," and it focuses on the relationship between two business partners, one straight and one gay. The other is untitled, but it hails from writer/executive producers Greg Malins and Mark Berlanti. It's also about a pair of business partners, both of whom are straight, one of whom is male, and after a health scare he realizes that he's in love with his longtime (female) friend and business associate. Both pilots are set to shoot in late March. These projects are in addition to the two other pilots she's doing: Fox's untitled Demetri Martin animated project as well as the "In Living Color" reboot. Julie Ashton Picks Up Two (More) Pilots By Pete Keeley February 1, 2012 Ashton also casts "2 Broke Girls" PHOTO CREDIT CBS/Richard Cartwright Julie Ashton is having a very busy pilot season. It's unsurprising, since she's pretty much busy all the time, as the casting director of USA's "Psych," Fox's "Bob's Burger," Disney XD's "Kickin' It," and CBS' "2 Broke Girls" as well as the occasional film project.This week she picked up two more pilots, both CBS comedies. The first is currently titled "Partners," and it focuses on the relationship between two business partners, one straight and one gay. The other is untitled, but it hails from writer/executive producers Greg Malins and Mark Berlanti. It's also about a pair of business partners, both of whom are straight, one of whom is male, and after a health scare he realizes that he's in love with his longtime (female) friend and business associate. Both pilots are set to shoot in late March. These projects are in addition to the two other pilots she's doing: Fox's untitled Demetri Martin animated project as well as the "In Living Color" reboot.