Thursday TV in Review: Awake Dreams On, and HBO's Oscar-Winning Saving Face

Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie After giving her husband the boot, Jackie is going to need a little help from her friends in the fourth season of Showtime's hit drama Nurse Jackie - and that is exactly what she'll get based on the new key art for the series returning Sunday, April 8 at 9/8c. This season, Jackie (Edie Falco) will finally confront her addiction, but she'll be further tested by the ambitious new hospital administrator (Bobby Cannavale), who is determined to keep Jackie in line. In addition to Cannavalle, other notable Season 4 guest stars include Rosie Perez, Joel Grey, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and the NY Knick's Carmelo Anthony. Check out an exclusive first look at the art below:

'Without a Trace's' Eric Close Joins ABC Drama Pilot 'Nashville'

Former "Without any Trace" star Eric Close is headed to "Nashville."The actor, whose credits include FX's "American Horror Story," remains attracted onto co-star round the ABC drama pilot from "Thelma & Louise" scribe Callie Khouri, "The Hollywood Reporter" knows.Your family cleaning cleaning soap, set in the backdrop in the Nashville music scene, involves one star at her peak and also the other growing. Close may have Teddy, the loyal and handsome husband in the so far uncast 40-year-old Nashville celebrity Rayna. "Heroes'" Hayden Panettiere may have Juliette, growing star with whom Rayna teams around the tour as her album sales are fighting.Khouri and R.J. Cutler will write and executive result in the drama project, which arises from ABC Art galleries, Lionsgate and Gaylord Entertainment. The latter's Steve Buchanan assists becoming an executive producer, with Cutler pointing the pilot.Close carried out Hugo Langdon, the husband to Jessica Lange's Constance, on FX's "American Horror Story." He's repped by Gersh, Untitled Entertainment and Sutton, Barth. The Hollywood Reporter

Michael Gambon Upped To Regular On Luck, Margarita Levieva Joins As Recurring

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Gambon, who's recurring around the current newcomer season of Cinemax’ Michael Mand/David Milch drama Luck, continues to be upped to some regular for Season 2. Also joining the approaching second season from the equine racing drama is Margarita Levieva inside a major recurring role. Gambon, who made his debut on Luck in Episode 4, plays the mythical Mike, an foe for Dustin Hoffmans Ace Bernstein. Levieva, repped through the Collective and UTA, will have Sarah Israel, sister of Nathan Israel, who's pleyed by recurring guest star (and star of USA’s Suits) Patrick J. Adams. Levieva continues her major recurring role on another series, ABC’s newcomer Revenge, where she plays a troubled girl who switched details using the lead character, Emily Thorn/Amanda Clark (Emily VanCamp).

'Horror Story' thesp Farmiga lands 2 roles

FarmigaWith "American Horror Story" behind her, Taissa Farmiga is certainly going bigscreen, getting leading roles in Sofia Coppola's "Jewelry Ring" and also the indie "Jamesy Boy." In "Jewelry Ring," Farmiga joins Emma Watson -- whose casting Variety first reported Wednesday -- like a teen active in the true celebrity burglary ring story that Coppola is helming and writing. Coppola and her brother Roman will produce with Youree Henley. "Jamesy Boy" also stars Spencer Lofranco and will also be written and helmed by Trevor Whitened. Story involves a youthful guy who ranges from suburban street gang to some maximum-security prison, where he's mentored with a charged killer. Farmiga plays the primary character's love interest. Tim Whitened, Maria Norman, Steve Saeta, Galen Master, Scott Mednick are creating. Wayne Rogers and Bonnie Timmermann are professional produing. Plan's for Farmiga to shoot "James Boy" first and abide by it track of "Jewelry Ring." She performed the daughter on "American Horror Story," that is recasting most primary gamers because of its soph season. Farmiga, the more youthful sister of Vera Farmiga, is repped by ICM and Authentic Literary and Talent Management. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

The brand new the new sony Classics nabs 'West of Memphis'

The brand new the new sony Pictures Classics has acquired worldwide rights to Amy Berg's docu in regards to the West Memphis Three, "West of Memphis," which was produced by Healing For Healing For Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, additionally to first-time producers Damien Echols and Lorri Davis. Pic, which first demonstrated at Sundance, tales the completely new analysis all over the West Memphis Three, which ultimately broke the problem open and introduced for the freedom of three innocent males: Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Junior. Berg's film examines the problematic police analysis to the 1993 killings of three youthful boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, and unveils nuances of Echols' fight in order to save his existence while situated on dying row for 18 years. SPC talked about the sale with Jackson and Walsh's manager, Ken Kamins, who also may serve as the film's professional producer. "Last Season, Healing For Healing For Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Lorri Davis approached me to produce a film which recorded the defense's battle to overturn the guilty choices inside the situation in the West Memphis Three," mentioned Berg. "After trading greater than couple of years on the ground filming in Arkansas, the blatant injustice in the situation was very apparent my hope is always that 'West of Memphis' can lead to full exoneration for Damien, Jason and Jessie. Furthermore, I am hoping the film will be the platform for just about any bigger discussion in regards to the failures within our criminal justice system country wide. I'm very excited with this particular effective story being making its approach to theaters and understand that obtaining the new the new sony Pictures Classics as our partner might be the surest approach to catapult our film for the biggest possible audience." "We are very proud being joining track of The brand new the new sony Pictures Classics round the relieve 'West of Memphis,'" added Walsh and Jackson. "We have been coping with Lorri Davis, Damien Echols and also the defense team in the last seven years, and throughout that time we found realize that it hadn't been merely a story from the terrible injustice it's also an account about hope about how precisely a few found each other, saved each other, and loved each other using the most difficult of occasions. This can be Damien and Lorri's film, which we're very excited to discuss it while using world." "We are honored the new the new sony Pictures Classics will probably be coping with us to produce 'West of Memphis' all over the world,In . mentioned Davis and Echols. "We are excited and to tell the truth overcome in the chance to inform our personal story. Coping with Fran, Peter and Amy remains most likely the very best and fulfilling of encounters for people. We view this film just like a way to obtain inspiration, plus it carries our existence bloodstream from it.In . "With 'Deliver Us From Evil,' Amy Berg increased to become significant documentary filmmaker. Seeing 'West of Memphis' at Sundance, we felt Amy had surpassed herself using this amazing anatomy and analysis of injustice," mentioned a disagreement in the new the new sony Pictures Classics. "We anticipate cooperating along with her and producers Fran Walsh, Healing For Healing For Peter Jackson, Damien Echols and Lorri Davis to get this exciting and important drama to audiences everywhere." Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com

Layoffs at Summit begin: 3 execs out

In the wake of its acquisition by Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment began layoffs early this week, as head of TV distribution Alex Fragen, home entertainment head Steve Nickerson and Bobby Gerber, EVP home entertainment sales, are on the way out, Variety has learned. The trio of execs got the news midday Monday, sources close to the company said. They were expected to remain with the company until early next month. Fragen, Nickerson and Gerber all started with Summit in 2007, just as the company was finding its footing as a full service production and distribution studio. The layoffs were just the first of several expected as Lionsgate begins to integrate its operations with Summit, which the mini-major acquired in a January cash-and-stock deal totaling $412.5 million. Lionsgate co-chairman and CEO Jon Feltheimer acknowledged at the time that overlap would cause layoffs. A month later, Summit co-founder and president of international David Garrett began preparing his exit, as Variety first reported Feb. 12. Lionsgate would not confirm the layoffs Monday. "The integration of Lionsgate and Summit is ongoing," a studio spokesman said. "We're not going to comment on specific individuals until our key management team is fully in place." Fragen, who was well-liked at Summit and was responsible for its lucrative deal with HBO, was named president of domestic television distribution shortly after Summit relaunched itself in 2007. He was responsible for overseeing distribution for free and pay TV, video-on-demand, pay-per-view, and hotel and airline sales. His duties would ostensibly transfer to Jim Packer, Lionsgate's prexy of worldwide TV distribution and digital. Nickerson, a consumer electronics and homevid vet, also came on at that time, and was tasked with establishing Summit's homevid arm with Gerber, who worked with Nickerson at Toshiba and Warner Bros. Nickerson came off eight years at Warners homevid at the time of his hire, including senior VP of worldwide high-definition media. Most of Summit's homevideo releases are distributed by Fox, a deal that's likely to sunset as Lionsgate's robust home video arm takes over Summit titles. More shakeups and layoffs were expected at the newly merged companies. The departure of Garrett - a highly effective and much beloved foreign-sales maven based out of London - leaves a major hole to fill for Lionsgate, which targeted Summit in part on the strength of its overseas sales division. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Some Dance Company: A David Fernandez Celebration

Some Dance Company: A David Fernandez Celebration February 22, 2012 Photo by David Fernandez Watch some of the best dancers in the world perform acclaimed work. Stars from NY City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble, and more are donating their talents for a one-night-only performance honoring master teacher, dancer, and choreographer David Fernandez. The evening will feature excerpts of Fernandez's work, with all net proceeds being donated to Career Transition for Dancers. Feb. 27. El Museo del Barrio, El Teatro, 1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street, Manhattan. 7 p.m. $30, $50, and $100 ($100 ticket includes a contribution to benefit Career Transition for Dancers, as well as an invitation to a champagne reception with the performers following the event). davidferndance.com/tickets.htm. Some Dance Company: A David Fernandez Celebration February 22, 2012 PHOTO CREDIT David Fernandez Watch some of the best dancers in the world perform acclaimed work. Stars from NY City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble, and more are donating their talents for a one-night-only performance honoring master teacher, dancer, and choreographer David Fernandez. The evening will feature excerpts of Fernandez's work, with all net proceeds being donated to Career Transition for Dancers. Feb. 27. El Museo del Barrio, El Teatro, 1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street, Manhattan. 7 p.m. $30, $50, and $100 ($100 ticket includes a contribution to benefit Career Transition for Dancers, as well as an invitation to a champagne reception with the performers following the event). davidferndance.com/tickets.htm.