Sweeney Todd

Warner Bros. named Kevin McCormick president of production at the Burbank movie studio. He succeeds Jeff Robinov, who recently took on the elevated role of president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group. McCormick will oversee the creative team and development of movies produced by the studio. He will also continue to oversee Warner's New York and London offices. McCormick joined Warner in 1999 and in his former role as executive vice president of production supervised such movies as "Blood Diamond," Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd" and David Fincher's upcoming "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

There is no doubt Oscar will take a shine to Johnny Depp's performance and the startling production design, costumes and cinematography in "Sweeney Todd," but after the mixed reaction the film has received from audiences across the country, hopes of a best picture nod may be a bit too optimistic. -- 10. "Charlie Wilson's War" 9. "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" 8. "American Gangster" 7. "Into the Wild" 5. "Michael Clayton" 4. "Juno" 3. "Atonement" 2. "There Will Be Blood" 1. "No Country for Old Men"

10. "Michael Clayton" 9. "Into the Wild" 7. "The Kite Runner" 6. "Charlie Wilson's War" 5. "There Will Be Blood" 4. "No Country for Old Men" 3. "Sweeney Todd" 2. "American Gangster" 1. "Atonement" -- Go online for Contender Countdown, a click-through look at the top films. Jason Reitman's sophomore effort enters the countdown ranks for the first time this week thanks to notable appearances by star Ellen Page and screenwriter Diablo Cody, who are workin' the red carpet.

DRAMA, COMEDY SPECIAL "Do You Remember Love" LIMITED SERIES OUTSTANDING SERIES "The Jewel in the Crown" LEAD ACTRESS Joanne Woodward, "Do You Remember Love" LEAD ACTOR Richard Crenna, "The Rape of Richard Beck" SUPPORTING ACTRESS Kim Stanley, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" SUPPORTING ACTOR Karl Malden, "Fatal Vision" DIRECTING Lamont Johnson, "Wallenberg: A Hero's Story" WRITING Vickie Patik, "Do You Remember Love" DRAMA OUTSTANDING

Performing a principal role in a major musical is challenging under ordinary conditions. But imagine having to master not one part but four. Then picture each role tied to a particular instrument or instruments. For Edwin Cahill, that's his daily task. The actor covers Anthony, Tobias, Beadle and Jonas Fogg in the touring production of director John Doyle's actors-as-orchestra staging of "Sweeney Todd."

It was "Frasier" with a razor over the weekend at the Ahmanson. Opening its third season, "Reprise! Broadway's Best in Concert"--the L.A. answer to New York's "Encore!" series--on Friday presented the first of five semi-staged performances of the 1979 throttler "Sweeney Todd." The Grand Guignol pleasures of Stephen Sondheim's score abounded. By design this concert version offered no fake blood (big savings here), no bodies tumbling down a trap door.

In a word, wow! The Summer Stock '93 production of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," which opened over the weekend at Saddleback College's McKinney Theatre, is a killer of a show. Led by Jeff Paul as Sweeney and Beth Hansen as Mrs. Lovett, who are both ideally cast in the starring roles, nearly two dozen players have conspired to deliver this difficult Broadway classic with stunning panache.