Quick Takes - Jan. 28, 2011

‘Hobbit’ filming delayed

Filming of the “Hobbit” movies will be delayed because director Peter Jackson is recovering from surgery for a perforated ulcer, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

Jackson, 49, who directed the hit “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy in his native New Zealand, was admitted to a hospital in Wellington on Wednesday evening with acute stomach pains.

“Sir Peter is currently resting comfortably and his doctors expect him to make a full recovery,” spokeswoman Melissa Booth said in a statement. “The surgery is not expected to impact on his directing commitment to the Hobbit beyond a slight delay to the start of filming.”

Filming of the two movies of “The Hobbit,” based on the J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy novel, had been expected to start in February.

—Reuters

Bieber — and the Osbournes?

Fresh-faced Canadian teen idol Justin Bieber has teamed with veteran rocker Ozzy Osbourne and his wife, Sharon, to make a Best Buy commercial for next month’s Super Bowl, the U.S. electronics chain announced Thursday.

Bieber, 16, currently the world’s biggest teen singing sensation, and the 62-year-old Black Sabbath frontman and his wife, an “America’s Got Talent” judge, filmed the commercial in Los Angeles this month.

Best Buy gave no details but said the ad would “showcase creativity and humor” to millions of Super Bowl TV viewers.

—Reuters

‘Talk’ renewed despite ratings

A TV show needs good ratings to survive, right? Well, not always.

Take, for example, CBS’ new daytime show, “The Talk,” which this week got renewed through next season. Modeled on ABC’s warhorse “The View,” “The Talk” is co-hosted by Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete and Leah Remini. Oh, and there’s also Julie Chen, who happens to be married to CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves.

“The Talk” averages 2.2 million total viewers, according to the Nielsen Co., which is off 15% compared with “As the World Turns,” the soap that last year occupied its spot.

Ah, but it’s done better among its target audience of women, right? Nope. “The Talk” has slipped 17% in women ages 18 to 49, its core demographic. And it’s down 19% among a slightly older group, women ages 25 to 54.

CBS explained the decision by saying the show had been on a “ratings roll” the last couple of weeks.

—Scott Collins

Here he is, on the road again

Bob Seger is finally ready to go back out and show off some of his night moves.

The 65-year-old rocker and his Silver Bullet Band are hitting the road for the first time in four years.

Seger’s management and record company said Thursday that the Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member will kick off a tour in March — his first since 2006-07. Dates weren’t announced.

The statement said fans can expect to hear classics such as “Night Moves” and “Old Time Rock & Roll” as well as songs off a forthcoming new album.

—Associated Press

Symphonies bound for O.C.

Coming to Orange County: the New York Philharmonic (with Alan Gilbert), the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (with Riccardo Muti), the Cleveland Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, all part of the Philharmonic Society 2011-12 season announced Thursday.

The season kicks off with concerts by the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra (Oct. 13 and 17) led by conductor Valery Gergiev in a salute to the 120th anniversary of the opening of Carnegie Hall.

Chicago’s recently appointed music director Muti will lead the CSO in a concert (Feb. 17) that will include Honegger’s “Pacific 231” and “Alternative Energy” by Mason Bates.

Also on the schedule are the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, violinist Joshua Bell and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, under the baton of Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos.

Performances will take place at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. Tickets go on sale in June.

—David Ng

Finally

New label: Chicago rock ‘n’ rollers Wilco have formed their own label, dBpm Records, whose releases will be distributed and marketed by eclectic Silver Lake independent Anti- Records.

Getting serious: Funnyman Jon Stewart has joined the board of the foundation building the memorial to victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in New York, where his “The Daily Show” is based.

Guest star: Will Ferrell will act in several episodes of “The Office,” NBC said.

On the boards: London theater revenues rose 1.5% in 2010 to a record $817 million, but attendances slipped 0.8% to 14.2 million versus 2009 levels, the Society of London Theatre reported.