LEVERAGE Gets Third Season Renewal

Posted by Electric On August - 27 - 2009

The Con is On as TNT Orders Third Season of Hit Series LEVERAGE

Popular Series, Starring Oscar® Winner Timothy Hutton, Averages 4.1 Million Viewers
And Ranks as Ad-Supported Cable’s #1 Wednesday Program among Adults 25-54

Television’s hottest team of con artists, grifters, hackers and thieves will be back again as TNT lines up a third season of its fast-paced drama series LEVERAGE, starring Academy Award® winner Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People), Gina Bellman (Coupling), Christian Kane (TNT’s Into the West), Beth Riesgraf (Alvin and the Chipmunks) and Aldis Hodge (Friday Night Lights). The network has ordered 15 episodes of the series, which is currently in its second season, airing Wednesdays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). The show’s summer finale will air Wednesday, Sept. 9. It will then return to complete the second season in winter, with the third season slated to air in summer 2010.

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“Thanks in large part to its engaging cast and clever storytelling, LEVERAGE has proven itself to be one of the most exciting and fun hours on television,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “The producers, cast and crew have been incredible to work with, and we anticipate another wonderful season.”

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LEVERAGE is executive-produced by Dean Devlin (Independence Day, TNT’s The Librarian) and creators John Rogers (Transformers) and Chris Downey (The King of Queens). It comes to the network from Devlin’s Electric Entertainment and is one of six high-profile original dramas that have populated TNT’s Monday-Wednesday lineup this summer. The six series, which include The Closer, Raising the Bar, HawthoRNe, Saving Grace and Dark Blue, are part of an aggressive TNT strategy to build a slate of quality original programming in primetime.

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LEVERAGE scored big in its first season, ranking as ad-supported cable’s #1 show in its timeslot with an average of 3.9 million viewers. The second season has averaged 4.1 million viewers* and ranks as ad-supported cable’s #1 Wednesday program in delivery of adults 25-54 and #1 Wednesday drama among viewers and households. The show is enjoying solid growth when compared to its first season, with viewers up 5% and households up 7%.

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LEVERAGE scores tremendously well with DVR users, garnering an extraordinary 66% growth among adults 25-54 when comparing Live to Live + 7 viewing.

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In LEVERAGE, Hutton stars as Nate Ford, a former insurance investigator determined to bring down the kind of corrupt bigwigs whose neglect led to the death of his son. His highly skilled team includes Sophie Devereaux (Bellman), a grifter who uses her acting skills to corner her marks; Eliot Spencer (Kane), a “retrieval specialist” with bone-crunching fighting skills; Alec Hardison (Hodge), a gadget and technology wizard who keeps the team connected and informed; and Parker (Riesgraf), a slightly off-center thief adept at rappelling off buildings or squeezing into tight places.

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Electric Entertainment is a full-service film, television and new media production company and studio, established in 2001 by veteran writer/producer Dean Devlin (Independence Day, Stargate, The Patriot) and led by Devlin along with partners Kearie Peak, Marc Roskin and Rachel Olschan. Dec. 7, 2008, marked the TNT premiere of Leverage, the new action-packed series from Electric Entertainment executive produced by Devlin, who made his directorial debut on the pilot, and the debut of The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice, the third installment of the company’s popular Librarian franchise, starring Noah Wyle (ER). Electric is in pre-production on the animated feature film Tikis and the feature film Ghosting, a supernatural thriller which Devlin will produce and direct.

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Electric’s previous films include the World War I action/adventure Flyboys; the politically charged documentary Who Killed the Electric Car?; Cellular, starring Kim Basinger, Chris Evans and Jessica Biel; and Eight Legged Freaks, with David Arquette and Scarlett Johansson. The company’s television credits include The Librarian: Quest for the Spear, starring Noah Wyle, which aired on TNT in December 2004 and was the highest-rated movie on cable that year; its sequel, The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines; and The Sci Fi Channel’s (now SyFy) The Triangle, which won a Visual Effects Emmy® and was the highest-rated miniseries on the cable channel since Steven Spielberg Presents Taken. Electric Entertainment recently teamed with TNT for the crime thriller Blank Slate, starring Eric Stoltz, a microseries that debuted last fall on the network, as well as on tnt.tv. Additionally, Electric Entertainment owns and operates the online pop-culture and entertainment magazine IF (www.IFmagazine.com), which reports the entertainment industry’s daily news.

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TNT, one of cable’s top-rated networks, is television’s destination for drama and home to such original series as the acclaimed and highly popular detective drama The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick; Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter; Raising the Bar, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; HawthoRNe, with Jada Pinkett Smith; and Dark Blue, starring Dylan McDermott. TNT also presents such powerful dramas as Bones, CSI: NY, Cold Case, Law & Order, Without a Trace, ER and Charmed; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards®; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is available in high-definition.

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Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

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* Blended average using most recent available data: Live + 7 through Aug. 5; Live + Same Day for Aug. 12 and Aug. 19.

This information can also be accessed on TBS, Inc.’s press site at news.turner.com.

Follow TNT public relations on Twitter at twitter.com/TNTPR

Popularity: 1% [?]

THE LIBRARIAN: THE CURSE OF THE JUDAS CHALICE nabbed three nominations to for the 61st Annual Emmy Awards.

The action-adventure film from Electric Entertainment and TNT stars Noah Wyle as a reluctant action hero who uncovers vampires in the third installment of the popular franchise.


The Emmy Nominees for THE LIBRARIAN include:

–Bob Newhart Best Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series or Movie

–Kim Martinez and Jennifer Kamrath for Best Costumes in A Mini-Series or Movie

–Best Sound Editing For A Mini-Series or Movie or Special


The Emmy’s will be handed out on September 12.

Popularity: 1% [?]

LEVERAGE Premiere 3.9 Million Viewers

Posted by Electric On July - 16 - 2009

TNT’s Successful Three-Night Strategy of Original Programming Continues

With 3.9 Million Viewers Tuning in to the Season Premiere of LEVERAGE

And 3.5 Million Viewers for the Series Premiere of DARK BLUE


LEVERAGE Outperforms First Season Average

23.5 Million Viewers Watch TNT’s Monday-Wednesday Originals this Week



Last night, TNT launched its third successful night of original programming as 3.9 million viewers tuned in for the second-season premiere of LEVERAGE, from executive producer Dean Devlin and starring Oscar® winner Timothy Hutton, and 3.5 million viewers watched DARK BLUE, the new series from executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer and featuring Golden Globe® winner Dylan McDermott.  LEVERAGE also outdelivered its first-season average among viewers and households.

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The success of TNT’s Wednesday night lineup is the latest step in the network’s plan to create three nights of outstanding original programming, which this week was watched by a combined 23.5 million viewers.  TNT’s Monday night original series lineup features THE CLOSER and RAISING THE BAR, while Tuesday night pairs HAWTHORNE with SAVING GRACE.

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“Last year, we laid out a strategy to create three nights of high-quality, original programming on TNT,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM).  “The success of LEVERAGE and DARK BLUE proves once again what can happen when you work with the very best talent in the industry.”

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Last night’s second-season premiere of LEVERAGE was watched by 3,890,000 viewers and 2,724,000 households.  It also scored a 2.8 coverage household rating/2.4 national household rating.  The episode outdelivered its first-season Live + Same Day average, with viewers up 24% and households up 20%.  It also elevated TNT’s Wednesday 9-10 p.m. time period over the same night last year, with viewers up 113% and households up 70%.

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DARK BLUE continued the success of its LEVERAGE lead-in by delivering 3,542,000 viewers and 2,717,000 households.  It also garnered a 2.8 coverage household rating/2.4 national household rating.  When compared to the same night last year, DARK BLUE raised TNT’s Wednesday 10-11 p.m. time period deliveries by 129% among viewers and 104% among households.

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On Mondays, TNT’s THE CLOSER continues to rank as ad-supported cable’s #1 series, averaging 6.5 million viewers and 4.8 million households for its fifth season.  The second season of RAISING THE BAR has been the #1 entertainment program in its time slot among viewers (3.3 million, +7% vs. last season) and households (2.6 million, +5% vs. last season).

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TNT’s successful Tuesday night lineup of originals kicks off with HAWTHORNE, which in its first season is averaging 3.3 million viewers and 2.6 million households.  HAWTHORNE is followed by SAVING GRACE, which is averaging 3 million viewers and 2.3 million households in its third season.

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Sponsors for the premiere of LEVERAGE included Hyundai and Sprint, while premiere sponsors for DARK BLUE included The Weinstein Group, which presented speacial footage from Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming film Inglourious Basterds.

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TNT, one of cable’s top-rated networks, is television’s destination for drama and home to such original series as the acclaimed and highly popular detective drama The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick; Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter; Raising the Bar, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; Hawthorne, with Jada Pinkett Smith; and Dark Blue, starring Dylan McDermott.  TNT also presents such powerful dramas as Bones, Cold Case, Law & Order, Without a Trace, ER and Charmed; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards®; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA.  TNT is available in high-definition.

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Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

Popularity: 1% [?]

THE LIBRARIAN 3 WINS SATURN AWARD

Posted by Electric On June - 26 - 2009

Dean Devlin‘THE LIBRARIAN: THE CURSE OF THE JUDAS CHALICE’ WINS SATURN AWARD FOR BEST PRESENTATION FOR TV

Leonard Nimoy was honored with the lifetime achievement award, THE DARK KNIGHT and BSG among the other winners

LOCATION: Castaways Restaurant in Burbank

THE SKINNY: THE LIBRARIAN: THE CURSE OF THE JUDAS CHALICE took home the Saturn Award for best presentation on television at the 35th annual Saturn Awards held last night.

THE LIBRARIAN: THE CURSE OF THE JUDAS CHALICE, produced by Dean Devlin and Electric Entertainment, was directed by Jonathan Frakes and written by Marco Schnabel. The film, the third in THE LIBRARIAN franchise, follows Flynn Carsen (Noah Wyle) librarian extraordinaire, an expert in linguistics, ancient customs, swordplay and much more, albeit sometimes his social skills are a bit rusty, as he travels to New Orleans to stop a Russian ex-pat from giving his country the power of Vlad Dracul with the legendary Judas Chalice. The film is a frisky, entertaining and humorous action romp dealing with vampires, legend, kidnapping, mythology and much more.

“It’s always such a thrill to get nominated for a Saturn Award,” says Devlin. “It’s one of the greatest events in Hollywood and I look forward to it every year. Winning for LIBRARIAN 3 made it that much more special.”

Meanwhile, THE DARK KNIGHT shined with five awards, while THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON and IRON MAN took three each.

Other television winners included BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and LOST.

Actor Lance Henriksen, DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Leonard Nimoy picked up special awards.

Here is the complete list of the winners of the 35th annual Saturn Awards:

Science Fiction Film:

“Iron Man”

Fantasy Film:

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Horror Film:

“Hellboy II: The Golden Army”

Action/Adventure/Thriller Film:

“The Dark Knight”

Actor:

Robert Downey, Jr. (“Iron Man”)

Actress:

Angelina Jolie (“Changeling”)

Supporting Actor:

Heath Ledger (“The Dark Knight”)

Supporting Actress:

Tilda Swinton (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”)

Performance by a Younger Actor:

Jaden Christopher Smith (“The Day the Earth Stood Still”)

Director:

Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”)

Writer:

Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan (“The Dark Knight”)

Music:

Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard (“The Dark Knight”)

Costume:

Mary Zophres (“Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”)

Make-Up:

Greg Cannom (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”)

Special Effects:

Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Timothy Webber, Paul J. Franklin (“The Dark Knight”)

International Film:

“Let the Right One In”

Animated Film:

“Wall-E”

Television Series:

“Lost”

Syndicated/Cable Television Series:

“Battlestar Galactica”

Presentation on Television:

“The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice”

Actor on Television:

Edward James Olmos (“Battlestar Galactica”)

Actress on Television:

Mary McDonnell (“Battlestar Galactica”)

Supporting Actor on Television:

Adrian Pasdar (“Heroes”)

Supporting Actress on Televison:

Jennifer Carpenter (“Dexter”)

Guest Starring Role on Television:

Jimmy Smits (“Dexter”)

DVD Release:

Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer”

DVD Special Edition Release:

Stephen King’s The Mist” – 2 disc Special Edition

DVD Classic Film Release:

“Psycho” – Universal Legacy Series

DVD Collection:

“The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration”

Series on DVD:

“Moonlight”

Retro Series on DVD:

“The Invaders”

The Life Career Award:

Lance Henriksen

The Lifetime Achievement Award:

Leonard Nimoy

The Visionary Award:

Jeffrey Katzenberg

Source: Saturn Awards

Popularity: 16% [?]

‘Leverage’ Gets a Lift

Posted by Electric On May - 20 - 2009

By Gary Strauss, Elysa Gardner and Anthony Breznican, USA TODAY - Television

Dean Devlin is best known for producing Independence Day and The Patriot. But he makes his directing debut on the small screen with TNT’s Leverage. The series premieres Dec. 7 (10 ET/PT), then two days later moves to its regular Tuesday slot.

“It was so much fun — the frustrations of a creative producer got to explode in the director’s chair,” says Devlin, who also serves as executive producer and a writer on the series.
Timothy Hutton stars as former insurance company investigator Nate Ford, who recovered millions in stolen goods for his employer only to have the company turn down the claims for his now-deceased son. Ford turns into a modern-day Robin Hood; he assembles a team of grifters who steal from those who use wealth and power to victimize others. Says Devlin, “It’s like an old-fashioned caper movie.”

Popularity: 64% [?]

Leverage Picked Up for 2nd Season

Posted by Electric On February - 6 - 2009

TNT Renews Popular Drama Series LEVERAGE

for Second Season.  Acclaimed Series, Starring Oscar® Winner Timothy Hutton, Ranks as Ad-Supported Cable’s #1 Entertainment Program in the Tuesday 10 p.m. (ET/PT) Timeslot.  Series Averages 3.2 Million Viewers and Scores Big Growth Through Time-Shifted Viewing.
TNT’s critically acclaimed hit series LEVERAGE will be back for a second season, according to an announcement today by Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM).  TNT has ordered 15 new episodes of the popular, high-octane series, which stars Oscar® winner Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People, Nero Wolfe), Gina Bellman (Coupling), Christian Kane (TNT’s Into the West), Beth Riesgraf (Without a Trace) and Aldis Hodge (Friday Night Lights).

 

LEVERAGE currently airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), with the second season slated to begin later this year.  The series is produced by Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment.  Dean Devlin (Independence Day, TNT’s The Librarian movie series), John Rogers (Cosby) and Chris Downey (The King of Queens) serve as executive producers. International rights are being handled by Voltage Pictures and headed up by President Nicolas Chartier.

 

LEVERAGE ranks as ad-supported cable’s #1 entertainment program in the Tuesday 10 p.m. (ET/PT) timeslot among viewers, households and adults 25-54.  The Dec. 7 premiere was watched by 5.6 million viewers and scored TNT’s best original series telecast ever in delivery of adults 18-49 during the regular broadcast season.  Through its first nine episodes, LEVERAGE has averaged 3.2 million viewers and 1.4 million adults 18-49 in Live + Same Day viewing.  The first six episodes scored strong growth when comparing Live to Live + 7 numbers, with total viewership rising 33% to 4.1 million and adults 18-49 rising 42% to 1.9 million.

 

“We’re thrilled that audiences and critics have responded so positively to LEVERAGE and made the show a solid hit,” Wright said.  “We look forward to another great season of fun and exciting storylines brought to life by the outstanding cast, led by Timothy Hutton, and the incredible production team, headed up by executive producers Dean Devlin and John Rogers.”

 

LEVERAGE follows a team of thieves, hackers and grifters who seek revenge against those who use power and wealth to victimize people.  Hutton stars as a former insurance investigator whose son died as a result of corporate greed.  He now puts his energy, quick mind and keen intellect toward securing justice for society’s underdogs.

 

“We had an amazing experience shooting the first season of LEVERAGE with such a talented cast and crew and with the full support of TNT behind us,” Devlin said. “We can’t wait to get to work on season two and take viewers on another adventure with Nate and his team.”

 

LEVERAGE is part of an ongoing collaboration between TNT and Devlin.  Previously, he executive-produced The Librarian action-adventure movies starring Noah Wyle (ER).  The third installment in the franchise, The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice, premiered as the lead-in to the first episode of LEVERAGE.

 

The renewal of LEVERAGE is the latest move by TNT in its aggressive strategy to ramp up original series production.  The network recently announced that it is greenlighting two new series: Time Heals, a character-driven medical drama starring Jada Pinkett Smith (The Women, The Matrix Trilogy), and the fast-paced, undercover police drama The Line, starring Golden Globe® winner Dylan McDermott (The Practice, TNT’s The Grid).

 

TNT’s success with original series includes the critically acclaimed The Closer, ad-supported cable’s #1 series of all time; Saving Grace, which averages more than 5 million viewers; and Raising the Bar, which set a new ad-supported cable viewership record when it premiered on Labor Day 2008. The network’s latest original series, the light-hearted drama Trust Me, starring Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanagh, premiered Jan. 26, with 3.4 million viewers.

 

Electric Entertainment is a full-service film, television and new media production company, established in 2001 by veteran writer/producer Dean Devlin (Independence DayStargateThe Patriot) and led by Devlin, along with partners Kearie Peak, Marc Roskin and Rachel Olschan. Electric is in pre-production on the feature film Ghosting, a supernatural thriller that Devlin will produce and direct.  Electric’s previous films include the World War I action/adventure Flyboys; the politically charged documentary Who Killed the Electric Car?Cellular, starring Kim Basinger, Chris Evans and Jessica Biel; and Eight Legged Freaks, with David Arquette and Scarlett Johansson.  The company’s television credits include The Librarian: Quest for the Spear, starring Noah Wyle, which aired on TNT in December 2004 and was the highest-rated movie on cable that year; its sequel, The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines; and Sci Fi’s The Triangle, which won a visual effects Emmy and was the highest-rated miniseries on the cable channel since Steven Spielberg Presents Taken.  Electric Entertainment recently teamed with TNT for the crime thriller Blank Slate, starring Eric Stoltz, a microseries that debuted in fall 2008 on the network, as well as on www.tnt.tv.  Blank Slate will be re-packaged and distributed on mobile devices, home video and broadcast television. Additionally, Electric Entertainment owns and operates the online independent film magazine IF (www.IFmagazine.com), which reports the entertainment industry’s daily news.

Founded in March 2005, Voltage Pictures is a sales and financing company.  Their latest titles include THE HURT LOCKER, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the new untitled George A. Romero project, SPREAD starring Ashton Kutcher and THE KEEPER starring Steven Seagal.

 

Turner Network Television (TNT), one of cable’s top-rated networks, is television’s destination for drama and home to such original series as the acclaimed and highly popular detective drama The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick; Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter; Raising the Bar, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; and Trust Me, with Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanagh.  TNT also presents such powerful dramas as BonesCold CaseLaw & OrderWithout a TraceER and Charmed; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards®; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA.  TNT is available in high-definition.

 

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

 

CONTACTS:

For Electric Entertainment:

Mariah O’Hara           

310-248-6177

 mohara@bwr-la.com

 

Michelle Sisco             

Atlanta                         

404/885-4784             

michelle.sisco@turner.com

 

Heather Sautter          

Atlanta                         

404/885-0746             

heather.sautter@turner.com

Popularity: 89% [?]

2 Nominations for Librarian 3

Posted by Electric On January - 1 - 2009

After premiering to over 5.4 million viewers and rave reviews, Electric Entertainment’s “The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice” has been nominated for two awards. “The Librarian” has been nominated for an Art Directors Guild Excellence in Production Design Award with production designer Robb Wilson King being recognized for his work in the “Television Movie or Mini-Series” category. Additionally, the television movie’s editor, David J. Siegel, A.C.E., has been nominated for an ACE Eddie Award for “Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture For Commercial Television.” The winners will be announced on February 14th and 15th respectively.

Popularity: 54% [?]

‘The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice’ Review

Posted by Electric On December - 8 - 2008

by Mark McNamara

Dracula, Judas and Noah Wyle combine for the type of high-end family entertainment typical of the franchise.

There’s a vampire theme in “The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice,” which in these “Twilight”/”True Blood” days might feel like, um, overkill, but try not to let it bother you.

For one thing, like its predecessors “Quest for the Spear” and “Return to King Solomon’s Mines,” this third “Librarian” film is an old-fashioned family flick with an emphasis on humor, adventure and chaste romance over disturbing sexual metaphor.

It stars, once again, the doe-eyed, PG-appealing Noah Wyle as Flynn Carsen, a callow brainiac pried out of his 15-year college plan to work for the mysterious Metropolitan Library, where, under the watchful eyes of the head librarian (Bob Newhart), many treasures of yore are kept safe. There’s Pandora’s box and Excalibur, the Ark of the Covenant (apparently whatever Indiana Jones found was a fake) and a real live unicorn. Flynn’s job is to procure more of the same, usually a half a step ahead of some dastardly band with nefarious plans.

“Curse of the Judas Chalice” opens in Bucharest (and really, all you have to do is flash “Bucharest” across the screen to know something at least semi-wicked this way comes), where the frail but feisty Professor Lazlo (Bruce Davison) is finishing up a lecture on Romanian history, after which he ruefully acknowledges that all anyone cares about is Vlad the Impaler, a.k.a. Dracula. Minutes later, Lazlo is kidnapped by Russians searching for the cup made from the 30 coins paid to Judas for his betrayal of Jesus. They hope to use it to reanimate, you guessed it, Dracula.

Meanwhile, our man Flynn has problems of his own. He’s bidding on a Ming vase that has its own little secret, but he’s also trying to placate his girlfriend, who’s getting sick of him disappearing for no good reason (his adventures are, of course, secret).

He gets the vase but loses the girl and finds himself reading the riot act to the head librarian and his curmudgeonly head of personnel (Jane Curtin).

So instead of accepting the assignment to find Lazlo, he goes on vacation. A dream of a beautiful woman takes him to New Orleans, where he not only finds her, Day One, but he is also instantly drawn into the whole Judas chalice situation. Soon he’s racing around colorful New Orleans with a canny local sidekick and the mysterious Simone (Stana Katic), trying to stop a bunch of guys who are probably all named Boris from bringing Dracula back to life.

See, when you say it out loud, it sounds silly. But it’s very fun to watch, and if the theory that Judas Iscariot was the world’s first vampire might not stand up, well, it’s as nifty a plot twist as any. It helps that Katic is as good as she is, but what’s great about “Curse of the Judas Chalice” and the Librarian films in general is that they are the rarest of breeds — high-end family entertainment. (Writer Marco Schnabel and director Jonathan Frakes again did the honors.)

Wyle is funny and charming and dispenses just enough fascinating arcane knowledge to keep things semi-educational, the special effects are great, Newhart and Curtin are always great to see, the ubiquitous Davison (“Knight Rider”) is obviously having a blast as Lazlo, and really, who doesn’t like a good vampire story?

Popularity: 67% [?]