Tattle: Another board game heads to the screen

WANT TO GET into the movie business?

Create a board game popular with baby boomers.

Preferably a half-century ago.

Following in the footsteps of "Clue" the upcoming "Battleship" and other toys turned cinematic properties like Pokemon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Transformers, Adam Sandler is set to star in "Candy Land." Why didn't Tattle ever write that "Chutes and Ladders" script?

TheWrap.com reports Sandler is in final talks with Sony and Hasbro to star and produce. Kevin Lima is attached to direct, and Sandler is scheduled to write with Robert Smigel (Triumph the Insult Dog). In the game Candy Land, created in 1949, players, generally under age 10, make their way through the Peppermint Forest, the Gum Drop Mountains and the Lollypop Woods. As they do, they encounter Princess Frostine, Lord Licorice, Mr. Mint and King Candy.

"Candy Land" doesn't sound like an award winner, but it will probably be good for concession sales.

'X Factor' Xits

"I've learned through my longevity in this industry that business decisions often times override personal considerations," Abdul said in a measured statement.

Guess that means Paula will go back to managing her hedge fund.

* In a sort of related story, workaholic Ryan Seacrest is going into the TV business with radio giant Clear Channel. The company said yesterday that it is taking a minority stake in Ryan Seacrest Media, which produces "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and other Kardashian spin-offs.

In a separate deal, Clear Channel's majority investors, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital, are committing $300 million to work with Seacrest's company to identify, acquire and develop innovative media companies.

Clear Channel was taken private in 2008 by Thomas H. Lee and those job creators at Bain but has struggled under the debt load created by the acquisition. The company's long-term debt reached about nearly $20 billion at the end of September.

Well-played, fellas.

TATTBITS

said yesterday that Debbie Reynolds will release her tell-all tome, "Unsinkable," next year.