STEVE JOBS #1 ON PREMIERE'S POWER LIST...LOVETT RANKS HIGHER THAN SONY, U

By Tom Tapp

The angry calls to and from publicists began today as Premiere's annual Power List was released. Pixar's Steve Jobs and John Lassiter top the rankings. (Disclosure: I helped report on the project).

Among the studios, Warner's Barry Meyer and Alan Horn rank highest (#2) on the strength of their "whopping" $1.9 billion worldwide theatrical take. Fox comes next and then Disney.

One huge mover was CAA's Richard Lovett, who jumped from 13 to 7. That ranking puts him ahead of Sony bosses Michael Lynton and Amy Pascal (8) as well as Universal's Ron Meyer, Marc Shmuger and David Linde. It is the first time an agency head has ranked above studio heads on the list.

Last year's #1, Peter Jackson, freefell to #11 based in part on the "deafening roar of post-release 'Kong'-kvetching."

Among stars, Tom Cruise (Premiere's coverboy) still ranks highest at lucky number 13. He's followed in order by Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson and Johnny Depp.

On the distaff side, there's a huge upset in the fact that Reese Witherspooon is ranked 29 to Julia Roberts' 30. Magazine attributes this to the fact that "Julia's been busy with twins."

New talent on the list includes Keira Knightly(45), "40-Year-Old Virgin" Steve Carrell (33), Vince Vaughn (31), Angelina Jolie (38) and Jake Gyllenhaal (48).