• b.f. -- an abbreviation for boyfriend, usually used in reviews (also g.f.-- girlfriend); "The story concerns a woman whose b.f. is on the lam."
• B.O. -- box office or box office receipts; " 'Boogie Nights' did brisk biz at the B.O." or "The B.O. for 'Men in Black' is whammo overseas
• backdoor pilot -- Not a Variety creation, pilot episode filmed as a standalone movie, so it can be broadcast if it is not picked up as a series; Cabler has begun casting its telepic/backdoor pilot "Ichabod and I."
• BAFTA -- British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
• Beantown -- Variety slanguage for Boston, Mass.; "The Cars were one of the biggest rock bands from Beantown." (See also: (the) Hub)
• Beertown -- Variety slanguage for Milwaukee, Wisconsin; "Beertown is the final stop on the current 'Show Boat' tour."
• BevHills -- Beverly Hills; "The Museum of Radio & Television held a gala fundraiser at its BevHills branch."
• BFCA -- Broadcast Film Critics Association.
• biopic -- A Variety coinage meaning biographical film; " 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' about Loretta Lynn, is one of the most successful biopics ever produced."
• bird -- A Variety term for satellite; "The proposed channel would be carried by an Asian bird to be launched next spring."
• biz -- shorthand for business or "the business" -- show business; "Alan Smithee started out in the biz as a grip" or "Alan Smithee was promoted to VP of biz affairs at Par."
• Blighty -- Britain; " 'Bean' is one of the biggest hits to come out of Blighty."
• blurb -- TV commercial; "Ridley Scott started his career directing blurbs."
• boff (also boffo, boffola) -- outstanding (usually refers to box office performance); " 'My Best Friend's Wedding' has been boffo at the B.O." (See also, socko, whammo)
• boom -- Industry term: Overhead microphone used to record actors' voices
• bow -- (n.) opening or premiere; (v.) to debut a production; "The pic's bow was in January"; "The Nederlander Organization will bow its revival of 'Wonderful Town' next year."
• busted pilot -- Each year, the nets order about 20 pilots a piece (about evenly split, half comedy, half drama), which are then cast and filmed for consideration for the fall skeds. But only about half a dozen pilots are picked up to become the premiere episodes. The other pilots are never heard from again -- and are rarely ever seen beyond network boardrooms. "Idea for pic originated from last year's busted 'MTM' reunion pilot."

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