شایعات پیرامون ستارگان عالم هنر، سیاست، ....

[Mohamad]

شایعات پیرامون زندگی خصوصی ستارگان عالم هنر ، سیاست ،........... همواره برای مردم عادی دارای جذبه و کشش فوق العاده ای بوده است. بنابراین قصد دارم از این پس در این تاپیک به این موضوع بپردازم.



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Oprah Winfrey: Secrets are out

. Oprah's off week

The queen of talk was rendered mute this week with the entrance of catty profiler Kitty Kelley's book about her. The unauthorized biography dished out dirt on the daytime diva, who is usually in control of her message, thank you very much. This time the roles were reversed. The tell-all reveals secrets like a relationship with John Tesh in the '70s (we get why she'd want to keep that quiet). And rumors that she's ****** are making the rounds on the Internet. But even the big buzz around the book hasn't been enough for major news shows to decline to interview the biographer for fear of Oprah's wrath. The book brought lookups on the Web for "oprah winfrey affair," "oprah winfrey tell all book," and "is oprah winfrey ******." You can read excerpts from Kitty Kelley's meow-fest here

[Mohamad]

Sarah Palin's diva demands

Hockey mom she may be, but the former Alaska governor and Republican candidate for vice president is not exactly a regular gal. For example, she likes her water bottled and her straws bendable. How do we know this? Some enterprising students at Cal State Stanislaus, where Palin is set to speak in June, dug up some pages of her contract from a recycling bin. The immediately resulting media frenzy drew attention to the very details that university officials had refused to disclose, even though critics had argued that as a public university, administrators must reveal what the public had a right to know.
While Palin's speaking fee is still a secret, other information sure isn't anymore, like her demand for first-class airfare, high-end hotel reservations, and prescreened questions at the talk. A California organization is now filing suit with the university to demand that they 'fess up about her fees, even as the university administration continues to claim that everything is paid for by a private foundation, so they really don't have to tell. Searches are up on "sarah palin contract," "sarah palin tea party," "sarah palin California," and "sarah palin stanislaus

[Mohamad]

Jim Carrey's Twitter addiction

No doubt about it, the actor has a trigger Twitter finger. Jim Carrey first decides to announce the end of his relationship with Jenny McCarthy via a Twitter post. And then he stands up for Tiger Woods' extramarital affairs with this Twitter bomb: "No wife is blind enough to miss that much infidelity. Elin [Nordegren] had 2 b a willing participant on the ride 4 whatever reason."
Say, what? Some bloggers suggested the bizarre comment was proof that the comic actor was having a breakdown. Carrey finally backed down with a mea sorta culpa, saying in a statement, "I wish every human being nothing but love and immeasurable happiness…Now, I'm going to re-enter the Twitter stream and see if there is anyone left to offend!" Oh, no worries there

[Mohamad]

Idol' Can Transform Ya: Biggest 'AI' Makeovers Ever







http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__16/realityrocks-986302648-1271201477_thumb.jpg?ymFLp.CD9CK8a679Most American Idols are made, not born. Sure, their singing ability may have been there from the start, but they walked into that audition room looking like just any boy- or girl-next-door. It was only after they were manhandled by a 19 Entertainment-supplied dream team of stylists, hairdressers, makeup artists, personal trainers, and cosmetic dentists that their superstar transformations were complete.
And of course, some less fortunate Idols end up going through changes on their own, both good and bad, once they leave the show and are left to their own devices.
So what sort of makeovers (or makeunders) will Season 9's contestants undergo once "American Idol" is over? Will Siobhan Magnus ditch the Missy Elliott boots and Mr. Peabody spectacles once and for all? Will Crystal Bowersox comb out her dreads? Will Andrew Garcia cover up his neck tattoos? Will Casey James (gawd forbid) chop off his goldilocks? Who knows? But here are some of the more dramatic and drastic metamorphoses of Idols past.

Nikki McKibbin was Season 1's token "rocker"--meaning she had pink hair, wore studded wristbands, and sang Alannah Myles songs. Like it or not, she set the flame-haired prototype for the Vanessa Olivarezes, Amy Adamses, Gina Glocksens, and Allison Irahetas to come. Still, perhaps the voting public wasn't entirely convinced of darling Nikki's rockin'-ness, given that she only made it to third place. After leaving the show, the former karaoke queen and exotic dancer was determined to prove she was a real rocker, even rejecting an offer from 19 and RCA to record a country album. She then cultivated a darker, slightly Evanescence-esque new look that included raven-black locks, sooty eyeliner, and lots of leather, leather, leather. Her self-released music didn't quite take off, and then her image grew even darker, as she battled her drug demons on "Celebrity Rehab." After getting clean, she ballooned in weight, but now, after almost two years of sobriety, Nikki has achieved a great deal in her personal life, even if her entertainment career is still in flux.
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One of the most controversial contestants of Season 1 (Simon Cowell HATED him, yet he got enough votes to make the top 12), Jim Verraros continued to court controversy post-show by becoming the first "Idol" alum to come out as homo******ual, long before Clay Aiken or Adam Lambert followed suit. And along with this out-and-proud confession came a whole new look for Jim. Gone were the dorky brush-cut hairdo, geek glasses, and pock-marked skin...suddenly Jim had reinvented himself as a pretty-boy club kid, complete with sideswept Zac Efron haircut, guyliner, mesh tank tops, and saucy pout. And this was YEARS before Danny Noriega hit the "Idol" circuit, too.
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Perhaps no Idol has undergone quite as dramatic a metamorphosis as Clay Aiken. The Season 2 runner-up made his television debut as a bespectacled, scrawny pipsqueak, an image that totally belied his deep, manly voice. But by the time he returned to the "American Idol" stage for the Season 5 finale--sporting a brunette bob, suave suit, and filled-out face--he was nearly unrecognizable. (Post-makeover, he didn't even remotely resemble his supposed lookalike, Michael Sandecki, the geeky fan he ambushed onstage that night for a surprise duet.) Later on Broadway--sporting flowing curly locks, medieval garb, and about 30 extra pounds--the new "Spamalot" star's startling transformation continued.
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"American Idol" Season 2 champ Ruben Studdard was always large and in charge, hence why he received comparisons to the similarly stocky Luther Vandross and earned the nickname "Velvet Teddy Bear." But despite the fact that voters had never minded that there was more of Roooooben to love (he did, after all, beat out the much skinnier Clay Aiken), eventually Ruben Studdard's weight became a scary health issue. Fearful about his family history of diabetes and hypertension, Studdard devised his own vegetarian diet and became the spokesman for his home state's "Scale Back Alabama" fitness campaign--and he lost more than 100 pounds.
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A true duck-to-swan fairytale heroine come to life, Kimberley Locke hardly came across as a babe when she auditioned in Season 2. But behind the mom jeans, unflattering geek glasses, and what Simon rudely called "weird hair," lurked a great beauty to match Kim's gorgeous voice. Her makeover began that season at the hands of skilled "Idol" stylists, but later--after signing up to be a Jenny Craig spokeswoman and losing 40 pounds on "Celebrity Fit Club"--her upgrade was complete. She looked so fine, she even caught the attention of her rumored future beau, "Celebrity Fit Club" drill sergeant Harvey Walden III.
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The edgiest "American Idol" winner ever, Fantasia Barrino has never been one to shy away from extreme looks. She showed up for her "Idol" audition with nearly non-existent eyebrows, for instance, and on the cover of her self-titled sophomore album, she sported a Brigitte Nielsen-esque platinum crop and gold body paint. Later the wild Idol rocked a half-shaved, half-blonde, half-mohawk 'do (with braces, yet) and a fuchsia crop, and on her recent VH1 reality show she flaunted a series of wigs and a newly toned physique. She's ended up on some worst-dressed and worst-tressed lists, but whether it's a hairdo or a hair-don't, if there's any Idol who can pull off crazy looks, it's the aptly named Fantasia.
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During Season 3 of "American Idol," Jennifer Hudson was unfortunately upstaged by fellow divas Fantasia Barrino and LaToya London; so on the infamous and inexplicable evening when all of these divas ended up in the bottom three, she was the one sent packing. But a couple of years later, Jennifer landed the starmaking role as Effie in the film Dreamgirls and managed to do the impossible: upstage Beyonce. Beyonce! Her dramatic transformation from Idol also-ran to A-list movie star culminated in an actual Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress--and though she sadly wound up on many worst-dressed lists thanks to the space-cadet gold bolero jacket she wore on Oscar night, she still looked like a bona fide star. Now, as the newly svelte spokeswoman for Weight Watchers, J.Hud is truly through to Hollywood.
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When Carrie Underwood belted out Heart's "Alone" early on in the fourth season, Simon Cowell predicted she would be the winner. But this sweet blonde from Oklahoma still looked more like a farmgirl than a superstar. However, by the time her first solo tour rolled around in 2006 she had slimmed from a perfectly slim size 6 to an even more perfect size 2, and it wasn't long before she had completely blossomed, scoring a place on People's list of "Most Beautiful People," the title of "World's ******iest Vegetarian" by PETA, and hot-commodity boyfriends like Chace Crawford, Tony Romo, and finally fiancée Mike Fisher.
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Taylor Hicks's everyman charm--bowl haircut, extra pudge, tacky dinner-theater jackets--endeared him to Middle America and helped him win on the most-watched "American Idol" season ever (despite the fact that his competition was the much more conventionally attractive Katharine McPhee). But when it came time for the Soul Patroller to compete in the pop marketplace, it was clear that his dad-like image needed an overhaul. He kept his trademark silver locks, but with a stylish new haircut, more fashionable threads, and a 22-pound weight loss, Taylor still seemed tailored for mainstream success. Unfortunately, his post-"Idol" album didn't sell as much as his (now former) record label had hoped, but his new look still earned him the title of "America's Most Eligible Bachelor" from People magazine, and later on, an angelic theater role in "Grease."
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Back in Season 5, runner-up Katharine McPhee lost out to silver-haired showman Taylor Hicks. Nowadays Katharine is looking a little silvery herself these days, with a bold new platinum crop. While Kat still looks beautiful (she would be pretty even with a Sanjaya-style Mohawk), and the Bardot/Sedgwick/Duffy-ish retro styling gives her a little needed edge, many fans continue to mourn the loss of the naturally brunette Idol's gorgeous shampoo-commercial hair. Seriously, her risky, possibly fan-alienating makeover had the potential to be the worst backlash-inducing hair error since Felicity chopped her locks on the WB. But Kat's album Unbroken has garnered a generally positive response. Still, in a case of "if it's unbroken, don't fix it," Katharine has announced she is planning to return to her dark roots soon.
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Elliott Yamin captured viewers' hearts during Season 5 with his soulful singing, triumph-over-adversity back story, and close relationship with his loving mother. But no one considered Elliott to be heartthrob material, especially with his mouthful of snaggleteeth. Oh, what a difference a stylist--and a dentist--can make. When the third-place runner-up finally released his self-titled debut album, he had a whole new image: GQ haircut, cool clothes, and most importantly, a really nice set of pearly whites. If his music career doesn't pan out, now this guy could actually earn a paycheck as a spokesmodel for Rembrandt.
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Kellie Pickler was always a cutie, following in the Jessica Simpson-pioneered tradition of "stupid = hot" with her limited, Southern-drawled vocabulary. ("What's a ballsy?" is right up there with "Is Chicken Of The Sea fish or chicken?" as far as dumb reality-TV quotes go.) And Kellie's looking even cuter these days. Granted, while it doesn't seem like her brain has undergone any sort of major makeover (her poor showing on "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" was proof of that), she's looking good with her sleek Rihanna-esque bob, red high heels, and suspiciously larger chest. This girl's made it to Hollywood, indeed.
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Little Paris Bennett was the biggest standout during the Season 5 audition process. With a rich and mature singing voice that was in severe contrast to the 4'11", 17-year-old body it came from, Paris made it all the way to the final five. Throughout the competition the judges complained about her wardrobe, which ranged from drab and khaki to pink and frilly, encouraging her to try to dress more her age. Now "Princess P," who has since become a mom, is definitely looking more mature--but this time in a really good way.
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Back in Season 6, Brandon Rogers sported a 'fro that nearly put the follicles of Justin Guarini and Chris Sligh to shame. These days, the singer-songwriter/presenter is rockin' a clean-shaven, chrome-domed look that has more in common with Chris Daughtry and Phil Stacey. Smooth!
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Adam Lambert underwent a series of self-administered makeovers while Season 8 was still in progress, schizophrenically switching up his image from week to week to keep the viewers guessing (and voting). Sometimes he sported side-swept emo hair and head-to-toe rocker leather; other times, he opted for sedate button-down suits and an Elvis pompadour. But it was after "American Idol" was over that Glambert really felt free to take liberties with his persona (and his cosmetics case), spiking both his hair and his shoulderpads, liberally gluing rhinestones on his eyelids, and wearing enough makeup to earn himself a MAC Viva Glam campaign of his own. The glossy, glittery, gender-unspecific look Adam boldly rocked on his controversial For Your Entertainment album cover certainly was a drastic change from the low-key hoodie and jeans that he wore at his first "Idol" audition only eight months earlier.
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Alex Lambert only made it to the top 16 this year, but even though Season 9 is far from over, Alex's makeover has already begun. After a petition from fans to reinstate the unfairly ousted semifinalist resulted in him landing a role on the online reality show "If I Can Dream," Alex ditched his most distinguishing feature: his mullet. His new hairdo has rendered him almost unrecognizable, but his talent remains. I'm still kind of hoping Alex covers Billy Ray Cyrus's "I Want My Mullet Back" someday, though.
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[Mohamad]

Sandra Bullock Asked to Return Razzie Statue


by Lindsay Robertson · April 19, 2010
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The co-founder of the Razzie Awards has taken to the media to ask Sandra Bullock to return the award she won last month for Worst Actress.

"We are ready to take the unprecedented step of asking a winner to return a Razzie," John Wilson, the awards co-founder, told the UK's Telegraph newspaper.

Lest you think this gesture has anything to do with her recent personal-life strife, think again: the Razzie judges haven't changed their mind about Bullock's performance in "All About Steve" - they just want the actual trophy back.

It seems they got so caught up in the moment that instead of giving Bullock the intentionally cheap (it's worth a whopping $4.79), spray-painted replica of the award that all winners receive, the Razzies organizers say they inadvertently handed Bullock the original 30-year-old award. Given its age and rarity, the original has much more value as a collector's item.

Mr. Wilson explained the confusion to the Telegraph: "As Sandra was in such a rush after winning Worst Actress she ran off with the original handmade prototype which has been present at ceremonies since the 1980s."

Bullock famously showed up to accept her Worst Actress award for her role in the box-office bomb, "All About Steve," bringing with her hundreds of "Steve" DVDs and promising to return the award if the Razzie judges changed their minds after watching the movie. The next day, Bullock won the Best Actress Oscar for "The Blind Side," making her the only person ever to win both an Oscar and a Razzie in the same year.

See more photos of Sandra at recent award shows

Wilson told the Telegraph that he hasn't asked Bullock personally for the award back because he wants to respect her privacy in the wake of her recent marital troubles, but that doesn't quite make sense. Wouldn't it be more respectful of Bullock's privacy to just call her on the phone and explain the mishap?

[Mohamad]

'Dancing' Judge Bruno Tonioli Calls Kate Gosselin's Performance 'Catatonic' As She Sinks In Competition Again

Kate Gosselin may have shared her determination to truly compete on "Dancing with the Stars" over the last week, but on Monday night, the reality TV mom was slammed by the show's judges, with one even suggesting she looked "catatonic" during her performance.
Clips from rehearsals revealed it was another tense week of practice between the "Twist of Kate" star and her professional partner, Tony Dovolani, with the two arguing once again.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Kate Gosselin's ******y 'Dancing' Transformation
"You have put zero energy... in it, and you're expecting results," Tony told Kate after she missed some steps. "Not gonna happen."
Tony even admitted that trying to motivate the mother of eight had taken its toll.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 10 Class Photos
"Kate has no motivation and I have to push her each week and it gets exhausting," he told the cameras.
Despite the pair's troubles, Kate said she was feeling more confident in her dancing.
"I feel better out there, I feel more capable, so yeah, we can be the eternal underdogs, that's fine," she said in the clip. "I just don't want to be the eternal underdogs that end up going home."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Pamela Anderson: From 'Baywatch' To The 'Dancing' Ballroom
Her confidence, however, didn't translate in the ballroom.
While there were more smiles from the mom (instead of her usual grimaces and serious faces), her fox trot with Tony - to "Don't You Forget About Me" - a song from "The Breakfast Club" to celebrate the show's "Movie Night" theme, landed her yet again at the bottom of the pack.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Keepin' It Real With TV's Hottest Reality Stars!
"It was neat and precise, but it wasn't really a dance, it was a stroll," British judge Len Goodman said. "You didn't really dance round the floor, you sort of strolled around the floor."
Len's comments seemed almost sweet compared to what came next - remarks from judge Bruno Tonioli, who didn't hold back.
The fiery Italian hit Kate and Tony hard as the pair took home just 15 points out of 30 in total, putting them at the bottom of the leaderboard for the second week in a row, three points lower than their nearest competitor.
"I think Tony could have had more life out of a frock and a coat hanger," Bruno said as Tony bit his lip. "You were just wafting around -- distant, catatonic. I am actually upset because last week something happened and now everything has gone back, right at the beginning and it is not good enough. I mean it needs a post mortem, not a critique."
While her critiques weren't kind, Kate was still buzzing from having her children around and knowing they were supporting her.
"This is the first thing that they absolutely live and breath for," Kate said. "They count down the days 'til Monday, so I gotta keep dancing for them. I have to."
Landing on the other end of the leaderboard, in the top slot, was Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger who gave a sharp and strong tango to "Pretty Woman," from the movie of the same name, with her partner, Derek Hough.
"Best dance of the season so far," Len said as the two took home just one point shy of a perfect score (29 out of 30).
Not far behind though,was Evan Lysacek and Anna Trebunskaya.
The two tackled a tantalizing rhumba to the theme from "Armageddon," - Aerosmith's "Don't Wanna Miss A Thing," which was also highly praised.
"It had artistry, it had musicality, wonderful fluidity through your arms," Len said as the twosome scored 27 points. "I thought you did a great job."
Here's how the rest of the pack did:
Niecy Nash opened the show with a jive to "La Bamba" alongside Louis van Amstel. Although judge Carrie Ann Inaba said Niecy was the "shimmy queen," the two netted just 18 out of 30 points.
Bengals star Chad Ochocinco had been Tweeting about hitting a wall over the weekend and it showed in his quickstep with Cheryl Burke to "The Jungle Book's" "Bare Necessities." While Len said it was "bright and lively," their scores were dismal - just 18 out of 30.
ESPN's Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy sunk in the standings thanks to a so-so jive to "C'est La Vie," that was given just 22 out of 30.
Although he started the dance like Tom Cruise in "Risky Business" - without his pants - Jake Pavelka only mildly heated up the dance floor with Chelsie Hightower, scoring just 23 out of 30.
Pamela Anderson and Damian Whitewood churned out a charming quickstep to "9 To 5," but the judges said it was only worth 21 out of 30 points

[Mohamad]

At 40, Lopez balances motherhood, marriage, movies



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LAS VEGAS - Two children and two years later, Jennifer Lopez has resurfaced with a "Back-up Plan."

"This movie is about a woman who gets to a point in her life," Lopez says. "She's successful ... She has a full life. But, at the same time, she hasn't found that person to share her life with and to have a family with, and so she decides to do it on her own. She decides to have a baby on her own."

The film, opening Friday , is part of the mid-life movie genre that has served actresses well of late, including such blockbusters as "The Proposal" and "It's Complicated," starring Sandra Bullock , 45, and Meryl Streep , 60, respectively. "The Back-up Plan" marks Lopez's first film since turning 40 last July.

"It is a great time to be an actress," Lopez said at a recent convention of theater owners in Las Vegas. "It seems like you can work and do anything at any age ... It's a great time that people are just seeing people's souls."

"It's not so superficial anymore," the actress continued. "Women have proven that they are viable in this business, as well, and it doesn't matter if you're not 21 years old. It just matters that you're great at what you do. And that's exciting."

"Back-up Plan" works through a variety pregnancy issues — now familiar turf for Lopez, who gave birth to fraternal twins, Emme and Maximilian, in February 2008.

One thing in the film she couldn't relate to: the last act's big (and hilarious) water-birthing sequence.

"No!" Lopez laughed. "I didn't have any water birth. I was in a hospital. It was a much more controlled atmosphere: no singing, no drums. But there was a little bit of music. But other than that, no similarities."

In addition to making a movie and caring for her children (with musician-husband Marc Anthony ), Lopez continues to run her empire, which also includes a fragrance line, clothing and music.

And the music will keep playing for Lopez, though not at longtime label Sony Music, which she amicably left earlier this year.

"I had done seven albums with Sony, believe it or not," she explained. "We had a great relationship, and we sold a lot of records, and the company, you know, has changed a little bit, and I just thought it was time for a fresh start."

For movies, however, the star has gone back to her roots, returning to the romantic comedy genre that made her a bankable movie star with film's such as 2002's "Maid in Manhattan" and " Shall We Dance? " in 2004.

" Love is an endlessly fascinating subject for me," she noted, with a laugh. "I love to watch movies in bed with Marc — romantic comedies, much to his chagrin. He doesn't love them, but he puts up with it. Those are our date nights."

[Mohamad]

Supersized Puss in Boots in 'Shrek' Sequel


by Mike Ryan · April 19, 2010
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Reminiscent of Michael Corleone in "The Godfather," who transformed from a civilian to a cold-hearted Mafia boss, another iconic character takes a dramatic turn this summer. Yes, Puss in Boots appears in the fourth Shrek film, "Shrek Forever After," and he has let himself go.

Unfortunately for Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas), a decision made by our hero Shrek results in his loss of sword, hat, and, well, boots. In exchange, we find an overweight housecat that is too lethargic to even chase a mouse that helps himself to Puss' milk.

The fat-cat changes came about because all Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) wanted was a day to live his former life - you know, back when people were afraid of him and left him alone. He's in luck! A new character in the "Shrek" universe, Rumpelstiltskin, presents him with an offer he can't refuse (hey, just like the Corleone family).

In exchange for one day of his life, Shrek is given his day of relaxation. Unfortunately, the day Rumpelstiltskin takes away is the day that Shrek was born. Ah, Rumpelstiltskin tricked him! This event sets up an "It's a Wonderful Life"-type scenario. Shrek is forced to see what life would be like without him, and Puss in Boots suffers the paunchy consequences, as we see in this recently released clip.

"Shrek Forever After" premieres April 21 at the Tribeca Film Festival and will open nationwide on May 21

[Mohamad]

Hot 2 Handle

Halle Berry flaunts her flat stomach in Gucci, and Demi Moore shows off her gorgeous gams in Oscar de la Renta.
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Despite showing some skin, Halle Berry looked super chic in a midriff-baring, mushroom-colored Gucci Fall 2010 dress and Christian Louboutin "Biancia" platform pumps upon arriving at the 30th Annual Silver Rose Gala

[Mohamad]

Mariah Downsizes Diva Requests, Refines Tastes


Posted Wed Apr 21, 2010 3:19pm PDT by Joe Lynch in Stop The Presses!

Mariah Carey is downsizing her backstage demands for her 2010 tour, but she's come up with a new set of unusual requests to supersede the old ones. For a self-described Imperfect Angel, she certainly demands perfection.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/stopthepresses__2/stopthepresses-132273758-1271888230_thumb.jpg?ymm1QBDDk2xxPAPVOne of the singer's latest stipulations is that she not be bombarded with any "busy patterns" in her backstage living room. Floral prints, plaids, and stripes are out, but she can deal with "dark pink" furniture. Additional requests for her main space include two vases of white roses and "eight tall, leafy plants" to give her room that eco-chic ambience.


The updated list of demands recently released by TheSmokingGun.com also reveals that Carey's taste in adult drinks has matured with time-at least if we compare it to the list they ran a few years ago. The R&B vocal athlete no longer demands a "box of bendy straws" for her chilled bottle of Cristal, and she's not replacing them with curly ones, either. These days Carey requires a $200 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon to fuel those saucy "Mimi moments." Maybe she changed her ways after attributing a rambling acceptance speech at a Palm Springs gala to "splashes of champagne."

Her water consumption has also become more sophisticated since we last saw her tour rider: Instead of Poland Spring bottled water, Carey now prefers the H2O of Fiji. San Pellegrino--not just plain seltzer water-is now her bubbly drink of choice.
Concert venues aren't the only ones trying to impress Mimi, though. Hubby Nick Cannon plans on buying her yet another ring in honor of their third marriage on April 30. This time they're re-retying the knot to celebrate their two-year anniversary.

"We get married every year! That's our thing," the 29-year-old singer/actor/comedian told UsMagazine. Even though this is the third ring he's bought for the woman who will "always be [his] baby," Cannon promises, "It'll be something different. Something good."

Considering Carey's engagement ring reportedly cost the former Nickelodeon star $2.5 million, it's hard to imagine how Cannon is going to top that. Maybe he can toss in some bendy straws for old time's sake.

[Mohamad]

Idol' Cuts Back: Tim Urban Goes Home on 'IGB' Night


Posted Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:43pm PDT by Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks
When "American Idol" held its first "Idol Gives Back" charity special in Season 6, Ryan Seacrest pulled one of his famous fakeouts, making it seem like Jordin Sparks was about to get cut--and then revealed that in the night's charitable spirit, no one would go home. But "Idol" didn't give back quite as much the next season, when during "IGB" week Ryan staged a much crueler fakeout--duping Michael Johns into thinking he'd also be spared, before announcing that no, Michael's time really was up.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-866347537-1271815112_thumb.jpg?ymI_.ADDLaJ2BUvwSo this Wednesday, when "Idol Gives Back" returned from a one-year hiatus, it was unclear whether anyone would really get cut, or if in fact all the remaining contestants would be charitably given the equivalent of seven Judges' Saves. It turned out "Idol" went ahead with its regularly scheduled results show, and at the end of the well-intentioned but overlong and indulgent "IGB" broadcast, Ryan announced that Tim Urban was going home.
In some ways, Tim's cut was a shock, considering his continued improvement week to week and his diehard fanbase. But hey, at least this moment on the show was interesting, especially he was also in the bottom two with America's sweetheart, Aaron Kelly, and America's heartthrob, Casey James. The elimination announcement was in fact probably the most interesting moment of the incredibly boring "Idol Gives Back" special, which otherwise just made me want to ask "Idol" to give me back those two hours of my life. But more on that later...
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__16/realityrocks-491681600-1270613605_thumb.jpg?ymmpZ8CDZu8Hbrf8Despite Tim's many ups and down on this show, I'd come to really like him--his upbeat "Teflon Tim" attitude, his persistent laugh, his underdog story, his impeccable hair, even his kneeslide. I was starting to root for him, maybe even starting to think he had a chance of making it all the way to the top five. I guess I was wrong. Instead, due to the broadcast running over, Tim didn't even get to sing one last time on Wednesday's show.
I think "American Idol" will be a little less fun without the artist occasionally known as Turban (I would have loved to see him do "Man, I Feel Like A Woman" on Shania Twain Night next week), so overall, this was a bummer end to a bummer evening.
Look, I know "Idol Gives Back" is an honorable and noble tradition, and it benefits some very worthy charities: the Children's Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save The Children, and the United Nations Foundation (please click links to donate). So I do feel a little guilty panning such a well-intentioned production. And yes, "Idol Gives Back" 2010 had its good moments, like a cheeky Russell Brand/Jonah Hill phone-bank skit claiming "all the Twilights" and other celebrities were backstage taking calls; amusing George Lopez and Wanda Sykes standup routines skewering the show; fiery performances by Elton John, Annie Lennox, Joss Stone with Jeff Beck, and Mary J. Blige doing "Stairway To Heaven" with Travis Barker on drums, Orianthi and Steve Vai on guitar, and "Idol's" own Randy Jackson on bass. (It was the veteran artists who saved the show, since performances by the likes of Black Eyed Peas were total hot messes.) But there were a lot of long and draggy vignettes, not nearly enough musical numbers, and quite a few disconcerting moments--like a random appearance by Octomom, a woman who hasn't exactly done much to alleviate the planet's overpopulation program, or by skinny Victoria Beckham, looking like a Third World famine victim herself as she ironically rambled about the dangers of malnutrition.
Awkward. Maybe this show would have been better if, as Ryan Seacrest oddly joked last week, Brian Dunkleman really had co-hosted.
Parker out.

[Mohamad]

The Royals: Princess Roundup




The Princess of Sweden ends her engagement amid rumors of a philandering fiancé. Meanwhile, rumors of a happier sort have started a royal wedding watch. Plus, Princess Beatrice sets a royal running record. That's right, it's the princess report. So put on your monocle and read up on the Buzz royal roundup.
Princess of Sweden calls it off
Princess Madeleine hails from Sweden. Although she doesn't normally make international headlines, she made major news with this bombshell: The wedding with lawyer Jonas Bergstrom is off. Rumors of a troubled engagement started when the crown first announced that the wedding had been postponed, even though Queen Silvia, Madeleine's mom, indicated "all is well." That did nothing to quell talk that the 31-year-old fiancé had a fling with a 21-year-old college student during a ski trip in Norway. The engaged pair was reportedly in couples therapy, but apparently that didn't do the trick, leading the 27-year-old princess to call off the eight-year relationship, which had once been billed as a fairy-tale romance.
Is it on?
Unlike their Swedish counterparts, Prince William and his lady friend Kate Middleton seem to be headed toward wedded bliss. Just one small detail: They're not yet engaged. That hasn't stopped a full-court press from fueling a media frenzy around rumors of a much-anticipated engagement. The Daily Beast's editor Tina Brown caused an uproar when she noted that Buckingham Palace had mysteriously blocked out two days in June. She suggested that the mystery calendar listing was for an engagement announcement, with a wedding to follow in November. But there has been no official confirmation of such an event. That hasn't stopped Duchess Fergie from doling out marital advice. She told PopEater that Ms. Middleton should remember to "make time" for her husband. Sure, but let's wait for them to get married first.
Royal runner
Princess Beatrice can now say she is the "Queen Bea" of running. The daughter of the Duchess of York completed the London Marathon this past weekend. She holds the crown as the first royal to do so. To add to the feat of foot, the 21-year-old was part of a human caterpillar chain — and set a world record for the most runners tied together in a race. The princess, decked in green socks and tutu, ran the 26.2-mile course linked to 33 other runners and finished in a respectable 5 hours, 15 minutes, and 57 seconds. The princess was met at the finish line by her parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

[Mohamad]

Rent Johnny Depp's Personal Pirate-Themed Ship!


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Johnny Depp brought his most famous role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise into real life when he bought a 156-foot luxury yacht and outfitted it with pirate-themed jewel-toned velvet (Captain Sparrow's signature fabric) and a Jolly Roger flag.

In the past two years, Depp and his family have spent a lot of time on the boat, taking it to ports in Italy, Florida, and even Annapolis, Maryland. But it turns out you don't have to play a pirate on the big screen in order to take a ride on the giant seafaring vessel. You just have to have tons of cash: Burgess Yachts rents the Depp yacht for €98,000 (ap**********mately $130,000) per week in the high season and €84,000 (ap**********mately $110,000) in the low season. The Depp family is not included in the price of the rental.

Depp named the yacht "Vajoliroja" -- a combination of the first letters of the names of his family: Longtime girlfriend Vanessa Paradis, ("Va"), himself ("Jo"), his 10-year-old daughter Lily Rose ("LiRo") and 8-year-old son, Jack ("Ja".)
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Despite the awkward spelling (first Eyjafjallajokull, now this?) the name is meant to sound similar to "The Jolly Roger" when pronounced. Over the years, paparazzi and regular fans alike have captured shots of the steam-powered boat, which sleeps 11 guests and 8 crew members, in ports around the world. But new, just-released photos bring the closest look at the boat's lush interior.

Depp often takes the Vajoliroja on trips to his private island in the Bahamas, Little Hall's Pond Cay. Last summer, the actor set sail with Vanity Fair editor Douglas Brinkley, along with three of Depp's best friends, for a trip to the island. (Little is known to the layman landlubber about Little Hall's Pond Cay, but Brinkley reported that the island features six beaches, including one named "Brando" after Depp's mentor Marlon Brando, and a snorkeling spot named "Heath's Place" after the late actor Heath Ledger.)

In the unlikely scenario that guests get bored just hanging out on a movie star's pirate-themed boat, the ship provides plenty of entertainment, including two speed boats, as well as wakeboards, kayaks, water skis, and wind surfing equipment.

[Mohamad]

http://l.yimg.com/l/tv/us/img/site/64/74/0000066474_20100427162303.jpg?x=626&sig=aa7WebIjtvgkqDURBKCsdA--

The Hills' cast: then and now



Back in 2006, MTV spun off its reality hit "Laguna Beach" with "The Hills," where cameras continued to follow Lauren "LC" Conrad as she moved from Orange County to Los Angeles. "The Hills" quickly became addictive TV due to the attractiveness of its part soap opera, part documentary format, which begged the question: When is a reality program not really reality? An undeniable guilty pleasure, the show introduced a slew of pretty, young faces, and even one of today's most talked-about celebrity couples: Speidi. As the landmark series embarks on its sixth and final season this week, let's take a walk down memory lane with "The Hills" gang, then and now

[Mohamad]

Taylor Swift Grants College Boys' Wish For A Hug





Taylor Swift just might be the sweetest celebrity on earth, at least when it comes to her treatment of fans. Monday, Swift swung by an Alabama university to fulfill the dreams of two students who had been petitioning for months to get a hug from her. And hug them Taylor did, but she didn't stop at treating each of the boys to a good squeeze and a smooch on the cheek: She stayed around to put on a surprise live performance for both guys and all the students who showed up to witness the event.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/stopthepresses__2/stopthepresses-975373660-1272406686_thumb.jpg?ymgaPDDDpQBJGB.tBefore you demand your own hug from the 20-year-old country megastar, take note: A friendly squeeze from Swift doesn't come easily. Auburn University students Michael Wekall and Ryan Leander began their quest back in January via their website AHugFromTaylorSwift.com.


When their ambitions came to her attention last month, the country sweetheart responded via a YouTube clip wherein she challenged the two boys to "start with the basic good deed: helping a little old lady across the street" if they really wanted some love from her.

The eager college boys wasted no time making a video that showed them and their friends helping scores of elderly folks cross the street. "You blew my mind," Taylor told them in a follow-up video response: "I have to admit, my band and I watched it like 4 million times."

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/stopthepresses__2/stopthepresses-998472150-1272406688_thumb.jpg?ymiaPDDDQ4Qq.1OBThe "Fearless" fanboys upped the ante for their next video, performing 13 good deeds that revolved around Taylor's lucky number 13, such as filling up a stranger's tank with $13 of gas, picking up trash on Auburn's 13th Street, and giving 13 roses to the old lady they walked across the street.

Finally, at the start of the school week, Michael and Ryan's dreams came true when the four-time Grammy winner stopped by their college to make good on her promise. The event kicked off with the do-gooders leading an enthusiastic crowd through a massive karaoke sing-along to "You Belong to Me."

Taylor interrupted their performance of her hit single via video-chat broadcast on a screen in the auditorium. She teased the boys a bit before delivering on her promise. "I really wish I was there," she told them, then paused thoughtfully. "I have an idea." Moments later, the blond pop star was escorted into the room by Auburn's tiger mascot to appreciative earsplitting screams from the student body.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/stopthepresses__2/stopthepresses-504023337-1272406684_thumb.jpg?ymeaPDDDD34ONoKXWearing a T-shirt that read "A HUG for Ryan & Michael," she hugged the boys and planted a kiss on each of their cheeks. "I can't believe how far you've taken this," she told them. "It was so much fun going back and forth with you guys."
Ever the sweetheart, Taylor didn't stop there-she gave Mike and Ryan front-row seats to one of her concerts, and then brought out her band to treat everyone in the room to an impromptu live performance.

[Mohamad]

Bella

Bella may be a natural beauty, but she's not about to flaunt it. The star of the Twilight series, and Edward Cullen's true love, would rather be comfortable on prom night than glamorous, which makes channeling the modest beauty a piece of cake. Ditch the uncomfortable heel and fussy hair and instead opt for an easy dress with a modest neck and hemline with your favorite sneakers or ballet flats. Leave hair loose and touchable, makeup minimal and throw on a comfy cardigan for good measure. Now all you have to do is find your very own vamp!

[Mohamad]

Another Star Bids A Tearful Farewell As They Are Eliminated On 'Dancing



http://l.yimg.com/a/i/ww/news/2010/04/27/jakedancing.jpg (http://www.yahoo.com/_ylt=Ap7nULPY67vmj1b0vAdcfs2evZx4;_ylu=X3oDMTNxZnM 0c2k2BGEDMTAwNDI3IHR2IGR3dHMgOTAwcG0gZWxpbWluYXRpb 24gc3BvaWxlcgRjcG9zAzE0BGcDaWQtMjU5NjEEaW50bAN1cwR wa2d2AzEzBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN0ZC1mZWF0BHNsawNpbWFnZQRzb HBvcwNGBHRlc3QDNzAx/SIG=15cp0r7uf/**http%3A//tv.yahoo.com/dancing-with-the-stars/show/38356/news/tv.accesshollywood.com/tv.accesshollywood.com-another-star-bids-tearful-farewell-they-are-eliminated-dancing)

'

Another star bid a tearful goodbye to the "Dancing with the Stars" ballroom on Tuesday night, but it wasn't Pamela Anderson.
Despite several weeks in the bottom 2 over the season, the blonde bombshell managed to survive the cut with her partner, Australian professional dancer Damian Whitewood. Instead, it was the "Bachelor," Jake Pavelka, who got booted

[Mohamad]

Idol' Shania Night: Man! They Feel Like Some Women





http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-255259942-1272418164_thumb.jpg?ym0NSDDDS4uHEWY2When Shania Twain was a guest judge earlier this season, I wasn't all that enthused. All I really remember now of her Chicago episode was her shameless flirting with handsome future semifinalist John Park, whom she told had a "nice bottom end." (Can't say I blame the woman--John Park was a looker--but still.) However, many comments on that night's blog post disagreed with me, all raving about Shania's star turn and some even rallying for her to be Simon Cowell's replacement. So I decided to give her another chance when she returned this week as the celebrity mentor for, fittingly, Shania Twain Night. This time, she did impress me much--even though the most indelible impression she made all evening long was when she engaged in a congratulatory embrace with John Park's fellow Season 9 hunk, Casey James.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-20718592-1272418164_thumb.jpg?ym0NSDDDGU9sRW4cCongratulatio ns were in order for Casey, one of the evening's standouts, because Shania Night was no easy challenge. Despite Season 9 being touted as a "girls' season," that has not turned out to be the case--four of the remaining six finalists are in fact, um, male--so I knew this week was going to be tricky. Shania's songs all have a distinctly female flair, full of flirty asides like, "Hey, boys!" and "Let's go, girls!" It was pretty hard to imagine football jock Big Mike warbling, say, "Man! I Feel Like a Woman." (It was fun to imagine that, of course, but hard.) It's quite possible Shania signed on back when "Idol" producers assumed there'd be more girls in the game at this point, but what was done was done, and Shania did do an admirable job of helping the "Idol" boys to get in touch with their inner country queens. Some of the boys did that much more easily than others, but it really wasn't fair that Simon called one of them "girly." These were girly songs, and there no way of avoiding that, even if the boys had performed them while doing one-armed pushups, shotgunning beers, and stomping on quiches.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-770256445-1272418165_thumb.jpg?ym1NSDDDiWBaCI8VAnyway, here's how everyone did Tuesday. In the words of Ellen DeGeneres, all aboard the Shania Twain!

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-678781330-1272418165_thumb.jpg?ym1NSDDDtH7G0ynHLee Dewyze - Arguably the biggest male frontrunner in the competition, Lee chose to sing one of Shania's biggest songs, "Still the One." And he's probably still the one to beat among the males...but this was not great, people. He certainly did make the effort. For instance, after Shania astutely advised him to "not be buried by his guitar" and show more personality, he even smiled at certain moments--rare behavior from the normally stone-faced Lee that left judge Kara DioGuardi absolutely stunned. Simon, however, just griped about Lee "pulling faces," and I must say muggy Lee did look a Taylor Hicksian at times. But hey, at least Lee was trying, for once. As for the vocals, though, Lee usually excels in that regard, but at the beginning of the song in the difficult lower register, he sounded terrible--or "hesitant," as the kid-gloved Simon nicely put it, out of fear for being too harsh on his chosen pet. (Kara and Simon both went way too easy on Lee, in fact.) Lee did find what Randy Jackson called his "sweet spot" once the chorus kicked in, but it was too little, too late. But hey, he "never looked cuter," according to Ellen, so maybe he'll pick up some of fallen heartthrob Tim Urban's votes this week.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-813554981-1272418165_thumb.jpg?ym1NSDDDJ08aiaemMichael Lynche - Michael was back in Ruben Studdard "balladeer" mode for "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing," which made his performance sound a little dated. But his vocals were impeccable as usual--the falsetto at the end was a nice touch--and Shania said she was moved by his emotional performance. Randy told him he was "in the zone" (gee, I've never heard Randy say that before); Ellen actually compared him to the almighty Luther Vandross; and Kara praised his heartfelt connection to the song. But Simon found the dramatic performance "wet" and "a little bit girly." Hmm. I bet that was the first time anyone had ever called Big Mike "girly."

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-709244317-1272418163_thumb.jpg?ym0NSDDDfp8SsjJACasey James - Casey has always been a favorite with the ladies, ever since he shed his shirt at his first audition or practically inspired Kara to throw her undergarments and hotel room key onstage during his bedroom-eyed performance of Bryan Adams's "Heaven." I'd always assumed the female vote alone would be enough to advance him to the top five, but last week he was in the bottom three for the first time, only two weeks after his tender, raw, lump-throated acoustic version of "Jealous Guy" on Lennon & McCartney Night. After two weeks of Casey cranking out generic bar-band jams, "Jealous Guy" started to seem like a fluke. "Jealous Guy" became to Casey James what "Straight Up" was to Andrew Garcia: an amazing performance he was unable to replicate, a bar he set too high for himself. Luckily, this week he realized that he's at his best--and is best received--when doing poignant acoustic ballads, not good-time Huey Lewis covers, and his stripped-down performance of "Don't" was a fine return to form. Randy, Ellen, and Simon all declared it his best performance to date (I still prefer "Jealous Guy," but this was a close second for me), and a back-on-board Kara told him, "Keep it up and you'll be at the front of this competition." I hope Casey listens to her.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-704603077-1272418164_thumb.jpg?ym0NSDDDeW.6qWt2Crystal Bowersox - Shania gave Crystal some sound advice when she told her to be "more cheerful"; I've always said the one thing that might keep Crystal from winning this whole thing is her mellow personality, which could be perceived by viewers as aloofness or even iciness. But you know what? I didn't really dig Happy Crystal. I think I prefer Moody Crystal. Her bluegrassy, Nickel Creekish cover of "No One Needs to Know" was just a little ho-hum, a little underwhelming--not bad or anything, but certainly not up to par with last week's stellar "People Get Ready." All of the judges were unusually unimpressed: Simon, normally Crystal's biggest fan, actually called her performance "limp," said it had no conviction, and likened it to an intrusive coffeeshop band customers really don't want to hear while sipping their lattes. But Ellen and Kara went out of their way to defend Crystal, with Ellen arguing, "Saying it's not my favorite Crystal performance is like saying, 'What's your least favorite color of the rainbow?'" and Kara claiming, "It's impossible for you not to be good." This all seemed a little defensive, as if the judges were worried that Crystal might be in trouble this week. But I am pretty sure she'll be safe.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-994054233-1272418164_thumb.jpg?ym1NSDDDsmfJ27G1I am actually more curious about what Crystal's boyfriend--not the judges--thought about her performance, since the song was dedicated to him in an effort to get him to "man up" and commit. Whoa! Stay tuned to see if he'll be back in the audience next week.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-308524315-1272418163_thumb.jpg?ymzNSDDDsEvl2wdRAaron Kelly - Aaron has floundered in past weeks, has been in the bottom three several times, and has never been my favorite on this show. But I suspected he would do well this week because he's the most countryish contestant in the competition. Shania urged him to be more secure and relaxed as he belted out "You Got a Way," and he certainly seemed, as Randy might put it, in his zone. It was Aaron's best performance to date, by far--even if it was a little creepy/awkward when the 17-year-old revealed that he'd changed the song's original "when we make love" line because he was singing the tune for his mom. "This is definitely your wheelhouse!" howled Randy. "Tonight you were like a different artist," raved Simon. Aaron ought to have hugged Shania, too, just like Casey did. I am pretty sure Shania saved Aaron this week.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-774226866-1272418165_thumb.jpg?ym2NSDDDdSqsLf81Siobhan Magnus - Siobhan picked "Any Man of Mine," a song brimming with attitude according to Shania, and hard as it may be to believe, Shania really had to work hard to coax the sassiness out of Siobhan. I think the past few weeks had taken a toll on this fragile free spirit; Siobhan just hadn't exhibitedher usual wacky pizzazz lately. But Shania's efforts paid off, because this week a beaming and reborn Siobhan spectacularly closed the show, strutting out onto the stage and then into the audience in her punk-rock cowboy boots. Siobhan looked like she was really having fun for the first time in weeks--Shania had obviously helped her get her groove back. Simon griped that Si's signature scream at the end sounded like that of a woman giving birth, but hey, a Siobhan Magnus performance without a little shrieking is like a Shania Twain performance without a little midriff--and at least Siobhan nailed that off-the-musical-scales note. "Guess who's back?" shouted Kara. Clearly Kara was happy to see the old, on-fire Siobhan, and so was I. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for her.

So now it is prediction time. Before I might have guestimated that Aaron would go home this week, but this was his week to shine, so I think he will be safe. Casey and Siobhan were great, so I assume they'll be okay; Crystal was not at her best but she's so popular, so I doubt she'll be in danger. Lee, delivering one of his worst performances ever in the problematic first slot, may end up in the bottom for the first time, but ultimately I think he'll make it through. And so, that leaves poor Michael Lynche. I'd personally like to see Big Mike continue on, but he didn't really shine this week the way some of the others did. If he does indeed go, he'll be missed. He's still the one, as far as I'm concerned

[Mohamad]

Would You Accept a 'Twilight' Engagement Ring?




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Last week, breathless fans of "The Twilight Saga" were treated to a glimpse of Bella Swan's engagement ring in the final trailer for "Eclipse." Now they can own a replica of the diamond-encrusted oval ring co-designed by "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer and Infinite Jewelry Co. The ring matches the one described in the books, and is already available in three prices: "fashion" for $35, "fine" for $479, and "genuine," for a real diamond ring priced at $1979 -- and presumably intended to serve as a real engagement ring for "The Twilight Saga"'s most ardent fans. Infinite Jewelry describes the ring on its website:

"Experience your romance with Edward Cullen in a whole new way when you slip on Bella's Engagement RingTM! You'll love showing off the radiant stones in this elegant, domed-oval, gold ring. In true Victorian-era design, your ring is created by master artisans with an open-work gallery and a finely polished edge that surrounds the brilliant faceted stones. How exciting for you to own the only, Original [sic], Bella's Engagement RingTM in the world!"

Other, less expensive "Twilight"-inspired jewelry is available on the site, such as watches and necklaces, but the engagement ring is the only one that takes "Twilight" fandom to a potentially life-changing (and lifelong!) level. Will brides-to-be ask their potential husbands to give them a ring based on a series of teen novels about vampires and werewolves? Will boyfriends be comfortable proposing with a ring described as a way to "experience your romance with Edward Cullen?" And when the "Twilight" phenomenon gradually fades from our cultural memory, as all things eventually do, will wives look down at their movie tie-in rings with a twinge of embarrassment? One can only imagine the family-heirloom possibilities: "Honey, let's not tell our grandson the ring was based on a vampire movie."

Only time will tell, but it's worth noting that many versions of 1997?s "Titanic" jewel, a replica of the movie's "Heart of the Ocean" necklace, are still very much available online 13 years after the movie came out. (But those are just necklaces, not symbols of real-life commitment!)

[Mohamad]

Which Famous Actress Was Booted Off People's 'Most Beautiful' Cover?


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When People Magazine publishes its yearly "Most Beautiful People" issue, the magazine spends a lot of time debating which star will land the coveted big cover photo. This year, it would have been Julia Roberts, who would be appearing on the “Most Beautiful” cover for the fourth time. But something happened between the cover decision and the magazine going to press: Sandra Bullock gave People an exclusive interview and photos revealing that she secretly adopted a baby boy in January.

It must have been chaos as the magazine tried to figure out a fix (they went with a "special double issue" to give both stories their due). While the "Most Beautiful People" issue -- and any cover featuring Roberts -- is a consistent hit at the newsstand, the Sandra Bullock story, with its element of surprise and uplifting message is a surefire mega-seller. So poor Julia -- who is currently promoting “Eat, Pray, Love” -- was relegated to a small photo in the top right corner of the cover while Sandra and baby Louis took center stage.

The famously down-to-earth Roberts most likely doesn't even mind the change of plans. In the interview accompanying her feature in the magazine, Roberts credits professionals for making her look good, and friend George Clooney praises her inner beauty, telling People: "There's a reason Julia is a timeless beauty, and it has nothing to do with her looks. It has everything to do with who she is.

Other stars chosen as this year's "Most Beautiful People" include "Avatar"'s Zoe Saldana, "Iron Man 2"'s Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Aniston

[Mohamad]

Women of 'Iron Man 2' shine







Summer blockbuster season is officially underway, and one of its biggest stars, Scarlett Johansson, didn't disappoint at the premiere of her soon-to-be smash "Iron Man 2" in a structured, one-shoulder Armani Prive masterpiece and sparkly pumps.

[Mohamad]

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-616263918-1272477541_thumb.jpg?ymmtgDDDpnTNfPS.All three Glee albums to date have made the top 10. Volume 1 peaked at #4. Volume 2 hit #3. Glee is one of only six weekly series in television history to spawn three or more top 10 albums. Sing Along With Mitch, which ran from 1961 to 1964, generated five top 10 albums during the run of the show.The Monkees, whose eponymous show ran from 1966 to 1968, had five top 10 albums. American Idol, which debuted in 2002, has spawned five top 10 thematic albums (not counting albums by individual contestants). Hannah Montana, which debuted in 2006, has yielded five top 10 albums (not counting the movie soundtrack or strictly solo releases by Miley Cyrus). The Partridge Family, whose eponymous show ran from 1970 to 1974, had three top 10 albums.
Quiz Answer: The three Madonna chart hits that first charted for other artists were "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" (Rose Royce, 1979), "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" (Festival, 1980) and "American Pie" (Don McLean, 1971).
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-6654215-1272477514_thumb.jpg?ymKtgDDDR3VR0fV_The Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" this week becomes the best-selling song in digital history, surpassing "Low" by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain. "I Gotta Feeling" has sold 5,561,000 digital copies, to 5,536,000 for "Low." Both songs were smash hits, but "I Gotta Feeling" penetrated pop culture in a way that "Low" didn't. The jingle-like song became one of the most ubiquitous songs of the past year.
"I Gotta Feeling" also did better at the Grammys. It won this year for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. "Low" was nominated last year for Best Rap/Sung Performance, but lost to "American Boy" by Estelle featuring Kanye West.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-389407507-1272477514_thumb.jpg?ymKtgDDDvfnTbhLDLady Antebellum's Need You NowBillboard 200. It also holds at #1 on Top Country Albums for the 13th straight week. It's the first album to spend its first 13 weeks at #1 on the country chart since Kenny Chesney's When The Sun Goes Down, which spent its first 14 weeks on top in 2004. Chesney's album went on to win the Country Music Assn. award for Album of the Year. Will Lady A's album follow suit this November? It will. rebounds to #2 in its 13th week on The
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-915382336-1272477701_thumb.jpg?ymFwgDDDfzqdX56AAC/DC's Iron Man 2 soundtrack enters The Billboard 200 at #4.The album consists of music recorded by the Aussie hard rock band between 1976 and 2008. This is AC/DC's second soundtrack release. The band's music was featured in the 1986 movie Maximum Overdrive. (It was marketed as an album under the title Who Made Who.) Iron Man 2 is the week's top movie soundtrack, replacing Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. (The charts make for strange bedfellows.) AC/DC first cracked the top 10 in October 1980 with Back In Black, giving the band a nearly 30 year span of top 10 albums.
Iron Man 2 sold 76,000 copies in its first week, less than one-tenth of the first-week tally (784,000) of the band's 2008 studio album, Black Ice. Bear in mind, though, that the movie, starring Robert Downey Jr., doesn't open until May 7. The soundtrack is off to a faster start in the U.K., where it debuts at #1. It's the band's third #1 album in the U.K., following Back In Black (which peaked at #4 in the U.S.) and Black Ice.
The Zac Brown Band's The Foundation jumps from #15 to #9. This is the highest ranking to date for the album that has been on the chart for 75 weeks. The album got a boost from the recent Academy of Country Music Awards telecast, on which the band was seen performing for troops in the Persian Gulf. The show also boosted Lady A and Miranda Lambert, whose Revolution rebounds from #36 to #13 in its 30th week.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-163608527-1272477513_thumb.jpg?ymJtgDDDsicithau"Nothin' On You" by B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars holds at #1 on Hot Digital Songs for the second straight week. The song sold 179,000 copies this week, bringing its 13-week total to 1,566,000. B.o.B has two of the week's top three digital hits. "Airplanes" (featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore) jumps from #5 to #3. (If "Airplanes" had sold 500 more copies, it would have been #2.)
Shameless Plug: Adam Lambert's "Whataya Want From Me" tops the 1 million mark in paid downloads this week. It's the 26th song by an American Idol contestant to cross this threshold. Which Idol contestant has the most million-sellers? What song is the best-seller by an Idol alum? All will be revealed in my latest Chart Watch Extra, a countdown of the biggest Idol hits. Check it out on Friday.
Here's the low-down on this week's top 10 albums.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-510821726-1271876833_thumb.jpg?ymhDOBDDTW3FMDXs1. Various Artists, Glee: The Power Of Madonna, 98,000. This new entry is the first TV soundtrack to hit #1 since High School Musical 2 in 2007. All seven songs from the EP are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Like A Prayer," which enters at #10.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__15/chart_watch-273764843-1271876338_thumb.jpg?ymy7NBDDAwI7FOep2. Lady Antebellum, Need You Now, 83,000. The former #1 album rebounds from #3 to #2 in its 13th week. Two songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs. "Need You Now" rebounds from #12 to #8. "American Honey" jumps from #37 to #25.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__15/chart_watch-310982856-1271876301_thumb.jpg?ymN7NBDDRAU5kDP13. Justin Bieber, My World 2.0, 81,000. The album drops from #1 to #3 in its fifth week. Three songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Baby" (featuring Ludacris), which drops from #10 to #14.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-262120271-1272477513_thumb.jpg?ymJtgDDDquOCYK1I4. AC/DC, Iron Man 2 soundtrack, 76,000. This new entry is the band's eighth top 10 album. AC/DC has yet to enter the digital marketplace, so none of their songs are listed on Hot Digital Songs. I wonder how much longer they can hold out. (Guys, it's time.)
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-79991669-1271876340_thumb.jpg?ym07NBDDi0ES9lQO5. Usher, Raymond V Raymond, 52,000. The former #1 album dips from #4 to #5 in its fourth week. Four songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "OMG" (featuring will.i.am), which jumps from #6 to #2.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-663641616-1271876340_thumb.jpg?ym17NBDDF8iiMfRI6. Various Artists, NOW 33, 37,000. The compilation holds at #6 in its fifth week. It has sold 393,000 copies.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-752289801-1272477514_thumb.jpg?ymKtgDDDxBYB_sxH7. Jimmy Buffett, Encores, 31,000. This new entry is Buffett's 10th top 10 album. He first cracked the top 10 in 1978 with Son Of A Son Of A Sailor. The new album is a Walmart exclusive.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__15/chart_watch-245007998-1271876301_thumb.jpg?ymN7NBDDR9Z5py3K8. Justin Bieber, My World, 31,000. The EP rebounds from #10 to #8 in its 23rd week. This is its 13th week in the top 10. Two songs from the EP are listed on Hot Digital Songs. "One Time" dips from #98 to #110. "One Less Lonely Girl" drops from #161 to #189.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-207937651-1272477542_thumb.jpg?ymmtgDDD_QQq9Ubs9. Zac Brown Band, The Foundation, 29,000. The album zooms from #15 to #9 in its 75th week. Three songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Highway 20 Ride," which drops from #59 to #75.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__15/chart_watch-733936840-1271876338_thumb.jpg?ymy7NBDD92LnBpOn10. Lady Gaga, The Fame, 28,000. The album drops from #7 to #10 in its 78th week. (It's even older than The Foundation.) This is its 44th week in the top 10. Six songs from the expanded version of the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Telephone" (featuring Beyonce), which dips from #13 to #16.
Four albums drop out of the top 10 this week. MGMT's CongratulationsCoheed and Cambria's Year Of The Black RainbowKe$ha's Animal drops from #8 to #14 and Monica's Still Standing drops from #9 to #15. dives from #2 to #18, plummets from #5 to #42,
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-518838112-1272477514_thumb.jpg?ymKtgDDD99FVbbJNCirca Survive's Blue Sky Noise bows at #11. This is the rock band's highest-charting album to date. On Letting GoSevendust's Cold Day Memory bows at #12. This is the hard rock band's sixth album to crack the top 20...Cypress Hill's Rise Up bows at #19. It's the Latin rap trio's first album since 2004. Cypress Hill had three top 10 albums from 1993 to 2000. debuted (and peaked) at #24 in June 2007...
Willie Nelson's Country Music debuts at #20. It's the country legend's highest-charting album since Always On My Mind reached #2 in 1982...Ratt's Infestation bows at #30. This is the band's first album with a rat-centric title to hit the chart since its 1984 debut, Out Of The Cellar.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-436422642-1272477541_thumb.jpg?ymltgDDD9b8bym.GThe Broadway cast album from American Idiot bows at #43. The show is based on Green Day's 2004 album of the same name. The band is featured along with the cast of the show on 21 of the 22 cuts on the new album, including "21 Guns," which has sold 1,670,000 digital copies.
Tenth Avenue North's Over & Underneath is #1 on the Catalog Albums chart for the third straight week. The Contemporary Christian album dips from #48 to #49 on The Billboard 200.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-121345244-1272477515_thumb.jpg?ymLtgDDDTUyeGzwHTwo legendary vocalists make posthumous returns to The Billboard 200. Peggy Lee's Peggy Lee Opus Series opens at #51. Luciano Pavarotti's 75th Birthday Limited Edition, a digital-only release, bows at #76. Lee first hit The Billboard 200 in 1948 (back when it was just a top five listing!) with Rendezvous With Peggy Lee. Pavarotti first scored in 1979 with O Sole Mio-Favorite Neapolitan Songs. Lee died in 2002. Pavarotti died in 2007.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-640859983-1272477541_thumb.jpg?ymltgDDDRusQk5YhRufus Wainwright's All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu bows at #75. This is Wainwright's fifth album to crack The Billboard 200. His dad, Loudon Wainwright III, has had three chart albums. But dad is ahead when it comes to the Hot 100. Loudon's novelty tune "Dead Skunk" was a top 20 hit in 1973. Rufus has yet to crack the Hot 100.
How To Train Your Dragon was #1 at the box-office over the weekend. The movie has grossed $178 million to date, according to www.boxofficemojo.com (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/) the soundtrack has sold a paltry 8,000 copies. If they're going to train that dragon, I hope they train it to buy albums.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-483664343-1272477514_thumb.jpg?ymKtgDDDOnoCMntLSong Scorecard: Chris Brown's 2008 smash "Forever" tops the 3 million mark in paid downloads this week. This is Brown's second song to top 3 million in digital sales, following "No Air," a duet with Jordin Sparks, which has sold 3,127,000 copies....Taylor Swift's "Today Was A Fairytale" from Valentine's Day tops the 1 million mark in paid downloads.
"Young Forever" by Jay-Z + Mr. Hudson jumps from #11 to #9 on Hot Digital Songs. The song incorporates Alphaville's 1988 near-hit "Forever Young." This isn't the first time an artist has simply reversed the title of an old song he reworked. Arrested Development's 1992 hit "People Everyday" featured the chorus of Sly & the Family Stone's 1969 classic "Everyday People."
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__16/chart_watch-809774319-1272477513_thumb.jpg?ymKtgDDDj18d5px4Heads Up: B.o.B's B.o.B Presents The Adventures Of Bobby Ray and Bullet For My Valentine's Fever are expected to be next week's highest-debuting new albums. Melissa Etheridge's Fearless Love and Miranda Cosgrove's Sparks Fly are also expected to make strong entries. Cosgrove is the 16-year old star of iCarly. Also due: Hole's Nobody's Daughter, Daddy Yankee's Mundial and Drowning Pool's Drowning Pool.

[Mohamad]

Katie Holmes To Star As Jackie O In 'The Kennedys'


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Katie Holmes will star as iconic former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the History Channel's original miniseries "The Kennedys," the network announced Wednesday.
The series will also star Greg Kinnear as President John F. Kennedy, Barry Pepper as Attorney General Robert Kennedy and Tom Wilkinson as Ambassador Joe Kennedy, Sr.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Big Screen, Broadway & Beyond: Katie Holmes
The eight-hour series, the network's first scripted mini-series effort, will air on the History Channel in 2011.
The series will focus on the Kennedy family, long dubbed America's own Camelot - a story that ended in tragedy for John and Robert, when the two brothers were killed in separate assassinations. Jacqueline went on to marry Greek millionaire Aristotle Onassis, earning the nickname "Jackie O."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes
The presence of executive producer Joel Surnow ("24"), a political conservative who joked in a 2007 New Yorker article that "conservatives are the new oppressed class" and criticized Democratic Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, has worried some critics as to the mini-series' accuracy, though the History Channel's release notes that the channel's "resident historians" are vetting the project.
Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn more recently depicted Jacqueline Kennedy on the small screen in 2009 in HBO's "Grey Gardens."
Katie appeared at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year to promote her next two films, "The Extra Man," with John C. Reilly, Paul Dano and Kevin Kline, as well as "The Romantics," in which she stars alongside Anna Paquin, Josh Duhamel and Malin Akerman

[Mohamad]

American Idol' Results: So Much For That Whole "Girls' Season" Thing





http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-634305893-1272506764_thumb.jpg?ymM2nDDDe.0xWUdAOn the "Twilight"-inspired "Vampire Idols" Ford commercial that ran during Wednesday night's "American Idol" top six results show, Michael Lynche portrayed the victim of the five vampires played by fanged castmastes Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, and Siobhan Magnus. So when Michael then landed in the bottom three yet again, I assumed this musical vignette would prove prophetic: that in the end, the other five contestants would suck away all of his votes, and Mike would bite the dust.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-582752444-1272506763_thumb.jpg?ymL2nDDDj9ZGst39I of course did not want to see Michael go, but the alternatives were even worse: Inexplicably and infuriatingly, this week's bottom three was rounded out by my girl Siobhan Magnus, who delivered a fine and fiery comeback performance Tuesday night and was considered a frontrunner not long ago, and Casey James, who this week gave what all four judges declared his best performance to date.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-708616021-1272506763_thumb.jpg?ymL2nDDDbksyf3YeAnd then, Ryan Seacrest shockingly told Michael he was safe. Whoa. Casey and Siobhan in the bottom two? Man, what a Sophie's Choice. But apparently Sophie, along with many other women in America, preferred golden guitar god Casey. And so, Siobhan was cut, in one of the more shocking results shows of Season 9. And she exited the series just as she entered it: screaming her lungs inside-out, like a woman going through natural labor (to borrow Simon Cowell's simile). You gotta love the girl for staying true to herself till the very end.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-774236031-1272506763_thumb.jpg?ymL2nDDD_7mGLWmrBy the way...so much for this being a "girls' season," huh? Now Crystal Bowersox is the last girl standing. And on the subject of Crystal, she and Lee--now clearly the ones to beat this season--were never even at risk this week, although their performances were both their personal worst. Lee embarrassingly struggled with his lower-register vocals on Tuesday, and Crystal, in a Season 9 first, was panned by all four judges. Yet both were completely safe. I'm not saying either of them should have gone home (my personal choice would have been Aaron), but I think both deserved to be in the bottom three over Casey and Siobhan--especially over Casey, my favorite performer this week.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-485511816-1272506763_thumb.jpg?ymM2nDDD30_3YJ46Casey got a much-needed wakeup call last week when his so-so song earned him a bottom-three placement for the first time all season, and he subsequently turned it around this week and killed it. It wouldn't have been such a bad thing if Lee and Crystal had received similar wakeup calls, but instead they were safe, while Casey and Siobhan went unrewarded for their efforts to step it up and get back on track. It's a shame. I already miss Siobhan, and I hope Casey won't be the next to go

[Mohamad]

Bill Condon To Direct 'Breaking Dawn'









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The final installment in the "Twilight Saga" franchise will have a "Dream" director.
"Dreamgirls" writer-director Bill Condon is set to helm "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn," Summit Entertainment announced in a statement to Access Hollywood on Wednesday.


The helmer has also written and directed such films as "Kinsey" and "Gods and Monsters ," for which he won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay - and showcased his horror expertise on 1995's "Candyman 2: Farewell To The Flesh."
Franchise screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg is currently working on the "Breaking Dawn" script, the studio confirmed.


"I'm very excited to get the chance to bring the climax of this saga to life on-screen," Bill said in a statement to Access. "As fans of the series know, this is a one-of-a-kind book - and we're hoping to create an equally unique cinematic experience."
"Twilight Saga" author Stephenie Meyer also approved of the decision.
"I'm so thrilled that Bill wants to work with us," she said in a statement. "I think he's going to be a great fit, and I'm excited to see what he does with the material."
The long-awaited announcement did not indicate a release date for the film, nor an answer to the rumors that the plot-heavy fourth book would be adapted into two films, a la "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."
When reached by Access on Wednesday, Summit could not confirm the possibility of two films.


The third film in the series, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," is due on June 30.
Copyright 2010 by . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Mohamad]

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Chelsea's pre-wedding request to dad




It's no secret that Bill Clinton is waging an ongoing battle with his weight. The former president's affection for greasy fast food has been the punchline of countless jokes since his arrival on the national scene. "Saturday Night Live" writers famously portrayed him as someone who frequents McDonald's to pick burgers and fries off the plates of strangers.

If such indignities weren't enough, Clinton's own daughter, Chelsea, is now taking him to task over his size, demanding that he lose at least 15 pounds in advance of her summer wedding. Clinton recounted his daughter's admonition during remarks at a fiscal summit in Washington, D.C. You can watch the moment here (video courtesy of ABC News):

cardio-bypass surgery in 2004 — explained that Chelsea was pressing him to slim down for the sake of the nuptial ceremony. Clinton — whose diet was cited among the factors contributing to his need for
"She doesn't think I'm in shape to handle it," Clinton said. "You know, she told me the other day, she said, 'Dad, the only thing you gotta do is walk me down the aisle, and you need to look good.' " Clinton added that when he asked her to specify how much trimming down she felt he needed to do, she said, "Oh, about 15 pounds," an effort he said he's "halfway home" toward accomplishing.

To Clinton's credit, the doctor who performed a recent heart procedure on him said that he's done an excellent job making the adjustment to a healthier lifestyle. "He really toed the line in terms of diet and exercise," said Dr. Allan Schwartz, the chief cardiologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. "He really followed the program."

Once he sheds the excess bulge, Clinton can presumably focus on what he described as the ceremony's main challenge when he discussed Chelsea's wedding with "Today Show" contributor Jenna Bush Hager: Keeping from tearing up as the vows are exchanged.

[Mohamad]

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Jennifer Lopez's big beehive



At the London premiere of "The Back-up Plan," Jennifer Lopez channels a model (left) from Lanvin's Spring 2010 collection show.
For most of the press tour for her new romantic comedy "The Back-up Plan," Jennifer Lopez has kept her usual style of long, wavy layers. But for the London premiere of the film Thursday night, Lopez stepped out with a high-fashion look.

Lopez walked the red carpet with her hair swept up in a gravity-defying large round bun, which some are calling a "retro 'do" and a "beehive," but those who follow fashion more closely have pointed out that it is a replica of a hairstyle sported by models at the spring 2010 fashion shows. In fact, the style is almost exactly like those worn by runway models in Lanvin's spring show — how appropriate, because Lopez's black leather dress was made by the designer.

Lopez, 40, has been on a bit of a fashion spree as she promotes "The Back-up Plan" across Europe, and was spotted wearing three very different looks in just one day in Paris this week

[Mohamad]

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Celine Dion builds backyard water park


Celine Dion has constructed a titanic-sized water park in the backyard of her $12.5 million mansion in Jupiter Island, Fla.

PHOTOS: Celine's son and other celeb kids get major haircuts

New photos of the private aquatic playland show a twisty water slide, two Olympic-sized pools and a lazy river.

She can certainly afford the backyard renovations. The French-Canadian singer was paid $100 million by Caesar's Palace for her five-year "A New Day" concert series. (The Las Vegas casino even built a new 4,296-seat venue, The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, for her.)

Dion, 42, will bank $100 million more to kick off another tour at Caesar's Palace in March 2011. She'll perform 70 shows a year for three years.

PHOTOS: See Celine and Rene's wedding pic

According to The Palm Beach Post, the French-Canadian singer and husband Rene Angelil, 68, purchased the oceanfront Jupiter Island property in 2005.

The Grammy winner isn't the only celeb with massive digs on Jupiter Island: construction on an enormous complex for Tiger Woods began on the exclusive Floridian isle prior to his adultery scandals.

PHOTOS: Can you believe these age differences?

Dion and Angelil have been married for over 15 years and have a 9-year-old son, Rene-Charles.

[Mohamad]

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Avatar' director gives Mars rover a boost



PASADENA, Calif. - "Avatar" director James Cameron is helping to build a high-resolution 3-D camera on the next-generation Mars rover.

The camera will be mounted atop Curiosity, the next rover mission to Mars set for launch next year.

Pasadena's Jet Propulsion Laboratory scaled back its plans in 2007 to mount a 3-D camera atop Curiosity because the upcoming flagship mission to Mars was consistently over budget and behind schedule.

But Cameron lobbied NASA administrator Charles Bolden for inclusion of the 3-D camera during a January meeting, saying a rover with a better set of eyes will help the public connect with the mission.

Bolden was convinced.

San Diego-based Malin Space Science Systems is now building the 3-D mast camera with Cameron listed as co-investigator

[Mohamad]

Kate Gosselin's New Book Bombs


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Kate Gosselin's latest book isn't exactly flying off the shelves.

Since its April 13 release, "I Just Want You to Know: Letters to My Kids on Love, Faith, and Family" has sold just 10,084 copies, according to national book sales tracker Bookscan. The non-fiction title debuted at #11 on the New York Times' non fiction bestseller list, and at #103 on USA Today's bestsellers chart. By Thursday afternoon, its Amazon.com rank was #862.


PHOTOS: Look back on Kate's DWTS days

This is in spite of Gosselin's relentless promotion of the tome on TV and radio -- plus her ubiquitous presence on Dancing with the Stars prior to her ouster last week.

Jim Milliot, business and news director of book-industry magazine Publishers Weekly, tells UsMagazine.com that the numbers "nowhere near a blockbuster" and "not that impressive."

By contrast, the 35-year-old mom's first two books, "Multiple Blessings" and "Eight Little Faces", both climbed to number five on the New York Times' list; "Multiple Blessings" sold 523,000 copies in 2009.

PHOTOS: Kate's grumpiest expressions

Could "I Just Want You to Know" end up selling 500,000 copies in the long run? Not likely, Milliot tells Us, explaining that the lion's share of book sales typically occur "in the first month or two of publication." He adds that Gosselin will have "a very tough time getting to 50,000, let alone 100,000...I think it will be a disappointment in the end."

PHOTOS: Kate's hair through the years

The book "continues [Kate's] story of faith and family," an Amazon description reads. "Using excerpts and written prayers from her journal, Kate offers an intimate look at the heart of a mother during the three years her family transitioned from obscurity into television fame."

[Mohamad]

Kim Cattrall and Brendan Fraser's New Roles Call for Extra Pounds




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Kim Cattrall and Brendan Fraser are the latest actors to put on a few extra pounds in the name of success on the silver screen. From Robert De Niro's shocking 60 lb. bulk-up in "Raging Bull" to Renee Zellweger's "Bridget Jones" plumping, stars often don't shy away from weight gain when their characters demand it.

Cattrall's most recent work-related weight gain involved packing on 15 pounds for her role as a washed-up prostitute in "Meet Monica Velour." Cattrall discussed her new body with New York Magazine, revealing that the film's director had initially wanted her to gain 35 pounds. "Just for health reasons I couldn't do that," the blond beauty explained. "I also didn't have enough time to do it safely with a doctor's care."

The "****** and the City" star says her anti-fitness regimen involved simply not exercising, a process she described as terrifying. "Most of the time as an actress, you want to look desirable, you want to be pretty, you want to be ******y, you want to be lit properly," Cattrall said. "Whereas here there were days when I didn't even have any makeup on. There were days when they actually changed the light to make me look harder and more overweight."

Her "****** and the City" co-star Kristin Davis has been working to change her body as well, though she's in the process of correcting past mistakes. Davis has been consulting with celeb trainer Tracy Anderson to get the shape she wants. "I didn't realize, but I had been developing my abs kind of outwards," . "We don't want that!" Davis told a magazine

Fraser took a more humorous approach to his expanding stomach, which he developed for his role in the slapstick comedy "Furry Vengeance." In the film, Fraser plays a real estate developer attempting to bulldoze a forest in spite of protests from a crop of mischievous woodland creatures.

Fraser's weight gain (which he told Al Roker on Wednesday's "Today" show clocked in at about 26 pounds) was functional as well as comical. Fraser told Parade magazine the extra padding was a necessary line of defense against the film's stunts: "I needed a bigger butt on account of there was going be a lot of physical comedy. I get thrown around a lot in the movie." He went on to explain that the chubby look came with its own built-in punchline. "Let's just face it, it's funny," Fraser said. "Kids love it. Adults love it. They're like, 'Ha-ha, look! Brendan Fraser, the guy who was really buff in all those action movies, has gotten fat."

Though Fraser shies away from scales and can't say exactly how many pounds he put on, the actor managed a noticeable bulk-up. Brendan's inspiration for the chubby character was his own pet dog, whom he described as "the fattest Chihuahua on the planet, which astonishes me because it's only got like two teeth left in its head to eat with." Now that the weight's on, Fraser must start working on dropping it. "I still need to get closer to the StairMaster to lose that paunch" he admitted. "But I wouldn't let the dog try it."

[Mohamad]

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How Sandra Bullock kept her baby secret

shocked the world yesterday with news that she managed to keep her baby boy, Louis, a total secret for months. Even Hollywood publicists are jarred by Bullock's coup, expressing awe that the actress was able to keep her son a secret for so long, during a period of time where the paparazzi were stalking her and she was on the cover of every American tabloid nearly every week. So how on earth did she pull it off?

In the People exclusive, which hits stands Friday, Bullock seems to take great delight in fooling everyone, saying: "I don't know how we got away with it" and describing the deception as involving "decoys and dark cars."
She even describes stylists' frustration at not being able to do awards-season fitting appointments: "I would have them meet me at random hotels down the street from the house, claiming work was being done."

And in one charming story, Sandra tells People about a "lime green baby sock" that she brought with her on the red carpet and that kept popping out of her bag, but others would just hand it back to her without asking questions.
Photo: See Sandra Bullock Hit the Red Carpet
Possibly most remarkable of all in the whole tale of secrecy is the fact that Sandra's stepchildren were in on it -- and were able to keep quiet about the baby. As for friends and family alike, Bullock had total trust: "I never thought anyone we shared the info with would tell anyone, and they didn't."
"She did it with a lot of support from a very close circle of people that she trusted," said J.D. Heyman, who contributed to the People story. "They kept the secret, and that includes her stepchildren, even the littlest one."
But it seems the actress did drop a few hints (in addition to her Oscar acceptance speech). In November, during a promotional appearance on "Ellen" for "The Blind Side," Ellen DeGeneres asked Bullock if she ever thought about adoption:
"You know, I have always felt like, just because a child didn't come from inside your body doesn't mean it's not your child, it just arrived somewhere else...There are so many children just waiting who need love and to give you love back a thousand times more and they're everywhere...You would be profoundly amazed at how many children are out there just waiting for you to love them."

While Sandra was then two months away from Louis's arrival, she and estranged husband Jesse James had been trying to adopt a baby for four years. Yesterday, details surfaced about Bullock's strategy for keeping the divorce filing, in Texas, a secret: She filed the documents under her initials, backward, to throw reporters off the scent.
One detail of the divorce -- the fact that no children, adopted or otherwise, will be involved in the divorce proceedings, might seem confusing at first, domestic adoptions often take up to six months to become finalized, meaning Bullock can adopt Louis as a single parent, something she told People she was planning to do.

Bullock tells people she plans to raise Louis, who was named after Louis Armstrong, at least partially in his birthplace of New Orleans. (She brought him to her home from New Orleans in January.) "It's his city," she says. "And he's going to know it inside and out."

[Mohamad]

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Heidi Klum is latest star to go without makeup


Supermodel Heidi Klum wears no makeup in People's new "Most Beautiful People" issue.


Photo by: People
Despite the prevalence of overly airbrushed photos and extreme plastic surgery, a new trend has emerged in fashion magazines: celebrities and models going au naturel. Heidi Klum is the latest star to scrub off her mascara and lipstick for her spread in the latest issue of People magazine. Klum was included in the magazine's "Most Beautiful People" issue, and just to prove how stunning she really is, the 36-year-old supermodel was photographed without any makeup on. Here we see freckles, natural skin imperfections, and even a few wrinkles. She looks so refreshingly natural and relaxed! Kudos to People for not airbrushing away any of her imperfect beauty, and that Klum had the courage to be shown looking like her real self.

Other celebs have recently gone the natural route. Jessica Simpson went without makeup for the May cover of Marie Claire, and in an effort to show how advertisers alter images, Britney Spears released the unretouched photos that correspond to her current Candie's ads. French Elle's "Stars Sans Fards" issue may have kicked off the "natural" trend last year, as it depicted eight European celebs without makeup.

In the past, when tabloids have showcased celebs without makeup or unretouched photos, readers typically looked on eager to find flaws. Perhaps these recent photos will slowly change our way of thinking and allow us to embrace a more realistic, natural image of women.

[Mohamad]

Inside Paris Hilton's 'Simple Life



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Paris Hilton giggles while hosing off one of her Bentleys before heading to lunch at the Ivy with Esquire writer Mike Sager. Eric Ogden/Esquire Say what you will about Paris Hilton, but the girl is ... successful. According to a new feature in the May issue of Esquire, the hotel heiress rakes in around $10 million a year thanks to the personal appearances she makes, her many licensing deals, and other business ventures. Essentially, she's a brand.
The "My New BFF" star has nine fragrances (she's launching a 10th one this year), 19 product lines worldwide, which include everything from handbags to hair extensions, is working on a second album, and even has another TV show in the works. Of course, Paris, 29, probably wouldn't be where she is today had she not been born into the high-profile Hilton family, but she is a hustler. As a result, she's got a beautiful mini-mansion (adorned with many photos of herself) in Hollywood, two brightly-colored Bentleys, and a menagerie of pets including a Siamese cat named Princess Annabelle, five dogs, an African gray parrot (which her ex-boyfriend Doug Reinhardt named Hank), and a miniature pig she calls Princess Pigelette.
It's no surprise to find some pops of leopard print in Paris' rather ornate living room. Eric Ogden/Esquire
See More Pics of Paris' Hollywood Home
"My house is kind of like a reflection of my life and my accomplishments and what I've done," says Paris in Esquire's May issue. "And I've done it all on my own. When my parents and my grandfather came over for the first time, I was so proud. It just feels good to, like, walk around and be like, I earned all this, you know? I see some of my friends I grew up with from rich families. Their parents spoiled them, and they never made them work and just give them an allowance. And now they're like 30 and still living off the parents, having to ask for everything, being on a budget. It's nice to feel accomplished and independent. I don't have to depend on anyone but myself."
More Deep Thoughts From Paris
The hotel heiress' house is filled with images of herself. Eric Ogden/Esquire

Paris grew up not too far away in the ritzy LA neighborhood of Bel Air, where she claims she was extremely sheltered. "My parents were so strict," she reveals. "I wasn't allowed to go on a date, I wasn't allowed to wear makeup. They were really, really strict. When you're living in Bel Air in a house, you have no car, you're a teenager, you can't do anything. There's nowhere to walk. I was literally, like, stuck." Until she turned 15 and her family moved to NYC, which is where she secretly accepted Donald Trump's offer to join the Trump Modeling Agency without her parents' permission. Suddenly, "my sister [Nicky] and I started getting invited to all these parties and all these socialite events, and we became, like, the Hilton Sisters, and everyone started photographing us." In turn, a star was born.
See Who Women Voted as the Most Beautiful Woman in America
Paris admits her Pepto-Bismol pink Bentley, whose interior is custom decorated with Swarovski crystals, is "a little too showy to drive it anywhere." Eric Ogden/Esquire

Today, Paris has sort of become a modern-day version of her idol, Marilyn Monroe. And just as Marilyn had a dumb blonde reputation, so does Paris, who insists she only uses her baby voice when she's nervous. When she signed up to appear in "The Simple Life," she recalls the producers specifically giving her these directions: "Paris, be the dumbest you can be. Just be a dumb, ditzy blonde -- like 'Legally Blonde' meets 'Green Acres' meets 'Clueless.'" (Apparently, Nicole Richie -- who Paris says she is friends with again -- was instructed to be "the mean one.") Turns out, playing stupid has served Hilton very well.

[Mohamad]

Some 'Avatar' Fans Struggle With Blu-Ray


by Mike Ryan · April 30, 2010
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An unusual glitch has angered some "Avatar" Blu-ray owners. For these unlucky people, since the disc won't play on their Blu-ray players, their new "Avatar" Blu-ray serves no real purpose other than to sit idly on the coffee table.

"When 3 out of 3 players in my house (Denon, Samsung and PC) won't play it, then 20th Century Fox should be slapped with losses on this one," said one irritated customer.

In reality, the disc works fine; the problem stems from the Blu-ray players themselves. In order to run optimally, the firmware for these fancy Blu-ray machines needs to be updated regularly via a download from the Web. ("Firmware" is the program that controls the performance of an electronic device, which would be, in this case, the playback of a Blu-ray disc.)

If a Blu-ray player owner doesn't have a home Internet connection, the chances are good the player's firmware will be out of date. Thus making "Avatar" -- a movie that prides itself on being presented with only the most cutting edge of technology -- unplayable with the older firmware. The problem isn't unique to "Avatar," but the movie's popularity has made those complaints among the loudest.

Unfortunately, people without an Internet connection probably aren't reading this particular story -- or the hundreds of other pieces instructing new Blu-ray player owners on how to upgrade. So they're not aware of the root of a problem.

But while they may not have home access to the Internet, they likely do have a telephone. And they've been using their phone to flood retailers with angry calls.

[Mohamad]

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Kate Hudson overwhelmed by outerwear

Perhaps Kate Hudson's stylist ravaged the "Ugly Betty" costume room when the show shut down a few months ago and forced her client into this overwhelming, patterned poncho, that only America Ferrera's brace-faced character could get away with wearing.

[Mohamad]

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A week of ups and downs in Hollywood


Busy week in show business. A Hollywood A-lister filed for divorce and showed off her newly adopted baby boy. Elsewhere, an '80s rocker suffered a brain hemorrhage, but looks to be on the mend. And, finally, one of the most infamous starlets in Tinsel Town could be heading for a stint in the big house (her lawyer says otherwise). Catch up on those stories and more with the Buzz Week in Review.
Sandra Bullock: Single Parent
Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock has been in the public eye for months after her husband, reality TV star Jesse James, admitted to "poor judgment." This past week, Ms. Bullock confirmed what many had suspected was coming: She filed for divorce. However, that was eclipsed by happier news. The "Blind Side" star had adopted a young child from New Orleans and would be raising him as a single parent. In People magazine, the 45-year-old star commented that her son, 14-week-old Louis Bardo Bullock, is "just perfect, I can't even describe him any other way." Initially, Bullock planned to raise Louis with her soon-to-be ex-husband. Following their split, she says she will be going it alone. Throughout the week, searches on "sandra bullock divorce" and "louis bardo bullock photos" both soared.
Bret Michaels' Recovery
Poison frontman and "Rock of Love" star Bret Michaels suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage this past week. Immediately following his hospitalization, the news seemed grim. However, less than a week later, it appears that the current contestant on "Celebrity Apprentice" is on track for an impressive recovery. The rocker remains in ICU care, but a buzzy article from the AP explains that doctors are saying that its possible Michaels could appear on the upcoming finale of "Celebrity Apprentice" at the end of May. Searches this week ran the gamut. After his injury was first reported, Web lookups on "bret michaels dying" spiked over 1,000%. Fortunately, those queries soon fell away and were replaced by "bret michaels recovery" and "bret michaels comeback."
Lindsay Lohan: Big-House Bound?
Lindsay Lohan's career keeps spiraling downwards. Given her obvious talent, this has been hard for many to watch. But things may soon get a lot tougher if Ms. Lohan gets jail time. It's not as far-fetched as one might think ("Oh, she's a celebrity, she'll get out of it" may not apply this time). The story is this: Wild child Lindsay had been sentenced by a judge to attend alcohol education courses, stemming from a DUI arrest. The judge was clear: If Lindsay didn't attend the classes, she would go to jail. Now some are reporting that Lohan did not complete the courses. However, Lohan's lawyer is countering those claims. He says his client has been meeting the terms of her probation. A hearing scheduled for May 20 will determine if the starlet gets off or becomes a ward of the state.

[Mohamad]

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First look at new 'Thor' movie





The long blond hair. The dark tunic with silver discs. The blood-red cape. Yep, that's Thor, all right.


With excitement at a fever pitch for next weekend's release of "Iron Man 2," buzz is already building for Marvel Studio's next adaptation of one of their classic comic books. To fuel the fire, we have the exclusive look at the first photo anywhere of star Chris Hemsworth in costume as the God of Thunder in next summer's "Thor."
See the First Look at Thor >>


26-year-old Australian actor Hemsworth first gained attention from movie audiences in his brief but memorable role as George Kirk -- Captain James T. Kirk's father -- in the opening scene of last year's "Star Trek." Many well-known actors were considered for the part; Daniel Craig said he was approached to play Thor but turned it down. After an exhaustive search, Hemsworth won the role over many other young hopefuls. He even beat out his younger brother, Liam, who was most recently seen opposite his real-life girlfriend Miley Cyrus in "The Last Song."

From what we can see of the costume designed by Oscar winner Alexandra Byrne, it looks to be inspired by the latest version of the character from the comic books drawn by French artist Olivier Coipel. While Thor's basic look hasn't changed much since he was originally created by Jack Kirby in 1962, the suit in the movie adopts the more modern look with an armored chest piece and textured sleeves. Slightly different is Hemsworth's beard, which has been used for Thor in the comics but only occasionally. The two most prominent elements of Thor's look that we don't see, however, are his signature winged helmet and his weapon, the mighty hammer Mjolnir.

"Thor" doesn't open for another year, but there are some hints about the movie within next weekend's "Iron Man 2." Like the first movie, where Samuel L. Jackson's cameo was hidden after the credits, there is a bonus scene in the sequel for those who stick around to the very end. Of course, Hemsworth will team up with Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans -- who was recently cast as Captain America in his own movie -- for "The Avengers," which is scheduled for release in 2012.

[Mohamad]

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Nicolas Cage makes bizarre new purchase



s latest property purchase isn't a new mansion or a shiny car -- it's a giant mausoleum in the shape of a pyramid.
Cage commissioned the 9-foot tall tomb to sit inside a New Orleans cemetery with the stipulation that it serve as his final resting place. The actor is known for being a devotee of the Louisiana city, and is the former owner of several homes inside its city limits.
Why the pharaoh-grave? It's probably no coincidence that a pyramid is the logo associated with Cage's popular film franchise "National Treasure." In the movies, Cage plays a noted cryptologist with a fascination with the mysteries of ancient civilizations.
The extravagant purchase comes during a time of financial stress for Cage. His Bel Air home foreclosed earlier this month after an unsuccessful courthouse auction failed to attract the minimum bid of $10.4 million. The foreclosure was the latest straw in a pattern of financial strain for the Cage family.
Cage was hit with a $5 million tax bill earlier this year, allegedly due to mismanagement by his financial adviser. He's been forced to sell off many of his homes, dumping a medieval German castle, a Rhode Island estate and a Bahamian island.
Cage's mausoleum. Splashnews.com It's been reported that fellow A-lister Johnny Depp has offered support to Cage, pledging to give "whatever it takes" to dig his friend out of trouble.
Cage is partly responsible for jump-starting Depp's career, having been friends with the future Jack Sparrow since he was a young unknown. Cage introduced Johnny to his own agent, which swiftly garnered Depp a spot in "A Nightmare on Elm Street."
See Cage's Wild Movie Hairstyles
While a pyramid-shaped tomb is certainly not a run-of-the-mill purchase, Cage is no stranger to eccentric behavior. The actor recently dyed his hair a shocking platinum blonde in order to get in touch with his "Celtic roots." And let's not forget his young son, whom he named Kal-El -- the birth moniker of Superman.
When Cage is not buying and selling houses or checking in on his final resting place, he's hard at work. Currently he can be seen in an

[Mohamad]

Sad" Gabriel Aubry Confirms Halle Berry Split

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: Halle Berry and boyfriend Gabriel Aubry are going their separate ways.
Following Friday's multiple reports of a split between the Oscar-winning actress and the French-Canadian male model, Aubry confirmed the news to Access Hollywood early Saturday.
"I am sad to say that Halle and I have decided together to separate at this time," Aubry's statement reads. "She is, and will forever be one of the most special and beautiful people that I have ever known, and I am certain that we will continue to have only love and respect for one another."
PHOTOS: Look back on Halle and Gabriel's years together
Berry, 43, and Aubry, 34, first met at a 2006 Versace photo shoot; they never wed. Their daughter Nahla was born in March 2008.
"We have been blessed with the most amazing daughter in the world," Aubry continues. "Her happiness and well-being are the most important thing for both of us. Please respect our privacy during this very difficult time."
PHOTOS: Remember these celeb splits?
TMZ had reported that the duo is currently working out a custody agreement for Nahla. "I will not comment on all of the wild inaccuracies being speculated about in the media," Berry's former beau explained simply.
PHOTOS: See Halle and Gabriel's adorable daughter and other A-list babies
On Thursday -- the night before the breakup news hit -- Berry made a cheerful solo appearance at the DKMS 4th Annual Gala: Linked Against Leukemia in NYC. She told UsMagazine.com that her daughter was "fantastic," and that she loved "everything" about being a mom.
In an interview last year with Essence, Berry gushed about her relationship, but wouldn't speculate how long it would last. "All I know is at this moment, it feels fantastic," she said.

[Mohamad]

Bill Condon On 'Breaking Dawn': 'There Won't Be Any Musical Numbers

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Spoiler! Fans hoping to see Edward and Bella break into song and dance in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" are going to be disappointed.
"There won't be any musical numbers," newly named director Bill Condon, whose last film was the Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson-starring "Dreamgirls," said of the upcoming fourth "Twilight Saga" film in a note posted on Facebook.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hot Shots From 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'
Like previous directors Chris Weitz and David Slade, the director introduced himself to "Twilight" diehards with an online letter, reassuring them that he's "bringing myself up to speed" on the beloved vampire series.
"I've read BREAKING DAWN twice, rewatched Catherine's and Chris's movies 2-3 times each, have all four CDs playing in my car, and have Catherine's notebook, Mark Cotta Vaz's companion books, and even Volume 1 of the graphic novel here on my desk," he wrote. "A corner of my office is starting to look like Hot Topic."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: See The Men Of 'Twilight' - Shirtless!
The "Gods and Monsters" and "Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh" director added that he's "been yearning for a return to a story with Gothic overtones."
"Like many of you, I've always been slightly obsessed with vampires, dating back to the prime-time series DARK SHADOWS, which I followed avidly as a kid," he said, adding, however, that it took a special project to get him to return to the horror world.
"Rooted in a beautiful, real landscape with a great sense of place, Bella, Edward, Jacob, and the rest of the Forks/La Push menagerie, experience emotions that are primal, and universal: desire, despair, jealousy," he wrote. "And it all comes to fruition in BREAKING DAWN. This is a final chapter in the best sense; not just wide in scope and scale, but emotionally charged and intense throughout."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' LA Premiere
Condon concluded his letter by asking for questions in the comments section, which sparked over 2,000 responses. However, he did not comment on long-standing rumors that the plot-heavy "Breaking Dawn" will arrive as two films.
"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," the third film in the series, directed by Chris Weitz, is due June 30.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Stars Declare Themselves 'Team Edward' Or 'Team Jacob'
Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

[Mohamad]

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Shakira's World Cup anthem hits sour note


With all the problems facing this summer's World Cup in South Africa, the last thing it needed was trouble over something as silly as the tournament's official anthem, but that's exactly what Shakira's "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" is causing among South Africans and many others who have endured it.
The song hit radio stations last week, with Johannesburg locals responding with comments like "It's horrible" and "How is Shakira going to sing the African part of it?" (My guess is with her voice, but a Speak & Spell could be a fun choice, too.)
The Colombian singer collaborated with South African band Freshlyground on the track, which borrows from a Cameroonian song called "Zangalewa." But the fact that the anthem for South Africa's World Cup is not being sung by a South African is the sticking point for the critics who aren't just opposed to the new tune itself.
This isn't even the first time this World Cup's organizers have been given headaches over their musical selection, though. The tournament's kickoff concert that will take place the night before matches begin on June 11 was also criticized for featuring too many foreign acts like the Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys and John Legend and not local musicians. The organizing committee eventually bowed to the complaints and made the lineup more "representative."
Shakira is scheduled to perform "Waka Waka" with Freshlyground in front of 94,000 people at the final match on July 11. That should be interesting. Even more interesting? The actual tournament.

[Mohamad]

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Carey renews vows with huge 'toy' ring

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/stopthepresses__2/stopthepresses-842907026-1272904942_thumb.jpg?ymuDJFDD_wxBd58yWhen Mariah Carey and her husband Nick Cannon said "I do" to each other for the third time at their Beverly Hills home on Friday, Cannon, 29, presented his wife of two years with an unusual piece of bling: a huge, diamond- and sapphire-encrusted bauble designed to look like a high-end, thoroughly inedible version of the classic children's "ring pop" candy.
In a video touting the ring's designer, Jason of Beverly Hills, Cannon, 29, explains that the expensive gift is also something of a joke: "This is for fun," he tells the camera, displaying the candy-colored ring in its special box.
"This is what we do for toys. At some point you've gotta have a sense of humor about all of this. A sense of humor with diamonds."

[Mohamad]

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Redgrave acting dynasty draws interest



Lynn Redgrave, the twice-Oscar-nominated actor, died on Sunday at the age of 67. A well-known member of the Redgrave acting dynasty, Ms. Redgrave had been receiving treatment for ****** cancer. Her publicist said that she passed away in her sleep, surrounded by family and close friends.
In a statement released to the media, the Redgrave family said this about the departed Lynn: "Our beloved mother Lynn Rachel passed away peacefully after a seven year journey with ****** cancer. She lived, loved and worked harder than ever before. The endless memories she created as a mother, grandmother, writer, actor and friend will sustain us for the rest of our lives."
Immediately following the news of her death, Web searches soared on Ms. Redgrave, as well as several people in her family tree. The Redgraves' imprint on the craft of acting spans generations. Here's a brief recap of some of the family's most famous members.

Lynn Redgrave: In 1998, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her work in "Gods and Monsters," costarring Sir Ian McKellen. Ms. Redgrave first reached fame in the 1960s, when she appeared in the controversial film "Georgy Girl" (it also earned her an Oscar nod). But she didn't limit herself to Hollywood films. She was also a constant presence on the stage, receiving three Tony nominations during her storied career.

Vanessa Redgrave: After word of Lynn's death hit the Web, online lookups for her older sister, Vanessa, spiked immediately. Vanessa, arguably more famous than her sister, has acted in dozens of major movies, including the first "Mission: Impossible" and the soon-to-be-released "Letters to Juliet," costarring Amanda Seyfried. Vanessa was nominated for an Oscar in 1967, the same year as her sister. Both sisters lost to Elizabeth Taylor, who took home the Oscar for her work in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Natasha Richardson: Ms. Richardson, who was niece to Lynn and daughter to Vanessa, died last year after a skiing accident. Much like her mother and aunt, Natasha was hugely respected and appeared in numerous films and stage productions during her career. Following the news of Lynn's death, there was renewed Search interest in "natasha richardson accident," as well as her widower, Liam Neeson.

Michael Redgrave: The father of Lynn, Vanessa, and Corin (also a prolific actor) and grandfather to Natasha Richardson, Joely Richardson, and Jemma Redgrave died in 1985. Michael Redgrave was awarded the Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in 1959 for his contributions to acting. His father, Roy Redgrave, was also an actor, albeit of silent films.
So, to summarize the Redgrave family business...Roy Redgrave was a legendary silent film star whose son, Michael Redgrave, a revered actor from Britain, was father to Lynn, Vanessa, and Corin Redgrave, who died last month. The threesome starred in numerous films and stage productions, and Vanessa continues to act alongside Hollywood's hottest stars. Vanessa's daughter, Natasha, was also a respected actor. Natasha's sister, Joely, can be see on Showtime's "The Tudors."

[Mohamad]

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Martha Stewart's modeling past

Multi-tasking TV host, author, magazine editor, home decorator... and model. Is there anything Martha Stewart can't do? Photos of a young Stewart glamming up the pages of fashion magazines surfaced recently, adding yet another hash mark to the Domestic Diva's very long list of careers.
Martha's modeling moment. Courtesy Tory Burch Fashion designer Tory Burch uncovered Stewart's high-fashion past on a trip to the home-decor maven's studio. Tory stumbled across a wall of photos picturing a beautiful, fresh-faced Martha hawking sundresses and Rolex watches.

Stewart's modeling career spanned the early part of the 1960s. She appeared in places like Ms. Magazine and Glamour, and spent a summer as the face of Chanel.
Martha took on a range of looks, playing a sophisticated Wall Street banker, a cheerful sailor, and a Brigitte-Bardot-esque vixen with a head full of hair extensions.
Vogue editor Andre Leon Talley appeared on "Martha" Friday to talk about Stewart's fashion career. Talley received the tip-off about Stewart's glamour-girl past from designer Karl Lagerfeld and swiftly shared the news: "I tweeted-I said, 'Did you know that Martha Stewart was once a Chanel model in the days of Coco?' And people were fascinated."
Martha revealed that she still owns some of the clothing used in the photo shoots -- though it doesn't all fit. "I was like 116 pounds!" she explained to Talley, who assured his host she still looks great.

Stewart reminisced on her modeling career with trendsetter Burch (you know those ubiquitous ballet flats with a gold medallion on each toe box? that's her!), explaining that she was married and in school while working as a model. "I met all these great photographers and it paid my way through Barnard College," Stewart said. "At the same time as all of this I was in college. We did it all. Women today seem to have a harder time trying to do all that at once."

[Mohamad]

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Dancing With the Stars' heats up




Evan Lysacek battled back from the middle of the pack to challenge Nicole Scherzinger for frontrunner status on Monday's "Dancing with the Stars."
The men's figure skating gold medalist asked his professional partner, Anna Trebunskaya, to push him in rehearsals in the last few days and the ballroom result was a sharp, dramatic and intense Argentine tango that left the judges stunned.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Are They Or Aren't They? Hollywood's Hottest Rumored Couples
"Evan Lysacek has the eye of the tiger," judge Carrie Ann Inaba raved after Evan and his partner performed, but it was British judge Len Goodman who was the most moved of the panel.
"I knew you were nice on ice, but I had my doubts that you were gonna be good on wood," Len said. "But, I tell you, I've got a [score] paddle in here that I haven't used yet. I'm gonna dust it off, because that was fantastic."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Love Connection: Celebs & Athletes
The paddle Len referred to was the perfect 10, and added to the 10s from Carrie Ann and Bruno Tonioli, Evan and Anna end up with Season 10's first perfect score - 30 out of 30.
While she didn't net a perfect score with her partner, Derek Hough, Nicole did manage to move the audience, and her beloved aunt who watched from the audience, with an elegant waltz to "You Light Up My Life."
"You are, by far, the best dancer we've ever had on this show," Carrie Ann said. "You're so good that you almost dance as Derek's equal."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing WIth The Stars' Season 10, Week 6!
Carrie Ann said, however, that Nicole didn't do enough to be 'like one' with her partner, a unison style of movement the waltz needed, resulting in 9s from the judges for a total of 27 out of 30.
Round 2 of the competition, however, helped even out the playing field between Evan and Nicole.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' All-Stars!
Nicole danced as part of Team Gaga, as in Lady, cha cha cha-ing to "Telephone," alongside Chad Ochocinco and his partner Cheryl Burke, and Pamela Anderson with her pro, Damian Whitewood. The ***tet managed to impress the judges enough to add an extra 27 points to each of their pair dance totals.
The other three competitor pairs - Evan and Anna, Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and Niecy Nash with Louis van Amstel - cha cha cha-ed to "Holiday" as part of Team Madonna, but only managed to pick up an additional 24 points.
The team round results, added to their pair dance scores, left Nicole and Evan tied, setting up a real toe-to-toe competition between the stars.
Meanwhile, Bengals receiver Chad and partner Cheryl finished the night in third with 52 points, while Pamela and Damian tied Erin and Maks for fourth, each scoring 51 points.
Niecy and Louis landed in the bottom spot with 49 points out of a possible 60.

[Mohamad]

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Country music star Chely Wright comes out



Chely Wright has done lots of important things in her career: Released seven albums, charted numerous hits (including 1999's No. 1 "Single White Female"), started a charitable foundation for music education, and written songs for other artists such as Brad Paisley and Clay Walker.
However, her latest personal accomplishment just may be her most momentous to date. The 39-year-old singer revealed this morning that she is ***, making her the first major country star to come out publicly.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/vivanashvegas/vivanashvegas-802058985-1272902320_thumb.jpg?ymwaIFDDZ7nk2wYcIn an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Wright explains why she was reluctant to discuss her ***ual orientation for so long. "There had never, ever been a country music artist who had acknowledged his or her homo***uality," she said. "I wasn't going to be the first."
However, "Nothing in my life has been more magical than the moment I decided to come out," she says.
Wright, a small-town girl who grew up in a musical family and released her debut album in 1994, says she's directed her whole life around the dream of making music. Given the conservative bent of the country music world, she decided to put her career ahead of her personal life. "I hid everything for my music," she explained.
Wright will appear on NBC's Today Show Wednesday (May 5). She is also releasing her memoir, Like Me, as well as her first album in five years, Lifted Off The Ground, this week.
So far, Nashville at large has been quiet regarding Wright's announcement (to be fair--the city is in an emergency situation, experiencing record flooding), but my guess is they will be largely supportive. Despite not releasing new music for several years, Wright's been active in the community with her charitable Reading, Writing & Rhythm Foundation, which benefits music education in public schools.
It's another guess how country fans themselves will respond to Wright's announcement. Inevitable speculation is that a largely conservative group will be disapproving--which, in country music, can spell crippling disaster to a artist's career.
However, I'm not so sure criticism will come solely from her ***ual orientation. Coming out after an absence from the music scene, right before the release of a new album, will undoubtedly smack of opportunism to some fans. We'll see this week what Wright has to say, and I'm very interested in reading her autobiography as well as hearing new music after so long.
Inevitably, though--I leave all of this up to you. Does Chely Wright's coming out affect your opinion of her as a musician? Let me know what you think.

[Mohamad]

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Walk of Fame problem for 'Seinfeld' star




Julia Louis-Dreyfus received the honor of a lifetime on Tuesday, when her name was forever emblazoned on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Just one problem - her name on her star was misspelled.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Stars Get A Star! Candid Walk Of Fame Shots!
According to CNN producer David Daniel, who snapped a photo of the typo on his way in to work before it was fixed for her ceremony, the star that was laid into cement read "Julia Luis Dreyfus" - missing the "O" in Louis and the hyphen.
"I snapped a pic with my BlackBerry, then hustled to work and called Ana Martinez, the press rep for the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 'Are you sure?' she gasped, and then, understandably, she hurried off the phone," Daniel wrote in his post Tuesday afternoon on CNN's The Marquee Blog.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Ladies Of Primetime Television
With the ceremony just mere hours away - "and you can't just print up a new star at the local CopyMart," Daniel noted - how did the Walk of Fame folks quickly fix the error?
Workers quickly printed up a new section with the correct spelling of "Louis," carved the misspelled name out of the star and swapped out the piece with the typo.
As it turns out, when the former "Seinfeld" and current "The New Adventures of Old Christine" actress heard about the mishap - she thought it was hilarious.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Photo Fun With Hollywood's Hottest Comedians!
"It turns out Louis-Dreyfus thought the mistake was hysterical, and wanted them to leave it, but they'd already chiseled out the 'Luis' and put a temporary 'Louis-' in its place for the unveiling," Daniel noted.
So what did they do with the piece of the star with the misspelled name?
VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Latest Star Sightings
"They're going to give [it] to Julia as a memento," he concluded, citing his Walk of Fame rep.
However, this isn't the first time this has happened. A spokesperson for the Walk of Fame committee told Access Hollywood a similar situation happened when comedian Dick Van Dyke was enshrined as well. No word on what the typo was.

[Mohamad]

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Miley Cyrus shows off $25,000 outfit


Posted Tue May 4, 2010 4:29pm PDT by US Weekly in Stop The Presses!

Cha-ching! Miley Cyrus, 17, rocks a $25,000 silver-scale corset and dress made from 2,400 metal pieces and peacock feathers in her new music video for "Can't Be Tamed," which premieres at 7 p.m. ET on E! (The song is off her album of the same name, which hits stores June 22.)
PHOTOS: Child stars who grew up fast
The corset was designed by The Blonds and debuted in their fall 2010 fashion show.
PHOTOS: Miley and her siblings
In the video, Cyrus -- who was criticized for a racy dance routine at the August 2009 Teen Choice Awards, and a controversial Vanity Fair shoot the year before -- also dons hot pants while surrounded by scantily-clad dancers in a cage. In another scene, she wears a low-cut leotard with thigh-high boots and feathers.
PHOTOS: Relive Miley's biggest scandals
Cyrus is turning to a 10-year-old designer, Cecilia Cassini, for "perfect party dresses," in real life, though.
Cassini is creating a "short and fun" fitted sequin tunic dress with an open back just for the singer. It retails for $168.

[Mohamad]

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Early 'Iron Man 2' release backfires



The highly anticipated "Iron Man 2" rumbles into U.S. theaters this weekend. This really isn't big news to the rest of the world, considering that moviegoers pretty much everywhere except in the U.S. have already seen the film. Though, actually, thanks to movie piracy, some of the United States has seen it, too.

In a rare move, Paramount released "Iron Man 2" overseas first, to try to take advantage of another weekend of possible box-office receipts before the start of the World Cup, which kicks off on June 11. The World Cup, held only once every four years, is expected to capture the attention of most of the world. Conversely, the World Cup garners relatively minor curiosity in the U.S., so studios didn't seem scared off from sticking with the movie's original stateside release date of May 7. (Only Japan, where "Iron Man 2" is to be released on June 11, has a later release date than the States.)

But all this fancy release-date footwork has backfired for "Iron Man 2": It's served to open a window for movie pirates to get their hands on it. Some overseas markets have pretty relaxed security when it comes to pirating movies with a video recording device (not to say the U.S. doesn't have the same problem). And in this case, there's an entire U.S. and Canadian market that has yet to see this highly anticipated film.

Considering "Iron Man 2" is an effects-laden affair, most moviegoers are going to want to see the film at the theater, regardless. And judging by the $100.2 million the movie took in during its first overseas weekend, the bootlegging may ultimately not have much of an effect at all.

Box-office takes notwithstanding, this brings up an interesting point about the use of 3D in films: "Iron Man 2" is not in 3D, so the piracy issue with the film might be more of a concern, as there's no way to pirate a film shown in 3D (the 2D version is used when pirating). And considering how complicated it is to reproduce 3D using less-than-sophisticated bootlegging machinery, if "Iron Man 2" were in 3D, audiences would have another reason to skip the temptation of a pirated copy and pay the extra fee to see it with the theater experience.

Piracy aside, when asked if they left money on the table by not shooting the film in 3D, director Jon Favreau told Entertainment Weekly, "Yeah, whether we think it or not, we have."

[Mohamad]

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Sinatra theme throws 'Idol' hopeful

'Idol' Top 5 Sinatra Night: Chairman Of The Bored





http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-598079732-1273023739_thumb.jpg?ym7DmFDDYTHc1667All season long, the "American Idol" judges have harped on how important it is for the contestants to come across as "current" and "relevant." But then they've made the contestants warble decades-old songs by Elvis, the Stones, and now, this week, Frank Sinatra. Perhaps the judges have been hoping for a "wow" cover-song moment as we'd seen in past seasons, like when Blake Lewis beatboxed Bon Jovi, David Cook roughed up Lionel Richie, Adam Lambert radically remade Johnny Cash, or Kris Allen took on Kanye West. But such moments have been frustratingly few and far between in Season 9. And they were even fewer and farther on this Tuesday's Sinatra-themed show, since the top five contestants--who arguably aren't quite up to par with the aforementioned Idols to begin with--weren't even allowed to play guitar. Frontrunners Lee DeWyze, Crystal Bowersox, and Casey James have all been quite guitar-dependent throughout this season, so this restriction hindered them greatly (especially in Casey's case). But more importantly, such instrumentation may have helped the contestants bring Sinatra's old-fashioned tunes into the 21st century, so it's too bad that wasn't an option.
Alas, no. Instead, the finalists had to put on wedding-usher suits and perform with a traditional big band, with Harry Connick Jr. as their mentor. How on earth were they supposed to sound current and relevant under these conditions? Why were they not allowed to remake Frank's classic songs in their own modern style? That would've been more interesting.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-862978430-1273024324_thumb.jpg?ymFNmFDDTfBy2PYLWell, honestly, Harry was perhaps the best mentor of the entire season, giving some solid advice, showing way more personality than most of the contestants combined, and taking a much more hands-on approach: He even played with the band and orchestrated all the musical arrangements. I bet past mentor Miley Cyrus never did that! But despite Harry's valiant efforts, the "Ol' Blue Eyes" theme still made for a rather boring ol' episode. It made me wish last week's castoff, Siobhan Magnus, was still around to do her promised version of Sid Vicious's "My Way." Oh well. As Sinatra himself once said, that's life.
Anyway, here's how the top five did:
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-876814315-1273023738_thumb.jpg?ym6DmFDDi4EWQKofAaron Kelly - Young, geeky Aaron had his work cut out for him trying to recapture the smoothness and swagger of Chairman of the Board, and most of the time he was more like Chairman of the Bored. But, as always, he gave it his all during "Fly Me to the Moon"--like a merit-badge-bedecked Boy Scout, Aaron always tries his best. And he almost always delivers a pitch-perfect (if not particularly exciting) vocal, and this night was no exception. "Beautiful vocals!" raved Ellen DeGeneres. "You pulled that off!" declared a relieved and pleasantly surprised Randy Jackson. Simon, a huge Frank fan, was less thrilled--"If Sinatra was a lion, you were just a mouse," he told Aaron flatly--but he did point out Aaron's likability factor. "People like you after you perform, because you do try hard, and I'm going to give you that," Simon admitted. Will likability be enough to keep Aaron in the competition another week? We shall see.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-640121231-1273023738_thumb.jpg?ym6DmFDDASImbT3bCasey James - This season's blues-guitar heartthrob sang "Blue Skies," but after this, his "Idol" forecast looks bleak and gray. Casey is the most guitar-reliant contestant of Season 9, and perhaps of all nine seasons of "Idol"--the man and his six-string are rarely seen apart. So having to perform this week sans axe was clearly a major struggle for him. He looked awkward and "embarrassed," according to Simon; sounded like a "bleating lamb," according to Kara DioGuardi; exhibited no swagger and seemed downright uncool, according to Ellen; and somehow managed to make the orchestra sound out of tune, according to Randy. The judges were all right in their assessments. Randy was also right when he declared this to be Casey's worst performance of the season. I think Casey even agreed with the judges; he chuckled sheepishly at their comments and hardly protested. He just seemed antsy, like he was ready to rush backstage and pick up his guitar again. Sadly, Casey's lack of guitar revealed all his shortcomings, and I'm afraid this song might have been his surprisingly early undoing. On the bright side, Casey told Ryan Seacrest some dude in his local band back home offered him a $50 club gig, and next week, Casey--with guitar firmly in hand--may be available to accept that booking. Ouch.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-560989336-1273023738_thumb.jpg?ym6DmFDDTNkNnrj6Crystal Bowersox - This season's one remaining quirky girl was also very out of her element, all dolled up with an unnecessarily fussy pageant hairdo and mermaid prom dress (although her single dreamcatcher feather earring was a nice granola-girl touch). She definitely fared better than Casey--her voice sounded pristine and not at all like, er, livestock--but her version of "Summer Wind" was hardly her best effort to date. It was "just all right for me," to borrow a Randy turn of phrase. Randy himself used one of his other pet phrases and called her performance "a little sleepy." Ellen thought Crystal needed to loosen up more. And Crystal's biggest supporter, Simon, told her, "You've had two okay weeks now. Now it's about being in it to win it. I expect better." I expect more from her, too--especially at this late a stage in the game.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-255765108-1273024344_thumb.jpg?ymYNmFDDyjTrspM_Michael Lynche - Sometimes Big Mike comes off as old-fashioned and theatrical, but on Sinatra Night, such tendencies were big advantages--not drawbacks. Michael was clearly comfortable with this theme, dressed in a smart suit and Timberlakian fedora as he smoothly and seductively crooned "The Way You Look Tonight." He seemed primed to go into the studio and record an album of standards with Harry Connick Jr. tomorrow--and if he did, it'd probably sell. "Mike is in it to win it! This is what it's about! You threw down the gauntlet tonight!" Randy howled with delight. "You did everything right!" Kara concurred. And even Simon--never an easy man to please, but especially critical on a night dedicated to his favorite singer--was impressed. "The first three performances have been okay, and now, with you, that's all changed," said Simon, adding, "You've put yourself back in the game." Sinatra Night couldn't have come at a better time for this often-at-risk contestant.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-286707992-1273024365_thumb.jpg?ymtNmFDDTFWC8ObYLee DeWyze - Rocker Lee sang "That's Life," a song once smarmily and charmingly covered by David Lee Roth. And while Lee didn't exactly demonstrate Diamond Dave-level showmanship, I was surprised by just how comfortable and confident he seemed onstage with Connick, who seemed to bring out Lee's best. Unlike his fellow rock dude Casey, Lee didn't seem at all lost without his guitar, in a suit, and singing such grandma-friendly material, and his gruff vocal delivery did actually make "That's Life" seem a little modern. This was far and away the best--and most "current," most "relevant"--performance of the night. (Simon said so, and he was right.) Said Randy, "You stayed your rocker self. Even though the band was playing, I could hear the guitar with it." Kara told him, "You can win this thing." And Ellen went so far as to say, "If this was the last night of performances, you would have just won this whole thing." I must say, there was a triumphant vibe in the air once Lee was done. It was an upbeat end to an otherwise dreary evening.
So, now it is prediction time. Well, if I base my prediction on performances alone, then there is little doubt that Casey will go Wednesday night; even he would probably admit he was the worst of the bunch this week. The only thing that will save him will be his devoted fanbase of hot-and-bothered housewives, or the goodwill he amassed from previous superior performances. But let's face it: He was great on Shania Twain Night, and if that performance wasn't enough to keep him out of the bottom three, then he's a goner for sure this week.

[Mohamad]

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Unlikely music collaboration


Lady Gaga And Ne-Yo Featured On New Michael Bolton Album


Posted Tue May 4, 2010 4:48pm PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/hiphopmediatraining__6/hiphopmediatraining-445516376-1273003073_thumb.jpg?ymBBhFDDrLP0YoVFVeteran pop singer Michael Bolton is known for his soft-rock ballads like "When A Man Loves A Woman" and covering Motown classics, but his latest album, One World, One Love, might better connect him with today's youth.

Bolton's anticipated collaborations with Lady Gaga and Ne-Yo are featured on the album released Tuesday. The Lady Gaga duet "Murder My Heart" was recorded in August 2008, before Lady Gaga became a big star.
Listen to the Bolton and Lady Gaga collaboration here.

"Murder My Heart" could be an indication of how Lady Gaga's music might sound had she pursued a more traditional power-pop route, as opposed to that of a Fame Monster. The piano-driven record suits Bolton well.

Bolton said Gaga named the song. "I said to her, people are going to be so shocked by us collaborating, we have to do something that will just kill it," Michael told In Touch Weekly. "And she said, ‘Well how about, ‘Murder My Heart?' At first I said, 'I don't know-murder?' But then she insisted, 'Women will love it,' and I got it. She's a true artist."

Bolton and Ne-Yo worked together on two songs for One World, One Love: A cover of Terence Trent D'Arby's "Sign Your Name" and a new song, "The Best."
Hear Bolton and Ne-Yo's "Sign Your Name" cover here.

Ne-Yo contributes vocals to Bolton's "Sign Your Name" which feels like a lost track from Santana's Supernatural album. The Ne-Yo penned "The Best" is a standout track, an undeniable mid-tempo ballad with a touch of Auto-Tune.

Bolton was impressed with Ne-Yo's artistry. "He's musically so well versed and possesses such a wide range I'm not sure an audience can always process it all!" he said on his official site. "He has an endless flow of great notes in his head. He hears harmonics that are definitely beyond the pop vernacular. I've seen him lay 20 tracks down in ten minutes, in perfect time with four part harmonies and counter parts beneath."

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/hiphopmediatraining__6/hiphopmediatraining-518886062-1273003072_thumb.jpg?ymBBhFDDzTpHIvq9Ne-Yo enjoyed working with Bolton. "I really gotta stop judging books by their cover," he told People after working with Bolton. "I was expecting him to be really up tight. But he wasn't. He was so relaxed, cool and down to earth."

Bolton, who has sold 53 million albums, founded his career on working with other artists. He has written with Bob Dylan, penned hits for KISS and Barbra Streisand, performed with Luciano Pavarotti and B.B. King, and been sampled by Kanye West.

[Mohamad]

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Bret Michaels released from hospital


An already ailing Bret Michaels has been diagnosed with another medical malady.
After suffering a brain hemorrhage last week, the audacious 47-year-old glam-rock reality TV star has developed a side effect that causes seizures, according to a statement posted Tuesday on the former Poison frontman's website.
The condition, called hyponatremia, stems from a lack of sodium. The statement did not indicate if Michaels had actually suffered any seizures.
Michaels was conscious and in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit of an undisclosed hospital.
The statement said he was remaining positive and responding well to tests and treatments.
"Even though today was a minor setback, doctors remain hopeful for a full recovery and plan to release more specific information next Monday," it said.
Michaels, a contestant on "The Celebrity Apprentice," suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which causes bleeding in the fluid-filled spaces around the base of the brain. He was rushed to the hospital on Friday with a severe headache.
"Doctors state Michaels is very lucky as his condition could have been fatal," according to the statement, which was also provided by Michaels' New York-based publicist Joann Mignano.
"With further testing and rehabilitation, they are hopeful that Bret will gradually improve as the blood surrounding the brain dissolves and is reabsorbed into his system, which can be a very painful recovery and take several weeks to months," the statement said.
Michaels was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 6. He had an emergency appendectomy April 12 after complaining of stomach pains before he was scheduled to perform in San Antonio.
A statement posted on his website after the surgery said it had "taken its toll," but doctors expected him to make a full recovery.
On Donald Trump's competitive reality show, "The Celebrity Apprentice," Michaels has served as one of the season's most outspoken celebrities and has so far avoided being fired in the boardroom.
Before joining the show, Michaels starred in VH1's lusty reality dating series "Rock of Love" for three seasons.

[Mohamad]

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Next 'Pirates' film hit by budget cuts


by Mike Ryan · May 4, 2010
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Remember "Smokey and the Bandit"? Not to say the first two films of that series were examples of cinematic glory, but the dismal "Smokey and the Bandit 3" -- which had to cut its two leads as well as the director because of insufficient funding -- made it quite obvious what cuts in the budget can do to a film franchise.

Whether or not you recall the lesson imparted by this early '80s Burt Reynolds movie sequel, the news that "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," had its budget cut by more than a third doesn't exactly bode well for what we're going to see next.

The good news: Captain Jack Sparrow, the breakout star of the film franchise played by Johnny Depp, is back. Also, Penelope Cruz has signed on to play a love interest for Sparrow. The not-so-good news: director Gore Verbinski and the overwhelming majority of the big-name cast is not returning -- including Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley.

Perhaps most devastating (at least from the perspective of a "Pirates" purist), is the news that the fourth installment of the franchise will not be shooting in the Caribbean (you know, like the title says) or Los Angeles. Those locations have been scrapped for the less expensive Hawaii and London. Perhaps the film should be renamed, "Pirates of the Thames: Maybe We Can Also Use the 'Lost' Set." And for the crew hoping to get a tropical suntan -- or perhaps acquire a Madonna-like accent -- they're out of luck: shooting has been cut down from 145 to a lean 90 days.

Like the "Pirate" predecessors, the fourth installment is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer -- producer of films such as "Armageddon" and "Top Gun" -- someone who isn't necessarily used to budget cuts. The cuts stem from the new studio Chairman Rich Ross who has tightened the budgets considerably since taking over for former Chairman Dick Cook, who was fired from Disney in September of 2009.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" will be directed by Rob Marshall. Though Marshall won an Academy Award for "Chicago," he's not exactly known for being a director of action films. Other films to his credit include "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Nine."

[Mohamad]

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Lady Gaga angry with 'American Idol




Lady Gaga is not happy with Fox. On Wednesday night, "American Idol" aired nearly five minutes of Gaga's pre-taped performance of her latest single "Alejandro," complete with a grand finale that involved Gaga posing under a dripping statue of a burning angel. But apparently that wasn't enough for the star, who took to her official Twitter to complain: "FOX POORLY AMATEURLY edited cut my performance/musical arrangement on idol." Gaga then directed fans to the "real" version on Perez Hilton's blog.
The blog Idol Tracker was at the taping last week, and reported that the studio audience was forced to stay in their seats over an hour and a half later than expected because of Gaga's repeated practice sessions, though they say the star was appreciative of the audience's sacrifice. Gaga's performance was risqué as usual, but the segment was most likely edited for length, as "Idol" is frequently criticized for going over their allotted time. Fox has not commented about the performance.
Here's the version that appeared on "American Idol" -- it begins with a slow version of Gaga's hit "Bad Romance" and then segues into "Alejandro":

[Mohamad]

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TV shows on the chopping block



The new fall TV season means plenty of promising new shows — and canceling struggling old ones to make room. As the networks roll out new programs this month at their upfront presentations to advertisers, here's our list of 13 at-risk shows. Many have posted significant ratings declines. Others are expensive to produce, getting old, or just aren't performing as well as their time-slot rivals. Read about the issues each faces and then weigh in on which shows deserve to stay — or go.

Caprica (Fridays at 9/8c, Syfy)
Issues: The heir apparent to Battlestar Galactica hasn't performed at nearly the same level, averaging just 1.1 million viewers over its first nine episodes. (The second half of its first season will air some time later this year). More bad news: Stargate Universe: SGU, its closest relative at the network in subject matter and ratings, has already been renewed for a second season.

Cold Case (Sundays at 10/9c, CBS)
Issues: Although the show pulls in a fairly steady average of 10 million viewers each week, it consistently underperforms in the desirable 18-to-49-year-olds demo. High production costs and the fact that CBS almost canceled it last year make another renewal unlikely.

FlashForward (Thursdays at 8/7c, ABC)
Issues: The show's intriguing concept has failed to deliver much in the way of genuine revelation, which may account for the show's plummeting ratings. Its most recent episode only attracted 5.1 million viewers. The producers' room has a revolving door on it lately, a sign that the show might not be around much longer.

Heroes (Mondays at 9/8c, NBC)
Issues: Season 4 saw this one-time ratings powerhouse hit new lows nearly every week, averaging between 4 million and 5 million viewers an episode. The show is a moneymaker on DVD and in international markets, however, so there's buzz about a truncated fifth season to close the series out.

Human Target (Wednesdays, 8/7c, Fox)
Issues: Male viewers haven't flocked to this graphic novel-based action series in the numbers Fox hoped for, but the show is still winning its time slot, albeit one of the week's least competitive.

Life Unexpected (Mondays at 8/7c, CW)
Issues: Critics love the show, but viewers are more lukewarm. The CW has announced several early renewals (90210, Gossip Girl, Smallville, SupernaturalThe Vampire Diaries), but the list conspicuously did not include this midseason addition. and

Medium (Fridays at 9/8c, CBS)
Issues: The former NBC drama has been a nice fit in CBS' Friday lineup and consistently wins its timeslot, but after six years, Medium has become pretty expensive. It's not in as dire a position as Cold Case, however, and its survival will likely depend on the strength of CBS' development slate.

Melrose Place (Wednesdays at 9/8c, CW)
Issues: The network ordered up a creative change in direction in the fall that included casting changes, a new showrunner and more Heather Locklear. Thus far, the ratings haven't improved, and it was also left off CW's early-renewals list. Jessica Lucas recently signed on to the NBC pilot Friends with Benefits, which certainly isn't a good sign.

Mercy (Wednesdays at 8/7c, NBC)
Issues: Though it does well with a female demo, it's not a young female demo. Its last new episode attracted 5.5 million viewers, which wasn't enough to win its time slot. A three-week hiatus this month may have hurt its momentum.

Numb3rs (Fridays at 10/9c, CBS)
Issues: The show's episode order was chopped drastically to make way for newcomer Miami Medical. Creatively, the show's season finale felt like a good-bye, and series star David Krumholtz has already landed a gig in Ron Howard's IRS comedy pilot at Fox.

One Tree Hill (Mondays at 8/7c, CW)
Issues: After losing a chunk of its cast this season, the series is showing serious signs of age. However, its average audience of 2.3 million viewers is more devoted than those of other CW shows (including Melrose Place and 90210.)

Trauma (Mondays at 9/8c, NBC)
Issues: This expensive, action-heavy drama has kind of already been canceled once. In October, NBC announced that it would not be ordering any new episodes past the original 13. When the network's late-night schedule imploded, Jay Leno's departure from prime time freed up real estate, and NBC ordered seven more episodes. With its ratings on the decline this spring after a three-month hiatus, the order was cut back to 18; the final episode aired April 26. And that's probably final.

V (Tuesdays at 10/9c, ABC)
Issues: The show's Olympics-mandated hiatus seems to have hurt its momentum. Though critics like the show's new episodes, it's getting killed by The Good Wife in its timeslot. Lately, NBC's Parenthood is beating it as well.

Have your favorites made the cut? See the list below and check back often for the latest renewal/cancellation news:

RENEWED

30 Rock (NBC)
90210 (CW)
The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Dad (Fox)
America's Next Top Model (CW)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Bones (Fox)
Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Castle (ABC)
The Cleveland Show (Fox)
Community (NBC)
Cougar Town (ABC)
Family Guy (Fox)
Friday Night Lights (NBC)
Fringe (Fox)
Glee (Fox)
Gossip Girl (CW)
The Good Wife (CBS)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
The Middle (ABC)
Modern Family (ABC)
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)
The Office (NBC)
Parenthood (NBC)
Parks and Recreation (NBC)
The Simpsons (Fox)
Smallville (CW)
Supernatural (CW)
Survivor (CBS)
Two and a Half Men (CBS)
The Vampire Diaries (CW)

LOOKING GOOD

Accidentally on Purpose (CBS)
American Idol (Fox)
The Bachelor (ABC)
The Biggest Loser (NBC)
Celebrity Apprentice (NBC)
Chuck (NBC)
Criminal Minds (CBS)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS)
CSI: Miami (CBS)
CSI: NY (CBS)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
Gary Unmarried (CBS)
Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
House (Fox)
Human Target (Fox)
Law & Order (NBC)
Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
Lie to Me (Fox)
Medium (CBS)
The Mentalist (CBS)
NCIS (CBS)
New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)
One Tree Hill (CW)
Private Practice (ABC)
Rules of Engagement (CBS)
V (ABC)

NOT LOOKING SO GOOD

Better Off Ted (ABC)
Cold Case (CBS)
The Deep End (ABC)
FlashForward (ABC)
The Forgotten (ABC)
Heroes (NBC)
Life Unexpected (CW)
Melrose Place (CW)
Mercy (NBC)
Miami Medical (CBS)
Numb3rs (CBS)
Trauma (NBC)

CANCELED/ENDING

24 (Fox)
The Beautiful Life: TBL (CW)
Brothers (Fox)
Dollhouse (Fox)
Eastwick (ABC)
Hank (ABC)
Lost (ABC)
Past Life (Fox)
Scrubs (ABC)
Sons of Tucson (Fox)
Three Rivers (CBS)
'Til Death (Fox)
Ugly Betty (ABC)

[Mohamad]

http://l.yimg.com/a/i/ww/news/2010/05/07/iron2.jpg

Critics divided on 'Iron Man' sequel

Iron Man 2
The story follows a similar arc as the original: Man develops suit of iron. So does another man. They compete. Also, long-suffering Pepper Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, now runs Stark Enterprises. In the sequel, we learn of Tony Stark's fatal flaw, and Mickey Rourke is a bad man. Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, and Sam Rockwell play supporting roles.
Reviews are mixed. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times is a fan, giving 3 out of 4 stars and his opinion, calling it "a polished, high-ozone sequel." Which he then follows with this moderated praise: "Not as good as the original but building once again on a quirky performance by Robert Downey Jr." He adds, "The superhero genre doesn't necessarily require good acting, but when it's there (as in 'Iron Man' and 'The Dark Knight'), that takes it up a level." Indeed.

Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly gives the movie a weak C+ and complains that the sequel "doesn't glow with the same charm as the original." Schwarzbaum wants more of what the first one delivered: the "zingy repartee" and "attitude." She does enjoy the two female characters: Gwyneth Paltrow, promoted to CEO of Stark Enterprises ("radiant, ponytailed...bright as a penny"), and Scarlett Johansson, the new assistant who reveals her true identity and "does a passable superheroine martial-arts crouch in a skintight bodysuit." Nuff said.

Metromix's Matt Pais gives the flick a weak 2 ½ out of 5 stars for "twice the snark, half the fun," and adds, "Part one thrived on Downey Jr.'s bad-boy attitude; the sequel has little to offer besides that. It never takes off."

Sean O'Connell from Filmcritic.com disagrees. His glowing 4-out-of-5-stars review compliments the Marvel Comics character for spending more time out of costume than in it. He explains that it's "Downey's captivatingly honest examinations of his character's inherent flaws...that permit the actor, and not the effects, to carry the drama."

[Mohamad]

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Kimbo Slice looks to prove his mettle

y Maggie Hendricks
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NFL veteran Matt Mitrione showed how far he has come as a mixed martial artist, with a TKO of an overmatched Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson at 4:24 in the second round at UFC 113 in Montreal after a one-sided fight.
As the fight began, Kimbo started strong with an ugly takedown, but then found himself in a triangle choke. He tried to slam his way out of it, but Mitrione held on until Kimbo finally broke free. Slice moved to side control and controlled much of the action until they returned to their feet. Mitrione then knocked Kimbo to the ground and tried for an anaconda choke, but Kimbo held on until the round ended.
In the second round, Mitrione showed off the work he's been doing with UFC fighter and leg kick enthusiast Pat Barry. Mitrione peppered Kimbo's legs with kick after kick until Kimbo had trouble pushing off of his legs. With Kimbo exhausted, Mitrione took him to the ground and gained full mount. He rained down punches as Kimbo tried to survive. Mitrione switched to an Americana submission attempt. When that didn't quite work, Mitrione returned to punches, and the bout was stopped at 4:24.
Kimbo Slice gained fame first as a Youtube sensation, and then fighting for the now-defunct promotion Elite XC. He gained entry into the UFC by starring on the reality show, "The Ultimate Fighter." He won his first UFC match, a unanimous decision over Houston Alexander, but it is hard to see what the company can do with Slice after losing in such a lopsided manner to a lightly regarded fighter.

[Mohamad]

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First lady echoes Dr. King in speech



PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Michelle Obama told graduates Saturday to prepare to overcome adversity, building on Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1958 commencement address at the same university, when he told students to summon their courage to fight segregation.

The first lady gave an impassioned speech to 270 graduates of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff that referenced the legacy of their historically black school, which opened in 1873 with seven students, most of whom could barely read.

Obama said those first students, only a decade removed from slavery, had no guarantee of opportunity once they graduated.

"Let's just imagine how those seven students would feel if they could see you here today," Obama told a packed downtown arena.

She singled out Quinna Childress of Newport, who graduated Saturday with a 3.935 grade-point average in biology and plans to attend medical school. Childress was homeless at age 16, a high school student living out of a car who worked nights and weekends as a nurse's aide.

[Mohamad]

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Long-awaited rematch of disputed fight




MONTREAL – Mauricio “Shogun” Rua made certain there was no controversy this time around, taking the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title from Lyoto Machida with a devastating first-round knockout Saturday at the Bell Centre in the main event of UFC 113.

http://l.yimg.com/a/p/sp/tools/med/2010/05/ipt/1273384214.jpg?&sig=uwwQnvy2y05j72.c2_3VTA--
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua atoned for his loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 104.
(Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

Machida, who won a highly controversial decision at UFC 104 in October, missed a right hand to start the closing sequence. Rua landed a grazing right and the two went down. Rua then landed a crushing right from the top that closed Machida’s eye and essentially ended the fight.

Other Popular Sports Stories

http://us.bc.yahoo.com/b?P=ahrkXUwNdHEUSrTBS5v.lhvMT38KOEvmjk8AB_kg&T=1d55gvh2f%2fX%3d1273400911%2fE%3d2022511191%2fR% 3dsports%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d2.1%2fW%3dH%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF %3d1284268779%2fH%3dY2FjaGVoaW50PSJzcG9ydHMiIGNvbn RlbnQ9ImxlYWd1ZT1tbWE7IHJlZnVybF93d3dfeWFob29fY29t IiByZWZ1cmw9InJlZnVybF93d3dfeWFob29fY29tIiBzZXJ2ZU lkPSJhaHJrWFV3TmRIRVVTclRCUzV2Lmxodk1UMzhLT0V2bWpr OEFCX2tnIiBzaXRlSWQ9IjI5MjQ1NTEiIHRTdG1wPSIxMjczND AwOTExNTkwNTQyIiB0b3BpY3M9InJlZnVybF93d3dfeWFob29f Y29tIiA-%2fQ%3d-1%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3dCC750D4C&U=13e9qpnuq%2fN%3dTiE.GEwNBmQ-%2fC%3d768815.14077828.14009156.1323516%2fD%3dSKY% 2fB%3d6060337%2fV%3d1
Rua landed several more blows before referee Yves Lavigne mercifully stopped the bout.

The fight was fought on even terms until the final sequence. Machida had two takedowns and Rua had landed several hard kicks.

On the undercard, Josh Koscheck outwrestled Paul Daley in a lackluster welterweight fight that was more notable for post-fight antics. Koscheck won a 30-27 decision and earned the right to fight welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre in December. The UFC had announced on Friday that the winner of the Koscheck-Daley fight would coach opposite St. Pierre in “The Ultimate Fighter 12.”

Daley, who is a power puncher, had no answer for Koscheck’s superior wrestling skills. Koscheck repeatedly took him down and while he didn’t do much damage, he easily controlled the fight and nullified Daley’s punching power.

After the fight, Daley walked over to Koscheck, who shooed him away. Daley then threw a punch at him, forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to step in. UFC president Dana White entered the cage and berated Daley for his actions.

The large and vocal crowd did not like the fight and booed lustily throughout. It frequently chanted obscenities at Koscheck, but the fighter upped the ante by ripping into the hometown Montreal Canadiens of the NHL.

In a battle between two of the UFC’s most exciting lightweights, Jeremy Stephens slugged his way to a split-decision victory over Sam Stout. Judge Pasquale Procopio had it 30-27 and judge David Therien had it 29-28, both for Stephens. Judge Tony Weeks had it 29-28 for Stout. Yahoo! Sports had it 29-28 for Stephens.

The fight was fought on very even terms and both fighters left the cage bleeding from the nose and mouth, but Stephens seemed to have a little more power on his punches, and that might have been the difference.

Stout nearly rallied to win late in the third. He kicked Stephens, which Stephens thought was a low blow. Stephens grimaced and began to walk away, expecting referee Mario Yamasaki to halt the action.

But Yamasaki ruled it was a legal kick. Stout followed with several punches that put Stephens down, but Stephens did a good job of defending himself from his back.

Matt Mitrione scored a big victory over his much more well-known castmate from Season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter” when he beat up Kimbo Slice and stopped him at 4:24 of the second round in a one-sided heavyweight fight.

The fight wasn’t the standup battle that many expected. In the first round, Mitrione and Slice were rolling around the ring. Mitrione nearly submitted Slice with a triangle choke, then later he worked for several other submissions, none of which got close.

“It was tight,” Mitrione said of the triangle. “I thought I had him, but then Kimbo put his thumb in my eye. Even the ref saw it.”

He was working Slice’s legs over in the second with leg kicks and it was clear that Slice did not appreciate the kicks and was unable to check them. He was backing away from Mitrione and trying to hide his lead leg.

Mitrione took him down and got a dominant position and pounded on him until Miragliotta stopped it.

“I feel like I softened him with those legs kicks and then when he went for that shot, I took him down,” Mitrione said.

Alan Belcher continued his nice run in the middleweight division by catching Patrick Cote in a rear naked choke and scoring a submission at 3:25 of the second.

Belcher slammed Cote face first into the mat just before the choke. Cote and his camp complained that it was a spike and should have been against the rules, but replays showed that Cote’s face hit first and not the top of his head. Had he come down on top of his head, it would have been an illegal move.

After the bout, Belcher called out UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
“I feel like I’ve won five in a row,” Belcher said. “I won that [Yoshihiro] Akiyama figh

[Mohamad]

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Iron Man's' bizarre fitness regime



Robert Downey Jr. packed on 20 pounds of muscle to reprise his role in "Iron Man 2."

"When we did 'Iron Man 1,' we had five months before the shoot to get ready, so we used more traditional, heavy-weight training," his trainer, Brad Bose, tells UsMagazine.com. This time around, the actor, 45, had just wrapped "Sherlock Holmes," and was down to 151 pounds when shooting on the action flick (out May 7) began.

PHOTOS: Summer movie romances

"After [the first routine], Robert felt kind of bored with it and wanted to something a little more exciting... so we decided to do what I call a Rocky IV meets high-tech training," says Bose, who bulked Downey Jr. up to 175 pounds over the first three to four weeks filming.
Examples: "Instead of doing regular bench presses, we used a bamboo bar... and we would hang plates on rubber bands off the bar... so it was like trying to bench press a snake!" Bose explains. "It bounced all over the place."

PHOTOS: Shirtless guys!

Downey Jr. also pushed "a custom-built wheelbarrow that we modified with 600 to 700 lb. weight stacks" around an obstacle course.
"We went out and bought truck tires, and we used sledgehammers -- anywhere from, two 4-lb. sledgehammers in each hand, all the way up to a full 20-lb. sledgehammer -- and we were just beating tires with it. We used fire hoses that we filled with sand and water... and we'd drag and whip them to build the shoulder muscles and pecs back up."

They also juggled "weighted Indian clubs," hulled around kettle bells and even used a war machine, which Boyes explains is "like a rope with handles on it with a pulley -- you suspend yourself from it," says Bose.

"We tried to find the most unique, and yet funnily enough, inexpensive training stuff to use," he says. "You couldn't find more practical stuff to use."

[Mohamad]

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Little-known rapper's quick trip to No. 1

May 3-9: B.o.B.: Who's The Guy With The #1 Album In The Country?


Posted Sat May 8, 2010 10:08am PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in That's Really Week

Who exactly is B.o.B? You know, the Atlanta rap dude with the #1 album in the country.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/thatsreallyweek__5/thatsreallyweek-305328638-1273336307_thumb.jpg?ymzXyGDDRMS9E4MbThe 21-year-old MC, singer and producer with two names -- B.o.B and Bobby Ray Simmons -- may feel like an overnight success since his debut album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray, opened at the top of the pop charts this week, seemingly out of nowhere. But this is hardly the case.

A few months after graduating from ATL's Columbia High School in 2006, he landed a deal with Atlantic Records in a partnership with Jim Jonsin's Rebel Rock. Jonsin is the mastermind producer behind Beyonce's "Sweet Dreams," Lil' Wayne's "Lollipop," and T.I.'s "Whatever You Like." T.I.'s Grand Hustle label later entered the fold.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/thatsreallyweek__5/thatsreallyweek-687223071-1273336307_thumb.jpg?ym0XyGDDXfiJQPNBWhile it has taken three-in-a-half years for B.o.B's album to get released, he has kept busy making a name for himself. The reaction to his popular mixtapes resulted in his feature on covers of leading urban magazines XXL and Vibe in 2008.

But B.o.B's most recent success can be attributed to his song "Nothing On You." The pop-friendly alternative hip-hop ballad featuring Bruno Mars singing the catchy chorus was #1 for the past two weeks and has been embraced by urban, pop, and rock radio stations.

The song about being a hopeless romantic is followed by an equally infectious track, "Airplanes," which features Paramore's Haley Williams providing the hook. Eminem makes an appearance on a second version of the song, "Airplanes, Part II."

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/thatsreallyweek__5/thatsreallyweek-765599299-1273336307_thumb.jpg?ymzXyGDDk_CWyFPKT.I. has helped B.o.B find the balance between his hip-hop and alternative sounds. When B.o.B has strayed too far away from his hip-hop base, T.I. has offered his input. "'You got to bring it back to the hood some Bobby, you got to come back down to the earth and land,'" B.o.B laughs, quoting advice from T.I. in an interview with Urban News Network.

Before adopting the stage name B.o.B, Bobby Ray would simply refer to himself as B. But one night, his friend Willie Joe inadvertently suggested a new moniker. "My name is really Bob. So he was like, ‘What's up B.o.B?' and I was like, ‘Dawg, you just gave me my name'" the rapper told DJBooth.net.

B.o.B grew up listening to fellow ATLiens OutKast and Goodie Mob, but credits DMX with helping him learn how to write raps. "I learned how to rap by writing out DMX's lyrics on It's Dark And Hell Is Hot," B.o.B told MTV. "I listened to it religiously. I was in the third grade at the time." Clearly, B.o.B's dedication and hard work have paid off in a big way.

B.o.B wasn't the only musician with good news this week. After suffering a brain hemorrhage a few weeks ago, Bret Michaels' doctor expressed that the Rock Of Love star would make a complete recovery.

Things, however, were trying for Nashville residents, among them country luminaries Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and Brad Paisley, who were affected by flooding from a storm. Plus, Miss Miley Cyrus created a stir with her controversial new video, "Can't Be Tamed."

THE WEEK'S TOP 5 NEWS STORIES

1) Born To Be Alive - Bret Michaels expected to make full recovery.

2) Can't Hold Me Down - Miley Cyrus' releases racy video.

3) Storm Troopers - Nashville's music community recovers from devastating storm.

4) Shock Value - Is Christina copying Lady Gaga in her new video?
5) Bobby Digital - B.o.B lands #1 album and single.

[Mohamad]

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Billionaire investor's priceless gift to son




By Christine Kearney Christine Kearney – Mon May 10, 8:36 am ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett has an old-world spiritual message for today's money-rich parents: teach your children values and do not give them everything they want.

Musician and now author Peter Buffett preaches the message in his new book "Life is What You Make it: Finding Your Own Path to Fulfillment". Recently released in the United States, it describes how he wound up a "normal, happy" person instead of a spoiled child to one of the world's richest people.

Buffett, 52, teaches the rewards of self-respect and pursuing one's own passions and accomplishments rather than buying into society's concepts of material wealth.

"I am my own person and I know what I have accomplished in my life," he said. "This isn't about wealth or fame or money or any of that stuff, it is actually about values and what you enjoy and finding something you love doing."

People who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth can fall victim to what Buffett said his father has called a "silver dagger in your back," which leads to a sense of entitlement and a lack of personal achievement.

"Entitlement is the worst thing ever and I see entitlement coming in many guises," he said. "Anybody who acts like they deserve something 'just because,', is a disaster."

But Buffett wasn't always this wise. His own family gave him $90,000 in stock when he was 19, a small sum from such immense financial wealth. After studying at Stanford University, he moved to San Francisco and lived in a studio apartment with just enough room for his musical instruments.

"I was really searching," he said, adding that he began his musical career by working for free writing music for a local television station.

"I was kind of lost, but trying to find myself. It was definitely this strange period where I didn't really know where I was going," he said.

LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE

As well his musical passions, the values taught to him growing up and a sense of a bigger picture in life stayed with him during those trying times, he said.

"I was not only not handed everything as a kid, I was shown that there are lots of other people out there with very different circumstances," he said.

Although many people he encounters assume that his father wanted him to go into finance, he said his father accepted his choice to become a musician beginning with commercials then his own albums and composing for television shows and films.

"It was encouraged for a moment when I was open to the idea," he said about pursuing finance. But he added that as he grew older, it became clear the financial world "was not speaking to my heart."

Along with the book, Buffett has embarked on a "Concert & Conversation" tour in which he plays the piano, talks about his life and warns against consumerist culture and damaging the environment.

He said he eventually inherited more money after his mother died in 2004, but by then he had learned his lessons. Now he works on giving back to the world -- another of his life philosophies -- which includes through working for his father's NoVo charitable foundation.

"Economic prosperity may come and go; that's just how it is," he writes in the book. "But values are the steady currency that earn us the all-important rewards."

[Mohamad]

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Broadway star defends *** colleagues




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Kristin Chenoweth Slams Newsweek Over 'Homophobic' Article, Stars Twitter Praise For Actress' Stance


Mon May 10, 1:56 PM PDT
Kristin Chenoweth has taken aim at Newsweek, after one of the magazine's columnists took aim at her Broadway co-star -- Sean Hayes - as well as other *** actors in entertainment, suggesting their portrayals of straight men are generally, unbelievable.
In an April 26 online Web piece, writer Ramin Setoodeh claimed the former "Will & Grace" star, who recently confirmed he is *** to The Advocate, came across as "wooden and insincere, like he's trying to hide something, which of course he is," in the Broadway musical revival of "Promises, Promises" alongside Chenoweth. Setoodeh's larger point in his article, which was titled, "Straight Jacket," was that, "an actor's background does affect how we see his or her performance."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: *** & ******* Hollywood
Chenoweth was angered by a host of Setoodeh's opinions in the article, and penned an open letter to the magazine stumping for her co-star and for the *******, ***, b***ual, transgender (LGBT) community.
"I was shocked on many levels to see Newsweek publishing Ramin Setoodeh's horrendously homophobic 'Straight Jacket,' which argues that *** actors are simply unfit to play straight," she wrote in an open letter to the mag, posted on several Web sites including AutoStraddle.com (the location to which she personally Tweeted a link).
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hollywood's Bi***ual Community
Chenoweth took aim at the magazine on several counts, including Setoodeh's slamming of Jonathan Groff, another *** star (and Rachel Berry's latest "Glee" crush), whom Setoodeh wrote, comes across "more like your average theater queen," and "a better romantic match for Kurt than Rachel."
"I'd normally keep silent on such matters and write such small-minded viewpoints off as perhaps a blip in common sense," Chenoweth wrote. "But the offense I take to this article, and your decision to publish it, is not really even related to my profession or my work with Hayes or Jonathan Groff (also singled out in the article as too 'queeny' to play 'straight.')," she wrote.
Chenoweth, who claims in her open letter that Setoodeh is himself ***, explained that the writer's piece was insulting on a host of levels.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Celebrity ***s & Their Supportive Gal Pals
"This article offends me because I am a human being, a woman and a Christian. For example, there was a time when Jewish actors had to change their names because anti-Semites thought no Jew could convincingly play Gentile," she wrote.
In his piece, Setoodeh said that he found ******* Cynthia Nixon's portrayal of a straight woman in "*** and The City" acceptable for audiences because she, "was married to a man when she originated Miranda" -- another of the author's points with which Chenoweth took issue.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Glee:' Season 1, Vol. 2 Cast Photos!
"Cynthia Nixon only 'got away with it' 'cause she peaked before coming out? I don't know if you've missed the giant '*** and The City' movie posters, but it seems most of America is 'buying it,'" the actress added.
Chenoweth went on to note that from the perspective of a ***, *******, bi***ual and transgender supporter, pieces like Setoodeh's, are a bad influence on young people.
"I know how much it means to young people struggling with their ***uality to see out & proud actors like Sean Hayes, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris and Cynthia Nixon succeeding in their work without having to keep their ***uality a secret," she noted, further adding, "I encourage Newsweek to embrace stories which promote acceptance, love, unity and singing and dancing for all!"
As a result of her letter, Chenoweth has been applauded by a number of stars that were thrilled she stood up for her co-stars and the *** community.
"GO GIRL! Kristin Defends Sean, Takes on Newsweek," "Ugly Betty's" Michael Urie Tweeted on Friday.
Andy Cohen, the host of "Watch What Happens" on Bravo, also championed Chenoweth's piece.
"you earned your fruity pebbles today w/ your great response to that ridic newsweek piece," he Tweeted on Saturday.

[Mohamad]

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Racy Miss USA photos come under fire




Miss USA Photos Raise Eyebrows




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Miss Utah, Katya Dmitrievna Feinstein
Fadil Berisha/Miss USA

Over in the beauty pageant world, the gloves — and some of the clothes — have come off. The Miss USA contest is under fire for posting racy lingerie photos of its current crop of contestants.

In a bedroom-inspired, black-and-white shoot, the 51 models — representing the 50 states and Washington D.C. — lounge about in open button-downs and suggestive underthings. Miss South Carolina, Rachel Law, poses in a white corset top, while Bethany Gerber as Miss Kansas wears nothing but a men's dress shirt barely held in place.

The ***y pics were part of a shoot titled "Waking Up in Vegas" and are displayed on the Miss USA website's contestants page, which is meant to introduce this year's hopefuls. It's a pretty big departure from the traditional method of introducing beauty pageant contenders (or anyone, for that matter).

2009's contestant page saw the women styled in a glamorous — and much more covered up and traditional — '40s style shoot. The Miss USA site still has gown photos, but they're now a click-through away. And the standard swimsuit set remains for 2010's contestants as well.



Pageant officials have been fielding angry phone calls from people upset with the overly seductive nature of the new photos. But the folks behind the show see nothing wrong with a little bedroom-wear in the name of art. Lark-Marie Anton, VP of marketing and PR for Miss Universe, called the photos "tasteful," explaining, "Each contestant felt beautiful, ***y, and relevant. We are in the business of beauty, and the contestants who compete for the title of Miss USA are not afraid to be ***y."

[Mohamad]

Move Over SuBo, Here's NuBo: Is Janey Cutler The New Susan Boyle?


Posted Sat May 8, 2010 4:32pm PDT by Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-149129456-1273360902_thumb.jpg?ymGY4GDDL1wRPDkv"Britain's Got Talent," the TV talent search that spawned worldwide phenomenon Susan Boyle, is back for another season across the pond. And the show's new breakout star is, like SuBo, a gray-haired Scotswoman.
Janey Cutler, a Blackburn-based mother of seven/grandmother of 13/great-grandmother of four, is--at age 80--old enough to be Susan Boyle's mum. But that didn't stop her from pursuing her long-deferred dream of singing stardom, trying out in Boyle's original audition city of Glasgow for Simon Cowell et al. And it certainly didn't stop Britain from falling in love with her. Janey has even already been nicknamed "NuBo" by the U.K. press after her audition of, fittingly, Edith Piaf's "No Regrets."

"I like singing, my friends say go in for it--better late than never!" Janey said on the show. "I've had a great life, seven kids, hard times, happy times...no regrets."
Will Janey follow in SuBo's sensible-shoed footsteps and become an international star? That remains to be seen, but she told Britain's News Of The World that she would rather be judged on her own merits. "It's flattering to be compared to Susan, but I don't take any notice of that, really," she said. "I'd like to be successful in my own way. If not, I am just going to enjoy myself. I love singing. I'm glad I'm getting to experience the good life and have some fun."

[Mohamad]

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Evan Lysacek goes for the gold


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Mon May 10, 7:48 PM PDT The season long battle for the top spot on "Dancing with the Stars" seemingly turned into a battle for second place, after Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough ran away with the competition on Monday night.
Over the course of Season 10, the Pussycat Doll and men's gold medal figure skating champ Evan Lysacek had been regularly battling it out for the top spot, but Nicole's stunning performance with her professional partner, Derek, on Monday night, put no doubt in the judges' minds -- this season a woman is very much on top.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 10, Week 7!
Nicole and Derek conquered two full dances during the program's two-hour show, landing just one point shy of a perfect score.
Judge Bruno Tonioli called their first dance, the 29-point-scoring fox trot - "pure dancing joy," while Carrie Ann Inaba praised Nicole for "challenging" herself yet again.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Keepin' It Real With TV's Hottest Reality Stars!
It was their second dance - a '50s style paso doble - a random dance they selected out of a hat, which really impressed the judges. Derek's bright idea for the Latin number was to take inspiration from "Grease" and it translated and was executed so perfectly that even judge Len Goodman had to pull out his 10 point paddle.
"There was nothing I could see to criticize," he said as the twosome took home the second perfect score of the season for the individual dance (Evan and his partner, Anna Trebunskaya, had the honor of the first perfect score last week).
Nicole and Derek earned a total of 59 out of a possible 60 points for the night, putting them lengths ahead of pairs Evan and Anna, and Erin and Maks, who actually tied for second place.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing' Beauty & Country Cutie Julianne Hough
Evan and Anna lost points during the evening, mostly for confusing Len, who couldn't tell if he liked either their first number - a waltz, which started out with the pair lying on the ballroom floor -- or their second - a futuristic jive, which was full of robotic-like moves.
"Again, you've confused me," Len said following the second number, which received 25 points (the waltz scored 27).
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' All-Stars!
While Evan confused the judges, Erin left no doubt that she isn't just a ballroom babe -- she's a hearty competitor. Bounding back from a spot in last week's bottom 2, the ESPN correspondent showed off her athleticism and lanky pins, jumping via one leg from the stage steps onto Maks' shoulder during their first dance - an Argentine tango.
"That was so hot!" Carrie Ann raved, while Len said he "absolutely loved it."
The pair took home 28 points during Round 1 and added another 25 for their '80s influenced rumba in Round 2. After the latter, Carrie Ann suggested Erin could perhaps even end up battling it out with Nicole in the competition.
"The reason why you're not is because you doubt yourself," Carrie Ann said.
As for the other stars in the competition, they were further down the leaderboard.
Chad Ochocinco and Cheryl Burke landed in fourth, scoring just 45 points for the night overall, while Niecy Nash and her partner, Louis van Amstel, fell to the bottom with just 43 points out of a possible 60.

[Mohamad]

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Dancing' cuts down to the final four




Latest Eliminated 'Dancing' Star Misses Out On Semifinals, Saved Star Nearly Breaks Down

Tue May 11, 7:53 PM PDT
"Dancing with the Stars" heads into the semifinals next week, but they will take place with one less celebrity contender.
Niecy Nash won't be continuing on in the competition after being eliminated on Tuesday night, taking professional partner Louis van Amstel with her.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 10, Week 8!
The former "Reno 911" star and all around funny lady shared the bottom 2 with Bengals star Chad Ochocinco, but the athlete and his partner, Cheryl Burke, managed to make it through to next week when they will compete against Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough, Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and Evan Lysacek and Anna Trebunskaya.
Despite her elimination from the show, Niecy said she was thrilled she made it through eight weeks of competition.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Keepin' It Real With TV's Hottest Reality Stars!
"I am a 40-year-old mother of three. I've got three C-sections under my belt and I... I was able to survive in this competition this long?... I've been able to be one of the last women standing in this competition. I've had such a fantastic time being able to live out my dream... I'm a happy girl."
Niecy also offered praise for her partner, Louis.
"Thank you for molding this lump of clay into something," she said.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Kate Gosselin's ***y 'Dancing' Transformation
As for Chad, he reacted with great shock earlier in the night after learning that he and Cheryl had landed in the bottom 2, the couple's first time in the group.
Chad even Tweeted during the show, telling his fans that the bottom 2 placement was a very emotional moment.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Pamela Anderson: From 'Baywatch' To The 'Dancing' Ballroom
"I'm not even gonna lie, my heart racing like this is a life or death situation, man I might cry on TV, I work to hard to go home," he Tweeted.
After learning Niecy was the one who got cut, Chad put his head down and was embraced by Nicole, while Derek patted the emotional football player on the head.
Things improved for the player after the show, however. On Tuesday night, Chad Tweeted he was attending a cooking event with former "DWTS" competitor Rocco DiSpirito. He also answered a Tweet from another "DWTS" alumni, Floyd Mayweather, hinting that the two men wanted to host "Saturday Night Live."
"its on bruh, Ocho Cinco and Money Mayweather to host SNL," he Tweeted.
Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Mohamad]

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Inside Sandra Bullock's new home

http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/shine/home/sbullock_pics2.jpg A peek inside Sandra's New Orleans Mansion, courtesy of The Real Estalker.
When Sandra Bullock revealed in last month's jaw-dropping cover story in People that she'd adopted a baby boy from New Orleans, she spoke about raising him there, saying: "It's his city." Just a few weeks later, the actor a historic Victorian mansion in the city's Garden District. and single mom followed through on that promise. Bullock recently moved herself and baby Louis into
The mansion, known as the Koch-Mays house, was built in the 1860s. It boasts 6,615 square feet, five bedrooms, four and a half baths, ornate chandeliers, and a lagoon-like pool in the backyard. Bullock bought the house for $2.25 million last June with her now-estranged husband, Jesse James. (She filed for divorce from James in April.)

Dramatic photos of the mansion, which were posted on a real estate site after her June 2009 purchase of the home, show rooms bedecked with opulent antique furniture, Victorian wallpaper, and huge, gold Gothic mirrors. But Bullock has most likely filled the home with her own décor by now: late last month moving furniture, including a leather sofa, into the mansion. Moving vans were spotted

[Mohamad]

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Big-screen stars who were dropped




Infamous Comic Book Movie Recastings


by Albert Ching, Newsarama · May 11, 2010
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Terrence Howard and Don Cheadle both starred in "Crash" and have both been nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award. Thanks to "Iron Man 2" out domestically this past Friday, their careers are now linked even closer.
In "Iron Man 2," Cheadle takes over the role of James Rhodes -- Iron Man's ally -- played by Howard in the original 2008 feature.

Other than complete reboots, like the 2008 version of "The Incredible Hulk" with Edward Norton wiping the slate clean five years after Eric Bana's Hulk, this type of recasting in mid-franchise is relatively rare in comic book movies. Here's a look at a few times when it did happen, and whether or not it was the right move.

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Character: Rachel Dawes
Actor: Katie Holmes in "Batman Begins" (2005); later played by Maggie Gyllenhaal in "The Dark Knight" (2008).

"Batman Begins" came out at the height of media furor over the Katie Holmes/Tom Cruise relationship - just one month after Cruise infamously jumped on Oprah Winfrey's couch. All that tabloid attention distracted a bit from the film, but critics didn't think much of the "Dawson's Creek" alum's performance, which even earned a Razzie nomination for "Worst Supporting Actress." Maggie Gyllenhaal stepped in for the sequel, and was much better received, as was the movie itself, making over a billion dollars worldwide and becoming the highest grossing comic book film of all time.

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Character: Harvey Dent
Actor: Billy Dee Williams in "Batman" (1989); later played by Tommy Lee Jones in "Batman Forever" (1995).

Much has been made over the three actors (Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney) that played Batman in four films from 1989 to 1997. But the role of Harvey Dent, the district attorney destined to become super-villain Two-Face, also switched. Billy Dee Williams portrayed Dent in the 1989 "Batman" with the plan then for him to play Two-Face in a future film. Things changed after Joel Schumacher took over the franchise with "Batman Forever" and cast Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face. The movie made money but was widely panned, and Jones was considered a Joker ripoff - plus, fans were denied seeing the novelty of seeing the guy who played Lando Calrissian in the original "Star Wars" trilogy as another genre icon.

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Character: Kitty Pryde
Actor: Sumela Kay in "X-Men" (2000); later played by Katie Stuart in "X2: X-Men United" (2003), and Ellen Page in "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006).

Fan favorite "X-Men" character Kitty Pryde showed up in the first three "X-Men" films, and was played by a different actor each time. The character doesn't have much more than a cameo in the first two films, but sees a greatly expanded role in the third, played by Ellen Page and considerably more sassy -- something she honed to perfection a year later in "Juno". Oddly enough, all three actors are Canadian.

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Character: Abe Sapien
Actor: David Hyde Pierce in "Hellboy" (2004); later played by Doug Jones in "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" (2008).

This is a tricky one. Doug Jones physically performed the role of Hellboy's merman cohort Abe Sapien in both films, but was voiced by David Hyde Pierce -- yep, Niles from "Frasier" -- in the original. A contortionist, Jones has played several silent roles, and finally got to use his own voice in the "Hellboy" sequel -- ultimately, though, the two actors' voices sounded pretty much the same.

[Mohamad]

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Idol' duets overshadow the solos


Idol' Top 4 Night: It Takes Two To Make A Thing Go Right


Posted Tue May 11, 2010 7:24pm PDT by Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-487956779-1273630279_thumb.jpg?ymHJ6HDDQl1JqE97For Tuesday night's top four "American Idol" episode, the contestants performed cinema songs under the tutelage of return "Idol" mentor Jamie Foxx, the rare star who's enjoyed huge success both onscreen and on albums. But on the small screen this week, while none of the contestants actually box-office-bombed, a couple didn't quite seem ready for their close-ups. The best moments really came when they costarred, so to speak, joining forces for some show-stopping duets.
Kara DioGuardi declared, "The duets tonight were incredible! They were better than all of the solo performances!" And Simon Cowell concurred that the duo performances were "a million times better" than the solos. They both spoke the truth. The duets were excellent. But does this mean that none of the top four will be able to succeed on their own? This show ain't "Can You Duet?," you know. It's a search for a SOLO superstar. The fact that the finalists were so much stronger in pairs may not bode well for these singers' post-"Idol" solo careers, I fear.
Anyway, here's who got two thumbs up and two thumbs down, when the top four went to the movies:
SOLOS
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-714334042-1273630279_thumb.jpg?ymIJ6HDDloY9V0FbLee DeWyze - Lee has recently solidly established himself as the Season 9 man to beat, but after a couple of standout weeks, he kind of copped out this Tuesday with a safe, ho-hum choice: Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" from Batman Returns, a clichéd ballad already performed on "American Idol" by Danny Gokey, Chris Sligh, and, um, Jack Black on "Idol Gives Back." Lee's version certain was superior to all of those, but it was hardly his best work: It was vocally rough in patches and never quite gained momentum. Randy Jackson was unimpressed, grumbling, "You did nothing with that song. It was just okay." I agreed with Randy, but Randy's alternative suggestion--Bon Jovi's "Blaze of Glory" from Young Guns II--was puzzling. (I would have preferred something like Simple Minds' Breakfast Club anthem "Don't You Forget About Me," but then again, that's all part of my pipe dream of a John Hughes Night on "Idol.") Ryan Seacrest's later announcement that Bon Jovi will actually be performing on Wednesday's results show revealed the possible cross-promotional agenda behind Randy's odd suggestion. But I digress. Anyway, Simon was also displeased with Lee's performance, saying it "verged on karaoke"--an insult he has lobbed at countless contestants, but never at Lee. Ouch. If it hadn't been for Lee's totally redeeming duet with Crystal Bowersox (more on that in a bit), I might have thought Lee had blown his chance of making it to the finale.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-660836125-1273630280_thumb.jpg?ymIJ6HDD.cncJ6ObMichael Lynche - When I heard that Michael Lynche was taking on Michael Jackson, I immediately assumed he'd be singing "Ben"--or perhaps the sadly prophetically titled "You Can't Win" from The Wiz. But oh, no--he did "Will You Be There?" from Free Willy. It was a good song choice for him--as Ellen DeGeneres pointed out, you can't really go wrong with a gospel choir behind you--and he performed it with his usual bluster and bravado. But, as Ellen also pointed out, it was predictable. And it launched an unfortunate and awkward conversation about "Willys" between Simon, who'd never seen the movie, and Kara, who seemed all too eager to discuss the subject. Michael tried to explain to Simon that the film was "about a whale that needs saving," but that only seemed to confuse Simon more. Simon only offered a bit of faint praise: "At least you gave it 100 percent, and I kind of felt like you meant it." Well, at least that's more than Lee got.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-205067970-1273630278_thumb.jpg?ymHJ6HDDRl5nVMiDCasey James - Casey is a genius. He knows that he has the desperate-housewife demographic in his corner, and his biggest supporter on the show is Kara, a woman 12 years his senior. So it can't be a coincidence that he chose the ultimate ode to older women, Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson" from The Graduate. Yep, like I said, he's a genius. I actually dug what Randy called Casey's "cool and laid-back" version: He was seated, "'68 Comeback"-style, on a circular floor with fans clapping around him; he played mandolin, which was neato; and his long, floppy hair and gruff, grungy voice reminded me a bit of the Lemonheads' mid-'90s cover of the tune. But the judges (other than Kara, of course) weren't all that thrilled. Simon called Casey's rendition "lazy" and said, "I didn't think the song had the substance required on this important night for you; I think you could have made a little more of an impact." As for the rest of the judges, they squandered their critique time by mercilessly teasing Kara, the assumed titular character to whom Casey's May/December performance was dedicated. And everything just kind of unraveled from there.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-656576621-1273630279_thumb.jpg?ymHJ6HDDdF.G8QuqCrystal Bowersox - Crystal, once a shoo-in this season, has disappointed over the past two weeks. But after this week, I say she deserves to win this entire competition just for being awesome enough to cover a song from Caddyshack. Caddyshack! She could have gone the conventional route and done an acoustic version of a popular movie ballad, like "Wind Beneath My Wings" or "My Heart Will Go On," but instead she covered Kenny Loggins' "I'm Alright." And it was more than just all right--as Kara and Ellen attested, it was better than the original. Said Simon, "You're back in the game." She's all right, nobody worry about her. Crystal will be just fine.
DUETS
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-142687506-1273630279_thumb.jpg?ymHJ6HDDEMEXuD_rLee & Crystal - The two contestants whom everyone already assumes will be onstage together at the May 26 finale foreshadowingly came together for a duet of the Swell Season's Once theme, "Falling Slowly," a ballad already squarely placed on the "Idol" map last season by future champ Kris Allen's game-changing, star-making version. I still prefer Kris's more stripped-down rendition, but I fell slowly for Crystal and her "musical crush" Lee as their voices and guitar playing melded together beautifully. They worked really well as a duo, almost to the point where I wished there'd be a tie on finale night, and they'd be contractually obligated to record an all-duets joint album. (Like I said in this post's intro, these contestants are stronger in pairs.) My one complaint about this performance? It would've been nice if the camera could have stopped moving for, like, five seconds and just focused on the couple. The apparently ADD-afflicted camera crew's aerial-crane swooping practically gave me motion sickness. The judges, however, had no complaints. "You're like the new Captain & Tennille!" raved Ellen, in what I assume was meant as high praise. "One of my favorite moments of the entire season," exclaimed Kara. I think this performance just might have sealed the deal for both contestants.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__17/realityrocks-77432851-1273630179_thumb.jpg?ymjH6HDDJO0rmWW2Casey & Michael - At first, when I heard that these two would be forced to co-croon Bryan Adams' schmaltzy love ballad "Have You Ever Loved a Woman?" from Don Juan DeMarco, the conspiracy theorist in me thought it was the producers' ploy to get Casey and/or Big Mike eliminated, in order to clear a path to the finale for the obviously favored Crystal and Lee. After all, Casey and Michael clearly got the worse song, and guys singing love ballads together is always a little weird (see: Air Supply). But you know what? Their double-guitar duet was a pleasant surprise. They pulled it off. "Brilliant! Nice one, nice one!" exclaimed Randy. This song also gave Ellen the opportunity to deliver her best zinger of the season: "As a matter of fact, yes, I have loved a woman!" Nice one, Ellen, nice one.
So, now it is prediction time. I think it's pretty obvious that, barring some total Daughtry-style voting fluke, Lee and Crystal will be safe. So who will go, Casey or Michael? Michael gave the bigger, bolder, arguably better performance, but he's been in the bottom more times than Casey (and would already be off the show if not for the Judges' Save). Meanwhile, Casey managed to emerge from his Sinatra Night debacle unscathed (not even landing in the bottom two); plus his shrewd song choice might have given him an edge this week. So I'm going to guess that Big Mike will get a big sendoff on Wednesday. Tune in then to see if I'm right

[Mohamad]

ستاره‌ای که همسرش با سه زن ارتباط داشت


ستاره‌ای که همسرش با سه زن ارتباط داشت، زمانی که او درحال فیلم‌برداری بود!

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ساندرا بولاک در سال 1964 در آرلینگتون ویرجینیا به دنیا آمده است. او در فیلم‌های بسیار زیادی حضور داشته است و امسال توانست جایزه اسکار بهترین بازیگر نقش اول زن را کسب کند. اما این روزها زندگی او از حالت عادی خارج شده است و به یک جنجال رسانه‌ای تبدیل شده است.
ماجرا از این قرار است که جس جیمز همسر ساندرا به او خیانت کرده و با زن دیگری ارتباط داشته است!

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جس جیمز به مدت 11ماه و درست زمانی که ساندرا مشغول فیلمبرداری فیلم جدیدش بوده با زنی به نام میشل مک گی رابطه عاشقانه برقرار کرده است. البته دو زن دیگر هم ادعا کرده‌اند که با جیمز در ارتباط بوده و مدارک خود را نیز ارائه کرده‌اند.

معشوقه اول: میشل مک گی
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معشوقه دوم
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معشوقه سوم
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پس از اینکه ساندرا متوجه این ارتباط شد، همسرش از او عذرخواهی کرد و از ساندرا بولاک خواست او را ببخشد اما گزارش‌ها نشان می‌دهد که ساندرا تصمیمی برای بخشیدن همسرش ندارد و حتی گفته می‌شود با وکیلش صحبت کرده و کارهای مقدماتی برای جدایی و ترک جس جیمز را نیز انجام داده است. ساندرا و جس حدود 5سال پیش بایکدیگر ازدواج کرده‌اند. جس جیمز قبلا دوبار دیگر نیز ازدواج کرده بود اما این اولین ازدواج ساندرا بولاک بوده است. جس 40 و ساندرا 45سال سن دارند.
قبل از ساندرا زنان سرشناس دیگری نیز بوده اند که به محض برنده شدن در اسکار از همسرشان جدا شده اند : هالی بری، جولیا رابرتز و اخرین آنها کیت وینسلت که چند هفته پیش از همسرش طلاق گرفت. آیا جایزه اسکار نفرین شده است؟!

[Mohamad]

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Rihanna's onstage gaffes

Rihanna's Moonwalk Attempt - Jackson Estate Should Consider Issuing Cease And Desist Order


Posted Thu May 13, 2010 12:19pm PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training
Rihanna is used to creating a stir with her jaw-dropping videos for "Umbrella," "Hard," and "Russian Roulette," but she is now inadvertently becoming the queen of viral clips.
In the last week, two new Rihanna videos from her European tour have swept the Web. They both are marred by performance faux pas.
During a show Saturday at Color Line Arena (formerly O2 World Hamburg) in Hamburg, Rihanna attempted to imitate Michael Jackson's trademark moonwalk during her song "Don't Stop The Music." After singing the last line of the chorus, she tip-toed backward. I've seen some bad MJ impressions, but this one might warrant a cease and desist from the Jackson estate.

[Mohamad]

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Twilight' actors demand more pay




'Twilight' Salary Drama Update: Source Says Cullen Kids Not Asking For 'Big Three' Money

:
As "Twi-hards" await an official confirmation on whether or not the saga's final chapter, "Breaking Dawn," will be split into two films, a new report suggests it's all a done deal - if the studio could just get some of the stars to agree on financial terms.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Summit Entertainment is close to sealing the deal to split the fourth novel in Stephenie Meyer's vampire saga into two movies.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: ***y Shots Of The ' Twilight ' Werewolves
However, while deals with the big three actors - Robert Pattinson , Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner - are all close to being final, and deals for movie dads Peter Facinelli (Carlisle Cullen) and Billy Burke (Charlie Swan) are already done, it's some of Facinelli's on-screen kids who could be causing the hold up.
Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene - who play Emmet and Alice Cullen, respectively - are reportedly seeking a bigger payday for the final installment in the series, and according to The Hollywood Reporter's THR, Esq. blog, Summit is reportedly not willing to budge.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: See The Men Of ' Twilight ' - Shirtless!
A source close to the situation confirmed to AccessHollywood.com that this is the first chance the actors have had to renegotiate their contracts since the film franchise launched with such tremendous success.
However, the source shot down any rumors that the Cullen kids are looking to be paid on par with the big three -- Pattinson, Stewart and Lautner.
"They're not asking for anything near what the leads are getting," the source noted. "They just need to be compensated fairly

[Mohamad]

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Web star meets Ellen, hears from Gaga



Lady Gaga surprises 12-year-old Greyson Chance — who has gotten more than 8.6 million YouTube hits with his rendition of "Paparazzi" — with a phone call on Thursday's episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

"You're so sweet and so talented. I was so excited that you covered 'Paparazzi,'" Gaga, 24, tells the Oklahoma-based sixth grader, who first performed the song for a church talent show. "Everyone loves you so much."

PHOTOS: Gaga's wackiest outfits of all time

Gaga's advice?

"Just keep following your dreams and work really hard and stay away from girls and be focused," says the singer, who recently admitted she's celibate.

Gaga also tells Chance — who sports Justin Bieber's hairdo — not to be "nervous" about singing "Paparazzi" on the talk show Thursday.

PHOTOS: Kid stars who grew up fast

"You already won over everyone's heart. Just enjoy yourself," she says. "Just have fun and give a performance of a lifetime."

Greyson calls Gaga his "No. 1 inspiratio

[Mohamad]

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Transformers' star criticizes his own film



CANNES, France - Shia LaBeouf says the second "Transformers" movie got too big for its own good -- but the third one brings the heart back to the franchise.
LaBeouf, who starts work on the next "Transformers" sequel Tuesday, said the third installment will be the best one yet. The new script restores a human element that got lost in the second movie, LaBeouf said.
"When I saw the second movie, I wasn't impressed with what we did," LaBeouf said in an interview Thursday at the Cannes Film Festival, where his finance drama "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" is premiering. "There were some really wild stunts in it, but the heart was gone."
" Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen" was a runaway commercial success but was drubbed by critics.
Michael Bay returns for the third time as director of the science-fiction franchise, which centers on dueling races of giant robots that bring their war to Earth. The next movie will have what the last one lacked -- a sense of human consequences, LaBeouf said.
On the second movie, "we got lost. We tried to get bigger. It's what happens to sequels. It's like, how do you top the first one? You've got to go bigger," LaBeouf said. "Mike went so big that it became too big, and I think you lost the anchor of the movie. ... You lost a bit of the relationships. Unless you have those relationships, then the movie doesn't matter. Then it's just a bunch of robots fighting each other."
With " Transformers 3," the toll of the robot war will be grave for our planet, LaBeouf said.
"There's going to be a lot of death, human death. This time, they're targeting humans," LaBeouf said. "It's going to be the craziest action movie ever made, or we failed

[Mohamad]

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Jennifer Hudson movie draws legal threat



CANNES, France (Reuters) - Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson is to star in a biopic of former South African President Nelson Mandela's ex-wife Winnie, whose lawyers have already contacted the film makers threatening to block it.

"Winnie," which also features Terrence Howard as Nelson Mandela and is based on a book by Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob, starts shooting in South Africa on May 31 and could be ready for theatres by spring next year.

Producer Andre Pieterse said Winnie Madikizela-Mandela had asked to see and approve the script before the picture went ahead, but that its backers had refused.

"A lawyer's letter came some weeks ago," Pieterse told reporters at the Cannes film festival, where Hudson and Howard appeared to promote the production.

"It was a benign letter and yet it contained the threat of an indictment, an interdict that could stop the picture.

"She (Madikizela-Mandela) ... would like to see the script and approve. (But) the film will be made based on a screenplay that was well researched and without any interference.

"If the film maligns her in any way then there will be legal basis for her to take action."

DIRECTOR CONFIDENT OF SUPPORT

Director Darrell Roodt was confident, however, that she would support what he described as first and foremost "an amazing love story.

"We have such a perception of her, but it's entirely the incorrect one, because she was one of the few saviors of South Africa," he said of a woman who supported her husband Nelson throughout his 27 years in apartheid-era jails.

"This is a woman who is just extraordinary beyond all measure and it's high time that a great film is made about a great South African and a great human being."

Roodt said he heard Madikizela-Mandela had been upset by Clint Eastwood's recent South African-themed movie "Invictus" "because she was relegated to two lines in the picture."

"It's the same old story -- Winnie is ... always in the back room," he added.

Madikizela-Mandela is one of South African politics' most divisive figures, once hailed as "mother of the nation" but who was convicted in 1992 of kidnapping a teenaged anti-apartheid activist who was later murdered.

She has since returned from the political wilderness after a fraud conviction.

She married Mandela in 1958 and they separated in 1992, some two years after he was released from prison.

U.S. actress and singer Hudson, who won a best supporting actress Oscar for her debut film role in 2006's "Dreamgirls," said she initially hesitated over such a prominent role.

"It's just a no-brainer in a way," she told reporters. "I didn't know much of it (her history) but of course I knew Nelson Mandela and I wanted to learn the story of Winnie and once I did I wanted to tell it.
"I have not been to South Africa, but in a way I feel like I am already starting my journey there by doing my research and learning of this culture."

[Mohamad]

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Taiwanese Susan Boyle's' amazing feat

Whitney Houston Sound-Alike Doing Better Than Whitney Houston


Posted Fri May 14, 2010 3:42pm PDT by Claudine Zap in Stop The Presses!

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/stopthepresses__2/stopthepresses-809846243-1273876567_thumb.jpg?ymXR2IDDTt2X8OSMWhitney Houston may be struggling with her career, but her sound-alike is hitting a high note. The Taiwanese singing sensation Lin Yu-Chun, who rose from obscurity to YouTube stardom thanks to the Taiwan version of "American Idol," is now a true star with a record deal from Sony.
Houston was supposed to be on a comeback tour, but instead she's being told never to come back. The artist's performance was called "a national scandal" by London's Independent, and she was booed in Australia.
The pop princess's once-soaring sounds are now "ragged and raw," according to one critic, who added that between songs she could be heard "wheezing and panting and occasionally breaking into a scary Wicked Witch of the West cackle." Ouch.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/stopthepresses__2/stopthepresses-736932488-1273876739.jpg?ymEU2IDD0l84107FMaybe the deteriorating diva can take comfort in knowing that her protégé has found all the inspiration he needed from her recording of "I Will Always Love You." His version shot him to instant Internet fame, which led to the record deal with Sony.
While only 24, the young talent was originally compared to the unconventional-looking Susan Boyle for his bowl cut and surprisingly strong vocals. He seems to be taking fame in stride. "You don't have to be a good-looking man or woman to succeed," he said. "Just be yourself and try your best."
Yes, try your best - and have a killer voice. Maybe Whitney Houston should consider bringing him in to do some of the heavy lifting on her besieged tour.

[Mohamad]

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Katy Perry changes song title in tribute

May 10-16: Katy Perry's 'California Gurls' Pays Homage To Big Star


Posted Sat May 15, 2010 3:56pm PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in That's Really Week

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/thatsreallyweek__5/thatsreallyweek-470267884-1273879796_thumb.jpg?ym0D3IDDmnL_w7IdKaty Perry did not know that her new song "California Gurls" would end up paying homage to '70s pop band Big Star. But something tragic happened after she wrote the song. In March, Alex Chilton, the group's lead singer, suffered a fatal heart attack.

Perry's manager, a huge fan of Big Star, asked the "Hot N Cold" singer to change the spelling of her song (previously named "California Girls") to mirror the Big Star title "September Gurls."

Perry explained the special requestto Entertainment Weekly. "My manager, Bradford, he's from Mississippi, and he's a huge Big Star fan," she said. "And with the death of one of their members, I had just written that song, and he's like, 'Katy, just for me, will you please title it 'California Gurls,' with a 'u'? People won't even know!' I don't know the whole catalog of Big Star, but I did it because Bradford is one of my best friends, and I thought it was cool, and you know, the kids like those variations."

Aside from using the same spelling for "Gurls," Perry's "California Gurls" is nothing like Big Star's 1974 hit.

Perry's "California Gurls" has an element of hip-hop, featuring a rap from Snoop Dogg, and is an upbeat, summertime dance track with funk undertones. Her lyrics boast of the amenities of the golden coast, including beautiful girls donning Daisy Dukes and bikini tops.
MUSIC: Hear Katy Perry's "California Gurls"

Big Star's "September Gurls" is essentially the opposite. The '70s twangy-guitar power-pop ballad is actually depressing. Chilton's soft lead vocals bemoan heartbreak: "I loved you well never mind, I've been crying all the time."
MUSIC: Listen to Big Star's "September Gurls"

Actually, considering Perry has been known to break hearts on songs "Ur So ***" and "Hot N Cold," it might be fair to consider her a "September Gurl."

Perry's sophomore album, Teenage Dream, is due out on August 24 on Capitol Records.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/thatsreallyweek__5/thatsreallyweek-327582094-1273879821_thumb.jpg?ymNE3IDDloDGaaGpIn other news, the funeral for the legendary Lena Horne was held Friday in New York. The singer and actor who was 92 died Sunday. In the 1940s she broke the color barrier, becoming one of the first black artists to play the Copacabana. Bret Michaels fans received good news, however, as it was announced that he planned to return to the stage by month's end and would be appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show on May 19.

[Mohamad]

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Most profitable teens and coolest senior



It was a week for the ages. Betty White is putting a platinum spin to the golden years, as she wowed us on "Saturday Night Live" and left many fans clamoring for more. Plus, the younger generation can't be counted out, not when some of the biggest stars are counting up all the cash they're making. And, the Whitney Houston sound-alike strikes again — with a record deal. All this and more with your Buzz Week in Review.
We want White
Betty White is so much more than a Golden Girl. She is an It girl. OK, at 88 , girl may be pushing it. But this hilarious comedian is giving senioritis to a whole new demographic. The funny actress came to mass attention with a Snickers ad during the Super Bowl. That gut-busting commercial inspired a Facebook campaign to get her on "Saturday Night Live." Mission very accomplished. She rocked that gig — and gave the show some of its highest ratings in years. White's opening monologue gave a shout-out to her Facebook friends, who she jokingly called losers. But those losers now want even more White — and are hitting Facebook for a mass appeal. "Getting Betty White to Host the Academy Awards" has 53,000 plus members already. Then there's "Betty White to Host the Oscars," with some 12,000 members. Plus there's a movement to get the octogenerian to host the Emmys. Stay tuned.
These kids can buy and sell you
While White may be having her moment, the younger generation is giving her a run for the money. Literally. A New York Post survey out this week lists who of the TV kid stars is pocketing piles of cash. Angus T. Jones may play an underachiever on TV, but as a child star, he is a downright prodigy. The "Two and a Half Men" actor takes in a whopping $250,000 per episode, making him the highest paid child actor on television. Not bad for a 16-year-old who lives with his parents and isn't sure if he'll even go to college -- or continue to act once the show ends. Miranda Cosgrove, also 16 and the star of Nickelodeon's kid show "iCarly," comes in next on the list and pockets $180,000 per episode. But don't rush to sign up your kid for acting classes just yet. Chances of becoming one of the top-paid kids on TV are slim at best.
Whitney Houston sound-alike is the real deal
Well, if you can't be the oldest funny person on TV, or the youngest who is highest paid, you could always try to become a Web star. That's the unlikely tale of one Lin Yu-Chun, who rose from obscurity to YouTube stardom with his rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." Thanks to his hit performance on the Taiwanese version of "American Idol," he is now a true star with a record deal from Sony. While only 24, the young talent was originally compared to the unconventional-looking Susan Boyle for his bowl cut and surprisingly strong vocals. He seems to be taking fame in stride. "You don't have to be a good-looking man or woman to succeed," he said. "Just be yourself and try your best."

[Mohamad]

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Tom Cruise makes stunt 'mistake




Cameron Diaz 'Drop Kicks' Tom Cruise During Stunt Rehearsal

by Lindsay Robertson · May 14, 2010

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz get silly in this promotional video for their upcoming action flick "Knight and Day."

Set up as "leaked" behind-the-scenes video from the movie's set, the footage captures Cameron Diaz practicing an upcoming stunt with a stuntman and her costar Cruise. Diaz improbably chomps down on lunch while practicing a high kick with the stuntman, and then Cruise steps in to show her how it's done.

"You're afraid you're gonna hurt me?" Cruise jokes, encouraging Diaz to kick higher and "extend." "I can't hurt you," a jeans-clad Diaz replies as she munches away on a snack.

Cruise then gets distracted by someone yelling to him off-camera and puts down his protective stunt gear while Diaz is still kicking. You'll have to watch the video to see what happens next, but it's a not-too-shabby bit of stunt work on its own, and clearly the studio hopes it will go viral and draw attention to the movie. And it just might work -- as long as nobody's trying to pass it off as an actual mishap

[Mohamad]

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Charlie Sheen makes unexpected cameo




Charlie Sheen Makes Surprise Appearance in 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps'

by Mike Ryan · May 14, 2010 http://l.yimg.com/a/i/mo/200x266_wallstreeet_sheen_051410.jpg
" Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" debuted at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday and the reviews are, well, somewhat sleepy.

Cannes -- just like Michael Douglas' iconic Gordon Gekko -- can be one tough customer. But one thing that did seem to get critics' tongues wagging and pens scribbling: The film has a fun surprise lurking within (spoiler alert, obviously).

Shia LaBeouf plays the Charlie Sheen-type protege to Michael Douglas in this Oliver Stone-directed sequel to the film that gave us the prescient capitalistic aphorism: "Greed is good." But that doesn't mean there isn't room for Sheen himself in the 23-years-in-the-making follow-up: He makes a brief cameo appearance in a cocktail party scene that seems uncomfortably cordial.

As you may remember, Gekko and Sheen's character, Bud Fox, didn't exactly end things on good terms. Things went sour when Fox wore a wire for law enforcement during a conversation in Central Park that led to Gekko's conviction. So this reunion between Fox and Gekko was bound to be a bit awkward.
And, according to a behind-the-scenes clip of the shooting of the film (courtesy of "Access Hollywood"), things were a little awkward both on and off camera: Sheen needed a little prodding to remember his cue for the party scene in which Gekko encounters Fox.

But all was copacetic for the two actors during their brief time shooting their parts together.

"It's always nice when you got a positive memory from a film you've done together," Douglas told "Access Hollywood" of his interaction with Sheen on the set of the "Wall Street" sequel. "We did reminisce a little bit, and then he was gone."
While Sheen's appearance in the film may have provided good cocktail party conversation for the movie itself and for those who've seen it, critical reactions to Sheen's performance differ slightly: Vanity Fair describes Sheen's cameo as "smarmy," while Entertainment Weekly depicts the spot as "a witty encounter between Gekko and Charlie Sheen's Bud Fox, who is now more Gekko-ish than Gekko." Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times says that Charlie Sheen appears, basically, "to parody his own Bud Fox character

[Mohamad]

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How to 'pronounce' Jake Gyllenhaal's name



Jake Gyllenhaal and his sister Maggie have both been famous for most of the 21st century, but it seems we've been pronouncing their last name incorrectly this entire time. Or that's what Jake Gyllenhaal wants us to think.

In this interview promoting his new flick "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," Gyllenhaal retains a completely straight face as he tells his interviewer that his last name is pronounced "Yil-en-HOO-luh-hay."

ITN reporter Nathaniel Lippiett gets Gyllenhaal's "Persia" costars Ben KingsleyGemma Arterton to take their turns trying to spell his name. While Kingsley comes close, Arterton spells it correctly. When told of Gyllenhaal's revelation about the name's pronunciation, Arterton jokes, "That doesn't really have the movie star ring." and

[Mohamad]

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Shia LaBeouf slams 'Indiana Jones' sequel




Shia LaBeouf: I 'Dropped The Ball' On 'Indiana Jones' Sequel

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Shia LaBeouf told the Los Angeles Times that he shares some of the blame for the failures of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" - but he is also pointing the finger at the monkeys he was forced to swing through the jungle with.
"I feel like I dropped the ball on the legacy that people loved and cherished," Shia told the Los Angeles Times' 24 Frames blog when asked about the fourth "Indiana Jones" movie while in Cannes over the weekend. "You get to monkey-swinging and things like that and you can blame it on the writer and you can blame it on [director] Steven [Spielberg]," he continued. "But the actor's job is to make it come alive and make it work, and I couldn't do it. So that's my fault. Simple."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Viva La Film! Stars Shine At 2010 Cannes Film Festival!
The actor went on to emphasize that he believes that modern audiences are hard to fool.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Shia is not the only "Indiana Jones" star who was less-than satisfied with the movie.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: The ***y Men Of Sci-Fi
"We [Harrison Ford and Shia] had major discussions. He wasn't happy with it either," he also told the Los Angeles Times, referring to the movie the movie that grossed over $786 million worldwide. "Look, the movie could have been updated. There was a reason it wasn't universally accepted... I'll probably get a call. But he needs to hear this. I love him. I love Steven."
Shia's "Indiana Jones" comments come just days after he publicly criticized "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."
"When I saw the second movie, I wasn't impressed with what we did," he told the Associated Press on Thursday in Cannes when asked about the Michael Bay blockbuster. "There were some really wild stunts in it, but the heart was gone

[Mohamad]

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Aguilera says there's no feud with Gaga

Christina Aguilera: I Don't Hate Lady Gaga!


Posted Mon May 17, 2010 11:59am PDT by Us Magazine in Stop The Presses!

Attention, pop diva fans: there is no feud between Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga.
Since Lady Gaga, 24, burst onto the music scene in 2008, Aguilera, 29, has made a few speculated-upon remarks about the "Bad Romance" singer.
In a new interview with Out magazine, Aguilera calls Gaga a "newcomer" and says "I think she's really fun to look at."
PHOTOS: Check out snaps from Christina's new video
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/stopthepresses__2/stopthepresses-173002777-1274122732_thumb.jpg?ymsXyJDD8R_p_McvAguilera's new video "Not Myself Tonight" led some to suggest she was copying Gaga's look and sound. "That, in particular, is not even worth wasting the breath to comment on," Aguilera said in a recent radio interview. "I've been around for over a decade and I think my work speaks for myself."
Finally, on Monday, Aguilera tried to quiet the feud talk once and for all.
PHOTOS: See Christina's adorable son Max, 2
"It is very easy for comments to be taken out of context and create unnecessary drama-especially between us women," she wrote on her website. "So I would like to tell you all directly so my words can not be misconstrued to sell someone else’s story…I have absolutely nothing against Lady Gaga or any other female artist in this business."
Aguilera adds: "I think she is great, and I appreciate any woman fearless enough to go against the norm. She has earned her success with hard work and a clear focus and I have nothing but respect for that. There is room for all of us on everyone's iPods."
PHOTOS: Lady Gaga's insane style
"This is not the first time I have been unfairly pitted against another female artist," says the one-time rival of Britney Spears, "but it will be the last time I comment on the matter."

[Mohamad]

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Dancing' gets intense with the final four

http://l.yimg.com/a/p/mu/tv_tv_ah/39DancingWithTheStars39ATrueBattleForTheTop.jpg?x= 205&n=1&sig=kY50LpTJaPm5wntlovsCWw-- Evan Lysacek, Anna Trebunskaya, Nicole Scherzinger and Derek
'Dancing With The Stars': A True Battle For The Top

Mon May 17, 7:22 PM PDT
The battle for the mirrorball is back on.
Nicole Scherzinger and professional dancing partner Derek Hough may have been ruling the leaderboard on "Dancing with the Stars" for the last few weeks, but now the frontrunners will have to share their position.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 10, Week 8!
Men's figure skating gold medalist Evan Lysacek turned up the heat during the competition on Monday with partner Anna Trebunskaya and managed to turn Nicole and Derek's lead into a tie for first place.
Like the rest of the remaining pairs, Evan and Anna performed two dances for the fans at home and for the studio audience, which tonight included former competitors Kate Gosselin and "Bachelor" Jake Pavelka (as well as last year's "DWTS" winner Donny Osmond), but it was their second dance that upset Nicole and Derek's lead.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Daring! Dramatic! Fabulous! Hot Shots Of Hollywood's Divas
Coming on to the dance floor full of passion, strength and gusto, Evan and Anna performed an aggressive paso doble that turned the tables on the leaderboard. Judge Bruno Tonioli screamed that the number had "plenty of attack," while Len Goodman offered some true - and unexpected - praise.
"The paso doble is the man's dance, the man should dominate and it is so difficult for a celebrity guy to dominate these professionals," Len said as the pair took home a perfect 30 points. "You did it. You came out [full of] attack, aggression."
Evan and Anna's earlier number - a whimsical fox trot - was also highly praised.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Keepin' It Real With TV's Hottest Reality Stars!
"You were high as a kite out there," Bruno said of Evan's movements on the dance floor. "I haven't seen happy like that since Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney."
The pair missed out on a perfect score for that dance by just one point as Len gave them a 9, compared to Carrie Ann and Bruno's 10s.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' All-Stars!
While Evan and Anna made a great showing, nothing could take away from the dramatic and spectacular moves from Nicole and Derek, who also achieved an overall score of 59 out of 60 for the evening.
Nicole and Derek's perfect scoring Argentine tango prompted a comment from Len, which the British judge explained indicated his highest form of flattery.
"It was more delicious than my grandmother's apple pie," he said.
Their second number - a cha cha cha - which featured a solo from Nicole (all the celebrities second dances featured a solo), was also a winner thanks to its Prince tribute, but Len gave them a 9, leaving them, like Evan and Anna, one point shy of an overall perfect score.
ESPN's Erin Andrews made some improvements over the night, but fell to third with just 56 points overall for the night.
Their first number - a Viennese waltz - featured a tiny stumble, which Bruno noted -- but the pair still pulled in 27 overall points.
Their second dance - a paso doble -- was more memorable, not so much for Erin's solo portion of the dance (which included lots of kicks in thigh-high boots), but more for Bruno swearing on television. The censors managed to stop the judge's four-letter explosion (the F word, according to sources in the studio), but they did catch Erin's open-mouthed reaction to the blip.
Bruno's censored faux paus came as he complimented the duo, whom he said made a "feast" of dance, one which scored a massive 29 points.
"You're a hot chick with an attitude. Tonight this turned into a feast," Bruno screamed. "I cannot believe the standard of dancing I'm seeing... (Censor cut out here)."
Finally, it was Chad Ochocinco and partner Cheryl Burke in fourth, although like Erin, the star showed major ballroom improvements.
Chad's first dance - a waltz - scored 17 out of 30 and got a major commendation from Len for being the only star with absolutely no dance experience.
"It makes me more competitive," Chad said of competing against three stars with some dance training (of various levels). "That's what this process is about on 'Dancing with the Stars.' It's about people with no dance experience at all, climbing those mountains, getting over those obstacles, so you know, I'm enjoying it all the way."
On his second dance, Chad proved he really was enjoying things, going shirtless for a ***y samba to the "Dancing" band's version of Lady Gaga's "Alejandro."
"For a really tough dance, you did a great job," Len said.
"I am torn between admiration and bitter envy," Bruno chimed in about Chad's shirtless physique as the pair scored another 24 points (for a total of 51 out of 60 for the night). "I will never take my clothes off again."

[Mohamad]

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Ghost Whisperer' canceled




'Ghost Whisperer' Gets Silenced

By Lizbeth Scordo | Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 2:43 PM

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Jennifer Love Hewitt as Melinda Gordon
CBS/Robert VoetsWelcome to the current economy, Jennifer Love Hewitt. You've been doing a good job as star of CBS' "Ghost Whisperer" for more than four years, got a real fan following going, and have been keeping your show number one in its timeslot. But, sorry, you're fired.

[Check out photos of Jennifer Love Hewitt.]

According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS has canceled its Friday night drama about an antique-store owner (played by Hewitt) who communicates with the deceased to help them cross over to "the other side." The news is a head-scratcher for many television insiders since the series looked like a shoe-in for renewal given its steady success on Fridays, a traditionally tough night for drawing in viewers. Ironically, CBS is renewing fellow talking-to-dead-people drama "Medium," which the network picked up last year after the series, which stars Patricia Arquette as a suburban mom with psychic powers, was dropped by NBC. Though "Medium" had been edging out "Ghost Whisperer" in the ratings most weeks, the difference in viewership is slight.

CBS is axing five other shows, the majority of which, like "Whisperer," have female leads. Julia-Louis Dreyfus' "New Adventures of Old Christine," "Cold Case," starring Kathryn Morris, and the freshman Jenna Elfman sitcom "Accidentally On Purpose" are all going to TV heaven … but they better not be looking for anyone to help them get there.

[Mohamad]

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Dancing' cuts down to the final three

http://l.yimg.com/a/p/mu/tv_tv_ah/39DancingWithTheStars39DownTo3CelebritiesForFinals FollowingElimination.jpg?x=205&n=1&sig=qdcCPJf5AdQFysM_52kcPw-- Erin Andrews, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Cheryl Burke and Chad Ochocinco on 'Dancing with the Stars,' May 2010 -- ABC

'Dancing With The Stars' Down To 3 Celebrities For Finals Following Elimination

Tue May 18, 6:58 PM PDT
"Dancing with the Stars" chose its three celebrity finalists on Tuesday night, eliminating one of the final four from the competition.
Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco became the 100th celebrity eliminated on the ABC reality competition, as ESPN's Erin Andrews advanced to compete in the finals for the coveted mirrorball trophy alongside Olympic men's figure skating champ Evan Lysacek and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' All-Stars!
Although Tuesday forced Chad into the bottom 2 for a second time, he reacted confidently (a change over his dramatic reaction last week), even cracking a smile as he said his goodbyes.
"This was awesome," Chad told show co-host Tom Bergeron. "I enjoyed the journey, I met some wonderful people. I got some great criticism that's only made me stronger, man. And I met... the beautiful Cheryl Burke, and in my eyes really, I've already won... So this is beautiful."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Love Connection: Celebs & Athletes
On Monday night's competition show, Chad had put in a strong ballroom showing with Cheryl, waltzing to a score of 27 in the first round, and later netting 25 for the pair's samba. The night was an emotional one for Chad, however, as May 17 would have been the 27th birthday of his close friend and teammate Chris Henry, who died after falling off the back of a truck following what authorities said was a domestic dispute, in December 2009.
"Happy birthday to Chris Henry, may he rest in peace," Chad said on Monday night's show.
Interestingly, Chad had been Tweeting earlier in the day about the significance between his Bengals' jersey number - 85, and Chris' - 15, which adds up to 100. Coincidentally, he was the 100th star eliminated from the show the following night.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Keepin' It Real With TV's Hottest Reality Stars!
"Showtime in 8 minutes, going HAM tonight in memory of Chris Slim Henry R.I.P #15 happy birthday bruh, smile on me 2night 85+15=100 ways," Chad Tweeted on Monday night.
Chad's journey on "Dancing" was a dramatic one. After showing promise early in the season, he stumbled a few times, showing off stiff moves instead of the graceful style competitors like Nicole quickly picked up. He struggled at times in rehearsals with Cheryl going from flirty Chad, to moody Chad, to determined Chad.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 10, Week 8!
The athlete, however, eventually channeled his drive and improved enough to bring him to the final four, a feat judge Len Goodman even complimented him on as Chad was the only celebrity in the semifinal round who had no dance experience.
"It makes me more competitive," Chad told show co-host Brooke Burke on Monday night of his "Dancing" disadvantage. "That's what this process is about on 'Dancing with the Stars' -- It's about people with no dance experience at all, climbing those mountains, getting over those obstacles. So, you know, I'm enjoying it all the way."
There was one time, however, that Chad didn't enjoy the show. Just one week ago, Chad was relegated to the bottom 2 for the first time, and he nearly broke down on live television.
"I'm not even gonna lie, my heart racing like this is a life or death situation, man I might cry on TV, I work to[o] hard to go home," he previously Tweeted.
While not widely known, during his time in Los Angeles - where "Dancing" is filmed - Chad became very involved with his fans via Twitter. Several times the football star organized movie nights, Tweeting a location and promising to pay for tickets, popcorn and a soda, for fans who met up with the star at a local movie theater - promises he made good on.

[Mohamad]

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Idol' hopefuls sing for spot in finale




'American Idol' Night: Good, But Not Great, Things Come In Threes

By Lyndsey Parker, Y! Music - Reality Rocks | Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 8:31 PM

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Casey James, Crystal Bowersox, and Lee DeWyze
Fox/Michael Becker
Last season this time of year, the top three show was a real game-changing episode for "American Idol." It was the fateful night when dark horse Kris Allen stole the show from presumed front-runners Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert with his inspired cover of Kanye West's "Heartless," thus unexpectedly landing a spot in the finale and shutting out golden boy Gokey. (Although I could also blame Danny's downfall on the obscure Terence Trent D'Arby song Paula Abdul forced him to sing.) Anyway, some might even argue it was that "Heartless" cover that helped underdog Kris win the entire season in the end. Well, what a difference a year makes. This Tuesday, the Season 9 top three — Casey James, Crystal Bowersox, and Lee DeWyze — competed for the coveted two spots in the May 25 showdown. And while there were some very solid performances, sadly, there were no watercooler-worthy, "Heartless"-style wow moments — even if the overexcited judges tried their darnedest to convince viewers otherwise.

On Tuesday, the contestants sang two songs apiece: one they picked themselves, and one selected by the judges. Some of these song choices were choicer than others. Here's how it all panned out:

Casey James

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Okay, the conspiracy theorist in me suspects that it was no accident that Casey performed in the disadvantaged first spot this week, just as I suspected that it was no accident that he had to duet with Michael Lynche last week while his most direct competition, Lee, had the advantage of singing with a female duet partner. I also could argue that it was the judges' obvious desire to orchestrate a Lee-Crystal finale that led to their odd song choice for Casey this week (more on that later). But how to explain Casey's risky personal song choice, the little-known Eric Hutchinson song "OK It's Alright With Me"? On the one hand, I admired Casey for taking a chance — I usually dig it when contestants make an artistic choice, whether it's Chris Sligh doing MuteMath, Taylor Hicks doing Ray LaMontagne, Adam Lambert doing Gary Jules, or Kris Allen doing the Swell Season. I'm just not sure this Hutchinson song was fantastic enough to make an impression, although Casey sang it well with a minimum of lamb-like bleating. It just seemed like a wasted opportunity on Casey "I'm Just Glad To Be Here" James's part to go with such a throwaway tune. "When you pick something that is a first listen for most people, you can't take it to the next level and make it your own," explained Kara DioGuardi in her most astute comment of the night. "That title is funny, because that song was kind of just all right with me too," shrugged an underwhelmed Randy Jackson. And said Simon Cowell of the "dud" song choice, "If you were having dinner, that was like the salad." Well, at least Simon admitted that Casey sounded good. And what's wrong with salad?

[PHOTOS: "American Idol" Season 9 Performances]


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As for the song the judges (Randy and Kara, specifically) chose for Casey, it was John Mayer's midtempo, limited-range ballad, "Daughters." Ryan Seacrest asked them, "Why did you pick this song for Casey?" And if they were honest, they would have said, "To make sure Casey doesn't make it to the finale," because this certainly wasn't the song of a champion. But Kara gave a good answer: "[Casey's] audience is women and girls, and that's who this song is talking to." Fair enough. We all know it's the moms and daughters who've kept Casey in the game this long. Anyway, Casey did fine with what he had to work with, delivering a nice performance with a pleasantly bluesy guitar solo toward the end, but this definitely wasn't the number everyone will be talking about on Wednesday morning. Randy and Kara of course stood by their song choice. Randy told Casey, "This fits you like a glove" and "I hope you continue in this direction"; Kara raved, "This showed the more artistic side to you!" Simon, as usual, was the voice of dissent, calling the arrangement "lazy," complaining that the "climax was a quite limp guitar solo," and blaming Randy and Kara for not giving Casey a "much bigger vocal moment." Simon was right, of course — but then again, giving Casey a bigger vocal moment might have run the risk of him overshadowing Season 9 pets Crystal and Lee, and I'm sure Simon wouldn't have appreciated that.

Crystal Bowersox

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For her personal choice, this season's resident hippie chick went with the most obvious song ever: "Come To My Window" by her own personal idol, Melissa Etheridge. I thought this was a total copout. Yes, Crystal sang it well. Of course she sang it well — she's probably been performing it in coffeehouses and in front of subway stations for years now, and I couldn't imagine a song more deeply ensconced in her comfort zone. I felt the judges went way too easy on her here — all season long they've encouraged all of the contestants to take risks outside of their predictable genres (come to think of it, Crystal never did take Simon up on his suggestion that she cover David Bowie), yet this week when Crystal performed such a safe song, Ellen DeGeneres praised her with, "That's the exact kind of song you'd want to sing, so in your comfort zone!" Even Simon told Crystal, "You haven't compromised yourself as an artist. I have a lot of respect for you for that. It was an honest performance. Congratulations." Eh. I thought such congratulations were premature.

[PHOTOS: "American Idol" Season 9 Guest Performers]


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Crystal fared much better on her second song, Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed," chosen for her by Ellen. It was one of Ellen's smarter moves of the season. Crystal dug into the song vocally, belting it out with an intensity I'd never witnessed from her all season and finally making some effort, like she actually wants to win this thing after all. I had no idea she had it in her, really. I thought it was one of her best vocals of the season. "You really showed parts of your voice I don't think we've heard," exclaimed Kara, to which Crystal replied, "Me either!" And Simon told Crystal, "What you've proved after that performance is you've got soul. You may be thanking Ellen next week for putting you in the finale." This was a performance worthy of congratulations. Thanks, Ellen.

Lee DeWyze

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Lee may be a simple man, but this paint salesman knows that that's precisely his appeal with mainstream America. For his first song, he was wise to choose a heartland-friendly Lynyrd Skynyrd song, "Simple Man," and do his very best to try to turn it into a Hinder album track. He succeeded. It sounded like a song that could be heard on rock radio today. Is that a compliment? Coming from me, not really; I thought it was a little generic. But I have little doubt that many viewers ate it up. And I must say, Lee's vocals did sound spot-on, and his confidence, which has been gradually building all season, seemed at an all-time high. "I can see you making a record like this; brilliant song choice!" said Randy. "You showed us everything you got...round one goes to Lee!" declared Kara. "I don't think you won round one; you just crushed the other two," added Simon. Ellen then offered some farm-animal metaphor that made no sense, likening Lee to a lamb that had metamorphosed into a gazelle (or something like that), but at least she didn't tell him he was a ripening banana or a Soup of the Day.

[Sound off on your favorite Season 9 "Idol" contestants here.]


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Lee's second song, which (pimping alert!) closed the entire show, was selected by Simon: Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Gee, like we've never heard that song on "Idol" before. But Simon assured viewers they were in for a treat. "We've heard this song before, but I don't think we've heard it like Lee can do it," he intoned, thus effectively dissing poor Jason Castro. Lee did do a fine job with the song--his vocals were strong, and perhaps more importantly, he seemed in it to win it. ("I've been waiting all season to see who's gonna throw down the gauntlet!" howled Randy.) But the whole spectacle, from the choir that accompanied him to the over-the-top praise the judges lavished on him like he was the second coming of Daughtry, seemed way too forced. To me, it seemed like the show was trying way too hard to create a "moment" where there was none. It was hardly the best version of the song I'd heard on "Idol" (I still prefer Jason Castro's), and when Kara started screaming stuff like, "You are what this show is all about" and "You just owned the entire night" and "You are the heart of this season," I really wanted her to give it a rest. Methinks the judges doth proclaim too much. Lee was good, but he wasn't that good.

So now it is prediction time. Who's going to make it to the finale? Well, the obvious guess is Casey — he's been in the bottom three several times, while Lee and Crystal never have; he performed in the problematic first spot this week; he received the most lukewarm critiques from the judges; and his performances probably were the most forgettable of the night. But I wouldn't say Lee and Crystal are shoo-ins; Casey certainly has his fanbase, and as past seasons of "Idol" have taught us, anything can happen on this show. So be prepared for a possible upset on Wednesday.

Parker out.

[Mohamad]

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Beauty pageant's political fallout



And you thought beauty queens' infighting was fierce. No pageant managed by The Donald would be complete without its own outbreak of culture war.

Last year, of course, there was Miss USA's great Carrie Prejean controversy — when the reigning Miss California upheld marriage as an exclusively hetero***ual insitution after celebrity blogger Perez Hilton asked about *** matrimony. (That dustup was eventually overtaken by Prejean's own naughty-photo scandal, which Donald Trump himself eventually arbitrated.)

This week, Lebanese-American immigrant Rima Fakih of Michigan was crowned Miss USA — maybe the first contestant of Muslim background to win, though the pageant's records are incomplete.

[See Miss USA photos]

There were, of course, the usual day-after revelations about the new titlist's past media exploits: pictures from a 2007 pole-dancing competition and an appearance in a salaciously titled independent video production. But she remained fully clothed in both outings. In fact, the most provocative photos that have surfaced of her seem to be the official lingerie shots taken under the auspices of the pageant.

[Video: Trump defends the racy photos]

Instead, the highest decibels have been reserved for her Muslim Arab background (though the contestant herself has spoken little about religious matters, stressing that her family observes both Muslim and Christian holidays).

Daniel Pipes, who publishes a right-leaning blog on Middle Eastern affairs, pointed to a "surprising frequency of Muslims winning beauty pageants." While allowing that "they are all attractive" — Pipes, a former board member of the U.S. Institute for Peace, posted pictures of several — he said that their victories "make me suspect an odd form of affirmative action."

Pipes didn't theorize how shadowy beauty-pageant fixers might be greasing the skids for contestants — but other political bloggers were happy to advance more heated pronouncements.

"Miss Hezbollah is now Miss USA," declared conservative radio talk show host Debbie Schlussel, saying that Fakih's relatives in Lebanon had ties to the terrorist organization based there. Schlussel also said Fakih received some financial backing from onetime Hezbollah supporter Imad Hamad — or, as Schlussel put it, Fakih's "bid for the pageant was financed by an Islamic terrorist." Suggesting the pageant was "rigged," Schlussel wrote off Fakih's victory to a "politically correct, Islamo-pandering climate."

Conservative blogger Michelle Malkin saw a conspiracy afoot, too — generic rather than Muslim-specific this time. Malkin mocked Fakih as a "gaffetastic" contestant who tripped over her gown as well as over her answer to a question about birth control — exposing Fakih's ignorance, Malkin argued, about what constitutes a "controlled substance" and what the purpose of health care is. "Looks like the Miss USA pageant didn't want to risk the wrath of the open-borders mob," Malkin said.

[See the video of Rima Fakih tripping]

Immigration was in fact another flashpoint of political controversy over the contest. Runner-up Morgan Elizabeth Woolard of Oklahoma was asked for her views on Arizona's recent immigration law, a question that drew boos from the crowd before the judge — actor Oscar Nunez of "The Office" — could even finish getting it out.
When he did deliver the question, asking whether immigration enforcement "should be mandated by the state or by the federal government," Woolard replied that she was "a huge believer in states' rights," then added: "I think it's perfectly fine for Arizona to create that law, and I'm against illegal immigration. But I'm also against racial profiling, so I see both sides in this issue

[Mohamad]

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American Idol' final showdown set




Top 3 Results: Casey James Cut In 'Idol' Non-Shocker

By Lyndsey Parker, Y! Music - Reality Rocks | Wednesday, May 19, 2010, 7:47 PM

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Casey James
Fox/Michael Becker
Wednesday on the "American Idol" top three results show, Casey James was voted off. Yeah, this was hardly a surprise. Office pools and online polls were all heavily skewed against Casey. But still, I applaud him for making it this far.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__18/realityrocks-964986140-1274321529_thumb.jpg?ym55iKDDBHbsv9mmThere was a time when I never even thought Casey James would get to third place on "Idol." Back in the audition rounds, I assumed he was just another pretty face (and chest): a marginally talented Fabio clone, recruited by "Idol" casting execs to titillate salivating admirer Kara DioGuardi (and millions of similarly riled-up female viewers at home) by removing his shirt on command and bedroom-eyeing the camera a la Season 4 himbo Constantine Maroulis. But then Casey started to win me over with stellar efforts like "Jealous Guy" and "Don't," and I seriously believed that if he could deliver more stunning performances like those, he could very well steal all of front-runners Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze's thunder.

[PHOTOS: "American Idol" Season 9 Performances]




http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__18/realityrocks-742142195-1274321530_thumb.jpg?ym65iKDDdMojfaMkObviously, that didn't happen. Casey was frustratingly inconsistent throughout this season — for instance, after his brief Lennon & McCartney Night peak with "Jealous Guy," he inexplicably backslid, regressing into the safe and familiar territory of bar-band guitar jams and making "Jealous Guy" seem like just a fluke. And after a while, his overdependence on his guitar became way too apparent, especially on Sinatra Night, when a giant spotlight was sharply focused on his vocal weaknesses (especially his vibrato's resemblance to a certain farm animal) after he was forced to croon old-timey Ol' Blue Eyes sans his trusty six-string. ("Don't take my guitar away from me again, because I think you see how well that goes!" chuckled a humbled Casey backstage.) The result was a performance so awkward, so cringe-inducing, it seemed like the only chance Casey really had of avoiding elimination was to win over (female) viewers by stripping off his shirt one more time. And yet, Casey survived. He wasn't even in the bottom two that week. Suddenly, he started to seem like a real threat. Like maybe he could even win this thing.

[PHOTOS: "American Idol" Season 9 Guest Performers]

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__18/realityrocks-429068886-1274321529_thumb.jpg?ym65iKDDNE3GtkYKWell, the "Idol" judges and producers were obviously dead set on preventing that from happening. Their anti-Casey agenda was blatantly obvious this week. Casey was assigned a forgettable song with no big vocal peaks or deep emotional moments (John Mayer's "Daughters"), which he performed under what appeared to be a bare lightbulb tacked to the ceiling as an afterthought. Meanwhile, Lee got to have Simon Cowell personally handpick him a big ballad (Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"), which he performed with Laserium-worthy mood lighting and a full choir. Lee also got to sing in the desirable final slot, while Casey performed first, further putting him at a disadvantage.

[Sound off on your favorite Season 9 "Idol" contestants here.]

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__18/realityrocks-749445210-1274321530_thumb.jpg?ym65iKDDsFFaza0YDid Casey deserve to get voted through to the finale over Lee or Crystal? Well, maybe not. But it's not like he even had a chance, under those conditions.This is too bad, because I think Casey's occasional glimmers of Eddie Vedder-esque greatness indicated he was capable of so much more than, say, hokey Huey Lewis covers.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__18/realityrocks-834156555-1274321530.jpg?ym65iKDDCyZhKXFbAnyway, with Casey now successfully pushed aside, a straight path to victory seems definitively cleared for Casey's closest competition, mellow rocker Lee DeWyze. I have little doubt that many of Casey's supporters will shift their allegiance to Lee now, who's become a heartthrob in his own right and whose guitar-oriented musical style isn't that far removed from Casey's. And it seems everyone in the "Idol" camp is rallying around Lee. Does Crystal even have a chance? We'll find out next week at the big finale.

[Mohamad]

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Top Gun' star 24 years later


A fleet of blockbuster Hollywood talent was on display Monday night as stars gathered to honor super-producer, Jerry Bruckheimer. The event even turned into a reunion for the costars of his 1986 hit movie, Top Gun.

What may have started as Bruckheimer's hand-and-footprint ceremony outside Mann's Chinese Theater, later became a reunion of sorts for two actors who haven't starred together in 24 years: Kelly McGillis and Tom Cruise.

McGillis - best known at the time for acting opposite Harrison Ford in Witnessrevealed she is ***.

The Bruckheimer tribute also brought cast members from other movies back together, including those from Beverly Hills Cop, Armageddon, and National Treasure.

played Charlie, Maverick's flight school instructor and, later in the film, his love interest. McGillis made headlines in April of 2009 when she

[Mohamad]

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Fox dropped from 'Transformers' sequel

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Megan Fox has been axed from "Transformers 3," Access Hollywood has confirmed.
A source at Paramount, the studio behind the film, told Access that Megan, who played star Shia LaBeouf's love interest in the franchise, would not return for the third movie.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Transformers' ***y Siren Megan Fox
The source said that in order to take Shia's character - Samuel James Witwicky -- in a new direction, it was better if Sam wasn't tied down to a love interest.
On Wednesday night, however, reps for the actress told People that it was Megan's decision to leave the movie.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: See Megan Fox & More Stars In Their Underwear
"Megan Fox will not be starring in 'Transformers 3,'" the reps told the mag. "It was her decision not to return. She wishes the franchise the best."
A rep for Megan was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Access Hollywood on Wednesday.
Nikki Finke, who first reported the news for Deadline that Megan was out, claimed that decision was "ultimately" director Michael Bay's.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Summer Movies 2010
Bay's rep was also not immediatley available for comment when contacted by Access.
The news of Megan's departure from the "Transformers 3" cast comes just months after a dispute emerged between Megan, unnamed "Transformers" crewmembers and even the director.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Katy! Zoe! Megan! Oh My! Maxim's 2010 Hot 100: The Top 20
Megan compared her director to "Hitler" and "Napoleon" during an interview with Britain's Wonderland Magazine's September/October 2009 issue.
"He's like Napoleon and he wants to create this insane, infamous mad-man reputation," Megan said at the time.
"He wants to be like Hitler on his sets, and he is," she continued. "So he's a nightmare to work for but when you get him away from set, and he's not in director mode, I kind of really enjoy his personality because he's so awkward, so hopelessly awkward."
Shortly thereafter, members of the "Transformers" crew posted an open letter on the director's site, condemning the actress for her behavior on set, calling Megan, "the grump of the set," as well as "thankless, classless, graceless" and "unfriendly."
The letter was quickly removed and Michael eventually addressed all the comments a short while later.
"I don't condone the crew letter to Megan. And I don't condone Megan's outlandish quotes," Bay wrote in a blog post on his official Web site. "But her crazy quips are part of her crazy charm. The fact of the matter I still love working with her, and I know we still get along. I even expect more crazy quotes from her on Transformers 3."
"Transformers 3" has reportedly already begun filming.
Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

[Mohamad]

'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' -- Meet Riley

by Chrissy Le Nguyen · May 19, 2010
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There's a new Twi-guy in town, and ladies, he's quite the bad boy!
"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" introduces new villain Riley (adorable Aussie Xavier Samuel). The character doesn't have a huge part in Stephenie Meyer's third novel, but it looks like he's getting a bigger part in the movie adaptation. Riley is spotted a handful of times in the film's second official trailer, and he was in one of only two character photos that director David Slade shared on Twitter (in case you're wondering, the other photo was of Taylor Lautner as Jacob). Now Riley has his very own "Eclipse" poster. All this exposure for the character begs the question: Who exactly is Riley?
Check out Riley's Poster >>

In the story of "Eclipse," Victoria's still bent out of shape over the death of her beau James in "Twilight," which she blames on Bella. All of her previous attempts to exact revenge upon Edward for killing her mate failed. Not easily deterred, Victoria travels to the Seattle area and creates an army of newborn bloodsuckers, hoping that with their aid she'll finally be able to defeat the Cullens and kill Bella. One of the first humans Victoria turns into a vampire is Riley Biers (the character didn't have a last name in the book), described as young, handsome, and (after being turned into a vampire) with bright red eyes.
As the more mature newborn, Riley is tasked to retrieve Bella's scent and later, corral the rest of the newborns to Forks for a showdown against the Cullens/La Push wolf pack alliance. "Audiences can expect a vicious battle," says Samuel, "And I think audiences can also expect a few surprises. Riley and his newborn army are an unstoppable force."
But there's more to this vampire baddie... he's in love!
Not only is Riley Victoria's right-hand vamp, he's also her puppet boy. He loves her and serves her faithfully, but of course she's still in love with James and is only using Riley to get him to do what she wants. "Remembering that Riley still has some human blood pumping through his veins was an important thing to consider when I was approaching the role," Samuel shares. "He's not a purely evil monster."

Come to think of it, maybe Riley's not a villain after all. Perhaps all the attention he's getting in the film will set up his story as one of betrayal, despair, and heartbreak. Whatever it's going to be, I'm excited and can't wait to see how it all pans out on the big screen.
What do you think? Are you more invested in the character of Riley?

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Xavier Samuel in Summit Entertainment's "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

[Mohamad]

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By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen, Ap Entertainment Writer – Thu May 20, 9:20 pm ET

LOS ANGELES – Bret Michaels is back in the hospital.
The rocker and reality TV star suffered what doctors call a "warning stroke" and has been diagnosed with a patent forum ovale, or hole in the heart, according to a report Thursday on his website. Michaels' publicist, Joann Mignano, confirmed the report.
Michaels was hospitalized after experiencing numbness on the left side of his body, particularly in his face and hands.
Doctors said the condition is operable and treatable and likely unrelated to the brain hemorrhage the 47-year-old suffered last month.
Michaels' neurosurgeon said that while the Poison frontman has a "fantastic attitude" about making a full recovery, "Bret's brain and body are not quite 100 percent yet, especially with the hole found in his heart."
Additional tests were being conducted to determine the best course of treatment. Doctors said Michaels is currently being treated with a daily injection of a blood thinner to reduce the risk of clots.
His website said Michaels was "up, walking, talking, continuing his daily rehab and very happy to be alive."
"He has made it clear he is sick and tired of being in the hospital and is ready to rock again," the site says.
Michaels was expected to appear at Sunday's finale of Donald Trump's "The Celebrity Apprentice" in New York. NBC said in a statement that the network is "cautiously optimistic" that Michaels can attend the live season finale.
"Ultimately, it's up to Bret and his doctors if he should attend," the statement said.
In the episode, Trump's boardroom revelation of the winner will air live. The rest of the show was taped last year, including the final challenge segment.

[Mohamad]

Warrant for Lohan recalled after bond posted




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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – A judge issued a warrant Thursday for Lindsay Lohan's arrest after the actress missed a mandatory court hearing, but a court spokesman said the warrant was recalled hours later after her bond was posted.

Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel issued the warrant after the 23-year-old actress missed a progress report on her probation stemming from two arrests in 2007. A $100,000 bond was ordered as the judge sought to make sure Lohan shows up for her next court date.

Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini confirmed that the warrant was recalled.

Lohan's attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, said Lohan's passport was stolen while attending the Cannes Film Festival in France and she was unable to return to Los Angeles in time for Thursday's hearing.

Yet the actress didn't seem too worried Thursday morning when she was photographed partying on a yacht in the French Riviera until the wee hours, said celebrity photographer Phil Ramey, who posted the photos on his website Tinselclown.com.

Lohan had been subject to arrest upon returning to Los Angeles.

Holley said Lohan would be back in the United States by Friday evening. Revel wasn't satisfied, saying the star has a history of missing scheduled appointments.

"If she wanted to be here, it looks to the court that she could have been here," Revel said.

The judge then revoked Lohan's probation, issued the arrest warrant and imposed several conditions to her bail. Lohan will be prohibited from drinking any alcohol, required to wear an alcohol-monitoring bracelet and submit to random weekly drug testing.

Revel said there's probably cause to believe that Lohan has violated her probation. A formal hearing will be held to determine whether the star is in compliance with the court's conditions.

No court date has been set.

Lohan has been on probation since August 2007 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor drug charges and no contest to three driving charges. The plea came after a pair of high-profile arrests earlier that year.

Despite spending 84 minutes in jail and performing mandatory service at the county morgue, Lohan has struggled repeatedly with the terms of her sentence. In October, a judge extended her probation for another year, and a prosecutor warned the actress she faced jail time if she violated her probation.

The extension was the third time Lohan escaped punishment after her alcohol-education program notified the court the actress had violated its rules. Two of the instances were described as misunderstandings; the third was chalked up to a busy work schedule.

In a video posted Monday on the celebrity website Hollywood.TV, Lohan said she's "been in compliance more than ever" with the terms of her probation and could complete the required alcohol-education classes in "about two and a half weeks."

Holley said after the hearing that Lohan has completed 10 of the 13 required alcohol-education classes. Holley said the actress went to Cannes to work on a movie, adding, "It's her job."

[Mohamad]

CW adding 2 new series, 'Smallville' ending




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NEW YORK – The young will add its first action series to the schedule this fall, along with a drama in which Ashley Tisdale of "High School Musical" plays the captain of a college cheerleading squad.

The CW also said Thursday that the Superman drama "]" will end after its 10th and final season next year.

The sixth most popular broadcast network (after CBS, Fox, ABC, NBC and Univision) targets its programming primarily at women aged 18 to 34. Its most popular series, was introduced only last year.

"Nikita" gets the Thursday time slot after the vampires. The show stars Maggie Q — whose movie credits include "Mission: Impossible III" and the fourth installment in the "Die Hard" series, "Live Free or Die Hard" — as an assassin trained by the U.S. government who breaks the rules by falling in love. Now her shadowy old agency wants her dead.

"We've been trying to develop a female-oriented action-adventure show since we started the CW," said entertainment president at the network, which enters its fifth season in September.

Tisdale is in the Wednesday night drama "Hellcats," about cheerleaders at a mythical, football-crazed college based in Memphis. Aly Michalka of the movie "Bandslam" is the series' star, playing a student who must get a cheerleading scholarship or she's kicked out of school.

"Melrose Place," "High Society" and "Fly Girls" were all canceled.

The CW will air a makeover series, "Plain Jane," this summer, and a reality competition about couples trying to lose the most weight drew laughs from the audience of advertisers at the mention of its name, "Shedding For the Wedding."

The final season of "Smallville" will be a nostalgic one with many people who have been on the show over the years returning, Ostroff said.

"The fans want to see the show go out in a big way and we will give it to them," Ostroff said.

[Mohamad]

The King is Celebrated at the "Prince of Persia" Premiere




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Los Angeles – Jake Gyllenhaal may be cinema's new "Prince of Persia," but even he bowed down to the real king of Hollywood on Monday, May 17, as the film's producer Jerry Bruckheimer was honored at Grauman's Chinese Theater before the film premiered there. Bruckheimer, who has been one of the most prolific producers in the history of both film and television, placed his hand and footprints into the concrete as a who's who of Tinseltown looked on.

There was a smiling Tom Cruise, seated next to Nicolas Cage, along with Bruckheimer's other favorite actors, including Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Voight, Sir Ben Kingsley, Tom Skerritt, Michael Clarke Duncan, Judge Reinhold, Jonathan Pryce, Kelly McGillis, and Gemma Arterton.

Arterton, Kingsley, and Gyllenhaal then took center stage as the stars of "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," as the film premiere followed and the party kept right on going. Look one way, there were Bruce Willis and Eddie Murphy; look another, Orlando Bloom, Jon Lovitz and Seth Green. Directors Mike Newell, Jon Turtletaub and Tony Scott paid homage to the king, too. And while alpha Hollywood males were everywhere you looked, there were a few female Bruckheimer fans, too, like Michelle Monaghan, Melina Kanakaredes, Jaime King, Tia Carrere and Alanis Morissette.

Gyllenhaal summed up what everyone who has been part of the Bruckheimer empire, from the early days of "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Days of Thunder" through "The Rock," "Con Air," "Pirates of the Caribbean" and right up to "CSI," "CSI: NY" and "CSI: Miami," was thinking.
"To be playing the lead in a Jerry Bruckheimer blockbuster movie based on a video game," Gyllenhaal said with a grin at an [COLOR=#366388 ! important]earlier press conference in support of "Prince of Persia," "I felt like my eyes would [/COLOR

[Mohamad]

Mike Leigh and monks vie for top Cannes film prize

Mike Collett-White
CANNES, France
Thu May 20, 2010 7:41pm EDT













http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100520&t=2&i=110496076&w=460&r=2010-05-20T233234Z_01_BTRE64J1TEJ00_RTROPTP_0_FILM-CANNES Director Mike Leigh attends a news conference for his film ''Another Year'' in competition at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival May 15, 2010. Nineteen films compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or which will be awarded on May 23.
Credit: Reuters/Jean-Paul Pelissier




CANNES, France (Reuters) - British director Mike Leigh's family story "Another Year" and French religious drama "Of Gods and Men" are seen as favorites to win the coveted Palme d'Or for best film at this year's Cannes festival.
Entertainment | Film
The 12-day cinema showcase on the French Riviera winds up with Sunday's awards ceremony which will determine which of the 19 movies in the main competition take away prizes.
After a slow start that had critics scratching their heads about the overall quality of the selection, later entries have lifted the mood in Cannes, where the economic crisis, lack of Hollywood stars and travel disruptions have weighed heavily.
With four films yet to screen, Leigh leads the critics' polls in Cannes. In 1996 he took away the big prize with "Secrets and Lies."
Another Year is his examination of the hidden drama of everyday lives set in a London suburb and starring regular Leigh cast members Jim Broadbent and Lesley Manville. The Daily Telegraph called it "one of Mike Leigh's best films."
Close behind is "Of Gods and Men," French filmmaker Xavier Beauvois' stately re-telling of the true story of seven French monks mysteriously murdered in Algeria in 1996.
The film focuses mainly on the rhythms of monastic life and how the men face up to the growing threat of violent death as civil conflict escalates around them. It has the added appeal of tackling universal themes of faith and religious tolerance.
"It's got crucial things going for it -- a real generosity of spirit, a real sense of forgiveness, and nowhere is Islam blamed," said Mark Cousins, a film historian and Cannes veteran.
He said Leigh was one of the favorites for the Palme d'Or, although he preferred Abbas Kiarostami's "Certified Copy."
OPINIONS DIVIDED
Other frontrunners are "Biutiful," Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's picture of death and redemption starring Javier Bardem, and Doug Liman's "Fair Game" about the true story of outed CIA agent Valerie Plame.
Naomi Watts plays Plame in a movie based on her memoirs of the same name, with Sean Penn taking on the role of her husband Joseph Wilson.
Biutiful was one of the titles in Cannes this year to sharply divide critics and journalists, although Bardem's performance is widely seen as a best actor contender.
Another hotly debated entry was Iranian filmmaker Kiarostami's picture starring Juliette Binoche.
Kiarostami, who used his platform at the festival to criticize the jailing of fellow Iranian director Jafar Panahi, is another former Palme d'Or winner with "Ta'm E Guilass" in 1997.
Ken Loach, who took the award in 2006 with Irish historical drama "The Wind That Shakes the Barley," was a last-minute addition to the lineup with "Route Irish," a thriller about security guards working in Iraq.
"Poetry," by South Korea's Lee Chang-dong, was the best-received of the Asian films screened so far, and Yun Jung-hee in the main role is in the frame for the actress award.
Out of competition, Hollywood blockbuster "Robin Hood" rode into town with Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, and Oliver Stone presented "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," his topical picture about the financial crisis starring Michael Douglas.
Woody Allen walked the red carpet for "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger," Mick Jagger helped promote a new documentary on the Rolling Stones, and celebrities Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton hit the party circuit.
Yet to screen in competition are Rachid Bouchareb's "Outside the Law" (France-Algeria), Apichatpong Weerasethakul's "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives" (Thailand), Nikita Mikhalkov's "Burned By the Sun 2: Exodus" (Russia) and Kornel Mundruczo's "Tender Son - The Frankenstein Project" (Hungary).

[Mohamad]

Simon Cowell speaks of depression, admits mistakes

LOS ANGELES
Thu May 20, 2010 7:21pm EDT



Factbox: Memorable moments in Simon Cowell's "Idol" careerWed, May 19 2010













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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Simon Cowell showed Americans his softer side on Thursday, telling Oprah Winfrey he suffered from depression and that he had made "some absolutely horrific mistakes" in the past.
Entertainment | Music | People
The normally abrasive "American Idol" judge said during an appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that he was prone to dark moods.
"I get very, very down," Cowell said "Pretty much depression. (But) what I always say is, 'You're taking yourself too seriously, so stop it.' At the same time, you should never put a painted smile on. When you're feeling down, you're feeling down."
Cowell, 50, who also has his own record label and created the TV shows "America's Got Talent" and "The X-Factor," said he sometimes felt drained by the demands of his work.
"You just become aware that a lot of people depend on you, rely on you, or you're not giving people the time you should be giving them. It's almost like a guilt thing, and that does drain me," he said.
Often seen as arrogant because of his stinging put-downs to aspiring singers, Cowell admitted that he had a strong ego.
But life hasn't always been kind. He recalled the time 20 years ago when he lost his job, car and home and had to move back to live with his parents in Britain when a business deal went wrong.
"I made some absolutely horrific mistakes. I believed my own ego, believed my own hype, believed my own abilities, and lots of times it came crashing down," he said. "I thought I was absolutely untouchable."
Cowell's interview with Winfrey was broadcast a week before the May 26 finale of "American Idol", which will mark the end of his eight year association with the most-watched TV show in the United States.

[Mohamad]

Latest "Shrek" sequel eyes $100 million opening

Carl DiOrio
Thu May 20, 2010 10:23pm EDT




Tue, May 11 2010








LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Kids just wanna have fun -- or so DreamWorks Animation's bean counters will be hoping this weekend.
Entertainment | Film
The studio's "Shrek Forever After" opens Friday via Paramount, with executives more challenged than comforted by the knowledge that each installment in the family-comedy franchise has posted successively bigger debuts.
The most recent entry -- "Shrek the Third" -- opened with $121.6 million in May 2007, en route to an eventual $322.7 million domestic tally. But honors for the biggest total go to 2004's "Shrek 2" with $441.2 million.
So that sequel's total box office and the threequel's opening tally are the marks to beat -- with the fourquel likely to fall short by both measures.
"Shrek Forever After" should top the weekend with perhaps $100 million through Sunday. Prerelease tracking suggests a lighter bow, but such projections are infamous for underrating family films, and don't account for the hefty impact of 3D upcharges. (An AMC theater in New York is selling tickets for Imax 3D screenings of "Shrek Forever" at a venue-record $20.)
As for the film's longer-term prospects, the jolly green giant will enjoy a U.S. Memorial Day-stretched second session before running into its first rival family film on June 4, when Fox unleashes live-action comedy "Marmaduke." An even more fearsome rival -- Disney/Pixar's 3D tentpole "Toy Story 3" -- hits theaters June 18.
There's been speculation on Wall Street about the possibility of a disappointing bow by "Shrek Forever" and the likely effect on DreamWorks Animation shares. But such pessimism is tempered by the recollection that the studio's "How to Train Your Dragon" opened with less than $44 million in March but now is pushing $210 million.
Production costs totaled an estimated $135 million on "Shrek Forever After," roughly in line with those on other DWA pics despite the added expense of 3D.
Also this weekend, Universal debuts action-comedy spoof "MacGruber." Taking to the big screen his sketch character from "Saturday Night Live," Will Forte stars in the title role of an ex-special ops officer recalled to duty to hunt arch-nemesis Dieter Von ****h (Val Kilmer).
Produced by Rogue Pictures for less than $10 million, "MacGruber" is tracking limply and looks likely to register just $8 million-$10 million through Sunday.
Elsewhere, holdovers "Iron Man 2" from Paramount/Marvel and "Robin Hood" from Universal will be eyed for signs of market fatigue. The "Iron Man" sequel has led the field for the past two weekends, while "Robin Hood" opened to a so-so $36.1 million last weekend

[Mohamad]

Usher replaces Eminem atop singles chart


NEW YORK (Billboard) - A week after being bumped from the top of Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart by Eminem, R&B singer Usher reclaimed the No. 1 spot on Thursday with "OMG."



Eminem's "Not Afraid" slid to No. 6, the biggest drop from the top since Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" also took a five-spot hit in June 2008.
Katy Perry's "California Gurls," featuring Snoop Dogg, opened at No. 2, the 14th title to do so in the chart's 52-year history. The track comes from the pop singer's second album, "Teenage Dream," penciled in for an August 24 release.
Atlanta rapper B.o.B posted back-to-back entries in the top five as "Airplanes," featuring Hayley Williams, rose two to No. 3 and former No. 1 "Nothin' On You," featuring Bruno Mars, slipped one to No. 4. Another former No. 1, Taio Cruz's "Break Your Heart," featuring Ludacris, fell one to No. 5.
Ke$ha's "Your Love Is My Drug" rose one to No. 7, a spot ahead of yet another top 10 entry by Lady Gaga. Gaga's "Alejandro" is her seventh straight radio single to reach the top 10.
Rounding out the top 10, each down three places, were Rihanna's "Rude Boy" (No. 9) and Train's "Hey, Soul Sister" (No. 10).
The Glee Cast placed five new entries in the Hot 100, led by its rendition of Rick Springfield's 1981 No. 1 smash, "Jessie's Girl" at No. 23.
Other new entries included Charice's "Pyramid," featuring Iyaz, at No. 56; Lil Wayne's "I'm Single" at No. 82; Enrique Iglesias with "I Like It" at No. 89; and Justin Bieber's "Somebody to Love" at No. 98

[Mohamad]

Tearful James says threw away Sandra Bullock marriage


پشیمانی جسی جیمز از خیانت به همسرش ساندرا بولاک


LOS ANGELES
Fri May 21, 2010 4:41pm EDT

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100521&t=2&i=110950531&w=460&r=2010-05-21T204117Z_01_BTRE64K1LH200_RTROPTP_0_USA Actress Sandra Bullock (R) and husband Jesse James (L) arrive at the 41st Annual NAACP Image Awards at the Shrine auditorium in Los Angeles, February 26, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Danny Moloshok




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The soon to be divorced husband of Sandra Bullock says he is probably the "most hated man in the world" for having cheated on the popular actress.
Entertainment | People
A tearful Jesse James, giving his first TV interview since the March split with Bullock, took the blame for the break-up of what had seemed a happy marriage.
"I took a pretty amazing life and amazing success and marriage....and threw it away by my own hands," the custom motorcycle maker told ABC News show "Nightline", according to excerpts released on Friday.
James, 41, admitted cheating on his wife of five years. According to media reports, he had affairs with at least four women -- one of them while Bullock was away last year filming what would be her Oscar-winning role in drama "The Blind Side."
Bullock, 45, had given emotional speeches at the Oscars and other Hollywood awards shows thanking James for his support.
Bullock, the star of romantic comedies "The Proposal" and "Miss Congeniality", left their southern California home when the cheating allegations broke in the media in March, just days after she won her first Oscar.
She has since filed for divorce, despite revealing that the couple had adopted a baby together in January. She told People magazine in an April interview that she would raise the baby alone.
Asked by "Nightline" interviewer Vicki Mabrey whether he was "the most hated man in America" -- as some U.S. celebrity magazines have labeled him for cheating on Bullock -- James replied: "I think 'the most hated man in the world' now."
The interview with James will be broadcast on "Good Morning America" on May 25 and on "Nightline" later that day

[Mohamad]

Losing the shirt? Worth it, says "Idol"s' Casey James

LOS ANGELES
Fri May 21, 2010 4:35pm EDT
http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100521&t=2&i=110949215&w=320&r=2010-05-21T203530Z_01_BTRE64K1L7C00_RTROPTP_0_USA Performer Casey James poses at the party for the 12 finalists of the television show ''American Idol'' in Los Angeles March 11, 2010.


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Eliminated "American Idol" contestant Casey James said on Friday he was elated to have ended up in the top three, and acknowledged he might never have got so far had he not famously whipped his shirt off at his first audition.
Entertainment | Television
The tall, blue-eyed blond guitarist from Texas wowed "Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi when, at her request, he showed off his torso during his first audition in Colorado last summer.
The incident paved the way for a string of jokes later in the season involving DioGuardi, who told James he should play to young girls and women in the competition.
"Who's to say I'd be here had I not done that? I think if you feel like you can back yourself up and not be the guy that took his shirt off -- because hopefully that's not what I am now -- then I would say, do what you need to do to get the ball rolling," James told reporters in a conference call.
"There's a possibility (that) had I not done that I might not have made it past that first round. It definitely wasn't something that I thought of, or even realized was going to happen. (But) it obviously worked out," he added.
James, 27, was voted off the show on Wednesday, leaving Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze to battle it out in next week's Season 9 finale in Los Angeles.
"I've been prepared (to go) at every single round from the beginning of the show. You never know, and you have to be prepared either way," James said.
"I'm the kinda guy who accepts what happens..I am definitely happy with where I landed, "he said of his third place. "I am elated to have landed here and I am going to make the most of it."

[Mohamad]

Iran filmmakers want hunger striker colleague freed


فیلمسازان ایرانی خواستار آزادی همکار خود که در اعتصاب غذا بسر میبرد شدند.


TEHRAN
Sat May 22, 2010 6:34am EDT

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100522&t=2&i=111213156&w=460&r=2010-05-22T103354Z_01_BTRE64L0TCR00_RTROPTP_0_ARTS-FILM-BERLIN Iranian director Jafar Panahi poses with his Silver Berlin Bear after the awarding ceremony at the 56th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 18, 2006.
Credit: Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann




TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian filmmakers called in an open letter for the release of internationally known director Jafar Panahi who is on hunger strike in a Tehran prison, the semi-official news agency ILNA said on Saturday.
Entertainment | Film | People
"In view of the existing conditions for... Jafar Panahi, we the undersigners of this letter, a group of independent film makers, call for the freedom and speedy consideration of his conditions and his demands in prison," said the letter by 85 Iranian filmmakers sent to the Iranian government.
Panahi, winner of numerous international awards and a supporter of the opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi in last year's disputed presidential election, was arrested in early March and went on a hunger strike earlier this week.
He is protesting against conditions of his incarceration at the notorious Evin prison, demanding access to a lawyer, visitation rights by family members, and his unconditional release until a court hearing in held on his case.
Two senior French ministers called on Iran earlier this month to free Panahi so he could take up an invitation to sit on the jury of the Cannes film festival which opened on Wednesday.
Also on a hunger strike in Evin is Mohammad Nourizad, an Iranian writer and film director who, according to an opposition web site, was severely beaten by security personnel on Tuesday.
Nourizad was arrested late last year after he published on his blog three letters deemed disrespectful to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior officials.
Thousands of opposition supporters were detained after the presidential election. Most of them have since been freed but more than 80 people have been jailed for up to 15 years. Two people put on trial after the election have been executed.

[Mohamad]

Trump decides winner for 'Celebrity Apprentice



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Bret Michaels made it to the finish line Sunday of "The Celebrity Apprentice" despite life-threatening illness and was rewarded with victory and $250,000 for charity.

"You've done an amazing job in every single way," Donald Trump said before announcing his choice on a live segment of NBC's reality show. "A little flaky, but that's OK. ... You've also proven ... to be very brave. I appreciate that."

The other finalist, actress Holly Robinson Peete, has been "amazing," Trump said, and then rendered his decision.

"Holly, I have to tell you, we all love you. And Brett, I have to tell you — you're hired," Trump pronounced, drawing a lusty "whoop" from Michaels.

Michaels' appearance on the finale, which included live and taped segments, had been in question after he suffered a brain hemorrhage in April and was hospitalized again recently after suffering what doctors called a warning stroke. He faces surgery for a hole in his heart.

Trump didn't downplay the drama involving Michaels' health, asking the 47-year-old rock star of Poison fame if he was risking his life by coming on the finale against his doctors' advice.

"Lately it seems like me just standing me up is risking my life," Michaels replied, lightly, adding that it was worth the risk and he "came to win." He walked haltingly and with a slight limp.

His presence brought a moment of honest reality to a carefully constructed TV genre.

Robinson Peete, 45, said she and Michaels had become close during the series and there would be none of last season's animosity — a reference to finale fireworks between winner Joan Rivers and runner-up Annie Duke.

Robinson Peete teared up when she and Michaels took the stage before a studio audience in New York.

"Holly, that's so beautiful. You're crying," Trump observed.

"Well, I mean, who in America isn't?" she replied. Trump said that he'd never cried for his opponent.

"My 5-year-old son woke up this morning and said, 'Mom, I love you, but I'm kinda pulling for Bret.' How do you beat that?" Robinson Peete responded.

Both celebrities, who were playing to raise money for their favored causes, came out on top. Michaels, who as a child was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, claimed the winner's prize for the American Diabetes Association, and Peete learned that her charitable group would receive a matching amount.

Trump said the maker of Snapple beverages had agreed to give a matching $250,000 to HollyRod Foundation, whose mission is to support families who have a loved one with a serious medical condition. The actress has a son diagnosed as autistic.

The final challenge for "The Celebrity Apprentice" had required Michaels and Robinson Peete to each create a new flavor of Snapple and a marketing campaign for the soft drinks. Their versions are being sold for a limited period and highlight work their causes.

This season of "Celebrity Apprentice" began airing in March with 14 contestants, each competing in business-oriented tasks around Manhattan to raise money for and publicize their favorite causes.

[Mohamad]

"*** and the City" sequel better than first one

Stephen Farber
Sun May 23, 2010 9:23pm EDT











http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100524&t=2&i=111919975&w=460&r=2010-05-24T012322Z_01_BTRE64N03VA00_RTROPTP_0_USA-SHOWEST Actresses from the *** and the City movies and television series (L to R) Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis accept the Ensemble Award during the ShoWest awards ceremony at the Paris Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada March 18, 2010. Actress Kim Cattrall was included in the award but was unable to attend the event.
Credit: Reuters/Steve Marcus




LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Because the first "*** and the City" movie turned out to be a box office bonanza two years ago, there are a lot of women panting for the sequel, already planning their wardrobe for a girls' night out.
Film
So even if "*** and the City 2" consisted of nothing but a two-hour fashion show, it would draw crowds. But it also has the returning cast members in fine comic form, and it has more cutting-edge humor than the first movie.
Critics will carp about the platitudes in the script and about the longueurs in the nearly two-hour opus, but for the core audience, there will be no complaints about too much of a good thing. This picture is going to be a smash when it opens on Thursday via New Line/Warner Bros.
Some of us who enjoyed the outrageous antics showcased in the HBO series created by Darren Star and executed in later years by Michael Patrick King (the writer-director of both films) found the first movie disappointingly bland. Instead of the bracing emphasis on ***, the focus shifted to less scintillating folderol about marriage. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) was jilted at the altar by her true love, Mr. Big (Chris Noth), but snared him in the end. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) also faced a crisis in her marriage but ended up in a clinch with hubby Steve (David Eigenberg).
The new movie begins two years later at a wedding -- a *** wedding (in Connecticut). But though the two grooms are pledging their devotion, the gals are learning that marital bliss is more elusive than the first movie implied.
Carrie and Big find themselves at odds over an issue that bedevils many couples: She loves to go out on the town, and he turns out to be a closet TV addict who wants to do nothing more than curl up on the couch watching old movies.
Charlotte (Kristin Davis) has achieved her dream life with two children, but the tots turn out to be maddening rather than adorable. Only Samantha (the consistently irresistible Kim Cattrall) remains defiantly single, waging her own personal war against menopause.
These wan domestic squabbles are merely prelude to the movie's major plot development. Samantha is approached by an Arab sheik to devise a PR campaign for his business enterprises, and he offers to fly her and her three gal pals on an all-expenses-paid luxury vacation to Abu Dhabi. (These scenes were filmed in Morocco.) Even in an escapist fantasy, the spectacle of women sinking into this billionaire's paradise at a time of widespread economic hardship initially seems creepy and off-putting.
Soon, however, their Arab sojourn takes unexpected turns. First of all, Carrie encounters her old flame, Aidan (John Corbett), at the spice market, but even more importantly, she and her friends run up against the puritanical and misogynistic culture of the Middle East. The rather scathing portrayal of Muslim society no doubt will stir controversy, especially in a frothy summer entertainment, but there's something bracing about the film's saucy political incorrectness. Or is it politically correct?
"SATC 2" is at once proudly feminist and blatantly anti-Muslim, which means that it might confound liberal viewers. Indicative of the film's contradictory stance is a scene in which the ladies perform a karaoke version of Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman" in an Abu Dhabi nightclub. An equally outrageous moment comes when the interlopers are rescued by a bunch of Muslim women who strip off their black robes to reveal the stylish Western outfits they are concealing beneath their discreet garb. These endearingly loopy scenes exhibit the tasteless humor that enlivened the TV series on its best nights.
King's script isn't always well-balanced. Carrie's minor marital problems are given way too much attention, whereas the intriguing dilemmas of Miranda and Charlotte are downplayed. Nixon and Davis do, however, share one marvelous scene in which they vent their dissatisfactions with motherhood. It also is a pleasure to see Cattrall flaunt her ***ual imperatives in front of her Arab hosts. Noth and Corbett are so appealing that we can sympathize with Carrie's romantic confusion. Liza Minnelli, Miley Cyrus and Penelope Cruz show up for amusing cameos.
Technical credits are first-rate. Cinematographer John Thomas and production designer Jeremy Conway make the most of the exotic locations. Costume designer Patricia Field's outlandish creations will send many viewers to hog heaven. But it's hard to know what King and editor Michael Berenbaum were smoking when they let the 146-minute film drag on at least 40 minutes too long. Even with its excesses, Carrie and company's excellent Arabian adventure will leave viewers thinking and arguing as well as swooning over the digs and the rags

[Mohamad]

Producer wanted for questioning returns to US

http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/p/ap_logo_106.png http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100523/capt.535b590b4d5a4eca9399c2c1b4895687-535b590b4d5a4eca9399c2c1b4895687-0.jpg?x=213&y=320&xc=1&yc=1&wc=272&hc=409&q=85&sig=RX6IlmKamjxbHVbd.pLRSw-- AP – FILE - This undated file photo made available by Brazil Explore Magazine on Friday April 9, 2010, shows …

Sherlene Shanklin for May 20th WHAS TV11 Louisville

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER, Associated Press Writer Christopher Weber, Associated Press Writer – Sun May 23, 7:11 pm ET

LOS ANGELES – A former "Survivor" producer wanted for questioning in Mexico about hisdeath[/COLOR][/COLOR] has returned to the United States, his lawyer said Sunday.

Bruce Beresford-Redman returned to Los Angeles County "to be with his children and attend to family and personal matters," attorney Richard Hirsch said in a statement.

Hirsch said Beresford-Redman, who has not been charged with a crime, had no legal obligation to remain in Mexico while authorities investigate the death of his wife, Monica, whose body was found in a sewer at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun in April.

"He is devastated by the loss of his wife, best friend, and the mother of his children," Hirsch said.

Beresford-Redman's passport had been confiscated and police in Mexico had described him as a suspect. Mexican officials previously said Beresford-Redman was barred from leaving the country.

However, Francisco Alor, the attorney general for Quintana Roo state, where Cancun is located, said Sunday there was no court order barring Beresford-Redman from leaving Mexico, although prosecutors have taken his passport.

"It's a migratory restriction," Alor said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

The family of the victim, Monica Beresford-Redman, strongly criticized investigators[/COLOR][/COLOR] earlier this month, saying it had taken too long to make an arrest. They expressed concerned Bruce Beresford-Redman might flee Mexico or the case could fall apart if too much time passes.

Beresford-Redman reported his wife missing two days before her body was found, prosecutors have said. He told police he last saw her when she left the exclusive resort to go shopping and never returned, according to investigators.

Investigators have said the general[/COLOR] Rodolfo Garcia said Friday that investigators had tried twice to summon the television producer for questioning but could not locate him.

Investigators asked the U.S. consulate in Merida, another city on the Yucatan peninsula, to "present" Beresford-Redman but were told he was not in the custody of the diplomatic mission, Garcia said.



According to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. citizens entering the United States by air must show a passport. However, citizens entering by land and or sea can show several other types of documents, including an enhanced driver's license.

Beresford-Redman has retained legal representation in both countries, Hirsch said Sunday in the statement

[Mohamad]

Paula Patton eyes role in wedding comedy

Zorianna Kit
Mon May 24, 2010 1:32am EDT http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100524&t=2&i=111994663&w=320&r=2010-05-24T053224Z_01_BTRE64N0FEC00_RTROPTP_0_USA Actress Paula Patton, star of the new film ''Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire'' poses at the AFI Fest 2009 gala screening of the film in Hollywood November 1, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Fred Prouser















LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Paula Patton, now onscreen in the Queen Latifah romance "Just Wright," is in talks to star in the wedding-themed comedy "Jumping the Broom."
Film | People
The film follows the clash of two black families from opposite ends of the socioeconomic background at a weekend wedding in Martha's Vineyard. Patton would play the female lead of the wealthy family.
The project is slated to start shooting in the summer in Nova Scotia. Television veteran Salim Akil will direct.
Patton also played the teacher in "Precious."

[Mohamad]

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Clinton talks wedding, hair on Chinese TV




BEIJING – Hillary Rodham Clinton tolerates but doesn't share her husband's appetite for violent action movies. Her daughter's upcoming wedding is "the most important" thing in her life. And she thinks Timothy Geithner has great hair.

The U.S. Secretary of State turned on the charm in Beijing Tuesday, taking a break from intense strategic and economic talks with Chinese leaders in order to spend some time promoting people-to-people exchanges between America and China.

With high-level officials from both countries grappling with differences over North Korea, Iran and a host of financial and trade issues, Clinton used a series of public events to stress the importance of cross-cultural understanding, offering up details of her own family experiences.

In an interview with China Central Television, Clinton spoke proudly of the upcoming marriage of her daughter, Chelsea, and explained the American concept of bridal showers to a Chinese audience.

"It is not where you go in and have a shower, it is where friends of the bride and family come together and you give gifts to the bride and you tell stories and you show pictures of when she was a little girl," she told the host. "There will be a lot of that activity" before Chelsea Clinton marries longtime beau Marc Mezvinsky this summer, she said.

"We are looking forward to it," she said of the wedding. "It is something that every mother dreams of. And so for me it's ... the most important activity going on in my life now, I have to confess. Don't tell anybody that but it is such an enjoyable and exciting time for our family."

[Mohamad]

Exclusive: U2's North American tour cancelled


(http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=us&n=mike.collett.white&) http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100525&t=2&i=112709063&w=460&r=2010-05-25T125149Z_01_BTRE64O0ZQH00_RTROPTP_0_USA




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LONDON/MUNICH (Reuters) - U2 frontman Bono left hospital in Germany on Tuesday after undergoing emergency surgery on his back, but the injury has forced the Irish band to postpone the entire North American leg of its world tour.

(http://www.reuters.com/news/entertainment)
It also means the band will not be appearing at Glastonbury, one of the biggest live music events of the annual pop calendar.
Bono has been told to recuperate for at least eight weeks and band manager Paul McGuinness, speaking to Reuters outside the Munich hospital where the operation was performed on Friday, said the 50-year-old singer "feels awful" about the tour changes, which will affect over a million fans.
"Clearly this is a serious injury and the recuperation time necessary to rehabilitate Bono is a big problem for the U2 tour and has unfortunately necessitated the postponement of 16 shows in North America," he said.
"Those shows were to occur between June 3 in Salt Lake City and July 19 in Meadowlands Stadium."
The earliest possible date for Bono's return, according to the band's website, would be August 6 in Turin, Italy.
U2 were to have been the headline act on the main stage at Glastonbury on June 25, but that has now been canceled.
"I'm heartbroken," Bono said in a statement posted on the festival's website. "We really wanted to be there to do something really special -- we even wrote a song especially for the festival."
BLOW TO LIVE NATION
As well as the band and fans, the injury will also hit Live Nation, the music concert company which signed a 12-year deal to handle merchandising, digital and branding rights and touring for one of the world's most successful bands.
"Obviously Bono feels terrible about missing these shows and we are working as fast as we can with Live Nation to reinstate them and reschedule them for next year," McGuinness said.
"For a performer like him to miss shows is a terrible thing and he feels awful about it. He shouldn't. The most important thing is for him to get better and return to his full power as a performer."
Joerg Tonn, the neurosurgeon treating the star, described Bono's condition as a "sudden onset disease" which caused temporary partial paralysis. The injury happened while the singer was training in preparation for the tour.
"He was already in severe pain with partial paralysis of the lower leg. The ligaments surrounding the disc had an eight millimeter tear and during surgery we discovered fragments of the disc had travelled into the spine canal.
"The surgery was the only cause of treatment for full recovery and to avoid further paralysis. Bono is now much better with complete recovery of his motor-deficit.
"His prognosis is excellent but to obtain a sustainable result he must now enter a period of rehabilitation."
The 2009 part of the tour helped the band earn $109 million last year, according to music journal Billboard. The U2 360 Tour, so-called because fans surround a giant circular platform, was predicted to become the highest-grossing tour in history.
The band, with hits like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Where the Streets Have No Name", is one of the world's biggest. They have sold over 150 million records, according to unofficial estimates.
(Reporting and writing by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Steve Addison)

[Mohamad]

Jack Bauer turns fugitive on final "24












http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100525&t=2&i=112524581&w=460&r=2010-05-25T042009Z_01_BTRE64O0C1R00_RTROPTP_0_USA Cast member Kiefer Sutherland poses at the party for the television series finale of ''24'' in Los Angeles April 30, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni




TORONTO (Reuters) - After eight horrifying days, U.S. special agent Jack Bauer ended his career on television's hit action show "24" on Monday by turning into a fugitive from justice and being forced to escape the country he loved.
Entertainment | Television
It seemed a fitting end for Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) because during the show's eight seasons -- each one-hour episodes elapsed as if it were one hour in a day -- the tough-as-nails super agent always landed in trouble.
The cliffhanger ending also will undoubtedly leave loyal fans guessing about the plot of a planned movie based on the show now that it has gone off the Fox network for good.
Earlier this month, "24" executive producer Howard Gordon had promised fans that "to give Jack a happy ending didn't feel authentic," and he and Sutherland did not disappoint.
In Monday's gripping final two hours, Bauer came within a razor's edge of being executed with the tacit knowledge of U.S. president Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones), even as he grew closer to assassinating a Russian president who conspired to sabotage a historic global peace agreement.
"Day 8" began earlier this year just as Bauer seemed to be at peace with himself and was preparing for a quiet family life, but he was reluctantly asked to help New York City's Counter Terrorism Unit stop the assassination of the president of fictitious Islamic Republic of Kamistan (IRK).
The attempt to save the IRK president failed and Bauer discovered the Russian -- a reluctant partner in the peace treaty -- was behind the assassination and working with former U.S. president Charles Logan, Bauer's nemesis since "Day 4".
Bauer threatened to unravel the conspiracy, and immediately became a target for murder. In the finale's last minutes, President Taylor stopped Bauer's assassination and advised him to flee the country, because the "Russians will be coming after you -- and so will we."
The final scene ended with an emotional goodbye between Bauer and his long-time trusted friend and colleague, Chloe O'Brien (Mary Lynn Rajskub), before he disappeared off-grid.
While viewers say so long to Bauer on TV screens, expect him to return again in movie theaters.
When Sutherland, Gordon and the Fox television network announced in March that the show would be yanked off the air, they also said they were working on a movie. No details were available as a script was still in development.
"24" premiered on U.S. airwaves in November 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks in the United States, and over the course of eight seasons, its stories often echoed real-life events and controversies. Some episodes sparked heated debates about the effectiveness of torture, and others touched on issues of press freedom and nuclear arms.
During its run, the show garnered numerous Emmy awards, including best drama series in 2006. Sutherland was nominated for best actor seven times and won once

[Mohamad]

Crystal and Lee to sing for "American Idol" title

Jill Serjeant
LOS ANGELES
Tue May 25, 2010 8:54am EDT
http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100525&t=2&i=112709305&w=320&r=2010-05-25T125437Z_01_BTRE64K1L7C00_RTROPTP_0_USA Performer Casey James poses at the party for the 12 finalists of the television show ''American Idol'' in Los Angeles March 11, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni










LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze face off on Tuesday in a tighter-than expected battle for the 2010 "American Idol" title that pitches the Season 9 front-runner against a dark horse who peaked at just the right time.
Entertainment | Television
Bowersox, 24, a dreadlocked single mom from Ohio, and DeWyze, also 24, who a year ago was working in a Chicago paint store, are expected to sing three songs apiece in Tuesday's live finale from Los Angeles.
The song choices are being kept secret but will likely include an original, inspirational song that the winner will instantly release as his or her first single.
Voting is expected to be close, given the transformation in the past three weeks of DeWyze from a shy, nervous performer to a confident bluesy singer and guitarist who brought the house down in last week's semifinals with his version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."
Bowersox, who also plays guitar as well as piano and harmonica, had previously been seen as a shoo-in for the title after virtually flawless performances throughout the season.
But in recent weeks, questions have arisen over how much Bowersox really wants the media attention and pressure that comes from being crowned "American Idol".
Bowersox, who struggled for years to make a living by playing in small town Ohio bars, and DeWyze are the last two standing from some 100,000 aspiring pop stars who auditioned last summer around the nation for the Fox TV singing contest.
Now in its 9th season, "American Idol" is still America's most watched TV show but has seen audiences slip by about 9 percent this year.
In recent weeks, less than 20 million viewers have been tuning in as the contest reaches its climax, compared to almost 30 million in 2006.
The winner will be announced at the end of a two-hour finale on Wednesday, and will get a recording contract and the chance to launch a Grammy-award winning career like those of previous "Idols" Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
Wednesday will also mark the departure of sharp-tongued British judge Simon Cowell, who announced in January that he was leaving to launch his own talent show "The X-Factor" on Fox in the fall of 2011. No replacement for Cowell has been yet been announced.

[Mohamad]

Lohan to undergo drug, alcohol tests

Mon, May 24 2010



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BEVERLY HILLS (Reuters) - Actress Lindsay Lohan was fitted with an alcohol monitoring device on Monday and ordered to undergo weekly random drug and alcohol testing after failing to appear for a probation hearing last week in a 2007 drunk driving case.
Entertainment | People
Brushing aside objections that the device would interfere with Lohan's upcoming projects, Beverly Hills judge Marsha Revel said the 23-year-old actress must now be tested for drug and alcohol use every week in Los Angeles.
Revel also ordered a probation violation hearing for July 6 that could result in further sanctions against the "Mean Girls" actress, whose movie career has fallen on hard times.
Lohan, who claimed she missed last week's probation hearing because her passport was stolen in France, appeared in court 10 minutes late on Monday looking nervous and dressed demurely in a white shirt and black pant suit.
She returned to Los Angeles this past Saturday after a week at the sun-drenched Cannes film festival on the French Riviera, where she was frequently photographed partying into the night.
The actress reluctantly agreed to the new conditions after her lawyer initially said they would interfere with plans for a photoshoot and an upcoming movie to be filmed in Texas.
"I am afraid she is going to have to delay them," Revel said. "She needs to submit to random testing here, not in Texas."
Judge Revel said Lohan has failed to complete alcohol education classes imposed as part of a 2007 sentence for reckless driving, drunken driving and driving under the influence of cocaine. She warned Lohan last October that she risked going to jail unless she took the matter seriously.
Lohan and her lawyer left court on Monday without speaking to dozens of journalist, photographers and camera crews.
Lohan was considered one of Hollywood's most talented young actresses after films like "Freaky Friday" and "Bobby".
But despite three stints in rehab in 2007, her movie career has slumped and her late-night partying at Hollywood clubs has become a staple of celebrity gossip columns.

[Mohamad]

Singer Christina Aguilera cancels summer tour

LOS ANGELES
Mon May 24, 2010 11:52pm EDT


Singer Christina Aguilera performs during a special live broadcast of ''Oprah'' at Radio City Music Hall in celebration of O Magazine's 10th anniversary in New York City in this May 7, 2010 photo.
Credit: Reuters/Lucas Jackson




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop singer Christina Aguilera on Monday canceled plans for a summer concert tour blaming work on a new film and an upcoming album that squeezed rehearsal time, according to a statement from her spokeswoman.
Entertainment | Music | People | Lifestyle
The American singer will appear in new movie "Burlesque," due in theaters later this year, and she is currently promoting a new album "Bionic," which is set for release on June 8.
"The singer felt she needed more time to rehearse the show and with less than a month between the album release and tour date this wasn't possible," the statement said.
The North American tour had been set to start in July. New dates will be announced later this year, the statement said.
The first single from "Bionic," a tune called "Not Myself Tonight," debuted in March on Aguilera's official website and became available on iTunes in April.
But after peaking at No. 23 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the singer has also released a second single off her upcoming album, "Woohoo," featuring rapper Nicki Minaj.
Aguilera, 29, found pop success in the late 1990s and 2000s with hits like "Genie in a Bottle" and "What a Girl Wants," but in recent years she has faced stiff competition from a new round of singers including Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.
"Bionic" will be her first album of new music since 2006's "Back to Basics."

[Mohamad]

Actor Gary Coleman "critical" in Utah hospital




http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100528&t=2&i=114167238&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-05-28T021506Z_01_BTRE64R069D00_RTROPTP_0_USA Actor Gary Coleman arrives at the 6th Annual TV Land Awards in Santa Monica, California in this June 8, 2008 file photo.
Credit: Reuters/Chris Pizzello




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former "Diff'rent Strokes" child star Gary Coleman was listed in "critical condition" in a Utah hospital on Thursday after reportedly injuring his head.
Entertainment | People
A spokeswoman for Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo declined to reveal anything beyond his condition, but said his family could release more information on Friday.
Coleman, 42, was hospitalized on Wednesday, after suffering what his brother-in-law told TMZ.com was a head injury after a fall. A spokesman for Coleman did not reply to an e-mail seeking comment.
Coleman, who lives in the nearby town of Santaquin, has already been to the hospital twice this year for seizure-related maladies. He also spent the night behind bars in January after being arrested at his home on domestic violence charges.

[Mohamad]

*** and the City 2" loses zing but still lures fans


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NEW YORK (Reuters) - "*** and the City" may have lost the scandalous story lines and antics that once left fans both shocked and delighted, but box office experts and devotees predict that won't stop fans flocking to the movie sequel.
Entertainment | Film
Women around the world are prepping their wardrobes for cocktail nights out and planning brunches and beauty treatments timed to watch Carrie Bradshaw and her three gal pals return in "*** and the City 2," that begins its worldwide roll-out on Thursday and opens in more than 30 countries by next week.
Similar to the first movie, many U.S. reviews have been less than flattering. USA Today called it a "mortifying mess", New York magazine "an epic eyesore," and the Los Angeles Times said "the satire is sagging, the irony's atrophied and the funny is flabby."
A few reviews were more positive. The Hollywood Reporter, for one, said the sequel has "more cutting edge humor" than the first film and for "the core audience, there will be no complaints about too much of a good thing. This picture is going to be a smash."
The first movie about four New York City women dealing with life and love raked in more than $415 million worldwide, and box office watchers expect solid ticket sales.
"Even if the movie is terrible, women don't care," said Hollywood.com box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian. It's an event...and I think for a lot of women, this is their 'Star Wars.' These are the characters that they love."
Weeks before the debut, advance tickets were snapped up with more than 50 percent of early online ticket sales going in blocks of four or more, said Dergarabedian, "which means women are going in groups, they're making a girls night out of it, and that's music to the studio's ears, no question about it."
REVIEWS DON'T MATTER
Many women long ago planned shopping trips and other outings around the film, and to them reviews don't matter.
"The show is not supposed to cure cancer. It fulfills that fantasy of what New York City is to the people who don't live (here) and what it can be for those of us who do," said 39-year-old New York resident Monica Lozano.
In fact, screenings taking place just after midnight on Thursday, raked in $3 million, according to studio estimates.
The sequel, distributed by Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros, sees a return to celebrating the friendship of the four main characters -- Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha -- who reflect on marriage and motherhood, leaving behind their families for an unlikely extravagant holiday in Abu Dhabi.
Supporting characters from the TV series, such as Carrie's former boyfriend Aidan, appear in the sequel, and stars from Liza Minnelli to Miley Cyrus make cameo appearances.
And, of course, on display are many glamorous outfits that are sure to tantalize women everywhere who love fashion.
Much of the "*** and the City" success is owed to the idea that it made women believe there was no reason to be embarrassed about feeling good about your body and flaunting it, said Elle Magazine's fashion director Anne Slowey.
The show had a "phenomenal influence on the fashion industry," she said. "And it's a lot of fun. That's the bottom line. Fashion is fun. '*** and the City' is fun. It's the perfect marriage."
Cast members and trend experts said the influence of the franchise on pop culture has been nothing short of incredible since the groundbreaking TV series first aired in 1998.
"It's beyond anything that I could have hoped, dreamed for, pondered," Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie) told Reuters.
(additional reporting by Gemma Haines and Karina Ioffee, editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

[Mohamad]

Sarah Ferguson to appear on Oprah



http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100527&t=2&i=113965089&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-05-27T193720Z_01_BTRE64Q1IID00_RTROPTP_0_USA Sarah Ferguson, Britain's Duchess of York, signs copies of her book ''Helping Hand Books: Emily's First Day at School'' at the BookExpo America in New York May 26, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Shannon Stapleton




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Britain's Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, will appear on Oprah Winfrey's talk show this coming Tuesday to discuss a videotape of her apparently offering to sell access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew.
Entertainment | Television
In a statement on Thursday, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" said Ferguson will speak "about the recent video that has made headlines around the world." The show airs on June 1. No further details were announced.
This week, London's News of the World posted a video on its website in which Ferguson, who was divorced from Prince Andrew in 1996 after a decade-long marriage, seems to ask for $40,000 in cash and 500,000 pounds ($718,500) by wire transfer to introduce an undercover reporter to the prince.
The newspaper's "sting" operation has caused a major embarrassment for the 50-year-old Ferguson, also known as "Fergie," who has two daughters with Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth and fourth in line to the throne.
In a statement, Ferguson has said "It is true that my financial situation is under stress however, that is no excuse for a serious lapse in judgment and I am very sorry that this has happened."
The 50-year-old prince, also known as the Duke of York, and Ferguson have two daughters, 21-year-old Beatrice and Eugenie, 20.
"The Oprah Winfrey Show" is among the top-rated daytime television talk shows in the United States and is seen on 215 U.S. stations and in some 144 countries around the world.
Celebrities often appear on Oprah's show to talk about their lives, and in some cases, attempt to redeem tarnished reputations after a scandal

[Mohamad]

Cowell exit is not only challenge facing 'Idol'

Jill Serjeant http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100527&t=2&i=113818754&w=300&fh=300&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-05-27T132703Z_01_BTRE64Q11DA00_RTROPTP_0_TELEVISION-IDOL

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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The finale of "American Idol" drew its smallest audience since 2002 after a lackluster season that saw America's most-watched show lose its biggest star and posed challenges over how to recapture its sparkle.
U.S. | Entertainment | Television
An estimated 24.2 million viewers tuned in to the Fox network on Wednesday evening to watch Lee DeWyze beat Crystal Bowersox, and to bid farewell to British judge Simon Cowell -- an 18 percent drop from last year, according to preliminary ratings figures on Thursday.
The nine-year-old TV singing contest was the No.1 U.S. show of the night and has retained its top rating this season for the 7th consecutive year. But audiences were down nine percent this season to an average 23.9 million, compared to a 2006 high of about 30.8 million.
Fox entertainment chairman Peter Rice told reporters earlier this month that there was "no bigger question this summer" for the network than the replacement of Cowell.
The acid-tongued British judge has quit to launch his own show on Fox in 2011, saying he was bored after nine years on "Idol."
Cowell is not alone when it comes to "Idol" fatigue. Media watchers say Fox, a unit of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, and "Idol" producers need bigger fixes if the show is to recapture its buzz and retain its fans.
"If they are smart, they will look at this as a way to re-boot the show from top to bottom, starting with the auditions, which were once funny, to the weekly themes like Elvis and the Beatles, which are getting stale," Entertainment Weekly's Michael Slezak told Reuters.
The addition of talk show host Ellen DeGeneres as a judge earlier this year was widely seen as a disappointment.
"Ellen was really dull. After that casting disaster, the Simon replacement is a pretty important one," said Robert Thompson, professor of popular culture at Syracuse University.
DeGeneres signed a five-year contract with "Idol" and judges Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi have contracts that take them into 2011. But some "Idol" watchers think the entire panel should be thrown out.
"I would be really tempted to clean house on the panel and freshen the show up so much you would have to tune in because you know the dynamic would be so different," said USA Today music writer Brian Mansfield.
"I think they will be in real trouble if they succumb to the temptation to bring in another celebrity judge," he added.
Fox has already announced some tweaks to the 10th season, which starts airing in January 2011. The hour-long weekly results show will be cut by half, while contestants will get an extra 30 minutes in later stages of the contest to perform.
Aspiring singers can audition on MySpace for the first time in addition to try-outs before the judges in U.S. cities nationwide this summer, Fox said on Wednesday.
"American Idol" creator Simon Fuller believes the format has life in it yet. "I think 'American Idol' will continue for a few more years for sure...It has had a fantastic run, so I am not complaining," Fuller told Reuters earlier this month.
And Thompson said that although the show has a lot of problems to overcome, "'American Idol' performing mediocre is better than most series at their best, which is why I think it is probably going to be around for a while. It just may not continue to be No.1 every week."

[Mohamad]

The real Emmys fun happens at low-profile event



LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - It's an event that has honored Sarah Silverman for her song "I'm F---ing Matt Damon" (from ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live"), blasphemed Jesus and featured nonagenarian fitness guru Jack LaLanne leading its audience in calisthenics.
Entertainment | Television | Media
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences calls it the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, but the event -- scheduled for August 21 at the Nokia Theatre and telecast in edited form the following Friday on E! Entertainment Television -- might more accurately be described as the Not Ready for Primetime Emmys.
Awards in 71 categories are handed out at the Creative Arts Emmys, more than double the amount at the Primetime Emmys, held a week later at the same venue. While the event has a handful of celebrity-friendly categories, like guest acting, the bulk of the awards are for below-the-line disciplines deemed too mundane for the big show, such as art direction, cinematography and sound editing.
The show's low profile has worked in its favor, making it one of the looser, edgier stops on the awards circuit.
"Because it's on a cable channel, not a broadcaster, and we know that the show is going to be edited, people tend to relax a little bit more with their language," TV Academy chairman and CEO John Shaffner says.
In recent years, the show has increased its celebrity quotient with high-profile hosts such as Penn & Teller, Neil Patrick Harris (who went on to host the Primetime Emmys in 2009) and George Lopez, and a growing number of TV star attendees and presenters, many of whom turn out to show support for the craftspeople on their shows.
One of the engines behind the evolution has been producer Spike Jones Jr., who started with the show in 1995 when it was just a modest dinner dance at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
"It was noisy, people were smashed," Jones recalls. Although "3,000 people smashed is a lot of fun," he allows, "it was basically, 'Here's your award, here's your salad, have a nice day.'"
When the Emmys were moved to the Shrine Auditorium in 1998, the TV Academy decided to give the Creative Arts Awards its own telecast, albeit a modest one carried by TV Land. Jones was given just three cameras to cover the action and less than 24 hours to whittle the three-hour-plus show down to a 90-minute special airing the following night.
"That was nuts," Jones says. "We literally finished the show and all went to an edit facility. We were making edits that none of us really wanted to make. We'd say, 'Let's look away from the monitors so we don't have to see what's happening, because we're just killing this thing.'"
Although producers are now given four days to edit the show, the cuts can still be brutal, particularly when it comes to acceptance speeches. The TV Academy's generous policy of guaranteeing every winner face time on the telecast means that awardees' rambling lists of thank-yous are often cut down to mere soundbites.
"People complain, 'How come my son's speech was cut?' Well, he didn't say anything pithy," Jones says.
The most noteworthy acceptance speech -- and arguably the most famous moment in Creative Arts Emmy history -- came in 2007 when Kathy Griffin stepped to the podium to pick up the best reality program award for her Bravo show "My Life on the D-List."
"A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus," Griffin said, holding up the statuette. "Suck it, Jesus. This award is my god now."
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights denounced Griffin's remarks as "obscene and blasphemous," and the TV Academy announced that her speech would be edited for the telecast. But a funny thing happened on the way to Griffin's eternal damnation: She was invited back to host the ceremonies in 2009.
"Now that I've been around the block a few times, I've learned that's the way these things typically go," says Griffin, who affectionately refers to the Creative Arts Awards as "the Schmemmys." "I curse on CNN on New Year's Eve, I 'get in trouble,' I 'get banned,' then they look at the ratings, and I get invited back next year."
Nonetheless, there are limits to how far the show is willing to go. In 2007, Jones had planned to film a cold open for the telecast in which actors from different shows would sing the words to the Emmy-nominated song "D--k in a Box" from NBC's "Saturday Night Live," but TV Academy officials nixed the idea.
For many, the most controversial aspect of the Creative Arts Awards is the idea that their category is being shunted off to a separate-but-not-so-equal ceremony. But "Mad Men" costume designer Katherine Jane Bryant says she understands.
"It would be nice to be on primetime, like (the belo

[Mohamad]

Crystal loses boyfriend, along with “American Idol” title

May 27, 2010 17:47 EDT
American Idol | boyfriend | Crystal Bowersox | Lee DeWyze Loser. Double Loser.http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/files/2010/05/Bowersox2.jpg
Turns out Crystal Bowersox, the “American Idol” season front-runner, lost more than the coveted title this week.
On the morning of Tuesday night’s performance finale, Bowersox and her boyfriend split up and he headed back to their Toledo, Ohio hometown as she prepared for the biggest night of her life.
Just a month ago, Bowersox had dedicated Shania Twain’s marriage-themed song “No-One Needs to Know” on the show to her sweetheart, adding that she was hoping “he’ll man up one of these days”.
“Big Tony…he went home. He wasn’t cool with the lifestyle,” Bowersox told “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest on his L.A radio show on Thursday “I didn’t break up with him…it was a mutual thing.”
“It’s cool though, we’re both logical, grown adults,” the dreadlocked single mom added. “He’s a small town guy and that’s fine. I’m a small town girl, but I want this. I want this more than anything, this career, this lifestyle. I didn’t think he was up for it…he didn’t think he was up for it.”
The split didn’t seem to have affected Crystal’s performance . “Idol” judges felt she out-classed rival Lee DeWyze with her three songs on Tuesday, and the 24 year-old Bowersox told Seacrest her boyfriend’s departure “set that fire to my belly”.
If Bowersox felt cheated at Wednesday’s result after having been tipped for weeks to win the contest, she was hiding it well.
“I knew Lee was going to win and people seem to be surprised by that, but I just had a feeling. As I said before, I couldn’t be happier for him. He deserves every minute of this,” she told reporters after Wednesday’s show.
” I just had this strange sense of peace and calm. I’ve been that way through the whole season if you haven’t noticed, I’m just mellow. And I was willing and ready and happy for whatever the outcome was. We both win. It’s not winner, loser. It’s winner, non-winner, or whatever you want to call it. But both of us are going to have very successful careers and we’re going to be friends for a long time.”
Asked what she had learned from being on “Idol”, the famously homespun Bowersox laughed and said; “That I can walk in heels!”
Should Crystal feel cheated? And why did America choose another white, male, guitar-player as its “Idol” for the third year in a row

[Mohamad]

Gary Coleman dies after brain hemorrhag




Gary Coleman has died





Showbiz Week: Gary Coleman dies
















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Actor Gary Coleman arrives at the 6th Annual TV Land Awards in Santa Monica, California in this June 8, 2008 file photo.
Credit: Reuters/Chris Pizzello




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former child star Gary Coleman, who shot to fame on TV sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" but suffered personal troubles as an adult, died in a Utah hospital on Friday, after suffering a brain hemorrhage. He was 42.
Entertainment | People
Coleman gained stardom as the sharp-talking Arnold Jackson, adopted son of a wealthy New Yorker, in the hit sitcom that aired on U.S. television from 1978 to 1986 and in syndication around the world. His line "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?," addressed to his brother on the series, became a pop culture catchphrase.
But when the show was taken off the air, Coleman saw his Hollywood star fade, and he found himself suffering through financial, legal and domestic problems.
"We are very sad to have to report Mr. Gary Coleman has passed away as of 12:05 p.m. Mountain Time," (6:05 gmt), his manager, John Alcantar, said in a statement.
Alcantar said Coleman was removed from life support, and "he passed quickly and peacefully" surrounded by his wife and other close family members.
The diminutive Coleman, who suffered from a congenital kidney disease that halted his growth, was hospitalized Wednesday night after suffering an intracranial hemorrhage at his home in Santaquin, Utah. Media reports said he had fallen and hit his head.
On Thursday, he was conscious and lucid in the morning, but in the afternoon his condition worsened. He slipped into unconsciousness and was placed on life support at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.
"Gary is now at peace, and his memory will be kept in the hearts of those who were entertained by him throughout the years," Alcantar said.
Indeed, many Hollywood stars responded by taking to social networking site Twitter, with celebrities from Janet Jackson, who guest-starred on "Diff'rent Strokes," to Ashton Kutcher and Kim Kardashian offering thoughts and prayers.
"I'm at a loss for words upon learning of Gary Coleman's passing. I want to remember him as the fun, playful, adorable and affectionate man he was," Jackson tweeted.
SMALL BUT MIGHTY
Born February 8, 1968, in Zion, Illinois, Coleman was an adopted son who suffered a condition known as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, an autoimmune disease that alters the kidneys. As a result, Coleman stopped growing at a height of 4 ft. 8 in. and underwent two kidney transplants in his life.
But his size, coupled with his age, made him the perfect fit for the role of the funny, sassy and often emotional Arnold Jackson on "Diff'rent Strokes."
The show revolved around a 12-year-old girl and her rich white father, who adopted the two black sons of his housemaid after she died. Arnold was 8 years old and his brother, Willis, was 12 when they came to live with the Drummonds in an upscale Manhattan apartment.
Coleman's cute face and smart mouth -- he played the role of young Arnold when, in fact, he was roughly 10 to 18 years old -- quickly put him at the center of the show. He made millions of dollars from "Diff'rent Strokes" and from guest appearances on TV talk shows and other programs. U.S. cable television channel VH1 ranked him No. 1 among a list of "100 Greatest Kid Stars."
But Coleman never recaptured his fame after the show ended. As an adult, much of his work went straight to video, and he became a symbol of faded Hollywood stardom.
In 1989, he sued his parents and former manager for mishandling his finances, and for a time he worked as a security guard. In 2003, he made a failed bid to become governor of California in a recall election that eventually saw Arnold Schwarzenegger become the chief executive of the state.
Coleman also suffered legal troubles. In 1998, he was charged with assault after hitting a woman who asked for his autograph in one of several instances of disorderly conduct.
Just this past January, he was arrested in Utah on a charge of domestic violence. But he and his wife remained married.

[Mohamad]

Life after "American Idol" opens up for Lee and Crystal


Talk of the Town: Elton in Morocco







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Finalists Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze await the winners announcement from host Ryan Seacrest onstage at the American Idol Grand Finale 2010 in Los Angeles, May 26, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Vince Bucci/Fox/PictureGroup/Handout




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "American Idol" winner Lee DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox said on Friday they look forward to their new lives after finishing the hit TV show, and they both described being on "Idol" as exhausting work.
Entertainment | Television | Music
DeWyze, whose win over Bowersox earlier this week came as a surprise to some "Idol" watchers, said performing on the singing contest is great, but it can be tough to work.
Each performance has to be about a minute and a half, and often "Idol" contestants must sing in genres, such as country or soul, they would not normally attempt.
"I'm just excited to get on the big stage and put on a performance, put on a show without time limits, without judging," DeWyze told reporters on a conference call.
DeWyze beat Bowersox when the tally of votes from viewers was revealed in the season finale of "American Idol" on Wednesday. As a result, he wins a guaranteed recording contract, but Bowersox is also expected to get a record deal, just like past runner-ups.
DeWyze said that by the time contestants reach the final weeks of "Idol" they are exhausted from the mental stress of the show, but "not in a bad way."
Bowersox, a single mom with a 16 month-old son, had a similar take on her "Idol" experience.
"It's a hard process, people don't realize how grueling the show is," she said in a separate conference call.
DeWyze, 24, said he likes to listen to music by Ben Harper, Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden and Kings of Leon, and he wants to record an album with a "folk rock kind of alternative vibe to it."
"I want it to be very earthy but at the same time be able to reach out to a lot of different people," he said.
Bowersox, also 24, said that for her part, she looks forward to recording "simple songs that people can relate to, enjoy and hopefully learn something from, through my experience."
The Ohio native has revealed she and her boyfriend, Tony Kusian, split up the morning of her final Tuesday night performance, when she had to compete for votes and the "Idol" crown.
"Tony's been my rock through all of this, he's been there for me and he's been amazing and I've got a great amount of respect and love for him," she said. "And it was a mutual thing. He's a small town guy and wants a simple, quiet life and I respect that of him."
Bowersox was asked if she and DeWyze would ever date, because they seem to get along.
"Oh no, that wouldn't happen," she said. "Lee's like a brother to me, I love him dearly but not that way."
DeWyze grew up outside Chicago, and he said that he loves hanging out with friends at the city's bars, going to see a ball game and strolling through the arts district.
As it happens, Bowersox has spent a lot of time in Chicago. She lived there for five years and would perform in the city's subways.

[Mohamad]

Pop star Ke$ha sued by former managers in NYC


http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/p/ap_logo_106.png http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100528/capt.8e225aa6b92f410cbfca0f0b14d46f3a-8e225aa6b92f410cbfca0f0b14d46f3a-0.jpg?x=213&y=289&xc=1&yc=1&wc=301&hc=408&q=85&sig=05_CgqHNqo3XjE4K4sME.w-- AP – In this May 15, 2010 photo, Ke$ha is seen backstage after her performance at the 102.7 KIIS FM?s Wango … By JENNIFER PELTZ, Associated Press Writer Jennifer Peltz, Associated Press Writer – Fri May 28, 8:08 pm ET

NEW YORK – Ke$ha's former managers say the pop star squeezed them out of her career under pressure from hit songwriter Dr. Luke, but her lawyer said Friday she simply exercised her rights to fire the managers when they didn't perform.

Ke$ha, who had the No. 1 song in the country with "TiK ToK" earlier this year, signed up with ex-managers DAS Communications Inc. when she was an up-and-comer in 2006. Their agreement called for her to pay the New York-based firm 20 percent of her music income, but it gave her the option of ending the relationship if DAS didn't get her a major-label record deal in a year, according to a copy of the contract attached to a lawsuit DAS filed Wednesday.

A year later, there was no deal. DAS says Ke$ha waived the deadline, and the firm went on to line up a deal for her with Warner Bros. Records in 2008 — until Dr. Luke interfered with that arrangement and "induced, intimidated and convinced Ke$ha" to cut ties to DAS in September 2008.

She ultimately signed with RCA/Jive Label Group, which released her first album, "Animal," in January. Dr. Luke co-produced it.

The lawsuit, filed in state court in Manhattan, seeks more than $14 million in damages from her and $12 million from Dr. Luke, who won songwriter of the year at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' Pop Music Awards last month. No representative or phone number for him could be found.

Ke$ha's lawyer, Charles Ortner, said she was entitled to end her relationship with the firm, headed by David Sonenberg. He has worked with Paula Abdul, Meat Loaf and others.

"This lawsuit seeks to require her to pay him commissions on her RCA/Jive record deal that he had nothing to do with, long after she terminated him in writing," Ortner said.

Recorded messages Friday evening at the offices of Warner Bros. Records and RCA/Jive's parent company, Sony Music Entertainment, said they were closed for the Memorial Day weekend.

Dr. Luke, born Lukasz Gottwald, wrote five of the top hits of 2009, including Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold," Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA" and Flo Rida's "Right Round."

[Mohamad]

Cameron says BP turned down offer to help on spill




http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100603&t=2&i=118659560&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-03T062215Z_01_BTRE6520HP800_RTROPTP_0_KOREA Film director and Lightstorm Entertainment Chairman James Cameron answers a reporter's question during a news conference after he delivered a keynote address titled ''Renaissance now in imagination and technology'' at the Seoul Digital Forum 2010 May 13, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Jo Yong-Hak




PALOS VERDES Calif (Reuters) - Film director and deep-sea explorer James Cameron said on Wednesday that BP Plc turned down his offer to help combat the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Entertainment
"Over the last few weeks I've watched, as we all have, with growing horror and heartache, watching what's happening in the Gulf and thinking those morons don't know what they're doing," Cameron said at the All Things Digital technology conference.
Cameron, the director of "Avatar" and "Titanic," has worked extensively with robot submarines and is considered an expert in undersea filming. He did not say explicitly who he meant when he referred to "those morons."
His comments came a day after he participated in a meeting at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington to "brainstorm" solutions to the oil spill.
Cameron said he has offered to help the government and BP in dealing with the spill. He said he was "graciously" turned away by the British energy giant.
He said he has not spoken with the White House about his offer, and said that the outside experts who took part in the EPA meeting were now "writing it all up and putting in reports to the various agencies."
The film director has helped develop deep-sea submersible equipment and other underwater ocean technology for the making of documentaries exploring the wrecks of the ocean liner Titanic and the German battleship Bismarck some two miles below the surface.
'REALLY SMART PEOPLE'
Cameron suggested the U.S. government needed to take a more active role in monitoring the undersea gusher, which has become the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
"I know really, really, really smart people that work typically at depths much greater than what that well is at," Cameron said.
The BP oil spill off the U.S. Gulf Coast is located a mile below the surface.
While acknowledging that his contacts in the deep-sea industry do not drill for oil, Cameron said that they are accustomed to operating various underwater vehicles and electronic optical fiber systems.
"Most importantly," he added, "they know the engineering that it requires to get something done at that depth."
Among the key issues that Cameron said he is interested in helping the government with are methods of monitoring the oil leak and investigating it.
"The government really needs to have its own independent ability to go down there and image the site, survey the site and do its own investigation," he said.
"Because if you're not monitoring it independently, you're asking the perpetrator to give you the video of the crime scene," Cameron added.
Cameron made two documentaries about the wreck of the Titanic as well as the blockbuster 1997 movie "Titanic" using a small fleet of specially designed remotely operated underwater vehicles. He said his qualifications are not based on his background as a movie director but on his years of involvement in the deep-sea industry.
(Reporting by Alexei Oreskovic, with additional reporting by Jill Sergeant)

[Mohamad]

Sick John Mayer cancels Europe shows, heads back to U.S.




http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100602&t=2&i=118235336&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-02T194246Z_01_BTRE6511IRX00_RTROPTP_0_US-MAYER John Mayer performs during memorial services for pop star Michael Jackson in Los Angeles July 7, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Illness has forced singer John Mayer to cancel his shows in Amsterdam, Madrid and Manchester, a statement on his website said on Wednesday.
Entertainment | Music | People
The "Say" singer was due to play a concert in Amsterdam on Wednesday, followed later this week by another show in that city and performances in Madrid and Manchester.
But he is returning to the United States although no details of his illness were available. "A full recovery is expected under a doctor's supervision," his website said.
Mayer, 32, is the bluesy singer of songs such as "Waiting on the World to Change" and "Daughters".
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Jill Serjeant)

[Mohamad]

Adam Lambert promises "***y" but "tasteful" show
Gary Graff


http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100603&t=2&i=118435446&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-03T003222Z_01_BTRE65201IE00_RTROPTP_0_USA Adam Lambert performs at the 2010 Wango Tango concert in Los Angeles in this May 15, 2010 file photo.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni




DETROIT (Billboard) - Adam Lambert promises that it will be safe for anyone who was offended by his ***ually charged performance of "For Your Entertainment" at the 2009 American Music Awards to check out his Glam Nation tour.
Entertainment | Music | People
"I definitely think they'll be comfortable," Lambert said of fans who will see him on the tour, which begins Thursday (June 3) in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. "That was kind of an artistic experiment, the AMAs. I learned a lot from it. I learned what my limitations are. I learned what my audience wants to see. The (Glam Nation) concert definitely is ***y, but I feel if anyone thought (the AMA performance) was not tasteful, this is tasteful."
The 2009 "American Idol" runner-up told Billboard.com that his show is "visually inspired by turn-of-the-century New Orleans ... a kitschy, glam, voodoo, crystal ball, black magic kind of look (with) a lot of psychedelic, classic rock visual references. Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Keith Richards -- those are the people who have inspired the look and the feel of the show. I had fun with the projectionist and my costume designer and ... (the show) has its own little world."
Lambert said the concerts will have a theme. "From the top of the show I'm inviting the audience to take a journey with me into this emotional and thematic world," he said. "At the beginning it's more about seduction, venturing into the unknown and taking chances -- mystery and intrigue and ***iness. The midpoint of the show really explores heartbreak and vulnerability and honesty, and then the latter half of the show is celebration and joy and love and connection."
Lambert also promised "a surprise cover (song) or two," as well as a mid-show acoustic section that he said "will vary from night to night, week to week."
With the tour, Lambert remains focused on his 2009 debut album, "For Your Entertainment," which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in November and has spawned three singles -- the title track, the top 10 hit "Whataya Want From Me" and the currently rising "If I Had You" -- as well as a "Remixes" set in April. He said working on his next album is "a little ways off. I think that in the new year, after January, I'll probably get to start working on it. At this point my focus is really on continuing to put out singles from ('For Your Entertainment') and this tour."
He acknowledged that he's collaborated with singer Nikka Costa on "possible future music," but did not elaborate.
As for figuring out his career approach these days, Lambert referred to advice he received from Madonna. "She basically said you can't pay attention to all the extraneous crap. You can't listen to the critics. You can't be affected too much by what people want. You have to keep your eye on the prize, and even though your attention and your goal is to entertain people, you have to kind of follow your own instincts. That's what I've really been working at. And I think that I've come to a great space of late on how to achieve that and what my goals are, and just coming from a positive, productive place. I feel like that's the best I can do."

[Mohamad]

Court halts release of Jim Carrey film


Thu Jun 3, 2010 12:31am EDT

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A California District Court judge has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the U.S. release of the indie comedy "I Love You Phillip Morris," starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor.
Entertainment | Film
The Glenn Ficarra/John Requa film, about a married man who gets into a car crash, discovers he's *** and goes on a crime spree that eventually lands him in jail, was produced by French movie studio EuropaCorp, which licensed domestic rights to Consolidated Pictures Group.
The film premiered in 2009 at Sundance, where it received a warm but not overwhelming response. Buyers weren't exactly jumping at the difficult subject matter, but upstart distributor Consolidated took U.S. rights and planned to release it, first in February, then March, April, and then July.
However, the Luc Besson-backed EuropaCorp says it never got the full $3 million advance that Consolidated agreed to pay last year. An agreement between the two parties was amended in February to allow Consolidated to pay in three installments, but EuropaCorp says it still didn't receive any money.
In April, EuropaCorp rescinded its distribution agreement and filed a lawsuit against Consolidated alleging breach of contract and copyright infringement. The studio demanded the return of the movie and marketing materials. Gossip sites suggested they were looking for another distributor.
In response, Consolidated argued that EuropaCorp hadn't delivered the film on time, had breached its agreement by entering into distribution agreements with Virgin Atlantic and other airlines, and that its failure to pay wasn't a sufficient material breach. Consolidated requested a stay so it could hash out the dispute in an arbitration proceeding at the Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA).
Now, in her decision, California District Court Judge Dale Fischer says EuropaCorp is likely to succeed on the merits of its claims and portrays the defendant's arguments as weak. As a result, the judge has granted EuropaCorp's request for an injunction provided it put up a $500,000 bond pending the ultimate outcome of the case. The dispute will now head to the IFTA arbitration, hopefully within the next two months, we're told.
"This was only a preliminary ruling pending a final determination by the arbitrator," says Consolidated's lead attorney, Robert Chapman. "We believe the arbitrator will find in favor of my clients."
According to EuropaCorp attorney Dale Kinsella, "No amount of spin from Consolidated can mask the fact that Europa persuaded a federal district judge that Consolidated breached the contract by never having paid a dime for this picture, and that they had therefore no right to claim to be a distributor or claim to distribute the film, period. Nothing in the judge's order in any way affects Europa's right to distribute the film from this point forward."
Regardless of the outcome, the film won't be in theaters next month as planned. In fact, the movie's website has disappeared, and October is now Consolidated's target release date, just in time for Oscar season

[Mohamad]

Oprah Winfrey among Minerva Award recipients

Wed Jun 2, 2010 9:46pm EDT




http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100603&t=2&i=118481540&w=320&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-03T014612Z_01_BTRE65204YE00_RTROPTP_0_USA Oprah Winfrey gestures as she starts her charity walk called ''Live Your Best Life Walk'' in New York in this May 9, 2010 file photo.
Credit: Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi















NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Oprah Winfrey will be among the five women honored with this year's Minerva Awards by California First Lady Maria Shriver.
Entertainment | Television | People
The awards will be presented to the honorees on October 26 at the Women's Conference in Long Beach.
Created by Shriver in 2004, the Minerva Awards honor women "who serve on the frontlines of humanity." Winfrey will receive the award for her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa and the Oprah Angel Network.
Former Supreme Court judge Sandra Day O'Connor also has been chosen to receive the award, as have Operation Gratitude founder Carolyn Blashek; Oral Lee Brown, whose foundation assists high school students in Oakland, California; and Sister Terry Dodge, the executive director of Crossroads Inc., a residential program in Claremont, California, that offers support and counseling to women who have been incarcerated.
"This year's Minerva Award honorees are women who live with a deep sense of purpose and who are passionately dedicated to serving others," said Shriver. "These Minervas all identified problems and unmet needs in their communities and have worked tirelessly to solve them."

[Mohamad]

Are moviegoers tiring of sequels
















http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100602&t=2&i=118029274&w=300&fh=300&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-02T134459Z_01_BTRE651127300_RTROPTP_0_JAPAN

Sarah Jessica Parker attends the Japan premiere of ''*** and the City 2'' in Tokyo June 1, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Michael Caronna




LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Hollywood still hopes to shake off early symptoms, but there is spreading concern that the summer box office will be plagued by a nasty case of sequelitis.
Entertainment | Film
Conditions are ripe: Studios have planted 11 sequels or franchise reboots in the fertile May-August span, up from nine last summer and seven from the 2008 season. Those that have opened so far have underwhelmed, with seasonal box office off by a double-digit margin and studio executives beginning to feel woozy.
Most recently, Warner Bros.' "*** and the City 2" was expected to outpace its 2008 predecessor and top the Memorial Day weekend. Instead, it lagged the original's bow dramatically and debuted with a tarnished bronze medal, trailing even Disney's disappointing "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time." (A would-be franchise starter, "Persia" will need outsize international contributions to reach profitability.)
DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek Forever After" finished first in the frame. But that offered limited relief, as the Paramount-distributed four-quel missed consensus forecasts for its opening by a nauseating $30 million. Reaction to the latest disappointments came swiftly.
"There very well could be some burnout with moviegoers, who are looking for something new and fresh," a top studio executive lamented Tuesday.
'IRON' GLEAMS
Not everything has been doom and gloom. Summer's first "tentpole" release (a film counted on, as a guaranteed box-office success, to support the rest of a studio's slate), Paramount's "Iron Man 2," soon should top $300 million after initially disappointing those hoping the Robert Downey Jr.-starring action feature would kick-start the all-important season with a record bow.
But the desultory outings of "Shrek Forever" and "*** 2" have many seeing signs of franchise fatigue. "Watching the decline of '*** and the City 2' every day has really surprised us," another top industyite said.
The New Line-produced comedy-drama fetched $14.2 million in its first day of release Thursday but at least $2 million less each day since.
Still, it's possible to explain each picture's disappointment individually. Expectations of a summer-launching record opening by the "Iron Man" sequel probably were unrealistic, and the second-week traction by "Shrek Forever" suggests a run as leggy as that of most family movies. As for "*** 2," the TV series leading to the big-screen franchise ended a distant six years ago.
Film-specific explanations for box-office wobbles have some predicting smoother sailing through the balance of the sequel-filled summer. But it's too soon to tell if Hollywood can quell its box-office maladies before contagion spreads. The next sequel set to hit multiplexes is Disney/Pixar's "Toy Story 3," which nobody expects to have any difficulty generating impressive box office when it opens June 18. "The interest is immense," Disney distribution topper Chuck Viane said.
BOX-OFFICE 'ECLIPSE'?
Remakes such as Sony's "The Karate Kid," opening June 11, also will be watched carefully. But prerelease interest in the reimagined "Kid" appears high, and its comparisons with decades-old box-office figures won't be difficult.
So it's possible the best test of moviegoers' attitudes won't come until June 30, when Summit Entertainment sends out the "Twilight" threequel, "Eclipse." All signs point to enormous interest among the fanged franchise's young fan base. But could the vampire romance open well but still be deemed a failure?
Not bloody likely, said a distribution topper at a rival studio citing tracking data.
"Expectations can get out of hand, but I would put the 'Twlight' picture down for a $125 million opening right now," the industryite said. "That's huge."
Just not as huge as the opening posted by the franchise's first sequel: "New Moon" bowed with $142.8 million in November.
Rentrak data show summer box office is off 21 percent so far at $813 million. The season starts on the first Friday of May and got a one-weekend head start May 1 last year. Adding one weekend from the end of spring cuts this year's underperformance to 12 percent. But ticket-price inflation since last summer means admissions are off more significantly.

[Mohamad]

"***" sells at British box office

LONDON
Wed Jun 2, 2010 5:42pm EDT








http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100602&t=2&i=118314498&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-02T214256Z_01_BTRE6511OBM00_RTROPTP_0_JAPAN (from L-R) Director Michael Patrick King, cast members Kim Cattrall, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, and producer John Melfi attend the Japan premiere of ''*** and the City 2'' in Tokyo June 1, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Michael Caronna




LONDON (Reuters) - The glamorous gals of *** and the City swept to the top of the box office on the debut of their sequel in Britain with one of the year's biggest opening takes, according to Screen International on Wednesday.
Entertainment | Film
Critics hated "*** and the City 2," which reunites actresses Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis with director Michael Patrick King.
But British audiences thought otherwise, paying 6.1 million pounds ($8.86 million) to see it on the three days from Friday to Sunday over the holiday weekend.
Last week's chart topper, 3D dance musical "Streetdance," was down in second place while Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley and Gemma Arterton in Disney's "Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time" were down one spot at three.
Director Ridley Scott's take on the legend of Robin Hood slipped a place at four.
Family comedy "The Tooth Fairy" was new at five with the story of a hard-charging, denture-busting hockey player being forced to atone for his sins by becoming a real tooth fairy.
"Iron Man 2," starring Robert Downey Jr as a billionaire with a suit of invincible armor, was down two places at six, just above newcomer "Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back" at seven.
"The Losers," a tale of U.S. special forces in the Bolivian jungle, made its debut at eight while Nicolas Cage in "Bad Lieutenant" was unchanged at nine.
"Four Lions," a controversial comedic look at a group of British Jihadists and their dreams of glory, was the week's biggest faller, slipping to 10 from six.

[Mohamad]

Paul Rudd to star in "My Idiot Brother



http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100602&t=2&i=117737188&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-02T041950Z_01_BTRE6510C1B00_RTROPTP_0_PEOPLE-RUDD Cast member Paul Rudd, from the movie ''I Love You, Man,'' poses for a portrait in Santa Monica, California March 15, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni




LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Paul Rudd has signed to star as the title character in "My Idiot Brother," a comedy being directed Jesse Peretz.
Entertainment | Film
Rudd will play an idealist trying to cope with his overbearing mother, who crashes into the homes of his three ambitious sisters and brings, in succession, truth, happiness and a sunny disposition into their lives while also wreaking havoc.
Production is slated to begin in July in New York, with the parts of the sisters to be cast soon. In keeping with the family affair, the script is written by Peretz's sister, Evgenia Peretz, along with David Schisgall.
"Everyone on Earth who has a brother has an idiot brother," Bregman said. "I come from a family of three brothers, so I know that better than anyone. And what could beat the prospect of working with Jesse and Paul, who are like brothers to each other, to bring that message out into the world?"
Peretz, whose directing credits include episodes of Comedy Central's "Important Things With Demetri Martin," worked with Rudd on the 2001 indie comedy "The Chateau."
Rudd next stars opposite Steve Carell in the comedy "Dinner for Schmucks," to be released in July. James Brooks' "How Do You Know," in which Rudd stars opposite Reese Witherspoon, is slated for a December 17 opening.

[Mohamad]

Sarah Polley puts a "Splice" in Hollywood career







http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100601&t=2&i=117567520&w=300&fh=300&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-01T221855Z_01_BTRE6501PZM00_RTROPTP_0_FILM-POLLEY

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http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100601&t=2&i=117567521&w=300&fh=300&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-01T221855Z_01_BTRE6501PZO00_RTROPTP_0_FILM-POLLEY


Actress Sarah Polley who stars in the upcoming movie ''Splice'' poses for a portrait in Hollywood, California May 22, 2010. A few years ago, actress Sarah Polley became a bonafide filmmaker, walking Oscars' red carpet with her 2006 directing debut ''Away From Her,'' which earned her a best adapted screenplay nomination. On Friday, she stars in sci-fi horror thriller ''Splice,'' portraying a scientist in a human engineering experiment run amok. Picture taken May 22, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A few years ago, actress Sarah Polley became a bonafide filmmaker, walking Oscars' red carpet with her 2006 directing debut "Away From Her," which earned her a best adapted screenplay nomination.
Entertainment | Film
With that kind of success, one might think the former child star, now 31 years-old, would give up life in front of the camera and take a permanent seat in a director's chair, but Polley has a mind of her own. She wants both.
On Friday, she stars in sci-fi horror thriller "Splice," portraying a scientist in a human engineering experiment run amok. It is her first major movie acting role since the success of low-budget Alzheimer's drama "Away From Her." And working on the film was a chance for Polley to take a break and follow someone else's lead, she said, before returning to directing.
"It was great to abdicate control over everything," she told Reuters in a recent interview.
In "Splice," Polley takes the part of Elsa, who teams with another scientist, played by Adrien Brody, to splice human DNA and create a being that is both human and beast.
Dren possesses some human features but also has hoofs and a tail, and as the movie unfolds, Dren grows other appendages and shows abilities that inevitably lead to big trouble.
The scientists' dream of creating a superhuman being, as represented by Dren, slowly becomes a nightmare and they have to either contain it or kill it.
"The film explores what would happen if science was totally unregulated and two people could go into a back room and do whatever they wanted," Polley said. "Elsa is almost insane with her vision and ambition, and I'm not like that at all. To play someone who is driven like that was fascinating. She's probably the most interesting character I have ever played as a woman."
CHILD STAR, ACTRESS, DIRECTOR
Polley began acting in her hometown Toronto, Canada, at the tender age of four. She first appeared in Disney film "One Magic Christmas" and quickly moved on to more prominent roles in films like "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" and the television series "Road to Avonlea."
Throughout her career, she's worked consistently in both Canadian and U.S. films including Atom Egoyan's "The Sweet Hereafter," Doug Liman's "Go" and the 2004 remake of "Dawn of the Dead."
Though women directors have always been few and far between in Hollywood, Polley knew she wanted to eventually direct. At age 21, she had just finished her first short film when she was cast to star in Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow's "The Weight of Water."
"We had a lot of great conversations about what it meant to be a female filmmaker," recalled Polley. "She gave a lot of advice, was hugely supportive and showed such an active interest in my work. She took the idea of mentorship seriously, which was great for me."
Bigelow, of course, won the most recent Academy Award for directing Iraq war movie, "The Hurt Locker," and Polley is no stranger to critical success with "Away From Her," in which a man watches his wife slip away due to Alzheimer's.
While she lost the adapted screenplay Oscar to Joel and Ethan Coen and "No Country for Old Men," Polley made Canadian history when she was the first woman to win a Genie (Canada's equivalent of the Oscars) for directing "Away From Her."
Though she acknowledges, "symbols are always helpful and good for the next generation of female filmmakers," Polley said awards are not something she ever focused on.
"I'm not ambitious in an overall sense, nor do I feel the need to achieve things," she said. "I guess I feel like you can't ultimately control a career, so why try."
But movies are another matter.
This July, Polley begins shooting her follow-up directorial feature, "Take This Waltz," starring Seth Rogen, Michelle Williams, Sarah Silverman and Luke Kirby. She also wrote the script about what happens when the honeymoon period of a new relationship is over.

[Mohamad]

Demi Moore set to publish memoir in 2012

NEW YORK
Tue Jun 8, 2010 2:10am EDT


http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100608&t=2&i=123198358&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-08T060957Z_01_BTRE6570C2V00_RTROPTP_0_USA Actress Demi Moore poses at the 18th annual ''A Night at Sardi's'' benefiting the Alzheimer's Association in Beverly Hills, California in this March 18, 2010 file photo.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni




NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hollywood actress Demi Moore is all set to go public in a memoir with details of her three marriages and showbusiness career spanning three decades.
Entertainment | People | Arts | Lifestyle
HarperCollins said on Monday that it had bought world rights to a memoir by the actress that will cover her life and career. The book, as yet unnamed, is scheduled for release in 2012.
Business news website Crain's New York.com quoted unidentified publishing industry executives with knowledge of the deal saying HarperCollins had agreed to pay more than $2 million for the book.
HarperCollins spokeswoman Tina Andreadis declined to comment on the reported price tag.
Moore, 47, has starred in a list of movies including "Ghost," "Indecent Proposal," and "A Few Good Men," as well as some widely-panned films such as "Striptease" and "G.I. Jane."
The actress has in the past acknowledged a troubled upbringing and difficult relationship with her alcoholic mother, Virginia King, who died from a brain tumor in 1998.
Moore was once one the highest paid actresses in Hollywood and in 1991 controversially appeared naked and pregnant on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine.
Moore was married to singer-songwriter Freddy Moore for five years from whom she took her surname before marrying actor Bruce Willis in 1987, a marriage that lasted 13 years and resulted in three daughters, Rumer, Scout and Tallulah.

[Mohamad]

Charlie Sheen assault plea hits snag, case delayed




Charlie Sheen's case postponed








http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100608&t=2&i=123003636&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-08T004312Z_01_BTRE657020600_RTROPTP_0_PEOPLE-SHEEN-POSTPONED Actor Charlie Sheen (R) waves as he leaves the Pitkin County Courthouse with his attorney Richard Cummins after a court hearing in Aspen, Colorado June 7, 2010. Sheen's court hearing for a Christmas Day assault on his wife was postponed on Monday until July. No agreement was reached at the hearing as to the disposition of the case against him as a plea deal did not go through as planned.
Credit: Reuters/Rick Wilking




ASPEN Colo (Reuters) - A deal that would have wrapped up Charlie Sheen's assault case against his wife in time to resume production on his top-rated television comedy hit a snag on Monday and the case was postponed until July.
Entertainment | People | Lifestyle
Sheen, 44, the star of CBS's "Two and a Half Men", had been expected to plead guilty at the Aspen court to a reduced charge of misdemeanor assault against Brooke Mueller, and to be sentenced to 30 days behind bars.
The plea bargain would have allowed Sheen to leave jail by day to coach actors at a local Aspen theater, and would have had him finishing his sentence in time to start filming the new series of "Two and a Half Men" in the first week of August.
But the chief prosecutor told Judge James Boyd on Monday that the two sides had been unable to reach an agreement. Boyd rescheduled the hearing until July 12.
Prosecutor Arnold Mordkin declined to give details. "It hit a snag," he told reporters afterward. "I am not going to talk about it."
Sheen's attorney Yale Galanter said the actor was disappointed at the failure to resolve the case. "All parties in good faith put this deal together, but minor glitches developed," Galanter told reporters.
Galanter said the "glitches" were not related to Sheen's work release arrangement at the Aspen theater.
Sheen, the highest-paid actor on U.S. television, left court without speaking to the media. Mueller, who had told police that Sheen pulled a knife and threatened to have her killed during the alcohol-fueled argument on Christmas Day 2009, was not seen in Aspen for Monday's hearing.
The plea deal would have dropped the most serious charges against Sheen, who had faced up to three years behind bars if he had been convicted on all the offenses.
The actor had been widely expected to start his jail term later on Monday. With credit for good behavior, he could have been released early after 17 days.
Sheen and Mueller, the actor's third wife, married in 2008 and have twin, one-year-old sons. Mueller has repeatedly said she wants the case dropped. Both Sheen and Mueller entered rehab earlier this year and attempted a reconciliation but have recently been reported to be living in separate homes.
Sheen's legal troubles have had little effect on his popularity. Audiences for "Two and a Half Men" -- the most popular comedy on U.S. television -- proved steady after his Christmas Day arrest. Sheen last month negotiated a new, two year contract with CBS that took his pay to a reported $1.8 million per episode.
Galanter told reporters he believed there was still time to get the case resolved before filming resumes for the comedy series, in which Sheen plays a womanizing bachelor.
"We are still okay," he said, adding that the July 12 court date could be brought forward if the parties can resolve their differences.
"Sometimes people have the best of interests, but the stars don't align," Galanter said of Monday's failure to conclude the case.

[Mohamad]

Marvin Isley of Isley Brothers dies at age 56

M. Tye Comer
Tue Jun 8, 2010 2:45am EDT


NEW YORK (Billboard) - Marvin Isley, bass player for the Isley Brothers, died in Chicago on Sunday, aged 56. He reportedly succumbed to complications from diabetes, a disease that forced him to retire from performing with the legendary funk band in 1997.
Entertainment | Music
Marvin joined the Isley Brothers in 1973 after the original lineup -- comprised of older brothers O'Kelly Jr., Rudolph and Ronald -- had scored hits with songs like "Twist and Shout," "It's Your Thing" and "Shout."
The band's first album with Marvin, 1973's "3+3," went platinum. Marvin is credited with bringing a funkier, younger vibe to the group on several songs that have been heavily sampled by hip-hop artists such as Ice Cube and Jim Jones.
The Isley Brothers continued to chart throughout the '70s with songs like "Who's That Lady," "Fight the Power" and "Between the Sheets," many of which were co-written by Marvin and the two younger members, brother Ernie and brother-in-law Chris Jasper. Marvin, Ernie and Jasper split off in 1984 to form Isley-Jasper-Isley, but returned to the fold in 1991.

[Mohamad]

MTV Movie Awards drop 13 percent in ratings

LOS ANGELES
Mon Jun 7, 2010 11:02pm EDT




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From left to right, Anna Kendrick, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner stand on stage to accept the Best Movie award at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles June 6, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The "Twilight" stars, Tom Cruise's funky dance moves and a rainstorm of f-bombs could not stop the MTV Movie Awards from suffering a 13 percent drop in viewership, according to data issued on Monday.
Entertainment | Film | Television
The two-hour ceremony averaged 4.6 million viewers on Sunday, down from 5.3 million for last year's installment, which was the show's biggest audience since 2004.
The "Twilight" sequel "New Moon" nabbed five awards, including best movie. Cruise got dirty on the dance floor with Jennifer Lopez, and few presenters or winners passed up the opportunity to titillate the crowd with naughty epithets

[Mohamad]

True Blood" star Moyer picks pair of pictures

Borys Kit
Tue Jun 8, 2010 1:39am EDT


http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100608&t=2&i=123178123&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-08T053912Z_01_BTRE6570FPI00_RTROPTP_0_TELEVISION-EMMYS Actor Stephen Moyer of ''True Blood'' arrives on the red carpet at the 61st annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California September 20, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Danny Moloshok




LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "True Blood" vampire Stephen Moyer has signed on for a pair of movies.
Entertainment | Film
He will join Richard Gere and Topher Grace in the thriller "The Double," and will then star in "The Big Valley" with Jessica Lange.
"The Double" centers on a retired CIA operative (Gere) forced to partner with a young FBI agent (Grace) to hunt down the killer of a U.S. senator. Moyer will play a Russian spy. Shooting starts June 21 in Detroit. The indie project marks the directorial debut of scribe Michael Brandt.
Next month, Moyer will hop to Louisiana for "The Big Valley," a big-screen take on the 1960s ABC series that starred Barbara Stanwyck. The feature sees Lange stepping into Stanwyck's role of matriarch of the Barkleys, a family of ranchers in 19th century California.
Moyer will play Jarrod Barkley, the family's respected attorney who represents ranchers fighting to keep their land from being taken by railroad companies. Richard Long played him on the TV series. Daniel Adams wrote the screenplay and is directing.

[Mohamad]

Alanis Morissette marries rapper boyfriend

LOS ANGELES
Mon Jun 7, 2010 9:03pm EDT

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100608&t=2&i=123016842&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-08T010252Z_01_BTRE65702X500_RTROPTP_0_ARGENTINA Canadian musician Alanis Morissette performs during her concert in Buenos Aires in this February 12, 2009 file photo.
Credit: Reuters/Marcos Brindicci




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Canadian-born rock singer Alanis Morissette has secretly married her boyfriend, a rapper she started dating last year, she announced on Monday.
Entertainment | People
The Grammy-winning musician and MC Souleye, 30, (a.k.a. Mario Treadway) tied the knot during a small ceremony at their Los Angeles home on May 22, according to People magazine.
Morissette, who turned 36 last week, did not disclose details when she took to Twitter and Facebook to share the news.
"Hi guys! So happy to share with you that my man Souleye and I got married," she wrote. "We're very excited to embark on this journey with each other."
Morissette, best known for her 1995 tirade against a former boyfriend, "You Oughta Know," was previously engaged to actor Ryan Reynolds but the relationship ended in 2007.

[Mohamad]

Stanley Tucci joins "Captain America

Jay Fernandez
Tue Jun 8, 2010 2:09am EDT


http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100608&t=2&i=123197868&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-08T060906Z_01_BTRE6570H3900_RTROPTP_0_FILM-SAGAWARDS-ARRIVALS Actor Stanley Tucci arrives at the 16th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles January 23, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Danny Moloshok




LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Marvel is plugging holes all over its "Avengers" franchise.
Entertainment | Film
In its latest casting news, the studio said Monday that Stanley Tucci will play Dr. Abraham Erskine in "Captain America: The First Avenger," which comes out next July. The "Julie & Julia" star joins headliner Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Hugo Weaving and Hayley Atwell in the superhero movie.
In the early comics, Erskine was a German scientist behind Project Rebirth, the secret experiment that created the Super Soldier known as Captain America.
Tucci received an Oscar nomination this year for his role in "The Lovely Bones." His next films include the drama "Margin Call," the comedy "Easy A," which hits theaters in September, and the musical "Burlesque," which Screen Gems will open in November.

[Mohamad]

Knight and Day" to open two days sooner

Carl DiOrio
Mon Jun 7, 2010 10:27pm EDT






LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox will release the action comedy "Knight and Day" on June 23, two days earlier than planned.
Entertainment | Film
That means Fox's Tom Cruise-Cameron Diaz vehicle is now set to hit multiplexes midweek ahead of the June 25 weekend, when no other wide releases are scheduled.
"It gives us a little bit of a jump on the weekend and the opportunity to get word-of-mouth going," Fox domestic distribution president Bruce Snyder said Monday.
"Knight" -- which has stimulated good prerelease buzz -- also will thus maximize market playtime prior to the release of a couple rival tentpoles the following week. Summit Entertainment will bow vampire three-quel "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" on June 30, and two days later Paramount debuts the family adventure "The Last Airbender."
Those two big openers should combine with weekend No. 2 for "Knight" to make for a mega-competive Independence Day weekend, with the holiday frame often the most lucrative session on the theatrical calendar

[Mohamad]

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds reteam

Borys Kit
Mon Jun 7, 2010 10:52pm EDT






http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100608&t=2&i=123080430&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-08T025202Z_01_BTRE6551KI400_RTROPTP_0_OSCARS Sandra Bullock, best actress nominee for ''The Blind Side,'' arrives at the 82nd Academy Awards in Hollywood March 7, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Lucas Jackson




LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The creative team behind "The Proposal" -- including actors Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, and director Anne Fletcher -- are reuniting for an action comedy project.
Film | People
"Most Wanted," which sold to Universal over the weekend, sees Bullock as a woman on the run with Reynolds as an agent who is supposed to be handling her.
The project is described as having a tone similar to that of "Midnight Run," Universal's 1988 action comedy starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. Universal is developing a sequel to "Midnight Run."
The "Most Wanted" pitch originally went to Disney, which grossed more than $317 million from "The Proposal" last year. Disney has since undergone a regime change and is emphasizing family-friendly fare. When Disney passed, the pitch went to the town. Also attached are "Proposal" writer Pete Chiarelli, and producers David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman.

[Mohamad]

Shrek" laughs its way past two new comedies

Alex Dobuzinskis
LOS ANGELES
Mon Jun 7, 2010 12:45am EDT
Sun, Jun 6 2010








http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100606&t=2&i=121845049&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-06T171315Z_01_BTRE6530BJT00_RTROPTP_0_USA Character 'Shrek' waits during ceremonies to unveil its star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood May 20, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Fred Prouser




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The studio behind "Shrek Forever After" had plenty to laugh about as the film beat a pair of comedies at the North American box office to take the No. 1 spot for the third straight weekend, according to studio estimates issued on Sunday.
Entertainment | Film
The animated film's strong staying power and its estimated weekend take of $25.3 million bodes well for DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc, which last month saw its share price dip after the movie suffered a lower-than-expected opening.
"Families seem to be the ones really driving the box office and 'Shrek' being a great movie for everyone to see together, that seems to be working very well for 'Shrek,'" said Anne Globe, head of worldwide marketing at DreamWorks.
The raunchy comedy "Get Him to the Greek" from producer Judd Apatow claimed the No. 2 spot with $17.4 million in ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada.
"It's very interesting that Judd Apatow makes very responsibly budgeted films so it bodes well for the overall success in theaters and beyond," said Nikki Rocco, president of domestic distribution for Universal Pictures, the General Electric Co-owned studio that released the film.
"Get Him to the Greek," which cost about $40 million to produce, stars British actor Russell Brand as a brash rock star and Jonah Hill as a record label intern who must get him from London to Los Angeles for a concert date.
The romantic comedy "Killers," which studio Lions Gate Entertainment Corp had declined to show for critics to avoid scathing reviews, came in at No. 3 with $16.1 million in the United States and Canada.
The movie, with a budget in the mid-$60 million range, stars Ashton Kutcher as a man with a secret job as a killer, and Katherine Heigl as his unknowing wife.
OVERALL BOX OFFICE DOWN
The overall box office was about $125 million, which was down a huge 25 percent from the same weekend a year ago, which saw $165.3 million in U.S. and Canada ticket sales, said Paul Dergarabedian, head of tracking firm Hollywood.com Box Office.
The box office was down last weekend, too.
"We really have to hope that films like 'The Karate Kid' and 'The A-Team' (both opening Friday) with this totally 80's weekend will save the day, will turn things around," he said.
Going into the weekend, box office watchers had expected "Shrek Forever After," which is distributed by Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures, to best "Get Him to the Greek" and "Killers." Its strong performance was only a 41.6 percent drop compared to the previous weekend.
DreamWorks' last animated film, "How to Train Your Dragon," also opened weakly but showed strong staying power by dominating the family audience.
"Shrek" had competition for families' attention this weekend, as 20th Century Fox, a division of News Corp, debuted the talking dog movie "Marmaduke." But it opened to only $11.3 million in the United States and Canada, placing at No. 6.
"Shrek" has made $183 million in the U.S. and Canada and $68.4 million internationally, but it has yet to open in most of Europe and Latin America because of a delayed release designed to avoid losing audiences to the World Cup.
"*** and the City 2," in its second weekend in theaters, suffered a sizable drop of 59 percent to $12.7 million. The poorly reviewed female-oriented comedy is from Warner Bros, a division of Time Warner Inc.
That performance placed "***" one rank below the estimated $13.9 million in U.S. and Canada ticket sales collected by the Walt Disney Co's video game adaptation "Prince of Persia," which took the No. 4 spot in its third weekend in international release and second weekend in the U.S. and Canada.
The low-budget horror movie "Splice" from Warner Bros debuted with $7.5 million in the U.S. and Canada, which was slightly below expectations and placed it at No. 8.

[Mohamad]

Jeremy Renner near deal to join Marvel's "Avengers

Borys Kit and Zorianna Kit
Fri Jun 4, 2010 11:23am EDT












http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100604&t=2&i=119960406&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-04T152353Z_01_BTRE65316RW00_RTROPTP_0_OSCARS Jeremy Renner, best actor nominee for ''The Hurt Locker,'' arrives at the 82nd Academy Awards in Hollywood March 7, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder




LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Jeremy Renner is in final negotiations to join "The Avengers," Marvel Studios' big-screen take on its superhero team that's being directed by Joss Whedon.
Entertainment | Film
Renner will play the bow-and-arrow-carrying hero Hawkeye, who wasn't a member of the team when it was created in the 1960s but became an integral member soon after, when the misguided villain switched sides.
Renner will join Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man/Tony Stark, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Don Cheadle as War Machine.
The Hulk also might be a character in the movie, but at this stage, there is no deal that would bring back Ed Norton, who starred as the emerald giant in 2008's "The Incredible Hulk."
Renner's involvement initially was rumored last fall, although the actor, who was in the middle of the awards derby with the war thriller "The Hurt Locker," was at the time more taken with Paul Thomas Anderson's untitled drama and was being heavily courted by Universal for "Battleship."
Renner never joined "Battleship," and though he remains interested in Anderson's film, that project is still cobbling together financing and has seen its start pushed back several times.
Because the "Avengers" role is key but not starring, it would allow Renner to slide into Anderson's film if it should come together.
Renner next appears in Ben Affleck's crime drama "The Town."
Marvel did not confirm that Renner is in negotiations for "Avengers."

[Mohamad]

Sports stars outplay Lady Gaga in “Rush” for summer tix

Jun 4, 2010 16:05 EDT
Carole King | Forbes.com | James Taylor | Lady GaGa | Live Nation | Rush | Ticketmaster
http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/files/2010/06/gaga.jpgAhhh, summer is coming in North America, and that means summer festivals, concerts and numerous chances for music fans to take advantage of good weather and splurge their hard-earned dollars on watching their favorite singing stars. So who comes out on top as the most popular to see, as judged by ticket scalpers? Red hot Lady Gaga? Cool teen Justin Bieber?
Well, the pop stars’ egos might be bruised to learn that, not only is the Lady low on the list, Bieber’s not even there. Rather, sports stars are the tops, according to a Forbes.com survey of the highest-selling tickets offered by scalpers on website stubhub.com. Read the Forbes list here.
At No. 1 is game five of the NBA Finals pitting the Boston Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers with front-row seats selling for $7,700. It is followed by the men’s semifinal round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament ($4,286), and next comes a seat near the dugout of Major League Baseball’s All Star game ($3,000).
Lady Gaga landed at No. 10 for a front row seat at her Monster Ball tour’s show in Los Angeles. She wasn’t the only music star on the list, but those making it were not young singers idolized byhttp://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/files/2010/06/Kobe.jpg teen fans. In keeping with a relatively recent trend in concerts, the really expensive re-sale tickets go to older fans and “classic” bands. That fact held fast for Canadian band Rush, who have been on the comeback trail recently and even saw a documentary about them play at the Tribeca Film Festival. They landed at No. 9 with a Row A seat for an August show Las Vegas ($1,667), and at No. 5 is a third row Madison Square Garden seat for a James Taylor/Carole King show ($2,001)
One can only imagine Live Nation and Ticketmaster rubbing their hands with glee. After their merger, they are focusing how to catch some of the scalper market. But how much is too

[Mohamad]

Lindsay Lohan's drinking leads to near arrest

Bob Tourtellotte
LOS ANGELES
Tue Jun 8, 2010 9:35pm EDT






http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100608&t=2&i=123866640&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-08T230127Z_01_BTRE6571RYL00_RTROPTP_0_FILM-MTV Actress Lindsay Lohan arrives at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles June 6, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Danny Moloshok




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A judge on Tuesday issued a new arrest warrant for Lindsay Lohan that was quickly revoked in fast-changing set of events after the troubled actress's court-ordered alcohol bracelet detected she had been drinking.
Entertainment | People
The warrant was recalled when Lohan's representatives posted a portion of a new $200,000 bail amount after the actress was ordered by a judge to forfeit her original $100,000 bail on a 2007 drunken driving charge.
The new measures were taken after Judge Marsha Revel summoned prosecutors and Lohan's lawyer to an emergency meeting in her Beverly Hills court Tuesday afternoon.
Revel said a report from the alcohol monitoring ankle device that she ordered Lohan to wear on May 24 had detected an infringement of the ban on drinking and drugs imposed on the actress.
"She was in violation of the conditions of her bail, so her bail is forfeited," Revel said after the meeting. She set the new bail based on five counts of violating probation. Lohan is due back in court on July 6 where she risks being sentenced to jail time.
Lohan's attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, said in a statement that ankle bracelet "indicated the presense of a small amount of alcohol on Sunday night."
Holley said she only recently received the report herself and could not "speak to its accuracy or validity, however Ms. Lohan maintains that she has been in complete compliance with all of the terms of her probation and her bail."
Indeed, Lohan took to her Twitter early on Tuesday saying the bracelet, called a SCRAM device, could not have been set off, and she blamed the tabloids and paparazzi for fomenting speculation.
"My scram wasn't set off-it's physically impossible considering I've nothing for it to go off-All of these false reports are absolutely wrong," Lohan, 23, said in Tweet on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, reports citing unnamed sources surfaced saying the actress was drinking alcohol after Sunday's MTV Movie Awards.
In 2007, the 23-year-old was charged with reckless driving, drunken driving, and driving under the influence of cocaine. She was sentenced to probation and mandatory alcohol education classes.
Last month, Lohan missed a date in Judge Revel's courtroom because she said her passport had been stolen while she was at the Cannes film festival in France.
Judge Revel, saying Lohan had missed some of her classes, issued an arrest warrant in May that was also recalled after Lohan's representatives posted bail.
She also ordered the "Mean Girls" actress to undergo random drug and alcohol tests, and had her ankle fitted with the SCRAM monitoring bracelet.
Lohan rose to fame in Disney movies such as "Freaky Friday" and as a teenager was considered one of Hollywood's best young actresses. But in recent years, her hard-partying ways have led to trouble and her career has stumbled

[Mohamad]

Emmy-worthy guest performers deliver under pressure

Christopher Lisotta
Wed Jun 9, 2010 12:41am EDT






http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100609&t=2&i=124082985&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-09T044108Z_01_BTRE6580D0Q00_RTROPTP_0_OSCARS Actress Elizabeth Banks arrives on the red carpet at the 82nd Academy Awards in Hollywood March 7, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES)




LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Elizabeth Banks had a request for her producers when she shot her first scene as a guest star on NBC's "30 Rock."
Entertainment | Television | Media
Banks was playing CNBC anchor Avery Jessup, and the scene involved her meeting executive Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), making a rapid-fire appearance on her "Crossfire"-like news program. The actress knew her lines, but wanted to deliver them as quickly as she could.
"I begged them to put it on a prompter for me," she says, noting her quick delivery would help sell the comedy and her character. "They said, 'No problem.' But I got there that night and there was a problem. They couldn't figure the prompter out! It came down to me throwing fastballs at Alec and him battling them back as fast as possible and hoping they could cut it together faster than we were doing it."
Tough, but Banks pulled it off -- and doing so gave her an epiphany. "It was my 'I belong here' moment," she says. "There are shows where you show up and they want you to service the (other) actors, and that's not '30 Rock': They want the guest star to be funny. That's why they get great guest stars."
Being a guest star on a show that has been humming along for several seasons often comes with benefits: The writers know the voice of the show, series regulars are comfortable with their characters, and everyone on set has dealt with guest stars long before you show up. But there are some challenges for guest actors as well: Will they fit in, will they get the cadence, or worst of all, will they mess up a good thing?
Jared Harris, who guest-starred as British invader Lane Pryce on AMC's "Mad Men," says he was attracted to the period drama's strong writing, which he calls "sort of a blessing and a restriction." A show known for its specific scripts and creator Matthew Weiner's exacting attention to detail, "Mad Men" was a place where Harris felt he would need to deliver.
"They knew the world so well, which is great but a little intimidating," he admits. "Everyone has a shorthand and you're trying to get up to speed. You're only given the one episode to read. They're all extremely friendly and nice and welcoming, but trying to figure out who the character was, that took a couple of episodes just because there wasn't a lot of material yet."
The 1960s elements worked in Harris' favor because it reminded him of the world he grew up in, and of his stepfather, who became a model for Lane. "I never realized I would feel grateful to my mother for marrying Rex Harrison," Harris quips of the "My Fair Lady" star.
With his stepfather as his guide, Harris quickly figured out Lane, which he thinks inspired Weiner to invest so much in him. (Lane is a series regular for the upcoming season.) "If Matt likes what you do and he responds to your character and you excite his imagination, he'll start writing for you more," Harris says.
Of course, knowing that creates added pressure: "You got the job, but you're still auditioning."
Shows like "Mad Men" and "30 Rock" are newbies compared to "Law & Order: SVU," where five-time Emmy nominee Ann-Margret guest starred during the show's 11th season as Rita Wills, a faded model stuck in the past.
A self-described fan -- "I even watch reruns during the day, I'm so avid," she says -- the actress was struck by how steady the production was. "I was really looking forward to seeing how (co-stars) Mariska (Hargitay) and Chris (Meloni) were getting along," she says. "I was so hoping they were still great friends after 11 years, and it's true."
That longevity extended beyond the cast. "A lot of the crew has been there since inception," she says. "Some of the crew has been there nine, 10 years, and that tells you what it's like."
This kind of stability creates an environment where a guest star feels comfortable, she says -- something crucial given how quickly guest stars are plunged into deep emotional moments. "They knew how difficult this character was," she adds. "I have never played a woman who was an addict, an alcoholic and a hoarder."
Besides support, the atmosphere on set allowed the actress to experiment with her character. During one of the show's classic interrogation scenes, she suggested her character produce a flask, a move director Helen Shaver quickly embraced. "They were with me every step of the way," Ann-Margret says. "They readily accepted it."
Kristin Chenoweth has been through the guest star gauntlet numerous times, but most recently on Fox's musical breakout "Glee." The actress filmed her first episode before the show premiered, then reprised her role as the boozy April Rhodes after "Glee" became a hit.
"You work a lot, but the good news is I love to work," she says of the show, where delivering multiple song and dance numbers is a typical day's work.
For Chenoweth, one of the challenges of being a guest star is remembering the week on set is a marathon, not a sprint. "Definitely come in with energy, but you're going to be doing a lot of waiting," she warns. "You come out of the gate like a thoroughbred, but you have to be very careful not to give it all up in the beginning. When you have a break, take it. If you're always up and always ready to go, you shut down and you wear out real quick."
Playing opposite an established, well-loved character can also help a guest star get up to speed.
Gary Cole benefited from that on HBO's "Entourage," where many of his scenes had him playing his character, the somewhat hapless agent Andrew Klein, off Jeremy Piven's type-A Ari Gold. "face-to-face with an iconic character," Cole says, "you're automatically legitimate. I became the beneficiary of that."
But Cole rejects the idea that being a guest star requires an actor to take a different approach than on some other job. "To me that doesn't really define anything," he says. "Your function is to come in and make whatever scene you're in work and be believable."
For Cole, that's just another day of work. "I've been around enough and walked into enough new situations that there is nothing really to that," he adds. "Any job you walk into is new."
Still, Banks says there's an etiquette that she finds useful when guest starring, a gig she pulled this season not only on "30 Rock" but also ABC's "Modern Family."
"The title 'guest star' says everything," she says. "You're a guest in someone else's house and you have to act that way. I treat it as (if) I'm visiting someone's house for the weekend -- make the bed before you leave, be nice to everybody and know your place."

[Mohamad]

Eminem's "Recovery" album leaks two weeks early

Mariel Concepcion
Tue Jun 8, 2010 9:11pm EDT


http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100609&t=2&i=123952860&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-09T011012Z_01_BTRE65803AG00_RTROPTP_0_GRAMMYS-SHOW Eminem performs at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in this January 31, 2010 file photo. Eminem is the latest artist to fall victim to an internet leak: the rapper's upcoming ''Recovery'' album appeared online Monday, along with a full track list, two weeks before its July 22nd release date.
Credit: Reuters/Mike Blake




NEW YORK (Billboard) - Eminem is the latest artist to fall victim to an internet leak: the rapper's upcoming "Recovery" album appeared online Monday, along with a full track list, two weeks before its July 22nd release date.
Entertainment | Music
The leak comes less than a week after the online debut of the second single from the album, an unexpected collaboration with pop singer Pink called "Won't Back Down."
On Sunday, Eminem debuted the official video to first single "Not Afraid." In the dark Richard Lee-directed clip, he stands on the ledge of a roof, slowly moving closer to the edge as he raps about the troubles he's faced in his life.
Here's the track list for Eminem's "Recovery":
"Cold Wind Blows"
"Talkin' 2 Myself" with Kobe
"On Fire"
"Won't Back Down" with Pink
"W.T.P."
"Going Through Changes"
"Not Afraid"
"Seduction"
"No Love" with Lil Wayne
"Space Bound"
"Cinderella Man"
"25 to Life"
"So Bad"
"Almost Famous"
"Love the Way You Lie" with Rihanna
"You're Never Over"

[Mohamad]

In death, Gary Coleman's life takes strange turns

Zorianna Kit
LOS ANGELES
Tue Jun 8, 2010 5:22pm EDT


http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100608&t=2&i=123797136&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-08T212220Z_01_BTRE6561A0800_RTROPTP_0_US-COLEMAN Actor Gary Coleman arrives at the 6th Annual TV Land Awards in Santa Monica, California, in this June 8, 2008 file photo. Photo taken June 8, 2008.
Credit: Reuters/Chris Pizzello/Files




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Gary Coleman may have lived a life of strange and often sad twists, but in death his legacy seems to have taken even stranger turns.
Entertainment | People
Reports of death photos for sale, multiple wills, and a canceled funeral due to family bickering have added to the drama of a once promising child star on "Diff'rent Strokes" who peaked too soon and was never able to stage a successful comeback.
Yet, pop culture and Hollywood watchers say that the events are not so strange for people who find fame at a young age and crave it for the remainder of their lives after it's gone.
Richard Walter, a screenwriting professor at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television said Coleman is likely somewhere watching the drama unfold and enjoying "the fuss and bother" his death is causing.
"Wherever Gary is now, he would prefer this kind of attention rather than a quiet death," said Walter. "Throughout his life, he continued to crave the kind of attention he once had and was unable to close that chapter of his life and move on. Otherwise, why all the antics?"
For fans, however, it seems a sad ending for the 42-year-old actor whose life got off to bad start when he suffered a congenital kidney disease that halted his growth and led to two kidney transplants later in life.
Coleman found fame and riches as the diminutive star of hit sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" (1978-1986), but he had to sue his parents in 1989 after they had squandered much of his fortune.
Years later, he found himself working as a shopping mall security guard, and attempted to recapture his celebrity by running for California governor in a 2003 election.
"People like that are so stimulated by fame that when they are alone, they feel they don't exist," said Walter. "They are devastated if they are not perpetually approved."
BIZARRE DEEDS AFTER DEATH
In late May, the former star was hospitalized after falling in his Utah home and suffering a brain hemorrhage. One day later, he slipped into a coma and on May 28, 24-year old Shannon Price decided to take him off life support.
Soon it was revealed that Price and Coleman were not married as believed, but were divorced at the time of his death. The couple, who were secretly wed in 2007, broke up a year later but were living together when he died. Price was authorized to make medical decisions on his behalf.
Yet that was only the beginning of the posthumous drama.
Coleman's estranged parents, Sue and Willie Coleman said they learned of their son's death through media reports. They planned a funeral, then canceled it amid bickering with Price.
A 1999 will said Coleman's ex-manager, Dion Mial, is the executor of Coleman's estate, but Todd Bridges, who starred with Coleman on "Diff'rent Strokes," has claimed he has paperwork to a secret will.
According to TMZ.com on Tuesday, the actor asked in his 1999 will for a wake "conducted by those who have had no financial ties to me and can look each other in the eyes and say they really cared personally for Gary Coleman."
Price, who is now said to be locked out of the home the couple shared, is expected to contest any will. She also claims that the two planned to renew their vows.
But in the past two days, numerous reports say Price was involved in the sale of photos of Coleman in the hospital -- taken before and after his death.
Victor Perillo, Coleman's former agent said in a statement Tuesday he was "personally appalled" to hear of the pictures.
"This is unconscionable and despicable," said Perillo. "I would like to praise all the reputable news organizations that declined the offers. I hope others will do the same out of respect and human decency."
Robert Thompson, professor of Television and Pop Culture at Syracuse University cited similar post-death dramas with Michael Jackson and Anna Nicole Smith.
Thompson sees Coleman's life in three phases: TV superstar, followed by mockery and self-mockery, and a surreal afterlife where everyday there appears a new wrinkle in death.
"For people like Gary, the real stories are not the movies or the shows they star in," said Thompson. "It's the outrageous off-screen drama that seems to maintain their careers long after the peak of performance -- in some cases long after they die."

[Mohamad]

Charlie Sheen team hopes to resolve plea dispute

LOS ANGELES
Tue Jun 8, 2010 5:17pm EDT











http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100608&t=2&i=123727239&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-08T194246Z_01_BTRE657020600_RTROPTP_0_PEOPLE-SHEEN-POSTPONED Actor Charlie Sheen (R) waves as he leaves the Pitkin County Courthouse with his attorney Richard Cummins after a court hearing in Aspen, Colorado June 7, 2010. Sheen's court hearing for a Christmas Day assault on his wife was postponed on Monday until July. No agreement was reached at the hearing as to the disposition of the case against him as a plea deal did not go through as planned.
Credit: Reuters/Rick Wilking




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Charlie Sheen's legal team is hoping to swiftly resolve a last-minute dispute over details of a jail work release plan that prevented the actor from reaching a plea deal with Colorado authorities on charges of assaulting his wife.
Entertainment | People | Lifestyle
"Hopefully we will be able to work (to) fix the outstanding issues in the near future," Yale Galanter, a lawyer for the "Two and a Half Men" star told Reuters on Tuesday.
Galanter confirmed reports that jail officials in Aspen, Colorado wanted to place more stringent rules, including a smoking ban, on Sheen's plan to coach actors at Theater Aspen by day and return to jail by night.
Sheen, 44, a chain smoker, was expected on Monday to plead guilty to a reduced charge of assault against his wife, Brooke Mueller, in exchange for a 30-day jail term in the ski resort town.
But the case was unexpectedly postponed until July 12, potentially delaying Sheen's availability for production in early August on the new season of his top-rated CBS comedy series.
Sheen had been expected to start his 30-day jail term on Monday and be out in time to start shooting the new series.
CBS declined to comment on Tuesday. The network in May negotiated a new contract with Sheen that made him the highest-paid actor on U.S. television, on what is the nation's most popular comedy show.
Celebrity website TMZ.com and the Aspen Times reported that the proposed plea deal fell apart when an Aspen jail official sought to reduce the daily time Sheen would spend out of jail and at the theater.
He would also have been banned from smoking outside jail, faced a longer probation period and would be restricted in what he could eat under the more tightly-supervised release scheme.
Sheen was arrested on Christmas Day 2009 in Aspen after Mueller, his third wife, told police he had pulled a knife on her and threatened to have her killed.
The plea deal would have dropped the most serious charges against Sheen, who faced up to three years behind bars if he had been convicted on all the offenses.
Sheen, who is free on bail, left court on Monday without speaking to reporters.
The actor's legal troubles have had little effect on his popularity. Audiences for "Two and a Half Men" have remained high and Sheen last month negotiated a deal with CBS that took his pay to a reported $1.8 million per episode

[Mohamad]

Erykah Badu sparkles, brighter than ever

Mick Stingley
Tue Jun 8, 2010 10:57pm EDT


NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Clad in a black trench coat and top hat, Erykah Badu stood before the sold-out crowd at New York's Roseland Ballroom on Monday crooning the atmospheric opener "20 Feet Tall." With four backup singers and a seven-piece band to accompany her, Badu was a smoldering torch who warmed and glowed as the night went on.
Entertainment | Music
She burned through "Out My Mind, Just in Time," which is also the name of this tour, supporting her March release "New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh." The song served as a theme for the evening as she sang, "I'd lie for you and cry for you ... I gotta do my love for you."
Self-referential, poignant, outlandish and strikingly beautiful, Badu commanded the stage. Under musical director R.C. Williams Jr., she waltzed through her music with the confidence of an accomplished jazz artist, improvising around the form of her recorded work. There was occasional dissonance -- whether scatting or tapping on her Roland drum machine -- but she segued effortlessly from one number to the next, quoting her own music (often, with "On and On") and others', circling back into a new song.
Her style owes more to jazz than that unfortunate moniker "Queen of Neo-Soul" as she incorporated danceable funk, gospel, R&B rhythm, hip-hop and rap textured with ambitious aural soundscapes throughout. No single term applies to her music.
She is the epic sum of her influences, and the appropriation of many is her art. The starchild of Marvin ***e and Pink Floyd, Prince and N.W.A., Billie Holiday and Laurie Anderson. Erykah Badu is a singular artist; she might just be out of her mind, but the woman can sing.
And she's a giver. "This is bigger than the government!" she sang on "The Healer" to resounding cheers. Badu worked the crowd, and the band -- with a wave of her hand she stopped the music, frequently -- and captivated during "Me" with her soft yet powerful voice. Her assertion early on in the show, "I'm an analog girl in a digital world!" might explain her self-perception and attitude, but it resonated with the room.
Slinking through numbers like Eartha Kitt as Catwoman, Badu concentrated much the night's performance on her pair of "New Amerykah" releases but favored the audience with plenty of gems. From the Giorgio Moroder-esque dance number "I Want You" to "Appletree" and "Love of My Life," Badu kept people moving and swaying. The hip-hop-flavored showstopper "Back in the Day" proved her old-school chops as she rapped bits from Whodini, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh and N.W.A. She followed with a cover of Outkast's "Liberation."
Badu closed the show at midnight with "Soldier" and wowed with her 2000 hit, "Bag Lady," though she did not perform her recent singles "Window Seat" and "Turn Me Away" because of time constraints. Regardless, at almost two hours in, Badu gave it her all.

[Mohamad]

New film undoes Joan Rivers' cosmetic makeover

Bob Tourtellotte
LOS ANGELES
Tue Jun 8, 2010 2:36pm EDT


http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100608&t=2&i=123685603&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-08T183602Z_01_BTRE6571FO500_RTROPTP_0_US-RIVERS Comedian Joan Rivers at the Kennedy Center in Washington November 10, 2008.
Credit: Reuters/Molly Riley




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - If cosmetic makeovers mask our most unsavory features, then a new documentary has stripped away the many changes Joan Rivers has made to herself over the years and laid bare the comedian at age 77.
Entertainment | Film
"Joan Rivers - A Piece of Work" reaches movie theaters in major U.S. cities on Friday, and with it comes an unflinching look at the woman who rose through male-dominated comedy clubs in the 1960s to become a regular on U.S. television.
She famously saw her personal and financial life spiral downward after the suicide of her husband and manager, Edgar Rosenberg, in 1987. But Rivers regained her career footing as a commentator of Hollywood red carpet fashion and, perhaps with the aid of cosmetic surgery, found herself a rejuvenated star.
Rivers told Reuters that with the documentary, she wanted to "show age and how age can be a barrier to people" and said the biggest misconception about her is that she is all about the "Golden Past" when her current act "is sharper than ever."
"I also thought it might be a good time to show a slice of my life because I hadn't done an autobiography in 15 years, and this was sort of a lazy person's way of doing it," she joked.
But "A Piece of Work" is no joke. It was made by documentary filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg, whose past credits include a tale of the Darfur genocide, "The Devil Came on Horseback," and the story of a man wrongly convicted of rape and murder, "The Trials of Darryl Hunt."
In Rivers' life, they saw a universal tale of an underdog who finds huge success, tumbles from lofty heights and rebounds by reinvention. For her part, Rivers saw a pair of storytellers who would dig into psyche and show it -- warts and all.
"I loved them because they weren't going to do a puff piece," Rivers said. "There have been a few documentaries out there lately, and you knew nothing of the people at the end. So why do them? That was exactly what I didn't want," she said.
'CAN WE TALK'
Stern and Sundberg started filming Rivers on her 75th birthday and followed her for 14 months, which was no easy feat due to her heavy schedule. The pair describe a two-day period in which Rivers gave a morning speech, signed books, performed stand-up, flew across the United States for a talk show, then returned across country to hold a dinner party for friends.
While telling of her current life, the film flashes back to Rivers as a young stand-up, making it to late-night TV's "The Tonight Show" where she became fill-in for Johnny Carson.
It also tells how Carson, when Rivers jumped to a rival network in 1986 to start her own "The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers," turned his back on her and never talked to her again, which Rivers chalks up to her being a woman in a man's world.
The most trying times came after Rosenberg died and Rivers found herself in financial ruin while still raising their teenage daughter, Melissa. When asked what was worse, losing her husband or having to work harder in life than she ever had just to regain her financial footing, she chose the latter.
"Of course, finances. You have no time to mourn when you have to worry how are we going to keep the house," she said.
Starting in the 1990s, Rivers' brash style of comedy that cut through the facade of how people act or what they say -- her first catch phrase was "Can We Talk" -- lent itself greatly to Hollywood and fashion.
Rivers began commenting on red carpet gowns and the antics of celebrities, often with Melissa by her side. She went back out on the road, wrote books and starred in a one-woman show.
She never stopped working and never stopped trying to regain her youth through cosmetic surgery -- a fact that has earned her much criticism in pop culture that she shrugs off.
"We're in a youth-oriented world. Men like to look at pretty pictures," Rivers said. "Anything that makes you get through life a little happier, do it. For God's sake, do it."
On what she wants audiences to learn from her life, as told in "A Piece of Work," Rivers is just as candid.
"My life has proven -- and I hope to others that go through things that seem insurmountable -- find another way in," she said. "You know, I like to say, they may take out a vein, but you find another way to keep the blood flowing."

[Mohamad]

"A-Team" a remake? That's "idiotic" says director

Iain Blair
LOS ANGELES
Wed Jun 9, 2010 6:22pm EDT


http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100609&t=2&i=124720607&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-09T205233Z_01_BTRE6581M0B00_RTROPTP_0_USA A tank is pictured at the premiere of ''The A-Team'' at the Mann's Grauman Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California June 3, 2010. The movie opens in the U.S. on June 11.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In these days when remakes of old movies and TV shows are the rage among Hollywood studio executives, there is one director who thinks it is idiotic to consider his new film a redo, "A-Team" helmsman Joe Carnahan.
Entertainment | Film
Even though his movie is based on the 1980's TV show of the same name about a group of Vietnam war veterans working as mercenaries, Carnahan insists his film is a completely reworked story tailored to modern-day audiences looking for big-budget Hollywood action.
"I keep reading we're remaking 'The A-Team,'" the director told reporters recently, "but how the hell do you remake a TV series that ran four years? It's idiotic! You can re-engineer and re-imagine it, but it's definitely not a remake."
While the "A-Team" foursome on TV show, which ran from 1983 to 1987, blew up a lot of things and captured many bad guys, the show was perhaps better known for its campy storylines and the loud-mouthed, mohawk-wearing Mr. T, who played B.A. Baracus.
The "A-Team" movie is more action-packed and violent, which could be expected from Carnahan, whose previous work includes gritty films such as "Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane," "Narc," "Smokin' Aces" and sequel "Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball."
The premise of the film is relatively the same, four former U.S. Special Forces soldiers who are wrongly accused of a crime. But the modern times, place, story and cast help make the movie different, the filmmakers said.
The new "A-Team" has as its backdrop the U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq in which the forces are accused of a crime, then set out to clear their names and turn the tables on the real culprits.
Carnahan, who also co-wrote the screenplay, based the plot on tales of Saddam Hussein looting banks before the Iraq war began in 2003, then ramped up the action.
He said he had "no interest" in just transplanting the TV show to the big screen. "I thought that'd be a disaster because while everyone remembers 'The A-Team,' times have changed," he said. "What worked 25 years ago won't work today."
FOUR FAST FRIENDS
The new "A-Team" is comprised of Bradley Cooper ("The Hangover") playing Templeton "Face" Peck, Sharlto Copley ("District 9") as H.M "Howlin' Mad" Murdock, martial artist Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in the Mr. T role, and Liam Neeson ("Taken") as leader Hannibal Smith.
Aspects that are similar in the movie and TV show is a great sense of camaraderie that exists within the group, as well as much humor built into the script.
"That's what I remember the most from the show," said the director. "I wanted to keep the humor as much as possible, and make it very organic and not one-line gimmicky. I wanted you to feel that these guys genuinely have a great time together."
The four actors said they worked well together and Copley even admitted to often sleeping in his trailer, rather than drive to the motel an hour away from the set.
Neeson, perhaps best known as a dramatic actor and not an action star, said that "A-Team" along with "Taken," had given his career a "whole new lease of life." And for Cooper, a star of last year's hit comedy "The Hangover," the new film represented a chance to do his first action flick.
All four said they watched the show as kids or young adults, and the only key person who hadn't, perhaps fittingly given his stance the film is not a remake, was Carnahan.
"It wasn't one of my favorites, although...I was a fan of the culture of the show," he said. "Everyone knew who the A-Team was -- and that always impressed me. But hopefully having that distance from the show helped me do a better job with the movie."
Early reviews are mixed, at best, but as a general rule the audiences of mostly young men who turn out for action flicks like "The A-Team" don't read criticism, which was noted in one write up from show business newspaper The Hollywood Reporter.
"Bottom Line: More like the D-minus Team," wrote veteran critic Kirk Honeycutt, "but Joe Carnahan fans won't mind

[Mohamad]

Which sitcom actresses rarely watch their shows

Matthew Belloni
Thu Jun 10, 2010 12:18am EDT


http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100610&t=2&i=125015387&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-10T041832Z_01_BTRE6590BZ000_RTROPTP_0_GOLDENGLOBES-PARTIES Actress Courteney Cox poses at the Warner Bros./InStyle after party after the 67th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California January 17, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni




LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Six of the funniest women on television gathered recently to share their insights on comedy, creative control and conflict.
Entertainment | Television
Wanda Sykes ("The New Adventures of Old Christine"), Jane Lynch ("Glee") and Sofia Vergara ("Modern Family") disclosed that they rarely watch their shows.
Patricia Heaton ("The Middle") no longer savors lengthy speeches, Courteney Cox ("Cougar Town") may have been responsible for the mysterious disappearance of an irksome writer, and Felicity Huffman ("Desperate Housewives") is still trying to figure out what comedy is.
WHO'S THE FUNNIEST WOMAN ALIVE?
Wanda Sykes: I would say Mo'Nique. Have you seen "Precious"? She was hilarious! (Laughs.)
Jane Lynch: Outrageous! I've been watching "Damages" lately and Martin Short is in it. Not that he's a funny woman, but funny people can do drama really well. Lily Tomlin is on "Damages" too and they're both fantastic.
Patricia Heaton: Don't you love seeing someone being cast completely out of type?
Lynch: If you can do comedy, you can really do anything.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST FRUSTRATIONS OF YOUR JOB?
Courteney Cox: It just happens so fast. You give three different versions just to give it a range and you don't really have time to go in and change (things). "Why did you pick that one? That's actually not good."
Heaton: You're producing, right?
Cox: Yes, it's great because I'm really hands on and this is the first time a show has been tailored to me. On "Friends," I was part of an amazing experience and cast but I didn't have a say in anything. Now I do and it's my baby and I want to be a part of everything.
HOW ASSERTIVE ARE YOU?
Cox: Pretty assertive. (Showrunner) Bill Lawrence is amazing about sharing. I didn't think he was going to be; he didn't want to have to share. But now that he's decided to go into business with me, he's been great.
Heaton: Are you in the writers' room when they're breaking stories?
Cox: No. We meet beforehand, we talk about directions and stuff.
Heaton: And then are you in the editing room?
Cox: Yes. The editing room is like 10 yards from my room, so I just pop in or give notes. Bill's really smart, so you can say, "In that scene, I think there's a better take."
Heaton: I don't know what's going on the other side of the camera. Sometimes they use a weird lens, like a fish-eye, and you're acting up a storm but you don't know how it's going to look. There was a scene (on "The Middle") where we'd forgotten our daughter's birthday and she's sitting at the table by herself with this balloon and we walk in and are so mortified -- and I'm doing all this feeling and recollection of all the crap I did to my kids that made me feel terrible. And when I watched it, I was way over on the other side of the room. And I thought, I would have loved them to pick something a little bit closer. If I had known it was going to be that -- maybe I should ask more questions -- I would have done something more than just standing there. But they may have decided to use the long shot because it was funnier. I'm not a producer so I have no say in that whatsoever.
Cox: But even if you are, when I read the script for "Cougar Town," I thought it was really funny. But when I went to watch the first cuts, I was shocked at how frenetic it was. It was just boom-boom; there was no time for moments; it was nothing like I thought it was going to be. And since then, the show has developed into something a little more calm. It's still fast and has whip-pans, but it's a completely different show now. (At first) I was completely taken aback, because that was not what I read at all, so that was kind of scary.
WHEN YOU WATCH YOUR PERFORMANCE, WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE
THING?
Felicity Huffman: My favorite thing is someone else's close-up -- and my least favorite thing is my lack of lips. (Laughs.) Driving home at the end of the day, you're like, "Oh my God, I know how I should have done that scene," so I find (the show) hard to watch. I watch like this with one hand over my eyes or I multitask so if I can make it through one pass without (thinking) the acting police should come get me, then I never see it again.
JANE AND WANDA, COMING FROM THE IMPROV AND STAND-UP WORLD,
DO YOU HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF WHAT IS WORKING WHEN YOU'RE DOING
YOUR SHOWS?
Lynch: With "Glee," yes, because everything I say is written so well. I don't touch any of the writing because I don't have time. I'm learning lines all the time because my character is rather verbose. But in other things, you just hope they (keep) the moments because sometimes the hilarity is in the moment and sometimes an editor might blow through that. When I do things other than "Glee," I cross my fingers, hoping that whoever is editing it knows how to edit comedy. Because they can really kill it.
Sykes: On "Old Christine," it's such a piece of cake for me because I don't have to mess with it. But on my show, because I'm doing everything, I'm more aware of "Well, is this funny?" And, you know, I just mug it up.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE A SITUATION WHEN THE MATERIAL IS NOT
FUNNY AND YOU KNOW IT?
Lynch: I've had moments in "Glee," some moments that are kind of iconic now, that I didn't think were that funny. But I'm one of those people: I'm tired, I'm not that ambitious anymore. (Laughs.) So a moment will come up and I'll just play it and do my best. Maybe it goes flat, but I don't take responsibility. I rarely watch what I do, I just walk away from it.
Heaton: You don't watch the show?
Lynch: Not much. I watched the Madonna episode of "Glee" last night. I was in bed with my dogs and my cats all by myself, laughing! I turned to my dog and said, "You're mommy's funny!"
WHY DON'T YOU WATCH IT MORE?
Lynch: (Not) because I don't like to watch myself. It's just that when I'm done, I'm done. I spent a lot of time when I was younger dissecting my performances, going: "Oh, I shouldn't have done that, what if I had done it this way," to the point where, just for my mental health, I had to stop watching myself. I was very critical. Now I just have as much fun in the moment and I really walk away.
Sykes: I used to watch everything. Now I TiVo "Old Christine" and I don't have time to go back and watch it. And also, because I'm not involved with the editing, it's like, I know what I did, they make their choices. But on my show, I stopped watching because I do the editing. I'm there all night. We shoot Friday nights and I get home at 6:30, 7 in the morning on Saturday. So it's like, I just watched it eight times.
SOFIA, DO YOU WATCH "MODERN FAMILY"?
Sofia Vergara: Sometimes. I have a 19-year-old son.
Lynch: Really? How is that possible?
Vergara: Plastic surgery. (Laughs.) Now, at his age, it's hard to find things to do with him. I realize his friends love the show and he loves the show, so I enjoy seeing him laughing and feeling like I'm part of them. Because usually he's so annoyed with me.
WHEN YOU WATCH YOURSELF, WHAT ARE YOU MOST CRITICAL OF?
Vergara: Well, I'm new to acting.
Heaton: What? You're new to acting?
Vergara: Like, five years.
Heaton: Really? I would never have known that. What were you doing before?
Vergara: I was a TV host. But it was a travel show -- not comedy, not acting.
Lynch: Wow, she's a natural.
Vergara: I never had time to train or go to acting classes, so it gives me a little bit of insecurity. Waiting for an audition, you see all these girls that have been preparing, working for eight years. Then I started saying, "Whatever, if they want me, they want me." So I did fool them.
Lynch: It's all fooling, isn't it?
DO ACTORS NEED AN EXTRA LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE TO DO COMEDY?
Huffman: I'm trying to figure out comedy, to tell you the truth. My husband (William H. Macy) and I sit there and watch ("Desperate Housewives"). He tries to give me pointers.
Vergara: You have to be not too afraid of looking like a fool or ugly or fat. You have to let go of all of that.
Lynch: It's about having confidence in your lack of confidence. It's being able to look silly and show the parts of you that aren't so sophisticated or shiny and allow that to come out, and not try to shape it to look good.
Heaton: I don't think you can learn it, though. If you're not funny, you can't learn it. For certain kinds of comedy, there's a musicality and a rhythm, and maybe you can learn that a little bit. And there are some people who are funny unintentionally. But, especially for comedians, you have to have it in your DNA to make it work.
Lynch: It's being able to go to the dark places, which is why comedy actors are good at drama. It's the same process. You're going to those dark places in the shadow, and that's the stuff that the people in the audience respond to.
Heaton: Comedy is all about pain and suffering -- but it's the take on it, finding something in it that connects with everybody.
Lynch: People feel better about themselves after a comedy. They don't realize they're seeing themselves or an aspect of themselves that they're laughing at, but they walk away feeling better about themselves.
Sykes: Comedy is ugly. But I do think you have to have confidence. Especially doing stand-up: If you get onstage and they see you're nervous, it makes the audience nervous. Same thing in acting, but you have to have a little vulnerability with that. They want to see a flaw to connect with themselves.
Heaton: An actor is somebody who has a big enough ego that they're willing to go out in front of a bunch of people, but also be vulnerable (enough) to fail in front of people. It's this very weird dichotomy. We're sick; it's a sickness.
Cox: And you've got to be willing to offend.
WHEN YOU GUYS HAVE DISAGREEMENTS WITH WRITERS OR PRODUCERS,
WHAT ARE THEY USUALLY ABOUT?
Vergara: Well, I just had one: I was supposed to shoot a wedding scene. Gloria, my character, is marrying Jay (Ed O'Neill) and so they do the (Colombian) wedding thing, and I arrive (on set) and there's people dressed like Mexican people! "This is a traditional Mexican outfit! Do a little bit of research! This is so annoying!" So now they ask me.
Heaton: Did they change it?
Vergara: No, it was too late. It was so painful. (Laughs.) Americans think every Latin person is the same. So at the beginning, I used to have a lot of fights -- not fights, but I was always complaining.
Cox: I get frustrated when I think something's really not funny and the writer-producer thinks it's hysterical. But you just don't want to battle, so you do it anyway. And then you watch it and you know you should have battled, because it wasn't funny.
DO YOU EVER GO BACK TO THEM AND SAY "I TOLD YOU SO"?
Cox: I say, "That's still not funny." (And they reply) "No, no, it's really funny." It's so subjective. That's when I really like to hear the words, "Well, I think it's funny." When someone says, "No, it's funny," it makes me crazy!
ON THE OTHER SIDE, DO YOU FIGHT TO KEEP TAKES THAT YOU
PREFER?
Cox: Yes. When I see a (take) that's been cut out, I'll say, "Please put that back in, it was really funny." And (they're) great with that.
Heaton: It's little, tiny things. Mostly changing the word so it sounds better. The laugh is really specific to what words you pick and how they are lined up. It's very orchestrated.
Lynch: Every once in a while, my character is rather heinous. She says awful, awful things. Sometimes, for my money, they go too far. Like once, something ended with me talking about skinning a cat, which I could not do because I have two cats. I just did a PSA for PETA so I could not say that. So (showrunner Ryan Murphy) rewrote it and the bit was fine. Ian Brennan writes most of my stuff. He's from Chicago and I'm from Chicago, so he's worked at the same theaters I've worked at. He's Irish-Catholic, just like I am. So it's really easy.
Vergara: And when do you learn your lines?
Lynch: All the time. I'm driving around town talking to myself. I have them on a tape recorder. This last episode, I had seven scenes all in one day and it was three days after I got the script. So my head was ready to explode. I woke up one day -- and I don't know if this is menopause or something, but I couldn't remember my name! I couldn't put a sentence together. Does that ever happen to you, where you don't know if you're at the preposition or the verb? So they made me cue cards, I have to admit. But I took a little estrogen that day and a little of that ginko and the next day I was fine.
Heaton: Remember when you used to look through a script when you were young and you had the big speeches and you were like, "Yes!" Now it's like "Oh, s---." (Laughs.)
Lynch: And what kills me is when they cut out half of the speech. (But) on our show, if you don't get every word in every take, they come after you. We have a really tight script supervisor. We actually warn people that come on as guest actors that you have to have it exactly as it is on the page.
Cox: I couldn't do that. One time, the camera was on my back, and one of the writers -- Bill's not like this, he doesn't care at all -- but this younger writer had the script supervisor come up to me and say, "Can you make sure you say whatever it was." And I was like, "Dude, it's on my f---ing back. No one's seeing my face! Someone save this writer 'cause I'm going to scream at him."
Heaton: That was the guy that disappeared, right? (Laughs.)
Cox: When writers care about that one little thing they wrote, it just drives me nuts. Or maybe I have a problem with control. (Laughs.)

[Mohamad]

Ricky Martin to star in "Evita" on Broadway

NEW YORK
Wed Jun 9, 2010 6:20pm EDT






http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100609&t=2&i=124778350&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-09T222012Z_01_BTRE6581Q2000_RTROPTP_0_USA Singer Ricky Martin arrives for the amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) Inspiration Gala in New York June 3, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Lucas Jackson




NEW YORK (Reuters) - Latin pop star Ricky Martin will return to Broadway in 2012 to star in a revival of "Evita," opposite Argentine actress Elena Roger who will portray the title role, producers said on Wednesday.
Entertainment | Music | Arts
Martin will play Che in the musical based on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Peron by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice that first appeared in London's West End in 1978 and on Broadway a year later.
Martin, 38, who made headlines in March when he announced he was ***, was among the biggest teen idols in Latin America and a singer in the band Menudo before scoring a major English-language hit with "Livin' la Vida Loca" in 1999.
Since then, the native of Puerto Rico has become a global superstar with numerous records. He previously worked on Broadway in a production of "Les Miserables."
In a statement, Martin said that while he has played on many concert stages, "I've never lost my love for the intimacy of the theater."
Roger returns in the role of Peron after rave reviews in a revival that played in London's West End in 2006. The musical has played in numerous productions around the world, and was made into Hollywood movie that starred Madonna.

[Mohamad]

Jack Johnson sets sail at No. 1 on U.S. pop chart

Keith Caulfield
Wed Jun 9, 2010 2:39pm EDT


http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100609&t=2&i=124590165&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-09T173705Z_01_BTRE6581CXZ00_RTROPTP_0_APPLE Musician Jack Johnson performs at Apple's ''Let's Rock'' media event in San Francisco, California September 9, 2008.
Credit: Reuters/Robert Galbraith




LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Jack Johnson claimed his third No. 1 album on the anemic U.S. pop chart on Wednesday, despite suffering a large slide in sales.
Entertainment | Music
Johnson's "To The Sea" sold 243,000 copies during the week ended June 6, according to Nielsen SoundScan. His last studio set, "Sleep Through the Static," debuted at No. 1 in 2008 with 375,000 copies.
Still, the album breaks an eight-week long streak of No. 1s selling less than 200,000 -- where five of those weeks were sub-100,000 frames.
"To The Sea" helped perk up the overall market a bit, with 5.16 million albums sold last week -- up 4% from the woefully low 4.98 million the week previous. That tally was the lowest since Nielsen SoundScan started keeping records in 1994.
Year-to-date album sales stand at 130.6 million, down 11% compared to the same total at this point last year.
Downloads made up 114,000 of "Sea's" first week -- nearly half of the set's overall figure. In terms of download units, it's the biggest week for an album since late-January, when the digital-exclusive charity compilation "Hope For Haiti Now" set sold 143,000 downloads in its second week.
Overall, "To The Sea" is Johnson's fifth top 10 album. He achieved his first chart-topper in 2006, when the "Curious George" soundtrack bowed with 163,000 copies.
Last week's No. 1 album, "Glee: The Music, Volume 3: Showstoppers," fell to No. 3 with 45,000 copies. Justin Bieber's "My World 2.0" rose one to No. 2 with 52,000.
There was no change among the albums ranked at No. 4 (Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now," 41,000), No. 5 (Usher's "Raymond v Raymond," 35,000) and No. 6 (Lady Gaga's "The Fame," 33,000). Carole King and James Taylor's "Live at the Troubadour" rose two to No. 7 with 25,000.
New entries claimed the next two spots: Taio Cruz's debut album "Rokstarr" at No. 8 with 24,000 copies; and Clay Aiken's covers album "Tried & True" at No. 9 with 22,000. The "American Idol" finalist's last studio release, "On My Way Here," opened at No. 4 with 94,000 in 2008.

[Mohamad]

Paramount revives hit film "Ghost" in Japan

Chris Gallagher
TOKYO
Wed Jun 9, 2010 2:40pm EDT






TOKYO (Reuters) - Paramount Pictures is bringing "Ghost" back to life with a Japanese version of the romance blockbuster, becoming the latest Hollywood studio to launch a local-language production as U.S. films stumble at Japan's box offices.
Entertainment | Film | Japan
The unit of Viacom Inc also is starting to dub more U.S. movies, such as "Shutter Island," into Japanese to lure elusive young audiences, an unusual step in a country where most foreign fare, apart from kids' films, is shown with subtitles.
Hollywood studios are increasingly eyeing the potential of local-language production, particularly in the $2 billion Japanese market where once-dominant American movies have been outgunned by local films the past three out of four years.
Warner Bros., a division of Time Warner Inc. is already an established player in Japan's local-language game and recently saw its animated movie "Gintama" grace the box office top 10 for five weeks.
Fox International Productions, part of News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox film studio, is planning a Japanese remake of the Cary Grant classic "An Affair to Remember," show business newspaper Variety reported.
"We have this great property" in our library, Paramount Japan marketing director Hisamichi Kinomoto said of "Ghost." "If the essence of that story appeals to Japanese, we should use it to attract new audiences."
"Ghost" was a smash hit in 1990 with its universal tale of a love that knows no boundaries such as real life and the after life. Swayze portrays a murdered man who must warn his loving wife (Demi Moore) that she is in danger, and it is most memorable, perhaps, for its scene of Moore making pottery as Swayze wraps his arms around her while the song "Unchained Melody" plays in the background.
The new "Ghost," which Paramount is making with Nippon TV and distributor Shochiku, is set for release in Japan this autumn. It will star Japanese actress Nanako Matsushima ("The Ring") in Moore's role and South Korean heartthrob Song Seung Heon (TV drama "East of Eden") in Swayze's part.
Paramount sees local production as one strategy to build its business, but it currently does not have any other Japanese productions in the works and will first see how it goes with "Ghost," he said.
LOST IN SUBTITLES
Hollywood ruled Japanese box offices for two straight decades into the mid-2000s, but has since struggled to compete as tastes change and audiences favor local films based on familiar "manga" comic books and TV series over the recent slew of U.S. superhero movies.
Homegrown franchises benefit not only from having built-in audiences but also the marketing muscle of the TV networks behind many of these movies, such as last year's top-grosser "Rookies," originally a manga about high school baseball adapted for TV by TBS and later the big screen.
Imported movies accounted for 43 percent of Japan's 206 billion yen ($2.25 billion) box office last year, far off a peak of 73 percent hit in 2002, according to the Motion Pictures Producers Association of Japan (MPAAJ).
Kinomoto said another reason for the decline may be an aversion to subtitles among the younger generation, which has grown up watching dubbed movies on DVDs and TVs that provide language-setting options.
"To those who are so used to watching dubbed movies at home on DVD, reading subtitles on the screen is somewhat of a hassle," he said, citing research that teenagers in particular find that subtitles make it hard to focus on the action.
In response, Paramount broke convention by dubbing into Japanese almost half of the 450 prints for the Martin Scorsese suspense thriller "Shutter Island," released in Japan in April, using a special editing process to ensure accurate translation and proper lip-syncing.
Paramount plans to step up its use of dubbing in Japan, and will use the same editing process for the action-fantasy "The Last Airbender," to be released in July, with about the same dubbed-subtitled ratio as "Shutter Island" or a little higher, Kinomoto said.
Hollywood movies so far look on track to overtake Japanese films in box office revenue this year for the first time since 2007, purely on the strength of 3D juggernauts "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland," MPAAJ figures show.
But the overall trend still looks tough: Of the top 10 movies at the box office last weekend, only three were U.S. films, according to box office tracker Kogyo Tsushinsha.

[Mohamad]

Shakira gives dance lesson in South Africa township

Serena Chaudhry
SOWETO
Wed Jun 9, 2010 1:39pm EDT


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Colombian pop star Shakira dances with school children at the Isu'lihle primary school in Soweto, June 9, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Howard Burditt




SOWETO South Africa (Reuters) - Colombian pop star Shakira taught children in South Africa's biggest black township dance moves to the official World Cup song on Wednesday and called for the tournament's legacy to be education for all.
Entertainment
The Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter will join other music stars including Black Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys to perform at a concert on Thursday, the eve of the start of the first World Cup tournament on the African continent.
Shakira, a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations childrens' organization UNICEF, visited Isu'lihle Primary School in Soweto as part of her philanthropic work to highlight the need to educate the young.
"It's (World Cup) a great opportunity to bring all the attention to issues as important as education," Shakira told reporters while touring the school.
"Seventy-two million kids around the world (are) not able to attend school, of which 32 million are African. So this is our chance to make this World Cup's lasting legacy education for all."
Shakira, best known for her hit singles "Hips Don't Lie" and "Whenever, Wherever" will sing the official World Cup anthem "Waka Waka (This time for Africa)" with local music group Freshly Ground at the concert.

[Mohamad]

Glee’s New Directions Journey to regionals

Jun 9, 2010 13:47 EDT


http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/files/2010/06/HGlee_Ep121-SC13_055.JPG

Just when you feared fame may have stripped some of the charm off Fox’s hit show, “Glee”, it sent fans into the summer hiatus with a finale bursting with heart, drama, a few tears, and the magic and chills of the pilot episode.

After a year together, the ageless Glee kids of McKinley High found inspiration with the group and song that started it all, Journey and their hit, “Don’t stop believin’”.

Rachel, Finn and the rest of the New Directions gang were initially dejected and convinced a loss was guaranteed after learning their nemesis, acerbic cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester, would be one of the “celebrity” judges at the highly anticipated regional competition.

It was nothing a classic Mr. Schue pep-talk couldn’t cure, however. Inspired, they performed a heartfelt and uplifting medley of Journey songs at regionals: “Faithfully”, “Any way you want it”/”Lovin’, touchin’, squeezin’” (mash-up), and “Don’t stop believin’”.

http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/files/2010/06/EGlee_Ep121-Sc25_056-300x199.jpgBut the competition was just a backdrop to an eventful episode: Finn told Rachel he loved her, Quinn’s estranged mother showed up to give her support (and confessed that she kicked out her husband for “having an affair with some tattoed freak”), rival Vocal Adrenaline blew away the competition with Queen’s “Bohemian Rapsody”, Quinn gave birth to a baby girl with Puck and Mercedes by her side, Mr. Schuester told Emma he loved her, and Shelby Corcoran adopted Quinn’s baby before the hour was even finished — only on TV! Phew.

The finale brought back some guests from earlier this season to act as the other “celebrity judges”. Olivia Newton-John and Josh Groban reprised their roles, posing as egomaniacal versions of themselves. Their condescending attitude toward small town Ohio (”underachievers with delusions of grandeur”) drove Sue to defend and secretly vote for New Directions. It was one against three, however, and the club couldn’t even place, having been also beaten by the “not-at-all stupidly named ‘Aural Intensity’”.

It was a smart decision to not have New Directions win. This is TV after all — viewers knew if the Glee Club got canceled — which it was, briefly — it would be short-lived. And as Mr. Schuester said, “Who cares what happens when we get there, when the getting there was so much fun?”

http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/files/2010/06/BGlee_Ep121-Sc34_119-300x207.jpgThe kids summed up their changes over the last year to Mr. Schuester with Lulu’s “To Sir, With Love” while Sue got teary eyed behind the scenes.

She later forced Principal Figgin’s to reinstate the club, but not before delivering a string of one-line zingers..

“But what kind of a world would that be, Will? A world where I couldn’t constantly ridicule your hair. A world where I couldn’t make fun of you for tearing up more than Michael Landon in a sweeps week episode of Little House on the Prairie?”

The season closed with Mr. Schuester and Puck singing Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of “Over the rainbow.”

Now that “Glee” has wrapped until September, what did you think of the finale? Are Vocal Adrenaline’s best days really behind them? Have we seen the last of Jesse St. James? Will Shelby Corcoran change her mind about coming to teach at McKinley High? Can Quinn’s frindship with Mercedes last or will she return to her old self now that the burden of her pregnancy is gone? Find out in September

[Mohamad]

Goodbye Speidi. Or just another Heidi and Spencer game

Jun 8, 2010 20:06 EDT


Speidi is no more.

(Maybe)

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Heidi Montag, the plastic surgery enhanced star of MTV’s “The Hills”, has filed papers for a legal separation from her husband of 14 months, Spencer Pratt.

Montag conveniently managed to get herself photographed leaving a Santa Monica court house on Tuesday clutching a bundle of papers which quickly made their way to the TMZ.com website. Montag, 23, cited irreconcilable differences for the split and, we’re told, “filed the legal docs in her own handwriting”.

Montag first moved out the home she shared with the scheming Pratt a couple of weeks ago saying she “needed some alone time.” But with no divorce or other papers to back up her claims, friends and much of the media weren’t buying the split and saw it more as a publicity stunt. Moreover, she moved in with her “Hills” friend Jennifer Bunney, with whom she just happens to be filming a new reality show about… relationships.http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/files/2010/06/audrina-224x300.jpg

Despite some of the more outrageous claims about Pratt’s behavior from the Heidi camp (controlling, isolated her from friends etc.), Montag pointedly filed for separation rather than divorce. And separations can be undone.

Montag’s cast mates from “The Hills” have mostly dismissed the stories of a split as a publicity stunt.

“I think it’s a joke,” Audrina Patridge said at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday (pictured at right). “I don’t believe it. They’re inseparable and in love.”

Whether Heidi’s separation is as fake as her new chest remains to be seen. But whatever the truth of the matter, the pair are getting just what they seem to crave.
Publicity

[Mohamad]

Lily Allen blasts the BRITs

Jun 8, 2010 09:37 EDT

http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/files/2010/06/Lily1.jpgLily Allen has been quoted in the media as blasting the BRIT awards – the UK’s high-profile equivalent to the Grammys (think BAFTAs to the main prize the Oscars). The singer won best British solo female artist at the prize ceremony in February at which she also performed. Her website was not coy about the triumph, trumpeting the star on her official website and calling the award “coveted”.
Either Allen’s memory is short or her PR team is not on message, because in an interview that has just been aired as part of Sky Arts’ “In Confidence” series, she is quoted by the Mirror tabloid and Telegraph broadsheet as calling the prize a “non-award” that “means nothing”. ”The Brit Awards is a TV show, and a record company executive makes deals with ITV and the producers about who wins what award in exchange for performance time,” she said. “I got one last week and it just meant absolutely nothing to me, to be honest. It just became a non award.”
The BRIT organisers, somewhat baffled by the timing of Allen’s statement given that the awards took place nearly four months ago, have defended the way the winners are decided. A spokesman said in a statement: “We are sure that Lily will be happy to hear that the voting for her BRIT Award for British Female Solo Artist was scrutinised and approved by the electoral reform society, as are all awards voted for by the BRITs Academy.” The Academy is made up of some 1,000 people from the music business, ranging from journalists to managers to record label executives.
It will be interesting to see how Lily gets on should she be nominated again in 2011

[Mohamad]

A kiss — just a kiss? Or a scandal

Jun 7, 2010 16:45 EDT

Back in the 1940s and the “Casablanca” era, a kiss was famously “just a kiss”
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Not any more.
It’s been seven years since Britney Spears and Madonna notoriously locked lips in a live MTV Music Video Awards show. But women kissing women (or just pretending to) is still making front page news, whether it’s Miley Cyrus on a “Britain’s Got Talent” performance last week, or Sandra Bullock at the MTV Movie Awards show this weekend.
(And let’s not even revisit the Adam Lambert male-on-male kiss furor last November)
But while Bullock’s apparently rehearsed smooch with Scarlett Johansson was mostly seen as just good fun, Miley Cyrus’ kiss (that she now protests wasn’t really a kiss although it may have looked like it) with a female dancer has not gone down so well, especially with fans of the Disney teen star.
http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/files/2010/06/miley-slut-300x229.jpg Cyrus, 17, has found herself making plenty of headlines in the past few weeks as she tries to carve a new, more grown-up image since finishing shooting the final series of Disney Channel’s tween hit series “Hannah Montana.”
The controversial kiss on “Britain’s Got Talent” follows Miley’s raunchy dance moves on the music video for her new single “Can’t Be Tamed” and a new look in slinky, body-hugging outfits for her live performances. Problem is, “Hannah Montana” is still showing on the Disney Channel and the final series starts airing there in July.
Miley doesn’t see the connection.
“GET OVER IT! NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE ARE WAYYYYYYY MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE WORLD. Let’s start focusing a little less on making up ignorant rumors and focus a little more on world peace! We gotta a lot of work to do if we wan this earth to be here much longer. Let’s make a change! It wouldn’t hurt the world to show a little more love. X M” she wrote in a posting on her official website .
She also accused the entertainment industry of being “nothing but a disgusting tabloid” and promised her fans that she did not actually kiss the dancer in question. “I really hope my fans are not disappointed in me because the truth is I did nothing wrong,” she added.
Here’s the thing. If Miley thinks (as her comments suggest) that kissing a girl might be wrong, why did she bother to pretend to do so? And if Bullock and Johansson can get away with it, why can’t Miley (or Adam Lambert?)

[Mohamad]

Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan. Double standards

Jun 4, 2010 18:35 EDT

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Two Hollywood stars. Two different stories.
1) Former child star turns wild child, convicted of drunken driving, goes into rehab a few times, parties ’round the clock, gets dumped from at least one movie, plans role as **** queen — and becomes laughing stock of the celebrity media.
2) Middle-aged actor, three times married, plays raunchy womanizer, couple of stints in rehab, former client of notorious Hollywood Madam, pulls knife on wife during drunken Christmas Day argument – and ahttp://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/files/2010/06/charlie-sheen4-300x209-custom.jpglmost doubles salary to become highest-paid actor on TV.
Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen have both found themselves in a whole lot of trouble this year. But while Lindsay’s star has long since fallen, Charlie has emerged virtually unscathed in the eyes of the public, the media and the industry.
Sheen is expected to be sentenced to 30 days in jail on Monday as a result of his violent and drunken Christmas Day fight in Aspen with third wife Brooke Mueller. But his latest violence-related dust-up with the law has had no effect on audiences for his TV show “Two and a Half Men”, which remains the top-rated comedy on U.S. television.
After negotiating a new contract in May that reportedly almost doubled his pay to about $1.8 million — per episode — for the next two years, Sheen is now, by far, the highest-paid actor in Hollywood.
Lindsay’s crimes, on the other hand, have brought nothing but bad news (and bad hair) for the once promising star of “Mean Girls” and “The Parent Trap.” She’s barely worked for two years, her next project is playing “Deep Throat” **** queen Linda Lovelace in a low-budget movie, and she risks being sent to jail later this year for violating her 2007 probation for reckless and drunken driving.
Lindsay is 23, and clearly has a lot of growing up to do. Charlie is 44.
Double standards somewhere? We’re just asking

[Mohamad]

One minute with Justin Bieber

Jun 3, 2010 17:53 EDT

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This portrait session came about because our entertainment reporter, Christine Kearney, noticed that one of the several PR pitches that came across her desk was a small event where Justin Bieber was going to give the winner of a contest a bouquet of flowers. Normally this isn’t a story that we would be interested in because it doesn’t have anything to do with any “larger picture” type of story. However, because it was Bieber, Christine decided she would ask for a few minutes to interview him. One of the hardest things for us to do is gain access because a lot of musicians, actors, or television personalities have very specific images that they want to project so access can be incredibly tight. This restriction to access can make my job difficult because as a photographer I would love the opportunity to document what these public figures lives are like on a day to day basis. The next best thing for me to get is a little one on one time with whoever allows it. Luckily, the PR officer said yes to both the request for a private interview and a quick portrait session, as long as I was low key and quick.
http://blogs.reuters.com/photo/files/2010/06/justin31.jpgIt was a hot day and hauling a large rolling suitcase around with a single set of strobes, along with my backpack full of camera equipment, was enough to make sure that I was panting by the time Christine and I arrived at a small non-descript flower shop in Lower Manhattan. As we walked in I was surprised to see only about a dozen people inside, a couple of television cameras, and one other still photographer. At most events where a celebrity as popular as Justin Bieber is attending there are dozens of photographers and television cameras. I was heartened to see that it would be a much smaller crowd for this. The woman organizing the event told me I could set up my lights in the back while a television station interviewed Justin. Once that was finished Christine could interview him while I moved my lights to the front of the shop where Bieber had to remain seated. I have to admit, I wish all of my portrait shoots could take place in flower shops because it was a welcome break from the usual portrait venue of a hotel room. Not only was the air conditioning on high but it smelled nice and flowery. I think this put everyone at ease as I didn’t have any issues whatsoever setting up my lights, moving them to the front room through a small crowd, or shooting a quick portrait.
As Christine was finishing her interview the organizer of the event came up to me and the other photographer to ask if we could both get our shots in the 3 minutes they had allotted for photos. I asked if we could get more time but Bieber was scheduled to be somewhere immediately following this event and the timing couldn’t be changed. I struck a deal with the other photographer that I could have the first minute and he could have the second and third as he was hired by the organizers of the event and needed multiple people, angles, promoters, etc in his photos. I knew that if other people crowded around Bieber it would be difficult to separate them in time and I just needed single photographs. Christine introduced me to Bieber and after mentioning that I had seen him perform a few months ago with a cast, I went to work.
I had been enjoying using two strip softboxes on my lights and I took several photos both of Bieber as a full-length, him leaning forward, and him standing and close to the lights – with the lights in a number of different configurations. I also took a handful with an 85mm f1.2 camera at ISO400 and 1/250th of a second. The rest were taken at ISO100, 1/200th of a second at either f11 or f9, depending on where he was standing. All in all I had a total of maybe 10 minutes to set up and plan what I was going to do and about 1 minute with the talent. It’s fairly par for the course in this line of work and while it is exhausting and stressful to only have that very limited amount of time, it is also fun when you make some strong photos. There is one horizontal frame in particular where he is leaning forward on his knees that I think turned out well.
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In any case, it was fun and I am sure that thousands of teenage girls would have loved to have been there. He was a nice fellow and getting the access was great. Those two things are all I need to get a photo – I just wish those two stars could align more often

[Mohamad]

World Cup concert draws large audience in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG
Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:57pm EDT

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100611&t=2&i=126739580&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-11T205742Z_01_BTRE65A1M8H00_RTROPTP_0_SOCCER-WORLD-CONCERT Fans attend the opening concert for the 2010 World Cup at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg June 10, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Radu Sigheti




JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The World Cup opening concert in Soweto drew nearly 8.5 million television viewers in South Africa, the highest for an entertainment event in recent history, a survey showed Friday.
Entertainment | Music
Thousands of people rocked Orlando Stadium in South Africa's biggest township Thursday, to sing at the first World Cup concert on the eve of the world's most watched sporting event.
The concert was broadcast live around the world, and stars included Alicia Keys, Angelique Kidjo and Vusi Mahlasela. Colombian pop star Shakira sang the official World Cup anthem "Waka Waka (This time for Africa)" with South African group Freshly Ground.
"Data showed that peak viewing for the concert topped out at just under 8.5 million South African viewers, with an average of just over 6.7 million viewers on (national broadcaster) SABC 1 and (private TV station) SuperSport 3 combined," research company Nielsen said in a statement.
"Few events in recent years have managed to achieve these kinds of local audience figures," Nielsen managing director Chris Eyre said.
The statement said the only special event broadcasts to come close to the viewing of the concert on the eve of the first World Cup match included the 2008 South African Music Awards (SAMA) with almost five million viewers.
The August 2009 screening of a 30th anniversary celebration for Michael Jackson saw 3.88 million television viewers in South Africa tuned in.

[Mohamad]

Hollywood’s most popular Dad? … Will Smith

Fandango | Fandango.com | Jaden Smith | Karate Kid | Will Smith http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare//files/2010/06/cr_mega_942_Will-Smith1.jpg
If he weren’t such a popular figure, there’s little doubt his “Karate Kid” son would go all ninja on him.

Movie ticket selling website Fandango.com has done a poll ahead of Father’s Day (June 20 in the U.S., Canada and U.K.) of movie fans’ favorite father/son and father/daughter actors and actresses, and Will Smith comes out a winner.

He and his son Jaden, who stars in this week’s release of “The Karate Kid” (read about the movie here) were No. 1 on the list of father/son acting teams with 45 percent of the votes (notably most of the voters were between ages 18 and 34). They were followed by Ben Stiller and Jerry Stiller with 16 percent of the vote and Colin Hanks and Tom Hanks with 12 percent.

On the actress side, Miley Cyrus and her dad, performer Billy Ray Cyrus, landed atop the poll with 43 percent of the votes, but just underneath were Will and his daughter Willow Smith, who co-starred alongside her dad in “I Am Legend” and also had a role in “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl,” at No. 2 with 21 percent of the vote. At No. 3 were Angelina Jolie and Jon Voight with 10 percent — an odd one considering their on-again/off-again relationship

[Mohamad]

Jodie Foster, teenager clash over photos

LOS ANGELES
Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:28pm EDT








http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100611&t=2&i=126799720&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-11T222831Z_01_BTRE65A1QFQ00_RTROPTP_0_USA Actress Jodie Foster attends the premiere of the film ''Edge of Darkness'' in Los Angeles January 26, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Phil McCarten




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The family of a 17-year-old teenager has accused Oscar winner Jodie Foster of being rough with the boy after he snapped photographs of the Oscar-winning actress and her sons outside a movie theater.
Entertainment | People
Foster's spokeswoman fired back on Friday that the "young man was most definitely a professional paparazzo."
"She did touch him on the arm to try to take him aside to talk to him and tell him to stop" taking pictures, the actress' spokeswoman, Jennifer Allen, told Reuters.
A report filed with Los Angeles police hours after the May 29 incident said Foster went up to the unidentified teen after he had snapped pictures of her, and that she poked him on the chest and grabbed his left arm.
But Officer Cleon Joseph, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department, said no charges have been filed.
The police report was obtained by RadarOnline.com on Friday. The teenager's father told the celebrity news website that claims he was a paparazzo were "ridiculous...He's just a kid who happens to have an nice camera."
Foster's spokeswoman Allen said the teenager "tailed Jodie and her young sons" and that he "crowded" them as he took pictures, scaring the actress' children. She also said he had a camera bag and a telephoto lens.
Foster has two boys, ages 11 and 8. She won the best actress Oscar twice, once for her role in 1991 thriller "The Silence of the Lambs" and before that for her part in 1988 drama "The Accused." She played a crime victim on a mission for revenge in 2007 film "The Brave One."

[Mohamad]

Catherine Zeta-Jones tops bill in Queen's honors list

Estelle Shirbon
LONDON
Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:03pm EDT






http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100611&t=2&i=126824898&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-11T230348Z_01_BTRE65A1S2G00_RTROPTP_0_USA Honoree Michael Douglas and his wife actress Catherine Zeta-Jones arrive for The Film Society of Lincoln Center's 2010 Chaplin Award Gala in New York City May 24, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi




LONDON (Reuters) - A flying banker and an owl-lover join celebrities including film star Catherine Zeta-Jones and Olympic gold medalist Amy Williams on the Queen's Birthday Honors list, the Cabinet Office said on Saturday.
Entertainment
A total of 975 people are on the annual list, which marks Queen Elizabeth's official birthday. Women represent 47 percent of the total, while 7.3 percent are people from ethnic minorities, making the list one of the most diverse to date.
Zeta-Jones, who won an Oscar in 2003 for her role in the musical "Chicago," can now add a CBE or Commander of the British Empire to her tally of awards. She is being honored for services to the film industry as well as charity work in Wales.
There are five classes of honors in the Order of the British Empire. The most common, in decreasing order of seniority, are CBE, OBE (Officer) and MBE (Member).
Williams, who became the first British woman in 58 years to win a Winter Olympic individual gold medal when she triumphed in the skeleton race at the Vancouver Games, receives an MBE.
Also in the sports category, jockey Tony McCoy gets an OBE while motor racing's David Coulthard receives an MBE.
Listed in the fields of science and technology, but also with an impact on the world of sport, are MBEs for Frank Duckworth and Anthony Lewis.
They are honored for services to statistics and mathematics respectively, but also for formulating the Duckworth-Lewis Method to determine the result of limited-over cricket matches affected by bad weather.
HIGH HEELS AND HEROES
Entrepreneurs honored on the list include Tamara Mellon, the brains behind the Jimmy Choo brand of shoes beloved of fashionistas around the world. She gets an OBE.
Robin Millar, a record producer with 150 gold and platinum discs to his name including 44 number one hits, is honored with a CBE. Millar, who has been blind since 1985 because of illness, has worked with the likes of Sting and Peter Gabriel.
The list honors hundreds of people who have made a difference to the lives of people in their communities. They represent 76 percent of recipients.
Bryn and Emma Parry get OBEs as co-founders of the Help for Heroes charity, described as an initiative that caught the mood of the nation and helped to reconnect it with the armed forces.
Harry Samuel receives an MBE for 24 years of service as a voluntary worker providing advice and support to former miners and their families on coping with chronic bronchitis, emphysema and vibration white finger claims.
Anthony Warburton is rewarded with an MBE for his 40 years of work for the conservation of owls and their habitats.
There is also an MBE for Elma Anne Rendall, customer service officer at Royal Bank of Scotland on Orkney, who provides flying banking services to remote Scottish islands.

[Mohamad]

Russell Brand plays rock star onscreen and on disc

Cortney Harding
Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:59pm EDT











http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100611&t=2&i=126861433&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-11T235939Z_01_BTRE65A1UNQ00_RTROPTP_0_USA Cast member Russell Brand (L) and singer Katy Perry pose at the premiere of ''Get Him to the Greek'' at the Greek theatre in Los Angeles May 25, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni




NEW YORK (Billboard) - Infant Sorrow seems to have it all: a charismatic, good-looking frontman; several talented and well-known musicians; an extensive, major-label-funded marketing campaign; and a No. 1 debut on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart.
Entertainment | Music
There's only one wrinkle: Infant Sorrow isn't a real band.
Infant Sorrow's debut album, "Get Him to the Greek," is in fact the soundtrack to the film of the same name. And star Russell Brand, who plays hard-partying rocker Aldous Snow, sings all the tracks on the record. The songs were written and recorded by a number of high-profile British rockers, including Carl Barat of the Libertines and Jarvis Cocker. Snippets of several songs do appear in the film, but fans who want to hear full versions can pick up the album, which has sold 3,500 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"Russell and the film company felt very strongly about doing something like this as opposed to a traditional soundtrack," says Kim Garner, senior vice president of marketing and artist development at Universal Republic. "We wanted to release it like we would an actual rock band's album."
The album's sales were assisted by the box-office success of the film, which opened at No. 2 and grossed $17.5 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com. But Universal Republic didn't want to rely solely on the film to drive publicity.
"We curated a piece with the film company about the music and the movie, and that will run on the HD wall in Best Buy stores through June," Garner says. "We also shot a proper music video, which Russell directed, and that premiered on Vevo. Russell and Jonah (Hill, who co-stars in the movie) also made celebrity playlists for iTunes, which helped us get great placement there."
Universal Republic also produced special content for Record Store Day and commissioned a Union Jack Fender guitar like the one Brand's character uses in the film as a prize for a label-run contest in alternative weeklies around the country.
"We took the music for this film very seriously," Brand says. "We got brilliant writers and tried to make it as authentic as possible. We wanted songs that were quality and quirky -- like a rock version of Flight of the Conchords."
"Get Him to the Greek" certainly has plenty of "are they kidding?" moments, including a song called "F.O.H.," written by Cocker, that describes the joys of committing a particular *** act while high on heroin. The single, "Say Yes," encourages rampant drug consumption.
"When I think about my models for the Aldous character, I think about hedonistic late-'60s stars like Iggy Pop, Robert Plant, (David) Bowie and (Mick) Jagger," Brand says. "These were guys who just didn't care."
Despite the album's debut success, Brand says he probably won't quit acting to front Infant Sorrow full-time. The band did play a Los Angeles set recently, with members taking turns at the mic and Brand stepping in for two songs. Garner says special appearances, such as performances at award shows, might be possible in the future. But for now, Brand says he is sticking to acting. Unless ...
"If it becomes a Billboard No. 1 album," he says, "I would throw myself into a musical career with bare-assed ambition."

[Mohamad]

Fourth "Twilight" film will be split in two

LOS ANGELES
Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:31am EDT










http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100611&t=2&i=126472716&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-11T143151Z_01_BTRE65A14D500_RTROPTP_0_FILM-MTV Actor Peter Facinelli accepts the award for Best Movie for ''The Twilight Saga: New Moon'' at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles, June 6, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Why make one "Twilight" film when you can charge moviegoers to see two of them?
Entertainment | Film
"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn," the fourth movie in the vampire franchise, will be split in two, with the first half scheduled for release on November 18, 2011, distributor Summit Entertainment confirmed on Thursday.
The announcement, coming ahead of the June 30 release of the third film "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," was not a surprise. The closely held studio had signaled that author Stephenie Meyer's 900-page "Breaking Dawn" book was too complex to be adapted into a single movie.
But it had reportedly signed the cast for only four movies, and had to renegotiate costly deals with the newly minted A-list actors before it could officially announce the new plan.
The films will shoot back-to-back in the fall, with Bill Condon directing from a script being written by Melissa Rosenberg. A Summit spokesman said there was no release date scheduled yet for the fifth film.
And yes, all the same lovelorn characters -- including Bella (played by Kristen Stewart), Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Jacob (Taylor Lautner) -- will be on hand.
The fourth book centers on Bella's marriage to the vampire Edward, her subsequent pregnancy, and her fulfilled desire to be transformed into a vampire.
The first two films in the franchise, beloved worldwide by women of all ages, have grossed over $1.1 billion at the box office, Summit said.

[Mohamad]

Jordan's Queen Noor goes Hollywood -- for a cause









http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100612&t=2&i=126902581&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-12T010134Z_01_BTRE65B02V700_RTROPTP_0_DUBAI Queen Noor AL Hussein of Jordan, widow of late King Hussein, speaks at the Dubai International Film Festival in Dubai in this December 14, 2009 file photo.
Credit: Reuters/HO/DIFF




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In a town known for famous moviemakers, Queen Noor of Jordan is something of an anomaly in Hollywood -- until you consider the movie she has helped make.
Entertainment | Film
Queen Noor, the widow of King Hussein of Jordan, sat down with a small group of reporters at a private luncheon on Friday to discuss the documentary, "Countdown to Zero" about nuclear bomb proliferation, which hits U.S. theaters in July.
As founding leader of Global Zero, a movement aimed at phasing out nuclear weapons around the world, Queen Noor served as a special consultant on the film in her first foray into Hollywood moviemaking.
"For me, this is a whole new world," she said over lunch at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills -- a favorite haunt of Hollywood celebrities.
She was joined by producers Lawrence Bender and Diane Weyermann of Participant Media, who were both part of the team responsible for Oscar-winning global warming documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."
"Countdown to Zero" is a 90-minute documentary written and directed by Lucy Walker that explores the history of the atomic bomb and today's threat of nuclear proliferation.
The documentary features interviews with the likes of former UK prime minister Tony Blair, ex-US President Jimmy Carter, one-time USSR General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev and the late former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, among many others.
With nine nations possessing nuclear weapons the world is in danger of an explosion, whether through an act of terrorism, a failed diplomatic mission, a technical glitch or human error, and Queen Noor sees the movie as an effective way to get that message across to broader audiences.
"Film is the most powerful tool in the arsenal of so many of us -- not just Global Zero -- but others in the world that are collaborating with us on this issue," she said. "I've given a million speeches but it's the visual images, the storytelling" that can impact mass audiences.
As a consultant on the film, Queen Noor's input was invaluable, said Bender and Weyermann.
When she felt the first version that screened at January's Sundance Film Festival was too "American-centric," she offered suggestions on images and archival footage that might make it more accessible to global audiences.
"Queen Noor's perspective became important in the tweaking of this movie," said Bender. "She brought a global perspective and gave the film a more international feel."
Bender said Queen Noor functioned almost as a type of producer, but the Queen, however, demurred at that thought.
"I look at this from the perspective of trying to promote understanding between the Middle East, the Arab and Muslim worlds and the West over the past 35 years," she said.
Queen Noor explained that preventing and resolving conflicts and promoting peace in the Middle East have long been causes she supports, as well as development that provides hope and opportunity for people.
"That is how we achieve security -- by giving people the freedom to engage in the decision-making that affects our lives," she said. "This issue (of nuclear weapons) is one that affect all of those areas."
"Countdown to Zero" begins its U.S. release on July 23rd in New York City and Was

[Mohamad]

How much does movie marketing matter?

Larry Gerbrandt
Fri Jun 11, 2010 3:17am EDT






http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100611&t=2&i=126185242&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-06-11T071743Z_01_BTRE65A0K9O00_RTROPTP_0_JAPAN Actor Johnny Depp (L) and Director Tim Burton pose at an event to promote the movie ''Alice in Wonderland'' in Tokyo March 22, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon




LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - When a movie hits big, almost no one cares what was spent; when a release fails to make opening-weekend estimates or has a 60 percent drop-off during its second week, everyone begins pointing fingers.
Entertainment | Film
Consider MGM's $30 million to tub-thump "Hot Tub Time Machine," which cost about $35 million to make: First-week gross was $20 million, dropping 60 percent the following week and winding up with $50 million in domestic gross.
Or Disney's $200 million production "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," which has raked in $63 million domestically to date against a prints-and-advertising spend stateside of $75 million.
On the other hand, Disney's "Alice in Wonderland," similar in cost and marketing budget to "Prince," has grossed $334 million domestically and $1 billion worldwide.
In short, there might not be a more daunting challenge than opening a major motion picture: Create an internationally recognized brand name that lasts a lifetime, and do it in a couple of weeks with no second chances to course-correct. It's little wonder that the average P&A (prints and advertising) spend for major releases last year topped $37 million, according to Baseline Intelligence, the highest number since 2003, when the six largest studios spent an estimated average of $39.5 million on P&A in North America.
For the past seven years, domestic P&A has accounted for 34 percent-37 percent of combined production and domestic-releasing costs for movies released by the six big studios. In fact, after taking a big jump in 2003, the combined negative plus domestic P&A has hovered around the $100 million-a-film mark, with last year hitting $102.3 million, up from $87.9 million in 2008, according to Baseline Intelligence.
Looked at another way, for every dollar spent on producing a major film, the studios have been spending 51 cents-58 cents to release and market it in the United States and Canada. Assuming distributors get an average of 55 percent of domestic ticket sales, the average 2009 release had to gross $186 million to recoup production and domestic-releasing costs -- an unrealistic goal for all but a handful of titles -- which is where the international brand-building challenge kicks in.
The connection between production budgets and P&A spend is repeated at the individual studio level. Last year, Paramount had the highest average negative cost ($87.7 million) and highest P&A average ($50 million a release). Universal had the lowest average negative cost ($51.7 million) and lowest P&A ($30.4 million).
The "P" portion of prints and advertising represents less than 10 percent of the overall spend, and with digital distribution becoming more widespread it is heading downward. The actual cost of a print can vary widely depending on the volume of prints ordered, the film-release stock chosen, length of the movie and quality-control considerations. Prices can range from less than $1,000 to more than $3,000, but what the majors pay is based on volume deals cut in aggressive negotiations between high-level studio and lab executives and might include rebates from such film-stock manufacturers as Kodak and Fuji.
Through the years, there have been periodic attempts to control escalating P&A spending, which can soar to the $85 million range on big "tentpole" releases involving 4,000 screens. This includes finger-pointing at ego-driven demands by actors and directors to blanket major-city skylines with giant billboards and lavish creative campaigns.
But Nielsen Ad*Views data suggest that the overwhelming portion of the spend is on television advertising. Last year, Nielsen estimates that of the $26.5 million in media spent on the opening weekend of a 2,000- to 5,000-screen release, 80 percent went to network, cable and spot TV buys.
In contrast to just about every other product release, a movie faces a singular challenge: It must create near-instant national brand-name recognition within a span of a few days to a couple of weeks. The only way to do this, especially with a highly visual product like a film, is with a well-crafted TV spot campaign.
While overall TV viewership is at record levels, it also is increasingly fragmented across dozens of channels. Spending on network TV actually has increased, from 35 percent of opening-weekend budgets in 2006 to 41 percent last year, in addition to an increase from 26 percent to 28 percent in cable-network spend. These increases have come largely at the expense of spot TV, down from 18 percent to 11 percent, and newspapers, down from 12 percent to 9 percent, Nielsen said.
At various points along the way, especially with the ascent of social media, there have been calls to shift a larger portion of media budgets to the Internet, especially given that medium's lower ad rates, massive inventory and ability to target key demographics.
This certainly has happened with limited- and medium-release movies. Those bowing on fewer than 500 screens have seen online-media spend jump from 5 percent in 2006 to 12 percent last year; 500- to 2,000-screen releases allocated 6 percent to the Web last year, double the 3 percent mark in 2006.
Industry peer pressure and second-guessing also play a part in keeping P&A spending trending upward. "When a studio like Disney tries to rein in these costs, they are second-guessed and doubted for trying a new media mix and paradigm," says Jim Lukowitsch, product manager at Baseline Intelligence.
Web-delivered over-the-top (OTT) television might open additional opportunities for movie marketers, but at present the Internet remains a text-driven medium, and usage is so fragmented across tens of thousands of sites that it is difficult to buy in the massive tidal wave needed to create overnight brand awareness -- which is where TV outshines all other media, albeit for a premium price.
Indeed, TV spot rates are likely to rise as the economy improves and midterm elections, which could draw record TV campaign spending, further drive up spot pricing.
The big question facing movie marketers is how to deal with the declining DVD window. Conventional wisdom has been that the massive spend around the opening theatrical window could be justified by the "afterglow" effect lasting into the DVD and even PPV/VOD windows. This was further justified by steady shrinkage of the theatrical-to-DVD window, lessening the need for a second big spend to promote the home video release.
With Google TV entering the OTT fray -- all of which have movie rentals and subscriptions as core offerings -- it would be logical to see a further shift of ad spend to online.
What isn't likely to happen is a change in the need to create that initial brand awareness in the theatrical window. Although a small-budget release might bet on multiple Golden Globe and Oscar nominations to give it a promotional push, that type of strategy is simply too risky for larger-budget movies.
It might be the ultimate example of that old adage, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." With movies, it is an impression that lasts a lifetime.

[Mohamad]

Donald Fagen hopes to do it again with new album

Mark Egan
NEW YORK
Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:17pm EDT










NEW YORK (Reuters) - Donald Fagen, one-half the hit-writing duo behind rock perfectionists Steely Dan, says he will release his fourth solo record in 2011 with an album largely recorded on computers away from conventional studios.
Entertainment | Music | People
Fagen, who with Walter Becker wrote the seminal 1970s hits "Reeling' in the Years" and "Do It Again" told Reuters he is recording in New York at the home of Steely Dan trumpet player Michael Leonhart, who is co-producing the album.
Fagen, 62, was prolific in the 1970s with Steely Dan, which was named after a *** toy featured in William Burroughs' book "Naked Lunch." But solo, his critically-acclaimed output has been roughly one album per decade -- "The Nightfly" in 1982, "Kamakiriad" in 1993 and "Morph The Cat" in 2006.
"Those albums were a trilogy," Fagen said, noting his first solo record was themed around the 1950s, the second about the current day and his third was futuristic.
"This one does not have a theme but they are good stories -- most of my songs have a plot," he said. "The album, or CD, or whatever they call it these days should be out next year."
Fagen said the as-yet untitled album is being recorded on computer using Pro Tools software. Some overdubs have been done at New York's Stratosphere Sound studio. He said the album will be released by Warner Bros Records as the final obligation under his contract with the recording giant.
Asked why he took so long between solo records, Fagen said he hated the 1980s and then was distracted by Steely Dan reunions. "I didn't feel like doing too much in the 1980s because they were so depressing," he said.
And, he said, he suffered from depression.
"I went to a shrink for a while in those days. I went for seven years during the '80s," he said. "I had various neurotic problems since I was a little kid."
"When you're young you have a youthful energy that allows you to ram your way through bad times...but when I got to my mid-30s I ran out of that energy and had to grow up," he said.
"DUKES OF SEPTEMBER" TOUR
Fagen currently is promoting his upcoming tour with Michael McDonald, formerly of the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan, and Boz Scaggs known for the hits "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle," playing together as "The Dukes of September Rhythm Revue."
"The Dukes," backed by a band and horn section, begin a nationwide tour on August 19 in Danbury, Connecticut and stay on the road through October 2, when they play Las Vegas.
Fagen said the show will be evocative of the tours the threesome did with a large cast of collaborators from 1989 to 1993 called the New York Rock and Soul Review, which released the record "Live at the Beacon" in 1991.
The concerts will feature several hits each from Fagen, McDonald and Scaggs and then focus on the type of classic songs that drew the trio to music in the first place -- hits by the likes of Ray Charles, Chuck Berry and Wilson Pickett.
Tour promoters plan to announce the lineup of venues and dates for the concerts on Monday.
Like Fagen, McDonald is also trying out something new -- releasing some unusual songs he has recorded, one at a time on iTunes along with live videos of the songs on YouTube.
"These songs are so odd for me -- a lot of them are songs I wrote on guitar that I don't think record companies would be interested in," McDonald told Reuters. "My experience is record companies want you to be who they perceive you to be."

[serdash]

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