Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Soulja Boy opens up about his pals Chris Brown and Rihanna


Former Chris Brown tour-mate Soulja Boy weighed in on the alleged Rihanna incident on the red carpet at last Saturday's 2009 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles. Here's what he told EW: "[Chris] needs to be focused on fixing himself right now and fixing the relationship. I don't know what went wrong or what happened exactly, but I couldn't be more shocked. Both of them are my friends and I wish both of them the best of luck. They were really good together and it is sad that it happened. It came out of nowhere. I would have never seen that coming. It is not like him at all. Not his nature. I hope they both get through it in a positive light. It is going to be tough because they are going through it all publicly. Remember that only God can judge though. None of us know exactly what went down that weekend. Only they know the whole truth and it will be up to them to decide if they can get straight with it and whether they will want to continue as a couple. I can just be there if either of them need me." In addition to boasting about his sparkly $100,000 necklace and professing a desire to collaborate with Kanye West, the loquacious rapper also revealed the inspiration behind his new hit single, "Kiss Me Thru the Phone," which is riding high at No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. "It is based on my personal experience," he says. "When I was recording, I had a girl I wanted to see real bad but I couldn't, so I told someone else how I have to be all right with kissing her through the phone for a few months and that was how it all came about." Next up for the young MC? A summer tour. "I'm the headliner and I am going to put my swagga into it. Move over, Chris Brown."

http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/03/soulja-boy-open.html

Grieving Liam Neeson goes back to work


Grieving actor Liam Neeson has returned to shoot the final scenes of his forthcoming movie "Chloe" after he was forced to abandon filming to be at the side of his dying wife Natasha Richardson during her final hours.

The Irish star quit the production of "Chloe" in Toronto on March 16 after learning Richardson was hospitalized in Montreal after a fall during a skiing lesson. He then flew his seriously ill partner to New York, where he was joined by family members and close friends at the Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. Richardson passed away two days later.

Producers rescheduled shooting to accommodate Neeson, allowing him time to comfort his sons, Michael, 13, and Daniel, 12. Neeson threw himself back into filming, but was lost in mourning when the cameras were turned off, according to New York gossip column PageSix.

Neeson's sister-in-law Joely Richardson also returned to work on TV movie "The Day of the Triffids." However, bereaved Vanessa Redgrave, mother of Natasha and Joely Richardson, has delayed a charity performance in New York from April to October following her daughter's death.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12031340

Josh Hartnett taken to hospital


Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett has been admitted to a Los Angeles hospital with gastrointestinal problems, his publicist has said.

The 30-year-old was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by ambulance at 0145 local time on Monday morning.

Susan Patricola said in a statement the star was "under observation but is resting comfortably".

Hartnett made his West End debut in a stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning film Rain Man last year.

Ms Patricola said the 30 Days of Night star was "suffering from a flare-up of a gastrointestinal problem that plagued him while he was starring in the West End during the production of Rain Man".

The actor was taken ill for a few days with the same problem last November while in London.

Hartnett is currently in the middle of production for his next film, Queen of the South, with Sir Ben Kingsley.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7973555.stm

Monday, March 30, 2009

‘New Moon’ Finds Its Wolf Pack!

Check out the official cast members who will play wolves in the highly-anticipated movie New Moon. Also, the first teaser poster came out.

The wolves are now complete. The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Summit Entertainment has cast Native American actors Chaske Spencer, Bronson Pelletier, Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon and Tyson Houseman for The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Spencer is Lakota (Sioux), Pelletier is Cree-Metis, Meraz is Purepecha (Tarasco), Gordon is Hualapai and Houseman is Cree.

The five actors will join original cast member Taylor Lautner in portraying the wolf pack in New Moon, in which the pack defends humans against vampires. I guess Vanessa Hudgens didn’t win the female wolf’s role.

And of course, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson will be back reprising their Twilight roles as Bella and Edward. Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke will be replaced by Chris Weitz (American Pie, About a Boy, The Golden Compass) in New Moon.

Twilight Saga: New Moon is set for a November 2009 release.

Here’s a movie art of the Wolf Pack:

Pictured clockwise from lower left in the above photo are Alex Meraz as Paul, Tinsel Korey as Emily Young, Chaske Spencer as Sam Uley, Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black, Tyson Houseman as Quil Ateara, Bronson Pelletier as Jared and Kiowa Gordon as Embry Call.

And here’s the very first teaser poster of New Moon:

http://www.starmometer.com/2009/03/30/new-moon-wolf-pack-cast-members-and-first-poster-revealed/

Robert Pattinson Injured on ‘New Moon’ Set Actor sent home to rest for the day


British actor Robert Pattinson was injured on the set of “New Moon,” the sequel to the highly successful vampire film “Twilight.” The incident took place just a couple of hours ago, when a piece of metal got loose and hit Pattinson in the back of the head, forcing producers to send him home to recover, X17 Online informs.

While further details of the accident have not yet been made public, the same media outlet / paparazzi agency informs that it did not take place because of anyone’s fault. Also, Pattinson was not severely injured, as medics gave him a check-up on the spot and decided that a few hours’ rest should be enough to see him back on his feet and working again, it is further being said.

“There were a few tense moments on the set of the ‘Twilight’ sequel ‘New Moon’ when Pattinson was hit in the head with a piece of flying metal. According to The National Enquirer, a strong gust of wind tore loose a metal sign and slammed it right into the back of Rob’s head, knocking him to the ground. A few moments later, RPattz was able to get up by himself, but was a little dazed. Medics checked him out - he apparently has a pretty good goose egg on the back of his head - and sent him back to his hotel to rest. Fortunately, after a night of ice and probably a couple of Tylenol, the hunky Brit was back on the set the next day!” the aforementioned e-zine says.

Also today, new reports on Pattinson emerged in the media, this time neither too flattering nor pleasant for his fans. According to people working with Robert on the set of “New Moon,” which is currently shooting in Vancouver, the Brit does not really have a liking for water and washing products, which makes it pretty hard to be in his presence and not be sick by how he smells.

Using terms such as “he positively reeks,” “he stinks” and “it’s awful,” sources from the set have been telling the media that, as good looking as he is, as repulsive he can get for not being much of a shower guy, if there ever was such a thing. Granted, as we noted before, if this rumor was accurate, Pattinson would not be the only hunk to ever be labeled a “stinker,” since Brad Pitt and Keanu Reeves before him also were awarded this not-that-pleasant distinction.

Katherine Heigl: No Plans to Leave Grey’s


Katherine Heigl, who plays Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC’s hit medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, says she’s sticking with the series that made her a star — unless producers have other plans.

“I don’t know if I live or die. I don’t know how Izzie fares,” the actress, 30, told the Associated Press at a studio party on March 27 to mark the show’s 100th episode. On Thursday’s episode, Izzie was seen surviving brain surgery.

Calling the set “one of my favorite places to be,” Heigl said “I’m there” if Izzie remains part of Grey’s Anatomy.

There has been widespread speculation that the actress, who starred in the big-screen hit Knocked Up and appears in this summer’s The Ugly Truth, has pushed to leave Grey’s to pursue her film career.

http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/03/29/katherine-heigl-no-plans-to-leave-greys/

Not true, says Heigl, noting that she plans to work on movie projects during her summer TV hiatus.

“I’m more than happy to make that compromise. As my agent likes to say, ‘High-class problems,’” Heigl said.

Stars ooze compliments at Nick's Kids' Choice Awards


Who got slimed?

That's the question on everyone's mind when it comes to Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards.

"I want to slime my kids," Usher said from the orange carpet Saturday. "It's like I live at the home of 'No, Stop and Don't!' Naw, they're great kids, and they've always actually asked to be slimed, so I'm trying to figure out how to gather as much slime as I can. I don't know how much will fit in my pockets, but maybe I can take some home and give them a little treat."

Miley Cyrus, who stopped chatting with reporters to hug Demi Lovato and take pictures with Ashley Tisdale, said, "Oh, I would get my buddy Demi Lovato because she looks so pretty today. It'd be great to get her slimed!"

Lovato, who's preparing for a summer music tour, said she'd be fine with a sliming.

"Oh, I would want to get slimed by Miley. I mean, she's the teen queen. Why not? But, if I could slime anybody, I would want to slime the Jonas Brothers. They pranked me a lot on tour. So I want to get them back."

Cyrus also talked about her Hannah Montana movie, which arrives in April.

"It's a really cool film. We're going in a totally different direction than in the TV show. It's basically about trying to get my life back together, which I think is cool," Cyrus said.

Rapper Soulja Boy, who's topping music charts with hit Kiss Me Thru the Phone, said he doesn't have a slime fantasy but cautioned others to think twice about hitting him with green ooze now or in the future.

"I got these white pants on, and if green slime touches these, we're going to have a problem at the Nickelodeon Awards! Don't slime nobody next to me, either! Or in front of me.

"In fact, keep the slime like 100 yards away. At least."

Marlon Wayans, who ran up and down the carpet imitating other celebrities as they gave interviews, said he'd want to get slimed by Dwayne Johnson, who hosted the event.

"If he slimes me, I would be very upset, but that man is very buff, and I know in my good sense that I'm not to say nothing! I've seen him whup butt in movies. He's not going to whup mine," Wayans said. "Or maybe I'd slime David Spade, because I could kick him around. Or maybe the Jonas Brothers. We could have a Wayans Brothers vs. the Jonas Brothers slime-off. That would be cool."

Nick Jonas said he'd slime Hugh Jackman.

"I want to slime him pretty bad. I just watched Australia, and it's so epic. I would like to do the sliming, of course. That'd be pretty awesome. And I think he'd react very well," Jonas said.

Rocker Pete Wentz, who said his wife, Ashlee Simpson, and 4-month old son, Bronx, were at home, said he's enamored with fatherhood. Bronx "is awesome, man. He's growing, doing baby stuff. And I don't mind changing diapers, man. He's my little dude."

And as for who he'd want to slime?

"I would definitely for sure slime my wife, because every once in a while when me and my wife are in a fight, I want to slime her," he said. "And I know that Ashlee would for sure slime me because she knows how meticulous I am about my hair."

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-03-29-nick-kids-choice-awards-slime_N.htm

Madonna's adoption ruling delayed until Friday


A Malawi court official says Madonna won't know until Friday whether she will be allowed to adopt a 4-year-old girl as her second child from the southern African nation.

Court official Thomson Ligowe confirmed that Madonna's adoption application has been adjourned by the court until the end of the week.

The 50-year-old pop star appeared in court Monday and left about an hour later. It was not immediately known whether any of the girl's relatives were present.

The one adoption case on Monday's court docket listed only the child's name — Chifundo James. The girl's name means "Mercy" in the local language.

Madonna has not commented on the adoption and did not speak to reporters Monday morning.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g4Wxukw37tBz-Ycz1eS7Iitk8VtQD97890800

Sunday, March 29, 2009

CNN in third place in prime time for first time


CNN is poised to finish March third in the prime-time weeknight ratings behind Fox News Channel and MSNBC, the first time this has ever happened for the channel that pioneered the cable news genre nearly three decades ago.

CNN says its overall business is healthy and it is not straying from its straight news path. But it is suffering more audience erosion than its rivals since the peak days of the presidential election, further proof that the opinionated prime-time shows on Fox and MSNBC have greater audience loyalty.

CNN's weekday prime-time ratings are relatively flat compared to last year during the primary campaign, up 1 percent from March 2008, according to Nielsen Media Research. Fox's ratings have jumped 30 percent and MSNBC, the new No. 2, is up 24 percent. The biggest growth in cable news is for CNN's partner, HLN, formerly Headline News, which is up 62 percent.

Fox remains on a mountain above its two closest competitors, with its prime-time audience in March more than that of MSNBC and CNN combined. "The O'Reilly Factor" has done particularly well, keeping more of its postelection audience than anything else on CNN and MSNBC.

Through Wednesday, Fox was averaging 2.73 million prime-time viewers in March. MSNBC had 1.16 million and CNN had 1.14 million. The March ratings period ends Friday, and it's doubtful CNN will be able to overcome MSNBC.

"The fact that one network may have eked out a slight edge in one small slice of the overall business really doesn't say much of anything," Jon Klein, CNN U.S. president, said on Friday. "It's more clear than ever, given the way that our competitors have positioned themselves, that CNN has positioned itself as the real news network."

Relying on news, rather than opinion, leaves CNN more susceptible to higher ratings peaks during big stories and lower valleys in routine times. Yet it's hard to consider the present - new president, economic turmoil and two wars - a slow news period.

CNN's ratings news "is very significant," said Frank Sesno, a former CNN Washington bureau chief and now a professor at George Washington University. "This is a big problem."

More significant is what CNN's ratings problems mean coupled with the daily drumbeat of layoffs in the newspaper industry, he said. With people more interested in hearing things through an ideological prism as a form of entertainment, it diminishes the value of independent voices giving straight news.

"It's getting harder to do real journalism on television," Sesno said. "This is `man the ideological barricades.'"

Fox is ready to start a new venture Monday, "The Fox Nation," which it bills as an online community that believes in "your right to express your views, your values, your voice." Fox representatives would not immediately return a call for comment.

The most problematic part of CNN's prime-time schedule is Campbell Brown's 8 p.m. show, up against O'Reilly and MSNBC's Keith Olbermann. Brown's audience is smaller than any prime-time show on the three networks, and beneath Nancy Grace's crime hour on Headline News.

Brown leaves for a six-to-eight week maternity leave following Friday's show, and will be replaced temporarily by Roland Martin. Klein said Brown's show isn't in any danger, noting that it took years for Olbermann and O'Reilly to build their audiences and Brown has been in her job for a year.

There's been no talk of moving Grace to CNN, he said. Having Grace's crime-oriented show on Headline News allows CNN to keep its focus on being a news network, he said.

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow is a close third to Larry King, and both are beaten handily by Sean Hannity's new Fox solo show. At the 10 p.m. hour, a rerun of the show Olbermann did two hours earlier has been doing surprisingly well against CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360," leading MSNBC to at least temporarily put on hold any development of a new live show then.

MSNBC chief executive Phil Griffin said the prime-time ratings are an affirmation of the network's decision to go liberal with Olbermann and Maddow. But he also said it pointed to problems at his rival.

"They've got the best brand in news," he said. "CNN, that's better than anybody. But you've got to deliver on that - and they're not. It's a hollow promise."

He compared CNN to ESPN, which started at the same time, saying that, while ESPN has evolved aggressively and remained the leader in sports, CNN hasn't. Their evening lineup of Lou Dobbs, Brown, King and Cooper lacks any consistency or flow, he said.

"What do they stand for?" he said. "That's their biggest challenge. CNN ain't what it used to be, and that has given us an opening because we stand for something and they don't."

Klein dismissed Griffin, noting CNN is beating MSNBC handily when the full day - not just prime-time - is taken into account. He said that for March and the year's first three months, it was CNN's best showing since 2003, when the Iraq War started.

CNN continues to have a greater reach and reputation than its rivals across all platforms, he said. When you measure viewership across the full day - not just prime time - CNN has a comfortable lead over MSNBC.

"When you have other so-called news networks ceding the field of journalism, we are happy to fill that void," Klein said. "It's working for us."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TV_CNN_IN_THIRD?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-03-27-21-23-12

'High School Musical 3' wins Kids' Choice award


"High School Musical 3: Senior Year" graduated with honors Saturday at the Kids' Choice Awards.

The Disney musical was selected as the favorite movie by audience votes at the 22nd annual slime-filled Nickelodeon spectacle held inside UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens was also selected as the favorite movie actress.

"Lately, a lot of people have been taking credit for bringing back the musical," Zac Efron said while accepting the movie's trophy. "The truth is we've known who's been responsible for bringing back the musical all along. It was you guys!"

The show's hijinks kicked off with host and "Race to Witch Mountain" star Dwayne Johnson zip-lining over the audience of screaming teens and tweens into a "slime temple." Johnson proceeded to spray the first row with gooey green slime. Other shenanigans included squirting singer Jesse McCartney with a fake microphone and Will Ferrell slipping and sliding down a hill.

Winners included "iCarly" for TV show, "American Idol" for reality show, Jonas Brothers for music group and "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" for animated movie. Jack Black arrived in motorcycle sidecar to pick up his award for favorite voice from an animated film for "Kung Fu Panda."

Miley Cyrus was brought to tears when she was announced as favorite female singer.

"I really thought I was gonna lose, so thank you, guys," said Cyrus.

Johnson said over 90 million viewer votes were cast at Nick's Web site. Instead of envelopes, blimp recipients were revealed from inside spy-like steel briefcases. Some held surprises throughout the show. Before presenters Sandra Bullock and Hugh Jackman announced the "Twilight" series as favorite book, a briefcase doused the pair with green slime.

The green theme took on an entirely different meaning when Cameron Diaz presented her "Gangs of New York" co-star Leonardo DiCaprio with the first-ever Big Green Help Award. The "Titanic" and "Revolutionary Road" actor was selected to receive the green blimp trophy because of his contribution and promotion of environmental issues.

"Right now, our mother - our mother - all of our mothers, Mother Earth is hurting," said DiCaprio. "And she needs a generation of thoughtful, caring and active kids like all of you to protect her for the future. You can help us win the battle to clean up our air, our water, our land, to protect our forests, our oceans and our wildlife."

Most of the blimp recipients were relegated to brief announcements before and after the commercials.

Among those winners were "Wizards of Waverly Place" star Selena Gomez for TV actress, "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" star Dylan Sprouse for TV actor, "SpongeBob SquarePants" for cartoon, Jesse McCartney for male singer, Beyonce's "Single Ladies" for song, Will Smith for movie actor, "Guitar Hero World Tour" for video game, Candace Parker for female athlete and Peyton Manning for male athlete.

Earlier this year, controversy found its way into the show when pop star Chris Brown withdrew his name from Kids' Choice contention. The nominations were announced shortly before his arrest for allegedly attacking girlfriend and fellow Kids' Choice nominee Rihanna. Neither was in attendance Saturday, and Rihanna, twice nominated, lost in both categories.

The show concluded with Johnson and a troop of Polynesian dancers summoning the "slime temple" to spew the sticky stuff all over the audience. Instead, the Jonas Brothers emerged and sang a cappella, causing slime to cascade over the boy band, Johnson, the dancers and much of the audience.

"What you guys don't know is that's real boogers," comedian Marlon Wayans said earlier in the show.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KIDS_CHOICE_AWARDS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-03-29-06-21-16

Prince performs three L.A. shows in one night


Funk rocker Prince blasted a concert promotion giant for its poor sound equipment as he struggled to perform three concerts in one night at separate venues in Los Angeles.

The man who once sang about traveling "Around the World in a Day," shuttled among three venues on Saturday at a new downtown entertainment complex operated by AEG Live.

But his ambitious promotion for an upcoming album hit a snag soon after he hit the stage at the 7,100-capacity Nokia Theater. He had problems with the monitors, and constant pleas to the venue's crew to fix them never had much impact.

"This is my celebration. I don't care what goes wrong," he said midway through the 90-minute set, before scrunching up his nose in disgust.

The second show, at the 1,100-capacity Conga Room, began with a five-minute soundcheck and lasted about an hour. Each of the shows was promoted as being "full-length."

The third show, scheduled to begin at midnight, kicked off an hour late as Prince and his crew grappled with sound issues, forcing fans to wait in a long line outside the 2,300-capacity Club Nokia. He began the show before many entered the venue.

Toward the end of the show, he mentioned a few AEG executives by name, and told fans to complain to them about the buzzing speakers.

"I came to see Alicia Keys here, and it was the worst sound I've ever heard," Prince said, noting that the AEG had spent plenty of money on seating and lighting.

"If you fix the sound, I'll be here every night, and I'll do it for free."

Prince played most of his hits, like "1999," "Kiss" and "Let's Go Crazy," at the first show, which was attended by celebrities like basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. The set lists and the bands were different for each show.

Prince's new album, the three-disc set "Lotusflow3r," will be released on Sunday exclusively at big-box retailer Target Corp and on his Web site.

Officials at AEG did not reply to a late-night email seeking reaction to Prince's criticisms. The firm is owned by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz.

http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE52S0QZ20090329

Chris Brown, Rihanna were no-shows at Kids' Choice


Chris Brown and Rihanna, who added star power to last year's Kids' Choice Awards, were conspicuously absent at the annual event on Saturday.

Brown, who was nominated for favorite male singer and favorite song for "Kiss Kiss," withdrew his name from Kids' Choice contention after he was arrested Feb. 8 for allegedly attacking his girlfriend. Rihanna, a fellow Kids' Choice nominee for favorite female singer and favorite song for "Don't Stop the Music," was also a no-show.

"For them not to be here is very sad. I was looking forward to seeing them here," rapper Soulja Boy, who is a friend of the pop stars, said from the orange carpet.

"Right now, it's a sad situation. And it's very touchy. I'm just .... it just shocked me when it happened," he added.

Soulja Boy said he's spoken with Brown over the phone and that the 19-year-old R&B singer is "doing OK."

"Yeah, right now, it's a delicate time," he added. "You know, the court date is coming up. I hope that they both get through it in a positive way."

Brown, who has been charged by Los Angeles prosecutors with felony assault and making criminal threats, is scheduled to be arraigned April 6.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KIDS_CHOICE_AWARDS_BROWN_RIHANNA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-03-29-06-33-25

The Best and Worst 2009 Kids’ Choice Awards Looks


At the 2009 Kids’ Choice Awards, the Jonas Brothers and “Twilight” may have been the hot topics of the night, but casual chic ruled was the fashion feel of the night. Sure, a bunch of the ladies got dazzled up, but there was still a relaxed feeling about their get-ups. And the guys, for the most part, favored jeans and t-shirts…though sometimes the show’s host, Dwayne Johnson, favored no shirt at all!

Here are the best looks from the 2009 KCA’s!

Miley Cyrus: Her white tiered dress certainly looked crisp and clean on the red carpet, but it was her hot orange mini, asymmetrical dress that really dazzled. Why? Because it’s easy to shine in such an eye-catching color.

Ashley Tisdale: Out of the two “HSM” girls at the show, we had to pick Ashley and her black sweetheart neckline dress which definitely ruled over Vanessa Hudgens and her daisy dukes. The dress always also had sparkles and who doesn’t love sparkles?

America Ferrera: In a hot fuchsia dress, America didn’t look like an Ugly Betty at all. The dress hugged her curves and proved that colors and diamonds make anyone stand out in a crowd. Take note, ladies!

Jesse McCartney: Unlike both the JoBros and Zac Efron, who chose jeans and t-shirts but can still do no wrong, Jesse looked hot in his skinny suit, blue shirt and skinny tie.

Emma Roberts: In a little red dress (see it doesn’t always have to be a little black dress), Emma looked cool and hip because the dress has the funky lace overlay.

The Worst
We didn’t find lots of bad…until Paula Abdul hit the stage. Why? Too many accessories, messy hair, and sleeves that weren’t even connected to her shiny shirt. Oy vey!

http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/03/29/bestworst-kidschoiceawards-looks/

How Do Britney Spears Fans Prepare For Their Pop Princess To Hit The Stage?


“Prep for this concert started months ago,” Joe Moeller, Britney Spears’ unofficial number-one fan, told me during a tailgate party he was hosting outside Brit’s concert last night in Pittsburgh. “We got the setlist as soon as it came out on the Internet, and we made a mix CD so that we could listen to the whole thing.”

It wasn’t hard to find Britney’s die-hard fans at last night’s Circus tour stop. Almost everyone I spoke to was a Britney devotee. Out of the bajillion people I interviewed, only one girl I approached said she was dragged there by a friend. I even met John Mitchell, a dad from Ohio, who claimed he couldn’t afford to take his kids to the concert but went by himself because he’s such a big fan.

Moeller’s friend Jamie Margel got in on the preshow action too: “We also got some sexy corsets to properly accent the circus theme. And we got some fake eyelashes, ‘cause we gotta look glamorous and fabulous for Britney.”


That’s an idea that 18-year-old superfan Brooke Miller took to heart. She paid homage to her Brit Brit by getting decked out Circus-style in black shorts, a hot-pink tube top, a top hat and a coat with tails.

“There wasn’t a question about [dressing up]. I’ve loved Britney since I was 10 years old,” Brooke confessed.

Teens Gayle Johnston and Cara Koshut obviously feel the same about Britney, since the homemade shirts they were wearing read “Britney Spears Changed My Life.” Gayle also made a Britney necklace out of beads and a deck of cards. So why all the adulation?

“I just love everything she does. I love her music,” Gayle said.

“She’s human like all of us, and she’s just amazing,” Cara added. “She cleaned up her life, and that’s good.”

http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/03/28/how-do-britney-spears-fans-prepare-for-their-pop-princess-to-hit-the-stage/

Katherine Heigl may live to win another Emmy for 'Grey's Anatomy'

On last week's episode of "Grey's Anatomy," Katherine Heigl's character Izzie survived iffy brain surgery. Yikes! That may mean that the rumor isn't true that the program's producers have been secretly plotting to kill off the role of the past Emmy champ (Heigl won best supporting drama actress in 2007) to punish her for a gripe she made against them last year. If they really wanted Izzie dead, they just missed a big chance. So what's ahead?

"I don't know if I live or die," Heigl told the Associated Press. "I don't know how Izzie fares." But she wants Izzy to endure her bout with cancer, which recently seemed to be a fatal case when it spread to Izzy's brain. "I'm there" if Izzie remains part of "Grey's Anatomy," Heigl added, because she says she's great pals with her colleagues and the set is "one of my favorite places to be."

Katherine_heigl_greys_anatomy_emmy

Blame Gold Derby for how this whole flapdoodle started. It was in June 2008 that we noticed that Heigl's name wasn't on the list to be considered for another Emmy. That could only mean one thing: She didn't put her name up for nomination. Why? When we inquired, her response to us triggered a huge media uproar: "I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination."

Some gossipmeisters claimed that Heigl was suddenly acting like a pompous diva one year after her break-out film success in "Knocked Up," which earned $219 million worldwide. Why couldn't she be grateful for what TV screen time was given by the series' writers who obviously felt they had to be conservative with her involvement due to her growing film career.

At least one "Grey's Anatomy" insider was furious about her public complaint, fuming to Entertainment Weekly: "The show bent over backwards to accommodate her film schedule and then she criticizes the show for lack of material? It's an ungrateful slap in the face to the very writers responsible for her Emmy win in the first place."

E! Online reported that the "Grey's Anatomy" writers were really angry at Heigl: "They want Izzie dead."

But Izzie, hurrah, seems to be surviving a death threat on the series right now.

"On Friday, Heigl said she's comfortable balancing movies and TV by working on big-screen projects during the summer hiatus for 'Grey's Anatomy,'" reports the Associated Press.

"I'm more than happy to make that compromise," she says. "As my agent likes to say, 'High-class problems. I don't know if I want to continue for five years working 12 months a year, but I can take at least another year or two."

http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2009/03/katherine-heigl.html

'Monsters vs. Aliens' grosses $16.7 mil at the box office on Friday


DreamWorks Animation's 3-D extravaganza Monsters vs. Aliens started off the weekend with a strong gross of $16.7 million on Friday. Thus, the animated family film is on track to bank as much as $60 mil over the course of the weekend, which would be in line with its great expectations. The Haunting in Connecticut also opened really well, exceeding its projected figures with $9.6 mil on its first day. But the weekend's other big new movie, 12 Rounds, was way back with a mere $1.8 mil. Friday's totals are below, and please check back here on Sunday for a full weekend recap in the Box Office Report.

1. Monsters vs. Aliens -- $16.7 mil
2. The Haunting in Connecticut -- $9.6 mil
3. Knowing -- $4.6 mil
4. I Love You, Man -- $4 mil
5. Duplicity -- $2.3 mil
6. 12 Rounds -- $1.8 mil
7. Race to Witch Mountain -- $1.5 mil

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/03/monsters-saturd.html

Air traffic controllers: Madonna arrives in Malawi


Madonna, the original Material Girl, landed in a decidedly un-material nation Sunday, flying into the capital of Malawi where she was expected to begin proceedings this week to adopt a young girl.

Air traffic controllers at the airport in the capital of Lilongwe confirmed that her plane landed Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the matter with reporters.

This would be the second child the 50-year-old pop star has adopted from the impoverished African country. The adoption for her Malawian-born son David, 3, was finalized last year.

A Malawian welfare official and another person involved in the adoption proceedings say the girl Madonna is hoping to adopt is about 4 years old and her unmarried mother died soon after she was born. The girl's father is believed to be alive but no other details were available. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is considered sensitive.

Madonna and the girl's uncle are expected to appear in court on Monday to sign adoption papers.

A U.S. government official confirmed that an adoption bid by Madonna, an American, was under way. The luxury lodge where Madonna normally stays in Malawi has been fully booked and visitors are being turned away.

Madonna faced harsh criticism for years over David's adoption. Children's advocacy groups accused her of wielding her wealth and influence to circumvent Malawian law requiring an 18- to 24-month assessment period before adoption.

Austin Msowoya, legal researcher with Malawi's Law Commission, played down concerns that a second adoption by Madonna would violate any laws.

He said the best interests of the child needed to be taken into account — whether that was staying in an orphanage in Malawi or getting "an education with Madonna."

"When you look at these two options, then perhaps it becomes in the best interests of the child to allow the adoption if the parents and the guardians consent to it," he told Associated Press Television News on Saturday.

But Save the Children UK said the recently divorced superstar risked sending the wrong message by going through with the second adoption.

"International adoption can actually exacerbate the problem it hopes to solve," spokesman Dominic Nutt said. "The very existence of orphanages encourages poor parents to abandon children in the hope that they will have a better life."

Nutt said he was not suggesting that Madonna was doing anything wrong — but he said the whole process of international adoptions was often flawed and sometimes linked to criminal activity.

He said, barring exceptional circumstances, children should be kept in the care of their extended families or within their communities.

Madonna's spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg in New York, who has not commented on the adoption reports, told The Associated Press the star would not respond to comments from Save the Children.

In a recent interview in Malawi's leading daily The Nation, the singer said she was considering another adoption but would only do it if she had "the support of the Malawian people and government."

If the adoption goes through, Madonna would become a single mother of four. She also has an 8-year-old son, Rocco, with former husband and British film director Guy Ritchie and a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from a previous relationship.

She and Ritchie, who were married in 2000, obtained a preliminary divorce decree in November 2008.

Madonna first traveled to Malawi in 2006 while doing charity work and filming a documentary on the devastating poverty and AIDS crisis there. She is also establishing a school for girls there.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g4Wxukw37tBz-Ycz1eS7Iitk8VtQD977NE781

Friday, March 27, 2009

Robert Pattinson Stinks


Good news for anyone jealous of 22 year-old handsome, wealthy, internationally popular "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson; according to not one but multiple reports from People.com, E! News and even himself, the guy smells really, really bad. Really.

"He stinks. I mean, it's awful," one crew-member, who apparently works a little too close to Pattinson on the Vancouver set of "New Moon" told E! News reporter Ted Casablanca this week. "He never showers, and it drives people on the set crazy. He completely reeks."

Described in a GQ Magazine interview this month as wearing clothes that "smell like he purchased them off the back of someone less fortunate than he," Pattinson also recently appeared on Jay Leno's show where he confessed to, among other things, not having "much of a sense of personal hygiene or styling or anything."

(An excerpt of Pattinson being shunned and scooted away from by no less than Heidi Klum can be seen here)

According to his "Twilight" co-star Kristen Stewart, however, Pattinson's musk is all part of the appeal. "He smells great," Stewart told People.com in November, shortly before "Twilight's" premiere. "It's kind of an animalist thing that goes on. It went along with the movie, so it was perfect."

In any case, yeah...him and 18 year-old Stewart are probably going to be dating at some point soon, if they haven't already that is. He stinks.

http://www.actressarchives.com/news.php?id=15439

Madonna seeks to adopt baby girl Mercy in Malawi


Madonna's bid to adopt a second Malawian child, a baby girl called Mercy James, will be examined by a court in the southern African country next week, officials said on Friday.

The 14-month-old would be a sister for David, whose adoption by the U.S. pop star aroused controversy, and comes from the same orphanage.

"Her name is Mercy James from Mchinji Home of Hope orphanage. She has no father and mother, they both died...We finished the assessment yesterday in readiness for the courts next week," an official at the ministry of Gender and Child Development told Reuters.

Court clerks confirmed the name of the child and said that Madonna or her associates were expected to appear in court next Monday for the adoption proceedings. She is expected to arrive in Malawi over the weekend, officials said.

Some Malawians opposed David's adoption, accusing the government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting children in Malawi, which has been badly hit by an AIDS epidemic.

The local Nation newspaper this month quoted Madonna, 50, as saying that Malawian friends had told her David needed a brother or sister and that she would consider adopting another child, but only with the support of the Malawian people.

David's life with the global pop star is worlds away from his village of Lipunga, where his relatives eat staple food like maize meal and meals are cooked on open fires. His father, Yohane Banda, told Reuters that he may see his son next week.

Madonna, who was divorced last year from British film director Guy Ritchie, is one of the most successful singers of all time, with album sales of more than 200 million.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSLQ98126420090327

Rihanna New Gun Tattoo


Rihanna flew her new BFF, BangBang, the New York based tattoo artist to her place in Los Angeles in order to get some new body ink.

Never one to shy away from controversy, Rihanna’s latest choice is a small handgun image on her rib cage under her right arm. To see the pictures click HERE.
Although, RiRi is likely to be criticised for her tattoo, BangBang, was quick to explain that the image is simply “represents strength and power”.
Speaking to the MTV US team, he revealed that the starlet has been considering the idea for over a year "she gave me a call and asked if I could come out to her house… and I suggested she finally get the gun."
It turns out that initially they’d planned for the tattoo to be just below her shoulders but changed it to her ribcage because "it takes away from her face. You don't want to be starting at tats. You want to be staring at her face."
Since the incident on February 8 with her boyfriend Chris Brown, Rihanna has been almost constantly in the headlines but BangBang wasn’t too interested in her relationship problems “I don't really know what's going on with her," he said. "She's great. She's perfect. We had a blast, and we had a lot of fun."
Two days ago, on March 25, Chris Brown’s lawyers withdrew their request for a special court hearing prior to his April arraignment in relation to two felony counts of assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats, which reportedly left Rihanna battered.

http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/rihanna/news/107704-rihanna-new-gun-tattoo-chris-brown

Lindsay Lohan's Next Movie Going Straight To Cable


Lindsay Lohan is finally getting a movie released. The catch? The film is going straight to basic cable. "Labor Pains," which Lohan shot last summer, will make its debut on ABC Family in July, according to AccessHollywood.com.

And if you should miss its big TV debut, the film will subsequently be released on DVD in August. The film will apparently get a theatrical release, but only internationally, the source further tells AccessHollywood.com. There is no release date yet.

In the film, Lohan plays a woman who fakes a pregnancy to save herself from getting fired. In order to keep the ruse going, she must fake it for an entire nine months.

It is also being reported that Lohan recently got herself a gig in a yet-untitled romantic comedy alongside Nick Cannon. The film is about a New York fashionista who gets set up on a date with a blind man.

Lohan recently shared her career woes in several interviews. "It's scary when you realize, 'Oh my God, I'm not working,'" she told Nylon magazine. "And I have a house to pay for now. ... And yes, the Web sites, the gossip pages, and all of that stuff have hurt my career — they're like the burn books of Hollywood."

Also in that interview, Lohan said that she had been trying to get on the phone with Seth Rogen for a possible collaboration, a claim that Rogen later denied. "I read that too," he told MTV News while promoting his new animated movie "Monsters vs. Aliens." "No one that works for me or with me in any capacity has received any word from anyone that works for Lindsay Lohan. So I don't know what happened there."

http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1607831/story.jhtml

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Canadian Mounties Called in To Protect Robert Pattinson


When you have the biggest heartthrob of the year on your hands, you have to do everything in your power to protect him. Producers of New Moon, the second installment of the Twilight series, have called in some serious reinforcement to protect star Robert Pattinson from the barrage of female fans. They've hired Canadian Mounties! RadarOnline.com talks exclusively to the brave gentleman who is keeping the actor safe and sound.

While filming on the tiny scenic island of Tofino, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, producers enlisted the help of local cops Constables Brendon Baillant and Brandon Builziuk to make sure filming went off without a hitch. Not their usual cup of tea, the constables encountered their fair share over overzealous teens during the assignment.

"It was an unusual mission but our remit was to keep the fans off the set," Constable Baillant told RadarOnline.com exclusively. "Everything went well on the first day but then a group of teenage girls got a little too close when the filming moved to the Long Beach area of the island."

"They were totally miffed with us when we told them that they could not get any closer, however, their spirits lifted when Kristin Stewart came over to pose for a few photographs with them," he recalled. "It was raining really hard the whole time but the producers loved that because it helped to make their scenes much more gloomy and atmospheric too. This is a beautiful part of the world but when it gets cold and wet even a vampire would get the chills."

The two Mounties' services helped to raise over $3000 of sporting equipment for two local schools. The money was donated by the film's producers.

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/03/exclusive-canadian-mounties-called-protect-robert-pattinson

Search: 'Tokyo Sonata' best film at Asian Film Awards; Gina Pareño won best supporting actress plum


Japanese cinema dominated the third Asian Film Awards on Monday as "Tokyo Sonata" won best picture and Hirokazu Koreeda was named best director for another family drama, "Still Walking."

Riding on the success of its recent best foreign film win at the Oscars, a third Japanese movie, "Departures," clinched best actor for Masahiro Motoki, who played an unemployed cellist who learns how to prepare bodies for burial.

China's Zhou Xun was named best actress for her performance in the psychological thriller "The Equation of Love and Death."

"I am very happy that Japanese film can cross borders," Koreeda told reporters backstage after his win late Monday.

All three Japanese movies revolve around family relationships. "Tokyo Sonata" describes the breakdown of a family after the father loses his job; "Still Walking" follows a family reunion to honor the death of the eldest son; in "Departures," Motoki's character comes to terms with the death of his absentee father.

"Tokyo Sonata" director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who is not related to famed late Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, said his movie is reflective of family problems in Japan.

Kurosawa said he wanted to convey through the movie that "you can never abandon hope, no matter how little hope there is."

Koreeda, who received his award from "Platoon" director Oliver Stone and "The Last Emperor" star Joan Chen, told reporters backstage "Still Walking" was a personal film because he made it after his mother passed away, but said he enjoyed the shoot because he was pleased with the cast.

"I only have fond memories of the shoot. It was always happy moments," Koreeda said.

Motoki, who received his trophy from Oscar winner William Hurt and producer Arthur Cohn, said the theme of death in "Departures" was universal.

"It's not just about the negative aspects of death. It's also about how you can accept death in a peaceful way and move on positively," he said.

Chinese actress Zhou said she prepared for her role by asking her boyfriend not visit her on set so she could feel lonely, adding that she had a hard time withdrawing from the character.

"I felt a great sense of loss after finishing the movie," she told reporters backstage.

Adding to the event's pan-Asian flavor, trade publication The Hollywood Reporter presented the Nielsen Box Office Award to 25-year-old Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra. The former Miss World enjoyed a sizzling 2008, which saw her in six releases, including two of the year's biggest hits _ "Fashion" and "Dostana."

Jung Woo-sung won best supporting actor for the South Korean western "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" and the best supporting actress prize went to Filipino Gina Pareno for "Service."

A tearful Wei Te-sheng received the Edward Yang New Talent Award from Yang's widow Kaili Peng. Wei, who used to work for the late Taiwanese director, became an overnight sensation after the box office success of the Taiwanese romance "Cape No. 7."

Retired Taiwanese actress Brigitte Lin made a rare public appearance to present the Asian Film Award for Outstanding Contribution to Asian Cinema to veteran Hong Kong director Tsui Hark and his wife, producer Nansun Shi, who were honored for the work of their production house Film Workshop Co.

Charice starts shoot for Chipmunks movie


By the time you read this, Charice should be back on the set, somewhere in L.A., of Alvin and the Chipmunks 2, the 20th Century Fox movie which marks her Hollywood debut as reported in a “scoop” by Funfare a few days ago.
“Nakaka-two days shoot na ako,” Charice told Funfare in an exclusive phone interview yesterday. “I started shooting last Thursday.”
That was barely 24 hours upon her arrival from Manila with her mom Raquel after Charice performed at a special show at the Shangri-La Plaza.
It was 10:30 Sunday night in L.A. and Charice said she was about to sleep because she was needed on the set at 9 o’clock the following morning. She and her mom are staying at a hotel in Long Beach.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” added Charice who plays herself in the movie to be shown in January next year. “My mom is a big fan of the Chipmunks and that’s how I got to know the group.” Confirmed Raquel, “The Chipmunks were on the cover of my notebooks at that time.”
In the movie, Charice uses her own name.


 Charice Pempengco

“It’s not a big role but the fact that it’s a Hollywood movie is already a big deal for me.”
In the scene, Charice represents her school at a singing contest in which she sings the Alicia Keys song No One, competing with other contestants that include The Chipmunks. Asked who wins, Charice laughed a bit, “Secret! Hindi ko raw dapat sabihin, eh.” 

Alvin and the Chipmunks is a five-time Grammy winning and one-time American Music Award winning animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. in 1958. It is composed of three singing animated chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous trouble-maker who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual; and Theodore, the chubby, impressionable sweetheart. The trio is managed by their human father and confidant, David Seville, and were named after the executives of their original record label, Liberty Records: Alvin Bennett (the president), Simon Waronker (the founder and owner) and Theodore Keep (the chief engineer).
Since then, the Chipmunks have recorded several albums, one of them consisting of Beatles songs which should be familiar to baby boomers. They have also done TV shows and a few movies, the last having been Alvin and the Chipmunks in 2007 with Justin Long (former boyfriend of Drew Barrymore) as Alvin.
“I auditioned for the role, kasi nga fan ako ng Chipmunks, eh,” said Charice who kept it a secret even to her friends, although some of them (including her neighbor in Canlubang, Laguna, Bum Tenorio of The STAR’s Allure section) noticed that Charice was speaking in a quaint manner. It turned out that she was already “internalizing” for the Chipmunks movie.
It was the Gurfinkel couple Michael and Millie who asked Charice to audition and who informed her that she passed it. (The Gurfinkels have been facilitating the issuance of Charice and her mom’s visas, and their mobility around the US.) It was also the couple who arranged this phone interview with Charice.
It was smooth sailing for Charice. The Chipmunks director saw Charice in Oprah and he liked her performance.
“That’s why he said he wanted me to be in his movie.”
During the audition, Charice was made to read the script and speak like a Chipmunk, and to sing.
“I sang two songs, Listen and Irreplaceable, both by Beyoncé.”
After her last shooting schedule on Tuesday (today, Manila time), Charice and Raquel will fly to Phoenix, Arizona, to perform at a tribute to Muhammad Ali on Saturday, March 28, together with A-list artists that include Bon Jovi. She will sing a Bodyguard medley (songs by Whitney Houston including I Will Always Love You).

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20090324/tel-charice-chipmunks-movie-dd408b0.html

BRITNEY Spears' Australian fans may have to pay up to $150 to watch the star mime on stage.

Local promoters are still negotiating to lure Britney Spears down under before the end of the year.

Spears is reportedly requesting $1 million per show for her first Australian tour.

That means promoters need Spears to perform at least 15 shows across Australia and New Zealand to break even.

Spears' high fee and expensive production costs, coupled with the poor exchange rate, means tickets could start at around $120 for the basic seats, and up to $200 for premium seats.

Music industry insiders say Spears' miming may backfire with Australian audiences not used to singers who don't actually sing.

Footage from American shows posted on YouTube shows Spears' pristine vocals sound remarkably similar to those heard on her album, with no signs of being out of breath as she embarks on dance routines.

"Australians don't like paying to watch people mime," a music industry source said.

"It's meant to be a spectacular show with lots of dancing and choreography, but Justin Timberlake and Pink manage to dance and also sing live. Australian audiences have never really embraced acts who can't cut it live."

Britain's Sun newspaper claimed Spears mimes all but one song -- the ballad Everytime.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who appears in a video introduction in the show, states she mimed the entire concert.

"There is no live singing. None!," Hilton wrote. "She recorded vocals to 'sound like' live, but they were all canned, pre-taped.

However, it's a Britney Spears show. You expect that! Even though you expect it, though, it would be nice if at least a handful of the almost 20-song set were live. But that's not gonna happen."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25248914-5006024,00.html

'Where the Wild Things Are': We finally get a trailer! Goosebumples!

A week after its poster hit the net, the first trailer for Where the Wild Things Are is finally (finally!) upon us. And thankfully, unlike the poster, is isn't coy at all about those Wild Things' unmistakable, Maurice Sendakian mugs. Enough preamble -- here's the clip:

Don't know about you, but from the Arcade Fire song to the glimpses of director Spike Jonze's particular brand of magical realism to the implication that the story will revolve around our monster-PJ'd Max's struggles with absent father issues, this trailer's got me all with the goosebumples. The film has been delayed for nearly a year as director Spike Jonze reportedly toiled over and tweaked the project. But based on this first look, P-Dubs, do you feel it will be worth the wait?

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/03/wild-things-tra.html

Robert Pattinson Up For Lead In Romantic Drama 'Memoirs'


When looking for a male romantic lead, Summit Entertainment is sticking close to home. Robert Pattinson is currently in line to star in the studio's new romantic drama "Memoirs." Six-time Emmy nominee Allen Coulter ("Hollywoodland") is negotiating to direct.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Memoirs" is the story of two star-crossed young lovers whose new relationship is threatened by a string of family tragedies. As they struggle to cope, their love is put to the test. It's familiar territory for Pattinson, who made his name in the star-crossed romance of "Twilight," and it will undoubtedly be a popular choice among his female fans.

The original script was penned by Will Fetters and is currently undergoing a rewrite from "Rachel Getting Married" scribe Jenny Lumet. Considering what "Rachel" did for Anne Hathaway's career, this might be the wisest career move Pattinson has made since agreeing to play the immortal Edward Cullen.

While he has a large fanbase due to his role in "Twilight," the young heartthrob hasn't managed to capitalize on his new name recognition the way his co-star Kristen Stewart has. While she has gone on to win juicy parts like that of Joan Jett in "The Runaways," Pattinson has yet to land a major role. He was signed to co-star with Rosario Dawson in the promising "Parts Per Billion" but was forced to drop out due to his commitments for "New Moon." It's a difficult place for the young actor to be in, as he needs to establish a screen presence outside of the vampire franchise but has often been thwarted by his commitments to it.

Such a scheduling conflict is unlikely with "Memoirs," since it will also be a Summit picture and will undoubtedly be arranged around "New Moon" and "Eclipse." As he waits for "Memoirs" to come together, Pattinson will have to rely on two films he shot prior to his "Twilight" breakthrough: his highly anticipated Salvador Dalí biopic "Little Ashes," which sees limited release on May 8, and "How to Be," which is currently making its way through the festival circuit.

http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1607701/story.jhtml

Zac Efron Signs On For New (Non-Musical) Film


Just days after dropping out of the "Footloose" remake to pursue non-musical films, Zac Efron has been cast in "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud," Variety reports. The film will be directed by Burr Steers, who worked with Efron on his upcoming release "17 Again," but has also directed more serious fare like "Igby Goes Down."

According to Variety, the film, based on the book by Ben Sherwood, is about "a caretaker at a cemetery who manages to have weekly meetings with a younger brother whose accidental death he feels was his fault."

Although negotiations for Efron are still under way, production is expected to start in July with Steers already finishing up the script. Variety goes on to report that Paramount is currently meeting with actors to replace Efron in "Footloose."

On Monday, Paramount released a statement that addressed Efron dropping out of the film. "Footloose is a project we've longed to see re-booted for a new generation. While Zac is no longer attached, we remain excited and committed to the collective brain trust of [director] Kenny Ortega, [producers] Neil Meron and Craig Zaden, who will reinvigorate the franchise," a Paramount Pictures rep told Usmagazine.com. "Their fresh take on the film will undoubtedly be filled with the same kind of breakout performances that we've come to expect from them."

In addition to the upcoming flick "17 Again," Efron also has the more serious "Me and Orson Welles" set for release sometime this year. The actor has expressed a desire to take on more mature roles. "As far back as I can remember, I couldn't understand or relate to a lot of kids," he recently told Elle magazine.

http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1607696/story.jhtml

Dennis Quaid and Julianne Moore to play the Clintons for HBO. Just hand them Emmys now.


As we've mentioned, Dennis Quaid will play Bill Clinton, Julianne Moore will play Hillary Clinton, and Frost/Nixon star Michael Sheen will play Tony Blair in The Special Relationship, a forthcoming HBO film set specifically around the time the former British Prime Minister first took office. The movie, it's said, has not been given a formal greenlight, to which I say, why? I promise you Emmy voters have already checked their names on their ballots. Plus, this will be swoon-worthy Sheen's third time playing swoon-worthy Tony Blair (see also: The Queen and The Deal). Quaid still looks hellagood in a suit, and I'd really like him to star in something that I'd actually like to watch (which hasn't happened in roughly five years). And who doesn't want to see what Moore does with Hillary? She's so good at stoic characters -- there's always something bubbling underneath.

Are you in? Does it help to know that it's written by Oscar nominee Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, The Queen), who's also expected to direct? Emmys, people. Emmys.

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/03/dennis-quaid-ju.html

Britney Spears sets up house in Alpine


Britney Spears is bringing her "Circus" to tony Alpine, a super-rich suburb in northeastern Bergen County, according to Life & Style Weekly, who spoke to the real estate agent for the brick Colonial mansion.

According the magazine, Spears settled on a secluded mansion with seven bedroom suites, a gym, a media room, playroom, two kitchens and a four-car garage. It's on sale for $8 million -- we believe this is the home -- but Jive apparently is paying the monthly rental of $30,000. (Yeah, but who's gonna foot the bill to get the Cheetos stains off the walls?)


This $8 million home in Alpine will be home to Britney Spears temporarily. Sean Combs lives in Alpine, and Mary J. Blige has a home in Cresskill, the next town over.

According to an agreement with ex-husband Kevin Federline, Spears gets to take sons Sean, 3, and Jayden, 2, on tour so long as she has secured appropriate, family-friendly bases around the country. Her East Coast stint comes to an end this week.

"It's very spacious, so there's lots of room for her kids to run around and play," says Dennis McCormack, a broker with Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty, who represents the home owner. "It has an understated elegance, with high ceilings and lots of bright light."

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/celebrities/index.ssf/2009/03/britney_spears_sets_up_house_i.html

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

'Twilight' star Robert Pattinson eyeing romantic drama 'Memoirs'?


Sources tell Entertainment Weekly that Summit Entertainment, the studio behind Twilight, is talking to its favorite vampire, Robert Pattinson, about starring in the project Memoirs. Neither the studio nor Pattinson's agents would confirm the star's involvement. The spec script, from young writer Will Fetters, which wound up on 2008's Black List, centers on two college students who have both experienced personal loss, who fall in love and heal their fractured families. Hollywoodland director Allen Coulter is negotiating to direct the script and screenwriter Jenny Lumet (Rachel Getting Married) is working on the rewrite. Pattinson is currently in preproduction on the Twilight sequel New Moon and is already signed on to the third film in the series, Eclipse.

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/03/robert-pattinso.html?iid=top25-%27Twilight%27+star+Robert+Pattinson+eyeing+romantic+drama+%27Memoirs%27%3F

Streisand, Hoffman Back for ‘little Fockers’


The third chapter of the "Meet the Parents" trilogy is getting set for production.

I’m told the cast of "Little Fockers" — sequel to "Meet the Fockers" — has been set for an early July start date.

This means everyone — Ben Stiller, Robert DeNiro, Teri Polo, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner. It also means Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand, who played Stiller’s parents in chapter two are being paged for the next edition.

The title suggests more than one baby for Stiller and Polo’s characters. So get ready possibly for twins, which also means DeNiro and Hoffman may have extra screen time as warring grandfathers. What’s still being worked out, they say, is Streisand’s role. Frankly, she was a hoot in "Fockers" and would only add to the sequel as a New Age grandma.

No matter what happens, "Fockers" has proved a bonanza for DeNiro who not only stars in the films but produces them as well with partner Jane Rosenthal. "Meet the Parents" grossed $330 million worldwide. "Fockers" did about $516 million. Not bad, all the way ‘round.

But one significant change for the comedy franchise: director Jay Roach is off to shoot a new film, called "Dinner with Schmucks." Roach, who also directed the "Austin Powers" movies, will be replaced, sources say, by Peter Segal ("Get Smart").

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510440,00.html

Letterman's marriage: better 'Late' than never


Who says men are commitment-phobes? Weddings are all the rage: Just ask Bruce Willis, Ryan Reynolds, Josh Duhamel and Tom Brady, to name a few.

Now we learn that longtime bachelor David Letterman is a married man.

The late-night host, 61, announced Monday night on CBS' Late Show that he and Regina Lasko (the mother of his 5-year-old son, Harry) got hitched March 19 in the sticks of Montana.

Lasko and Letterman began dating in February 1986, when she was a production manager on his old show, NBC's Late Night with David Letterman. She's stuck with him through his nightmare with stalker Margaret Mary Ray -- who committed suicide in 1998 -- and bypass surgery in 2000.

Why the delay? ''I secretly felt that men who were married admired me,'' Letterman said, ``like I was the last of the real gunslingers.''

The former weatherman from Indiana did give marriage a try a long time ago -- with college (Ball State University) sweetheart Michelle Cook, back in 1969. They divorced after eight years.

http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/people/story/966205.html

Gore Revisits Climate Crisis in New Book


Al Gore will return to the subject of global warming in a book to be released by Rodale, the publisher said in a news release. The book, “Our Choice,” will return to the milieu of Mr. Gore’s 2006 best seller, “An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It.” In a statement, Mr. Gore said the book would offer plans for addressing the climate crisis while creating jobs and promoting economic growth that were developed through meetings he held with scientists, engineers and policy experts. Rodale said that the book would be published on Nov. 3 and would be printed on 100 percent recycled paper, with all proceeds being donated to the nonprofit Alliance for Climate Protection.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/25/books/25arts-GOREREVISITS_BRF.html?ref=books

Lohan: Stop the rumors


Lindsay Lohan is sick of being tabloid fodder. In a chat with E!, LiLo reacts to recent reports that she is virtually broke, having wasted her $$$ on useless luxury items such as a $30,000 Rolex watch and a $100,000 Maserati (which her assistant dinged Monday in a crash). LiLo is incensed by rumors that she and lovemuffin Samantha Ronson fight.

"They need to stop saying we're fighting," the I Know Who Killed Me star tells E! News. "I'm really a good person and I have a good heart. . . . I don't drink, I don't do drugs and I don't lie."

LiLo, 22, who reportedly is having trouble getting acting jobs, says, "I want to help people by playing characters that can send a positive message out to whomever may need it."

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20090325_Sideshow__Lohan__Stop_the_rumors.html

Anne Hathaway could contend at Oscars and Tonys for playing Judy Garland


If you thought Anne Hathaway was brave for singing and dancing with Hugh Jackman on the recent Oscarcast, that was a walk in the park compared with her next performance — playing Judy Garland on both stage and screen. The Oscar-nominated actress ("Rachel Getting Married") is to star in upcoming film and legit adaptations of Gerald Clarke's 2000 biography "Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland."

With the Weinstein Co. producing both these properties, Anne Hathaway is in good hands. While there is no word as to any of the other creatives involved in these projects, the source material is rich with possibilities, including as it does material in Judy Garland's own words. Gerald Clarke's biography of the late, great writer Truman Capote was the basis for "Capote," which was nominated for five awards at the 2005 Oscars including best picture and won lead actor for Philip Seymour Hoffman.

If Hathaway can pull this part off, she would be a leading contender at both the Oscars and the Tonys. Seven of the last 10 women to win lead actress at the Academy Awards did so by playing real-life roles. The irony of course is that Judy Garland never won a competitive Oscar. In 1939, she was awarded an honorary one for her timeless performance in "The Wizard of Oz."

However, she lost both of her Oscar races. In 1954, Judy Garland made one of the all-time great screen comebacks, proving herself a triple threat with her acting, singing and dancing in the musical remake of "A Star Is Born." So sure was the academy that she would win the lead actress Oscar that they set up a television camera in Judy's hospital room where she was resting after having given birth to son Joey just days before. However, it was Grace Kelly's name that was announced, for her role as the dutiful wife to an alcoholic actor (Bing Crosby) in "The Country Girl." And while Judy Garland was nominated for her 1961 supporting performance as a witness in "Judgment at Nuremberg," she lost to Rita Moreno for "West Side Story."

Judy Garland never appeared in a Broadway musical in her all-too-short life. In 1967, she was so eager to take over from Tony winner Angela Lansbury in "Mame" that she watched the show from the wings for nights on end. However, the producers could not get the insurance to cover the costs should Garland not appear. She did win an honorary Tony Award in 1952 for "for an important contribution to the revival of vaudeville through her recent stint at the Palace Theatre."

Broadway usually favors the fanciful over the fact-driven, though the last two Tonys for lead actress in a musical went to hopefully heightened portrayals of real-life women — Christine Ebersole ("Grey Gardens") and Patti Lupone ("Gypsy"). While Hathaway has never appeared on Broadway, in 2002 she tackled a Tony-winning role for five performances of a concert version of the 1961 musical "Carnival." As the orphaned Lili (a part that earned Anna Maria Alberghetti the lead actress award), Hathaway shone opposite Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell ("Kiss Me Kate"). This summer, Hathway is to star in a production of "Twelfth Night" as part of the Public Theatre's celebrated Shakespeare in the Park series in New York's Central Park.

The big question is whether Anne Hathaway will sing the songs so associated with Judy Garland or mime along to recordings. In 2001, both Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis won Emmy Awards for playing Judy Garland in the mini-series "Me and My Shadows." They both lip synced to Judy's unique song stylings. In 2004 Isabel Keating earned a Tony nomination as featured actress in a musical for her portrayal of Garland in "The Boy From Oz." She lost to Anika Noni Rose for "Caroline or Change."

While Isabel Keating performed musical numbers as Judy, she was not singing Garland songs. Rather, as the musical told the story of one-time Garland son-in-law Peter Allen, she sang some of his tunes. And bringing this item full circle, Hugh Jackman won the lead actor in a musical Tony Award for playing the singer-songwriter once married to Liza Minnelli.

Below is a clip of Judy Garland singing the Oscar-winning "Over the Rainbow" during a 1943 radio broadcast of the morale-boosting "Command Performance." She is introduced by Bob Hope who had featured the young singer on his radio show during the 1939 season. Four years later, Garland had become one of the biggest stars on the MGM lot.

http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2009/03/anne-hathaway-c.html