MICHAEL JACKSON - JACKO 'TO RIDE ELEPHANT ON STAGE'

MICHAEL JACKSON is reportedly considering riding an elephant on stage when he performs his forthcoming dates in London.

The pop superstar recently announced that he will be embarking on a residency of some 50 dates at the O2 arena from this summer.

According to the Mirror, the eccentric singer has requested an elephant, a panther, snakes, tropical birds and three monkeys for his stage show.

"He hopes to make it the most spectacular gig ever. For the jungle section, he wants to ride out on an African elephant with panthers led on gold chains. Parrots and other birds will fly behind him. If it goes to plan it will look incredible," explained a source.

It recently emerged that Jackson is planning to travel to the London gigs by boat, as he is scared of flying.

Bosses at AEG Live - who are hosting this summer's dates - will now hire a boat to ferry the star to and from the shows.

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/jacko%20to%20ride%20elephant%20on%20stage_1098694

Kiefer Sutherland not ready to Bauer out of ‘24’

Kiefer Sutherland will return as super-spy Jack Bauer for an eighth season of the hit FOX drama “24,” but Jack’s alter ego says the show will continue until the writers run out of plots.

Sutherland, 42, said he’s committed to the drama - which starts shooting Season 8 in May - that has helped revive his career.

“If I was going to liken ‘24’ to a girlfriend, ‘24’ has been really good to me. And I need to be really good back,” Kiefer said.

And despite his interest in other projects, he doesn’t want to seem ungrateful for the opportunity that got him back in the saddle.

“There are plays I want to do. There are so many different things I would like to do, but I was so fortunate to be part of something like ‘24’ that my focus is still on that right now,” he said.

Although he’s willing to go as far as he needs to, Sutherland said the show’s future also lies with how well the writers can continue to shape the show’s story.

“The real pressure is placed on the writers. It’s a real question about how much they feel they can give and what they can do,” he said.

However, if there is a demise of Jack Bauer, he’s not worried that he will be typecast as a tough-on-terror secret agent.

“I will do the work I want to do and people can accept it or not,” he said.

http://news.bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view/2009_03_25_Kiefer_Sutherland_not_ready_to_Bauer_out_of_%E2%80%9824%E2%80%99/srvc=home&position=also

'Twilight' DVD Sells More Than 3 Million Copies On First Day

"Breaking Dawn" sold 1.3 million copies on just one memorable day. The movie adaptation of "Twilight" had a $70 million opening weekend in November. Now the juggernaut that is Stephenie Meyer's vampire romance franchise has continued its dizzying streak of commercial hits with the film selling more than 3 million DVDs on the first day of its release, according to distributor Summit Entertainment.

The hoopla began Friday night with a series of midnight events. Or rather, the craziness began hours earlier as young fans and their parents lined up at retail stores across the country to be among the first to take home a copy.

In Salt Lake City, 2,500 devotees braved lines, while 2,000 attended in Los Angeles and 700 showed up in New York. Several "Twilight" actors made appearances at the events, including Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen), Nikki Reed (Rosalie Hale), Rachelle Lefevre (Victoria) and Edi Gathegi (Laurent). Director Catherine Hardwicke held court in Dallas, even though she will not be helming the next film in the series, "New Moon." Not in attendance, however, were the film's biggest stars, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.

The opening sales make "Twilight" one of the five best-selling DVDs of the last two years, joining blockbusters "The Dark Knight," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and "Transformers."

Now that Meyer's love story has conquered bookstores, box offices and living rooms, attention will only increase on the young-adult series that has already been swamped by media scrutiny, Internet gossip and a rapid fanbase with a seemingly insatiable hankering for all things "Twilight." Since 2005, the series' four books have sold 42 million copies across the globe and the "Twilight" movie has grossed more than $370 million worldwide.

"New Moon" has just begun filming in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is set for release in the fall. Last year may have been a good for Bella and Edward, but 2009 is shaping up to be even more impressive. And, of course, don't count out 2010, which will see both the DVD release of "New Moon" and the theatrical release of the third film, "Eclipse." Love them or hate them, those gothic lovers are here to stay.

http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1607498/story.jhtml

'High School Musical' star Zac Efron bows out of planned 'Footloose' remake

Zac Efron just cut "Footloose."

The "High School Musical" star and teen heartthrob has decided not to partake in Paramount's new reincarnation of the 1980s hit, reports The Wrap.

Efron, who starred in 2007's box office hit "Hairspray," said he is not interested in taking on yet another musical at this point in his career.

A conveniently timed rewrite in the script provided the loophole Efron needed to escape the contract.

"People had been working on this project since last July," a member of the production team said. "We were all shocked."

The young star recently performed alongside girlfriend Vanessa Hudgeons and Hugh Jackman in a song and dance number at the Academy Awards.

But now that his "High School" days are behind him, it's possible that he's looking to take on more serious roles as an actor.

Kenny Ortega, who also directed the "High School Musical" trilogy, was set to direct the remake of the Kevin Bacon classic, which was intended for a 2010 release.

Though Disney is also working on another "High School Musical," Efron will not likely be part of it.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2009/03/23/2009-03-23_high_school_musical_star_zac_efron_bows_.html

Natasha Richardson buried in private New York ceremony

A funeral for the late actress Natasha Richardson was held at St. Peter's Church in Millbrook, NY earlier today, reports People.com. Richardson's husband, Liam Neeson, who carried the casket along with six other pallbearers to the church, joined her mother Vanessa Redgrave, sister Joely Richardson, and the couple's sons, Micheál and Daniel in saying their final goodbyes. Also present at the services were family friends Uma Thurman, Ralph Fiennes, and Mia Farrow. Richardson was buried in the same cemetery as her grandmother, Rachel Redgrave.

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/03/natasha-richa-2.html?iid=top25-Natasha+Richardson+buried+in+private+New+York+ceremony

Robin Williams recovering from heart surgery

Oscar winner Robin Williams is expected to make a complete recovery from his recent heart surgery in the next two months and plans to resume his comedy tour afterward, his representatives said on Monday.

Williams, 57, one of Hollywood's leading comedians and known for his manic stand-up routine steeped in wacky accents and improvisation, had surgery on March 13 at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

"His heart is strong and he will have normal heart function in the coming weeks with no limitations on what he'll be able to do," Dr. A. Marc Gillinov, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the clinic, said in a statement.

The operation was done to replace Williams' aortic valve, repair his mitral valve and correct an irregular heartbeat.

Williams postponed his "Weapons of Self-Destruction" comedy tour earlier this month to undergo the procedure after complaining of shortness of breath.

He was in Florida at the time and was first treated at the University of Miami Hospital.

Williams plans to resume his comedy tour in the fall but no specific date has been set.

"I got some great new material for the tour and can't wait to get back on the road," Williams said in a statement.

"I'm thinking the next leg of the tour will be 'Weapons of Self-Destruction and Reconstruction!'"

The actor's older brother, Robert Todd Williams, died in 2007 of complications from heart surgery.

Williams won an Oscar for his supporting role as a psychologist in the 1997 drama "Good Will Hunting." More recently, he starred in the movie "License to Wed" in 2007 and the 2006 release "Man of the Year."

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE52M5XY20090323

Reese Witherspoon's 33rd Birthday Surprise

Reese Witherspoon had to work on her 33rd birthday on Sunday – but she got a star-studded surprise all the same.

Witherspoon arrived the Los Angeles premiere of Monsters vs. Aliens – in a shimmering, super-short dress by Rodarte – and had just made her way into the Gibson Amphitheater when she and her co-stars were called to the stage by DreamWorks studio head Jeffrey Katzenberg.

After Seth Rogen, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Paul Rudd, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett and Amy Poehler gathered onstage with Witherspoon, Wilson announced that the group was about to stage an "intervention" for the Oscar-winning actress.

"We have some hard facts to run by you, because we know it takes a full bottle of Nyquil for you to fall asleep at night," Wilson told Witherspoon, "so there's something very special that we want to say."

Cake and Candles

He and his fellow actors then launched into a rendition of "Happy Birthday," joined by the theater audience, as a cake was wheeled onto the stage. Amy Poehler punched home the final verse, singing "Happy birthday, Reese WITHERSPOON, Happy birthday to you!"

"Thank you for coming to my birthday party – I mean, the screening of Monsters Vs. Aliens," the slightly taken-aback Witherspoon told the crowd.

Witherspoon told reporters while promoting the film two days earlier that she was looking forward to the birthday. "It is a great thing to be able to be doing things with my kids and having them be proud of me. What's better than feeling like you've accomplished things in life?"

Monsters Madness at Home

Witherpoon said that her new film in particular has increased her cachet with her kids – daughter Ava, 9, and son Deacon, 5. "My kids managed to maintain their coolness for a while, but literally it has hit fever pitch at my house. They are rabid and they wake up in the morning [asking], "When can we watch this movie?"

Witherspoon said she shares certain qualities with her character in the 3D animated movie, Ginormica, an unlucky bride-turned-monster who towers over everybody around her. "Tenacity, fierceness, taking care of the group," she said. "I'm kind of a mother hen that way, even on movie sets. But at 5'2", she doesn't think she'll ever quite relate to the character's giant stature. "I think I actually shrink [as I get older]," she laughed. "My mother is now four feet tall."

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20267264,00.html

'Today' host Matt Lauer injured in bike accident with a deer

The popular "Today" show host suffered a separated shoulder over the weekend when an errant deer sent him flying off his bicycle and rushing to a hospital.

"Matt was cycling on Long Island and was going pretty fast downhill," "Today" executive producer Jim Bell told the Daily News Monday.

"A deer kind of came out of nowhere and in an effort to avoid hitting the deer, Matt slammed on the brakes and went flying. He separated his shoulder."

Lauer, 51, who owns property in Sag Harbor, was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident on Saturday.

He missed Monday's show, and - no surprise - became the butt of some good-natured jokes from his colleagues.

"Today" co-anchor Meredith Viera said on air that Lauer had joked with her in an e-mail that the deer was "hired by the competition." In response, Viera said, "I'd hire the deer - but just to graze him."

Bell said when he spoke with Lauer on Saturday, he sounded "reasonably well" and he expects he'll be back on the job later this week. "I don't want to jinx it, but he feels like he can do it," Bell said.

"Today" weekend co-anchor and NBC Nightly News' anchorman Lester Holt will fill Lauer's slot in the meantime. "Lester's coming out of the bullpen," Bell said.

"The weekend folks are kind enough to lend him to us. We're blessed with a deep bench at NBC News."

Lauer is an avid cyclist and has biked for several "Today" segments in the past, including for the Beijing Olympics and last year's "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?" trip to the Netherlands.

Though the near-collision was a serious incident and a "good reminder about the importance of helmets," Bell joked that the "Today" team is currently "in discussions to see who might be in the deer costume when [Lauer] returns to the studio."

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/03/23/2009-03-23_today_host_matt_lauer_injured_in_bike_ac.html

"Sopranos" star Gandolfini a hit on Broadway

"Sopranos" star James Gandolfini won rave reviews on Monday in "God of Carnage," a Broadway play about two couples whose attempt to deal amicably with their sons' playground fight descends into mayhem.

The play by French writer Yasmina Reza also stars Marcia Gay Harden as Gandolfini's wife, as well as Jeff Daniels and Hope Davis, in what Elysa Gardner of USA Today called "a showcase for first-rate ensemble acting."

"It's been a while since Broadway's seen such gleefully nasty fun," New York Post critic Elisabeth Vincentelli wrote.

New York Times critic Ben Brantley said the play "delivers the cathartic release of watching other people's marriages go boom."

"A study in the tension between civilized surface and savage instinct, this play ... is itself a satisfyingly primitive entertainment with an intellectual veneer," Brantley wrote.

It was Gandolfini's first time on Broadway since he won worldwide fame as crime boss Tony Soprano in the hit TV series "The Sopranos." He was last on Broadway in 1995's "On The Waterfront."

Gandolfini played Soprano for six seasons over 8-1/2 years. The award-winning HBO series which ended in 2007 broke new ground for television by portraying a conflicted man who tries to balance family life with his Mafia career.

"Gandolfini overcomes his 'Sopranos' baggage and more than holds his own as the earthy Michael," Vincentelli wrote.

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5682855922895433780

Bum-mer! Ashton Kutcher posts pic of Demi Moore's tush on Twitter

Ashton Kutcher posted this photo of Demi Moore's bottom on Twitter.

Ashton Kutcher should know better than to post a photo of his wife's bottom on Twitter and expect her not to find out.

The 31-year-old actor was busy Tweeting updates from Turks & Caicos when he sent out a cheeky snap of 46-year-old Demi Moore's bikini-clad rear-end with the message "shhh don't tell wifey."

Unfortunately for Kutcher, Moore soon responded on her own personal Twitter feed with the playful note, "He is such a sneak and while I was steaming his suit too!"

The candid snap is thought to have been taken as the pair got ready to attend Moore's ex-husband Bruce Willis' Caribbean wedding on Saturday to British model Emma Heming.

Although the pair both use the micro-blogging site to keep fans updated on what they're doing, Kutcher appears to be having the most success, with 464,024 followers on his "aplusk" profile to compared to the 245,776 who follow Moore's "mrskutcher."

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/03/23/2009-03-23_bummer_ashton_kutcher_posts_pic_of_demi_.html