WORLDCELEBZ !!

Megan Fox, Mickey Rourke Make Passion Together

2009-04-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

The Transformers vixen, whose offscreen love life has been the subject of much speculation of late, has signed on to play an angel opposite the Wrestler in director Mitch Glazer's drama Passion Plays.

Per the Hollywood Reporter, the 1950s Los Angeles-set tale finds Fox's character, described as a slender beauty with wings who is part of a carnival, helping a down-in-the-skids trumpeter (Rourke) obtain redemption.

Aside from this summer's upcoming blockbuster sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, the 22-year-old sex symbol is headlining the Diablo Cody horror flick Jennifer's Body and recently took a part in Warner's comic-book western, Jonah Hex, opposite Josh Brolin.

Rourke next plays a villain in Iron Man 2.

Meanwhile, in the day's other casting coups, Cillian Murphy, all of whom are in talks to come aboard the Dark Knight director's top secret sci-fi project, Inception. No word on the plot, but DiCaprio is reportedly playing a corporate man, Cotillard his wife and Page a young college graduate student who becomes his sidekick. No word on Murphy's part, but Nolan previously cast him as the Scarecrow in Batman Begins.

Lindsay Still With Sam: "We Aren't Broken Up"

2009-04-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

Lindsay Lohan is still very much part of a twosome.

When asked whether there's any truth to the breakup rumors dogging her and Samantha Ronson these days (pick a day, any day), the 22-year-old actress answered unequivocally.

"Those rumors aren't true. We aren't broken up," Lohan told E! News Wednesday, speaking from a penthouse suite at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, where she was doing promotional work for her new spray-on self-tanner, Sevin Nyne.

Hanging out with Lohan at the hotel were sister Ali and mom Dina, who flew in from New York earlier this week to spend time with her.

Fellow star Natalie Portman also swung by to check out LiLo's chemical-free tanning mist—but Ronson was nowhere to be seen. So what really gives?

"They've been spending time with their families and working," a source told E! News. "It's normal and healthy to do that. That doesn't mean they broke up!"

We're told that Ronson, who was in Florida for a gig Tuesday, is back in L.A. and spending time today with her fashion designer sister, Charlotte, who's in town for work.

Despite going through what seemed to be a series of spats, Lohan told E! last week that she wishes people would quit fixating on her and Ronson's relationship.

"They need to stop saying we're fighting," she said. "People telling lies about me to her and all this garbage. I'm really a good person and I have a good heart and just want to work. The only reason I go to clubs is to hear Samantha spin or be normal."

Effects company denies leaking 'Wolverine' online (AP)

2009-04-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES - An Australian visual effects company that worked on " X-Men Origins: Wolverine " said Thursday it was not responsible for leaking a full-length work print online.

The company's name — Rising Sun Pictures — appears in a caption dated March 2 a few minutes into the high-quality leaked copy of the 20th Century Fox superhero movie .

"As we worked on individual sequences within the film, neither Rising Sun Pictures or its staff members have ever been in possession of a full-length version, so it would have been impossible for the movie to have been leaked from here," Rising Sun Pictures chairman and co-founder Tony Clark said in a statement posted on the company's Web site Thursday.

The "prequel, which focuses on the beginnings of Hugh Jackman 's clawed Marvel superhero Wolverine , is not scheduled for release until May 1, but the leaked version began appearing online Tuesday evening. Fox said in a statement Wednesday that it had the original file removed, but copies quickly propagated and continue to appear on several file-sharing Web sites.

According to Rising Sun Pictures' Web site, the visual effects company had been tasked with producing "a number of key effects sequences" in "Wolverine." Rising Sun Pictures is also working on the upcoming " Terminator Salvation " film and had previously created effects for " Watchmen ," "Australia," " Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince " and " Get Smart ."

Fox vowed Wednesday that the source of the "stolen, incomplete and early version" of the movie would be prosecuted and said the FBI and MPAA are investigating the leak. The studio also insisted that the version of "Wolverine" posted online had been forensically marked and "was without many effects, had missing and unedited scenes and temporary sound and music."

Obama asks for JK Rowling's moniker

2009-04-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

US President Barack Obama reportedly asked Harry Potter author JK Rowling for her autograph.

The President has apparently read all the books to his daughter Malia and both are said to be big fans of the boy wizard and his gang.

So when he met Rowling at a Downing Street party this week, he played the good dad card and got her signature to take home.

Meanwhile, Harry Potter actress Emma Watson is being courted by environmental campaign group Greenpeace to be a global ambassador.

The 18-year-old was apparently approached by the organisation after she said "I cannot not be green".

Watson, who plays Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, has previously revealed that her end of school project was on global warming and Hurricane Katrina.

She's also a keen recycler and prefers to take public transport.

The actress, who studied at Headington School in Oxford, has also said she is prepared to turn her back on Hollywood to go to university after getting three A-grades in her A levels.

Ben Shepherd's Harry Potter cameo

2009-04-05T19:02:00.000-07:00

GMTV presenter Ben Shepherd has revealed what it was like to land a cameo role in a blockbuster.

Shepherd was offered a small part in the upcoming JK Rowling adaptation Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince after making a string of documentaries about the making of the boy wizard's adventures.

He is set to make a brief on-screen appearance as the parent of a young wizard.

Shepherd said: "I was lucky enough to get a part in one of the scenes. I'm a wizarding parent in a joke shop.

"I've done documentaries for the last three films and got to know everybody really well, and they finally said: 'Come on and give it a go'."

Madonna leaves after child setback

2009-04-05T18:57:00.001-07:00

Madonna has left Malawi on her private jet after being rebuffed in an attempt to adopt a second child from the poor African nation.

Police roadblocks prevented reporters from approaching the airport, but one police officer said Madonna carried David, her adopted Malawian son, up the steps of the Gulfstream jet.

The singer's lawyer has said that she will appeal against a court ruling that she is not eligible to adopt a three year old orphan girl, Chifundo "Mercy" James, because she has not lived in Malawi.

Madonna first spotted Mercy during a 2006 visit to an orphanage where she found David.

Then, unlike now, she was able to leave the country with the infant and the adoption was completed last year.

But now Madonna is a single mother after her split from film director Guy Ritchie and her attempts to adopt a second child have caused outrage among some child welfare groups.

In a ruling on Friday, Judge Esme Chombo said Madonna did not meet Malawi's strict definition of "resident."

Noting that Madonna had last visited Malawi in 2008, the judge said the pop star "jetted into the country during the weekend just days prior to the hearing of this application".

Malawi requires prospective parents to live in the country for 18 to 24 months while child welfare authorities assess their suitability - a rule that was bent when Madonna was allowed to take David to London in 2006.

Radcliffe sends condolences to tragic actor's grieving mother

2009-04-05T18:56:00.001-07:00

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has sent a touching note of condolence to the mother of tragic co-star Robert Knox, who was stabbed to death in a brutal attack last year.

Eighteen year old Knox lost his life last May after a fight outside a nightclub in Kent turned violent. His killer, 22 year old Karl Bishop, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday.

And Radcliffe has joined forces with Knox's close friends and colleagues from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to pay tribute to the young actor - by turning a copy of author J.K. Rowling's sixth novel, on which the film is based, into a book of condolences for Knox's mother.

Radcliffe wrote, "We are all proud to have known you and devastated to have lost you. It is terrible just to write this note. Rest In Peace."

He also quoted a line from a letter by poet D.H. Lawrence, adding, "To anyone else who reads this remember, 'The Dead don't die. They look on and help'", before signing the note, "Dan xxx".

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Harry Potter actor stabbed to death protecting his younger brother

By Adam Lusher and Patrick Sawer
25 May 2008

Robert Knox (right) with his mother Sally and younger brother Jamie Photo: PA

Robert Knox, 18, who acted alongside Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, became the 28th teenager killed in Britain this year, and the 10th in London to die from stab wounds.

Relatives said his role as Marcus Belby in the film, due for release in November, was set to launch his career as an actor.

Mr Knox was a member of the same rugby club as Jimmy Mizen, the 16-year-old "gentle giant" fatally stabbed in nearby Lee, south-east London, two weeks ago.

In a statement, Rob's parents, Sally and Colin Knox, said: "Rob was kind and thoughtful and would always help out others – he would always spend his last penny on other people instead of himself. The life and soul of the party, he was very outgoing, loved sports, and would always strike up a conversation with people.

"He was respectful to others and adored by all his family and friends. He was an asset to the family."

The murder will reignite a debate about youth crime, knives, and whether the criminal justice system is working. Figures obtained by The Telegraph show that out of more than 60,000 people prosecuted for possessing knives since 1997, only nine have been given the maximum jail term.

The Home Office and Boris Johnson, the new Mayor of London, have introduced measures including police stop-and-search and knife scanners at schools, pubs and clubs, in an attempt to curb their use. Yet the Children's Commissioner for England claimed yesterday that such measures could fuel resentment.

Sir Al Aynsley-Green called the increased police powers "contentious" and told the BBC: "There is a balance here. On the one hand for young people to feel safer by having the presence of the police – but on the other hand making sure the new powers don't create further antagonism by increased stopping and searching."

Mr Knox, a grammar school boy, is understood to have been fatally stabbed after trying to save his 16-year-old brother, Jamie, from a man armed with two knives.

The man began attacking drinkers outside the Metro bar, next to Sidcup railway station, south-east London. Witnesses said that the attacker had earlier been thrown out by bouncers, but returned in the early hours with several friends.

Tarik Ozresberoglu, 17, a trainee steel worker, described how he tried to stem the flow of blood from Mr Knox's wounds then rugby-tackled the attacker into submission.

He said that he was chatting to Rob when the attacker appeared. "He pulled out two wooden kitchen knives at least 6in long from his waistband, and said 'Who's going to make my day then?'

"Girls were screaming. Jamie, Rob's brother, came over and said 'a boy has pulled a knife on me'. I held Rob back, but he pushed me out of the way and said 'he's threatened my little brother'.

"Rob was angry, but he's never started any trouble in his life. I think he just wanted to protect his younger brother. Rob went up to the bloke, who stabbed him four times.

"Rob stumbled back, lifted up his top and we saw the blood seeping from his wounds.

"I took my jumper off and tried to wrap it round Rob's wounds. Then as I was trying to do that, I saw the guy was still stabbing people. I told my friend Charlie Grimley, who had also been stabbed, to look after Rob. Then I ran over to the bloke and rugby-tackled him into a bush."

Struggling to control his emotions, Mr Ozresberoglu added: "I might have felt a hero if Rob was still here, but what I did is never going to bring Rob back. I might have saved more people from being stabbed but Rob still isn't here."

He said he thought Mrs Knox was allowed to hold her son in her arms as he lay dying on the pavement. "She was just crying and crying, sobbing 'why my Rob?'."

A number of drinkers were hurt, including Dean Saunders, 21, Nick Jones, 19, Mr Grimley, 17, and 16-year-old Andrew Dormer. Russell Wood, 21, said that he saw Mr Saunders stabbed in the neck three times .

Mr Wood said: "This guy started accusing everybody of nicking his mobile phone. He made me turn out my pockets. The bouncers chucked him out. But the next thing we knew this chap was outside with about five of his mates. Everybody just tried to get the knife off him and in the process, it seemed, too many people got stabbed."

Mr Grimley described how Mr Knox went to his rescue after the attacker "pulled out two knives and said 'Who wants this?'"

"Rob was just trying to look out for his mate," said Mr Grimley. "My stab wound had fractured my cheek bone. Rob saw me get stabbed, tried to get the knife off the bloke and was stabbed himself."

Mr Knox's father, Colin, was for many years the junior chairman of Sidcup Rugby Club, where Danny Mizen, Jimmy's brother, was a captain. Danny Mizen said last night: "My thoughts are with his family."

Kevin May, 42, Mr Knox's uncle, said: "Where's it all going to end? When is this violence and the carrying of knives by young people going to stop? Something's got to be done. Two stabbings in two weeks is too much."

A spokesman for Warner Brothers, the makers of the Harry Potter films, said: "We are deeply shocked by the news and our thoughts and sympathy are with the family."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A man aged 21 has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He is being held in custody. We do not believe the incident is gang-related."

The new figures on sentencing for knife crime, released by Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, were seized on as evidence that courts are failing to heed ministers' repeated demands for a crackdown on those who carry knives.

The Tories called the statistics "shocking" and accused ministers of "failing to get a grip" on a big increase in knife crime since Labour came to power.

The maximum sentence for carrying a knife in a public place is two years in jail, rising to four years if the offence was committed in a school. In 1997, 4,466 people were convicted of "having an article with a blade or point in a public place", a figure that rose to 7,654 by 2006. There were 60,366 prosecutions over the 10-year period, of which 47,338 resulted in a conviction.

Over the same period, 495 people were prosecuted for having a knife in a school. Of these, 479 were found guilty, yet only nine people were given the maximum possible sentence, Mr Straw admitted. James Brokenshire, the shadow home affairs minister, called the findings "disturbing".

Knife crime facts

14 teenagers have been stabbed to death in Britain this year

A third of murders are committed with knives

Four per cent of young people aged 10 to 25 admitted in a Home Office survey to having carried a knife in the previous 12 months

550 metal-detecting wands and 244 metal-scanning arches have been deployed by the Metropolitan Police across inner London boroughs as part of its stop-and-search operation

934 knives, guns and other lethal weapons were seized from children in schools between 2005 and 2007

One in three young people living in inner cities thinks it is acceptable to carry a knife in self-defence, a survey found

Patricia Clarkson's cave encounter

2009-04-05T18:54:00.001-07:00

Patricia Clarkson is set to meet Leonardo DiCaprio in a cave.

The Vicky Cristina Barcelona actress co-stars with the Revolutionary Road star in Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese.

"I can't really tell you a lot about my character because it's kind of a surprise," Patricia said. "Leonardo DiCaprio encounters me in the film in a cave. I'm the lady in the cave."

Patricia's latest film is indie production Whatever Works, her second straight movie with Woody Allen after Vicky Cristina Barcelona. The star is confident recent troubles in independent cinema due to the financial crisis may not be a bad thing in the long run.

"Making an independent film should always be hard. That's the whole point," Patricia said. "The problem is there's been too much product, and the industry can't support it. There are not enough theatres, there are not enough distributors, there's not enough money. The playing field is leveling.

"When I did High Art back in 1997, I knew like two other people who were doing an independent film. Now everybody does. It was a rare event to get an independent film made, and I'm not saying we want to go completely back to those days, but we have to find the happy medium."

Art-house queen: Patricia Clarkson revels in title as independent-film royalty

2009-04-05T18:52:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS - Patricia Clarkson has a regal bearing to match the aristocratic nickname she has gained in the movie business: queen of independent film.

"People have given me that title, have bestowed that title on me. I'm honored," Clarkson said in an interview Thursday before accepting an independent acting award from ShoWest, an annual convention for theater owners. "The independent film community is a powerful community, and if somebody wants to say I'm queen of it, I'm lucky. Very lucky."

Clarkson's latest film is "Whatever Works," her second straight movie with Woody Allen after last year's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." Screening Thursday at ShoWest, "Whatever Works" stars Larry David as a New Yorker whose change in lifestyle throws him in with a Southern family, including Clarkson.

Late this year, Clarkson, 49, has the lead in the independent romance "Cairo Time," playing a woman in a brief encounter with an Egyptian man (Alexander Siddig). She also co-stars in "Shutter Island," the latest collaboration between Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, though Clarkson is coy about her role.

"I can't really tell you a lot about my character because it's kind of a surprise," Clarkson said. "Leonardo DiCaprio encounters me in the film in a cave. I'm the lady in the cave."

An Academy Award nominee for 2003's "Pieces of April," Clarkson has appeared in such independent pictures as "The Station Agent," "Lars and the Real Girl," "High Art," "All the Real Girls" and "Far From Heaven." Clarkson won two Emmys for a recurring role on "Six Feet Under."

While independent films have been Clarkson's bread and butter for years, she said recent turmoil in indie cinema may not be a bad thing in the long run. Some big studios have closed their independent banners and financing has tightened for smaller productions, which have had a tougher time making inroads at the box office.

"Making an independent film should always be hard. That's the whole point," Clarkson said. "The problem is there's been too much product, and the industry can't support it. There are not enough theaters, there are not enough distributors, there's not enough money. The playing field is leveling.

"When I did `High Art' back in 1997, I knew like two other people who were doing an independent film. Now everybody does. It was a rare event to get an independent film made, and I'm not saying we want to go completely back to those days, but we have to find the happy medium."

The Other Half of Famous Twins

2009-03-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

Both Charlie Sheen's wife and Jenna Jameson had twin boys recently; they join the growing ranks of celebrity parents with multiples, including Julia Roberts and Brangelina.

When these little twin bundles of joy grow up, will they be the next Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen? Or will one seek fame while the other chooses a quieter life? That's the path taken by a number of celebrities and their not-so-famous twins. In fact, we were surprised to find out how many stars have a twin sibling leading a very different life.

Kiefer Sutherland and his sister RachelMaybe it's because we think of him as the ultimate loner on the TV series "24," but we were shocked to find out that Kiefer Sutherland has a twin sister. Rachel is a post-production supervisor working in film and television in Toronto. But when her big brother, Kiefer, (he's seven minutes older) made his feature film directorial debut in 1997, Rachel was there for him. She acted as second assistant property master, grip, and costumer when Kiefer went behind the lens to shoot "Truth or Consequences, N.M."

Scarlett Johansson and her brother HunterScarlett Johansson might have been e-mail buddies with then-Senator Barack Obama, but her twin brother Hunter helped get him into the Oval Office. In June 2008 ScarJo's twin left his job as a community organizer at Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer's office and became a campaign organizer for Obama in Denver. As everyone knows, Obama became President, while Hunter received an honor of his own: People magazine named him a "Hot Bachelor" in their "Single and Sexy Men of 2008" feature.

Ashton Kutcher and his brother MichaelAshton Kutcher is a dashing (albeit goofy) leading man and the most famous cougar cub in history, but few people know that he has a fraternal twin. Michael Kutcher was born with cerebral palsy and had a life-saving heart transplant when he was 13-years-old. Always his twin's protector when the two were growing up, Ashton decided to move to Hollywood to pursue his acting career, while Michael stayed in Iowa and sells retirement plans.

Gisele Bündchen and her sister PatriciaIf Patricia Bündchen were the fraternal twin of anyone else on the planet, she would be the pretty sister. Unfortunately for Patricia, her twin is Gisele Bündchen: Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model, ex-girlfriend of Leonardo DiCaprio, the new Mrs. Tom Brady. So rather than live in her sister's perfectly curvaceous shadow, Patricia prefers to stay behind the camera, acting as Gisele's manager. She's good at it too: Gisele is the world's highest-paid supermodel, earning $35 million in 2008.

Giovanni Ribisi and his sister MarissaWhen future actors Giovanni and Marissa Ribisi were born, they were delivered by Bibbe Hansen. Giovanni grew up to play Phoebe's brother, Frank, Jr., on "Friends" and Scarlett Johansson's photographer-husband in "Lost in Translation." Marissa appeared in "Dazed and Confused," "The Brady Bunch Movie," and "Felicity" before launching her own clothing line, Whitley Kros. And Bibbe Hansen? She ended up becoming Marissa's mother-in-law, when Ribisi married Bibbe's son, Beck Hansen, who is better known as indie rock darling Beck.

Jon Heder and his brother DanielWhen identical twins Jon and Daniel Heder were kids, they would shoot home movies about books like "White Fang" rather than turn in traditional written book reports. Not surprisingly, they both decided to go into the film business when they grew up. After Jon became famous for his role in the 2004 film "Napoleon Dynamite," he and Daniel became partners in their own production company, "Greasy Entertainment." And while Jon was off shooting "Just Like Heaven" and "The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang," Dan worked as an animator on the movie "Monster House."

Isabella Rossellini and her sister Isotta IngridThe daughters of silver screen icon Ingrid Bergman and legendary Italian director Robert Rossellini, fraternal twins Isabella and Isotta Ingrid Rossellini took very different paths. Isabella used her flawless beauty to launch a modeling career, act in such films as "Blue Velvet" and "Fearless," and land famous lovers, like Martin Scorsese (her husband from 1979 to 1982), David Lynch, and Gary Oldman. Ingrid, on the other hand, chose to stay out of the spotlight. After earning a PhD in Italian Literature at Columbia University, Ingrid became a professor and has taught at Harvard and Princeton. And, proving that twins don't always think alike, the sisters had a very public rift in 2006 when Isabella screened her short film "My Dad Is 100 Years Old" prior to a retrospective of his work at the Tribeca Film Festival. Ingrid felt the short made a joke of her father's illustrious career and was hurt that Isabella would link it directly to his film during the festival.

Jill Hennessy and her sister JacquelineIn the States, Jill Hennessy is famous for her role on the crime drama "Law and Order." But head North and you'll find that her identical twin sister, Jacqueline, is a Canadian TV star who hosts the current affairs show "Medical Intelligence." While Jacqueline is a journalist by trade, she has dabbled in acting. Back in 1988 Jacq and Jill played twin call girls in the movie "Dead Ringers," and when Jill was double-booked during a "Law and Order"/"Homicide: Life on the Streets" crossover extravaganza, Jacqueline played her sister's role in a few courtroom scenes.

Alanis Morissette and her brother WadeIsn't it ironic that Alanis Morissette has a twin? No, not really, but neither were any of the things that Morissette talked about in her 1996 hit song "Ironic." But we digress. Wade played piano and guitar growing up, but it wasn't until he combined his passion for yoga with his love of music that he found his true calling. As a spokesman for lululemon athletica apparel, Wade joined the Yoga Pilgrimage in 2005 and toured to promote his debut album, "Sargam Scales of Music." He's been rocking the yoga circuit ever since. Maybe if Wade had taught Alanis how to align her chakras, "Jagged Little Pill" might have been a kinder, gentler album.

Designer sues Courtney Love over Web rants

2009-03-28T04:16:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Courtney Love faces a lawsuit over Internet insults the singer is accused of posting on Twitter, MySpace and online marketplace Etsy.

Fashion designer Dawn Simorangkir filed the libel lawsuit against the "Celebrity Skin" singer in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday.

Love approached the designer last year to create clothing and apparel for her, but later refused to pay for the work and unleashed her verbal attacks, Simorangkir's lawsuit states.

A representative for Love had no immediate comment.

The fashion designer's lawsuit accuses Love, the widow of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, of spreading false statements online that Simorangkir is a drug dealer, a racist, an unfit mother and a homophobe.

Simorangkir is from Austin, Texas, and sells her clothing under the name Boudoir Queen.

Her lawsuit accuses Love of libel, invasion of privacy, intentional interference with her business, infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract. She is seeking damages in an amount to be proven at trial.

Love, 44, was the lead singer of the rock band Hole and starred in movies "Man on the Moon" (1999) and "The People vs. Larry Flynt" (1996).

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Courtney Love's rants now in court

2009-03-28T04:15:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES – Some of Courtney Love's online rants are now in a Los Angeles court.

A fashion designer's libel and breach of contract lawsuit against the singer includes what she calls several "menacing and disturbing" statements posted on the Internet.

Austin, Texas-based Dawn Simorangkir (Sim-or-AHNG-ker), also known as Boudoir Queen, says Love never paid her for work done. She filed the lawsuit Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The suit cites remarks from Love's Twitter and MySpace pages, and in the feedback section of Etsy.com. It said Love called Simorangkir a "nasty lying hosebag thief" and accused her of being a drug addict and a prostitute.

Phone messages left for Love's publicist Thursday and Friday were not immediately returned.

Robert Pattinson's 'How To Be' To Make TV Debut

2009-03-28T04:09:00.000-07:00

'Twilight' star's new film will be shown on IFC Festival Direct beginning April 29.

Robert Pattinson on the cover of the "How to Be" soundtrack (IFC Films)

Robert Pattinson is coming to a television set near you — not as the "Twilight" vampire we've all come to know, but as Art, a struggling singer/songwriter trying to get over a breakup in the

indie comedy "How to Be." MTV News exclusively reports that IFC Festival Direct will be showing the film on demand beginning April 29.

The 22-year-old actor not only stars in the film but also performs three original songs on the soundtrack, which will be released on CD and as a digital download through iTunes and other online retailers on April 28.

"How to Be" follows Art as he moves back in with his parents post-breakup and hires a full-time self-help guru to help him work through the pain and become "more normal." The film was written and directed by newcomer Oliver Irving and also stars Rebecca Pidgeon. It premiered at the 2008 Slamdance Film Festival.

The soundtrack is a 23-song collection. In addition to Pattinson's three tracks, the disc includes songs from Love, Captain Beefheart and the Roches. A 12-page booklet featuring song lyrics and never-before-seen "How to Be" photos will be included in both the CD and digital versions. The CD also comes with one of two movies posters.

But perhaps the best news of all for Edward Cullen fans is that 250 people who preorder the CD directly from Dreamboat Records before April 28 will be selected at random to receive a booklet poster personally signed by Pattinson.

All right, you "Twilight" diehards: On your mark, get set, go!

Robert Pattinson says 'Twilight' sequel 'New Moon' will be different and strange

2009-03-27T22:31:00.001-07:00

New Delhi, Mar 27 : English actor Robert Pattinson has revealed to 'Twilight' movie fans that its sequel 'New Moon' is going to be something different and strange.

Pattinson, 22, also says that unlike "Twilight", which was about finding love, "New Moon" will be about loss, reports the China Daily.

"The book of 'New Moon,' the majority of it is incredibly depressing," Pattinson said.

"Obviously 'Twilight' was about finding first love and the difficulties of that, but 'New Moon' is really about loss and reconciliation, but the reconciliation isn't completely full.

"It's a strange story to have for a market that, I guess, wants to see a love story," he added.

Directed by Chris Weitz, "New Moon" is scheduled to open in theatres on November 20.

Robert Pattinson says 'Twilight' sequel 'New Moon' will be different and strange

2009-03-27T22:31:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, Mar 27 : English actor Robert Pattinson has revealed to 'Twilight' movie fans that its sequel 'New Moon' is going to be something different and strange.

JJ Lin is just like Spiderman!

2009-03-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

SINGAPORE: Everybody keeps saying what a nice guy JJ Lin is. And you know what? They’re intolerably right.

On my way to interview the local-boy-made-good, my taxi got into an accident, making me horrendously late for our appointment (it was Friday the 13th, after all). But JJ didn’t throw a diva fit.

In fact, he was nothing but concerned. “Oh, my goodness, I heard what happened,” he said after greeting me with a warm handshake. “Are you alright? You better have a drink.”

So, yes, he really is nice. Either that or someone should give the man an Oscar.

JJ will be back in town this weekend for his first concert here in three years. It also kick-starts his world tour.

Needless to say, he’s really excited about it. And it’s not just because he turns 28 this weekend, too.

“To have a show here... it’s my home,” he explained. “I was born here, I grew up here. Having a show in Singapore... I don’t know how to explain it, but it feels like family. It’s a warm thing for me.

“I hope that the fans feel the same way. It’s something that you cannot buy or create through words or anything. It’s just the knowing that I’m in Singapore — that beats everything else.”

Happy Friday the 13th! Are you a superstitious person?
I actually read up on this. It’s a very special year to have two Friday the 13ths one after another. I also found out that the most number of times you can have Friday the 13th in one year is three times. And it’s not a bad thing, although people associate the day with bad things because of what happened in the 12th century, when Black Friday came about because of the Crusades, where the king ordered the killing of the crusaders. That’s the history of it. I have no idea why I know all this!

So, you’re not put off by it?
For me, I’d put it to good use. If people say it’s not good to start a business on Friday the 13th, I’d do it just to challenge it because I don’t believe in superstition and I want to prove it wrong. A lot in life is what you make of it, not what other people make of it. You don’t have to follow the rules all the time.

So, what is the most important lesson that you have learned?
One thing is that I really have to watch what I say or do. Because the fans listen and they take your word for it. It’s important that I say the right things or do the right things but, of course, in a true way, as well. I want to show the fans who I am but I don’t want them to get the wrong idea, too. It’s like Spider-man — with power comes great responsibility.

Erm... Power?
Okay, it’s not power, but influence — the influence over my fans or people who listen to my music. I have to take that seriously because they take me seriously. As an artiste, whatever you do is amplified many times. I’m still not fully used to the limelight and attention today.

But, anyway, you shouldn’t get used to things. Otherwise you take it for granted. Being able to adapt and making the right use of it in a positive way is more important. That’s one thing about life I’ve learned.

Is there a new album coming up?
It’s on its way. I’m planning to release it in July or August. But I only have three songs. And I’m supposed to have a whole album’s worth by April. Which is almost impossible. So maybe half an album. That’s why I’m going to take a break in April just to write.

How long does it take you to write?
I write pretty fast. But sometimes I get writer’s block and I can’t do anything. That’s why I try to have a good balance. That’s why I’ll try to take a little break if time allows after this concert. It’s important for the next album.

You’re a couple of years shy, but what’s the one thing you would like to have accomplished by the time you reach 30?
I’d like to be able to regularly perform everywhere, not just Asia. I’d like my music to reach out to an international audience. I did my first concert in Las Vegas last December, so I hope to do that more often. Yeah, travelling and performing. That’s really what makes me happy.

JJ Lin performs on Saturday, 8pm at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets at S$78 to S$148, available from Sistic.

Jang Ja Yun's ex-manager to meet police for questioning

2009-03-27T21:46:00.001-07:00

SEOUL : The former manager of late Korean actress Jang Ja Yun who is alleged to have committed suicide due to a sexual exploitation scandal, said he will turn himself in for police questioning on Wednesday.

Yoo Jang-ho, who had made public documents left behind by the starlet naming several high-profile figures involved in the scandal, had been uncontactable since last week. He had also missed a police request to appear for questioning on Saturday.

Bundang police regard Yoo as a central figure in this case and announced on Tuesday that a warrant for arrest will be issued against Yoo if he doesn’t show up.

The handwritten notes by the “Boys Before Flowers" actress stated that she was pimped out by her management company and forced to entertain high-powered entertainment figures, and threatened with violence if she refused to perform sexual favours for them.

Police raided the management company of the late actress on Sunday and seized over 200 items including computers and contracts. The head of the management company, Kim Sung-hoon, who has fled to Japan, had used the building in Samseoung-dong as his office until October 2008.

Photos recovered from one of the computers showed Jang had accompanied Kim and an unidentified producer from a broadcast station on a golf trip to Thailand last May.

“We were able to prove the trip took place by checking the records at the immigration bureau at Incheon airport,” a police spokesman said.

The producer was summoned for police questioning on Monday but failed to show up as he was out of town. Kim has also been asked to return to South Korea to cooperate in the investigation.

Police said the documents left behind by Jang also stated she was mistreated after refusing to accompany another producer on a separate Thai golf trip.

Jamie Lynn Spears calls off wedding

2009-03-27T21:43:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES : It looks like wedding bells will not be ringing for Britney Spears' little sister after all.

Jamie Lynn Spears called off the wedding to the father of her daughter, boyfriend Casey Aldridge, just months after she denied rumours of a split.

The "Zoe 101" star made headlines when she announced that she was expecting a child with her boyfriend and that they plan to walk down the aisle together. She was just 16.

The teen couple grabbed the attention of tabloids again shortly after the birth of their daughter, Maddie Briann, in June, when it was rumoured that the couple were living separately after Aldrige cheated on Spears.

In October, Spears vehemently denied infidelity rumours and insisted that they were going ahead with the wedding.

But now those plans are scrapped as she does not need an official ceremony to validate their love.

A source told OK! magazine, "The wedding's off. They are still in love, living together and very happy, but they have no plans to get married. Jamie Lynn has everything she wants and feels no need for a ring and piece of paper."

"She and Casey have weathered a lot in their young relationship already and don’t need the pressure of making wedding plans," another source was quoted as saying.

The young mum also appears to be enjoying motherhood and is ready to put aside her career in order to raise her daughter.

According to an insider, "She has told friends and family she's never coming back to Hollywood. She feels that part of her life is over. Jamie Lynn enjoyed every minute of doing 'Zoey', but since she's had Maddie, her life has changed completely.

"She's happy being a real hands-on Southern mother and hopes to continue that for years to come with Casey right by her side. Jamie Lynn knows she needs to make a living when she grows older, so she's already discussing her career options with advisers. She wants Maddie to grow up in comfort."

Shady? Moi?! Zooey Deschanel unveils sunglasses line for Oliver Peoples

2009-03-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

Kambouris/WireImage

Zooey Deschanel's gearing up to launch her own line of sunglasses.

OliverPeoples.com

Zooey sunglasses, which come in five different colors, retail for $415.

Zooey Deschanel's got an eye for fashion. And she's ready to sell it.

The "Yes Man" star has partnered up with swanky sunglasses retailer Oliver Peoples to launch her own line in April.

Deschanel's sun blockers, appropriately dubbed "Zooey," come in just one style - a thick frame reminiscent of classic Ray-Bans.

And at $415 a pop, they'll cost you a whole lot more.

But the actress may be banking on a special hidden feature on her shades to one-up her established competition: Pouty red lips pop up on the lenses when the wearer (or a pal) breathes on them.

Deschanel was "intimately involved" with the creation of her mini-line, says a rep for the brand, from the glasses themselves to the special kiss logo cleaning cloth that comes with each pair.

Want one? Zooey - the shades, not the star - are available for pre-sale oneline through March 15 and are expected to hit stores in April.

Despite resistance, Madonna files adoption papers in Malawi for Mercy

2009-03-27T21:26:00.000-07:00

Madonna is very close to adopting the Malawian orphan Mercy James.

Madonna, shown above with son David Banda and daughter Lourdes, is expected in Malawi on Saturday.

The Material Mom is headed back to Malawi, where she hopes to adopt a daughter next week - despite government worries over her oft-salacious past.

Pop superstar Madonna was due Saturday in the poverty-stricken African nation, intent on expanding her single-mom family to include a 3-year-old local girl.

"We are expected to be in court on Monday to file for a possible adoption," her lawyer, Alan Chinula, said Thursday.

Madonna's morals are under scrutiny by Malawi officials - not the best news after two divorces, l'affaire A-Rod, her soft-core "Sex" book and the Britney liplock.

Under Malawi law, adoptions are typically off-limits to single or divorced parents. Madonna is both; her 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, was born when the superstar singer was unmarried, and she split from British director Guy Ritchie last year.

The 50-year-old platinum-selling star still hopes to add 3-year-old Mercy to her growing brood. Last year, Madonna officially adopted another Malawian child: now 3-year-old David.

Madonna - recently linked to Brazilian boy toy model Jesus Luz, age 22 - is on a break from her "Sticky and Sweet" tour.

Her trip comes despite concerns among Malawi officials about Madonna's lifestyle - including her recent divorce and her reported liaison with Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez.

Simon Chisale, Malawi's child welfare chief, told the Daily News this week that morality was an issue.

"We do not only look at the material issues, but also the moral standing of prospective adoptive parents, because we do not want our children's morals to be corrupted," he said.

Last week, in an interview with Malawi's best-known newspaper, Madonna said she would only adopt another child with "the support of the Malawian people and government."

Her embrace of David caused controversy because Malawi typically does not allow foreign adoptions. Madonna is already raising three kids: Lourdes, 8-year-old son Rocco and David.

Before David's adoption was finalized last May, a Malawi welfare official twice visited Madonna's British home and described her as the "perfect mum."

Reese Witherspoon: mom as monster Actress' kids loved new film 'Monsters vs. Aliens'

2009-03-27T21:17:00.000-07:00

Reese Witherspoon's kids are at that age - the one where they discover a movie they like and proceed to watch it over and over and over again.

Her daughter, Ava, 9, and son, Deacon, 5, don't get bored of their favorites and don't find themselves satisfied with a third viewing. They just get excited to watch it again.

So it's no surprise that the Oscar winner, 33, is particularly concerned with the quality of children's entertainment, choosing to work back to back on animated feature films.

"Obviously having two young children, it's nice to be able to go to the movie theater and have a film there that's OK for kids, but it also has some adult humor in it that kids won't necessarily catch," she says from her Los Angeles home. "It's great to do those movies, because I have to watch a lot of them."

The first of those movies to be released is Monsters vs. Aliens. In it, Witherspoon lends her voice to a would-be bride who is struck by an asteroid with radioactive material that turns her into a 49-foot woman renamed "Ginormica" by her government captors.

The film is intended to evoke early sci-fi flicks of the 1950s and '60s.

"I thought it was really cool because I had always liked those movies," she recalls. "My dad and I always used to sit up late watching them."

Witherspoon signed on to that movie and soon agreed to The Bear and the Bow, a Pixar film set for a 2011 release in which she gives voice to a mythical Scottish princess. The actress says she was attracted not only to the content of the films, but to the endeavor itself.

"It's a very different process," Witherspoon recalls. "I got into a sound booth probably once every couple months for three or four hours." And though it takes less time, she adds, it requires much more imagination. "There is nothing visually in front of you to inform the scene. And you don't have a full script in front of you, so you don't even know what's going to happen next. They kind of talk you through everything, and then you just go in there and play around with it."

"It's really difficult; you don't have a lot of actors around you to bounce off of," says Conrad Vernon, the film's co-director. Witherspoon "was great at ad-libbing and coming up with different things, but when you're in that booth and you're doing something funny and you don't hear anything but silence, it can be daunting."

Vernon says she was right for the part because she "has this very, very adorable voice. And to put that voice into a 49-foot, 11-inch-tall giant was a great contrast and fun to do."

Witherspoon did have a couple of hours in the sound studio with Paul Rudd, who plays her narcissistic fiance. The two will be reunited for her next project, a comedy directed by James. L. Brooks.

She saw Monsters vs. Aliens recently in a theater full of kids wearing 3-D glasses, her two among them. "They loved it," she reports.

So in that regard, at least, it's a Mom-mission accomplished.

Reese stands tall in 3-D

2009-03-27T21:08:00.002-07:00

Reese Witherspoon voices Susan Murphy, aka Ginormica, in DreamWorks Animation's Monsters vs. Aliens.

Reese Witherspoon can’t be pigeonholed. In Freeway, her 1996 breakthrough film, she played a resourceful 15-year-old who’s been described as a “nearly illiterate firebug and serial shoplifter.” She was a bouncy but brainy sorority girl turned lawyer in two Legally Blonde films. And she won an Oscar as country singer June Carter Cash in Walk the Line. But she’s never before tried her hand at a character who’s 49 feet tall and strong enough to go head-to-head with a mountain-size alien invader. That’s the role she voices in the new DreamWorks animated 3-D extravaganza Monsters vs. Aliens. Witherspoon talked about fame, her Oscar and playing a character five-stories tall.

Q : You once said you would feel famous when you became a question on Jeopardy. You’ve now been a question on Jeopardy. So what do you think of fame?

A: It is all it’s cracked up to be. It’s fantastic. I highly recommend it. No (laughs), it has its drawbacks, but the positives outweigh the negatives. It’s better than digging a big ditch.

Q: Monsters vs. Aliens has a girl-power theme. Who are the women who’ve influenced you?

A: Diane Keaton. She’s done great things. Goldie Hawn is amazing. Judi Dench. Personally, my mother and my grandmother were really strong female influences in my life. I went to an all-girls high school and had a lot of great teachers. (There were) lots of great, strong Southern women around when I was growing up.

Q: Your production company is called Type A Films. And a few years ago, you said, “I spend a lot of time considering and planning my life and career.” Is that still the case?

A: Probably not as much so. I had this notion that you could control everything in your life, which I’ve been sadly stripped of. It’s actually a good thing to realize that the universe is pointing you in different directions all the time. Great stuff comes out of the unknown.

Q: You play a giantess in Monsters vs. Aliens, and you’re going to do Alexander Payne’s Downsizing, a satire about miniature people. Coincidence or part of the plan?

A: (Laughs.) The two are not linked in any capacity.

Q: How did your career change after winning the Oscar for Walk the Line?

A: It definitely opened a lot of opportunities to work with great directors, meet great writers and producers.

It changes how people think about you. It’s been great for me.

Q: You’ve performed in dramas and comedies. Do you have a preference?

A: It’s usually just the character (I would play), more than the script, if I can really see myself as that person or see some part of that person in my life or maybe in a friend. That helps me make the decision.

Q: You said in your Oscar acceptance speech that it was your “lifelong dream” to be a country singer. When are we going to hear your first record?

A: (Laughs.) I think you’ve heard it. It was called Walk the Line, and that will probably be my last as well. It was a really difficult experience, challenging in a good way. You watch American Idol and you say, “Oh, I can sing.” But until you really have to do it and learn how much technique goes into it, you can’t even really appreciate it. So I had this unique opportunity to work with the best of the best, coaches-wise, producers. And it’s good to cut out when you’re on the top there.

Walter Addiego writes for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Extreme skier McConkey dies in jump in Italy

2009-03-27T21:08:00.001-07:00

Extreme skier Shane McConkey was killed jumping off a cliff with a parachute while filming a movie in Italy. He was 39.

His sponsor Red Bull confirmed his death Thursday.

McConkey was in Corvara, Italy, on a ski-BASE jump when he had a mid-air malfunction, Red Bull said in a statement. Italian emergency responders arrived within minutes and pronounced him dead at the scene, according to the sponsor.

“Shane loved life and innovated both sport worlds he touched, skiing and B.A.S.E. Jumping,” Red Bull spokesman Patrice Radden said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the sport he pioneered also carries inherent risks.”

McConkey founded the International Free Skiing Association and had grown popular in recent years for his BASE jumping competitions and big-mountain film exploits.

During his career he won the IFSA world tour of freeskiing in 1996 and 1998, and finished second in the 1999 Winter X Games Skier X competition. In 2001, Skiing Mag listed him as the top skier in North America, and Powder magazine readers voted him skier of the year three times.

McConkey lived and trained at Squaw Valley’s Olympic Village south of Truckee, Calif. He is survived by his wife, Sherry, and 3-year-old daughter, Ayla.

Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)

2009-03-26T21:01:00.002-07:00

“Monsters vs. Aliens” cheerfully converts the two major sources of cinematic terror — invaders from outer space and inhuman, ungodly terrestrial creatures — into wacky, goofy, familiar figures. The movie, directed by Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon from a many-authored script, comes out of DreamWorks Animation and offers the latest twist on the easygoing, parodic formula refined in the studio’s “Shrek” franchise and last year’s “Kung Fu Panda.”

Just as “Shrek” and its successors pushed aside the sweet enchantment of traditional fairy tale movies in favor of belching and winking (with a saving spoonful of sugar at the end), so does “Monsters vs. Aliens” turn fright and apocalypse into strenuous, noisy, 3-D fun.

The film, like “Coraline” and “Bolt,” tries to take 3-D technology beyond gimmickry and to make it the basis for a new kind of visual spectacle. Since not all theaters are equipped to show the movie this way, it has to work in its flat version as well, and perhaps partly as a result, the effects are often subtle, noticeable less when objects or characters jump off the screen than when they move laterally across it.

“Monsters vs. Aliens” is no better than most family-friendly animated entertainment, but there does seem to be more of it. Everything looks bigger and rounder. The environment is deeper and thicker. The blob of blue goo with one eye and Seth Rogen’s voice is more palpably, quiveringly slimy.

That blob, named B.O.B., is an entirely predictable supporting character in a movie like this: the dumb one whose off-the-wall observations and behind-the-beat non sequiturs provide a steady stream of mild and easy laughs. Somehow Mr. Rogen, whose next live-action vehicle opens in a few weeks, keeps postponing the moment when we tire of him. His affable stoner vibe is the best thing in “Monsters vs. Aliens.”

Though perhaps not in itself enough reason to see it. Don’t get me wrong: the movie is not terrible. On the contrary, it is a highly competent, smartly engineered delivery system for the very clichés it pretends to subvert.

The most surprising of these may be the romantic-comedy convention of an interrupted wedding, an apparent disaster that will of course turn out to be a blessing. This is because the would-be bride, Susan (Reese Witherspoon), is a charming young woman betrothed to a self-absorbed cad (Paul Rudd), whose eventual comeuppance provides a nice, sequel-enabling coda after the crazy action sequences are done.

These involve a battle between some monsters, including Susan — who, I should mention, has a mishap that makes her grotesquely gigantic, though since the movie’s sense of scale is wildly inconsistent, it’s hard to say just how gigantic — and what is technically only one alien, a many-legged, many-eyed intergalactic imperialist voiced by Rainn Wilson. San Francisco is destroyed, and a few other kind of cool things happen, but in spite of its striving for visual novelty, the movie is curiously unmemorable, partly because nearly all of its humor depends on your having seen something like it before, even if you haven’t.

So in addition to Mr. Rogen’s dumb blob, there is a brainy scientist-monster (Hugh Laurie), a vain, macho monster (Will Arnett) and a speechless, fuzzy, gigantic monster that provides the film’s gratuitous hat-tip to the Japanese anime tradition.

These earthbound monsters live in government-imposed quarantine, overseen by a general with a buzz cut and a drill sergeant’s bark, provided by Kiefer Sutherland. Everyone goes whirling through the air, fires off some wisecracks and generally has a good time. You probably will too, even if you feel a little cheated in the end.

“Monsters vs. Aliens” is rated PG (Parental guidance suggested). It has some semiviolent action sequences with implied fatalities.

MONSTERS VS. ALIENS

Opens on Friday nationwide.

Directed by Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon; written by Mr. Letterman, Maya Forbes, Wally Wolodarsky, Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, based on a story by Mr. Letterman and Mr. Vernon; edited by Joyce Arrastia and Eric Dapkewicz; music by Henry Jackman; production designer, David James; produced by Lisa Stewart; released by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures. Running time: 1 hour 34 minutes.

WITH THE VOICES OF: Reese Witherspoon (Susan/Ginormica), Seth Rogen (B.O.B.), Hugh Laurie (Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.), Will Arnett (the Missing Link), Kiefer Sutherland (General W. R. Monger), Rainn Wilson (Galaxhar), Paul Rudd (Derek Dietl) and Stephen Colbert (the President).

Sean Penn Signs On For 'Three Stooges' Role

2009-03-26T21:01:00.001-07:00

It's no joke: Sean Penn is going slapstick.

The studio MGM says the double Oscar winner has signed on to play Larry in the Farrelly brothers' big-screen update of The Three Stooges.

Jim Carrey was "in negotiations" for the role of Curly, said MGM spokesman Grey Munford. The studio first featured the stooges in a series of shorts and features beginning in 1933.

Munford would not confirm reports that Benicio Del Toro will play Moe.

He said said filming begins this fall on the comedy, which is expected to be released in 2010.

The casting of a serious actor like Penn in the assuredly goofy comedy isn't such a stretch: The actor launched his storied career as goofball Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Jennifer Hudson Eying Several Big I's, Including Idol & I Do

2009-03-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Jennifer Hudson has spent the past few months recovering from the tragic murder of her mother, brother and nephew. Now, both her personal life and her career are blossoming.

Wednesday night, the star returned to the place that first brought her into our living rooms, American Idol. Following the Motown-themed show, the season-three, seventh-place finisher—who famously went on to win a Grammy and an Oscar—taped a performance of her single "If This Isn't Love" to air on the show at a later date.

Following the performance, Hudson, whose tour alongside Robin Thicke kicks off on March 31, spilled a few beans to Ryan Seacrest. When asked about her engagement and upcoming nuptials to David Otunga, she admitted a date had been set.

"Yeah, but it's a secret," the 25-year-old singer said. "I can't tell anybody."

Hudson gushed a little further when she taped her Thursday-afternoon appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

After the two sang "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" from DreamGirls as part of the show's Bathroom Concert Series, the host asked about the happy couple.

"We're like big kids, so we like to ride bikes, and one thing I like to do is I put my dog in her little basket and put her on my back and then we ride the bike to the dog park," Hudson told her.

DeGeneres, as usual, had an appropriate engagement gift: a romantic bicycle built for two.

Ellen DeGeneres Surprises Jennifer Hudson With Engagement Gift

2009-03-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Hudson is in for quite a ride as she readies to wed fiance David Otunga.

On Thursday's Ellen DeGeneres Show, the talk show host presents Hudson with an engagement gift: A tandem bike.

"David is going to love this," Hudson says, adding that bike riding is one of their favorite activities.

"We're like big kids, so we like to ride bikes," she says.

"One thing I like to do is put my dog in her little basket and put her on my back and then we ride the bike to the dog park," says the singer, who has three Pomeranians.

Hudson also opens up to DeGeneres about her days working at a Burger King in her Chicago hometown. She says she quickly learned she could make more bucks belting out songs than flipping burgers.

"When I was 17-years-old, I worked at Burger King, and I found that I was making more money singing one show [for] $75," the Grammy winner says. "I thought it was a lot of money, so I decided, 'I'm quitting this Burger King - I'm going to make my living using my talents and gifts.' So my first option was to be, what I am now, a singer."

Before famously winning an Oscar, Hudson was a third season American Idol finalist. She taped a performance after the live broadcast for an Idol episode that will air at a later date.

She says if singing didn't work out, she always had a back-up plan.

"My second choice was to be a tattoo artist because I also draw," says Hudson.

Asked if she had any body art, Hudson cringes. "No," she tells DeGeneres,
"I don't have any."

Anna Kournikova Beats Jimmy Fallon at Beer Pong

2009-03-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

Jimmy Fallon sucks and drinking games are for children-- if I want to drink myself into oblivion, I'll drink myself into oblivion, damn it. I don't need to harness my competitive spirit to get there, OK? That's bullshit.-- but there are a couple reasons why I'm posting this clip, and well... they're both underneath that short black dress Anna is wearing.

OK... well, that's fucked. I can view the video from NBC, but for some reason, when I embed it, the player doesn't show up. So us lepers get the shitty filmed from someone's TV version, I guess. Ugh.

Shawn Johnson Fan Charged With Stalking

2009-03-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

Shawn Johnson's fan Robert O'Ryan has been charged with one felony count of stalking and two misdemeanor counts of carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office announced Thursday.

O'Ryan, 34, of Florida, was arrested Tuesday after he jumped a fence at CBS Studios in Los Angeles where Dancing With the Stars was filming. Police later found two loaded guns in the man's car, as well as duct tape and love letters to Johnson, 17.

He is being held on $35,000 bail. Now that he has been charged, prosecutors will ask that bail be set at $220,000.

If convicted, O'Ryan faces up to four years in prison. (Inside Edition released his photo Thursday.)

A rep for Johnson tells Usmagazine: "It is currently an ongoing investigation and we are confident that it will be handled appropriately by
all involved."

Kardashian Caught Out By Cellulite Snap

2009-03-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

Reality TV pin-up Kim Kardashian has defended her curvy figure once again, after a Web site accidentally posted a picture of her sporting cellulite.

A snap of the star was uploaded onto Complex magazine's Web site on Thursday before it had been airbrushed and retouched.

It was quickly removed and replaced with a shot of Kardashian looking slimmer and with smoother skin, but not before eagle-eyed bloggers grabbed the unauthorized photo and posted it elsewhere on the Internet.

But the 28-year-old insists she isn't embarrassed about the mishap.

Kardashian writes on her own blog, "So what: I have a little cellulite. What curvy girl doesn't!?

"How many people do you think are photoshopped? It happens all the time. I'm proud of my body and my curves and this picture coming out is probably helpful for everyone to see that just because I am on the cover of a magazine doesn't mean I'm perfect."

But Kardashian admits she will be spending more time working out to avoid any more awkward exposes: "This all motivates me to stay in the gym because my goal this year has been to get in better shape and tone up! Hard work pays off!"

Seth Rogen On Career Highs, Lindsay Lohan & 'Green Hornet'

2009-03-24T09:47:00.000-07:00

Seth Rogen gives a goofy grin at the premiere of 'Monsters Vs. Aliens' in LA

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Seth Rogen is in high demand these days. The actor has three movies opening in 2009 - and even Lindsay Lohan is asking the "Monsters vs. Aliens" star to call her back.

Access Hollywood's Shaun Robinson caught up with the actor at the junket for his new DreamWorks animated movie, where Seth talked about his career explosion.

"A lot of people would say your career right now is on fire," Shaun told Seth.

"Ya maybe. We'll see... It's going pretty good. I'm very thankful," he said.

Though he might be landing role after role, according to Seth, he can still lead a fairly normal life unlike a lot of Hollywood's elite.

"I can go everywhere without getting recognized," he explained. "You know, people don't really [recognize me.]"

And that is mainly due to his recent break up, which fans may not know about, the actor joked.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Apatow Gang -- Ferrell, Rogen & The Rest

"Ever since me and John Mayer stopped dating, the floods of paparazzi stopped following me around so," he laughed. "So, that was a good move I think."

Seth also cleared up a report that Lindsay Lohan had been calling him about a possible project together.

"I actually asked my agents and, no. No one [from Lindsay's camp] has tried to contact us." Seth told Access. "I would call her back. If it was a work-related thing then why not, you know?"

Seth might not be getting calls from Lindsay, but he's being called upon to play a super hero in the upcoming "Green Hornet" movie.

"Yeah it's happening. Were making it," Seth said. "Michel Gondry is directing it, 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,' he's a great guy. He's a true visual genius. And it's exciting. We're going to make it. It's happening!"

Rep: Zac Efron Drops Out of Footloose Remake

2009-03-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

Zac Efron arrives at the 81st Annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2009 in Hollywood, California.

Zac Efron has pulled out of the musical remake of Footloose -- nearly two years after he was in talks to reprise the role of Kevin Bacon from the 1984 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 Monday. "Their fresh take on the film will undoubtedly be filled with the same kind of breakout performances that weve come to expect from them."

Although Efron has yet to publicly address his reasons for dropping out of the film, he is reportedly trying to take on more varied roles.

Efron -- who rose to fame by singing and dancing in all three of Disney's High School Musical movies -- signed on to star in the Paramount flick in July 2007, the same time as his feature debut, a revival of the 1988 musical movie Hairspray, hit theaters.

The actor, 21, is currently promoting his film, 17 Again, which opens in theaters this April. He is also set to star in the drama, Me and Orson Welles, opposite Claire Danes . The film, in which he plays a Broadway actor who has a chance meeting with Welles in 1937, has not yet been released.

Ortega helmed the High School Musical franchise and will direct and choreograph Footloose, which is slated for a 2010 release date. No replacement for Efron has been confirmed.

David Letterman Marries Longtime Girlfriend

2009-03-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

David Letterman on 'The Late Show'
CBSAccess Hollywood

NEW YORK, New York -- David Letterman is a married man.

Letterman and longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko tied the knot last week in Montana, the "Late Show" host announced during the taping of Monday's show.

"On Thursday, at 3 PM, March 19, 2009, at the Teton County Courthouse in Choteau, Montana, I was married to Regina Lasko," he told the audience.

The couple began dating in 1986 and, as Letterman explained, he clearly wasn't in a rush to the altar.

"Regina and I began dating in February of 1986, and I said, 'Well, things are going pretty good, let's just see what happens in about ten years," he added. "I had avoided getting married pretty good for, like, 23 years, and I - honestly, whether this happened or not - I secretly felt that men who were married admired me...like I was the last of the real gunslingers, you know what I'm saying?"

Letterman, 61, and Lasko, 48, have a son, Harry, who was born in November 2003.

However, as the bride and groom made their way to the courthouse in Montana, things didn't go quite as planned.

"It's me, Regina and Harry in the pickup truck... we get two miles from the [court]house and we get stuck in the mud - I mean, turn the truck over, stuck in the mud. So now we think, 'Well, somebody will come' - no, nobody comes along," Letterman recounted. "So I get out of the truck and I walk two miles back to the house into a 50 mile an hour wind... And the whole way, I'm thinking, 'See, smart ass, see, see, you try to get married, this is what happens.'"

But luckily for the late night host, he made it back in time.

"So then we get in the car and Harry says, 'Are we still going into town?' and I said, 'Yes, we are,' and he gets very upset because mom had told him if I wasn't back in an hour, the deal was off."

M.I.A.'s Real Baby Name Revealed

2009-03-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

M.I.A. poses in the audience at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- After media reports claimed that M.I.A. named her newborn boy "Ickitt", the British-born Sri Lanken rapper/singer has finally released her baby's full name.

M.I.A. named her son Ikhyd Edgar Arular Bronfman, according to the child's birth certificate obtained by Access Hollywood.

Ikhyd was welcomed into the world at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on February 11, 2009 by the "Paper Planes" singer, whose full name is Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam, and her fiance, Benjamin Bronfman, just days after her Grammy performance.

M.I.A. took to her blog to combat speculations of her son's name in early March.

"MY BABY IS NOT CALLED ICKITT, PICKIT OR LICKIT THANK YOU VERY MUCH," she said. "HES A BABY, HE DONT NEED PRESS!"

Son of poets Plath and Hughes commits suicide

2009-03-24T09:28:00.001-07:00

LONDON (Reuters) - The son of poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes has committed suicide 46 years after his mother gassed herself, his sister and police said on Monday.

Nicholas Hughes, 47, hanged himself at his home in Alaska, Frieda Hughes, who is also a poet, told Britain's Times newspaper.

"It is with profound sorrow that I must announce the death of my brother, Nicholas Hughes, who died by his own hand on Monday, March 16 ... He had been battling depression for some time," Hughes said in a statement to the newspaper.

Frieda Hughes, who was reported to be flying to Alaska, could not be reached for comment.

Alaska State Troopers said in a statement they had gone to a house in Fairbanks on March 16 where a man had hanged himself. Emergency services took Hughes to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. No foul play was suspected, they said.

Hughes, who was unmarried, had until recently been professor of fisheries and ocean sciences at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.

Plath, an American famous for her autobiographical novel "The Bell Jar" and the poetry collection "Ariel," has been at the center of a literary cult since she committed suicide in 1963 at the age of 30 in the London flat while her children, one-year-old Nicholas and two-year-old Frieda, slept.

She left bread and milk for the children and sealed their room against the gas. They were unharmed.

Critics blamed Ted Hughes for driving Plath to despair and their relationship has been a source of public fascination fanned by the 2003 film "Sylvia" starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig as the troubled couple.

Ted Hughes's lover Assia Wevill also committed suicide in 1969, at the same time killing her young daughter from her relationship with the poet.

He was one of Britain's most distinguished poets and was appointed poet laureate, but Plath's suicide cast a shadow over him until his death in 1998

David Letterman Ties the Knot!

2009-03-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

David Letterman, his girlfriend Regina Lasko and son Harry Joseph have a vacation in Rome on April 14, 2007.

David Letterman and his longtime girlfriend, Regina Lasko, have gotten hitched, Usmagazine reported just before Letterman announced the news during the Monday taping of his CBS Late Show.

"On Thursday, at 3 p.m., March 19, 2009, at the Teton County Courthouse in Choteau, Montana, I was married to Regina Lasko," Letterman said about 20 minutes into the show, before he read the "Top 10" list.

"Regina and I began dating in February of 1986, and I said, 'Well, things are going pretty good, let's just see what happens in about ten years...'" he continued.

"I had avoided getting married pretty good for, like, 23 years, and I -- honestly, whether this happened or not -- I secretly felt that men who were married admired melike I was the last of the real gunslingers, you know what I'm saying?'" he joked.

The family's truck got stuck in the mud en route to the courthouse, he explained. Letterman "walked two miles back to the house in 50 mph wind," he said. "It's not Beverly Hills -- it's Montana.

"And the whole way, I'm thinking, 'See, smart ass, see you try to get married and this is what happens,'" he went on.

After getting his car from home, five-year-old son Harry says, "'Are we still going into town?'...he got very upset because mom had told him if I wasn't back in an hour, the deal was off."

Letterman and Lasko -- who began dating in 1986 when Lasko worked for him on his show -- welcomed Harry in November 2003.

In 2007, Letterman told Oprah Winfrey that his son has made a "huge difference" in his life -- but the boy doesn't always get his daddy's sense of humor.

Said Letterman, "Mommy has to tell him a lot that I'm just teasing."

Letterman was previously married for seven years to his college sweetheart Michelle Cook.

David Letterman secretly married

2009-03-24T09:17:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Late-night TV comic David Letterman has quietly married his longtime girlfriend, telling audience members of his show on Monday that he almost missed the ceremony because his truck was stuck in mud.

Letterman, 61, and Regina Lasko tied the knot during a courthouse ceremony near their Montana ranch last Thursday. The couple, who have been dating since 1986, were accompanied by their 5-year-old son, Harry.

" ... I had avoided getting married pretty good for, like, 23 years, and I -- honestly, whether this happened or not -- I secretly felt that men who were married admired me ... like I was the last of the real gunslingers," Letterman said, according to a "Late Show" transcript provided by a spokesman.

But the afternoon ceremony at the Teton County Courthouse in Choteau (pop. 1,700) was delayed by an hour because the family's pickup truck was stuck in mud two miles from their house. Letterman was forced to walk back in a howling gale to get the car.

"So then we get in the car and Harry says, 'Are we still going into town?' and I said, 'Yes, we are,' and he gets very upset because Mom had told him if I wasn't back in an hour, the deal was off."

Letterman's spokesman declined to reveal any details about the ceremony, or to give Lasko's age. Letterman, who was married once before, is intensely private, and is rarely photographed with his family.

Robin Williams recovering from heart surgery

2009-03-24T09:16:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - 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."

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Nicole Richie Jokes About Twin Rumors

2009-03-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

Joel Madden and Nicole Richie arrive to the Sony Cierge and The Richie-Madden Children's Foundation's private cocktail event to raise funds for UNICEF's Tap Project at My House in Los Angeles, CA on March 23, 2009.Us Magazine

Nicole Richie showed off a growing baby bump at a fundraiser for the Richie-Madden Children's Foundation Monday in Hollywood.

Asked about tabloid rumors that she is expecting twins, her beau's brother Benji Madden joked to Usmagazine.com, "She already has twins."

Richie, 27, then added, "I have twins. People popped out of me yesterday."

Richie and Joel Madden , 31 - who welcomed daughter Harlow last January - announced they were expecting their second child last month.

Asked by Ryan Seacrest Monday if the two are planning on having "a whole bunch" of kids, Joel Madden said, "I have no idea."

Richie recently said she has no idea if she'll ever wed Joel.

"I don't know about the future," she told Japanese ViVi magazine. "I make it a custom not to plan the future. I may plan to and I may not."

Miley Cyrus: "I Can't Be Hannah Montana Forever"

2009-03-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

Miley Cyrus hopes Hannah Montana: The Movie (out April 10) won't be the last time people get to see her beloved Disney character.

"This movie was never meant to be the end of Hannah Montana," she tells April's Billboard magazine. "The thing is, a lot of people put where the show's future lays in my hands and it's not up to me. It's up to Disney and whether they want more episodes, and we hope that they do."

(A Disney Channel rep says the network is still considering the option to renew the show for a fourth season.)

Still, the 16-year-old -- who recently released the memoir Miles to Go -- says she has come to terms that her Hannah Montana days are winding down.

"It's just an honor for people to be able to relate to me and my music and not so much the character anymore," she says. "I can't be Hannah Montana forever. I have to have something after this. I can't do this when I'm 30."

Taking a break from the show has its plusses, she says.

"It's, like, the first time I've seen all my friends in seven months," says Cyrus, who is dating model Justin Gaston , 20. "It's hard, man. With all the stuff that goes on with this business, I only want to do something if I absolutely love it."

Britney Spears To Take 'Circus' Tour Down Under

2009-03-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

Britney Spears performs onstage during the opening night of 'The Circus Starring Britney Spears' tour at the New Orleans
Getty ImagesAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Britney Spears has already taken her "Circus" tour across America, into Canada and is scheduled to perform in England this summer - but the pop princess isn't limiting herself to cities just north of the equator - Brit is headed down under.

According to Australian News, the pop star will bring "The Circus Starring Britney Spears " to Australia later this year, in her first tour of the country.

"All the promoters are vying for it, but the bottom line is she really wants to come here and she really wants to come here this year," Denis Handlin of Sony Australia told the paper. "I think the promoters are battling it out at the moment."

As previously reported on AccessHollywood, the pop princess' first tour in five years kicked off earlier this month in New Orleans - and according to fans, the show was worth the wait.

"She was amazing and she looked like she was having a blast the entire time," one fan told Access. "I haven't seen the spark that she had last night in a very long time! The 'it factor' that she lost is totally back."

Brit will play Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night and Pittsburgh on Friday.

Octuplet Mother Fires Free Nurses: "It Was Really Bad"

2009-03-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

Nadya Suleman seen going to the hospital to pick up two babies in Hollywood on March 16, 2009.

Octo Mom Nadya Suleman has confirmed to Usmagazine she has fired the free nursing staff provided to her by the non-profit charity organization Angels In Waiting.

"Yes, it's true. I released AIW," Suleman said in a statement to Us. "It was really bad. That's all I can say. I can't confirm, why, in particular. I will be releasing the details soon."

Her spokesman accused the non-profit charity group -- which announced their plans to assist Suleman in raising her 14 children during a March 14 taping of Dr. Phil -- of spying on her and reporting her to child welfare officials.

Suleman had several confrontations with the nurses, her attorney Jeff Czech said. Relations worsened Sunday when Suleman came to believe that Angels in Waiting founder Linda West-Conforti was allegedly filing a report against her with child welfare officials.

Said Czech, Nadya felt that she was being judged wrongfully, and she didn't need it."

Suleman -- who has custody of four infants so far -- says she'll rely on her own nannies -- whom she had planned to hire regardless of Angels in Waiting's assistance -- to care for the babies instead.

Attorney Gloria Allred who represents Angels in Waiting, told via e-mail Monday: "We have no comment at this time. We will respond tomorrow afternoon with the true facts."

According to RadarOnline, which first broke the story RadarOnline, members of Angels in Waiting are scheduled to tape an episode of Dr. Phil Tuesday. Suleman also hopes to appear on the show to defend herself.

Suleman turned down an earlier offer from Angels in Waiting because they wouldn't let her film a reality show, Allred said.

Horror film draws unwanted visitors to Conn. house

2009-03-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

SOUTHINGTON, Conn. - A Hollywood horror film that depicts the alleged haunting of a former funeral parlor in central Connecticut is turning into a nightmare for the home's current owners and their neighbors.

The movie, "A Haunting in Connecticut," doesn't open until Friday, but curious fans are already making a beeline for the Southington home that inspired the movie.

"It's just been really, really stressful," said Susan Trotta-Smith, who bought the home 10 years ago with her husband. "It's been a total change from a very quiet house in a very quiet neighborhood to looking out the window and seeing cars stopping all the time. It's been very, very stressful, and sometimes worrisome."

The family has never seen anything unusual inside their five-bedroom, two-family white wood-frame house and does not believe the property was haunted.

"It's got beautiful woodwork, and there is a nice warm feeling to the house," Trotta-Smith said. "Because it was a funeral home , the upstairs apartment is much more spacious. It's like two full houses , and it has a beautiful yard, too."

The movie, starring Virginia Madsen and Kyle Gallner and released by Lionsgate, is loosely based on stories that revolved around the house in the 1980s.

The residents at the time, the Snedeker family , claimed their son would hear strange noises in his basement bedroom, which once held casket displays and was near the old embalming room. He also claimed to see shadows on the wall of people who were not there. A niece visiting the home said she felt hands on her body as she tried to sleep, and her covers levitated.

The family brought in Ed and Lorraine Warren , self-described paranormal researchers, who became famous for documenting the alleged " Amityville Horror " haunting of a home on Long Island.

Lorraine Warren says she felt an evil presence in the Southington home and experienced the haunting herself when she spent a night there.

"In the master bedroom, there was a trap door where the coffins were brought up," she said. "And during the night, you would hear that chain hoist, as if a coffin were being brought up. But when Ed went to check, there was nobody down there."

Warren, whose husband died in 2006, has nothing to do with the movie. She said the house was "cleared" of the evil presence after a seance in 1988. A book and a television documentary followed.

The current owners, who rent out part of the home to another family, have removed the street number from the house and posted "no trespassing" signs. Trotta-Smith says they are concerned about the four children who live there.

"Most people are respectful. They stay on the road. They might take a picture," Trotta-Smith said. "But we have had a few problems with people kind of rudely coming up to the door and scaring our kids, telling them the house is haunted."

Parents' group protests Britney Spears song

2009-01-23T21:26:00.000-08:00

The Parents Television Council is warning parents about the Britney Spears song "If U Seek Amy" and urging radio stations not to broadcast it because the nonprofit organization believes it "would violate the broadcast indecency law" if aired between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Saying the title phrase quickly out loud produces a sound akin to spelling out the F-word, said PTC president Tim Winter. "There is no misinterpreting the lyrics to this song, and it's certainly not about a girl named Amy," he said of the track, the third single from Spears' new Jive album, "Circus."

"It's one thing for a song with these lyrics to be included on a CD so that fans who wish to hear it can do so, but it's an entirely different matter when this song is played over the publicly-owned airwaves, especially at a time when children are likely to be in the listening audience," Winter says.

Founded in 1995, the PTC describes itself as "a nonpartisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment." Jive was unavailable for comment on the PTC's advisory.

The controversy isn't stopping U.S. radio from playing "If You Seek Amy." Six top 40 stations have the song in rotation this week, enough to place the track at No. 92 on the Billboard Pop 100 chart. Leading the pack is WFLZ-Tampa, Fla., which has played it 19 times.

"We're confident the version of the song we air is not crossing any lines," program director Tommy Chuck told Billboard.com, adding that WFLX plays a Jive-created edit of the song that changes "Seek" to "See" as well as a jokey version in which morning host MJ shouts his name every time the word "Amy" appears.

Digitally, "Amy" has sold 107,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Obama's inauguration available everywhere on TV

2009-01-20T21:05:00.001-08:00

It was hard to miss the moment on television when Barack Obama lifted his right hand to take the oath of office as the nation's 44th president. The transfer of power was everywhere you'd expect, on the CNNs and ABCs of the TV world. But ESPN also interrupted its sports highlights to show it. MTV cut away from self-obsessed "Real World" roommates. Business networks CNBC, Bloomberg and Fox telecast it, although the stock market tickers stayed on the screen. BET and TV One celebrated the arrival of a black president, and BBC America took its focus off Britain. Not since the September 2001 terrorist attacks have so many television networks shown such a unity of purpose, this time for a moment of hope. The networks bore witness both to a history-making event and a uniquely American ritual, with coverage that was most effective when anchors and commentators faded to the background. There were spectacular pictures: the sweep of a huge crowd cheering as if at some massive sporting event; the motorcade taking the Obamas and Bushes to the Capitol; Michelle Obama handing a gift to Laura Bush; and former presidents greeting one another before taking their seats. "What a moment for the man, what a moment for the country," ABC's Charles Gibson said after Obama assumed the presidency. On NBC, Lester Holt noted simply how many people were singing the National Anthem, when that is not always the case. CNN analyst David Gergen seemed to nail the day's mood early. "It's almost like Mardi Gras in January," he said, "with a much more serious purpose." The networks faltered when they let giddiness get the best of them. Gibson talked about getting chills, and not because of the weather. "There's just something about this day," he said. "The buildings are a little brighter." Anderson Cooper should wince at a playback of his attempt at music criticism: "There are three first ladies on this stage," he said. "Aretha Franklin is the first lady of soul." (Actually, since he overlooked Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton, his count should have been six.) Like an election night, news networks hauled out some expensive tricks, such as Fox News' impressive graphic map of Washington used to place the events. CNN contracted for a satellite to take a shot of Washington from space, and asked its viewers to send in pictures of the exact moment Obama took the oath of office. With a small search of its archives, NBC could have had a real memorable moment: Andrea Mitchell, reporting among the dignitaries on the reviewing stand, mentioned how she interviewed young Sen. Barack Obama there four years earlier during the Bush inauguration. It would have been priceless to see a clip of that interview. While the networks all assigned reporters to cover a crowd estimated at more than 1 million people, they were underused. The ordinary Americans who stood in the cold to witness history were a bigger part of the story than was reflected, as was evident by the rock starlike cheers that rang out during the Obamas walk down Pennsylvania Avenue. NBC's Norah O'Donnell and CNN's Dana Bash contributed quick, clear-eyed reporting Tuesday afternoon when Sen. Edward Kennedy had to be taken from a luncheon in a medical emergency. Kennedy, ill with a brain tumor, suffered an apparent seizure and was taken in for evaluation. There was no immediate word from medical personnel on his condition, although fellow senators said he remained conscious as he was taken for further evaluation. Obama's inaugural address largely drew a thumbs-up from the TV reporters covering it. Fox's News Channel's Brit Hume called it a "marvelously eloquent speech delivered in the characteristically flawless way by the new president." CBS historian Doug Brinkley said it was a "very beautifully written speech." Many commentators noted, though, the undercurrent of criticism at outgoing President George Bush that may have undercut the polite way the two men dealt with each other. "I suspect that if President Bush had read the speech before they had that ride to the Capitol, it may not have been as warm," said NBC's Tom Brokaw. On MSNBC, Peggy Noonan noted the visible warmth between the two families, epitomized by Michelle Obama's gift to her predecessor (a journal and pen for writing her memoirs). Yet it was undercut by a crowd singing "na na hey hey goodbye" as the Bushes helicopter took off. MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, who the night before had urged Obama to prosecute Bush for war crimes, couldn't hide his glee at the moment. "We have liftoff ... and to all a good night," he said.

Michelle Obama chooses white ball gown

2009-01-20T21:04:00.002-08:00

First lady Michelle Obama chose a white chiffon one-shoulder gown for a series of balls celebrating the inauguration of her husband. At the Neighborhood Ball at Washington's Convention Center, President Barack Obama, said: "First of all, how good-looking is my wife?" Her full-skirted dress had a strap across her right shoulder, a ruched bodice, fluffy appliques and sparkly beading. Mrs. Obama is wearing a Jason Wu gown this evening, which per tradition, will be donated to the Smithsonian. The president and first lady were dropping in on 10 official balls Tuesday night, kicking up their heels after a day of pomp and ceremony in the nation's capital.

Coldplay top nominee at BRIT music awards

2009-01-20T21:04:00.001-08:00

Photo: Reuters
Click to enlarge
LONDON (Reuters) - Acclaimed British rock band Coldplay and Welsh singer Duffy head the field at the 2009 BRITs, the country's top pop music awards, with four nominations apiece, organizers announced on Tuesday. They are followed by London-born singer/songwriter Adele, indie pop band Scouting For Girls and alternative rockers Elbow, who all appear in three categories. Coldplay are up for best British group and best British album, considered the most prestigious prize at the BRITs, for their multi-million selling record "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends". The group is also up for best British single and British live act. The BRITs' recognition of Duffy, a relative unknown a year ago, caps a year during which her debut album "Rockferry" was Britain's top-selling record in 2008 and boasts worldwide sales of nearly 4.5 million copies. She has been nominated for best album, best single for "Mercy", British female solo artist and British breakthrough act. The best British single award is chosen by live public vote on the night of the awards ceremony. In the international categories, the same five artists are competing both for best international group and international album -- AC/DC, Fleet Foxes, the Killers, Kings of Leon and MGMT. BRITS GO GLOBAL British pop music enjoyed considerable international success in 2008, underlined by its dominance at the industry's top awards, the Grammys, which will be handed out in Los Angeles on February 8. Of the 20 nominations in the four "main" Grammy categories, 13 are British artists, BRITs organizers said. "The list highlights the continued investment in British talent across the UK record industry," said Ged Doherty, chairman of the BRITs Committee. Adele, another female pop artist to make it big in 2008, has been shortlisted for the best British female, British breakthrough and British single categories. Elbow are in the running for best British group and album plus top live act, where they are up against Scouting for Girls who are also nominated for British breakthrough act and single for "Heartbeat". Four other British acts -- Ting Tings, Radiohead, Girls Aloud, and Estelle -- land two nominations apiece in this year's BRITs list. BRITs organizers also announced on Tuesday that Take That and Coldplay will appear at the awards ceremony on February 18th, joining Pet Shop Boys, U2, Kings of Leon, Duffy and Girls Aloud. Hosting the event, held before an audience of over 10,000 people at London's Earls Court, will be Australian star Kylie Minogue.

California court puts Polanski sex case on hold

2009-01-20T21:03:00.001-08:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California appeals court on Tuesday put on hold a hearing sought by Roman Polanski, at the request of the fugitive filmmaker, as he tries to dismiss his 30-year-old conviction for having sex with a minor. Lawyers for Polanski, 75, asked the California 2nd District Court of Appeal for an emergency stay of the proceedings, which were set for Wednesday afternoon, while they seek to disqualify the entire Los Angeles County Court system from the case. They are asking the appeals court to overturn a ruling by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejecting that motion, which would require the matter to be heard in another jurisdiction. In granting the stay, the appeals court issued a terse, two-sentence ruling that did not explain the decision but directed prosecutors to file written arguments by January 30. A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, which has opposed any further hearings for Polanski as long as he remains a fugitive, said prosecutors would comply with that. Polanski, the Oscar-winning director of such films as "Rosemary's Baby" and "Chinatown," fled the United States for France in 1978, before he could be sentenced for his guilty plea to having unlawful sex with an underage girl. The filmmaker, who spent 42 days incarcerated for psychiatric evaluation, fled because he became convinced the judge intended to send him back to prison, contrary to a plea agreement he had made with prosecutors. A citizen of his native France, Polanski cannot be extradited but faces arrest if he sets foot back on U.S. soil. His bid to dismiss the matter stems from claims that the now-dead judge in the case was improperly coached by a deputy district attorney, David Wells, ahead of sentencing. Those allegations gained public attention a year ago in the documentary "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired," in which Wells spoke of his contact with the judge. Polanski was originally indicted on six charges, including rape, for having sex with a 13-year-old girl after plying her with champagne and drugs. He insisted the sex was consensual but pleaded guilty to a single count of having sex with a minor, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Vilified in the U.S. media at the time, the director has earned a measure of sympathy in Hollywood and won an Academy Award in 2003 for directing the Holocaust drama "The Pianist."

There's no way off the road known as Camino Real

2009-01-20T21:01:00.002-08:00

A young American Everyman, fallen on hard times, wanders into a strange, drought-stricken, small Latin American town with no name, in a country with no name, and finds himself in a nightmarish situation with no apparent way out. So begins the Target Margin Theater's well-acted version of Tennessee Williams' 1946 one-act play "Ten Blocks on the Camino Real," a precursor to the full-length version that was titled "Camino Real." Directed by David Herskovits in the unwieldy Ohio Theatre space, this sparse production (which runs through Jan. 31) contains 10 surreal scenes encompassing violence, death, poetry, humor, desire, remorse and blunt truths that resonate six decades after Williams wrote them. Former boxing champion Kilroy (Satya Bhabha) tries to stay on his feet and keep his sense of humor as he encounters various unfriendly inhabitants and surreal situations on the town's main street, the "KAM-in-oh REEL." Williams emphasized the Anglicized pronunciation to reflect America's ignorance about other cultures. Wearing the golden gloves and enormous jeweled belt from Kilroy's glory days, Bhabha poignantly conveys streetwise charm combined with wonder and gradual resignation at his predicament. "This deal is rugged," Kilroy often exclaims, as townsfolk prey upon him while he wanders along the main street and bizarre "street cleaners" unceremoniously haul away frequently appearing dead bodies. Local law enforcement seems hostile and unhelpful, adding to the undercurrent of menace. Although it's clear on this unreal Camino Real that life can be unfair, harsh and all too short, Kilroy maintains his enthusiasm and his defiant rallying cry of "Ha-ha!" Cast members Curt Hostetteter, McKenna Kerrigan and Raphael Nash Thompson all lend depth and authenticity to a series of improbable characters and scenes. Purva Bedi is charming as a professional gypsy "virgin." Dara Seitzman as a strolling guitar player adds a light tone to the proceedings, as do Asta Bennie Hostetter's often colorful costumes and Lenore Doxsee's creative scenery and lighting. As an American symbol, Kilroy and his uneven journey have currency today: once on top of the world, now beleaguered, trying to figure out his place in an often unfriendly environment. "El camino real" is Spanish for "the royal road" or "the king's highway," but in Williams' ironic usage, it appears to signify the end of the line. Yet with still typical American ingenuity, Kilroy just might be the guy to find a way out.

Jim Carrey "comes out" at Sundance

2009-01-20T21:01:00.001-08:00

Photo: Reuters
Click to enlarge
PARK CITY, Utah (Reuters) - Jim Carrey outed his new movie "I Love You Phillip Morris" at the Sundance Film Festival this week, taking a risk in the gay romantic comedy by sharing passionate moments with co-star Ewan McGregor. Based on a true story, Carrey plays cop-turned-conman Steven Russell, who falls in love with his cellmate Phillip Morris (McGregor) and escapes four times from the Texas jail where he is being held in a bid to be with his partner. For Carrey, one of Hollywood's biggest box office draws in mainstream comedies such as "Liar, Liar" and "Bruce Almighty," taking the role in an independent film like "Philip Morris" could prove to be a real gamble. Carrey, 47, risks losing the audiences that flock to his mainstream comedies such as "Yes Man," which has grossed about $100 million at U.S. box offices since its December release. In the past, when he has starred in a movie that is not a broad comedy, it often flops. Carrey's serious portrayal of late comedian Andy Kaufman in the 1999 drama "Man on the Moon" tanked at U.S. box offices with only $34 million and his 2007 horror movie "The Number 23" also stumbled with $35 million. Yet, early reviews are good for "Phillip Morris" and, for their part, Carrey, McGregor and the directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa told reporters at a Monday news conference at Sundance, the top U.S. independent film festival, that the movie should not be pigeonholed. "I don't think it's a gay movie," Carrey said. "It really is about the lengths we go to for acceptance and love." While McGregor has played gay roles before, Carrey has not and the comic actor acknowledged a few initial fears. "If I were to be really honest, there's a homophobic voice that rises up inside me and goes 'Gee this is kind of scary,'" he said. "First of all, what will people think? And second of all, will I like it? Will I like kissing Ewan?" he added with a laugh. 'STRANGELY USUAL' McGregor said he and Carrey performed intimate scenes together on the first day of filming. He described it as "strangely usual. It's not terribly much of a big deal." "Phillip Morris" producer Andrew Lazar said he was drawn to the love story of the movie and believed it had universal appeal. "We've all been lovesick and I think anybody, whether you're gay or straight, can identify with that," he said. So far, critics like what they see. Showbusiness newspaper The Hollywood Reporter said "Carrey is at his nimble best" and Daily Variety said the movie will leave "audiences both laughing and stunned." The Times of London gave the movie four out of five stars, describing it as an "extraordinary film that serves as a reminder of just how good Carrey can be when he's not tied into a generic Hollywood crowd-pleaser." Still, the critics suggested the film could be a hard sell to broad audiences because of the gay storyline. The "sexual bluntness of Carrey and Ewan McGregor's onscreen romance could limit the film's exposure," wrote Daily Variety.

"Slumdog" meant to capture Mumbai zest

2009-01-20T20:59:00.000-08:00

MUMBAI (Reuters) - "Slumdog Millionaire" was meant to capture Mumbai's "lust for life," director Danny Boyle said on Tuesday, reacting to criticism that the film glamorized poverty in India. The cast and crew of the Oscar hopeful returned to the bustling financial hub on Tuesday in the run-up to the Indian premiere of the critically acclaimed film, a rags-to-riches story of a boy competing on a TV gameshow. "The thing that I wanted people to take away from the film was ... this breathtaking, breathtaking resilience of people and the joy of people despite their circumstances, that lust for life," the British director said at a press conference. "What we tried to do in the film was include as much of the city as possible," he said. About half of Mumbai's 17 million people are homeless, and many of those live on the streets or in slums that lack even basic facilities such as running water and toilets. The unpaved alleys, open sewers and tiny shacks of a teeming Mumbai slum are faithfully reproduced in the film, which swept the Golden Globe awards this month. But some Indian newspapers and TV channels have criticized Boyle for romanticizing slums and peddling such grim realities as begging rackets, prostitution and crime as "Indian exotica." The film has sparked a debate on whether such "poverty porn" reinforces Western stereotypes about the country. "If SM (Slumdog) projects India as Third World dirty underbelly developing nation and causes pain and disgust among nationalists and patriots, let it be known that a murky underbelly exists and thrives even in the most developed nations," Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, arguably India's biggest superstar, wrote on his blog (http://bigb.bigadda.com) last week. "Slumdog Millionaire" opens in Indian cinemas on January 23, a day after this year's Oscar nominations are revealed. But Boyle, who made the acclaimed "Trainspotting" in 1996, is not holding out for a sweep at the Academy Awards. "You can't expect anything really," he said.

Kendra Wilkinson: "I'm Sorry to Have Hurt Hef"

2009-01-19T20:12:00.000-08:00

Girl Next Door Kendra Wilkinson might have said too much in her candid interview in the current issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.

"I'm more upset at myself with what I said," Wilkinson said to E! News. "I'm really bad at interviews and anyone who knows me knew I meant no harm. I'm a goofball."

In the exclusive interview with Us, she discussed her life with Hugh Hefner , the bizarre house rules, her curfew and how she would sneak away from the Playboy mansion for sex.

"I said that I snuck sex every now and then, and I can't take that back," Wilkinson said.

Although she can't take back what she said in her candid interview, she is apologizing for it.

"I'm very sorry to have hurt Hef," she said. "Playboy made me who I am, and Hef has done more for me than anyone else. In my heart, I will always love Hef and Playboy."

Wilkinson was so sorry that she stopped by the mansion to apologize in person. "Hef was hurt, but he understands," she told E!. "He knows me..."

She said she also had personal personal apologies to her former roommates Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt because in theUs interview, Wilkinson also opened up about how they treated her.

"We are all doing so great these days," Wilkinson said. "Everyone is happy and doing their own thing."

Polanski's bid to dismiss rape case tied to film

2009-01-19T20:11:00.000-08:00

Polish-born film director Roman Polanski during the burial ceremony for French film maker Claude Berri in Montrouge, outside Paris, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Roman Polanski's tumultuous, sometimes tragic life had long seemed destined for a movie of its own.

But no one expected the controversy that erupted when a film finally did appear, a documentary that revealed new information about one of the defining events of the film director's past his 1977 conviction of raping a 13-year-old girl and his flight into exile.

Armed with disclosures from the HBO documentary, "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired," Polanski's lawyers have gone to court demanding that the still-pending case against him be dismissed because of court misconduct.

Among other things, the documentary says the judge was influenced in his sentencing consideration by a friend. The disclosure stunned both Polanski's lawyers and prosecutors involved in the original case.

A hearing is scheduled Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. Polanski, however, won't even be in the country, a point that prosecutors say means he shouldn't get a hearing.

Polanski's turbulent life story resonates as a piece of Hollywood history and as the sort of story that he has brought to life on the screen.

A native of France who was taken to Poland by his parents, he escaped Krakow's Jewish ghetto as a child and lived off the charity of strangers. His mother died at the Nazi death camp Auschwitz.

With talent and grit, he worked his way into filmmaking in Poland. His "Knife in the Water" gained an Oscar nomination for best foreign-language film in 1964. Coming to Hollywood, he directed the classic "Rosemary's Baby."

But then his life was shattered by new horror in 1969 when his wife, actress Sharon Tate eight months pregnant with their child and four other people were gruesomely murdered by followers of Charles Manson.

He went on to make another American classic, "Chinatown," released in 1974.

But in 1977 he was accused of raping a teen while photographing her during a modeling session. The girl said Polanski plied her with Champagne and part of a Quaalude pill at Jack Nicholson 's house while the actor was away. She said that, despite her protests, he performed oral sex, intercourse and sodomy on her.

The case became an international sensation.

Polanski was allowed to plead guilty to one of six charges, unlawful sexual intercourse, and was sent to prison for 42 days of evaluation.

Lawyers agreed that would be his full sentence, but the judge tried to renege on the plea bargain.

On the day of sentencing, aware the judge would sentence him to more prison time and require his voluntary deportation, Polanski fled to France.

His legal team maintains there was prosecutorial and judicial misconduct, that the case was manipulated by the judge, Laurence J. Rittenband, and David Wells, a retired prosecutor.

Wells told his story for the first time in the film, acknowledging that he insinuated himself into the Polanski case. He said that as the regular courtroom deputy district attorney for routine cases before Rittenband, he gained the judge's confidence and advised him on sentencing Polanski.

Wells said the publicity conscious judge was afraid he would be criticized for giving Polanski too lenient a sentence. Rittenband has been dead for 15 years.

Wells' story surprised Polanski's prosecutor, retired Deputy District Attorney Roger Gunson, and retired defense attorney Doug Dalton.

It also became the unexpected centerpiece of the documentary. "I never made the film for this reason," director Marina Zenovich said in a brief telephone interview.

The district attorney's office has not addressed the misconduct claims, but argues that Polanski can't have a hearing if he refuses to appear in court.

The catch is that Polanski would be arrested and jailed on a fugitive warrant if he sets foot in this country.

The defense maintains that the judge has the option to dismiss the case "in the interest of justice" without Polanski present.

In one of many bizarre twists, the person who has emerged as Polanski's strongest ally in seeking dismissal is the now 45-year-old victim, Samantha Geimer, who long ago identified herself publicly. She filed an affidavit accusing prosecutors of victimizing her again by including graphic sexual description of the crime in one of their filings.

"It is clear to me that because the district attorney's office has been accused of wrongdoing, it has recited the lurid details of the case to distract attention from the wrongful conduct of the district attorney's office as well as the judge who was then assigned to the case," Geimer said.

She sued Polanski and reached an undisclosed settlement.

Two other unlikely allies are the original courtroom opponents in the case, prosecutor Gunson and defense attorney Dalton.

They told the documentary makers that, years after the original case, another Superior Court judge agreed to dismiss the charge if Polanski would return and allow his hearing to be televised, an offer Polanski refused.

A court spokesman angrily denied their account in June, calling it a fabrication.

That drew a strongly worded joint response from Dalton and Gunson: "It is our shared view that ... false and reprehensible statements by the Los Angeles Superior Court continues their inappropriate handling of the Polanski case."

Polanski, now 75, continued his career in France and won the 2002 directing Oscar for his film "The Pianist," a Holocaust drama that mirrored parts of his own life. He works in Paris where he lives with his wife, actress Emanuelle Seigner and their children, 11 and 15.

His current lawyer, Chad Hummel, said Polanski does not plan to ever return to the United States. However, dismissal of the criminal case and an outstanding arrest warrant would allow him to travel and work outside France.

Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez wow inaugural gala

2009-01-19T20:10:00.000-08:00

Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez and husband singer Marc Anthony attend the Latino 2009 Inaugural Gala at Union Station on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Latino entertainers Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony graced "la alfombra roja" the red carpet at Union Station Sunday to give a Hispanic flair to the inauguration pre-celebration Sunday.

They posed quickly for cameras with no visible signs of the marital distress that tabloids have been buzzing about recently. The two singers entertained the crowd at the end of the night.

Lopez introduced Anthony after making a pitch for the new president.

"Yes we can," she said to the cheering crowd. "We all stood together and said 'Yes we will.'"

Lopez, wearing an electric blue strapless gown, towered over her husband Anthony, who wore pinstripes. Her piled-high updo added a few more inches.

The couple said little from the carpet, but Anthony traded a hug with Miami-born Wilmer Valderrama , star of "That '70s Show," as he swiftly moved off the carpet.

Valderrama actively promoted registration and voting among young Latinos during the presidential election.

"All of us performers, not until this election did we really understand what we could do," Valderrama said.

Though focus of the night was entertainment, the music quickly mixed with politics.

Tony Plana, who plays Betty's father in the television series "Ugly Betty," said he was ecstatic about President-elect Barack Obama's victory. He said an Obama administration could improve the lives of all minorities.

But he also said Hispanics deserved a better spot on the inaugural festivities list.

"It's a concern this event tonight is not an official event of the administration. It's a little sad for me Latinos had to organize their own event," Plana said. He said he hoped it did not mean Hispanics would be relegated to a back seat. The event was organized by the National Council of La Raza and other Hispanic organizations.

"American Idol" runner up David Archuleta kicked off the night with "The Star-Spangled Banner" and he was quickly followed with music by War.

Members of Congress filtered in and mixed in the VIP room with some of the stars.

Other entertainers at the event included Mexican singer Lila Downs, comedian George Lopez , actress Rosie Perez, telenovela actress Angelica Vale and others.

Brad Pitt, at 45, not worried about old age

2009-01-19T20:09:00.000-08:00

REFILE - CORRECTING SPELLING OF JOLIE'S FIRST NAME U.S. actors Brad Pitt and his partner Angelina Jolie sign autographs on the red carpet at the German premiere of the movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in Berlin January 19, 2009. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke (GERMANY)Reuters

BERLIN (Reuters) - Actor Brad Pitt says he is not afraid of growing old, but is worried about how he will die.

Pitt, who turned 45 last month, was in Berlin for the European premier of 'The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button', in which he plays a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards.

"I'm not so afraid of getting old, I'm more afraid of how I'll go," he told a news conference on Monday. "Fire and tight spaces don't appeal. A shark would be interesting." The tear-jerking film tracks the love story between Benjamin Button and Daisy, played by Cate Blanchett , and the joys and losses they face as one gets younger and the other older.

Asked what would make him cry, Pitt replied: "I don't cry, I'm as hard as nails."

Biden tries to shush wife after state-VP slip

2009-01-19T20:08:00.000-08:00

This image provided by Harpo Productions shows, from left: Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President-elect Joe Biden, and Oprah Winfrey on the set of the 'Oprah Winfrey Show' at Washington's Kennedy Center Opera House Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Harpo Productions, Inc. George Burns)Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Joe Biden's wife said Monday that he had his pick of being Barack Obama's running mate or the secretary of state nomination that eventually went to Hillary Rodham Clinton, a slip that the vice president-elect immediately tried to shush.

Jill Biden's comment came during an appearance with her husband on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," taped at Washington's Kennedy Center on the eve of the inauguration.

"Joe had the choice to be secretary of state or vice president," she said. Her husband turned to his wife with his finger to his lips and a "Shhhh!" that sent the audience into laughter. "OK, he did," Jill Biden said in her defense.

The vice president-elect blushed, grimaced and gave his wife a hug while the audience continued to erupt in laughter. "That's right," he finally said to his wife. "Go ahead."

Mrs. Biden said she told him vice president would be better for the family.

"If you're secretary of state, you'll be away, we'll never see you, you know," she said. "I'll see you at a state dinner once in a while."

After the exchange aired on television three hours later, Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander denied Jill Biden's account in a statement e-mailed to reporters.

"To be clear, President-elect Obama offered Vice President-elect Biden one job only to be his running mate," the statement said. "And the vice president-elect was thrilled to accept the offer."

While the statement denies that Obama ever offered Biden the secretary of state job, it doesn't rule out that the two discussed the possibility. Obama's transition office did not respond to questions about their private discussions.

Clinton's spokesman declined to comment about the suggestion that she was the second choice.

Obama made no reference to to the comments Monday night, when he praised the Bidens at a dinner honoring his running mate at Washington's Union Station. Obama invited the two on stage, where he kissed Jill Biden's cheek and hugged her husband.

On Winfrey's program, Joe Biden said he didn't immediately take the vice presidential offer since he wasn't sure it was the best place for him to serve. But Biden, who ran against Obama in the Democratic primary race, said he agreed after getting some assurances from Obama about his role.

"This is a partnership," Biden said. "He's president of the United States, but as I said to him when he asked me, I said, 'Barack, don't ask me unless the reason you're asking me is you're asking me for my judgment. I get to be the last guy in the room when you make every important decision. You're president. Any decision you make, I will back.'

"He said he wanted to have a confidant and somebody who wouldn't be a yes man. He's pretty sure about that last part," Biden said with a laugh.

Alexander's statement said, "Like anyone who followed the presidential campaign this summer, Dr. Jill Biden knew there was a chance that President-elect Obama might ask her husband to serve in some capacity and that, given his background, the positions of vice president and secretary of state were possibilities. Dr. Biden's point to Oprah today was that being vice president would be a better fit for their family because they would get to see him more and get to participate in serving more."

The Bidens made a surprise appearance on Winfrey's show. The celebrity-filled show also included the premiere of "America's Song," performed by Faith Hill , Seal , Bono , Mary J. Blige , Will.i.am and David Foster in honor of the occasion and available for free download on Winfrey's Web site for 24 hours.

Winfrey also interviewed movie star couple Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher about how Obama has inspired them to pledge to help end slave labor around the world and encourage other people to make a pledge to improve their communities. Other celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson , Justin Timberlake and Forest Whitaker appeared by videotape to talk about what Obama's election means to them.

Winfrey, who made her first ever presidential endorsement for Obama, heralded the significance of the moment particularly coming the day after Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

"I feel like I am better because of his being elected," Winfrey said. "And I think that the country is going to be better. I feel like it is a beautiful thing, and we all start to see ourselves differently, the possibility."

'Top Chef's' Tom Colicchio Turns Hero At D.C. Dinner Party

2009-01-19T20:07:00.000-08:00

Access Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- "Top Chef's" Tom Colicchio went from celebrity judge to hero over the weekend, after saving the life of a fellow foodie.

According to the Food Association, Colicchio performed the Heimlich maneuver on Joan Nathan, a cookbook author at the Art.Food.Hope fundraising dinner in Washington, D.C.

Nathan reportedly began choking on chicken when Colicchio was forced to spring into action and perform the move, which dislodged the food from her windpipe.

"I just happened to be nearby," the judge told a Food Association blogger of his safety move.

Colicchio is currently starring in Season 5 of Bravo TV's "Top Chef," in New York City.

Obamas, Bidens enjoy Lincoln Memorial concert

2009-01-19T01:52:00.000-08:00

Stevie Wonder performs with Usher, right, and Shakira during 'We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial' in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Under the gaze of Abraham Lincoln's statue, Bruce Springsteen and a red-robed gospel choir kicked off a spirited preinaugural concert Sunday before tens of thousands on the National Mall.

The crowd erupted in cheers when Obama and his wife, Michelle, arrived, walking down the steps of the memorial, and kept applauding for the high-energy Springsteen act and the performances that followed.

There was no red carpet, but the event had the feel of a Hollywood awards ceremony, with stars taking the stage to praise, serenade, and even impersonate the next president.

Performers including Bono , Beyonce and James Taylor were on the bill.

A crowd expected to reach up to a half-million was stretched past the reflecting pool separating the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

Obama and his wife and Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, sat behind bullet-proof glass near the stage erected on the steps of the memorial.

The concert began with Springsteen, dressed in black, singing "The Rising," with the help of the choir, taking a song best known as a call to action following the 2001 terror attacks and using it to usher in a new era in American politics.

Denzel Washington was the first celebrity to speak, telling the crowd, "we are all in this together."

Another speaker was actor Tom Hanks , who as Forrest Gump famously gave a speech at the monument steps and jumped into the reflecting pool. This time, he appeared in a dark suit and read a somber tribute to Abraham Lincoln.

Jamie Foxx brought many in the crowd and the Obamas to their feet by repeatedly urging those from Chicago to make some noise: "Chi-town, stand up!" he demanded.

Foxx then launched into a quick impersonation of the president-elect.

Joe Biden told the crowd: "Look around you. Look at the grace and grandeur that surrounds us and you'll see the work of American hands."

The crowd threw their hands up for Garth Brooks' thumping rendition of "Shout!" supported by a massive choir wearing red and blue jackets against the cold.

The crowd, including Obama and Biden, were writhing when Stevie Wonder , Usher , and Shakira pumped out Wonder's classic "Higher Ground."

Sheryl Crow and will.i.am performed "One Love," and golf great Tiger Woods , the son of a military man, urged the audience to remember the sacrifices of military families.

The event began with a convocation by the Right Rev. Gene Robinson, who asked the crowd to pray for "understanding that our president is a human being and not a messiah."

Obama Family Feted by Sheryl Crow, Beyonce at Inaugural Concert!

2009-01-19T01:46:00.000-08:00

President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and daughter Sasha look on during the 'We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial' on January 18, 2009 at the National Mall in Washington, DC.Us Magazine

Nearly all of Hollywood turned up to the concert of the year -- in Washington, D.C.!

Barack and Michelle Obama smiled, danced and waved to their favorite stars at the inaugural kick-off concert, We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial

At 2:30 p.m., the Obamas and Bidens -- all sitting in a glass bulletproof section near the stage erected on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial -- had front-row seats to the star-studded show. Obama's two daughters, Malia and Sasha, sat between Barack and Michelle. Malia was busy taking photos with her digital camera. Five minutes later, everyone rose to sing the National Anthem.

Denzel Washington gave an introductory speech. Bruce Springsteen sang "The Rising" with a red-and-white-robed gospel choir behind him.

Then, actress Laura Linney spoke about former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King III read some of John F. Kennedy's famous words. Mary J. Blige then sang "Lean On Me." Obama beamed at her during the performance.

Steve Carell and Jamie Foxx took the stage next to speak to the swelling crowd.

Betty LaVette duetted with Jon Bon Jovi . Obama was bopping to the music, and Malia continued to take photos of the crowd. After the song, Tom Hanks , who as Forrest Gump famously gave a speech at the monument steps -- talked about Abraham Lincoln and said, "We cannot escape history." Next up was Marisa Tomei , who talked about how Americans are a family. The music picked up again when James Taylor, John Legend and Faith Hill performed a song together.

Vice President-elect Joe Biden gave a speech and said: "Anyone can make it if given a fair chance. Work isn't about money -- it's about dignity and respect." John Mellencamp sang "Ain't That America."

Queen Latifah spoke at 3:30 p.m. and said, "We're celebrating not just the Inauguration of a new president, but the journey of America continuing to be America." Josh Groban then sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee." After the patriotic number, George Lopez and Kal Penn -- who had the crowd screaming out "Kumar!" -- spoke. Lopez ad-libbed part of his speech and called out: "Anyone here from out of town? Well, you're all home now!"

Then, will.i.am and Sheryl Crow sang Bob Marley's "One Love." When the song morphed into the Black Eyed Peas' "Where is the Love?," Michelle began dancing along in her seat and waving at the performers.

After that powerhouse performance, golf pro Tiger Woods gave a speech honoring men and women in uniform, and the US Naval Academy Glee Club perfomed. Garth Brooks followed them up by singing two songs -- "American Pie" and "Shout."

Jack Black and Rosario Dawson spoke together before Stevie Wonder , Usher and Shakira sang Wonder's "Higher Ground." During the performance, Wonder shouted, "Good luck, Obama!"

Samuel L. Jackson introduced U2, who sang "In the Name of Love." Frontman Bono congratulated Obama, who smiled back at the rocker.

When the concert was about to come to a close, Obama took the stage to thank everyone for coming and adressed the challenges ahead: "Anything is possible in America. What gives me the greatest hope is you."

Beyonce then sang the finale, "America" as all the day's performers joined her on stage.

Joaquin Phoenix Debuts Rap Career In Vegas

2009-01-19T01:45:00.001-08:00

Access Hollywood

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Joaquin Phoenix may be best known for playing country legend Johnny Cash, but it's hip-hop that the actor has turned to for a second career.

Having announced his retirement from acting last year, Joaquin was spotted on stage at Lavo in Las Vegas on Friday, where he showed off some new material - and his MC skills.

In videos posted to YouTube, Joaquin took the stage in a beanie, sunglasses and a heavy beard as he rhymed over drum beats.

It looked like he was playing another character -- but the aspiring rapper told People before he took the stage that it was no act.

"This is me saying this is who I am," he told the mag. "This is my story."

A cameraman filmed the performance, and though Joaquin may be done with acting, the footage will likely appear on screen - according to The Hollywood Reporter, brother-in-law Casey Affleck is directing a documentary about the former actor's career shift. Casey is married to Joaquin's sister, Summer Phoenix.

Behind The Scenes: Christie Brinkley's 'Got Milk?' Ad

2009-01-19T01:44:00.001-08:00

Access Hollywood

PARK CITY, Utah -- Christie Brinkley 's still got milk.

The former supermodel, who helped launched the "Got Milk?" campaign in 1995, is sporting a milk mustache for the third time in a newly unveiled ad -- but she was a milk fan long before she wore a mustache.

"Every three meals, we had our glass of milk right there," Christie told Access Hollywood's Billy Bush at the Sundance Film Festival. "My mom was always just guzzling the milk back."

Along with her vegetarian diet, she credits the beverage for helping her stay fit.

"I've, you know, had to try just about every diet," she said. "And I find that milk sticks to my ribs."

Besides her diet, another thing the celeb is feeling good about is the new year.

"I think there's a whole, real positive energy going on and I hope to flow along with that positive energy," Christie told Reuters on Friday, adding that she'd be watching the presidential inauguration. "I am really looking forward to watching what happens to our country."

Barack Obama Hires Same Interior Decorator as Cindy Crawford

2009-01-14T21:28:00.000-08:00

Us Magazine

The Obamas are using the same interior designer as Cindy Crawford and Steven Spielberg to decorate their new White House digs!

California-native Michael S. Smith -- who's written two books on design -- is hard at work on 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha's bedrooms, choosing items from "a variety of different outlets, kid-friendly everyday retail stores," Michelle Obama's spokesperson, Katie McCormick Lelyveld, told the Washington Post.

Added Michelle Obama: "Michael shares my vision for creating a family-friendly feel to our new home and incorporating some new perspectives from some of America's greatest artists and designers."

Smith said he'll base his decorating on "the family's casual style, their interest in bringing 20th century American artists to the forefront and utilizing affordable brands and products will serve as our guiding principles as we make the residence feel like their home."

Also on his task list? The designer told Domino magazine in 2008 that he'd "love to redecorate the White House - I am sick of the paint color!"

Although the family hasn't released many details about how they'll personalize their new home, the Post reports the Obamas' Chicago residence featured Asian and African art, glass-fronted bookcases and framed family photos.

Drew Barrymore: I "Love" Being Blonde

2009-01-14T21:27:00.000-08:00

Drew Barrymore arrives at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards held on January 11, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California.Us Magazine

Blondes really do have more fun. Ask Drew Barrymore .

The Dior Couture-clad star was giddy as ever as she held hands with Jessica Lange (her costar in the upcoming HBO drama Grey Gardens) on the red carpet at last Sunday's Golden Globe Awards. The two were equally chummy as they presented Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television to John Adams.

Of her new 'do, she told Usmagazine.com, "I love it! Oh, I'm liberated!"

Last weekend, Barrymore also admitted she hasn't always been pleased with her red carpet looks.

She said she regretted wearing "that Gucci green dress where my boobs looked like watermelons" at the 2006 Golden Globe Awards.

"It was the worst. Never wear a high neck waist with a high belt," she said at a TCA press event in Los Angeles. "It makes your t--ts look like they're at your waist. Big mistake! I'm so sorry, Gucci! I have tarnished your name!"

What trend does she want to come back?

"I love polka dots," she said. "They're happy!"

Katie Holmes & Victoria Beckham' Fashion Campaign Showdown

2009-01-14T21:26:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Celebrity pals Katie Holmes and Victoria Beckham have been known to borrow from and influence one another when it comes to style trends, and now the two friends are launching fashion campaigns on the same day!

Katie Holmes launched a chic fashion forward ad for Miu Miu where she is featured in a golden-hued pleated gown.

Cranking up the sex appeal and following in the footsteps of husband David Beckham , Victoria launched an ad campaign for Emporio Armani underwear where she leaves little to the imagination in a stylish underwear and bra combo.

Kellie Pickler: Crazy In Love, Not Ready For Marriage

2009-01-14T21:20:00.001-08:00

Access Hollywood

NASHVILLE, TN -- Former "American Idol" contender Kellie Pickler is off the market.

"I've met someone now that I'm crazy about and he's crazy about me, and I couldn't imagine being with anyone else," Kellie told radio show "GAC Nights: Live From Nashville."

The buxom Southern blonde said that while she is head over heels for her guy, she isn't ready yet to walk down the aisle.

"There's a sense of reality where you have to be a realist and think, this is something that you're gonna make a vow to spend the rest of your life with this person and your priorities are gonna change," she told the show. "Right now, I'm in the point of my life where I want my career to be No. 1."

And Kellie, who is expected to tour later this year with teenage country cutie Taylor Swift , said she feels too young for marriage.

"I'm not ready -- I'm 22, I just started out -- I'm not ready to put my husband first," she said. "[I'll wait until] I'm to a point into my career where I can say, 'This can come in second and I'm ready to have a family.'"

Selena Gomez to the Jonas Bros: "Just Put Boys in Your Videos!"

2009-01-14T21:18:00.000-08:00

ick, Joe and Kevin Jonas of The Jonas Brothers, and Selena Gomez pose backstage during the 2008 Teen Choice Awards on August 3, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.Us Magazine

After Joe Jonas dumped Taylor Swift for Camilla Belle following the filming of "Love Bug," Selena Gomez has a few words of advice for her beau, Nick Jonas , and his bros.

"Just put boys in [your] videos for now on, how 'bout that?" the Wizards of Waverly Place star jokes to E!'s Daily 10.

The Disney star, 16, is currently working on her debut album, set to be released in 2009.

"It's a work in progress," she says. "Once I come out with my music, you're going to see a whole different side of me. Different hair, different clothing, different attitude."

Although changing her look too much could be bad for Gomez, who says "half the time kids don't even know who I am" when parents spot her on the street.

"The mom's just like 'take a picture, take a picture,'" she says. "And the kid's looking at the mom going, 'I don't want a picture of this girl!'"

Has Patrick Swayze's Cancer Spread?

2009-01-14T21:17:00.000-08:00

Access Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Patrick Swayze checked into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center last Friday for pneumonia, but has the actor's cancer now spread to his lungs?

"I am alive and plan on continuing to stay that way." Patrick told People in his first words since checking into the hospital last week. In the interview, Swayze downplayed the severity of this latest medical setback.

"I don't plan on being in the hospital long," he continued. "I am almost in the clear now."

Patrick said a persistent cough lead him to call his doctor who told him to go to the hospital on January 9.

People Senior Editor Peter Castro told Access Hollywood that Patrick is responding positively to treatment.

"He's being treated with antibiotics," Peter told Access. "He's doing a lot better and he thinks that he'll be out of the woods pretty soon with the pneumonia."

Though "The Beast" star says he's almost "in the clear," The National Enquirer paints a very different picture, reporting that Patrick is in the hospital because his cancer has spread to his lungs, making it difficult for him to breathe, according to a source. The source goes on to claim that he has a less than 10 percent chance of recovery.

According to The Enquirer, the actor had an operation shortly after his Barbara Walters interview to bypass a stomach blockage, but his condition allegedly continued to worsen.

The mag quotes a source, who claims he saw Patrick just a day before he checked into the hospital, who said, "this is by far the sickest he's been."

Patrick's "Beast" executive producer John Romano, recently said the actor looks wonderful in his new series, which premiers this coming Thursday on A&E.

"People tuning in to see, you know, whether this thing has affected his looks will be very disappointed, he looks great," Romano said. "He really should be the poster boy for the kind of battle he's fighting."

As for "The Beast's" future? Romano said they are taking their cues from Patrick and that it's full speed ahead.

"Will we ever have to re-think it? Well, we all know what cancer is," Romano said.

"Maybe that's something... the time will come. [But,]At this point we're counting on a second season with Patrick Swayze ."

Jennifer Hudson to sing at Super Bowl

2009-01-14T21:16:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress and recording star Jennifer Hudson will sing the U.S. national anthem at the Super Bowl in her first public performance since the shooting deaths of her mother, brother and nephew, her Web site said on Wednesday.

The former "American Idol" contestant and Oscar-winning "Dreamgirls" actress will open the NBC broadcast of the National Football League championship on February 1 in Tampa Bay, Florida, with her rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Rock veteran Bruce Springsteen already has been announced for the coveted half-time slot during the game, usually the most watched U.S. television broadcast of the year.

Hudson's Super Bowl gig will come five days before she is due to sing in Los Angeles at the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year show, an event leading up to the 51st annual Grammy Awards on February 8. Hudson's self-titled debut release is nominated for a Grammy as best R&B album.

In October, Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were shot to death in her hometown of Chicago. Authorities have charged Hudson's estranged brother-in-law, William Balfour, with murder in the slaying of her family members.

Hudson, 27, competed in the reality talent show "American Idol" in 2004. She was eliminated midway through the competition but revived her career with a critically acclaimed performance in the 2006 musical "Dreamgirls," which earned her an Academy Award as best supporting actress. Last year, she co-starred in the movie "The Secret Life of Bees."

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; editing by Steve Gorman and Mohammad Zargham)

Whoopi Goldberg boldly goes back to sci-fi acting

2009-01-14T21:14:00.000-08:00

Whoopi Goldberg speaks during a scene from FEARnet's sci-fi mini-series 'Stream' in this undated publicity handout. Whoopi Goldberg is returning from a brief retirement as an actress to boldly go to where few stars have gone before -- online science fiction. Two decades after first appearing on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' the Oscar-winning actress is producing and starring in a new sci-fi series called 'Stream' that premieres on January 15, 2009 on the horror website and video-on-demand network FEARnet. (FEARnet/Handout/Reuters)Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Whoopi Goldberg is returning from a brief retirement as an actress to boldly go to where few stars have gone before -- online science fiction.

Two decades after first appearing on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," the Oscar-winning actress is producing and starring in a new sci-fi series called "Stream" that premieres on January 15 on the horror website and video-on-demand network FEARnet.

The series comes just over a year after Goldberg, 53, said she was retiring from acting to concentrate on hosting the daytime chat show "The View," a gig she took over from Rosie O'Donnell in September

2007.

Goldberg said the idea of performing in a new medium really appealed to her, as did the chance to act in sci-fi and horror -- two of her favorite genres.

"I did retire. I hadn't made a movie in quite a while, and I lost my way with the things I was doing. It became entertainment by rote, and there wasn't a lot being done that I was interested in doing," Goldberg told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"But the idea that you can be at work and check out a webisode tickles me because that is the future. ... I can reinvent my way of acting so that I challenge myself and see where it takes me for the second half of my life."

Goldberg built a strong following in sci-fi circles through her work in the late 1980s and early '90s on "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

She said she had been a "Star Trek" fan, or Trekkie, since childhood, when creator Gene Roddenberry had the wherewithal to put black people in the future as characters in the original 1960s series.

"Other science fiction movies you saw had no black people in them anywhere. Isn't that something? I wanted to carry on that tradition," she said.

"If I could be doing sci-fi and horror all the time I would be doing it. I have loved it since I was little. A good scare is great and I love the idea you can get people to feel things without having to show it to them."

In "Stream," which will be rolled out in six episodes of five minute each, Goldberg stars as Jodi Quinn, a character battling personal demons in a sci-fi thriller that moves between three phases of her life.

Goldberg, who has made more than 40 movies and won an Oscar for her 1990 supporting role in the romantic drama "Ghost," said she ended up mainly in comedy as no one ever asked her to play sci-fi or horror roles.

"It wasn't until I did 'Star Trek' that people thought I could do sci-fi, and I have yet to do a horror film," she said. "I'd love to be a monster."

"Stream" is the sixth original series from FEARnet, an advertising-supported joint venture between Comcast Corp, Sony Pictures Television and Lionsgate.

(Writing by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Steve Gorman)

Ricardo Montalban dies at 88

2009-01-14T21:12:00.002-08:00

* FILE ** In this June 15, 1978 file photo, actor Ricardo Montalban of the television series 'Fantasy Island' is shown in Los Angeles. The Mexican-born actor, who became a star in splashy MGM musicals and later the wish-fulfilling Mr. Roarke in TV's 'Fantasy Island,' died at his home in Los Angeles, City Council President Eric Garcetti said Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. He was 88. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, file)Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Ricardo Montalban , the Mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy MGM musicals and later as the wish-fulfilling Mr. Roarke in TV's "Fantasy Island," died Wednesday morning at his home, his family said. He was 88.

Montalban's death was first announced at a city council meeting by president Eric Garcetti, who represents the district where the actor lived. He died "from complications of advancing age," his son-in-law, Gilbert Smith, later said.

"He was so gracious, and Aaron was always humbled by Ricardo's gratitude for 'Fantasy Island," said Candy Spelling , wife of the late Aaron Spelling, who created the show. "I miss him already, and wish his family well."

Montalban had been a star in Mexican movies when MGM brought him to Hollywood in 1946. He was cast in the leading role opposite Esther Williams in "Fiesta," and starred again with the swimming beauty in "On an Island with You" and "Neptune's Daughter."

But Montalban was best known as the faintly mysterious, white-suited Mr. Roarke, who presided over a tropical island resort where visitors fulfilled their lifelong dreams usually at the unexpected expense of a difficult life lesson. "I am Mr. Roarke, your host. Welcome to Fantasy Island," he told arriving guests.

Montalban had already coined a cultural catchphrase before the show, which ran from 1978 to 1984. As the celebrity spokesman for mid-1970s models of the Chrysler Cordoba, Montalban unwittingly opened himself up to endless imitation when he described the car's optional seats as being "available in soft, Corinthian leather."

More recently, he appeared as villains in two hits of the 1980s: "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" and in line with his always-apparent sense of humor about himself the farcical "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad."

Montalban's longtime friend and publicist David Brokaw said the actor was "exactly how you'd imagine him to be" off camera. "What you saw on the screen and on television and on talk shows, this very courtly, modest, dignified individual, that's exactly who he was," Brokaw said.

Raul Yzaguirre, longtime president of National Council of La Raza, called Montalban "a hero" and noted the actor's contributions to his community. Montalban helped found the ALMA Awards, which honor and encourage fair portrayals of Latinos in entertainment.

"He was just a marvelous human being and an inspiration to be around," Yzaguirre said. "I hope his spirit pervades more of Hollywood the spirit of humility and excellence and giving back to the community and just plain decency."

Between movie and TV roles, Montalban was active in the theater. He starred on Broadway in the 1957 musical "Jamaica" opposite Lena Horne, picking up a Tony nomination for best actor in a musical.

Montalban also toured in Shaw's "Don Juan in Hell," playing Don Juan, a performance critic John Simon later recalled as "irresistible." In 1965 he appeared on tour in the Yul Brynner role in "The King and I."

"Fantasy Island" received high ratings for most of its run on ABC, and still appears in reruns. Mr. Roarke and his sidekick, Tattoo, played by the 3-foot, 11-inch Herve Villechaize, reached the state of TV icons. Villechaize died in 1993.

In a 1978 interview, Montalban analyzed the ethereal quality of his character: "Was he a magician? A hypnotist? Did he use hallucinogenic drugs? I finally came across a character that works for me. He has the essence of mystery, but I need a point of view so that my performance is consistent. I now play him 95 percent believable and 5 percent mystery. He doesn't have to behave mysteriously; only what he does is mysterious."

In 1970, Montalban organized fellow Latino actors into an organization called Nosotros ("We"), and he became the first president. Their aim: to improve the image of Spanish-speaking Americans on the screen; to assure that Latin-American actors were not discriminated against; to stimulate Latino actors to study their profession.

Montalban commented in a 1970 interview:

"The Spanish-speaking American boy sees Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid wipe out a regiment of Bolivian soldiers. He sees 'The Wild Bunch' annihilate the Mexican army. It's only natural for him to say, 'Gee, I wish I were an Anglo.'"

Montalban was no stranger to prejudice. He was born Nov. 25, 1920, in Mexico City, the son of parents who had emigrated from Spain. The boy was brought up to speak the Castilian Spanish of his forebears. To Mexican ears that sounded strange and effeminate, and young Ricardo was jeered by his schoolmates.

His mother also dressed him with old-country formality, and he wore lace collars and short pants "long after my legs had grown long and hairy," he wrote in his 1980 autobiography, "Reflections: A Life in Two Worlds."

"It is not easy to grow up in a country that has different customs from your own family's."

While driving through Texas with his brother, Montalban recalled seeing a sign on a diner: "No Dogs or Mexicans Allowed." In Los Angeles, where he attended Fairfax High School, he and a friend were refused entrance to a dance hall because they were Mexican.

Rather than seek a career in Hollywood, Montalban played summer stock in New York. He returned to Mexico City and played leading roles in movies from 1941 to 1945. That led to an MGM contract.

"Movies were never kind to me; I had to fight for every inch of film," he reflected in 1970. "Usually my best scenes would end up on the cutting-room floor."

Montalban had better luck after leaving MGM in 1953, though he was usually cast in ethnic roles. He appeared as a Japanese kabuki actor in "Sayonara" and an Indian in "Cheyenne Autumn." His other films included "Madame X," "The Singing Nun," "Sweet Charity," "Escape from the Planet of the Apes" and "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes."

Montalban was sometimes said to be the source of Billy Crystal's "you look MAHvelous" character on "Saturday Night Live," though the inspiration was really Argentinian-born actor Fernando Lamas.

In 1944, Montalban married Georgiana Young, actress and model and younger sister of actress Loretta Young. Both Roman Catholics, they remained one of Hollywood's most devoted couples. She died in 2007. They had four children: Laura, Mark, Anita and Victor.

Montalban suffered a spinal injury in a horse fall while making a 1951 Clark Gable Western, "Across the Wide Missouri," and thereafter walked with a limp he managed to mask during his performances.

Despite the constant pain that grew worse as the decades wore on, the actor was able to take a role in an Aaron Spelling TV series, "Heaven Help Us." Twice a month in 1994, he flew to San Antonio for two or three days of filming as an angel who watched over a young couple.

And when asked to play the grandfather in "Spy Kids 2" and "Spy Kids 3," Montalban told filmmaker Robert Rodriguez in his self-effacing way: "I'm old. I'm in a wheelchair. And I have a Mexican accent. Three strikes and you're out," recalled Joel Brokaw, another of the actor's spokesmen.

"But Robert Rodriguez idolized Ricardo, and came up to his home in the Hollywood Hills to convince him to do the role," Brokaw said. He did, and despite his obvious pain while waiting to do a scene, "something miraculous would happen," Brokaw said. "As soon as Rodriguez said 'Action,' his pain would completely disappear, time and time again. I asked him about this. He smiled and said, 'It's impossible for my mind to do two things at once.'"

Montalban is survived by daughters Laura and Anita, sons Victor and Mark and six grandchildren.

___

AP entertainment writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this story.

On The Download: Andrew Bird's 'Noble Beast'

2009-01-14T21:12:00.001-08:00

By David Greenwald

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Andrew Bird has worn many hats over the years - professional whistler, '20s jazz aficionado, New York Times guest-blogger - but the one that fits best is solo artist. Since abandoning his band, Bowl of Fire, and going solo with 2003's "& The Mysterious Production of Eggs," the Chicago-based troubadour has built an impressive catalog, from "Eggs" to his latest release, "Noble Beast."

A gifted multi-instrumentalist and genre dabbler, Bird is as comfortable on the classical violin as he as playing rock guitar. On his previous release, 2007's "Armchair Apocrypha," he added the percussive assault of experimental drummer Martin Dosh to great effect on tracks such as "Simple X," but let too many of the songs drift into sleepy balladry.

"Noble Beast" is a more balanced effort, an album that shows off all of his musical sides as well as his magnificent wordplay. Opening track "Oh No" begins with the pastoral sweep of his violins and a folksy whistle, with the song turning enjoyably silly when it adds handclaps and a sputtering electric guitar. Bird's songs have always walked the line between free-spirited fun and somber craftsmanship, and the new material is as effective at this as ever, sounding both carefully arranged and exuberantly performed.

The album's best songs are the ones that find the folkie stretching into new territory. "Not a Robot, But a Ghost" is a sort of counterpoint to Kayne West's futuristic "808s & Heartbreak" - the song coasts on crinkling beats even as it finds solace in very human emotions after a break-up. If Bird were a painter, his lyrics would be more impressionistic than photo-real - his lines focus on sound as much as storytelling.

"Anonanimal" begins with syllables spilling out of his crooner's tenor: "I see a sea anemone / see an enemy... that'll be the end of me," he utters in one breath. Like many of the songs on "Beast," the track is an adventure, dropping into a hip-hop-inspired groove briefly mid-song before building to a guitar-led climax.

With peers such as Sufjan Stevens and Rufus Wainwright lying low lately, Bird continues to push his music forward. The energy of the album ebbs and flows throughout, much like Bird's classic, "Eggs" - and like that release before it, "Beast" has as much bite as it does bark.

'Prisoner' actor Patrick McGoohan dies in LA

2009-01-14T21:10:00.000-08:00

In this May 13, 1965, photo released by CBS, Emmy-winning actor Patrick McGoohan is shown in a scene from the CBS series 'Secret Agent'. McGoohan, an actor who created and starred in the cult classic television show 'The Prisoner,' died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, in Los Angeles after a short illness, his son-in-law, film producer Cleve Landsberg, said Wednesday. He was 80. (AP Photo/CBS-TV)Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Patrick McGoohan, the Emmy-winning actor who created and starred in the cult classic television show "The Prisoner," has died. He was 80.

McGoohan died Tuesday in Los Angeles after a short illness, his son-in-law, film producer Cleve Landsberg, said.

McGoohan won two Emmys for his work on the Peter Falk detective drama "Columbo," and more recently appeared as King Edward Longshanks in the 1995 Mel Gibson film "Braveheart."

But he was most famous as the character known only as Number Six in "The Prisoner," a sci-fi tinged 1960s British series in which a former spy is held captive in a small enclave known only as The Village, where a mysterious authority named Number One constantly prevents his escape.

McGoohan came up with the concept and wrote and directed several episodes of the show, which has kept a devoted following in the United States and Europe for four decades.

His agent, Sharif Ali, said Wednesday that McGoohan was still active in Hollywood, with two offers for wide-release films on the table when he died. "The man was just cool," Ali said. "It was an honor to have him here and work with him. ... He was one of those actors, a real actor. He didn't have a lie."

Born in New York on March 19, 1928, McGoohan was raised in England and Ireland, where his family moved shortly after his birth. He had a busy stage career before moving to television, and won a London Drama Critics Award for playing the title role in the Henrik Ibsen play "Brand."

He married stage actress Joan Drummond in 1951. The oldest of their three daughters, Catherine, is also an actress.

His first foray into TV was in 1964 in the series "Danger Man," a more straightforward spy show that initially lasted just one season but was later brought back for three more when its popularity and McGoohan's exploded in reruns.

Weary of playing the show's lead John Drake, McGoohan pitched to producers the surreal and cerebral "The Prisoner" to give himself a challenge.

The series ran just one season and 17 episodes in 1967, but its cultural impact remains.

He voiced his Number Six character in an episode of "The Simpsons" in 2000. The show is being remade as a series for AMC that premieres later this year.

"His creation of 'The Prisoner' made an indelible mark on the sci-fi, fantasy and political thriller genres, creating one of the most iconic characters of all time," AMC said in a statement Wednesday. "AMC hopes to honor his legacy in our re-imagining of 'The Prisoner.'"

Later came smaller roles in film and television. McGoohan won Emmys for guest spots on "Columbo" 16 years apart, in 1974 and 1990.

He also appeared as a warden in the 1979 Clint Eastwood film "Escape from Alcatraz" and as a judge in the 1996 John Grisham courtroom drama "A Time To Kill."

His last major role was in "Braveheart," in what The Associated Press called a "standout" performance as the brutal king who battles Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace, played by Gibson.

In his review of the film for the Los Angeles Times critic Peter Rainer said "McGoohan is in possession of perhaps the most villainous enunciation in the history of acting."

McGoohan is survived by his wife and three daughters.

Jackie Chan In Talks For 'Karate Kid' Remake

2009-01-14T21:09:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- After over 30 years of martial arts mayhem, Jackie Chan may be ready to pass on his skills to the next generation - as Mr. Miyagi.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the "Rush Hour" series star is in talks to play the role of the iconic mentor in the Columbia remake of "The Karate Kid."

Jaden Smith, Will's son, is set to star in the title role, which Ralph Macchio made famous in the 1984 film. The movie's setting is changing from the U.S. to China, though it will reportedly follow a similar story as the first, about a martial arts expert who trains a bullied young boy.

Will is producing the film along with James Lassiter and Ken Stovitz's Overbrook Entertainment, as well as Jerry Weintraub, who produced the original film.

Ford, Fraser pair for film

2009-01-14T21:07:00.000-08:00

In this May 20, 2008 file photo, actor Harrison Ford appears onstage during MTV's 'Total Request Live' show at the MTV Times Square Studios to promote his new movie 'Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull' in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Indiana Jones and "The Mummy" slayer are teaming up on the big screen to battle not ancient, otherworldly baddies, but a big medical dilemma.

Brendan Fraser will join Harrison Ford for a medical drama set to begin filming in April, CBS Films announced Wednesday. The untitled movie will be the first production for CBS Films, a feature film division established in 2007.

Fraser will play a father who recruits the help of a medical researcher portrayed by Ford. CBS Films said the film's screenplay is inspired by "The Cure," a book by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Geeta Anand about John F. Crowley, a former Bristol Myers Squibb executive who started his own biotech company to save his two children from a rare muscular disorder.

Celebrities get in the festive mood

2008-12-10T05:17:00.000-08:00

Some of the world's biggest stars have revealed how they like to spend the festive season.

Jada Pinkett Smith said she and husband Will Smith gather the children around and make it an all-family affair.

"We spend Christmas in the snow every year, we spend it together. Sometimes we have a full one with the extended family and everyone but this year it will be pretty intimate," she said.

Narnia star Ben Barnes said he likes a traditional Christmas: "I get very fervent about it being traditional. I want the tree in the same place, in the same corner, in the same room.

"I want to sit in the same chair and listen to the same music. It's very, very boring but I like it a certain way."

Noel Edmonds also said a family Christmas is on the cards.

Speaking with his wife he said: "It will be a family Christmas at our home and we will thoroughly enjoy sitting down and crying our eyes out watching Christmas movies."

Sir Ben Kingsley said he is hoping for snow.

"We are going to have a very tall Christmas tree. We live in the countryside so we hope it snows. And Daniella, my wife's Mum, is coming so it will be very traditional," he said.

Norton takes Eurovision reins from Wogan

2008-12-10T05:16:00.000-08:00

Chat show host Graham Norton has been named as the replacement commentator on the Eurovision Song Contest, taking the reins from Sir Terry Wogan.

Fellow Irishman Norton will take the role in the 2009 contest, which will be hosted in Moscow.

Veteran presenter Sir Terry, 70, had cast doubt on whether he would be involved in covering the event again at this year's contest.

He said it was "no longer a music contest" and that prospects for Western European participants were "poor".

The show has been dogged by accusations of bloc voting, which was blamed by some for leaving Britain's 2008 contestant, Andy Abraham, with only 14 points.

Sir Terry, who has spent more than three decades guiding viewers through the contest, said he would be "sad to leave it all behind".

He said: "I've had 35 wonderful years commentating on the Eurovision for radio and television.

"From my first, in a small music-hall in Dublin, to my last, in the huge arena in Belgrade, it has been nothing but laughter and fun."

Norton, a long time Eurovision fan, described it as "an amazing job and a huge honour".

He said: "Sir Terry is nothing less than legend and is an impossible act to follow, but somebody must and I just couldn't say no.

"I can't wait to get to Moscow. With a combination of cheap vodka and a language barrier what could possibly go wrong?"

I like being enigmatic, says Cliff

2008-12-10T05:13:00.000-08:00

Sir Cliff Richard said he likes the fact that speculation about his sexuality makes him "an enigma after all these years".

I like being enigmatic, says Cliff In a BBC interview he said that he understood that the fact he has never married had given rise to intense curiosity about his relationships.

"I know but I don't care, that's the thing," he said.

To applause from an invited audience in a Songs of Praise special, he said: "It is just none of your business."

Speaking to Sally Magnusson to mark his 50th year in showbusiness, he said: "This year has been a huge watershed in my relationship with the press. I'm an enigma and I love it. I love that after all these years they still don't think they know everything about me."

He said that his recent autobiography in which he explained his views on same-sex relationships had been interpreted by some as a statement about his own sexuality.

"I was trying to be very philosophical about a lot of things, including same-sex relationships. There have been changes within my faith, I was at one time quite judgmental."

The committed Christian singer performed some of his favourite religious songs and hymns, including Faithful One and Little Town.

Leona bags record-breaking top spot

2008-12-10T05:12:00.000-08:00

Leona Lewis made history when sales of her new number one single Run became the fastest-selling digital release ever.

The song, a Snow Patrol cover version which Lewis never planned to release as a single, stormed straight to the top of the Official Singles Chart.

Knocking Take That's Greatest Day off the top spot gave the former X Factor winner her third UK number one single.

Fans fell in love with the track after she performed it in Radio 1's Live Lounge in November 2007. It was the high demand for the song that led to a last-minute decision to release it as a single.

Run became available, as a download only, from midnight on November 30 and in its first two days sold 69,244 units.

The previous record for the biggest-selling digital-only number one was held by American Boy, by Estelle featuring Kanye West, which sold 51,857 units in a week.

Lewis's chart-topper exceeded this figure in just two days. Run has now sold 131,593 copies, according to Official Charts Company data.

Despite their single falling to number two, Take That also had cause to celebrate after their fifth studio album, The Circus, became one of the fastest selling albums ever. Fans snapped up 432,000 copies in its first seven days on release last week, the Official Charts Company said.

This represented the third biggest first-week sales total in history, after Oasis's 1997 album Be Here Now and Coldplay's 2005 release X&Y.

Take That said in a statement: "It's just an incredible feeling to have the new album do what it's done this week. We set out to make a record that each of us was really proud of and we did that. To then have it fly off the shelves like it did this week has been just amazing."

University of Amy Winehouse

2008-12-10T05:11:00.000-08:00

Amy Winehouse is to be the subject of a university degree in Scotland, it has been confirmed.

The infamous British singer's recent problems at the hands of drugs and the pop business will form a module on a music course.

Her record label, Island, have supplied materials for students to study her career at the University of the West of Scotland

Course leader Allan Dumbreck said: "Amy Winehouse is a great example of the potential pitfalls in the music industry.

"She is recognised as a multi-award-winning great artist. But the by-product of that lifestyle can be stress and illness.

"We would look at how the industry is often not a supporter of longevity", explained Dumbreck.

Faryl's 2.3 million reasons not to worry about 'Britain's Got Talent' loss

2008-12-10T05:09:00.000-08:00

A 13-year-old's signature just became worth £2.3 million – that's how much record label Universal paid for a recording contract with Faryl Smith. The schoolgirl was among the runners-up on Britain's Got Talent, the show created by Simon Cowell, and the music empresario had been hoping to sign her.

Her rendition of Ave Maria was so moving Simon described her as "the most talented youngster I've ever heard".

In the end, though, her parents chose to go with Universal because they were impressed with the way the company has backed classical music sensation Katherine Jenkins.

The mezzo soprano became Faryl's champion three years ago after watching her win Wales' prestigious Llangollen International Eisteddfod. And on Tuesday her mentor looked on with pride at the Royal Albert Hall as the talented teen put her name to the contract.

"I'm honoured to be joining such a fantastic record company, especially since it's where Katherine started," said Faryl. "She's been brilliant, and she will always take my calls. I feel much better knowing she is around."

With a prediction that her earnings will reach £20m by the time she's 20, the teenager from Kettering, Northamptonshire, has got used to answering questions about what she'll do with her fortune.

"My family are all Manchester United fans, but we can't quite afford that so my Dad is thinking of buying Kettering Town instead!" she joked.

Coldplay sued over Viva La Vida

2008-12-10T05:08:00.000-08:00

LA guitarist Joe Satriani is suing Coldplay, claiming the Grammy-nominated band plagiarised one of his songs.

Satriani alleges Coldplay's Viva La Vida, or Death And All His Friends, "copied and incorporated substantial original portions" of his 2004 guitar instrumental If I Could Fly from his album Is There Love in Space?.

Coldplay's single went straight to number one in the UK charts when it was released in June and spent six weeks in the top spot. The hit also formed the title track of the band's first album in three years.

On Thursday, the Chris Martin-fronted group nabbed seven Grammy nominations, including the coveted record of the year award.

At the same time, 52-year-old Satriani was filing his lawsuit, and requested a jury trial, damages and "any and all profits" attributable to the alleged copyright infringement.

Coldplay - Martin, bassist Guy Berryman, guitarist Johnny Buckland and drummer Will Champion - were accused of plagiarism in June by New York-based Creaky Boards.

They claimed Martin attended one of their gigs before his band went on to use one of their melodies for Viva La Vida.

A Coldplay spokesman said the track was written in March last year, more than six months before the US band claimed Martin went to see them, and totally refuted the Creaky Boards' claim.

Black carpet for Twilight premiere

2008-12-10T05:07:00.000-08:00

Thousands of screaming teenage girls braved the freezing cold for the premiere of vampire love story Twilight.

The stars of the film Robert Pattinson, 22, and Kristen Stewart, 18, walked a black carpet blasted with dry ice for atmosphere in London's Leicester Square.

The film is based on the first novel in Stephanie Meyer's series about high school girl Bella Swann who falls in love with vampire Edward.

In its first weekend at US cinemas Twilight outsold new James Bond film Quantum of Solace and High School Musical 3.

Director Catherine Hardwicke said: "We love London even though it's so cold. These fans are braver because they're out here and it's freezing so they are heartier souls."

Harry Potter star Robert said of his hysterical fans: "It's absolutely mad. I'm in a daze. They're here for the character, not for me. I don't know what to do. I'm terrified of doing the sequel."

Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella, claims some feminist groups disapproved of her character falling for a dominant vampire. She said: "It's a love story about two people who would die for each other. Bella has very innately female qualities, she really trusts herself. It takes a really strong person to subject themselves to that.

"A lot of feminist groups have problems with her which I don't understand because it takes someone very strong to be able to give that away."

Director Hardwicke said when casting Robert for the role of Edward it was an easy decision.

She said: "Robert and Kristen have this amazing sexual chemistry between them. We could see it in the audition. That's why we cast them. You can't create that. It has to be there."

Leona bags record-breaking top spot

2008-12-10T04:54:00.000-08:00

Leona Lewis made history when sales of her new number one single Run became the fastest-selling digital release ever.
The song, a Snow Patrol cover version which Lewis never planned to release as a single, stormed straight to the top of the Official Singles Chart.

Knocking Take That's Greatest Day off the top spot gave the former X Factor winner her third UK number one single.

Fans fell in love with the track after she performed it in Radio 1's Live Lounge in November 2007. It was the high demand for the song that led to a last-minute decision to release it as a single.

Run became available, as a download only, from midnight on November 30 and in its first two days sold 69,244 units.

The previous record for the biggest-selling digital-only number one was held by American Boy, by Estelle featuring Kanye West, which sold 51,857 units in a week.

Lewis's chart-topper exceeded this figure in just two days. Run has now sold 131,593 copies, according to Official Charts Company data.

Despite their single falling to number two, Take That also had cause to celebrate after their fifth studio album, The Circus, became one of the fastest selling albums ever. Fans snapped up 432,000 copies in its first seven days on release last week, the Official Charts Company said.

This represented the third biggest first-week sales total in history, after Oasis's 1997 album Be Here Now and Coldplay's 2005 release X&Y.

Take That said in a statement: "It's just an incredible feeling to have the new album do what it's done this week. We set out to make a record that each of us was really proud of and we did that. To then have it fly off the shelves like it did this week has been just amazing."

Blur reunite for Hyde Park gig

2008-12-10T04:53:00.000-08:00

Britpop pioneers Blur are getting back together for a concert in London's Hyde Park.

The full line-up of Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree and Damon Albarn will be onstage together for the first time since their Royal Festival Hall performance in 2000.

The concert will take place on Friday July 3, and tickets will be on general sale from 9am this Friday at www.livenation.co.uk.

Coxon left Blur six years ago and the band's last album, Think Tank, was released in 2003.

In a joint interview, Albarn and Coxon explained that they had put their differences behind them.

"It just felt it was right again," said Albarn.

"It somehow feels like there's something for us to do again, we're not completely useless or pointless, we've got a reason to exist."

Coxon said the band were "making public what's been going on a little bit privately".

There have been reports of further dates including a possible appearance at next year's Glastonbury festival.

Albarn promised fans that there were more shows on the horizon.

"We'll do something in London because that seems sensible," Albarn told the NME, "but we're also playing in other parts of the country, working up to there."

Formed in Colchester in 1989, the band have recorded seven studio albums and had a string of top 10 singles including two number ones with Country House and Beetlebum.

Blur hit the height of their fame as the poster boys for Brit Pop in the mid 1990s, and were known for their chart battles with contemporaries Oasis.

Albarn has since gone on to form virtual band Gorillaz, to huge commercial and critical success.

His projects have included supergroup The Good, The Bad & The Queen and the much-lauded Monkey: Journey To The West.

Guitarist Coxon released solo work since quitting the band and has collaborated with Pete Doherty.

Bassist Alex James swapped his bad boy image to become a Cotswolds cheese maker and is a talent judge on Channel 4's Orange Unsigned Act.

Drummer Dave Rowntree made an unsuccessful bid to become a Labour councillor last year.

'I'm sorry' says Carr

2008-12-10T04:51:00.000-08:00

Comedian Alan Carr has apologised for dedicating a comedy award to kidnapper Karen Matthews.
Carr, who was condemned as "sick" by a government minister, said: "I realise what I said about Karen Matthews was insensitive and am very sorry for any offence this may have caused."

At Saturday night's British Comedy Awards, Carr said that Matthews was a "gay icon", adding: "People like a bit of rough don't they?"

Junior Justice Minister Shahid Malik said the timing of Carr's remarks could not have been worse.

Mr Malik, who is also MP for Matthews' constituency of Dewsbury, said: "I think Alan Carr can be funny on occasion but I think last night he really let himself down.

"The timing couldn't be worse. I think most people think it to be both sick and insensitive and people will be disgusted with him at a time when many people are looking very closely at the comic/comedian profession anyway."

He added: "This isn't a helpful contribution either to the sad case of Shannon Matthews where we've only just got a conviction, and Michael Donovan and Karen Matthews haven't even been sentenced yet."

Matthews and Donovan were convicted last week of the kidnap of her nine-year-old daughter Shannon. The youngster was drugged and imprisoned for 24 days in a desperate plan to claim £50,000 in reward money.

On Saturday night, Carr spoke to reporters backstage after being awarded Best Comedy Entertainment Personality for his Friday Night Project and Sunday Night Project shows.

He said that he originally planned his Celebrity Ding Dong sketch to feature Rough Women not Fashionistas.

"It didn't work out because they couldn't cast it. I suppose it is a bit difficult to find rough women. I suppose Shannon Matthew's mum was busy," he said.

"Oh yeah, she would be my dream guest. I think she's a gay icon. People like a bit of rough don't they?"

Carr added: "I must be obsessed with her actually if you look at my Google searches. So I should dedicate this award to her."

Jo enjoys glittering social life as she meets Anne and sexy D&G model

2008-12-10T04:47:00.000-08:00

When Jo Wood confided to HELLO! that her social life had been a frantic whirl of late, she neglected to mention that one of the dates in her diary included a meeting with royalty and Dolce&Gabbana model David Gandy. Ronnie Wood's estranged wife was the star attraction at a Save The Children charity event presided over by the organisation's president Princess Anne. Many of the guests, the 6ft 2in Scottish model hunk included, were apparently tripping over themselves to chat with her.

David, an object of admiration to millions of women thanks to a starring swimsuit-clad role in a D&G perfume ad, caught up with 53-year-old Jo by the champagne bar.

Not that the former rock chick would have been indulging in any festive tipples, these days she limits herself to organic foods and drinks – which may go some way to explaining her youthful glow.

Jo, who looked fabulous in a floral maxi-dress, had designed a bespoke Christmas tree to be auctioned off at the event.

The tree, one of several contributed by celebrities, reflected her love of natural produce, featuring red and white papier-mâché decorations, strings of popcorn and bundles of fragrant cinnamon sticks.

Kate top of men's secret fancy list

2008-12-10T04:44:00.000-08:00

GMTV presenter Kate Garraway has come out top in an annual poll of women men secretly lust after.
Men's magazine Nuts named Garraway the UK's third annual WISA of the Year (Woman I Secretly Adore), pipping last year's slimmed-down winner Fern Britton.

Garraway scooped more than a fifth of the vote in Nuts's poll of more than 2,000 men.

Loose Women's Jackie Brambles came second and BBC News presenter Sian Williams came third.

Nuts editor Pete Cashmore said: "This poll shows how men have an appreciation of women that is as broad and varied as woman herself, challenging the stereotype of us guys only lusting after young pneumatic twentysomething models."

Assisted Suicide Shown On Sky TV

2008-12-10T04:42:00.000-08:00

The moment a terminally ill man takes his own life will be screened in a television programme tonight.
Sky TV Documentary makers were allowed to film the final moments of 59-year-old motor neurone disease sufferer Craig Ewert at controversial Swiss clinic Dignitas.

The Sky Real Lives programme Right to Die?, shows Mr Ewert drinking a fatal dose of barbiturates, which have been prescribed by a local doctor.

Within 30 minutes of the overdose he is dead.

Before making the journey, he said: "If I go through with it I die, as I must at some point.

"If I don't go through with it, my choice is essentially to suffer and to inflict suffering on my family and then die.

"Possibly in a way that is considerably more stressful and painful than this way."

Mr Ewert, who lived in Harrogate, feared the disease would end up choking him to death.

His widow, Mary, has defended the decision to allow the cameras inside the clinic, which helps people to commit suicide.

Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland with certain conditions. But it is illegal in Britain.

The programme comes as a coroner recorded a verdict of suicide following the death of another British man at Dignitas.

Paralysed rugby player Daniel James, 23, was injured when a scrum collapsed on him. The promising hooker lost the use of all of his limbs.

According to his parents, Mr James found his life unbearable. They helped him travel to Zurich in September this year.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to pursue a case against the couple.

Dignitas was set up by Ludwig Minelli, a lawyer who rarely gives interviews. He said a dignified death is a human right.

The clinic has helped more than 100 people from Britain to end their lives.

But, to some religious and ethical groups, assisted suicide is wrong.

Dr Rob George, from Care Not Killing, said Mr Ewert's death was barbaric and that "a natural death is nothing to fear".

"The vast majority of patients with motor neurone disease do not have a choking, unpleasant, suffocating death. That's just not true. So I feel sad and quite angry about that. This man need not have gone through this."

Abdul: 'American Idol bosses failed to protect me from stalker'

2008-12-10T04:41:00.000-08:00

Paula Abdul has accused her American Idol bosses of exposing her to the crazed fan who committed suicide outside her California home. Abdul claims producers on the show allowed Paula Goodspeed to audition on three separate occasions, knowing she had stalked the star for 17 years.

And she accuses broadcaster Fox of shooting footage at her home, which effectively showed fans how to get access to the Sherman Oaks estate.

Speaking on talk show host Barbara Walters' Sirius Satellite radio show on Monday night, Abdul said, "She came to the audition. I said, 'This girl is a stalker of mine. Please do not let her in.' I was shaking.

"The producers thought, for entertainment value, it would be funny. Fun for them to cause me stress. It would make good television.

"If you look at the audition on YouTube, you'll see I couldn't even look up.

"But it wasn't just once. She showed up again in Las Vegas and she showed up the following year."

Abdul adds, "(Then) Fox broadcasting literally went to my house and gave my address away and showed how easy it is to break in."

The 45-year-old also reveals Goodspeed, 30, wrote her disturbing letters threatening her life.

Abdul told Walters, "The letters that were written were about bodily harm. She said that the only way I will serve my purpose is when I am up in heaven being her guardian angel."

When Walters asked why Abdul was still working on the show she replied, "Well, I'm still under contract."

Suicide film to be shown on TV

2008-12-10T04:30:00.000-08:00

Footage of a man ending his own life will be broadcast on TV later.

Suicide film to be shown on TV The film shows Craig Ewert drinking a mixture of sedatives at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland and turning off his own ventilator using his teeth.

The 59-year-old American suffered from motor neurone disease and chose to die rather than endure what he described as 'torture'.

The footage forms part of a documentary filmed by Oscar-winning director John Zaritsky called Right to Die?

The broadcast comes a day after the parents of paralysed rugby player Daniel James were told they would face no action over his assisted suicide at Dignitas at the age of 23.

The film, which is on Sky Real Lives at 9pm, shows Mr Ewert bleakly outlining his options as "death, or suffering and death".

Before his suicide, Mr Ewert said: "I'd like to continue. The thing is that I really can't.

"I can't take that risk, that's choosing to be tortured rather than end this journey and start the next one.

"If I go through with it, I die as I must at some point.

"If I don't go through with it, my choice is to suffer, for my family to suffer and then die.

"The fact that I know the date I'm going to die simply makes definite what was previously indefinite.

"When you are completely paralysed, can't talk, can't walk, can't move your eyes, how do you let someone know that you are suffering?"

In a moving letter to his two adult children, who appear in the programme, he wrote: "This is a journey I must make.

"At the same time I hope this is not the cause of major distress to my dear sweet wife, who will have the greatest loss, as we have been together for 37 years in the greatest intimacy."

Sky defended the decision to broadcast Mr Ewert's suicide.

Barbara Gibbon, Head of Sky Real Lives, said: "This is an issue that more and more people are confronting and this documentary is an informative, articulate and educated insight into the decisions some people have to make.

"I think it's important that TV broadcasters, and particularly Sky Real Lives, can stimulate debate about this issue through powerful, individual and engaging stories and give this subject a wider airing."

Did Ruffalo brother die in Russian roulette game?

2008-12-10T04:27:00.000-08:00

Mark Ruffalo's brother Scott was killed after playing a deadly game of Russian roulette, according to the prime suspect in the case.
Scott was found outside his Beverley Hills home with a gunshot wound to the head during the weekend. He was taken off life support on Monday.

Shaha Adham turned herself in to the authorities after police issued a warrant . She was seen leaving Scott's house on the night of the incident. After viewing the surveillance footage, police have identified another man Brian Scofield as a "person of interest" in the case.
Adham has told police Scott shot himself while playing a game of Russian roulette. She also alleges that the hairdresser was under the influence of controlled substances at the time.
Her lawyer Ronald Richards told the New York Post, "We expect the coroner's report to show the shooting was a result of the victim's chronic playing of Russian roulette and his dangerous playing with firearms while under the use of controlled substances.
"My client was a good friend of the victim and is very sad for the loss of his family. However, she played no role whatsoever in his accidental death."
Zodiac actor Mark recently thanked his fans for their support. A statement read, "Mark Ruffalo and his family deeply appreciate the outpouring of prayers and support during this most difficult time of the passing of Scott Ruffalo, beloved son, brother and husband."

Wall-E wins awards season curtain raiser

2008-12-10T04:26:00.000-08:00

Awards season is upon us. And the first gongs have gone to the world of animation.
The Los Angeles Film Critics named Disney Pixar's Wall-E as the best film of 2008, the first time the marquee award has gone to an animated flick in its 33-year history.

British director Danny Boyle was named best director for Slumdog Millionaire, his acclaimed story of a boy growing up in the Mumbai slums. And further British success came for Sally Hawkins, who won best actress for her role as the perrennially chirpy teacher in Happy Go Lucky.
Heath Ledger scooped a posthumous award for his supporting role as The Joker in The Dark Knight, which also came second in the best film and director categories. It marked a change for the LA Critics, who have generally rewarded more highbrow fare.
Sean Penn got the best actor nod for the murdered gay politician Harvey Milk in Milk. Penn was one of eight nominations for Milk from the Critics choice Awards, which were also announced yesterday.
Milk tied for the most nominations with The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, the forthcoming David Finch film in which Grad Pitt is born old and gets steadily younger.

Smith wants to play Barack

2008-12-10T04:25:00.001-08:00

Will Smith has set his sights on playing the new US president Barack Obama.
Smith is a big fan of the president-elect, and is desperate to play him in a big screen biopic.

However, Smith will wait until Obama finishes his stint at the White House before he makes the movie.
Asked by MTV if he'd fancy the role, he replied, "That would be fantastic. There are so many aspects of that story that people don't know — that people would love to. I'm going to give him eight years, though. I don't know if I'll be too old in eight years, but we'll give it a shot." (Re-electing him already, Will?)
The I Am Legend actor also revealed why he's perfectly cast to play Obama. Pointing to his prominent ears, Smith joked, "It's right here. That's the key. America loves ears, you know? Mickey Mouse started it; Goofy and Dumbo followed behind. And America just loves the ears."

Brad Pitt ventures to the "Lost City"

2008-12-10T04:23:00.000-08:00

Paramount Pictures has taken the bold move to search for a lost city with one Mr. Brad Pitt! "We Own the Night" helmer James Gray is set to direct "The Lost City of Z" according to reports in Variety. Gray will take his lead from an as yet unpublished David Grann book for Brad Pitt to star in as British soldier and spy, Percy Fawcett.
The nonfiction book by Grann, a staffer at the New Yorker, will be published in April by Doubleday. Paramount acquired the rights to it earlier this year for Pitt to produce through his Paramount-based Plan B.

Fawcett left Victorian society to explore in the Amazon, and he became obsessed by the idea of an advanced civilization he called 'Z', which he believed existed in the depths of the jungle. Along with his son, Fawcett headed into the jungle in 1925 in search of Z and was never seen again.
"This is a terrific opportunity to do something entirely different for me," Gray said. "It is a story that will be told with an epic scale, with a main character who is larger than life."

Pitt enters the Lost City

2008-12-10T04:18:00.000-08:00

Brad Pitt is to head into The Lost City of Z.
The actor will star in true story of a man's obsession with a rumoured advanced civilisation in the Amazon. Based on a forthcoming non-fiction book by David Grann, it tells the story of British solider Percy Fawcett (Pitt) and his quest to find the advanced people he called Z, reports Variety.

He set off into the jungle with his son and both were never seen again.
We Own The Night's James Gray is on directing duties. He said, "This is a terrific opportunity to do something entirely different for me. It is a story that will be told with an epic scale, with a main character who is larger than life."

Sale of large collection of Marilyn Monroe photos

2008-12-06T21:05:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK - Before the world knew her as Marilyn Monroe, Norma Jeane Baker so captivated photographer Andre de Dienes at her first modeling assignment that he later recorded their meeting in his diary: "An earthly sexy-looking angel! Sent expressly to me!" De Dienes simultaneously captured the innocent exuberance and seductiveness of the young model in a series of photos that day in 1949 as she frolicked on a Long Island beach.

They are among more than 100 Monroe images being offered for sale in three sessions on Dec. 16-17 at Christie's auction house. They are expected to bring from $811,000 to $1.1 million.

The photographs represent a chronicle of Monroe's short life, from obscurity to Hollywood sex goddess. They capture her in all her manifestations playful, sexy, innocent, insecure and anguished as recorded by some of the biggest names in photography, including Tom Kelley, Richard Avedon, Bert Stern, Gary Winogrand, Elliott Erwitt and Cornell Capa.

A set of four portraits from the Tobey Beach series, showing Monroe with long, curly tresses and her trademark winning smile, is estimated to sell for $7,000 to $9,000.

"She is one of the most iconic figures in the history of American culture of the past 100 years," said Josh Holdeman, head of Christie's 20th century art.

Among other highlights is a group of photos known as the "Last Sitting" and taken by Stern for Vogue in 1962, just weeks before Monroe's death at 36.

The eight-page feature was shot during three long sessions at the Hotel Bel-Air in Beverly Hills. As the issue was going to press, Vogue learned that the actress had died. An emergency meeting was called and it was decided that the photo layout should run just as planned as a memorial tribute to Monroe.

Fifty-nine key images from the shoot including an uncharacteristically forlorn-looking Monroe in a black dress that conceals her body are estimated to bring $100,000 to $150,000.

A 1957 portrait of a crestfallen-looking Monroe in black halter dress in which photographer Richard Avedon turned "the subject from a star into a mere mortal" is estimated to fetch the sale's highest price for a single photo, up to $35,000, Christie's said.

Avedon "banished every trace of the erotic charm and effervescence for which the actress was celebrated. ... Behind the beautiful face, her spirits sag as gravely as the body beneath the sequined dress," the auction house said.

Christie's said the sale represents the largest collection of Monroe photos to come on the market. Many of the images were featured in the "I Wanna Be Loved By You" Monroe exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 2004.

New York collectors Leon and Michaela Constantiner are selling the photos plus 250 other images representing fashion, glamour and celebrities by such art-world stars as Andy Warhol, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn and Robert Mapplethrope.

The collection also has an unusually large number of sexually explicit prints as well as nude photos of actors and models such as Kate Moss, Patti Hansen, Charlotte Rampling and Nastassja Kinski.

Buyers from around the world have expressed interest in the Constantiner collection, one of the largest of its kind, said Holdeman.

"For them to have embarked on a journey far before it became in the public eye critically important, it's incredibly prescient and ambitious," Holdeman said.

The Jonas Brothers top list of celeb charity draws

2008-12-06T21:04:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK - Want to raise money for a good cause? Recruit the Jonas Brothers.

The sibling sensations top Charity Folks' list of the 10 hottest celebrity draws on the online charity-auction Web site.

The brothers Kevin, Joe and Nick raised $450,000 in an online charity auction by charityfolks.com, which arranged VIP tickets and meet-and-greets in exchange for donations to the band's Change for the Children Foundation.

Billy Joel is second on the Charity Folks list with $400,000 earned from a private New York concert. Bruce Springsteen came in third with $300,000, followed by Morgan Freeman, Howard Stern sidekick Robin Quivers and the cast of "The Sopranos."

Angelina Jolie tops actress salary list

2008-12-06T20:53:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar-winner Angelina Jolie has proven again how handsomely it pays to combine gun-wielding action with serious roles, as she topped The Hollywood Reporter's list of highest-earning actresses on Friday.

But salaries are plummeting for top actresses and still lag the earnings of leading men, the trade paper said.

Jolie, 33, earned $15 million for the action movie "Wanted" this year and she could make $20 million to star in a possible sequel, it said.

Jolie played dramatic roles in 2007's "A Mighty Heart" and in this year's "Changeling." The mother of six and partner of actor Brad Pitt last month talked about eventually fading away from acting to spend more time with her family.

Oscar winner Julia Roberts, 41, claimed the No. 2 spot after a long absence from the screen, making more than $15 million for "Duplicity," which comes out next year.

Actors are also earning less, with the exception of Will Smith, star of blockbusters "Hancock" and "I Am Legend," who is riding high with up to $25 million per movie.

"Everyone else's prices have gone down," an unidentified talent agent told The Hollywood Reporter.

Reese Witherspoon, 32, who topped the female list last year after winning an Oscar for her role in the 2005 movie "Walk the Line," dropped to No. 3. She earned $14 million for appearing in the comedy hit "Four Christmases" that opened last week.

Cameron Diaz, Katherine Heigl, Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway and Jennifer Aniston rounded out the list, with 39-year-old "Friends" star Aniston earning more than $8 million for the comedy "Marley & Me" opening on Christmas Day.

Big stars such as Halle Berry and Nicole Kidman -- both Oscar winners -- are no longer able to earn $10 million a movie.

Compare that with Pitt and Johnny Depp, who according to The Hollywood Reporter make between $15 million and $20 million per film.

Prosecutor: Jealousy behind Hudson family killings

2008-12-06T20:44:00.000-08:00

CHICAGO - A prosecutor alleged Wednesday that Jennifer Hudson's brother-in-law killed three of her relatives with a gun stolen from one of the victims because he was angry his estranged wife, the singer's sister, was dating another man.
William Balfour appeared in court for the first time in connection with the deaths and was denied bond. His attorney said authorities have no forensic evidence linking Balfour to the killings, but prosecutors said witness statements and the suspect's own lies and threats helped lead them to him.
Balfour was charged with murder Tuesday after being held for weeks on a parole violation. The slightly built man, wearing a yellow jump suit, stood quietly Wednesday as prosecutor LuAnn Snow described how he allegedly killed his 7-year-old stepson, Julian King, Hudson's mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, and Hudson's brother, Jason Hudson.
Snow said Balfour had been at the Hudsons' South Side home early Oct. 24 and confronted his estranged wife, Julia Hudson, about a birthday present he believed she had received from a boyfriend.
Balfour, Snow said, also had shown up to Julia Hudson's workplace earlier in the month to confront her about dating another man.
"He told her at the time that her family would suffer if she saw other men," Snow said after Wednesday's hearing.
Balfour threatened Julia Hudson again that morning at the home, Snow said, adding that Hudson did not take the threat seriously because he "had not followed through on any of those threats" before.
The two left the home together that morning, with Hudson driving away as she saw Balfour walking toward his own car, according to documents prosecutors filed with the court.
But Balfour's car broke down and two acquaintances gave him a ride to a gas station during which time Balfour told them he had a handgun, but had left it in his car, Snow alleged.
In fact, the prosecutor said, the gun belonged to Jason Hudson and Balfour allegedly stole it during the summer. "Several people observed defendant with the gun in the late summer of 2008," Snow said.
Balfour was taken back to his disabled car after the trip to the gas station, "although he was offered a ride to other locations," Snow told the court.
In the stark language of a legal document she was reading from, Snow described what allegedly happened next:
"Defendant then entered the home at 7019 S. Yale at gunpoint," she read. "He shot Darnell Donerson several times while she was in the living room area. He then went into Jason Hudson's bedroom and shot him two times in the head."
Jason Hudson, she said, was still in bed when he was shot.
Balfour allegedly then took 7-year-old Julian and put him in Jason Hudson's white SUV. "Defendant shot Julian King in the head while the 7-year-old was laying behind the front seat of the Suburban," Snow read. His body was found three days later in the SUV.
Balfour's attorney, Joshua Kutnick, criticized the first-degree murder and home invasion charges against his client, saying no fingerprint, blood or other forensic evidence links the 27-year-old to the slayings.
"There is no direct evidence of Mr. Balfour committing these crimes," he said, adding that a girlfriend who claims Balfour confessed to her and asked her to provide him with an alibi is "highly suspect."
Snow said there is evidence linking Balfour to the crimes, including gunshot residue on the steering wheel of the car that had broken down.
Further, she said, Balfour has made statements to authorities that detectives have disproved. For example, while Balfour claimed he used a transit card to ride a train from the Hudson residence to his home, "The card was last used two days before the murders," Snow said.
Balfour also does not appear on surveillance video of the train station he said he rode to, Snow said.
Cell phone records and gas station surveillance video show Balfour was in the immediate vicinity of the Hudsons' home until shortly after 9 a.m., according to the court documents. Snow said Balfour claimed he was at his West Side home at 10 a.m. the morning of the killings but cell phone records show he did not return there until just before 1 p.m.
Kutnick argued that none of that means his client killed anyone. He told the judge Balfour has not confessed and no one has come forward saying they saw him commit the crimes.
As for the gunshot residue, Kutnick said after Wednesday's hearing that Balfour's car had been left unattended the day of the killings and it wasn't known if anyone else had used it. He also said witnesses linking Balfour to Jason Hudson's stolen gun are unreliable.
Balfour previously went to prison for seven years for attempted murder and vehicular hijacking. His next court date in the murder case is set for Dec. 30.
Jennifer Hudson was a finalist in the 2004 season of "American Idol" and won her Oscar in 2007 for her film debut, a supporting role in "Dreamgirls." She has mostly stayed out of the spotlight and close to her family since the killings.
Her publicist said Wednesday that the actress would not offer any comment

Families move into homes that Pitt built

2008-12-06T20:43:00.000-08:00

NEW ORLEANS - It was a bittersweet moment for Brad Pitt, walking through the Lower 9th Ward neighborhood where families were preparing to spend their first holidays since Hurricane Katrina.
Those families are moving into the first six houses built through Pitt's Make It Right foundation. One home was already strewn with green garland, lights, wreaths and red bows.
Still, Pitt is restless.
"I'm really happy for the families that are going to be here, but I can't help but think about the families that aren't," Pitt said Monday. "It's a push-pull for me. The excitement is that it's being proven, that it's working. The frustration is that we have a long way to go."
Make It Right was launched by Pitt a year ago. The program calls for construction of 150 energy-efficient homes in a section of New Orleans washed away when Katrina broke levees Aug. 29, 2005.
So far, six homes have been built. Two more are under way, and construction on another 14 begins in early 2009. Pitt smiles, gets a little giddy even, when talking about where the project will be in another year.
"You're going to see 100 homes here, mark my words," he said. "It's nice to see a few, but I'm anxious to see 100, 150, 1,000."
Pitt said that by December 2009, the Lower 9th Ward should be one of the nation's largest "green" neighborhoods.
"It's amazing," he said. "This place that suffered such injustice and so much death can become one of the primary examples of a high-performance neighborhood. It really is amazing."
Inez Converse, 71, isn't concerned about her area setting any records. She's just happy to be back in the neighborhood she lived in for more than 35 years before Katrina. And she said she was glad she had the chance to thank Pitt personally.
"He didn't have to do this," she said. "I'm just grateful he is doing it."
Monday was a busy day for Pitt and partner Angelina Jolie, who appeared at a screening of Pitt's new film "The Curious case of Benjamin Button." The couple — Pitt in a suit and tie and Jolie in a form-fitting cream L'Wren Scott dress — was the highlight of the red-carpet event.
The film, which also stars Cate Blanchett, opens Dec. 25. But because it was filmed in New Orleans in 2006 and 2007, Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. held a special screening here.
"It's a gorgeous, gorgeous film," said Pitt, who in the movie plays a man who begins life as elderly and grows younger with time. "It's a film that makes you want to hug your kids and call your folks."
Pitt also described the movie as "a love letter to New Orleans."
"There's a sense of magic here, so it made this fantastic story almost believable," he said.
Pitt said his fondness for the city led him and Jolie to buy an early-1830s masonry mansion in the French Quarter. Pitt said the home was recently renovated to accommodate the needs of the couple and their six children. He quashed recent rumors that the couple had sold their home.
While the homes built by Pitt's project are more contemporary than the Creole cottages and shotgun-style homes typical of New Orleans, they incorporate some elements used in the area for generations, such as high ceilings and shaded porches.
The homes also have solar panels and other features that help cut energy bills by at least 75 percent, Pitt said. Other architectural elements address challenges of the area, including ventilation and mold- and termite-resistant materials.
"The misunderstanding of architecture is that it's all about aesthetics," Pitt said. "It's not. First and foremost, it's about function."
The homes, costing $150,000 on average, are for property owners who can pay insurance and taxes. Monthly payments are based on applicants' income and subsidized by Pitt's foundation.
Pitt said his motivation to see this project through stems from a lot of things, among them his "love for architecture, a love for technology, a love for fairness and justice." But it also stems from his love "for all things New Orleans."
"There's just something about this place," he said.