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Horror film 'Excision' to get 2012 release

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Anchor Bay Films says it has acquired the North American distribution rights to "Excision," a horror movie starring AnnaLynne McCord. The debut feature of director-writer Richard Bates Jr. also features...

Syfy orders third season of 'Face Off'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. cable network Syfy says it has ordered a 10-episode third season of its special-effects competition reality competition series "Face Off." Production on Season 3 is to begin this spring for a summer premiere....

Jessica Lange heading back to 'Horror'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- "American Horror Story" co-creator Ryan Murphy says actress Jessica Lange will return for the FX show's second season. Lange won Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for her work on the haunted-house drama. Murphy...

Milla Jovovich to host Sci-Tech Awards

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Actress Milla Jovovich is to serve as host of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards in Los Angeles, organizers said. "The Fifth Element" and the "Resident...

Chris Brown to return to the Grammys

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Chris Brown is to perform at the 54th annual Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles, CBS said Tuesday. Brown has skipped the Grammys ceremonies for the last few years. He was arrested for assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna...

Robert Downey Jr. is a dad again

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Producer Susan Downey gave birth to a son Tuesday in Los Angeles, a publicist for her husband, film star Robert Downey Jr., said People.com reported Exton Elias Downey was 7 pounds, 5 ounces, and 20 inches long when he was...

Zsa Zsa Gabor turns 95

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband says he threw the Hungarian-born former actress a party in their Beverly Hills home to mark her 95th birthday. TMZ said guests sang "Happy Birthday!" and enjoyed German food, champagne...

'Rango' wins big at Annie Awards

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- "Rango," with Johnny Depp lending his voice to the titular chameleon, was named Best Animated Feature at the 39th annual Annie Awards show in Los Angeles. The prize presentation took place Saturday at UCLA's Royce...

Handsome doctor ends 'Office' romance

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Actor-writer-producer B.J. Novak says a handsome doctor played by Sendhil Ramamurthy will come between Ryan and Kelly on the U.S. sitcom "The Office." Novak plays Ryan and Mindy Kaling, also one of the show's writer-producers,...

Madonna announces 2012 concert tour

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Pop star Madonna has announced plans for a 2012 concert tour two days after her triumphant performance at the Super Bowl halftime show in Indianapolis. The Madonna 2012 World Tour is to begin May 29 in Tel Aviv, Live Nation...

McCartney to play queen's Diamond Jubilee

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LONDON, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey, Elton John and Ed Sheeran are booked to perform at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert in London in June, organizers said. Alfie Boe, Jools Holland, Jessie J, Tom Jones, Lang Lang, Annie Lennox,...

Timberlake marks 31st birthday in Canada

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

FERNIE, British Columbia, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- American pop star and actor Justin Timberlake celebrated his 31st birthday enjoying winter sports at a resort in British Columbia, Postmedia News said. Timberlake, an avid snowboarder, spent the weekend in Fernie,...

Bidding for 'Godfather' script tops $7K

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Bidding is up to $7,500 for the charity auction of a screenplay of "The Godfather" autographed by one of the classic Hollywood film's producers. The Las Vegas Sun said the price is being driven up by the fact Diane...

Spears helps out with 'Twister Dance' game

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

PAWTUCKETT, R.I., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. pop star Britney Spears has teamed up with Hasbro to create a new music-themed game called "Twister Dance," the toy and game giant said. "Dancing has been such an important part of my life since...

Spielberg, Pitt, Streep attend Oscar lunch

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, George Clooney and Steven Spielberg were among those who attended Monday's Oscar nominees luncheon in Los Angeles. Also attending the event at the Beverly Hilton where they posed for a...

Lucas to receive NAACP Vanguard Award

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Writer-director-producer George Lucas is to receive the Vanguard Award at the 43rd NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles, organizers said Monday. The event is to take place at the Shrine Auditorium Feb. 17 and will...

Funeral held for singer Leslie Carter

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

MAYVILLE, N.Y., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- About 70 people attended a private funeral for Leslie Carter in upstate New York, a source close to the 25-year-old singer's family told E! News Monday. A former cast member of the reality show "House of Carters,"...

Cameron Diaz to hand out Oscars

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Actress Cameron Diaz has been confirmed as a presenter at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, telecast producers said Monday. Diaz will be seen next in "What to Expect When You're Expecting"...

Eli Manning books 'Late Show' visit

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has been booked to appear on "Late Show with David Letterman" a day after his team won the Super Bowl, CBS said. Manning was declared Super Bowl XLVI MVP after the Giants beat...

Tony Danza to bring 'Vegas' to B'way

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Television actor Tony Danza is to star in a Broadway musical based on the 1992 film "Honeymoon in Vegas" in spring 2013, the show's producers said Monday. James Caan, Nicolas Cage and Sarah Jessica Parker starred...

Randy Travis arrested for public drunkenness

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

DALLAS, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Country music star Randy Travis was arrested for public intoxication outside a Dallas church Monday morning, police said. The Sanger Police Department told TMZ Travis, 52, was arrested after police responding to a complaint found...

NBC, NFL apologize for M.I.A.'s obscene gesture

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- NBC and the NFL have apologized for rapper M.I.A. extending her middle finger at a TV camera during Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show in Indianapolis. The hip-hop artist was seen making the gesture as she performed alongside...

Demi Moore checks into Utah rehab

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Troubled actress Demi Moore is a patient at the Cirque Lodge addiction treatment center in Sundance, Utah, a source told E! News. The insider said Moore, 49, checked into the facility after she was hospitalized Jan. 23...

Madonna admits she felt like an outsider in England

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Madonna, an American pop star who is no stranger to scandal, says she could relate to Wallis Simpson, the controversial historic figure at the center of "W.E.," the royal romance she directed, produced and co-wrote. Simpson...

Composer looks for lowest bass voice

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LONDON, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- A British composer says he is searching for a singer who can hit a note in his new work so low it is believed never to have been sung before. In his new choral work "De Profundis," Paul Mealor has included a low E that...

'Red Shoe' director Zalman King dies

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Filmmaker Zalman King, known for "Nine 1/2 Weeks" and "Red Shoe Diaries," died in California after a six-year battle with cancer, a family member said. King was 70 when he died Friday at his...

Performers' unions form single Web site

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Two U.S. actors' unions have launched a Web site in support of a campaign for their merger, union officials said. The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have created a Web site,...

Billy Connolly heckled, cuts gigs short

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BLACKPOOL, England, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Fans of Scottish comedian Billy Connolly say they were miffed after he ended two stand-up shows in Britain early because of hecklers. Connolly, 69, walked off the stage 20 minutes early at a Blackpool gig last weekend...

Documentarians die in helicopter crash

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

JASPER'S BUSH, Australia, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Two filmmakers who worked with director James Cameron on his deep-sea documentary films died in a helicopter crash in Australia. Mike deGruy and Andrew Wight's helicopter -- piloted by Wight -- crashed shortly...

J.C. Penney won't fire Ellen DeGeneres

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Ellen DeGeneres received a vote of confidence from J.C. Penney Friday when the retail giant said it would be keeping the lesbian comic as their ad spokeswoman. Penney issued a statement saying the company "stands behind...

Robin Gibb recovering from colon surgery

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LONDON, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Former Bee Gee Robin Gibb said Friday he is on the road to recovery from an intestinal ailment that was reportedly colon cancer. Gibb told BBC Radio 2 he had a growth on his colon removed and "the results have been spectacular." "I...

FX extends 'Sons of Anarchy' run

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The television bikers of "Sons of Anarchy" will live to ride another two seasons after FX picked up the series through Season 6, the network said. The fourth season of the series had its best season last year, averaging...

Judge mulls Dick Clark Globes statements

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Lawyers have asked a Los Angeles judge to admit parts of Dick Clark's deposition in the court tussle over broadcast rights for the Golden Globe Awards. Attorneys for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organizers...

Rosie O'Donnell show being overhauled

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The crew of "The Rosie Show" has been cut by nearly 30 as the Oprah Winfrey Network show undergoes a retooling, sources told Crain's Chicago Business. The overhaul has included eliminating some regular segments of...

'Ghost Protocol' top Cruise moneymaker

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The latest "Mission: Impossible" installment has become Tom Cruise's biggest hit, the latest worldwide box-office numbers indicate. The Hollywood Reporter said "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" had...

Clinical breast trial balances Somers

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. actress Suzanne Somers says she underwent a cutting-edge stem cell procedure to rebuild a breast that had been damaged during cancer treatment. The procedure, developed in Japan, was aimed at evening out her breasts,...

'Mean Joe' back for another Super Bowl ad

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Former Pittsburgh Steelers lineman "Mean" Joe Greene says he will reprise his role as himself in a Downy commercial during Sunday's Super Bowl. The football Hall of Fame member will be pitching Downy Unstoppables...

Big star crowd expected at Oscar luncheon

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Nearly all of the stars up for Academy Awards will be on hand in Beverly Hills, Calif., next week for the annual nominees' luncheon, the organizers announced. The Hollywood Reporter said Saturday 18 of the 20 acting...

LA Reid coming back as 'X Factor' judge

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Epic Records Chairman LA Reid has signed up for another season as a judge on Fox's "X Factor," a source told The Hollywood Reporter. Reid signed a new contract Friday, just four days after a big shakeup that saw...

Griffin O'Neal gets jail time for DUI crash

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- A San Diego judge sentenced Griffin O'Neal to 16 months in prison for driving under the influence of drugs and possession of a firearm by a felon, E! reported. The charges stem from a car crash the 47-year-old actor caused,...

Bobby Cannavale heads to 'Boardwalk'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Bobby Cannavale has joined the cast of "Boardwalk Empire" for the Atlantic City-set mob drama's third season, HBO said. The Hollywood Reporter said the popular Broadway actor will play Gyp Rosetti, "a charming...

NBC sets air date for 'Awake'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Feb. 3 (UPI) -- NBC says it has scheduled the premiere of its new U.S. drama series "Awake" for next month. The show stars Jason Isaacs as a detective who finds he is leading a complex double life that defies reality....

Smiley: Cornelius was a 'cultural ambassador'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. talk-show host Tavis Smiley is praising the late "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius for helping to preserve and promote African-American culture. Cornelius served as host of the TV dance series from 1971 to...

Steinfeld, Booth begin work on 'Romeo'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth have begun work in Italy on the latest film version of Shakespeare's tragic romance "Romeo and Juliet," producers said. Ileen Maisel of Amber Entertainment and Nadja Swarovski of...

Actor Ben Gazzara dead at 81

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Actor Ben Gazzara died of pancreatic cancer at New York's Bellevue Hospital Center Friday, his lawyer said. He was 81. The New York Times confirmed Gazzara's death with his attorney Jay Julien. Born Biagio Anthony Gazzara...

Roseanne Barr running for president

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Comedian Roseanne Barr has filed official paperwork in her bid to become the Green Party's candidate for president of the United States. The Los Angeles Times said the former "Roseanne" star registered with the...

'Bridget Jones's Baby' still a-go

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LONDON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Production on the third romantic comedy about British spinster Bridget Jones has been delayed, not scrapped, the film's producers said. American actress Renee Zellweger plays Bridget in the franchise, while British heartthrobs...

Halle Berry to be presenter at the Oscars

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Actress Halle Berry is to be a presenter at the 84th Academy Awards show in Los Angeles, producers announced. Berry won an Oscar in 2001 for her lead performance in "Monster's Ball." She will hand out...

Bonaduce, Williams to star in 'Bigfoot'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Danny Bonaduce, Barry Williams, Howard Hesseman and Sherilyn Fenn are to star in the TV movie "Bigfoot," U.S. cable network Syfy said Thursday. Bruce Davison will direct and also appear in the movie, alongside actor...

Michael Sheen to star in Showtime pilot

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan have been cast as the leads in the drama pilot "Masters of Sex," U.S. cable network Showtime announced. The pair will play 1960s human-sexuality science pioneers William Masters and...

Radcliffe talks about post-Potter role in 'Woman in Black'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- British actor Daniel Radcliffe, who spent more than a decade playing the titular wizard in eight special effects-laden Harry Potter blockbusters, says he loved starring in the old-fashioned, low-tech ghost story "The Woman...

Actress Kat Graham inks record deal

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Kat Graham, a cast member of the U.S. television drama "The Vampire Diaries," has signed a deal with A&M/Octone Records. The label said it plans to release her first record, "Put Your Graffiti On Me,"...

Actor Adel Imam sentenced to jail for defamation

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

CAIRO, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Egyptian actor Adel Imam has been sentenced in absentia to three months of hard labor behind bars for playing unflattering Muslim characters, officials said. Imam, whose film career has spanned four decades, was found guilty of...

'Real Steel' tops DVD sales, rental charts

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- "Real Steel" is the top-selling DVD and No. 1 rental in the United States, Rentrak reported Thursday. Coming in at No. 2 on the DVD sales chart for the week ending Jan. 29 is "Courageous," followed by...

Final Oscar ballots mailed out

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Final ballots for Hollywood's 84th Academy Awards were mailed to the 5,783 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Completed ballots, which were mailed out Wednesday, must be returned...

Stern helps Letterman mark 30 years in late-night

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Howard Stern recalled the first time David Letterman interviewed him during a "Late Show" visit marking Letterman's 30 years on U.S. late-night television. Radio star Stern appeared on Letterman's CBS program Wednesday...

Springsteen to perform on Grammys show

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are confirmed to perform at the Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles, producers said Thursday. Jack Black, Fergie, ?uestlove and Ringo Starr also have been booked as presenters at the...

'Fire' warms top of U.S. record chart

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain" is No. 1 on the U.S. record chart for a second week, Billboard.com reported Thursday. Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 is Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't...

'Watchmen' prequels to be published

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- DC Entertainment plans to publish seven prequels to the 1986 graphic novel "Watchmen" by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons, The Hollywood Reporter said. The "Before Watchmen" books are to go on...

Coroner in Winehouse inquest resigns

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LONDON, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Suzanne Greenaway, the London coroner who handled the inquest into singer Amy Winehouse's death, has resigned, officials said. Greenaway ruled Winehouse, 27, died from accidental alcohol poisoning and returned a verdict of misadventure...

Swift won't star in 'Les Miserables'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. country music star Taylor Swift won't be playing Eponine as planned in the upcoming movie musical "Les Miserables," EW.com reported Wednesday. Although Swift had been in talks for the part, Samantha Barks,...

Screenings of 3D 'Titanic' sold out

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Fans crashed multiple servers trying to secure advance tickets for the now sold-out Feb. 14 preview screenings of Hollywood's "Titanic in 3D," producers said. Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox International...

Tom Cruise to hand out Oscar

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Three-time Oscar-nominated actor Tom Cruise will be a presenter at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, telecast producers said Wednesday. Cruise was nominated for his lead performances in "Born...

Letterman reads Super Bowl Top 10 list

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Comedian David Letterman read a Super Bowl-themed Top 10 list on "Late Show" in New York this week. Letterman read "Questions to Ask Yourself Before Spending $16,000 on a Super Bowl Ticket" on Tuesday's...

Gad, Hudson to star in 'Me & My Shadow'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

GLENDALE, Calif., Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Josh Gad, Bill Hader and Kate Hudson are to lend their voices to characters in the movie "Me & My Shadow," Hollywood's DreamWorks Animation said Wednesday. Alessandro Carloni is to make his directorial...

Katy Perry to perform at Grammys

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Pop star Katy Perry has been booked to perform at the 54th annual Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles, organizers said Wednesday. The ceremony honoring the previous year's best in music is to take place Feb. 12. It will air...

'Home Improvement' star Taran Smith busted for DUI

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Former "Home Improvement" co-star Taran Noah Smith was arrested in Los Angeles for alleged driving under the influence and possession of marijuana, TMZ said. Smith, 27, appeared on the U.S. sitcom from 1991 to...

'21' stays atop U.S. album chart

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Adele's "21" is No. 1 on the U.S. album chart for an 18th non-consecutive week, Billboard.com reported Wednesday. Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 is Tim McGraw's "Emotional Traffic," followed...

Sister of Nick and Aaron Carter dead at 25

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Singer Leslie Carter, the 25-year-old sister of recording artists Nick and Aaron Carter, has died in upstate New York, her family said. "Access Hollywood" confirmed her Tuesday death but said no details regarding...

'Soul Train' creator Don Cornelius dead at 75

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Don Cornelius, creator of the TV dance show "Soul Train," fatally shot himself in his Sherman Oaks, Calif., home, TMZ quoted law enforcement sources as saying. He was 75. His body was discovered Wednesday...

Stars line up for Tyler Perry's next Madea film

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Eugene Levy, Doris Roberts, Tom Arnold, John Amos and Marla Gibbs are to star in "Madea's Witness Production," the U.S. film's producers said. Denise Richards and Romeo have also signed up for roles in...

'Moneyball' tops On-Demand list

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- "Moneyball," the baseball-themed film for which Brad Pitt is nominated for a best actor Oscar, is the No. 1 Movie-on-Demand, Rentrak reported. Coming in at No. 2 on the list for the week ending Jan. 22 is "The...

Tom Hanks to be an Oscar presenter

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks is to be a presenter at the 84th Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles, telecast producers said Tuesday. Hanks, who is a governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and...

Reba denies online death rumor

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NASHVILLE, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Country music star Reba McEntire went online Tuesday to ice a rumor claiming she had fallen off a mountain in Austria and died. "There is a rumor going around that I died after falling off a mountain in Austria yesterday...

CBS orders more 'I Get That a Lot'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- CBS says it has ordered two more editions of its U.S. hidden-camera special "I Get That a Lot." The programs will again feature celebrities working in everyday jobs and trying to convince customers they aren't...

Sofia Vergara named Most Desirable Woman of 2012

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Sofia Vergara, one of the stars of the U.S. sitcom "Modern Family," topped AskMen's 11th annual Most Desirable Woman poll. More than 1 million votes were cast internationally for the 2012 poll, the Web site said. "I...

HBO bets on second season of 'Luck'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. cable network HBO says it has renewed "Luck" for a 10-episode second season two days after the horse-racing drama debuted. Variety said the pilot episode starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte was seen by...

Adele to perform at Grammy Awards show

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- British singer Adele will make her return to the live stage at the 54th annual Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles, the Recording Academy said Tuesday. This will be her first time performing live in nearly five months....

Klum thanks fans for support

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- German-born model Heidi Klum thanked her fans via Twitter Tuesday for their support in the wake of her separation from Seal, her husband of six years. The "Project Runway" star and British recording artist are the...

Inmate sues Lillo Brancato for assault

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A lawsuit has been filed in New York's Queens Supreme Court accusing jailed actor Lillo Brancato of assaulting a former fellow inmate, documents show. Alvaro Hernandez, a 40-year-old convicted burglar, is seeking unspecified...

New drama series follows divorced ex-first lady

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- USA Network says it has picked up "Political Animals," a 6-hour miniseries about a fictional former first family, from Warner Horizon Television. The cable network's co-presidents, Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel,...

'Seinfeld' actor Ian Abercrombie dead at 77

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- British actor Ian Abercrombie has died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, his family said. He was 77. Abercrombie was best known to U.S. television audiences for his portrayals of Mr. Pitt on "Seinfeld" and Professor...

'Puss in Boots' claws its way to $507M

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

GLENDALE, Calif., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- The "Shrek" spinoff "Puss in Boots" has surpassed the $500 million milestone at the global box office, Hollywood's DreamWorks Animation LLC said. Featuring the voice talents of Antonio Banderas...

Comcast says 'Nay' to donkey semen 'Fear Factor'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- NBC's parent company Comcast has put the kibosh on an episode of the U.S. network's show "Fear Factor" showing contestants drinking donkey urine and semen. NBC said Monday's installment of the reality competition...

Shirley MacLaine joins 'Downton' cast

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Oscar-winning American actress Shirley MacLaine is to join the cast of "Downton Abbey" next season, the British period drama's producers said Monday. Season 2 of the ITV series is airing in the United States Sundays...

J. Lo tapped to be Oscars presenter

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez will be a presenter at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, the telecast's producers said Monday. Lopez is a judge on "American Idol" and will be seen next...

Director John Rich dead at 86

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Director John Rich, who worked in U.S. television for more than a half century, has died after a brief illness, the Directors Guild of America said. He was 86 when he died at his Los Angeles home Sunday morning. Among...

Gere-Sarandon thriller 'Arbitrage' gets distributors

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions say they have together acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Nicholas Jarecki's thriller "Arbitrage." The announcement was made Friday jointly by Steve Beeks, president...

DeVito to star in 'Sunshine Boys' in U.K.

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LONDON, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. actor Danny DeVito is to make his West End debut in the London stage production of Neil Simon's play "The Sunshine Boys," producers said. DeVito and British actor Richard Griffiths will play an estranged comedy...

New Madonna video to debut on 'American Idol'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A sneak peek of the video for "Give Me All Your Luvin,'" the first single from pop star Madonna's next album, is to make its debut this week on "American Idol." Interscope Records said "Idol"...

Hazanavicius wins top directing award

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Michel Hazanavicius picked up the Directors Guild of America's Feature Film Award this weekend for his silent, black-and-white movie "The Artist." The prize for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for...

Big night for Buscemi, 'Boardwalk' at SAG Awards

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- "Boardwalk Empire" was declared Best Drama Series and its star Steve Buscemi Best Actor in a Drama at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles Sunday. "I have to thank our executive producer Martin Scorsese,"...

'The Help' wins big at SAG Awards

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The cast of the civil rights-era drama "The Help" won the Best Ensemble title at Sunday night's Screen Actors Guild Awards show in Los Angeles. Two of its stars -- Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis -- also were...

'Modern Family' wins top comedy SAG award

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- "Modern Family" won the prize for Best Comedy Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony in Los Angeles Sunday night. "I think it was the late, great W.C. Fields who said, 'Never work with kids or...

Plummer, Spencer win SAG awards

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Christopher Plummer and Octavia Spencer were named Best Supporting actor and actress at the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony in Los Angeles Sunday night. Plummer won the statuette for his work in "Beginners."...

Dimitra Arliss, 'The Sting's' Salino, dead

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Dimitra Arliss, who played assassin Loretta Salino in the classic, "The Sting," has died in Woodland Hills, Calif., a hospital spokesman said. Jaime Larkin, spokesman for the Motion Picture and Television...

SF filmmaker previews 'green' documentary

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

SUNDANCE, Utah, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A documentary film on the history of the environmental movement that debuted at the Sundance Film Festival is about "taking up the battle," its director says. "A Fierce Green Fire: The Battle for a Living...

Calgary Twitter mom turns screenwriter

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A Canadian woman whose humorous Twitter musings on life gained 300,000 followers says she's not disappointed NBC chose not to turn them into a sitcom. Kelly Oxford of Calgary said her sitcom proposal, based on her...

'Grey,' Neeson lead U.S. box office

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- "The Grey," starring Liam Neeson at his most rugged, led the weekend U.S. box office with $20 million in gross receipts. "Underworld Awakening," with the yummy Kate Beckinsale, was second with $12.5...

NBC exec says it overpaid for Globes

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A West Coast NBC executive said he thought the Peacock Network paid too much in the 2010 long-term deal to keep the Golden Globes show airing on the network. Marc Graboff, who was NBC's president of West Coast business...

Sundance wraps with grand prizes

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

SUNDANCE, Utah, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The Sundance Film Festival in Utah wrapped with "The House I Live In" winning as top U.S. documentary and "Beasts of the Southern Wild" as top U.S. drama. "The House I Live In," directed...

Screen Actors to give merger foes a say

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Leaders of the Screen Actors Guild have agreed to allow opponents of their proposed merger with AFTRA to have their say on the ballot. The Hollywood Reporter said the information material that will be sent to SAG members...

Life great for Pickler even without cat

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NASHVILLE, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Former "American Idol" contestant Kellie Pickler says married life is still going well even though it cost her pet cat. Pickler, 25, told Parade magazine she had to give away her feline buddy Pickles after she married...

Elizabeth Banks joins musical cast

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Elizabeth Banks is moving from thrillers to musicals as part of the cast of the upcoming satire "Frank or Francis," The Hollywood Reporter said. Banks, who stars in the current release "Man on a Ledge,"...

Seal says kids are top priority in split

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Seal said he and estranged wife Heidi Klum agreed their children needed to be let down gently when they told Hollywood they were splitting up. In an interview on "Access Hollywood," Seal said the four kids, ages...

Busy Ryan Gosling not dwelling on Oscars

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BANGKOK, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Actor Ryan Gosling says he isn't concerned about not being nominated for an Academy Award and has been keeping busy training as a Thai boxer. Gosling has been putting in 2-3 hours per day learning Muay Thai boxing for his upcoming...

Halle Berry's ex agrees to anger therapy

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Model Gabriel Aubry agreed to anger-management therapy to atone for allegedly getting physical with U.S. actress Halle Berry's nanny, sources told TMZ.com. The agreement came Friday during a meeting with Aubry, Berry and...

Viewing for Etta James draws many fans

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

INGLEWOOD, Calif., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Mourners called the late singer Etta James a wonderful person and a wonderful talent at her public viewing in the Los Angeles area. James was remembered Friday at the Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary by dozens of friends,...

Jazz great Clare Fischer dead at 83

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Prolific jazz pianist Clare Fischer died in Southern California this week of complications from a heart attack at the age of 83, the family announced. Fischer, whose career included more than 50 albums, had been stricken...

Jackson honored outside Grauman's

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Michael Jackson's three children took part in a celebration honoring the late pop star outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Prince, 14, Paris, 13, and Blanket, 9, made hand- and foot-print impressions in a bed...

'GMA' to reveal next 'Dancing' cast

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- The next round of celebrity hoofers for "Dancing with the Stars" will be announced first on "Good Morning America" next month, ABC said Friday. The Season 14 cast will be revealed Feb. 28 on the morning...

'Ferris' clip is a Super Bowl ad for Honda

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- A 10-second clip of Hollywood actor Matthew Broderick channeling his iconic film character Ferris Bueller has gotten more than 1.5 million hits on YouTube. The video shows the now 49-year-old, but still boyish-looking, actor...

Clooney, Pitt to be SAG Award presenters

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Kathy Bates, George Clooney, Jessica Chastain and Ben Kingsley are to be presenters at this weekend's Screen Actors Guild Awards show in Los Angeles. Also expected to hand out statuettes are Melissa McCarthy, Brad Pitt,...

'Courageous' tops DVD sales chart

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- The independent Christian drama "Courageous" is the top-selling DVD in the United States, Rentrak reported. Coming in at No. 2 for the week ended Jan. 22 is "Moneyball," followed by "Abduction"...

Choreographer Alex Da Silva sentenced to 10 years in prison

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles judge has sentenced choreographer Alex Da Silva to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting two former students, TMZ reported Friday. Da Silva, 43, appeared on the first four seasons of the TV competition...

Parker to replace Moore in 'Lovelace'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Sarah Jessica Parker will replace Demi Moore as U.S. feminist author and activist Gloria Steinem in the film "Lovelace," People.com said Friday. Moore dropped out of the movie about 1970s porn star Linda Lovelace...

Pitt says he and Jolie want to wed

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Hollywood film star Brad Pitt says he and his longtime partner, actress Angelina Jolie, would like to wed. The couple, who have been together seven years and are the parents of six children, previously said they didn't...

Python troupe to reunite for film

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- British writer-comedian Terry Jones told Variety he plans to collaborate with his fellow surviving Monty Python comedy troupe members on a science-fiction film. Jones, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam...

Kardashian to act on 'Drop Dead Diva'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

CULVER CITY, Calif., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. reality TV star Kim Kardashian is to appear in a multiple-episode arc on the comedy series "Drop Dead Diva," Lifetime said Thursday. The show's fourth season is set to begin filming in February, with...

Stern to help Letterman mark 30-year milestone

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. radio icon Howard Stern will help David Letterman celebrate 30 years in late-night television next week, CBS said Thursday. Stern is to make his 21st appearance on Letterman's "Late Show" Wednesday. He previously...

'Bridesmaids' stars to be Oscar presenters

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Six stars from the big-screen comedy "Bridesmaids" are to be presenters at the 84th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, the show's organizers said. Telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced...

'Kotter' co-star Robert Hegyes dead at 60

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Actor Robert Hegyes died Thursday after suffering an apparent heart attack in his Metuchen, N.J., home, his family said. He was 60. Hegyes is a Rowan University graduate best known for his work as Juan Epstein in the 1970s...

Spielberg says 'War Horse' is intended for everyone

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg says he made his new epic "War Horse" for audiences of all ages to enjoy. The 65-year-old Ohio native helmed the film adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's 1982 children's novel...

Uggie, 'Artist' canine co-star, to retire from film

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Uggie, the scene-stealing pooch from "The Artist," will retire from film acting after awards season ends, his U.S. trainer said. Sarah Clifford of the Animal Savvy animal actor agency in Los Angeles told The...

Chesney leads with 9 ACM nods

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Kenny Chesney led the field with nine nods when nominations for America's Academy of Country Music Awards were announced Thursday. Chesney will compete for the top prize of Entertainer of the Year with Jason Aldean, Brad...

'Office' spinoff in the works

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- NBC is developing a spinoff of the U.S. sitcom "The Office," starring Rainn Wilson, television industry insiders told E! News. The new show would be set on the Pennsylvania beet farm/bed and breakfast of Wilson's...

Sajak admits being drunk at the 'Wheel'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 26 (UPI) -- "Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak admits he often drank alcoholic beverages before taping episodes of the U.S. game show in the early 1980s. Sajak, 65, began presenting the program in 1981. "When I first...

'Rain' tops U.S. record chart

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain" is No. 1 on the U.S. record chart, Billboard.com reported Thursday. Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 is Rihanna's "We Found Love" featuring Calvin Harris, followed...

Ne-Yo to handle A&R at Motown

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Grammy Award-winning recording star Ne-Yo has been made an executive of Motown Records, the U.S. label said Wednesday. Ne-Yo is to serve as senior vice president of Motown's Artists and Repertoire division, serving as a producer...

Foster the People booked for Elton Oscar party

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Foster the People has been booked to perform at the Elton John Aids Foundation's 20th annual Academy Awards viewing party in Los Angeles, organizers said. In addition to the performance by the indie pop trio, the fundraising...

Adkins plans 'Songs & Stories' stage tour

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NASHVILLE, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Country music star Trace Adkins says he plans to bring his "Songs & Stories" concert tour to theaters around the United States this spring. The series of stage shows is to kick off March 8 in Des Moines, Iowa,...

Streep to narrate Arctic IMAX movie

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Actress Meryl Streep, who received her 17th Oscar nomination this week, is to narrate "To the Arctic 3D," the documentary's producers said. The film is to open exclusively in IMAX theaters starting April 20, IMAX...

CBS' Lara Logan says she suffers from PTSD

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Broadcast journalist Lara Logan says she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder following her sexual assault in Egypt but she has to "ranger through" it. The 40-year-old CBS News correspondent, a married mother...

Hammer arrested for pot cookies, brownie

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

SIERRA BLANCA, Texas, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Actor Armie Hammer spent a day in a Texas jail after police said they caught him with three medicinal marijuana cookies and a brownie. Hammer, 25, starred in "The Social Network" and "J. Edgar."...

Star Jones to appear on 'The View'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Star Jones, one of the original co-hosts of "The View," is to return to the talk show in New York as a guest next month, ABC announced Wednesday. Jones quit the show on air in 2006 after learning her contract had...

Actor Aaron Johnson a dad again at 21

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LONDON, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Aaron Johnson's publicist confirmed the 21-year-old British actor has become a father for the second time. Johnson is engaged to Sam Taylor-Wood, a 44-year-old artist who directed his film "Nowhere Boy" in 2009. They...

Actor Nicol Williamson dead at 73

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LONDON, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Scottish actor and musician Nicol Williamson has died in Holland following a two-year fight with esophageal cancer, his son Luke said. He was 73. A Shakespearean actor best known for his popular films "The Exorcist III"...

McCartney and Wonder to collaborate again

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LONDON, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- British rock 'n' roll star Paul McCartney says his new album will feature a duet with his "Ebony and Ivory" collaborator Stevie Wonder. The musicians recorded "Ebony and Ivory" together in 1981. It was a...

Nick Cannon back in hospital

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- "America's Got Talent" host Nick Cannon said via Twitter Wednesday he is back in the hospital for a scheduled procedure. Cannon, who is married to pop star Mariah Carey, was hospitalized earlier this month for...

'21' tops U.S. album chart

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Adele's "21" is No. 1 on the U.S. album chart for a 17th week, Billboard.com reported Wednesday. The CD has had the longest reign at the top of the Billboard 200 since "The Bodyguard" soundtrack was...

'New' ABBA album set for April release

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- The Swedish pop group ABBA said on its Web site it plans to release a deluxe edition of its eighth and final album "The Visitors" in April. Like the previous deluxe treatments of ABBA's albums, "The...

Broadway's 'Rebecca' musical postponed

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- The Broadway opening of "Rebecca," a musical adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's gothic novel, has been postponed until the 2012-13 season, producers said. The show, starring Sierra Boggess, was to open April 22 at...

Florence + The Machine set to tour

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Florence + The Machine are planning a 15-city U.S. concert tour, starting in April, the English indie pop band's record label, Universal Republic, said. Presented by MSN, the concert series follows the November release of...

Demi Moore treated for exhaustion

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Demi Moore's publicist says the Hollywood actress, who recently split from her husband, actor Ashton Kutcher, is being treated for exhaustion. People.com quoted a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department as saying...

Milian to guest star on 'Gifted Man'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Singer and actress Christina Milian is to guest star on a February episode of the U.S. drama series "A Gifted Man," CBS announced Tuesday. Milian will play Shawnee Baker, a successful pop star suffering from unusual...

Stars line up to be SAG Awards presenters

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh and Jean Dujardin are confirmed to be presenters at Sunday's Screen Actors Guild Awards show in Los Angeles. Also set to hand out prizes are Kevin Bacon, Tina Fey, John Krasinski...

PBS under fire for 'Downton' jewelry

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LONDON, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- America's Public Broadcasting Service has changed the names of its "Downton Abbey"-inspired jewelry after the British show's producers voiced their disapproval. The Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning costume drama...

Etta James funeral plans set

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- The Rev. Al Sharpton is to officiate and deliver the eulogy at recording star Etta James' private funeral service in Los Angeles, her representative said. James died Jan. 20 at a hospital in Riverside, Calif., of complications...

Danes, Segel set for Hasty Pudding honors

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 24 (UPI) -- The Hasty Pudding Theatricals of Harvard University says it will bestow its Woman and Man of the Year awards on Hollywood stars Claire Danes and Jason Segel. Organizers said they are "proud to honor such accomplished...

Emily Maynard named 'Bachelorette'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0200

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Emily Maynard, winner of Season 15 of "The Bachelor," will star in the companion U.S. dating competition series "The Bachelorette," ABC said Tuesday. Maynard and "Bachelor" star Brad Womack...