Sheikh ‘planned Jackson revival’
November 18, 2008
Michael Jackson stayed in Bahrain three years ago
The King of Bahrain’s son planned to revive Michael Jackson’s career with songs he had written himself, London’s High Court has heard.
Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa also gave the pop star financial support, his lawyer said.
Hollywood out of step with American morals: poll
November 17, 2008
Hollywood out of step with American morals: poll
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A majority of Americans say Hollywood doesn’t share their moral values, according to a poll commissioned by the Anti-Defamation League, a group that fights anti-Semitism.
Charlize Theron named U.N. peace messenger
November 16, 2008
Charlize Theron named U.N. peace messenger
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Oscar-winning South African-born actress Charlize Theron was named a United Nations messenger of peace on Friday, with a special focus on ending violence against women.
Madonna appeals to fans to donate to Malawi school
November 15, 2008
Madonna appeals to fans to donate to Malawi school
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop diva Madonna is asking fans to donate money so she can build a girls’ school in Malawi for underprivileged children.
Julianne Hough twists again on “Dancing with the Stars”
November 13, 2008
Julianne Hough twists again on “Dancing with the Stars”
After having her appendix removed only two weeks ago, popular dancer Julianne Hough made her comeback on “Dancing with the Stars” Tuesday, twisting the night away with her brother, Derek Hough, to the tune of Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire”.
And Hough’s partner on the show, “Hannah Montana” star Cody Linley, was glad to have her back. In a segment with relationship expert Drew Pinsky, better known as Dr. Drew, the 18-year-old Cody opened up about his feelings for Julianne.
With tears streaming, Cody said he worried about Julianne during her hospitalization, which was related to complications from a condition called endometriosis. “She’s an amazing person who has let me grow as a person,” a tearful Cody said. Dr. Drew put a box of tissues between Cody and Julianne, who sat nearby also crying. All the couples got the Dr. Drew treatment on Tuesday, but the other contestants limited their concerns to overcoming rehearsal room sniping, while Julianne and Cody were the only ones to cry tears over their friendship.
The fans’ desire to see Cody and Julianne dance together again, after pro dancer Edyta Sliwinska 
stepped in as a replacement partner for Julianne, could have earned Cody some votes this week as he escaped elimination. Instead, Olympic sprinter Maurice Greene and his partner Cheryl Burke were voted off.
Burke told Greene that in her years on “Dancing with the Stars” she has never encountered a partner who worked harder. And playing off their catchphrase “winner, winner chicken dinner,” Burke told Greene, “You will always be the winner, winner chicken dinner of my heart.” And with that, four couples were left to compete next week.
Jennifer Aniston on Angelina Jolie: “really uncool”
November 12, 2008
Jennifer Aniston on Angelina Jolie:
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In the three years since Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston ended their Hollywood marriage, Aniston has barely said a word about the break-up and the woman who stole Pitt’s heart, Angelina Jolie.
But in an interview for the December issue of Vogue magazine, Aniston finally talks about the split and the Oscar-winning actress who is now Pitt’s companion, saying the way Jolie revealed details of her relationship with “Ocean’s Eleven” star was “really uncool.”
Aniston, 39, told Vogue Jolie should not have given a detailed account of how her relationship with Pitt developed on the set of the 2005 movie “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” when Aniston and Pitt were still together. Those details were revealed in Jolie’s 2007 interview with Vogue.
“There was stuff printed there that was definitely from a time when I was unaware that it was happening,” Aniston said.
“That stuff about how she couldn’t wait to get to work every day? That was really uncool,” said Aniston.
Aniston and Pitt finalized their divorce in August 2005 after announcing their separation in January that year.
Pitt and Jolie now have three biological children and three adopted children, and are involved in humanitarian causes. They have emerged as one of Hollywood’s most influential couples.
Aniston also has a lot of clout in Hollywood. She starred in the hit former television sitcom “Friends,” and in 2002 won an Emmy for her role in the show.
She has also starred in movies including “Friends with Money” and the upcoming “Marley and Me.”
In the Vogue interview, Aniston says she still talks to Pitt and occasionally the two exchange “very kind hellos and wishing you wells.”
“I have nothing but admiration for him and … I’m proud of him!,” Aniston said, adding the divorce “never was that bad.”
“I mean, in the end, we really had an amicable split. It wasn’t mean and hateful and all of this stuff they tried to create. … It just didn’t happen. The marriage didn’t work out.”
Obama daughters asked to appear on “Hannah Montana”
November 11, 2008
Obama daughters asked to appear on
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama’s two young daughters have been invited to appear on popular kids television show “Hannah Montana,” actor Billy Ray Cyrus said an interview aired on Monday.
Cyrus, the father of “Hannah Montana” star Miley Cyrus and also an actor on the hit Disney Channel show, said the show had asked Malia, 10, and Sasha Obama, 7, to take part in an episode possibly around April.
“They probably will. The invitation is there,” Cyrus told Access Hollywood in an interview. “You know the ‘Hannah Montana’ film comes out in April. Maybe something might happen around then.”
Pressed for details, Cyrus said; “I can’t, I can’t. I have got to keep a secret.”
“Hannah Montana”, in which Miley Cyrus plays a school girl with a secret life as a pop star, is one of the most popular kids television series in the United States with a huge audience and merchandising empire worth about $1 billion.
Obama has said in interviews that Malia is a big fan of “Hannah Montana,” but the Obamas have shielded the girls from the media and it remains to be seen whether they will want their daughters to take part in the show.
Miley Cyrus, who turns 16 later this month, told Access Hollywood she did not know for certain if the offer had gone out, but she added; “I think that would be really cool and if anything, have them visit the set.”
Cartoon critters, James Bond draw moviegoers
November 10, 2008
Cartoon critters, James Bond draw moviegoers
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The zoo animals of “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” ruled the roost at the weekend box office in North America, while James Bond was the big shot across the rest of the world.
According to studio estimates issued on Sunday, DreamWorks Animation’s “Madagascar” sequel sold $63.5 million worth of tickets in U.S. and Canadian theaters.
The three-day sum blew past forecasts of an opening in the $50 million range, as young children dragged their parents to see the latest exploits of Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer), and their pals.
Its 2005 predecessor, “Madagascar,” opened to $47.2 million during its first three days, and finished with $193.6 million domestically.
Both films were distributed by Viacom Inc’s Paramount Pictures on behalf of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. The sequel cost $150 million to make and an additional $175 million to market worldwide, DreamWorks Animation said.
A DreamWorks official said it was too early to tell if there would be a third feature, but the studio was “definitely encouraged” by the start for the new film.
James Bond was the man of the moment everywhere else as “Quantum of Solace” claimed the top spot in all 60 of its foreign markets with a weekend haul of $106.5 million, distributor Columbia Pictures said.
It ranks as the second-biggest international weekend of 2008, behind the $146 million bow of the fourth “Indiana Jones” film, the studio said.
Daniel Craig’s second outing as the super sleuth beat the opening for his 2006 debut “Casino Royale” in every market, in some cases with double the numbers.
‘ROLE MODELS’ SURPRISES
Having got a head start last weekend in Britain, France and Sweden, the film’s 10-day total now stands at $160.3 million. Top markets included Britain with $15.1 million (10-day total, $50 million), Germany with $15.0 million, Russia and China with $9.1 million each, and South Korea with $4.5 million.
The $200 million film opens on North America on Friday. Columbia, a unit of Sony Corp, oversaw production, marketing and distribution of the film, which is billed as a joint release with closely held Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Elsewhere in North America, the raunchy comedy “Role Models” opened at No. 2 with a better-than-expected haul of $19.3 million. Pre-release forecasts had the film opening in the $11 million range. Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd play two guys who are sentenced to act as big brothers for a pair of troubled youngsters. It was released by Universal Pictures, a unit of General Electric Co Inc’s NBC Universal.
After two weeks at No. 1, Walt Disney Co’s “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” slipped to No. 3 with $9.3 million. Its total now stands at $75.7 million.
Not all was splendid at the box office. “Soul Men,” an urban-skewing comedy starring Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac, opened at No. 6 with just $5.6 million. “Soul Men” also features soul icon Isaac Hayes, who died the day after Mac in August. The film was distributed by MGM.
Britney joins Madonna on US stage
November 9, 2008
Madonna was joined on stage by Britney Spears during her show at the Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Dressed in a white shirt and black wide-leg trousers, Spears walked on stage to rapturous applause during Madonna’s song Human Nature.
She sang a few lines before Madonna spun her around and kissed her hand.
Later on in the show, Spears’ former boyfriend Justin Timberlake joined Madonna on stage to sing 4 Minutes with the 50-year-old pop star.
Spears had been rumoured to appear at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Liverpool on the same night.
Although she did not attend, the star still scooped two gongs including act of the year and album of the year for Blackout.
The singer accepted her awards with recorded video messages.
Spears and Madonna’s most famous appearance on stage together was at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2003.
The pair made when headlines when they kissed on stage.
Source: bbc.co.uk/
“Jurassic Park” author Michael Crichton dies at 66
November 6, 2008
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Best-selling U.S. author Michael Crichton, who wrote such novels as “The Andromeda Strain” and “Jurassic Park” and created the popular TV drama “ER,” has died unexpectedly of cancer at age 66, his family said on Wednesday.
Crichton, a medical doctor turned novelist and filmmaker whose books have sold more than 150 million copies worldwide, died on Tuesday in Los Angeles after what his family described as a “courageous and private battle against cancer.”