Star
Founds Animal Charity
Sunday,
November 23, 2003
Amy
Dumas, who played Thula on James
Cameron's "Dark Angel," has
founded a charity to help animal causes.
Called A.D.O.R.E. (Amy Dumas Operation
Rescue & Education), the
organization's goal is to create
awareness about animal issues and raise
funds to assist groups providing animal
care on a global level. "We'll help
any group from South Dakota to South
Africa as long as it meets the
criteria," said Dumas. The actress,
who recently lost her own beloved dog
Cody to cancer, volunteered her time at
an animal shelter while recuperating
from a broken neck she suffered during a
stunt-gone-awry on the set of "Dark
Angel." Dumas can currently be seen
as "Lita" on Spike TV's
"Raw."
Click
for information on helping A.D.O.R.E.
save animals...
Actors
Come Aboard 'Communication Breakdown'
Sunday,
November 23, 2003
|
Lost
Colony Entertainment has announced
several additions to its upcoming film,
"Communication Breakdown." The
producers, who plan to begin shooting in
early March, are currently concentrating
on casting numerous key roles.
"We've auditioned several hundred
actors," said Richard
O'Sullivan,
the film's director. "Now we just
have to sort through all the tapes and
make the difficult decisions. Our big
regret is that we don't have a part for
everyone we'd like to use."
Click
here for more info...
|
|
TV
Beauty Passes Away
Tuesday,
November 25, 2003
Kellie
Waymire, one of the stars of the cable
series "Six Feet Under" has
died in Venice, California as the result
of a "previously undetected medical
condition." The 36 year old, noted
for her penetrating eyes and smoldering
sexual presence, began her career as a
regular on the soap "One Life to
Live." She went on to make more
than forty appearances in film and
television, including stints on
"Friends," "Star Trek:
Enterprise," "The
X-Files," "Yes, Dear,"
"CSI," "Judging
Amy," "Seinfeld," and
"Ally McBeal." Autopsy results
have not yet been released.
Dude,
Where's My Job?
Tuesday,
November 25, 2003
Demi
Moore's one boy cuddly toy Ashton
Kutcher has been fired from Cameron
Crowe's latest film
"Elizabethtown," reportedly
because the acclaimed director was dissatisfied
with the sitcom star's acting chops. A
source on the set stated that Crowe even
suggested that Kutcher "take some
lessons," an offer which the pop
idol declined. Kutcher then left the
project citing "scheduling
conflicts" as the public reason.
Oscar-winner Steven Soderbergh also
recently nixed plans to work with
Kutcher due to similar professional
concerns.
Glen
Campbell Arrested In Phoenix
Tuesday,
November 25, 2003
|
Glen
Campbell, the country music
icon, was arrested Monday in
Phoenix after he ran into
another vehicle and fled the
scene. Police report that the
singer was charged with extreme
intoxication and hit and run
after the incident took place
late Monday afternoon. Witnesses
say they saw Campbell's BWM
crash into a white Toyota sedan
at an intersection, then drive
away. One driver actually
followed Campbell's car while
calling police on a cell phone.
Also, Campbell was charged with
aggravated assault when he
became combative at the police
station and allegedly kneed a
police officer during a scuffle.
Campbell, 67, was released on an
undisclosed bond amount early
Tuesday morning. |
|
Singer
Meat Loaf Okay Following Heart Surgery
Tuesday,
November 25, 2003
Rock
legend Meat Loaf, who collapsed on a
London stage last Monday, is said to be
recovering after undergoing heart
surgery this past Friday. The 56 year
old singer required the procedure to
treat a defect known as
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a
condition which causes an irregular
heartbeat. Doctors plan to keep the
star, who won critical acclaim as an
actor in the film "Fight
Club," under observation to monitor
his progress. Future tour date plans
have not yet been decided.
Mr.
Blah Blah is Here to Spoil Your Favorite
Shows
Tuesday,
November 25, 2003
If
you don't wanna know what's happening on
TV in the next few weeks, then
please...do NOT click on Mr. Blah Blah's
column. However, if you do wanna gaze
into his amazing small-screen crystal
ball and find out what's happening on
such shows as "Friends,"
"Angel," "Gilmore
Girls," and "Alias"
BEFORE they air, then you've come to the
right place, Brenda.
Click
here to have your TV viewing spoiled...
Actress
Goes From Vampires To Rock & Roll
Monday,
November 24, 2003
Indie
Filmmakers Sue Motion Picture
Association
Monday,
November 24, 2003
A
group of independent producers and
directors -- the most notable being the
legendary Robert Altman -- has filed an
anti-trust lawsuit against the Motion
Picture Association of America and its
head, Jack Valenti. The suit stems from
the MPAA's ban on screeners (video taped
copies of releases, used to stir Oscar
buzz). The filmmakers claim that the
MPAA is in collusion with the major
studios to freeze out indies and create
an unfair marketplace advantage using
unlawful restraint of trade. Upon
hearing of the lawsuit, Lost Colony head
Richard O'Sullivan was quoted as saying,
"Yeah! Fight the motherfucking
power!"
Survivor
Alumni Chosen As New 'View' Host
Monday,
November 24, 2003
Elisabeth
Hasselbeck, the perky blonde from the
Australian Outback version of the CBS
hit 'Survivor', was chosen Monday as the
newest co-host of ABC's all female talk
show 'The View'. The 26 year old former
shoe designer from Massachusetts
survived the three month search that
included Rachel Campos of MTV's The Real
World and Erin Hershey Presley of the
cancelled ABC soap Port Charles.
Hasselbeck's newest gig begins Tuesday
as she replaces Lisa Ling, who left the
daytime show to become host of National
Geographic Explorer.
Aniston
Makes a Half Million Off Pics of Her
Boobies
Monday,
November 24, 2003
Jennifer
Aniston has settled out of court with
Francois Navarre over pictures the
photographer sold to several porn
magazines depicting the
"Friends" star sunbathing nude
in her yard. Navarre agreed to pay the
actress $550,000 for damaging her
reputation, invading her privacy,
trespassing on her property and
misappropriating her name and likeness.
Navarre claims that he didn't physically
scale the wall of her home to take the
photos but does admit to selling them.
Rudin
Snares Hostage Book...Sort Of
Monday,
November 24, 2003
Superproducer
Scott Rudin -- who juggles mega-hits
like rubber balls -- has now started
gobbling up the rights to books that
haven't even been written yet. Rudin,
the producer of such hits as "The
Royal Tenebaums", "Sister Act", "South
Park", and
the "Addams Family" movies, has
purchased a soon-to-be-written novel
from "Black Hawk Down" author
Mark Bowden titled "Guests of the
Ayatollah." The book will detail
the Iranian hostage situation which
brought down the Carter administration.
Rudin, whose latest film, "School
of Rock" scored big at the box
office, has upcoming projects in the
works with such directors as M. Night
Shyamalan ("The Sixth Sense"),
Wes Anderson ("Magnolia"), and
Jonathan Demme ("Silence of the
Lambs").
Forecast
for 'The Weatherman' Looking Brighter
Monday,
November 24, 2003
The
troubled Nicolas Cage project, 'The
Weatherman' just got a new ride. After
being dropped by Sony Pictures, the
Escape Artists production has now been
picked up by Paramount. The film,
written by Steve Conrad ("Wrestling
Ernest Hemmingway") and directed by
Gore Verbinski ("The Ring,"
"Pirates of the Caribbean"),
has been besieged by troubles since its
inception, with many pointing fingers
squarely at the management team at EA.
The project begins shooting February 17.
Liz
Defends Jacko On Boy-Grabbing No-No
Sunday,
November 23, 2003
Out-of-touch
actress Elizabeth Taylor has come out in
support of her freaky-ass friend Michael
Jackson, stating that the "Kink of
Pop" is absolutely, positively,
100% innocent of all charges that he
molested young boys. Filmmaker Richard
O'Sullivan sarcastically concurs.
"So the guy buys small children
from amoral parents and uses them as sex
slaves. Who are we to judge? I mean if a
rich man can't get away with giving 'bad
touch' to hairless young boys in
America, then they might as well tear
down the Statue of Liberty! Besides, you
can question Liz Taylor's acting choices
all you want, but no one can ever say
the woman has bad judgment when it comes
to trusting men." Taylor, 75, has
been married forty-seven times to
twenty-three different husbands.
Not
So 'Friendly' Ice Cream Recalled
Friday,
November 21, 2003
A
Massachusetts ice cream maker, Friendly
Ice Cream Corporation of Wilbraham, has
issued a voluntary recall of one of it's
flavors. The company has stated
that the ice cream may contain a soft,
beige, rubber-like material that could
cause choking if consumed. The
flavor is marketed as "Apple Pie a
La Mode, Limited Edition" and the
half gallon containers are marked with
the lot code "25-26 WC5 SEP 22
04." There has already been
one confirmed case of choking cause by
the product, and the company strongly
warns the public from consuming the
tainted dessert treat.
Photographer
To Stand Trial In Cameron Diaz Case
Friday,
November 21, 2003
Photographer
John Rutter of Los Angeles has been
ordered by a judge to stand trial for
attempting to extort money from actress
Cameron Diaz. Rutter, 41, had in his
possession several topless photos of
Diaz that he was attempting to 'sell'
them to her for $3.3 million dollars.
The pictures were taken by Rutter during
a 1992 photo session, and he claimed he
had a signed release from the Hollywood
star. Prosecutors claimed otherwise,
saying that Rutter had forged the
signature of Diaz on the photo release
form and should be charged with
attempted extortion, attempted grand
theft, forgery and perjury. Diaz has
starred in several major motion
pictures, including the mega-hits
"Charlie's Angels" and
"There's Something About
Mary."
New
Sexiest Man Named
Friday,
November 21, 2003
"21
Jump Street" star Johnny Depp has
been given the prestigious "Sexiest
Man Alive" title by People
magazine, taking over from last year's
"Sexiest Man Alive," Ben
Affleck. Surprisingly, Affleck didn't
make this year's list, leading to
speculation that he had either died or
was no longer sexy. Other 'sexy living
men' edged out by Depp include George
Clooney, LL Cool J, Brad Pitt, and Colin
Farrell. When asked for his comments on
the list, actor Dan Lashley, the star of
the upcoming film "Communication
Breakdown," was quoted as saying,
"I don't care about that fucking
list and I don't need some stupid girly
magazine to tell me I'm sexy. I could
sell this ass for top dollar on any
street in North America and that's all
that matters to me."
Rock
Hall Tabs Seven For Serious
Fame-Oriented Activities
Friday,
November 21, 2003
The
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has
announced that it will induct seven new
names into its legions on March 15 at
the beautiful Waldorf Astoria. Jackson
Browne, Bob Seger, ZZ Top, Traffic (with
Steve Winwood), The Dells, and first
time nominees Prince and George Harrison
(who is already in as a Beatle) will be
honored by peers and fans alike at the
19th annual ceremony in New York. Ringo
Starr now remains the only member of the
Fab Four's most popular line-up not to
be inducted into the HOF as a solo
artist.
Film
to Raise Money Through Public Offering
Friday,
November 21, 2003
Producer/director
Keith Gordon, who has made such films as
"The Legend of Billie Jean,"
"Walking the Dead," and the
current release "The Singing
Detective," has announced that he
will attempt to raise capital for his
next project, "Billy Dead" --
an intense murder mystery involving an incestuous
Michigan family -- through an initial
public offering. "Independent films
are breaking out of the system,"
said Gordon. "So why shouldn't the
financing as well?" Ethan Hawke is
attached to star in IPO-backed
"Billy Dead," planned for
release in 2005.
Actress
Goes From Star Wars To Superman?
Friday,
November 21, 2003
Film
star Natalie Portman, best known for her
role as Princess Amidala in the
"Star Wars" series, is
reportedly being pursued by famed
director Richard Donner, who hopes to
get her to star as Daily Planet reporter
Lois Lane (opposite Brendan Fraser's
Clark Kent) in his upcoming
"Superman" film scheduled for
release in 2006. Donner, the director of
the current film "Timeline,"
helmed the first two Christopher Reeve
"Superman" flicks more than
two decades ago. Donner took over from
departing director, McG ("Charlie's
Angels").
Ted
Turner Calling Shots Again at CNN?
Friday,
November 21, 2003
Despite
the fact that Time-Warner has named Jim
Walton the new President of the Cable
News Network, the news channel's
cofounder Reese Schonfeld is telling
people that Ted Turner is back and
actually calling the shots from behind
the scenes. Apparently Turner, who more
or less parted company with Time-Warner
as an active cog in their corporate
machine two years ago, is now "in
the ear" of the conglomerate's
Chairman Richard Parsons, who reportedly
confers with the maverick billionaire on
every matter regarding CNN.
Congress
Fights Bush Over Helping TV Monopolies
Friday,
November 21, 2003
It
appears that a new spending bill will
breeze through both Houses of Congress,
which will bar the FCC from enforcing a
new rule allowing major broadcasting
networks to control the lions share of
all federally licensed TV stations.
President Bush, a major proponent of the
new rule (which gives the networks a 45%
of the television audience, thus
squeezing independent broadcasters out
of almost half the market), has said he
would veto the bill but analysts believe
that Bush is bluffing.
Record
Producer Phil Spector Charged In Death
Of Actress
Thursday,
November 20, 2003
Phil
Spector was charged Thursday in the
death of actress Lana Clarkson. The body
of the 41 year old B-movie actress was
found this past February 3rd in
Spector's Alhambra, California home.
Spector initially claimed the incident
was a suicide and was released at that
time on $1 million bond. The 63 year old
record producer, known for creating the
legendary "Wall of Sound"
recording style, had first met Clarkson
at the House of Blues in Los Angeles,
where she worked as a hostess.
Clarkson's most notable movie roles were
in the cult classics "Amazon Women
On The Moon" and "The
Barbarian Queen." Prosecutors said
that although Spector would remain free
on bail, he would be making a court
appearance Thursday afternoon.
Actor
Accused of Molesting Himself
Thursday,
November 20, 2003
In
a shocking turn of events, actor Brian
Heffron has accused himself of touching
his own private parts. In a tearful
interview, Heffron said, "It
started when I was 11 and has gone on
for almost two decades now. At first it
was exciting. Now I just feel
dirty." Heffron reportedly tried to
turn himself into police, who just
laughed at him and offered him a donut.
"I don't know what's so goddamn
funny," said Heffron. "I
diddled myself and should be
punished." Director Richard
O'Sullivan called the allegations
"outrageous and scandalous"
and said "I know Brian's a jackoff
but this is just ridiculous." When
asked if this was just a pathetic
attempt to promote his upcoming film,
"Communication Breakdown,"
Heffron shouted "Look! J-Lo and
Britney!," then ran when everyone
turned away.
'New
Blair Witch' Screens This Weekend
Thursday,
November 20, 2003
A
film many people are calling "the
new Blair Witch" (due to its
breakout potential rather than its
storytelling techniques) will screen at
the Southern Exposure Film Forum this
Saturday and Sunday at 2:15 pm in
Charlotte, North Carolina. "Ghost
of the Needle" opened at the Cannes
Film Festival and has been racking up
festival awards left and right. The
film, a psychological thriller from
Brian and Laurence Avenet-Bradley, stars
Greg Thompson ("Dawson's
Creek" and the Richard
O'Sullivan-penned
"AfterLife").
Click
here for more info on the screening...
Seaquest
Star Dies
Wednesday,
November 19, 2003
According
to an article in The Cleveland Plain
Dealer, former child star Jonathan
Brandis has died in Los Angeles of an
apparent suicide. The 27 year old actor,
who starred in such films as "Lady
Bugs" and "Never Ending Story
II" as a kid, was perhaps best
known for his role as a teenage
submarine crew member on the Steven
Spielberg TV show, "Seaquest
DSV," which starred Roy Scheider.
Friends say Brandis had been suffering
side effects from a drug called
Accutrane, a medication used to treat severe
acne, which may have led to the
depression which caused him to take his
life. Brandis most recently appeared in
the film entitled "The Year That
Trembled."
Pigs
Finger Jacko in Boy Touching Shocker
Wednesday,
November 19, 2003
An
arrest warrant for perverted pop star
Michael Jackson has been issued
following revelations that the weirdo
singer diddled yet another little boy.
The Grammy-winner, a frequent guest at
the White House over the years, is the
father/owner of two small children
himself. This development sent
shockwaves throughout the pedophile
community. An anonymous source inside
the Vatican suggested "making the
whole thing go away and simply
reassigning Michael to another part of
the Neverland Ranch" while NAMBLA
issued a statement calling the Jackson
bust "the biggest assault on
man/boy love since Mr. Drummond busted
Mr. Carlson for diggin' on Dudley in
that very special Diff'rent
Strokes."
Lost
Colony Pays Tribute to Cult Director
Tuesday,
November 18, 2003
In
an effort to be "more like
Oprah," Lost Colony Entertainment
has launched its own book club...well,
sorta. "We wanted to do our part to
enrich the lives of others by
encouraging literacy, but then we
realized most of our target audience
thinks books are for sissies," said
Richard O'Sullivan. "Therefore, we
started a DVD club instead." As
such, LCE will pick one unheralded DVD
(or collection of DVDs) each month and
proceed to herald the holy hell out of
it. Up first is "Straight to Hell:
The Alex Cox Collection," a boxed
set featuring four films from the
director whose films (such as "Repo
Man" and "Sid &
Nancy") inspired O'Sullivan to
write and make movies with an edge.
"If you wanna blame someone for
making me wanna do this shit, Alex Cox
is the guy to yell at."
Click
here for more info on the DVD...
Reiser
Produces Smothers Brothers Movie
Tuesday,
November 18, 2003
Comic
Paul Reiser is producing what some are
calling "the first ever
mocumentary/biopic hybrid in
history," detailing the careers of
the legendary comedy duo, the Smothers
Brothers (Tommy and Dick). The film,
which all involved hope will air on NBC,
will be helmed, poetically enough, by
current "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
director David Steinberg, who is
credited/blamed for getting the
Smothers' CBS variety series cancelled
due to his performance of a comedy skit
about Moses. The Smothers Brothers
themselves are expected to star in the
film.
Most
Expensive 'Indie' Film Ever Picked Up By
Disney
Tuesday,
November 18, 2003
At
a time when the term "independent
filmmaking" evokes thoughts of
guerilla crews sneaking shots on
unauthorized locations with handheld DV
cameras, the thought of an indie project
having an $80 million price tag is mind-blowing.
However, until a few days ago that's
exactly what the Jackie Chan vehicle,
"Around the World in 80 Days,"
was classified as. Directed by Frank
Coraci, the retelling of the Jules Verne
classic was produced -- without
distribution being in place -- by Denver
billionaire Philip Anschutz. Starring
Kathy Bates and the Wilson brothers
(Owen and Luke), the expensive flick has
now been picked up by Disney and is
slated for a summer release. Anschutz's
production company Walden Media had
previously signed a two-picture
first-look deal with Disney which didn't
cover "80 Days."
Steve
Martin Starring In Pink Panther Revival
Tuesday,
November 18, 2003
Comedian
Steve Martin has signed to star as the
fumbling-bumbling Inspector Clouseau in
the upcoming MGM prequel, "The
Birth Of The Pink Panther."
The film will be released in time for
the 40th anniversary of the original
Pink Panther series which featured the
late Peter Sellers as Clouseau and the
unmistakable music of Henry Mancini.
Martin, who is earning a reputation as a
"remake specialist" (with such
films as "Father of the Bride"
and "The Out-of-Towners"), was
said to be "a perfect choice
for the role" by director Shawn
Levy.
Fifteen
Million People Find Nemo DVD
Tuesday,
November 18, 2003
Although
still showing in theaters, the recent
release of the Disney-Pixar film,
"Finding Nemo," has vaulted
into the number one position on the DVD
sales charts. The animated underwater
adventure sold some 15 million copies
during the past two weeks, easily
surpassing the successful DVD release of
last year's mega-hit
"Spiderman." Bob Chapek, the
president of Buena Vista Entertainment,
says that Nemo could approach the all
time record for home video/DVD sales
currently held by the 1995 film
"The Lion King," which moved
some 32 million copies worldwide.
Rock
Star Meat Loaf In London Hospital
Tuesday,
November 18, 2003
Rock
legend Meat Loaf is in the hospital
after collapsing during a concert at
London's Wembley Arena. Preliminary
reports reveal that the singer was
suffering from exhaustion brought on by
a viral infection. Doctors say the 56
year old performer will be held at the
facility for further tests and that his
condition is not life threatening.
Another Meat Loaf concert, scheduled for
Tuesday, has been cancelled.
Actress
Writes Book to Help Child Actors
Monday,
November 17, 2003
In
an attempt to help children and their
parents avoid the pitfalls of pursuing
show biz careers, respected actress
Lucia Forte ("Dawson's Creek,"
Oprah Winfrey's "Amy &
Isabelle") has written a how-to
book, entitled Acting Up: How to Get
Your Kidz in the Biz, which is
garnering rave reviews for its direct,
common sense approach. In addition to
being an acting teacher and performer
herself, Forte's husband is also a
producer and her kids (all surprisingly
sane and well-adjusted) act as well,
thus
bringing her a unique perspective on an
often-confusing topic.
Click
here for more info on the book...
Jerry
Lewis Goes to Rehab
Monday,
November 18, 2003
Funnyman
Jerry Lewis has checked into a drug
clinic to kick an addiction to steroids.
The 77 year old comedian had been taking
the muscle-building drugs to fight
pulmonary fibrosis but now feels it's
gotten out of hand. The star shocked
friends and fans alike this past year
when he appeared on his annual Labor Day
telethon looking grotesquely bloated.
Lewis was reported to have frightened
several of the wheelchair-bound children
supported by his charity.
Doherty's
Husband Puts It To Paris Hilton Again
Monday,
November 18, 2003
Producer
Rick Solomon -- best known in Hollywood
as Mr. Shannen Doherty -- has sued hotel
heiress Paris Hilton, her parents, and
her publicist for defamation of
character to the tune of $10 million.
Hilton's camp claims that Solomon took
advantage of Paris when he shot the
homemade porn tape of himself having sex
with her that's currently making the
rounds online, stating that the
out-of-control hottie was underage and
incapacitated when the video was
produced. Solomon insists the porn was
shot when Paris was 21 and in full of
control of her own free will.
CBS
Czar Dies of Cancer
Monday,
November 18, 2003
Controversial
"self made" billionaire
Laurence Tisch has died in New York of
gastric cancer. The former Chairman and
CEO of the CBS television network, Tisch
was, at least for a time, an agent of
the Office of Strategic Services (the
organization that would essentially
become the CIA) before later "self
making" his fortune in hotels,
tobacco, and broadcasting. The
Brooklyn-born Tisch served as head
honcho of the Tiffany network from 1986
until 1995, a stint which earned him a
reputation as a slash and burn boss who
ruled with an iron fist. Admirers of the
exec paint a different picture of him
though, pointing out his work raising
millions of dollars for charities. Tisch
was 80.
'Mummy
Dearest?' Ancient Greek Play To Be
Performed
Monday,
November 18, 2003
The
modern-day premiere of a play written
more than two thousand years ago will take
place next summer in Cyprus and Greece,
according to the national theatre
company of Cyprus. Several pages of the
work, written by legendary Greek
playwright Aeschylus (often called the
Father of Tragedy by scholars), was
discovered inside Egyptian mummies.
Elias Malandris, a Greek author,
spearheaded a decade-long project to
fill out the remaining body of the play.
Lost
Colony Launches Radio Service
Sunday, November 16, 2003
The
long-awaited Lost Colony Radio Network
is now on the air at this very website.
You can listen 24/7 to the online
version of WUWP ("The Big
Whoop"), the station featured in
the upcoming film, "Communication
Breakdown."
Click
here to listen to the station...
Britney
Takes Libertarian Stance
Sunday, November 16, 2003
Pop
idol Britney Spears, who received a
death threat recently from the wife of
the Maryland Governor for being "a
bad role model," has taken a decidedly
libertarian approach regarding her place
in the cultural landscape. ''These
parents, they think I'm a role model for
their kids, that their kids look at me
as some sort of idol," she said in
the most recent issue of Entertainment
Weekly magazine. "But it's the
parents' job to make sure their kids
don't turn out that shallow. It's the
parents who should be teaching their
kids how to behave. That's not my
responsibility. I'm not responsible for
your kid.'' While agreeing with her
position, a tearful spokesperson for the
Libertarian Party was unsure that having
Britney on their side was a good thing,
saying emphatically "Ewww."
Private
Lynch's Nude Photos To Remain Private
Tuesday, November
11, 2003
Larry
Flynt, the owner of 'Hustler' magazine,
has issued a statement that he would not
publish the nude photos of Jessica Lynch
he purchased last month. According to
Flynt's statement to the Associated
Press on Tuesday, he felt that Lynch was
"a good kid" and that she had
become "a pawn for the
government." Flynt, who was
paralyzed in 1978 during an
assassination attempt, feels that
"some things are more important
than money" and he wants to do the
right thing.
Art
Carney Dies
Tuesday, November
11, 2003
Oscar-winning
actor Art Carney ("Harry and Tonto")
has died at the age of 85. The legend,
best remembered as the loveable doofus
Ed Norton on the legendary Jackie
Gleason sitcom "The
Honeymooners," made hundreds of
appearances in film and television and
was last seen on-screen in the 1993
Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle,
"Last Action Hero." A native
of Mount Vernon, New York, Carney first
rose to fame in the 1930's as one of the
voices of the popular
"Gangbusters" radio show.
Who's
The Boss Of Daytime Talk Shows?
Tuesday, November
11, 2003
Tony
Danza is returning to the boob tube.
Buena Vista Television, a division of
the Walt Disney Company, released a
statement confirming that the former
star of 'Taxi' and 'Who's The Boss?'
will be featured on a new daytime talk
show aimed at a female demographic. The
show, to air in syndication, is unnamed
at this time, and the air date will be
announced soon. Danza has spent the past
eight years touring with his own musical
review show.
Springer
Opera Opens In London
Monday, November 10, 2003
Famed
talk show host Jerry Springer was in
London today to witness the opening of
the opera based on his talk show. The
opera, written by British composer
Richard Thomas, features such scenes as
a diaper fetishist revealing his secret
life to a loved one, a dance routine by
the KKK, and a profanity-laced exchange
between Jesus and the Devil. Thomas said
the opera was a perfect format for this
show because "there are people
screaming at each other and you can't
understand what they're saying!"
Asian Man
Sets World Record
Monday, November 10, 2003
Boontawee
Siengwong, a 26 year old self-proclaimed
'bug wrangler', set a new world record
by spending 28 days inside of a glass
box with 1,000 centipedes. The event
took place in Thailand and Siengwong's
grand prize included $1,000, a watch,
and a motorcycle. He said he dedicated
his efforts to his girlfriend, who last
year had set her own record by being
inside a glass box of her own for 32
days with thousands of live scorpions.
'Lord
of the Vampires' Director Anxious to
Stretch
Sunday, November 9, 2003
Prolific
indie director Brad Sykes, best known
for such cult horror flicks as
"Lord of the Vampires,"
"Death Factory," and "The
Coven," says he's anxious to move
out of the horror genre and try his hand
at straight drama or comedy. The
filmmaker, deemed "the hardest
working man in slasher cinema," has
cranked out sixteen scary features in
just five years, no small feat for a man
who began his Hollywood career as a mere
production assistant on the 1997 Morgan
Freeman vehicle, "Kiss the
Girls." Sykes currently has several
projects in various stages of
production.
Prince
Charles Denies Schtumping His Man
Servant
Sunday, November 9, 2003
In
a freaky lot of beeswax, British courts
have ruled that tabloids in the UK are
forbidden from publishing promised
details of an alleged sexual encounter
Prince Charles had with a male valet.
Though no one is allowed to publicly
mention that there was such an incident,
Charles has stated emphatically that it
never happened, thus adding to the
confusion of a nation which already has no
idea what the hell is going on to
begin with. A spokesperson for
Buckingham Palace called the affair
"Very Seinfeld."
The
WB's 'Tarzan' Goes on Hiatus
Saturday, November
8, 2003
The
latest retelling of the Edgar Rice
Burroughs' classic, 'Tarzan,' has shut
down production in Vancouver after
performing weakly in the WB network's
graveyard Sunday night slot. Starring
attractive newcomers Travis Fimmel and
Sarah Wayne Callies as the modern day
Tarzan and Jane, the show was unlike
earlier filmed versions of the
jungle-locked adventure in that it
maintained the primal fury of the novel
without going the high camp route.
In this one, Jane was a New York City
detective and Tarzan was a fugitive on
the loose in the city, wrongly accused
of killing Jane's boyfriend (also a
cop). With TV veterans Mitch Pileggi
('The X-Files') and 'Xena' star Lucy
Lawless adding strong support as
Tarzan's aunt and uncle (the battling
heirs to the Greystoke family fortune),
the show had all the elements to be a
cult hit. Masterful insertion of
meaningful alternative music; amazingly
choreographed action and fight scenes;
deft writing; and just the right touch
of soap/epic mythology to appeal to fans
of the 'Buffy' and 'Smallville'
franchises. Lost Colony head Richard
O'Sullivan is disappointed with the
cancellation. "Great show. Hooked
me the first five minutes of the pilot
and never turned loose. I hope the WB
isn't getting a touch of Fox-itis
because they should not give up
on this one."
Bruce
Not So 'Almighty' In Egypt
Saturday, November
8, 2003
An
Egyptian censorship group has announced
that the comedy 'Bruce Almighty' cannot
be shown in the Middle Eastern country.
According to spokesperson Madkour
Thabit, head of a state run group
that monitors audio and visual projects
for the government, the film crosses the
line in its portrayal of God. In
a statement to the Associated Press,
Thabit said that "the name of
the movie — 'Bruce Almighty' —
indicates that there is someone who can
do anything and everything. Such
traits belong only to God."
This is not the first major motion
picture to be banned in Egypt.
Back in June, the authorities also refused
to allow 'The Matrix Reloaded' to
be shown in the country on the grounds
that the movie openly promoted debate on
the topics of existence and creation.
Come
On Get Happy! Partridge Family To Make
Comeback
Saturday, November
8, 2003
VH1
has announced plans to bring back the
Partridge Family. An updated
version of the 1970s sitcom, being
produced by the television division of
Sony, will hit the small screen
sometime in 2004. While
specifics on casting and storylines
have yet to be announced, plans are
definitely in motion for the Partridge
clan to return in some form.
Actor Brian Forster, who played the
role of little drummer boy Chris
Partridge from 1970-74, was elated
upon hearing the news. The 43
year old Forster was quoted as saying,
"Maybe I'll be working
again!".
Talent Agency
Accused of Bilking Clients
Friday, November 7, 2003
Charlotte-area
talent agency Win-Win Productions has
drawn fire from former clients who claim
that the company charges unnecessary
fees while making unrealistic business
claims. Actors formerly served by the
agency, based in Rock Hill, S.C., say
Win-Win charged them $165 for a
prerequisite medical exam before
agreeing to represent them, an unheard
of process among reputable agencies. The
company, which promised to find actors
paying jobs of $600 a day or more, had
contracted a private health provider to
conduct the exams (at a cost of $20 per
client) and profited some $11,000 in the
process. Win-Win also charged clients an
additional $35 to "build their
resumes." North Carolina ranks
behind only New York and Los Angeles as
a center for entertainment production,
bringing in $230,844,586 from producers
of films, television shows, and
commercials in the past year alone.
