News
1. William Claxton, photographer of music, Hollywood and fashion stars, dies in Calif. at 80
By Associated Press - October 12, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ William Claxton, a celebrated photographer who worked with such entertainers as Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra and who helped establish the organization that runs the Grammy Awards, has died. He was 80.Claxton died Saturday at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of...
2. Campbell Scott portrays an unscrupulous journalist on a quest for fame in 'The Atheist'
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - October 12, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ As journalists go, Augustine Early is an unrepentant reprobate, a bottom-feeder who ferociously chases celebrity, particularly if it means the advancement of his own career.By all rights, he should be the kind of guy you would hate to spend time with, but in "The Atheist," Ronan...
3. 42 British writers use satire, essays, fiction to protest terror detention proposal
By NANCY ZUCKERBROD - October 12, 2008
LONDON (AP) _ Dozens of renowned British writers came out against new anti-terrorism legislation Sunday, publishing a collection of satire, essays, fiction and poetry to protest a proposal allowing police to hold suspects without charge for up to 42 days.Forty-two authors including Monica Ali,...
4. At Jack Kerouac's Orlando home, emerging writers find inspiration, solace in old neighborhood
By SARAH LARIMER - October 11, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) _ This city in a region of mouse ears and outlet malls was once home to Jack Kerouac, and it may be incubating a successor.Five decades ago, the Beat Generation author wrote "The Dharma Bums" in 11 days in a small, tin-roofed house near downtown Orlando and received the first...
5. Angelina Jolie: Obama win would be nice for family, but issues more important than background
By Associated Press - October 11, 2008
BERLIN (AP) _ Angelina Jolie isn't giving away who she's backing in the U.S. presidential election, but she does have good things to say about Barack Obama.The actress and activist tells the German edition of Vanity Fair that the Democratic contender for president comes down on the same side of...
6. Singer Lisa Marie Presley gives birth to twin girls; babies happy, healthy, publicist says
By Associated Press - October 11, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Lisa Marie Presley is a mom again. A publicist says the 40-year-old singer gave birth Tuesday to twin girls, whose names were not released. One baby weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces and the other came in at 5 pounds and 2 ounces.A statement released Saturday says Presley gave birth by...
7. Publication of 'Jewel of Medina' delayed in UK after firebombing of publisher's office, home
By GREGORY KATZ - October 11, 2008
LONDON (AP) _ A British company has delayed publication of a controversial novel about one of the Prophet Muhammad's wives after its offices were fire-bombed, a magazine reported Saturday.The Bookseller magazine said on its Web site that Gibson Square publishing has decided to postpone the...
8. Automakers put products in TV shows' starring roles as a way to boost interest in key vehicles
By BREE FOWLER - October 11, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ In this fall's TV season, a secret agent speeds around in a Chevrolet Camaro, a man tries to save the world with the help of a Dodge Ram pickup, and a famous talking car returns to the streets in the form of a Ford Mustang.With auto sales at 15-year lows and traditional TV...
9. Academy Award winner Tim Robbins praised at unveiling of star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
By Associated Press - October 10, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Tim Robbins is known in Hollywood as an Academy Award-winning actor, director, activist and hockey fanatic. On Friday, he added comedian to his repertoire while getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame."I used to take the bus from here to Burbank to go to work," he recalled. "...
10. Cloris Leachman says she's thrilled to be grand marshal of 120th Tournament of Roses
By Associated Press - October 10, 2008
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) _ Cloris Leachman has been chosen as grand marshal for next year's Rose Parade.The actress, who has an Oscar and eight Emmys, will head the 120th Tournament of Roses on Jan. 1 in Pasadena. The parade's theme is "Hats Off to Entertainment."The 82-year-old "Dancing With the...
11. Photographer suing Keanu Reeves wants word 'paparazzo' banned during upcoming trial
By Associated Press - October 10, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ A celebrity photographer wants to make "paparazzo" a four-letter word during his upcoming civil trial against Keanu Reeves.Attorneys for Alison Silva contend the words "paparazzo" and "paparazzi" are derogatory and would unfairly prejudice jurors against him. Silva is suing...
12. Stage and soap actress Eileen Herlie of 'All My Children,' dies at 90
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - October 10, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Eileen Herlie, a stage and TV actress who appeared on "All My Children" for more than three decades as the motherly Myrtle Fargate, has died at 90.Herlie died Wednesday of pneumonia, said Julie Hanan Carruthers, the ABC soap opera's executive producer.The actress joined the...
13. Call him mellow, gray: Donovan releases autobiographical DVD, plans album, tour
By MICHAEL HILL - October 10, 2008
WOODSTOCK, N.Y. (AP) _ Standing in the rain wasn't going to dampen Donovan's spirits.He had come to a field in this Catskills arts colony to be photographed, looking every bit the '60s troubadour of "Mellow Yellow" fame with a calf-length, black velveteen coat and long graying curls. The...
14. Rocker Meat Loaf hospitalized in London for 3 days; reason for hospitalization not disclosed
By Associated Press - October 10, 2008
LONDON (AP) _ A publicist for Meat Loaf says the 57-year-old rocker was hospitalized in London for three days following an awards ceremony earlier this week.Publicist Kirt Webster says Meat Loaf was admitted to a private hospital in central London on Monday, immediately after winning Q Magazine's "...
15. Drummer of heavy-metal band Metallica to sell painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat at NYC auction
By Associated Press - October 10, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Lars Ulrich, songwriter and drummer for the heavy-metal band Metallica, is selling a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting from his art collection that could set a new auction record for the artist, Christie's said Friday."Untitled (Boxer)" was painted in 1982 by Basquiat, a graffiti artist...
16. Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee moderates debate for Puero Rico governor candidates
By Associated Press - October 10, 2008
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) _ Tom Brokaw, Jim Lehrer, Gwen Ifill — and Daddy Yankee?The 31-year-old reggaeton star shed his trademark sunglasses to help moderate a televised debate Thursday among candidates for governor of Puerto Rico, in an effort to lure young voters to the polls Nov. 4.The...
17. Nobel literature jury suspects leak after surprising number of bettors chose Le Clezio
By Associated Press - October 10, 2008
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) _ A surprising number of bettors correctly chose French writer Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio to win the 2008 Nobel Prize for literature — leading the Nobel prize jury to suspect a leak.The annual Nobel selection by the Swedish Academy is notoriously hard to guess, but...
18. Brad Pitt draws raves as first 'Make It Right' homes completed in hurricane-hit New Orleans
By STACEY PLAISANCE - October 10, 2008
NEW ORLEANS (AP) _ The first homes in Brad Pitt's Make It Right rebuilding project are complete, and some three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, 68-year-old grandmother Gloria Guy was on hand to give the actor a big hug.Pitt, his partner Angelina Jolie and their family of six...
19. Judge orders Redmond O'Neal into detox weeks after he and his father arrested at Malibu home
By Associated Press - October 9, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ A judge has ordered the 23-year-old son of actor Ryan O'Neal back to rehab weeks after he and his father were arrested on suspicion of drug possession.Redmond O'Neal appeared in a Malibu courtroom Wednesday on a probation violation for a previous drug conviction.Judge Scott...
20. CNN to give $100,000 prize to 'hero' on second Thanksgiving night special
By DAVID BAUDER - October 9, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ A woman who moved to Louisiana to help Hurricane Katrina survivors, a marathon runner who gets homeless people on their feet and several community organizers will be honored by CNN in its second Thanksgiving night "heroes" special.The awards show, unusual for a cable news network,...
21. Brinkley divorce saga heats up again; she wants kids shielded from ex's '20/20' interview
By FRANK ELTMAN - October 9, 2008
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) _ The highly public divorce battle between Christie Brinkley and her ex-husband may be settled, but the couple's bitter dispute is heating up again.Brinkley asked a Suffolk County court to shield the couple's two children from a televised interview, scheduled to air Friday on...
22. Lindsay Lohan asks judge to bar cameras from upcoming deposition in Sam Ronson legal fight
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY - October 9, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Lindsay Lohan doesn't want to be on camera, at least not when she's giving a deposition. Lawyers for Lohan filed a motion on Wednesday seeking a judge's order barring any filming of the actress' upcoming deposition in a case filed by gal pal Samantha Ronson. She also doesn't...
23. Correction: King Tut Reprise story
By Associated Press - October 9, 2008
DALLAS (AP) _ In an Oct. 6 story about an exhibit of artifacts related to King Tut, The Associated Press erroneously reported that four of the items — a necklace, a bracelet and two nested miniature coffins — were part of a previous tour. All four are new to the current tour.
24. Christian family drama 'Fireproof' has unexpected success, makes top 10 for 2 weeks in a row
By KATE BRUMBACK - October 9, 2008
ATLANTA (AP) _ When brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick were looking for inspiration for their third feature-length film, they turned to God for help."To be honest, I prayed about it," Alex Kendrick said. "I said, 'God, would you give me an idea that will impact all of our culture.'"While he was out...
25. Reggaeton icon Daddy Yankee to moderate debate for Puerto Rico governor candidates
By Associated Press - October 9, 2008
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) _ Tom Brokaw, Jim Lehrer, Gwen Ifill — and Daddy Yankee?The 31-year-old reggaeton star is taking a turn as moderator of a debate Thursday among candidates for governor of Puerto Rico in an effort to lure young voters to the polls on Nov. 4.The artist, whose real...
26. Slash to play at Rock Hall tribute to electric guitar pioneer Les Paul
By JOE MILICIA - October 9, 2008
CLEVELAND (AP) _ Slash couldn't miss a chance to pay tribute to his own guitar hero, Les Paul.The former Guns N' Roses guitarist signed up to play at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's tribute concert Nov. 15 without even hearing who he'd be playing with on stage."I'm just coming with my guitar,"...
27. NYC park art installation of lights will monitor visitors' heartbeats
By Associated Press - October 9, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Here's an art exhibit that could really get your pulse racing.Madison Square Park, located near the famous Flatiron building in Manhattan, is installing an interactive light installation by Mexican artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer.Sensors on two sculptures will transmit visitors' heart...
28. Red Army Faction founder's daughter, victim criticize new film on German terror group
By PATRICK McGROARTY - October 9, 2008
BERLIN (AP) _ A new film devoted to the violent career of the Red Army Faction has drawn sharp criticism from both the daughter of one of the left-wing German terrorist group's leaders and the daughter of a prominent victim."The Baader Meinhof Complex," directed by Uli Edel and produced by Bernd...
29. 5 buildings in Manhattan's historic Tin Pan Alley are up for sale; asking price is $44 million
By Associated Press - October 9, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Tin Pan Alley, the home of George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and other great American songwriters, is up for sale.Five buildings on West 28th Street in Manhattan's Chelsea district are being offered as a group for $44 million. A listing on real estate Web site Loopnet recommends that...
30. Exhibit of John Lennon's doodles and drawings called 'Imagine Peace' opens in Manhattan
By Associated Press - October 9, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ When it comes to members of the Beatles, even doodles are a treasure.John Lennon's doodles and drawings — some erotic — will be on display at a downtown Manhattan gallery starting Thursday evening, on what would have been Lennon's 68th birthday.More than 100 Lennon works...
31. Oliver Platt will star in the 2009 Broadway revival of 'Guys and Dolls'
By Associated Press - October 8, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Broadway has found its Nathan Detroit for the upcoming revival of "Guys and Dolls" — Oliver Platt.Platt will portray the unapologetic gambler in the classic Frank Loesser musical that will open March 1 at the Nederlander Theatre, producer Howard Panter announced Wednesday. The...
32. Woman accused of stalking Cusack accepts plea deal; ordered to keep away from him for decade
By Associated Press - October 8, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ A woman accused of stalking John Cusack accepted a plea deal Friday that will allow her to avoid state prison.Emily Leatherman pleaded no contest to a felony count of stalking Cusack. A judge immediately sentenced her to five years' probation and mandatory psychiatric counseling....
33. Recording company sues rapper Lil' Kim in NYC, claiming breach of contract
By Associated Press - October 8, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ A recording company has sued Lil' Kim for $2.5 million, saying the Grammy-winning rapper hasn't delivered all the recordings their contract requires.Brookland Media filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Manhattan's state Supreme Court. Lil' Kim's lawyer, Londell McMillan, says Brookland sued...
34. Your movie ad here: Academy overseers vote to allow studio spots during Oscar broadcast
By Associated Press - October 8, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Hollywood's biggest annual advertisement for itself — the Academy Awards broadcast — now can carry commercials for movies themselves.The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board voted to allow commercials for movies to air on the Oscar telecast for the first...
35. Tonys announce the Isabelle Stevenson Award for philanthropic efforts
By Associated Press - October 8, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ The 2009 Tony Awards will include a new honor, the Isabelle Stevenson Award, to be given to a member of the theater community for philanthropic efforts.The award, named after the former president of the American Theatre Wing, will go to a person "who has made a substantial...
36. Appeals court hears arguments over portrait auctioned by Nazis; RI woman claims ownership
By ERIC TUCKER - October 8, 2008
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ A lawyer asked a federal appeals court Wednesday to overturn a decision forcing a woman to surrender a portrait to the estate of a late Jewish art dealer who fled the Nazis seven decades ago.A judge in December ordered Maria-Luise Bissonnette, a German baroness now living in...
37. Actor Ron Silver tells British lawmakers that presidential election may imitate 'West Wing'
By JILL LAWLESS - October 8, 2008
LONDON (AP) _ Does life imitate "The West Wing"?Ron Silver, who played a political strategist on the Emmy-winning drama series, said parallels with the 2008 U.S. presidential race "are kind of spooky in a way.""But they are very understandable because a lot of people who were writing for 'The West...
38. 'NHL 09' first star in hockey video games; 'NHL 2K9' making strides
By MICHAEL FELBERBAUM - October 8, 2008
In the world of sports video games, not much can really change year to year. The game at its core is the same, but it's what video-game developers add that makes it worth spending the cash.Such is the case with season's National Hockey League video games: "NHL 09" from EA Sports and "NHL 2K9" from...
39. So far, this year's presidential debates lack the memorable lines of the past
By DAVID BAUDER - October 8, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Late in their debate, Sarah Palin looked over at Joe Biden and channeled the memory of Ronald Reagan's famed putdown of Jimmy Carter in 1980. "There you go again," she said.Well, governor, we knew Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was a friend of ours. And, governor, you're no Ronald...
40. How Billy Graham became Billy Graham, told through eyes of a friend in Robby Benson film
By MARTHA WAGGONER - October 8, 2008
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ Robby Benson knows how it sounds. But his reason for making a movie about the life of a young Billy Graham, the director says, is simple: "I wanted to make a movie about goodness.""Billy: The Early Years" focuses on Graham's life as a teenager growing up on a dairy farm in...
41. Foo Fighters tell McCain campaign to stop using their song 'My Hero' during campaign rallies
By Associated Press - October 8, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Yet another band is complaining about John McCain's use of their song to promote his campaign. This time, it's the Foo Fighters.The rockers sent out a missive telling the Republican presidential candidate to stop using "My Hero." They said they learned it was being use through news...
42. Friends of DJ AM announce benefit concert to welcome him home after surviving plane crash
By Associated Press - October 8, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Friends of DJ AM are throwing a party to welcome the celebrity disc jockey home after he survived a fiery plane crash last month in South Carolina.Mark Ronson, Cut Chemist, Steve Aoki and other AM pals will perform at the event, which will be held Tuesday night at the Avalon...
43. 'Opus,' 'Bloom County' creator Berkeley Breathed to retire from funnies after 30 years
By NAFEESA SYEED - October 8, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Berkeley Breathed is retiring, leaving a hole in Sunday comics pages after nearly 30 years because he wants to save his strip's main character, Opus, from being dragged down in the current political climate.The last strip of "Opus," the beloved,...
44. My Morning Jacket singer Jim James released from hospital after fall at Iowa concert
By Associated Press - October 8, 2008
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) _ My Morning Jacket singer-guitarist Jim James has been released from the hospital after being injured in a fall during a concert at the University of Iowa.A Cedar Rapids newspaper reported that James slipped and fell about 30 minutes into the show Tuesday night. The Gazette...
45. Superman's dad dies again _ this time in the comic book
By Associated Press - October 8, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Superman's dad has died again.DC Comics has killed off Clark Kent's Earth father with a heart attack. In Action Comics ‥870, out Wednesday, Superman can't hear his mom's cries for help in time to save Jonathan Kent.The TV Jonathan — played by John Schneider — died...
46. More doctors smoke Camels? Exhibit on heyday of cigarette advertising opens at NYC library
By KAREN MATTHEWS - October 8, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ A phalanx of white-coated doctors endorses Camel cigarettes in an exhibit that opened this week at the New York Public Library.Movie stars and baseball greats are there, too, in tobacco ads dating from the 1920s to the 1950s. Even Santa Claus is there, puffing on a Pall Mall.The...
47. Linkin Park cancels China tour after lead singer suffers back injury
By Associated Press - October 8, 2008
BEIJING (AP) _ Linkin Park is canceling its China tour because lead singer Chester Bennington has suffered a back injury.The band didn't say Tuesday how Bennington suffered the injury.A statement posted on Linkin Park's official Web site said the band was canceling shows scheduled for October in...
48. Travis Barker says he's 'thankful to be alive' after surviving South Carolina jet crash
By Associated Press - October 7, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, who always has been afraid of flying, says he's glad to be alive after suffering severe burns in a fiery plane crash last month."I hate planes," Barker said in an interview with Us Weekly magazine. "My biggest fear ever is to be involved in a...
49. 'Happy-Go-Lucky' could extend filmmaker Leigh's Oscar touch for lead actress Hawkins
By DAVID GERMAIN - October 7, 2008
TORONTO (AP) _ Director Mike Leigh has a knack for putting relatively unknown British actresses into Academy Awards contention, as he did with "Secrets & Lies" and "Vera Drake."His latest find is Sally Hawkins, who co-starred in "Vera Drake" and Leigh's "All or Nothing" and now delivers an...
50. Bill Murray looks to reinvigorate career after painful divorce, starting with 'City of Ember'
By JAKE COYLE - October 7, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ The deadpan and depressed characters Bill Murray has specialized in portraying as an actor in recent years have always stood in contrast to the life-of-the-party guy he is in real life — whether on a golf course or shuttling people around downtown Stockholm in a golf cart, as...
51. Firefighters: Nick Nolte scrapes arm, inhales smoke as he escapes from burning home in Malibu
By Associated Press - October 7, 2008
MALIBU, Calif. (AP) _ Actor Nick Nolte jumped out a window and used a hose to fight a fire that broke out in his Malibu home Tuesday, authorities said.The 67-year-old actor scraped his arm and inhaled some smoke but was not hospitalized, said Los Angeles County fire Inspector Sam Padilla."He is...
52. After getting much needed life experience, Maxwell returns after 7-year recording break
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY - October 7, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ It's hardly unusual for a singer to drop off the musical map. Declining album sales, drug habits, legal woes and other dramas have landed a multitude of chart-toppers on the "Whatever Happened To ..." list.Yet it is unusual to find someone who voluntarily takes a break from the...
53. Dead Man Talking: Vampires and ghosts have a lot to say this Halloween
By MELISSA RAYWORTH - October 7, 2008
The dead used to be a world away, far beyond the realm of mortal existence. If they walked the Earth at all, they inhabited the night.But the coffins and long black capes are gone. The destructive haunting is over. And forget about menacing the living — these days, the dead are just like...
54. New release highlights the Clash at defunct Shea Stadium, a baseball stadium with musical past
By DAVID BAUDER - October 7, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Now that Shea Stadium is closed for business, New York Mets fans are able to buy mementos from the venue that housed the 1969 "Miracle Mets" and an improbable 1986 World Series comeback.Shea had a rich musical history, too, and one of those memories is now for sale: a recording of...
55. Lawyer: David Duchovny has completed sex addiction rehab, will be starting movie soon
By Associated Press - October 7, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ An attorney for David Duchovny says the actor has checked out of a rehabilitation facility for treatment of sex addiction.Duchovny, who plays a sex-obsessed character on Showtime's "Californication," voluntarily entered the facility in late August.Says lawyer Stanton Stein: "David...
56. Artist distributes 'Zero Dollar' in front of NYSE to call attention to crisis in markets
By Associated Press - October 7, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ With the financial meltdown leaving many Americans wondering what a dollar is worth, one New York City artist has an answer — zero.Painter and printmaker Laura Gilbert is passing out signed and numbered prints of the "Zero Dollar," which looks like a dollar bill except it has...
57. Halle Berry talks about being named Esquire's 'sexiest woman alive'
By Associated Press - October 7, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Alongside a photo spread that shows her in little more than a T-shirt, Halle Berry talks about being the sexiest woman alive, a title Esquire magazine gives her in its November issue."I don't know exactly what it means, but being 42 and having just had a baby, I think I'll take...
58. Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda among those celebrating women in Hollywood
By SANDY COHEN - October 7, 2008
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) _ In the year of "Sex and the City," perhaps it's no surprise that an event honoring women drew some of the biggest names in Hollywood.Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Lopez, Diane Keaton and Halle Berry joined dozens of other stars in a ballroom at the Four Seasons...
59. ABC's 'Life on Mars': A detective from 2008 does time for a mystery that lands him in 1973
By FRAZIER MOORE - October 7, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ All comfortably familiar by cop-show standards, "Life on Mars" begins with NYPD Detective Sam Tyler nabbing a murder suspect, who then gets a grilling from him at the precinct house. He takes a phone call in the age-old squad room, which has lately been upgraded with computers and a...
60. With flying kicks and whipping nunchucks, Bruce Lee to debut on Chinese TV
By MIN LEE - October 7, 2008
BEIJING (AP) _ Bruce Lee is getting a belated hero's welcome in China, with the country's state broadcaster set to air a 50-part prime-time series on the late kung fu star.Lee became a chest-thumping source of nationalistic pride to Chinese around the world with his characters who defended the...
61. D'oh! Dough! Former 'Simpsons' writer Larry Doyle snags $5,000 Thurber prize
By Associated Press - October 6, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Larry Doyle, a former TV writer-producer for "The Simpsons," was named the winner Monday of this year's Thurber Prize for American Humor. He was cited for the novel "I Love You, Beth Cooper.""Clearly Larry Doyle was not the BMOC (Big Man On Campus)," Thurber judge Firoozeh Dumas...
62. R. Kelly seeks judge's confirmation of $3.4 million award against former tour promoter
By Associated Press - October 6, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ R. Kelly has won a $3.4 million award against his former tour promoter and is asking a Los Angeles judge to help him collect.R. Kelly Touring, which represents the singer, filed court documents on Monday seeking a judge's confirmation of the award an arbitrator granted against...
63. Paris exhibit showcases what Picasso learned from masters of the past
By ANGELA DOLAND - October 6, 2008
PARIS (AP) _ When Velazquez painted a 17th century Spanish princess, he gave her wispy hair, pale skin and a cautious gaze. Three centuries later, Picasso turned the girl's face into a Cubist maze of green and purple, yet he captured her essence — that same mysterious gaze.It's a Picasso...
64. Paris exhibit showcases what Picasso learned from masters of the past
By ANGELA DOLAND - October 6, 2008
PARIS (AP) _ When Velazquez painted a 17th century Spanish princess, he gave her wispy hair, pale skin and a cautious gaze. Three centuries later, Picasso turned the girl's face into a Cubist maze of green and purple, yet he captured her essence — that same mysterious gaze.It's a Picasso...
65. Dennis Hopper leads ensemble cast in Starz series 'Crash' based on Oscar-winning film
By KINNEY LITTLEFIELD - October 6, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ With a raft of weird roles to his credit, Dennis Hopper might well yawn about playing another wacko. Yet Hopper is totally tickled by his outrageous new alter ego, freaky Los Angeles music producer Ben Cendars in the Starz series "Crash.""He's unbelievable," says Hopper,...
66. Matthew Broderick returns to Broadway next spring in 'The Philanthropist'
By Associated Press - October 6, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Matthew Broderick will return to Broadway next spring in a revival of "The Philanthropist," a comedy by English playwright Christopher Hampton. The Roundabout Theatre Company production, directed by David Grindley, will open April 26, 2009, at the American Airlines Theatre, Todd...
67. Mexican director Servando Gonzalez dies at 85; filmed in Hollywood and for government
By JOHN RICE - October 6, 2008
MEXICO CITY (AP) _ Servando Gonzalez Hernandez rose from gofer at a Mexican film studio to become a director in Hollywood. But he may be most remembered in Mexico for film that nobody ever saw.Gonzalez, who died in Mexico City on Saturday at age 85, was the government's chief documentary filmmaker...
68. King Tut exhibit opens in Dallas for another sweep of the United States
By JAMIE STENGLE - October 6, 2008
DALLAS (AP) _ An exhibit showcasing items buried in the Egyptian tomb of King Tut is back in the United States."Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" opened over the weekend at the Dallas Museum of Art, the first of three museums to host the exhibit's encore tour. The other two host...
69. Misty May-Treanor leaves 'Dancing with the Stars' after tearing Achilles tendon
By Associated Press - October 6, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Misty May-Treanor is too hurt to keep dancing.The 31-year-old "Dancing with the Stars" contestant and Olympic gold medalist volleyball player appeared at the conclusion of Monday's show on crutches and with a cast on her left leg to announce that she's out of the popular ABC...
70. After years of legal struggle, Slick Rick gets time in the spotlight at VH1 Hip Hop Honors
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY - October 6, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Even though he's considered one of rap's all-time greats, when Slick Rick is asked about his most significant accomplishment, he doesn't mention having a platinum-selling record, classic hits like "Children's Story" or even his most recent accolade — getting saluted as a...
71. Stonewall Jackson settles age discrimination lawsuit against the Grand Ole Opry
By JOHN GEROME - October 6, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Country singer Stonewall Jackson has settled his federal age discrimination lawsuit against the Grand Ole Opry and its management.The terms of the settlement filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Nashville were not disclosed.A spokesman for the 75-year-old singer said...
72. Miley Cyrus celebrates her Sweet 16 with star-studded Disneyland concert and bash
By DERRIK J. LANG - October 6, 2008
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) _ Miley Cyrus' 16th birthday party was more boisterous than sweet.Cyrus celebrated the hallmark birthday at an over-the-top Disneyland celebration Sunday — even though she doesn't actually turn 16 until Nov. 23. The theme park was closed for the supersized soiree, which...
73. Schieffer says Grand Ole Opry debut a pressure cooker compared to debate
By JOHN GEROME - October 6, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ CBS News' Bob Schieffer said moderating the debate between presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama won't be nearly as unnerving as his Grand Ole Opry debut was Sunday."I was nervous coming between Trisha Yearwood and Brad Paisley. I may be moderating the third...
74. New Broadway musical shines in its pop-rock score, but '13' tells an awkward tween tale
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - October 5, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Like its young hero, "13," suffers from uncertainty and more than a bit of awkwardness as it tries to a tell a tween tale about making mistakes, growing up and taking responsibility.Part sermonette, part sitcom, part after-school special, the musical, which opened Sunday at...
75. B.B. King Museum to honor bluesman as a gem in poverty-stricken Mississippi Delta
By SHELIA BYRD - October 5, 2008
INDIANOLA, Miss. (AP) _ Translucent images of long ago, of black men and women, backs bent, picking cotton under an unforgiving sun, are artistically displayed on standing glass panels in a museum carved out of an old brick gin mill in the Mississippi Delta.They're a reminder of those who labored...
76. Odd couple: Rachel Maddow and Pat Buchanan; MSNBC happy with ratings improvement
By DAVID BAUDER - October 5, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ At 19, Rachel Maddow shared a house with friends in Philadelphia and wasn't paying much attention to the 1992 Republican National Convention on television until Pat Buchanan took to the podium.She was transfixed. Buchanan's combative conservative speech, which denounced gay rights,...
77. Sweet" tour
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY - October 5, 2008
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) _ In a show defined by throbbing dance music, tight choreography, spectacular stage sets and stunning visuals, perhaps the most stirring moment during the kickoff concert to Madonna's "Sticky & Sweet" tour came when the Material Girl stood onstage with just her guitar and...
78. Tenor Placido Domingo uses local music to smooth controversy over concert at Mexico pyramid
By MARK STEVENSON - October 4, 2008
CHICHEN ITZA, Mexico (AP) _ Tenor Placido Domingo's choice of a classical program peppered with local music and help from Mexican pianist and crooner Armando Manzanero appeared to smooth the controversy surrounding his Saturday concert at the Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza.The Spanish-born Domingo...
79. Tenor Placido Domingo uses local music to smooth controversy over concert at Mexico pyramid
By MARK STEVENSON - October 4, 2008
CHICHEN ITZA, Mexico (AP) _ Tenor Placido Domingo's choice of a program peppered with local music and help from Mexican pianist and crooner Armando Manzanero may smooth the controversy surrounding his Saturday concert at the Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza.The Spanish-born Domingo grew up in Mexico,...
80. Designers play it safe for spring as crisis threatens luxury sector
By JOELLE DIDERICH - October 4, 2008
PARIS (AP) _ Paris Fashion Week ended on Sunday, capping a season which saw designers play it safe to coax customers into stores despite the global financial crisis."I don't think it's been as exciting as other seasons," Alexandra Shulman, editor-in-chief of British Vogue, told The Associated...
81. Janet Jackson postpones shows in N.C., Ga., Fla. as she recuperates from undisclosed illness
By Associated Press - October 4, 2008
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) _ Janet Jackson has postponed three more shows because of an undisclosed illness.Her publicist said in an e-mail late Saturday that Jackson was postponing a Saturday show in Greensboro, N.C., one on Sunday in Atlanta and a third on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale.A statement from...
82. Tyler Perry unveils new film studio in Atlanta after he once considered leaving town
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. - October 4, 2008
ATLANTA (AP) _ Tyler Perry unveiled a new multimillion-dollar TV and film studio Saturday on 30 acres in southwest Atlanta. His renewed commitment to the city came after he once flirted with departing. Perry said he had considered leaving Atlanta for good after neighbors complained about noise and...
83. Hip-Hop mogul, designer Russell Simmons unveils new menswear fashion line for over 25 crowd
By DAMIAN GRASS - October 4, 2008
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) _ Hip-Hop pioneer and designer Russell Simmons is bringing a little sophistication to the urban over 25 crowd.Simmons introduced his menswear collection at the Argyle Culture Fashion Show on Friday at the swanky Setai Hotel in South Beach. The male models donned sporty suits,...
84. German Soprano Diana Damrau wins cheers at Met as she sings Donizetti's "Lucia" for first time
By MIKE SILVERMAN - October 4, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ "Lucia" lovers are in luck at the Metropolitan Opera these days.A year after French soprano Natalie Dessay opened the season to acclaim in a new production of Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor," a very different kind of singer scored her own triumph as the Scottish maiden driven to...
85. British pop stars band together to demand more say over careers in digital age
By Associated Press - October 4, 2008
LONDON (AP) _ Some of Britain's biggest music stars announced Saturday they are banding together to demand greater control over their music in the digital age.Radiohead, Robbie Williams and Kaiser Chiefs are among more than 60 founding members of the Featured Artists' Coalition.The group says it...
86. Dominican musician Juan Luis Guerra plans to teach, study at Boston's Berklee College of Music
By Associated Press - October 4, 2008
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) _ Grammy-winning merengue superstar Juan Luis Guerra is planning to teach at his Boston alma mater.Guerra says he called the Berklee College of Music and asked to start teaching classes next summer. He also hopes to enroll in courses as a student.The school...
87. Italian fashion house Valentino names 2 in-house designers to replace Facchinetti
By JOELLE DIDERICH - October 4, 2008
PARIS (AP) _ Italian fashion house Valentino said on Saturday it had named its in-house accessories designers as joint creative directors of the brand. Outgoing designer Alessandra Facchinetti said she learned about her dismissal from press reports."Valentino S.p.A. is ending its collaboration with...
88. Sleepy Ga. hamlet braces for thousands to visit museum preserving Laurel and Hardy's legacy
By DORIE TURNER - October 4, 2008
HARLEM, Ga. (AP) _ A blink-and-you'll-miss-it town in rural east Georgia is the last place you'd expect to find the country's only museum dedicated to the classic comedy duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.But anyone driving along Interstate 20 near the South Carolina state line can't miss the big...
89. Shock jock Howard Stern ties knot to longtime girlfriend Beth Ostrosky in NYC ceremony
By Associated Press - October 4, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Shock jock Howard Stern has embraced tradition. The radio talk show host known for hosting porn stars married his longtime girlfriend, Beth Ostrosky, on Friday."I can't wait to marry Howard," she told Newsday before the ceremony at Manhattan's tony Le Cirque restaurant, adding, "I...
90. Plight of slain teenage LA athlete Jamiel Shaw lamented in new Ice Cube video
By THOMAS WATKINS - October 4, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The unlikely stars of Ice Cube's new video are the grieving relatives of a 17-year-old high school football star who was shot to death outside his home.The song "Why Me?" speaks out against senseless violence and gun crime devastating communities. Cube says Jamiel Shaw Jr.'s...
91. IndyCar driver, TV dance champ Helio Castroneves pleads not guilty; 'Race' against IRS begins
By CURT ANDERSON - October 3, 2008
MIAMI (AP) _ Race car driver and "Dancing With The Stars" winner Helio Castroneves pleaded not guilty Friday to federal tax evasion charges and declared outside the courtroom that he would treat the case like a race against the Internal Revenue Service."I'm a race car driver," the two-time...
92. '30 Rock' star and Sarah Palin impersonator Tina Fey to write book of humorous essays
By HILLEL ITALIE - October 3, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Tina Fey, already the busiest of stars thanks to her Emmy-winning role in "30 Rock" and definitive impersonation of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, is working on a book.According to two publishing officials with knowledge of the negotiations, Little, Brown and...
93. LA judge bars Texas doctor from distributing tape of Anna Nicole Smith's breast surgery
By Associated Press - October 3, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ A judge ordered a Texas doctor and his wife on Friday not to distribute videotaped footage of Anna Nicole Smith's breast augmentation surgery in 1994.The order settles a lawsuit filed last year by Howard K. Stern, the executor of Smith's estate, who was trying to stop Dr. Gerald...
94. Elvis is Alive Museum in Missouri fading fast as it fails to entice online buyers
By Associated Press - October 3, 2008
WRIGHT CITY, Mo. (AP) _ The Elvis is Alive Museum will not live, at least not for now.Andy Key tried to sell the Missouri museum twice on eBay. He received no bids by the time the auction ended Friday.He did get one bid at his first asking price of $15,000, but it turned out to be from a child...
95. Natalie Cole, suffering from hepatitis C, is out of the hospital and resting at home
By Associated Press - October 3, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Natalie Cole, who suffers from hepatitis C, is resting at her Los Angeles home after being released from the hospital earlier this week, Cole's representative said Friday.Publicist Maureen O'Connor said the Grammy-winning singer checked out several days ago and is "feeling a lot...
96. Roy Orbison 4-CD set of 107 recordings is road map to singer's illustrious career
By JOE EDWARDS - October 3, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Twenty years after he died, Roy Orbison still can touch people with his piercing tenor.The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, responsible for evergreen hits like "Oh, Pretty Woman," ''Only the Lonely" and "Crying," won six Grammys and sold millions of CDs before dying of a heart...
97. Campaign Comedy: Friday's late-night TV wrap-up
By SANDY COHEN - October 3, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ After weeks of anticipation, the vice presidential debate was a letdown — at least for late-night comedians."There was nothing embarrassing from either candidate," Jay Leno lamented on NBC's "Tonight" show. "Damn."Even the pundits said there were no losers in Thursday's...
98. Chinese, Russian human rights activists seen as front-runners for Peace Prize
By KARL RITTER and DOUG MELLGREN - October 3, 2008
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) _ Human rights activists from China and Russia are considered front-runners to win the Nobel Peace Prize next week, while bettors are putting their money on an Italian, a Syrian or an Israeli for the literature award.The annual guessing game is in full swing as the prize...
99. Placido Domingo concert in famous Mayan ruins hits sour note among Mexican archaeologists
By MARK STEVENSON - October 3, 2008
MERIDA, Mexico (AP) _ Placido Domingo's concert at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza on Saturday night is being billed as "the world's greatest tenor at one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World," a claim few lovers of opera or history would dispute.But some Mexicans question whether the show...
100. Campaign Comedy: Thursday's late-night TV wrap-up
By LYNN ELBER - October 3, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The vice presidential debate was the toast — make that roast — of late-night television, and that was before the event was held.Shows produced earlier than the match between Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden at Washington University in St. Louis on...
101. Peace, Yo-Yo Ma new album, takes spiritual journey
By MARTIN STEINBERG - October 3, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ After musical trips to Appalachia, Brazil, Argentina, the Silk Road and baroque and modern Italy, Yo-Yo Ma has embarked on a spiritual journey.His next CD, "Songs of Joy & Peace," is being released this month, just in time for those holiday trips over the river and through the woods...
102. Nobel Prize in literature, the highest accolade for writers, to be announced on Oct. 9
By KARL RITTER - October 3, 2008
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) _ The 2008 winner of the Nobel Prize in literature will be presented on Oct. 9, the Swedish Academy said Friday, completing the schedule of this year's Nobel announcements.The secretive academy is not revealing any hints about its selection for the award, which many consider...
103. Taking aim at the left: Conservative comedy 'An American Carol' lampoons liberals
By DERRIK J. LANG - October 2, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ It's a movie genre you don't hear much about in Hollywood: the right-wing comedy. For that matter, it's not much of a genre at all.But it's exactly what conservative producer-director-screenwriter David Zucker created with "An American Carol." The gag-filled liberal lampoon stars...
104. Watching 'Watchmen': Zack Snyder previews upcoming 'Watchmen' film
By DERRIK J. LANG - October 2, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Who watched some of "Watchmen"?Select members of the press. That's who.Director Zack Snyder previewed and discussed three scenes from his upcoming graphic novel adaptation Wednesday. The film is based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' award-winning graphic novel of the same name...
105. Stars talk about classic movies, money woes and VP debate
By MICHAEL CIDONI - October 2, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ It was movie stars celebrating movies, as Sean Connery, Keanu Reeves, Jim Carrey, Jodie Foster, Dustin Hoffman and a host of others gathered in Hollywood for the American Film Institute's annual night at the movies.It was also movie stars voicing concerns for an ailing nation...
106. James Earl Jones to receive life achievement award from the Screen Actors Guild
By Associated Press - October 2, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ James Earl Jones, who has voiced some of entertainment's most memorable characters, will receive the 2008 Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.SAG President Alan Rosenberg called Jones "a vocal presence without peer" and lauded his TV, film and stage work."His long and...
107. Kingston Trio's Nick Reynolds dies in San Diego at 75
By Associated Press - October 2, 2008
SAN DIEGO (AP) _ Nick Reynolds, a founding member of the Kingston Trio who jump-started the revival folk scene of the late 1950s and paved the way for artists such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, has died. He was 75.Reynolds had been hospitalized with acute respiratory disease and other illnesses, and...
108. Reno conference on art and environment draws artists, scientists, writers
By SCOTT SONNER - October 2, 2008
RENO, Nev. (AP) _ An eclectic group of artists, architects, scientists and writers have gathered at the Nevada Museum of Art to explore how nature and culture intersect in their chosen fields at a conference on art and environment.Programs at the three-day conference that began Thursday include the...
109. Art, science combine at upstate NY university's innovative new research center
By JESSICA M. PASKO - October 2, 2008
TROY, N.Y. (AP) _ Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is unveiling a new media and arts facility that features cutting-edge technology, a project that took $200 million and almost eight years to complete.The Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center officially opens Friday, kicking off a...
110. A revelatory 'Seagull,' starring Kristin Scott Thomas, soars with uncommon clarity
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - October 2, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ The disappointed souls who populate "The Seagull," Anton Chekhov's exquisite tale of regret by way of ill-fated romance, have never looked or, what is more important, sounded better.They have arrived on Broadway courtesy of London's Royal Court Theatre, and the result is a...
111. Morley Safer creates work in marble for '60 Minutes' anniversary
By Associated Press - October 2, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Morley Safer has created a work of art celebrating the 40th anniversary of "60 Minutes."It will be unveiled at a party Monday. It's the face of a clock (like the famous CBS newsmagazine's stopwatch) etched in marble with "60" at the top and "40" where the "8'' would be."I wanted it...
112. Still rocking after 50 years: Tina Turner takes on 36-date North American tour
By Associated Press - October 2, 2008
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ After an eight-year hiatus, Tina Turner brought her famous voice and energy back to the stage Wednesday, opening her 36-date North American tour with a hit-filled concert at the Sprint Center.The 68-year-old singer said it was the right time to hit the road."It has to be...
113. Movie Review: 'How to Lose Friends' wins some laughs, but isn't quite a winner
By JAKE COYLE - October 2, 2008
After "The Devil Wears Prada" detailed an up-and-comer at Vogue magazine, "How to Lose Friends & Alienate People" attempts to do the same with Vanity Fair. Cross your fingers that Hollywood eventually gets to Field & Stream.Based on the memoir by Toby Young, "How to Lose Friends" is about a British...
114. Watching 'Watchmen': Zack Snyder previews upcoming 'Watchmen' film
By DERRIK J. LANG - October 2, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Who watched some of "Watchmen"?Select members of the press. That's who.Director Zack Snyder previewed and discussed three scenes from his upcoming graphic novel adaptation Wednesday. The film is based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' award-winning graphic novel of the same name...
115. Dolly Parton to serve as ambassador for national park's 75th anniversary
By Associated Press - October 2, 2008
GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) _ Dolly Parton, who often refers to her Smoky Mountains upbringing, will serve as the ambassador for the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.There will be events throughout 2009 celebrating Congress' approval to form the park on June 15, 1934.Park...
116. Opera fans, concertgoers increasingly view fare on screen rather than on stage
By RYAN NAKASHIMA - October 2, 2008
BURBANK, Calif. (AP) _ As the house lights dim and the maestro lifts his arms, a hush comes over the crowd. It's opening night at The Metropolitan Opera — only we're 2,800 miles away.Retiree Ellen Gifford sits with popcorn and a soda inside the AMC Burbank 16 theater. For $22 a ticket, she...
117. Stars talk about classic movies, money woes and VP debate
By MICHAEL CIDONI - October 2, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ It was movie stars celebrating movies, as Sean Connery, Keanu Reeves, Jim Carrey, Jodie Foster, Dustin Hoffman and a host of others gathered in Hollywood for the American Film Institute's annual night at the movies.It was also movie stars voicing concerns for an ailing nation...
118. DreamWorks announces 'Kung Fu Panda' sequel; voice stars Jolie, Black to reprise their roles
By Associated Press - October 2, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ DreamWorks Animation SKG has announced plans for a sequel to "Kung Fu Panda" to be released in 2011.The movie, like all DreamWorks Animation films starting in 2009, will be produced with 3-D technology, the company said in a statement Wednesday.Jack Black will return to provide...
119. DreamWorks announces 'Kung Fu Panda' sequel; voice stars Jolie, Black to reprise their roles
By Associated Press - October 2, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ DreamWorks Animation SKG has announced plans for a sequel to "Kung Fu Panda" to be released in 2011.The movie, like all DreamWorks Animation films starting in 2009, will be produced with 3-D technology, the company said in a statement Wednesday.Jack Black will return to provide...
120. Soul singer Robin Thicke talks about race issues, self-doubt and making 'Magic' with new CD
By MESFIN FEKADU - October 2, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Robin Thicke is a platinum-selling singer, a Grammy-winning songwriter, a budding sex symbol and goes home at night to a gorgeous wife, actress Paula Patton. Yet while he seems to be living a life most men would envy, the R&B crooner says he still struggles with moments of...
121. Vincent big winners at Bluegrass Music Association awards
By JOHN GEROME - October 2, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ New duo Dailey & Vincent dominated the International Bluegrass Music Association awards Thursday, winning entertainer of the year, album of the year, vocal group, emerging artist and gospel recorded performance."To the fans that come out to see the shows — thank you so...
122. Comedian Sandra Bernhard upset after being cut from Boston benefit over Palin gang-rape line
By Associated Press - October 2, 2008
BOSTON (AP) _ Comedian Sandra Bernhard says the decision by a women's shelter to cut her act from its annual benefit was based on a misleading account of what she said about Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.Bernhard made the remarks last month during her one-woman show in...
123. Publisher, hoping to head off chance of violence, speeds up release of novel about Muhammad
By HILLEL ITALIE - October 2, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ With British publication in doubt for Sherry Jones' "The Jewel of Medina," the U.S. publisher of her controversial novel about the Prophet Muhammad has moved up the release date from Oct. 15 to Monday."By speeding up the publication, we wanted to reduce or eliminate the chance of...
124. Hollywood mom Salma Hayek helps UNICEF end tetanus in mothers and babies
By BRADLEY S. KLAPPER - October 2, 2008
GENEVA (AP) _ Hollywood mom Salma Hayek is lending her star power to a UNICEF campaign to eradicate tetanus in mothers and babies around the world within four years.Hayek, a paid spokeswoman for Pampers' tetanus vaccine program, recounted her experiences during a recent trip to the West African...
125. Upcoming new series: Do they have time on their side? (At least they're playing with it)
By FRAZIER MOORE - October 2, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ As you sample the half-dozen new series arriving in the next week, you might find that no matter how widely they vary otherwise, they share a common link: All of them are playing with time.— Consider "The Ex List," CBS' romantic comedy premiering Friday at 9 p.m. EDT. A...
126. Christo, Jeanne-Claude still waiting to hang fabric over Arkansas River in Colorado
By CATHERINE TSAI - October 2, 2008
DENVER (AP) _ Christo and Jeanne-Claude conceived the idea of suspending huge swathes of fabric over a river back in 1992. The artists scouted dozens of Western locations before settling on a mountainous stretch of the Arkansas River, a Southern Colorado playground for whitewater rafters in view of...
127. 'Flash of Genius' gang ranks cement, salsa-tortilla chips among great innovations
By DAVID GERMAIN - October 2, 2008
TORONTO (AP) _ The world certainly could live without the intermittent windshield wiper, the invention at the heart of "Flash of Genius."But on those mildly rainy days when you don't need the wipers flapping at full force, that intermittent option makes driving a lot easier."Flash of Genius"...
128. Bertelsmann completes sale of 50 percent stake in Sony BMG to Sony
By Associated Press - October 2, 2008
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) _ Bertelsmann AG said Thursday that it had completed the sale to Sony Corp. of its 50 percent stake in music venture Sony BMG in a $900 million deal.The transaction gives Sony Corp. full ownership of a roster of artists including Alicia Keys and an enhanced ability to sell...
129. One of SKorea's most popular actresses dogged by online rumors found dead in apparent suicide
By JEAN H. LEE - October 2, 2008
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ A popular South Korean actress depressed after a divorce and distraught over online rumors was found dead Thursday in an apparent suicide, hours after she sent a text message saying "take care of my children no matter what happens."Choi Jin-sil, 39, known as "The Nation's...
130. Actor House Peters Jr., who helped turn Mr. Clean into a household mascot, dead at 92
By RAQUEL MARIA DILLON - October 1, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ House Peters Jr., a TV actor who became the original Mr. Clean in Proctor & Gamble's commercials for household cleaners, died Wednesday. He was 92.Peters died of pneumonia at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Hospital in Los Angeles, said his son, Jon Peters.The elder...
131. Screen Actors Guild's negotiating committee calls for strike authorization vote
By RYAN NAKASHIMA - October 1, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The Screen Actors Guild's negotiating committee voted Wednesday to support a strike authorization vote, a tactic meant to break stalled contract talks with Hollywood studios.The recommendation now goes to the guild's national board for review, and would ultimately need approval...
132. Screen Actors Guild's negotiating committee votes to support strike authorization vote
By RYAN NAKASHIMA - October 1, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The Screen Actors Guild's negotiating committee voted Wednesday to support a strike authorization vote, a tactic meant to break stalled contract talks with Hollywood studios.The recommendation, approved 11-2, now goes to the guild's national board for review, and would ultimately...
133. Springsteen to headline Monday rally for Obama at Eastern Michigan University
By Associated Press - October 1, 2008
YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) _ Rock star Bruce Springsteen was headlining a rally Monday afternoon for Democrat Barack's Obama's presidential campaign at Eastern Michigan University.Obama's campaign was announcing Thursday that Springsteen would play a free acoustic set and headline the rally at Oestrike...
134. Make way for the bad guys: Las Vegas officials unveil (redacted) name of new mob museum
By OSKAR GARCIA - October 1, 2008
LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Say hello to your new little museum.The Las Vegas City Council unveiled the name of its planned mob museum Tuesday, along with logos resembling court documents with material blacked out — The (redacted) Museum: The Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement.The...
135. Attorney: Photographer who documented Heather Locklear's DUI arrest was also the 911 caller
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY - October 1, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ A photographer who called 911 to report Heather Locklear allegedly driving erratically runs a paparazzi agency and profited from images she took of the actress's subsequent arrest, the woman's attorney said Wednesday.But Nicholas Tepper, who represents photographer Jill...
136. Boston women's shelter cancels Sandra Bernhard after gang-rape comment about Sarah Palin
By Associated Press - October 1, 2008
BOSTON (AP) _ A women's shelter on Wednesday cut headliner Sandra Bernhard from its annual benefit after she said Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin would be gang-raped if she ever visited New York.Bernhard's made the remarks last month during her one-woman show in Washington before...
137. Stephen Colbert again runs for the White House _ alongside Spider-Man
By Associated Press - October 1, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Stephen Colbert is hoping to swing into the White House — alongside Spider-Man.The host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" appears with the web-slinger in an issue of Marvel Comics' "The Amazing Spider-Man," out on Oct. 15.As a joke, Colbert had tried but failed to get...
138. Michael Weller's 'Fifty Words' dissects a volatile, combative married couple
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - October 1, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Adam and Jan have what you might call a volatile relationship. Apocalyptic, it turns out, reminiscent of George and Martha battling ferociously in Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"And it's the fierce way this combative couple fight that propels "Fifty Words," Michael...
139. Kellie Pickler grows up and grows into a stronger artist on new self-titled sophomore CD
By JOHN GEROME - October 1, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Although Kellie Pickler's first album garnered three hits, went gold and made the singer a certified country star, it wasn't the debut that she would have crafted had she had her way."Small Town Girl," released in 2006, was put together in a hurry to capitalize on her sudden...
140. Ifill's book leads some to question her impartiality as debate moderator
By Associated Press - October 1, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ PBS journalist Gwen Ifill, moderator of the upcoming vice presidential debate, dismisses conservative questions about her impartiality because she is writing a book that includes material on Barack Obama.Ifill said Wednesday that she hasn't even written her chapter on Obama for the...
141. Folk music legend Pete Seeger still strumming 'At 89', says his latest record will be his last
By SCOTT BAUER - October 1, 2008
At 89, folk music legend Pete Seeger still has more to say.His latest release, aptly titled "At 89," is Seeger's first record of new material in five years and by Seeger's own account it will be his last.He doesn't expect to be playing many more concerts, either."My brain is definitely, definitely...
142. Question's raised about VP debate moderator's impartiality after book including Obama material
By DAVID BAUDER - October 1, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ PBS journalist Gwen Ifill, moderator of the upcoming vice presidential debate, dismissed conservative questions about her impartiality because she is writing a book that includes material on Barack Obama.Ifill said Wednesday that she hasn't even written her chapter on Obama for the...
143. Caroline Kennedy, Sara Jessica Parker launch shopping benefit for NYC school libraries
By Associated Press - October 1, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Caroline Kennedy and Sarah Jessica Parker want you to shop 'til you drop — and feel good about doing it.The pair kicked off New York City's fifth annual "Shop for Public Schools" promotion on Wednesday.For the next week, more than 200 retail locations across the city will...
144. Hip-hop star Jay-Z to perform in Detroit to promote voter registration for Obama campaign
By Associated Press - October 1, 2008
LANSING, Mich. (AP) _ Jay-Z is doing an encore for Barack Obama.The 38-year-old rapper, a vocal supporter of the Democratic presidential candidate, is performing Saturday at a free concert in Detroit to promote voter registration. It is being offered by Obama's campaign.Monday is the deadline in...
145. Rapper Bow Wow kicks off 15-city voter registration tour, urging young people to head to polls
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. - October 1, 2008
ATLANTA (AP) _ Bow Wow once thought that politics was only for "old folks," but the 21-year-old platinum-selling rapper said he's had a change of heart and wants other young people to vote."I used to think going to the mall and hollering at girls (was) more important," he said. "But in reality, we...
146. Leonardo DiCaprio, celeb pals use reverse psychology to get out the vote
By Associated Press - October 1, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ How do you get kids to vote? Just say no.Leonardo DiCaprio, Halle Berry, Jennifer Aniston, Tobey Maguire, Eva Longoria Parker and other stars are using reverse psychology to get young people into voting booths on election day.In a new public service announcement that hit YouTube and...
147. Phish to reunite, starting with 3 shows in Virginia
By JOHN CURRAN - October 1, 2008
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) _ Phish will swim again.The Vermont-bred jam band, which disbanded in 2004, announced Wednesday it's reuniting for three dates next March in Hampton, Va., and more after that.Phish has booked dates for March 6, March 7 and March 8, 2009, at the Hampton Coliseum. Other 2009...
148. Jennifer Hudson returns to the thing that got her here: a music career
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY - October 1, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Two years ago, the biggest question surrounding Jennifer Hudson's career was whether she could act.Everyone knew she could sing; after all, it was her soaring, gospel-inflected voice that made her famous during her finalist run on "American Idol" in 2004. The question was whether...
149. No Phish tale: Jamband announces 3 shows in Virginia, with more to come in 2009
By JOHN CURRAN - October 1, 2008
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) _ Those reunion rumors weren't just cut bait: Four years after disbanding, the time seems right to Phish.The Vermont-bred foursome on Wednesday announced three concert dates next March in Hampton, Va., a longtime favorite venue for the band and its fiercely loyal fans. Other...
150. From Diana and Madonna to his dog, celeb photographer Patrick Demarchelier has shot them all
By JENNY BARCHFIELD - October 1, 2008
PARIS (AP) _ He's photographed Princess Diana in diamonds, Madonna in lingerie and top model Gisele Bundchen in the buff.But celebrated French photographer Patrick Demarchelier says none of the hundreds of pop culture icons he's immortalized in his more than 30 years behind the lens can compare...
151. Leonardo DiCaprio says he has no immediate plans to settle down and start a family
By NATALIE ROTMAN - October 1, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Leonardo DiCaprio says he's not ready to be a father.The 33-year-old actor, who has an on-and-off relationship with model Bar Refaeli, says he has no plans at the moment to settle down and start a family."Ah, how do you answer something like that? So, um, I am being asked to look...