ENTERTAINMENT NEWS BUZZ

Angelina Jolie & Pax's Whole Foods Cartful of Fun

2011-01-20T01:44:00.017-07:00

Angelina Jolie & Pax's Whole Foods Cartful of Fun

Pairing up to stock the homefront with goodies, Angelina Jolie was joined by Pax Thien for a grocery store visit in Studio City, California on Wednesday (January 19).

Looking to be having quite the fun-filled excursion, the "Salt" star and her smiley son popped into the local Whole Foods with Pax hopping aboard the cart as his mom pushed him out to their nearby car.

Currently raising six children with partner Brad Pitt, Angelina recently commented that mothers should cherish their kiddies when they're young because the time goes by so quickly.

She said, âJust enjoy every minute of it because it goes so fast and it is the best time in your life. And strap them to you and hang out with them and sleep in the same bed with them and just love every second of it.â

Also talking about having her children alongside as she traveled to film "The Tourist," Ang told, âYou just have to focus on the positive side. I got to spend two months in Venice filming which no one gets to do, with a costar whoâs so lovely, so itâs all hard to say no to."

The 35-year-old added, âWe make a point to stay together as a family when weâre filming, in this town youâve got to. We take turns working so everybody packed up and went to Venice. I think some people are affected by fame, Iâm lucky that I have a lot of kids who keep me very, very grounded.â

Kim Kardashian's Music-Making: Inspired By Kanye

2011-01-20T01:44:00.016-07:00

Kim Kardashian's Music-Making: Inspired By Kanye

Bringing an end to another long day of promotions, Kim Kardashian paid a visit to MTV Studios in New York City on Wednesday evening (January 19).

Decked out in her third outfit of the day, the E! reality star was escorted inside for an interview alongside sister Kourtney as the duo promote their new spinoff show "Kourtney & Kim Take New York".

Aside from plugging their series - which kicks off on Sunday, January 23 - Kim told that her decision to hit the studio with The Dream to record a one-off track called "Turn It Up" was influenced by "All Of the Lights" hitmaker Kanye West.

She dished, "OK, I'm not a singer, this isn't what I do. I have too much other stuff going on. Is this really something safe for me to do? And Kanye was actually one of the people who really talked me into doing it and telling me, like, 'Hey, look, what do you guys do for fun? You guys go shopping, you go to the movies. Kind of step into our world for a second and have fun, and we go to the studio."

Further explaining that the advice came when Kanye popped in to visit her at her new Dash store, Miss Kardashian said, "Kanye came to see the store and check out what we were doing in New York City. He's someone we look up to and just think as like, in the fashion world ... someone that we've always just taken advice from."

"He wanted to come check out the store, and while at the store, I was really uncertain about the music thing," Kim added. "I'm just doing it for fun, and The-Dream wrote and produced the song, and Ciara talked me into doing it and said I should meet with him."

Katy Perry Announces 2011 Tour Dates

2011-01-20T01:44:00.015-07:00

Katy Perry Announces 2011 Tour Dates

Gearing up to entertain fans throughout North America, Katy Perry has announced dates for her 2011 California Dreams tour.

The "Firework" singer took to Facebook to break the news during a live interview, during which she unveiled her 41-city travel plans.

The California Dreams tour kicks off on June 7th in Atlanta, Georgia while drawing to a close in Miss Perry's hometown of Santa Barbara, California on August 14th.

With North America following performances in Europe, the UK, Australia and Japan, the complete list of stops are as follows:

06/07 - Atlanta, GA - Gwinnett Center
06/09 - Orlando, FL - UCF Arena
06/10 - Tampa, FL - St Pete Times Forum
06/11 - Ft Lauderdale, FL - Bank Atlantic Center
06/14 - Raleigh, NC - RBC Center
06/15 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Pavillion
06/17 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
06/18 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
06/19 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
06/22 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
06/23 - Pittsburgh, PA - Consol Energy Center
06/24 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Arena
06/30 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
07/02 - Montreal, QB - Bell Centre
07/03 - Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Place
07/05 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
07/07 - Milwaukee, WI - Marcus Amphitheatre
07/08 - Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
07/09 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
07/13 - Regina, SK - Brandt Centre
07/14 - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
07/16 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
07/17 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
07/19 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
07/20 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena
07/22 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden Arena
07/23 - Boise, ID - Taco Bell Arena
07/25 - Salt Lake City, UT - Energy Solutions Arena
07/26 - Denver, CO - 1ST Bank Center
07/28 - Dallas, TX - Verizon Theatre
07/29 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
07/30 - Austin, TX - Frank Erwin Center
08/03 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
08/05 - Los Angeles, CA - Nokia Theatre
08/12 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavillion
08/13 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
08/14 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl

Bar Refaeli: Escada Sport Sexy

2011-01-20T01:44:00.014-07:00

Bar Refaeli: Escada Sport Sexy

Taking in the latest looks, Bar Refaeli was on-hand for the Escada Sport Show at ME Collectors Room in Berlin, Germany on Wednesday (January 19).

Held as part of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2011, the lovely supermodel grabbed up a front row seat next to actress Nora von Waldstaetten after mingling with fellow attendees such as Megah Mittal and Bruno Salzer.

The runway show excursion comes after Miss Refaeli was recently announced as the face of a new fragrance by Escada.

While the brand was unwilling to offer any details, the scent is licensed by Procter & Gamble with a launch date slated for this summer.

Ricky Gervais: I Didn't Go Too Far

2011-01-20T01:44:00.013-07:00

Ricky Gervais: I Didn't Go Too Far

His Golden Globes hosting gig is certainly one of the most talked about things in Hollywood this week, but Ricky Gervais doesnât feel he did anything wrong.

The British actor addressed the situation on his blog earlier today (January 19), writing, âThanks to the twitterverse, the blogosphere, all the journos and the coolest stars for coming to my rescue. It was heartwarming to realise [sic] I wasn't losing my mind. Some reactions nearly had me believing I'd gone too far too. Nearly. â

âCan't wait for the people who thought it was over the top to see my stand-up shows,â he went on to say that theyâll âs--tâ themselves once they see what they say.â

Before wrapping up the blog entry, he took the opportunity to plug his HBO and Science channel shows and added, âA genuine thanks by the way for all your support.â

Lil Wayne Talks Prison Life with Rolling Stone

2011-01-20T01:44:00.011-07:00

Lil Wayne Talks Prison Life with Rolling Stone

Certainly enjoying himself now that he's back in the wing of being a free man, Lil Wayne is the center of attention in the new issue of Rolling Stone magazine.

Posing shirtless for the cover, the hip-hop star chatted about topics surrounding his time in lockup for the publication that's set to hit newsstands on January 21st.

Highlights from Lil Wayne's Rolling Stone interview are as follows:

On the books he read in prison: â[Anthony Kiedis'] Scar Tissue was really good,â he says. âI also read the Bible for the first time. It was deep! I liked the parts where some character was once this, but he ended up being that. Like heâd be dissing Jesus, and then he ends up being a saint. That was cool.â

On not being invited to cellmatesâ Uno games because he was too good at the game: âTheyâd be like, âOh, we thought you were asleep.â Like you canât look inside my cell and see that Iâm right there! We ainât got no doors!â

On dealing with solitary confinement: âSolitary was the worst. No TV. No radio. No commissary. Basically youâre in there 23 hours a day.â The only upside was he had a window where he could watch cars go by. âI used to sit at that motherfâ"er all day,â he says

Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" Gets Paris Preview

2011-01-20T01:44:00.009-07:00

Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" Gets Paris Preview

This isnât the first time her music was used for a high end fashion show, and Lady Gaga's new song âBorn This Wayâ recently debuted at the Thierry Mugler Paris Menâs Fashion Week show.

Earlier today (January 19), the âBad Romanceâ singer tweeted her excitement, âMUGLER PARIS SHOW begins in 2 hours. I am so excited my fashion bones are rattling. The garments + music are poetic intoxication."

Sharing the same enthusiasm, Mugler frontman Nicola Formichetti was interviewed before the show and told, "It's me and her just having fun and getting very inspired from the idea of Mugler. She's very much involved, more in the early stages.â

"I want people to think, 'OK, there's something new happening.' I want people to get excited again, not only fashion people," he added about his work on the brand. "I'm not here to recreate what [Mugler] did. It was perfect for the time. I'm going to do something for today and the future."

Diane Kruger: The Face of Reverso Lady Ultra Thin

2011-01-20T01:44:00.007-07:00

Diane Kruger: The Face of Reverso Lady Ultra Thin

Nabbing herself another high-end fashion gig, Diane Kruger was presented as the face of the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Lady Ultra Thin on Tuesday (January 18).

The "Inglourious Basterds" beauty was joined by CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre, JÃ©rÃ´me Lambert, at the posh SIHH held ceremony.

During the course of their stage time, the pair told the story of the last 3 years between Jaeger-LeCoultre and Miss Kruger since the Swiss Manufacture met her at the Venice film festival in 2007.

Expressing her long attachment with the brand, Diane said: âI feel more than honored to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Reverso. For my first at the SIHH, I was proud to reveal the new Grande Reverso Ultra Thin and I invite you to discover this new feminine Reverso."

Megan Fox & Brian Austin Green: Sushi Sweethearts

2011-01-20T01:44:00.005-07:00

Megan Fox & Brian Austin Green: Sushi Sweethearts

Known to be big fans of Japanese cuisine, Megan Fox ventured out for a sushi lunch with Brian Austin Green in Studio City, CA on Wednesday afternoon (January 19).

The "Transformers" babe and led the way as her hubby followed along as the pair were spotted leaving a local eatery after finishing their delectable meal.

Puckering up her lips as she headed to the car, Megan's kisser was recently broken down by Softlips lipreader Simon Brown - who tells that the 24-year-old exudes "sexual vitality".

Brown said: "Megan has a deep philtrum and a pronounced curve to her upper lip and this is a. If Megan leaves her mouth slightly open in non smiling pictures, the inside of her mouth is revealed, creating a more sensual image."

Jessica Alba & Honor Marie: Cupcake Cuties

2011-01-20T01:44:00.003-07:00

Jessica Alba & Honor Marie: Cupcake Cuties

Enjoying a day of mother/daughter bonding, Jessica Alba was spotted toting around Honor Marie in Beverly Hills on Wednesday (January 19).

The two lovely ladies strolled down a local street after grabbing up a handful of cupcake treats after imbibing in a bout of retail therapy.

On the career front, Jess is fresh off of the release of "Little Fockers" while she's currently teamed up with Danny Trejo, Antonio Banderas, Alexa Vega and Jeremy Piven in making the Robert Rodriguez directed movie "Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World".

Due out on August 19th, a synopsis of the picture via IMDB tells: "A mother returns to her old profession -- she's a retired spy -- in order to prevent a villain bent on stopping time."

Celebrity Scandals: Gossip Center

2011-01-20T01:44:00.001-07:00

Celebrity Scandals: Gossip Center

McCartney performs radio concert at Apollo (AP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.027-07:00

McCartney performs radio concert at Apollo (AP)

NEW YORK – At age 68, Paul McCartney has the richest catalogue in pop music to wander around in. Only Bob Dylan could argue the point.

On a snowy night at Harlem's historic Apollo Theater, with a frisky band and a live radio audience, McCartney clearly enjoyed the journey. He performed a two-hour, 27-song set in front of Sirius XM Radio subscribers and celebrities like Jerry Seinfeld, Alec Baldwin, Martha Stewart, Tony Bennett and Rolling Stone Ron Wood.

His concert served dual purposes. Sirius, relieved to get a new contract for Howard Stern, is approaching 20 million subscribers and wanted to celebrate. McCartney is promoting a deluxe reissue of his "Band on the Run" album, and Sirius is devoting a special channel to his music.

The Harlem theater was dressed up in searchlights and a red carpet for the event. McCartney alluded to the influence that many of the musicians who played the Apollo had on him.

"I know it's special to you New Yorkers," he said. "To us British boys, it's really special."

His one tribute to the locale, a spirited cover of Marvin Gaye's 1962 hit "Hitch Hike," was unfortunately marred by technical difficulties. The vocal microphones went quiet halfway through the song, forcing McCartney and his four-piece band to stop. They tried again, only to have to stop again. The third time worked.

In a trim black suit with white shirt and hair — naturally or not — still black and in a modified moptop, McCartney looked almost unnervingly like he did decades ago, especially when he held his Hofner bass. But the years have passed, and two of his former Beatle mates are dead.

McCartney has an energetic young band with him now, and it serves him well. Most of his show was full-on rock 'n' roll, to the point where he joked at one point, "hope we haven't deafened you."

The band makes some of McCartney's songs, like "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," far more muscular than they are on record. Three of his band members are good singers, and their work on "Drive My Car" and others helps cover for the fact their boss' voice has lost some of its youthful suppleness.

McCartney manages the deterioration well, and his performance of "Blackbird" benefited from a deeper, more mature voice. On "All My Loving," though, the voice reminded us that many years have passed.

The hits came fast and furious toward the end — "Let it Be," "Hey Jude," "Get Back," "Yesterday." But this concert was most delightful when McCartney reached toward some less expected material. They included one of the oldest Lennon-McCartney compositions, "One After 909," the "Rubber Soul" chestnut "I'm Looking Through You" and his ukelele-accompanied "Dance Tonight." Also fun were the handful of cuts brought out to highlight the "Band on the Run" disc.

As he did on "Saturday Night Live" this past weekend, McCartney performed "A Day in the Life" as a medley with "Give Peace a Chance," a John Lennon solo cut that had a Lennon-McCartney songwriting credit upon its 1969 release.

In a tribute to the season, McCartney even gathered a local choir to perform his holiday hit, "Wonderful Christmastime."

As the show ended, fake snowflakes drifted to the stage to match the real ones blowing outside.

George Clinton sues Black Eyed Peas over sample (Reuters)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.026-07:00

George Clinton sues Black Eyed Peas over sample (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – George Clinton has filed a copyright lawsuit against members of the Black Eyed Peas, their Universal Music Group label and Cherry Lane music publisher for allegedly sampling his song "(Not Just) Knee Deep" on a Grammy-award nominated album.

According to the complaint, filed on Friday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, the funk pioneer's song wound up in remixes of the Black Eyed Peas' "Shut Up," first released in 2003.

Clinton's original song appeared on his 1979 album "Uncle Jam Wants You" and ran more than 15 minutes long. An edited version reached No. 1 on the Billboard Black Singles chart, besting Michael Jackson's first solo hit. "(Not Just) Knee Deep" was later sampled by artists such as De La Soul, LL Cool J, MC Hammer, Snoop Dogg, and 2Pac.

Clinton has become more aggressive on the copyright front in past years with several cases involving his intellectual property. He's enjoyed some success in court, getting a judge to acknowledge his ownership in the legendary phrase, "Bow wow wow yippie yo yippie yay" and winning a ruling that record labels violated his rights by re-releasing four of his 1970s albums. These victories seem to be emboldening him on the legal front.

He's now going after sampling, a music technique that's technically illegal from a copyright standpoint (depending on the nature of the use), but also something that is rarely pursued. Most musicians try to clear samples anyway, but violators have often been given a free pass.

According to the complaint, Clinton became aware of the Black Eyed Peas' use of his old song when a record producer for the band came to him in 1999 and requested a license for a new remix of "Shut Up."

Clinton says he rejected the request, not knowing at the time that his song had already been sampled by the band in a prior version. He says the sample was used by the Peas anyway on the album "The E.N.D.," which was nominated in 2009 for a an album of the year Grammy.

Clinton is seeking maximum statutory damages of $150,000 per infringement and an injunction prohibiting further distribution of the infringing song.

Australia welcomes Oprah to the Sydney Opera House (AP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.025-07:00

Australia welcomes Oprah to the Sydney Opera House (AP)

SYDNEY – For a few hours, Sydney swapped opera for Oprah.

Thousands of shrieking, jubilant fans flocked to the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday to watch TV talk show queen Oprah Winfrey tape two star-studded shows for her final series.

There were celebrities, giveaways and screams-a-plenty as 6,000 Oprah devotees jammed the steps of the landmark arts center in Australia's biggest city for the filming. The production marked the finale of her weeklong trip, accompanied by 302 U.S. audience members who took part in "Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure."

Winfrey's staffers whipped the already frenzied crowd into a tear-drenched state of hysteria before the host ascended the stage to the sounds of Men At Work's "Down Under," Australia's unofficial anthem.

"HELLOOOO AUSTRALIAAAAA!" she bellowed as the audience's roar reached a deafening pitch. "Now I understand why you call Australia 'Oz,' 'cause we truly are at the end of the yellow brick road!"

Winfrey launched her 25th and final season of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in September by surprising her audience with her ultimate giveaway: an eight-day trip to Australia. For the past week, the lucky chosen have been traveling the continent — snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, surfing at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach and exploring the rugged Outback.

Winfrey said she had long hoped to travel to Australia, and taking the audience with her made the experience even richer.

"Life is always better when you can share it," she said before the taping.

Four shows from Winfrey's Aussie adventure will screen in January and are expected to be watched by millions of people in 145 countries.

The state and federal governments have spent around $5 million on the trip, a price that has drawn criticism from some Australians. But officials and Winfrey herself insist the shows will bring many millions more in tourism publicity.

"It is immeasurable what four hours of a love festival about your country broadcast in 145 countries around the world can do," Winfrey told reporters.

And a love festival it was, with Winfrey lavishing praise on her Australian hosts, the scenery and the citizens.

"You're so darn friendly, you must go to friendly class!" she told the crowd, who were randomly selected from a pool of 350,000 hopefuls.

Her first guest was Australian actor Russell Crowe, who gave a nod to the surrounding sun-dappled harbor and said, "When you live in a city like this, it's not that hard to be friendly."

The nearby Harbour Bridge had been decorated with a giant "O" made of red lights — first illuminated during a fireworks display thrown in Winfrey's honor earlier in her trip.

"When we (saw) the fireworks and that 'O' came over the bridge, I went into the 'ugly cry,'" she told reporters. "That was a really amazing moment. I had an 'O' on the BRIDGE — on the Sydney Harbour Bridge!"

The show didn't go off entirely without a hitch; during the taping of the second episode, actor Hugh Jackman hurt his eye while rappelling from the top of the Opera House onto the stage. The Australian hit the brakes too late, and smacked his face on a lighting rig. Taping was briefly suspended while he was examined by paramedics and given a glass of red wine to sip, before getting the all-clear.

"That was so much fun until the end," he joked.

The family of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin also made an emotional appearance on the program. Daughter Bindi walked on stage with a python named "Olivia" draped around her shoulders, assuring Winfrey "She's really sweet!" as the host tentatively stroked the reptile.

Seven-year-old Robert Irwin told Winfrey he watches videos of his father — who was killed by a stingray barb in 2006 — every day.

"It's so good because it's like he's actually there," he said, reducing mother Terri Irwin and many in the crowd to tears.

"Living with Steve was like standing in a cyclone," Terri said, eyes watering. "Then we lost him. It was like the wind stopped."

Winfrey, famed for her giveaways, had plenty up her sleeve, including a $250,000 check for a cancer-stricken Australian man and his family, who have been struggling to pay their bills.

Hip hop artist Jay-Z, who also appeared on the show, stopped by a local boys' school after one of their teachers wrote to Winfrey and told her how much the students loved the rapper. The students, most of whom are from low-income families, were invited to watch the show's taping from inside the Opera House, and a live feed shown on the stage caught their reaction as Winfrey told them they would all be receiving free laptops.

"Now, no excuses not to do your homework!" Winfrey shouted as the students began leaping up and down, fists pumped in the air.

She didn't stop there. After the crowd had danced itself to exhaustion during Bon Jovi's performance of "Livin' On a Prayer," all 6,000 were informed they would be receiving a commemorative necklace made of native Australian pearls. (Cue the screaming.)

Winfrey said she plans to return to Australia, calling it a "magical, wondrous, wondrous place."

"It has been an experience unparalleled," she told reporters. "I will be back. And when I come back, you won't know it. I'm going to sneak in next time."

Oprah appoints herself Australian 'ambassador' (AFP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.024-07:00

Oprah appoints herself Australian 'ambassador' (AFP)

SYDNEY (AFP) – US talk-show legend Oprah Winfrey Tuesday named herself Australia's new global ambassador, saying her much-touted visit Down Under would reap huge rewards for the country's image and tourism coffers.

Winfrey, recording episodes outside the United States for the first time in her show's 24-year history, said her visit with more than 300 US audience members would mean massive publicity for the huge nation.

"I have named myself an unofficial ambassador for Australia and I have the biggest mouth on earth," she said ahead of taping two star-studded episodes of her show before thousands of fans outside Sydney's iconic landmark, newly dubbed the "Oprah House".

"I know that there's a lot of talk and concern in this country as to what this will mean for Tourism Australia," she told reporters as 6,000 fans waited for Winfrey and guests such as rapper Jay-Z and Bon Jovi to come on stage.

"Let me just tell you -- this is the truth: It is immeasurable what four hours of a love festival about your country, broadcast in 145 countries around the world, can do," she said, referring to her legendary selling power.

"Aren't you glad I liked it?"

Winfrey, whose endorsement of books can trigger massive sales, said it had long been her dream to visit Australia and she had brought 302 of her loyal US audience members with her as a thank you in her show's final year.

After years in the spotlight, she said she had never seen anything like the reception she had received in Australia -- from the thousands cheering her in Melbourne in a welcome not seen since Princess Diana visited in the 1980s, to the 'O' lighting up the Sydney Harbour Bridge during her stay.

Crowds thronged Sydney's harbourside from dawn hoping to catch a glimpse of the superstar, and many wore hats and shirts emblazoned with her name.

As Winfrey took to the stage under a blazing noonday sun, some had tears in their eyes. "She's just an inspiration," said 27-year-old Nicole Menzel who had travelled from Melbourne for the event.

Australia paid four to five million US dollars to lure the talk-show diva Down Under, a government minister said Tuesday, but pundits claim the exposure could be worth more than ten times that amount.

Winfrey said that of the 302 audience members with her, about 200 had never previously left the United States and to them a vacation would mean "going to your brother-in-law's house".

"What I know for sure is that what will happen is that people... who had never even thought about Australia, didn't know where it was... will have the seed planted in their hearts," she said.

The first show filmed Tuesday on a stage beneath the Opera House had an Australian flavour, featuring actor Russell Crowe and the family of the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin.

A second show was to be filmed later Tuesday by Winfrey's Harpo Productions, which has spent nearly seven million US dollars on the trip and brought out 200 of its own staff to make four episodes.

Winfrey, 56, said her show had been a wonderful phenomenon but the time to end it had come, and while there would be "ugly tears" at the final taping, she had no regrets.

"I really don't believe that it's going to leave a hole in my heart," she said.

Prince William, Kate Middleton relationship timeline (ContributorNetwork)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.023-07:00

Prince William, Kate Middleton relationship timeline (ContributorNetwork)

Prince William and Kate Middleton have set a royal wedding date for Friday, April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London. When they get married, they will have known each other for about nine years.

But what has brought this famous couple to the big day? Here's a rundown of key dates in their relationship.

2001: William and Kate meet during university studies

Friends the couple knew in college recalled Prince William and Middleton started as friends when the two met at St. Andrews University in Scotland. ABC News reports Prince William was smitten by Middleton from the beginning and grew closer when the couple shared an apartment together while going to the third-oldest university in the English-speaking world.

June 23, 2005: The couple graduate from college

Both Middleton and Prince William, the older of Princess Diana's two sons, graduated from St. Andrews. USA Today reports the royal family made a deal with media outlets to stay away from the young princes as they focused on their studies in exchange for regular and formal interviews. Despite the media blackout, some pictures did surface of Prince William and Middleton together, including one from a vacation in Switzerland.

Dec. 15, 2006: Prince William graduates from military academy

Prince William graduated from Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Middleton was in attendance in what was seen as her first time coming out as a possible royal. CBS News reports Queen Elizabeth II was also in attendance and had personally invited Middleton to the occasion and to the family's subsequent Christmas dinner.

April 2007: William and Kate reportedly split

After Prince William's graduation, according to Britain's Telegraph, the couple had come under more intense media scrutiny. Even Middleton's birthday in January 2007 saw the media taking photos around her as she left her home, according to People magazine. Despite having two months apart from each other, Middleton is rumored to have moved into the royal residence at Clarence House by the end of the year, sparking rumors of a pending engagement.

June 21, 2008: Kate celebrates William's birthday with him

Prince William spent his 26th birthday at a charity polo event with Middleton, according to People. This was considered another confirmation of the couple's relationship.

Nov. 16, 2010: William and Kate announce their engagement

Clarence House announced Prince William and Middleton are engaged. The announcement was followed by media interviews and a showing of the ring, which had belonged to Princess Diana. Prince William proposed to Middleton during an October vacation to Kenya.

"Black Swan" in spotlight as Oscar season heats up (Reuters)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.022-07:00

"Black Swan" in spotlight as Oscar season heats up (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Broad sellouts in limited release and early awards-season acclaim suddenly have lifted "Black Swan" into an Oscar best picture contender, just as the Natalie Portman vehicle prepares to spread its theatrical wings wide next weekend.

Academy Award nominations won't be announced until January 25, so the most immediate drama for the ballet-themed suspense thriller begins Friday, when Fox Searchlight adds more than 900 playdates for more than 1,000 total engagements.

"Swan" last weekend collected $3.3 million from just 90 domestic locations, good enough for No. 6 on the chart. Sales to date stand at $5.6 million.

Set in the competitive world of professional ballet, Swan was directed by Darren Aronofsky ("The Wrestler") with co-stars including Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel and Barbara Hershey.

"We knew it was challenging subject matter, but we made a bet on Darren Aronofsky and Natalie Portman," Searchlight co-president Steve Gilula said Monday. "What's been a very pleasant surprise is that is seems to be resonating with a broader audience so early."

"Swan" has been playing to audiences skewing about 55% female. "We keep hearing anecdotally about women who have seen it two or three times already," Gilula said.

Meantime, the American Film Institute named "Swan" one of 2010's 10 best movies during the weekend. That should bolter its Oscar credentials ahead of the Academy's 10 best picture nominations, though AFI considers only American productions and thus relegated much-praised British drama "The King's Speech" to a special award.

Also during the weekend, members of the Broadcast Film Critics Assn. swooned for "Swan" with a record 12 Critics' Choice Movie Awards nominations in categories including best picture. The one-two kudos coup, combined with another big weekend of limited play, sets "Swan" up nicely to draught off of its critical praise at the box office and simultaneously bolster its awards prospects by displaying even clearer commercial traction.

Fox Searchlight has made a habit of combining mass appeal with critical praise. The Fox specialty unit secured an Oscar best picture win with 2008's "Slumdog Millionaire," a gritty but entertaining Indian drama that rang up $141.3 million domestically. Its 2007 dramatic comedy "Juno" similarly boasted a critical and commercial combo when it was included among the Academy's then five-film list of best-picture nominees.

"Juno" lost the best-picture statuette to Miramax's "No Country for Old Men," which had broad critical support but considerably less commercial success. Searchlight also drew best-picture nominations for 2006's "Little Miss Sunshine" and 2005's "Sideways."

"Swan's" first weekend in wide release should produce a three-day sum well into the low double-digit millions. Depending on its screen average, "Swan" could even compete for third on the frame behind big-budgeted wide openers "Tron: Legacy" from Disney and "Yogi Bear" from Warner Bros. -- whose productions costs each ran more than 10 times the estimated $13 million spent on "Swan."

"That's unusual for us," Gilula said. "We do alternative film, and sometimes we are fortunate when they cross over to mainstream audiences. But our main goal is to bring to market films that are different. Some times they do cross over."

Movie star Jackman injured in Oprah zipline accident (AFP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.021-07:00

Movie star Jackman injured in Oprah zipline accident (AFP)

SYDNEY (AFP) – Movie heartthrob Hugh Jackman ended up with a black eye attempting a dramatic entrance onto US talk-show host Oprah Winfrey's stage Tuesday on a zipline running from the top of Sydney's Opera House.

Aussie action star Jackman, 42, hit his face as he landed after swooping onto the TV queen's stage over the heads of 6,000 fans gathered next to the famed landmark on Sydney harbour, AFP reporters at the scene saw.

Winfrey called for an ice pack and paramedics rushed to the stage to treat the "X-Men" and "Van Helsing" star for his injury as taping of the show was briefly suspended.

"That was so much fun until the end. Too much fun," joked Jackman, sporting a clearly swollen and bruised eye adorned with a dressing after re-emerging a few minutes after being led offstage by paramedics.

"It doesn't hurt," he reassured stunned fans, adding that he got "overexcited" and distracted by the famous view of Sydney's harbour and Harbour Bridge on his trip down from the tip of the opera house.

A smiling Jackman then sipped wine and tasted Australia's famous Vegemite snack with the talk-show queen, who recorded two episodes of the final season of her 24-year-old show in Australia.

Rosario Dawson, Angie Harmon to announce SAG noms (AP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.020-07:00

Rosario Dawson, Angie Harmon to announce SAG noms (AP)

LOS ANGELES – Rosario Dawson and Angie Harmon will join JoBeth Williams to announce the nominees for the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Executive producer Jeff Margolis announced the presenters in a statement Monday night.

The SAG Awards nominations in five film and eight television categories will be announced on Thursday at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.

Dawson is currently starring opposite Denzel Washington in the action thriller "Unstoppable." Harmon plays Boston detective Jane Rizzoli on the TNT series "Rizzoli & Isles."

The awards ceremony will be simulcast live coast-to-coast on TNT and TBS on Jan. 30 at 8 p.m EST from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Golden Globes launch Hollywood into awards season (AP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.019-07:00

Golden Globes launch Hollywood into awards season (AP)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – The Golden Globes remain Hollywood's second-biggest film honors. Yet they are not the weather vane they used to be for predicting which film might triumph at the Academy Awards.

The 68th annual Globes, whose nominations come out Tuesday morning, will feature 10 best-picture nominees, five each in the dramatic category and the musical or comedy category.

The Oscars switched from five best-picture nominees to 10 last year and will continue with that doubled lineup, so plenty of overlap can be expected between Globe and Oscar contenders.

But only once in the last six years has the winner of one of the Globe best-film prizes gone on to win best picture at the Oscars — 2008's "Slumdog Millionaire."

That came after a stretch of eight-straight years when a Globe winner in either the dramatic or musical-comedy category went on to claim the best-picture Oscar.

With two acclaimed dramas — the British monarchy tale "The King's Speech" and the Facebook story "The Social Network" — considered front-runners this time, there are prospects of another divergent year between the Globes and the Oscars, whose nominations come out Jan. 25, nine days after the Globes are presented.

"The Social Network" already has snagged two key prizes as both Los Angeles and New York film critics groups picked it as the year's best movie.

Other possible Globe drama contenders include the sci-fi smash "Inception," the ballet tale "Black Swan," the Western "True Grit," the boxing saga "The Fighter" and the survival story "127 Hours."

Among musical and comedy prospects are the lesbian-family tale "The Kids Are All Right," the Lewis Carroll fantasy "Alice in Wonderland," the song-and-dance extravaganza "Burlesque," the curmudgeon chronicle "Barney's Version" and the romances "Greenberg," "Love & Other Drugs," "How Do You Know" and "Cyrus."

The Globes and Oscars typically line up better on acting winners. Last year, "Avatar" won best drama at the Globes and "The Hurt Locker" took best picture at the Oscars. But all four Oscar acting recipients — Sandra Bullock for "The Blind Side," Jeff Bridges for "Crazy Heart," Mo'Nique for "Precious" and Christoph Waltz for "Inglourious Basterds" — also won prizes at the Globes first.

Clear favorites have emerged this season for best actor (Colin Firth in "The King's Speech") and supporting actor (Christian Bale in "The Fighter").

Annette Bening for "The Kids Are All Right" and Natalie Portman for "Black Swan" could wind up in a two-woman race for best actress, while the supporting-actress category is up for grabs among prospects that include Amy Adams and Melissa Leo for "The Fighter," Helena Bonham Carter for "The King's Speech" and 14-year-old newcomer Hailee Steinfeld for "True Grit."

No matter how the two awards shows line up on winners, the stars generally can count on a good time at the Globes, a more laid-back, dinner-and-drinks affair than the stately Oscars.

The Globes are presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a group of about 85 critics and reporters for overseas outlets. Actors Katie Holmes, Blair Underwood and Josh Duhamel will announce nominees.

Robert De Niro, an eight-time Globe nominee who won a best-actor prize there for "Raging Bull," will receive the group's Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.

Ricky Gervais is returning as host of the Globes ceremony, which will air live Jan. 16 on NBC.

___

Online:

http://www.goldenglobes.org

Add Images to any RSS Feed

2010-12-15T04:01:00.018-07:00

Add Images to any RSS Feed Enter any rss feed you would like, and this pipe will analyze each feed item's title for keywords. The pipe will then take those keywords and perform a yahoo image search. The very first result of the image search (in the form of a small thumbnail) will be placed within the item's description.

Colin Firth wins Variety International Star of Year (AFP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.017-07:00

Colin Firth wins Variety International Star of Year (AFP)

DUBAI (AFP) – British actor Colin Firth won Variety Magazine's "International Star of the Year" award at the Dubai International Film Festival which opened with his film "The King's Speech."

Actress Carey Mulligan presented Firth with the prize from the prestigious US movie industry magazine on Monday evening at a public "In Conversation" session at the festival.

The actor who played Mr Darcy in the 1995 television series version of "Pride and Prejudice" attended the opening gala of the festival, which kicked off with the film directed by Tom Hooper in which he plays King George VI.

Last year, the award went to Scottish actor Gerard Butler.

US actor, director and political activist Sean Penn was also due to have taken part to receive a "Lifetime Achievement" award but had to travel on an urgent mission to Haiti for aid work with his J/P Haitian Relief Organisation.

"I am honoured to receive the Dubai Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award and had every intention of being there to accept it in person," Penn said in a statement to the festival.

"Regretfully, the situation in Haiti has worsened and it was of the utmost importance that I be there to ensure the safety of my staff and the J/P HRO camp," he said.

A total of 157 films from 57 countries are being shown at this year's Dubai festival, where new Arab talent especially from Egypt is also showcased. The prizes are worth a total of 600,000 dollars.

"Black Swan" star Kunis joining MacFarlane comedy (Reuters)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.016-07:00

"Black Swan" star Kunis joining MacFarlane comedy (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Mila Kunis and Mark Wahlberg, in theaters with a pair of awards-season contenders, are in negotiations to join the cast of "Ted," a comedy feature from "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane.

The Universal movie centers on a man who as young boy made a Christmas wish that his Teddy Bear would come to life and be his best friend forever. Twenty-five years later, the bear is still at his side, but has now evolved into a cursing, smoking, delinquent (voiced by MacFarlane) that is preventing the man from maturing.

Wahlberg would play the grown man, and Kunis his girlfriend. She wants their relationship to move to the next level and finally has enough of him living with his best friend Ted. She turns to her cad of a boss (Adam Scott) for comfort.

Wahlberg is in theaters with the boxing drama "The Fighter," and Kunis with the ballerina melodrama "Black Swan." She voices "Family Guy" daughter Meg Griffin on MacFarlane's hit cartoon series. Scott has a recurring role on NBC's "Parks & Recreation."

A no-name actress may nab key "Snow White" role (Reuters)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.015-07:00

A no-name actress may nab key "Snow White" role (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – There's big movement on "Snow White and the Huntsman," Universal's take on the suddenly hot fairy tale, which is the subject of several competing movie projects.

The studio, clearly angling to beat Relativity's Tarsem-directed version, is in talks with Charlize Theron to play the evil queen, and is eyeing Michael Fassbender ("Inglourious Basterds") as the titular stalker.

But who will nab the starring role of Snow White?

The studio initially thought of going with name actresses in that age bracket, making entreaties toward Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning and Saoirse Ronan, but is now leaning toward going with a relative unknown. It is holding screen tests in the next few days to find its leading lady. The stakes are high because, similar to Disney's recent "Alice in Wonderland" adaptation, there will be stars in key roles, but the main pillar is going to be whoever ends up as the orphaned girl on the run.

Sources caution that depending on how the tests go, the studio can still reverse course and continue reaching out a bigger name. But for now, the actresses who have made Universal's shortlist are:

-- Riley Keough, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley and daughter of Lisa Marie Presley. She made her film debut playing Marie Currie in "The Runaways" and recently wrapped a vampire flick with Kylie Minogue titled "Jack & Diane."

-- Felicity Jones, an English actress currently seen as Miranda in Julie Taymor's "The Tempest." She also played Margot Frank in BBC's 2009 miniseries "The Diary of Anne Frank."

-- Bella Heathcoat, whose major credit is the Australian soap opera "Neighbours."

-- Alicia Vikander, a Swedish actress with mostly TV work under her hood.

Jessica Chastain joins Prohibition era drama (Reuters)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.014-07:00

Jessica Chastain joins Prohibition era drama (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Jessica Chastain will star opposite Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy in "The Wettest County," a drama about bootlegging brothers in Prohibition-era Virginia.

Shooting starts in February with John Hillcoat ("The Road") directing.

The movie took a long time to come together, and has remained highly coveted amongst the younger set for its meaty roles and colorful setting. The project has experimented with various acting configurations on its road to production but LaBeouf has remained the throughline.

LaBeouf had stamped "Wettest" as a passion project and stuck with it even as names such as Ryan Gosling, Paul Dano and Scarlett Johansson came and went.

The pieces came together just as LaBeouf wrapped up a long shoot for "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" and was looking for something more scaled down in scope yet weighty in range.

Based on the novel "The Wettest County in the World" by Matt Bondurant, who was inspired by his grandfather and two great-uncles, the story follows siblings who take the law into their own hands while making a run for the American Dream.

Chastain, who stars in Al Pacino's upcoming directing vehicle "Wilde Salome," will play Hardy's love interest, a big city woman now living in a small town who at one time was mixed up with gangsters.

Ferrell, Reilly parody classic Christmas duet (AP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.013-07:00

Ferrell, Reilly parody classic Christmas duet (AP)

NEW YORK – Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly have added a comedic twist to David Bowie and Bing Crosby's classic Christmas duet.

The video was posted Monday by Funny or Die. It's a remarkable, comedic imitation of Crosby and Bowie's beloved 1977 Christmas special in which they sang "Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy." In it, Ferrell plays Bowie and Reilly performs as Crosby.

The mimicry is impressive, with almost every line exactly repeated. Reilly fittingly dons a V-neck sweater, and Ferrell sports Bowie's blue blazer and a British accent. The two stay faithfully in character until the end, when they curse at each other and Ferrell knocks over a Christmas tree.

The video had gotten 135,000 hits by Monday night.

___

Online:

http://www.funnyordie.com/

Vargas Llosa back in Peru, tired and eager to work (AFP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.011-07:00

Vargas Llosa back in Peru, tired and eager to work (AFP)

LIMA (AFP) – Author Mario Vargas Llosa, back in Peru after receiving the Nobel Literature Prize in Stockholm on Friday, said he felt tired but "extremely eager" to resume his literary work.

"I'm very happy to be back in Peru, although I must confess I feel very tired. These weeks have been very hectic," he told reporters at Lima's international airport.

The Nobel Prize he received in Sweden, he said "is an honor to the language the novelist writes in and his country."

The prize "has given me many new friends; that's very moving and perhaps it will improve my concept of the human being," he said, adding: "surely it has also made me a few enemies."

Standing alongside Culture Minister Juan Ossio, Llosa, 74, said his immediate concern was getting back to writing.

"I'm extremely eager to plunge into my literary work I've interrupted since October 7," he said.

On Wednesday, Llosa will receive numerous state tributes, including the Arts and Letters Award President Alan Garcia will bestow on him at the government palace, followed by a gala dinner.

Before the award ceremony, Llosa will open at Lima's House of Literature the International Congress of Literature: "Cartography of power in the works of Vargas Llosa."

He will also hold a press conference at the National Museum of Arts and take part in a discussion on his latest novel "El Sueno del Celta" (The Dream of the Celt).

Llosa said after all the ceremonies he plans to travel to his home town of Arequipa, where still more tributes await him.

California now seeking $131k from Jackson estate (AP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.009-07:00

California now seeking $131k from Jackson estate (AP)

LOS ANGELES – California wants a little bit more of the King of Pop — roughly $131,000 in tax penalties.

The figure is considerably more than the state's Franchise Tax Board sought from Michael Jackson's estate in March, when it filed a creditor's claim for $1,647.24.

The state amended its claims Friday to include $131,544 in interest and penalties that it says the estate owes for the 2009 tax year.

The original claim was because the state had to request that the late singer file a state income tax return for 2007, although the penalty doesn't appear in the updated document.

The late singer's estate evaluates claims before deciding whether to pay them.

Hollywood Walk of Fame star for Gwyneth Paltrow (AP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.007-07:00

Hollywood Walk of Fame star for Gwyneth Paltrow (AP)

LOS ANGELES – Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw were on hand Monday to help Paltrow celebrate the unveiling of her star on the sidewalk outside Madame Tussauds celebrity wax museum.

The unveiling comes in advance of the Dec. 22 release in Los Angeles and Nashville of Paltrow's new film, "Country Strong," co-starring McGraw. It opens nationwide on Jan. 7.

Paltrow won the best actress Academy Award for her role in 1998's "Shakespeare in Love."

The 38-year-old actress also had roles in the "Iron Man" movies, "Two Lovers," "The Good Night," "Proof," "Sylvia," "The Talented Mr. Ripley," "The Royal Tenenbaums," "Emma," and "Jefferson in Paris."

Natalie Portman producing gross-out girl movies (AP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.005-07:00

Natalie Portman producing gross-out girl movies (AP)

NEW YORK – Natalie Portman thinks gross-out, juvenile humor isn't just for guys. She believes women appreciate lewd humor, too.

In the January 2011 issue of Vogue magazine, the Academy Award-nominated actress says she's started her own production company and is interested in making comedic films like "The Hangover" for women.

In the article, Portman says women are typically "not allowed" to be "beautiful and funny." She also believes it's frowned upon for females to be vulgar.

Her latest movie "Black Swan" is now in theaters.

The January issue of Vogue goes on sale nationwide December 21.

___

Online:

http://www.vogue.com/

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/blackswan/

Nepal's ex-crown prince to be arrested over gunshot (AFP)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.003-07:00

Nepal's ex-crown prince to be arrested over gunshot (AFP)

KATHMANDU (AFP) – Nepal's former crown prince Paras Shah is to be arrested and charged after he fired his gun following a late-night argument with fellow guests at a resort, the home ministry said Tuesday.

Shah, who as crown prince was notorious for his playboy lifestyle, fired a live round into the air on Saturday after losing his temper at an upmarket resort in the Chitwan national park, a popular tourist destination.

He has said two men insulted him during a dispute about Nepal's monarchy, which was abolished in 2008 after former Maoist rebels who waged a 10-year insurgency against the state came to power.

"Police have been ordered to arrest Paras Shah," home ministry spokesman Jay Mukunda Khanal told AFP. "He will be charged with using a firearm in a public place."

It is the first time an arrest warrant has ever been issued against a former royal, although the family has a chequered history.

Nine years ago, Nepal's crown prince Dipendra gunned down his relatives -- including the king and queen -- in a drink and drugs-fuelled rage before apparently turning his gun on himself.

Shah's father, Gyanendra, took over as king and four years later seized absolute power, sparking huge protests that eventually forced him to restore parliament.

Shah, 38, moved to Singapore in 2008 after the fall of the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy.

But he has now returned to Nepal, where his wife recently launched a fund to help deprived women and children in a move widely seen as an attempt to rehabilitate the family's public image.

Police in the resort town of Pokhara in western Nepal, where Shah is currently staying, have been ordered to arrest the former prince and take him to Chitwan for questioning.

Shah has said in a statement that he fired a single bullet into the air after the row "because I could not tolerate the insult upon me and my country".

However one of the guests involved in Saturday's altercation -- Rubel Chaudhary, the son-in-law of Nepal's deputy prime minister -- has accused the former prince of pointing the gun at him during the argument.

In interviews with local media, Chaudhary said he feared for his life when Shah accused him of helping to bring down the monarchy.

Hugh Jackman injured in Oprah TV show stunt in Australia (Reuters)

2010-12-15T04:01:00.001-07:00

Hugh Jackman injured in Oprah TV show stunt in Australia (Reuters)

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian movie star Hugh Jackman was slightly injured on Tuesday while performing a stunt during the taping of an Oprah Winfrey show at the Sydney Opera House.

Live television showed Jackman sliding down a cable from the top of the Sydney Opera House toward a giant outdoor stage, but he failed to stop, crashing into the stage's light rigging and hurting his face.

"That was so much fun, until the end," joked Jackman, famed for his tough Wolverine role.

Jackman, later sporting a small bandage under his eye, told Winfrey that the excitement of sliding down the cable caused him to brake too late.

"I came down waving to everyone, looking over Sydney Harbour, saw my dad, the kids and you (Winfrey), went to pull the brake and then boing," he said.

Entertainment reporters at the scene said Jackman was hit in the eye. Television showed Jackman holding some ice on his face and taking a swig of red wine. It was reported that Jackman suffered a black eye.

But Jackman was well enough to give Winfrey a lesson on eating Vegemite, a black yeast breakfast spread many Australians love. He spread some onto a biscuit and offered it to the TV chat show queen.

"I like it," declared Winfrey, before eating some more and washing it down with a glass of one of Australia's best and most expensive wines, the Penfold's Grange.

Winfrey, with 302 specially flown American guests in tow, is in Australia producing two TV chat shows, with Australian guests such as Jackman, Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban and Olivia Newton John.

Winfrey's American guests have also filmed their travels around Australia to the Outback and the Great Barrier Reef. Their video journals will be part of the shows that will air later in the United States.

Australia has spent more than A$3 million ($3 million) bringing "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to Australia as a way to boost tourism. The TV show is watched by 40 million Americans and screened in 145 countries.

(Reporting by Michael Perry; Editing by Clement Tan)

Vargas Llosa back in Peru, tired and eager to work (AFP)

2010-12-14T04:00:00.027-07:00