Austin roasts Opie — by accident
Austin Powers in Goldmember is so loaded with gags that audiences drown many out. But one joke is getting extra, unintended, laughs.
As Scott Evil (Seth Green) begins to live up to his last name in the new spy spoof, he loses more and more of his red hair, more closely resembling his villainous bald dad, Dr. Evil (Mike Myers). That's the joke. But plenty of people are getting a second laugh when they realize that Scott's comb-over makes him look just like director Ron Howard.
"All the press has mentioned it," says Green, referring to reporters who saw advance screenings. "But it wasn't intentional."
Myers is loving it. "It is the most hilarious, inaccurate conclusion that I've ever heard in my life," he says. "We just wanted to have a funny device to illustrate the idea that he was turning into his father."
Howard, whose brother Clint is in Goldmember and whose business partner is producing Myers' movie The Cat in the Hat, hasn't seen the film. If Myers says it's not intentional, says a spokesman, Howard has no complaint.
'Red Rabbit' burrows into Cold War comfort
Jack Ryan returns in "Red Rabbit."
I Must Be Dreaming!
Have you ever had a dream about Celine Dion? Hav eyou ever wondered what it meant?
Foo Fighters not splitting up: Grohl
Dave Grohl has set the record straight on the status of the Foo Fighters.
The band, which had been on hiatus while Grohl toured with Queens Of The Stone Age, were rumoured to be splitting after Grohl postponed recording of the latest Foo Fighters album to hit the road, reports Britain's New Musical Express.
"There was never any talk of breaking up," NME quoted Grohl. "It was just personal life decisions."
However, Grohl did admit that they did have problems when they entered the studio last October, shortly after Foo's drummer Taylor Hawkins was hospitalized for "overindulgence" while on tour.
"After that went down it scared the shit out of everybody and we thought 'Let's stop for a while'," Grohl said. "Then we thought the one thing that could heal us was working on the record and honestly, I don't think we were ready to go in yet. After two and a half months of recording, it became a chore. We didn't feel like the luckiest people in the world like usual."
Grohl explained that his time off from the Foo Fighters made the new album "ten times better than it was six months ago".
The band are currently wrapping up their fourth album "1X1" (pronounced "One By One"), which is set to be released on October 22.
New U2 Single On The Way!
U2 has bolted back into the studio and recorded their brand new single, "Electric Storm".
The single will be released in October and will accompany their forthcoming 17-song "Best of" album in November.
A second new track on the "Best of" release will be "The Hands That Built America", written for Martin Scorsese's long-delayed epic, "Gangs Of New York".
"Electric Storm" will be released to radio on Sept. 16.
Meanwhile, a New York Post report says U2 are lined up to headline a massive concert in New York's Times Square on Sept. 5 - just six days before the September 11 anniversary -- to kick off the National Football League's new season.
The report also says the other top musical acts will perform at the show, which is expected to draw thousands of fans.
"Happy #@$%! American Thanksgiving!"
Scarier than Harvey Weinstein biting the head off of a bat, Miramax gleefully announced yesterday that they have acquired the rights to the first two seasons of MTV's smash hit The Osbournes for DVD and VHS release. With season one due this November, just in time for the network kickoff of season two, apparently the growing backlash due to the (over)exposure of MTV's most popular show ever doesn't seem to be fazing anyone involved. "As soon as I discussed this project with Harvey (Weinstein), I knew that Miramax was the right home for 'The Osbournes,'" said matriarch Sharon Osbourne. As for what fans can expect, Weinstein hinted "The show's incredible following, never-before-seen footage and other DVD extras will make The Osbournes a key addition to Miramax's family of DVD and video hits." Stay tuned for the full details...
WHO'S BITTER
The former wife of late Who bassist John Entwistle slamming her ex-husband in an interview with Australia's Melbourne Herald Sun. She said Entwistle was an emotional and financial mess, and that he and his bandmates (Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend) were not friends.
RISING TO THE OCCASION?
Bruce Springsteen telling London's Times that he thought the war in Afghanistan was "handled well" by the Bush administration. "It was deliberative, which I wasn't counting on," said Springsteen. "I expected a lot less from this administration."
Guns, Zeppelin Top Greatest Metal Albums List
This is one "greatest albums" list The Beatles did not make.
In the world of heavy metal, the genre that allows fans to blow off steam to deafening, bone-crunching music, honors for the greatest album of all time have gone to Guns N' Roses.
The short-lived U.S. rock band's 1987 debut release, "Appetite For Destruction," took pole position in Spin magazine's top 40 list, ahead of works by pioneering bands such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.
Led Zeppelin's untitled 1971 release, commonly known as "Led Zeppelin IV" or "Zoso" was second, followed by Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" (1971), Metallica's "Master of Puppets" (1986) and AC/DC's "Back in Black" (1980), Spin's editors decreed in the magazine's upcoming September issue.
"Appetite for Destruction," which includes such hits as "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Sweet Child O' Mine," has sold more than 15 million copies in the United States. Spin said it "sounds like Hollywood at 2 a.m., only genuine and dangerous and absolutely necessary."
The Led Zeppelin album was "the defining endeavor for the band and the genre it accidentally created," Spin said. The U.K. quartet's "Led Zeppelin II" (1969) took the No. 7 spot.
Fellow Brits Black Sabbath also appeared twice, with 1972's "Vol. 4" at No. 14. Additionally, frontman Ozzy Osbourne's 1980 solo album "Blizzard Of Ozz," recorded after he was fired from the band, came in at No. 26.
Carrey to Play Reporter in Comedy
Actor Jim Carrey will play a disconsolate TV reporter in the upcoming comedy, "Bruce Almighty," which will be shot on location in Buffalo and Niagara Falls in September.
Carrey's character, Bruce, exasperates God with his constant grousing to the point where he's given the chance to run the universe for a day.
Director Tom Shadyac, who also directed Carrey, 40, in "Liar Liar" and "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," said the actor watched Buffalo TV stations while growing up across the border in Canada and learned everything he needed to know for his role from local news broadcasts.
Bruuuuuuuuuce!
As you may have figured out by now I am a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen. His new CD comes out today and even though he will be all over the media anyway, there is extensive coverage of his new disc below.
The major link I want to share with you is the TIME MAGAZINE COVER STORY that many in Canada won't see.
Y'see Bruce is on the cover of the magazine for the first time since he was there in 1975 when Time proclaimed him "Rock's New Sensation." But here in Canada we have "our own" version of Time magazine and the cover story in the Canadian edition is about whether or not you will be able to retire.
So enjoy the story, pick up the CD and know that I have done the same!
Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce!!!!!!!!!!
Today's New DVD and Video Releases
The "biggest" titles on today's list of new releases features some stars who used to have it, then lost it. If you waste your time with these films, you will easily see why.
But then again, there is a Milla Jovovich movie to spend some time with. Mmmm...Milla!
Seriously though, who will be watching any movies tonight anyway?!?! There is a new Bruce Springsteen CD out!
UP FIRST, THE BIGGER TITLES
Resident Evil- An elite force combats zombies and mutants in secret lab. (Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Eric Mabius)
Collateral Damage- A firefighter tracks down terrorist that killed his family. (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elias Koteas, Francesca Neri)
Dragonfly- A husband believes that his dead wife is trying to commune. (Kevin Costner, Kathy Bates, Kathryn Erbe)
Dinotopia- Two brothers find continent inhabited by dinosaurs and man. (Tyron Leitso, Wentworth Miller, Katie Carr)
Elvis: His Best Friend Remembers- Elvis' best friend recounts Elvis' life and final days. (Diamond Joe Esposito)
K-9: P.I.- Dooley and his dog, Jerry Lee, stop crooks again. (James Belushi)
Kylie Minogue: Live In Sidney- The complete Kylie Minogue concert from Sidney, Australia. (Kylie Minogue)
AND THEN THE REST OF THE PACK
1999
2002 U.S. Open Golf Tournament
Allies At War
Amazing Tales Of Wartime Escapes
Bible Songs
Big (Widescreen)
Bloody Fists
Butt Ugly Martians: Best Of The Bad Guys
Butt Ugly Martians: Boyz To Martians
Butt Ugly Martians: Hoverboard Heroes
Cantonen Iron Kung Fu
Carnival Of Souls
Catfish In Black Bean Sauce
Change Of Habit
Cleopatra (Collector's Edition)
Collateral Damage
Contract Killer
The Corpse Grinders II
Crypt Of The Living Dead
Dance Of Death
Deeply
Die Hard (Five Star Collection)
Die Hard - The Ultimate Collection (Ultimate Edition)
Die Hard 2: Die Harder (Special Edition)
Die Hard With A Vengeance (Special Edition)
Doors: Best Of The Doors (Collector's Edition)
Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde
The Eagle's Killer
Ed Gein
Felicidades (Spanish)
Final Payback
The French Connection (Five Star Collection)
G-Men From Hell
Hellcats In High Heels
Ice From The Sun
If You Only Knew
Inbred Rednecks
K-9
Latina Girls Going Crazy 2
A Love Divided
M*A*S*H- Season Two
Man Beast
NHL 2002 Stanley Cup Championship
Once Upon A Time In China And America
Out Of The Cold
Premutos: Lord Of The Living Dead
The Principal
A Question Of Faith
Resident Evil
Rock Da Houze
Soulkeeper
The Sound Of Music (Special Edition)
Speed (Collector's Edition)
Speed (Five Star Collection)
Speed 2: Cruise Control (Full Screen)
Stricken
Toddler Tunes
Total Reality
Zombie Doom
Today's New CD Releases
A few weeks ago when I first heard the new CD "The Rising" from Bruce Springsteen, of who I am a huge fan, I was blown away! Easily it earned 5 stars our of 5. Then my good friend Bruce, a different Bruce, asked me if it was actually good or was I just a fan. I answered that it was good! That I loved it! My comment was that there was "...just something about how Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band sounds that makes this record special."
And now, after spending the past month listening to the CD, I must profess that I like it even more. I have been listening to this CD literally non- stop at home and at work since I first found it and the songs on this disc are so powerful that even after multiple, multiple listens they continue to move me. It is the perfect reaction piece to how we have all been feeling since last September. Angry, sad, empty, rejuvenated, passionate, etc.
To me, it is a masterpiece!
But will you like it?
Well, if you enjoy thoughtful, thought provoking, well written music that says something other that "It's Hot In Here" or "The World's Been Empty Without Me" then you will. If music can move you, then you will.
Otherwise, here's the rest of the CD's that are coming out today! And look, there is a Damn Yankees disc!
* 12 STONES 12 Stones (Sony)
* 28 DAYS Upstyledown (Linus Entertainment)
* 30 SECONDS TO MARS 30 Seconds To Mars
* A*TEENS Pop Til You Drop (Stockholm)
* BETH ORTON Daybreaker (Heavenly/Astralwerks)
* BIG L The Big Picture (Rawkus)
* BLACK STAR Black Star (Rawkus)
* BOA Twilight (Pioneer)
* BURNING SPEAR Fittest Of The Fittest (EMI)
* CECE WINANS Everlasting Love (Pioneer)
* COMPANY FLOW Funcrusher Plus (Rawkus)
* COUNTRY BEARS OST Country Bears OST (Universal)
* DA BEATMINERZ Brace 4 Impak (Rawkus)
* DAMN YANKEES The Essentials (Rhino)
* DARIUS RUCKER Back To Then (Hidden Beach/Epic)
* DAVID SANBORN The Essentials (Rhino)
* DR. JOHN The Essentials (Rhino)
* EMMYLOU HARRIS Roses In The Snow (Remaster) (Rhino)
* FEAR FACTORY Concrete (Roadrunner)
* FILTER The Amalgamut (Warner)
* GILLES PETERSON Worldwide Program 2 (Mercury)
* HARRY CHAPIN The Essentials (Rhino)
* ISYSS The Way We Do (Arista)
* JOE NICHOLS Man With A Memory (Universal South)
* JOHN ADAMS Native & Sentimental Music (Warner International)
* K.C. & THE SUNSHINE BAND The Essentials (Rhino)
* KNOC-TURN'AL L.A. Confidential Presents (Elektra)
* LAMYA Learning From Falling (J Records)
* LINDA THOMPSON Fashionably Late (Rounder)
* LINKIN PARK Reanimation (Warner)
* MARAH Float Away With The Friday Night Gods (Artemis)
* PAM TILLIS TBA (Pam TIllis) (Sony Nashville)
* RASCALZ ReLoaded (Vik)
* SINCH Sinch (Roadrunner)
* THE HIGH & MIGHTY Home Field Advantage (Rawkus)
* TODD RUNDGREN The Essentials (Rhino)
* YES In A Word: Yes (Box Set) (Rhino)
Oh, and if you want a second opinion of "The Rising..."
Springsteen's 'Rising' strikes right post-9/11 note
By Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY
Songwriters grappling with Sept. 11 fallout did little to affirm music's power to heal and enlighten, instead burdening the airwaves with such flag-waving bombast as Toby Keith's Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American) and Paul McCartney's clunky Freedom.
It took populist rocker Bruce Springsteen to get it right. The Rising (three and a half stars out of four).
Impressionistic rather than literal, Springsteen's commentary sidesteps specifics and instead seeps into universal tales of love and community, evoking haunting images of that dreadful day even in the pre-9/11 My City of Ruins' rumination on New Jersey's Asbury Park. The result is an emotionally vivid portrait of grief and renewal that encapsulates a nation's struggle for recovery and understanding.
Yet the album, out today, never forgets its role as entertainment. A shrewd marriage of message and muscle, The Rising rushes toward the morning after the mourning, the lively wake that celebrates survival and unity even in the midst of unbearable pain.
Springsteen's willingness to walk that fine line is a brave move, given that fans would have been content with a rote regurgitation of exhilarating E Street swagger. On this first album of originals since 1995's The Ghost of Tom Joad and first full studio record with the E Street Band since 1984's Born in the USA, Springsteen keeps one foot planted in his roots while the other kicks over new stones.
Lyrically, he confronts thorny territory with spectacular success (except in assorted repetitious choruses and the lazy cliche of Waitin' on a Sunny Day). Springsteen achieves new levels of grace and emotional intensity in Paradise, told from the viewpoint of a suicide bomber, and Empty Sky, a subdued but harrowing tale that could be about a lost lover or the skyline gap left by the fallen twin towers. The devastating Into the Fire is less ambiguous: "The sky was falling and streaked with blood/I heard you calling me, then you disappeared into the dust/Up the stairs, into the fire."
Musically, Springsteen fails to break new ground aside from the cautious use of electronica in The Fuse and the exotica of Pakistani qwali singer Asif Ali Khan in Worlds Apart. Mary's Place, a transparent throwback to Rosalita (Come Out Tonight), is an apparent concession to Boss diehards stubbornly stalled in the '70s.
Producer Brendan O'Brien, best known for his steady hand in Pearl Jam records, gives The Rising its richly textured soundscape and pulls Springsteen's commanding voice front and center. Though limited to its usual paces, the E Street Band struts with confidence, enhancing the tent-revival fervor Springsteen whips up as an antidote for psychic wounds.
After 10 Years, Peter Gabriel Looks 'Up'
It has been 10 years since Peter Gabriel's last studio set, "Us," but the artist has finally wrapped work on its follow-up, "Up," due Sept. 24 via Geffen. The 11-song set is led by first single "The Barry Williams Show" (which was not written about "The Brady Bunch" star of the same name). A diverse group of guest artists make appearances, including the Blind Boys Of Alabama, the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green, and bassist Danny Thompson (Talk Talk, David Sylvian).
"Up" does its best to make up for lost time, with the majority of the tracks stretching past the six-minute mark. Many songs have been previewed over the past few months on Gabriel's official Web site, while others have their basis in prior songs, including "I Grieve," which previously appeared on the soundtrack to the 1998 film "City of Angels" but has been heavily revamped.
A fall tour is in the works, with a Nov. 5 date in Atlanta already set and shows expected to run through mid-December. Gabriel will also perform with the band Slut at the KoniXXtreffer festival, set for Aug. 31 in Munich. Bryan Ferry, the Ark, and Reamonn are also in the bill.
Gabriel has released a lot of music since "Us," including the recent soundtrack to the Australian film "Rabbit Proof Fence" and a collaboration with rap act Naughty By Nature for its TVT album "iicons." The bulk of his catalog was also reissued this year via Geffen.
The 'Rising' Tide
Rock troubadour Bruce Springsteen returns this week with the incredible disc "The Rising" -- his first album of new material since 1995's "The Ghost of Tom Joad" and his first full set with the legendary E Street Band since 1984's "Born in the U.S.A." Produced by Brendan O'Brien (Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam), the albums centers thematically on the events Sept. 11 and those affected by the attacks.
O'Brien manages to take Springsteen to uncharted waters on at least one song ("World's Apart") but for the most part the music doesn't sound particularly unlike the artist's most recent studio efforts. The album's best songs ("Into the Fire," "You're Missing," "Paradise") find Springsteen revisiting the contemplative mid-tempo rock of "Streets of Philadelphia," while a handful of less enjoyable numbers ("Countin' on a Miracle," "Let's Be Friends") rely more on an outdated '80s pop sense. The subtle lyrics and bare arrangements of the slower tunes (which ironically lack nearly any E Street contribution) seem to have a spark the more elaborate numbers lack.
Springsteen and company embark on a 46-city tour Aug. 7 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a run which is expected to extend well into 2003, with stops in Europe, Australia, and an eventual return to the U.S. Springsteen is also scheduled for a series of television appearances, including a segment Tuesday (July 30) on the "Today" show, two appearances on "The Late Show with David Letterman" later this week, and an Aug. 29 performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Myers and Roach Talk AUSTIN POWERS 4
Nooo, baby! That's what director Jay Roach says when asked if "Goldmember" is really the last "Austin Powers" movie. "Yeah, it's true that it's been reported that 'Goldmember' is the last in the series," says Roach. "But I'll tell you that halfway through production of this film, Mike Myers and I looked at each other and said, 'What about Austin Powers 4?' "
Plot ideas? "Mike and I said, 'Hmmm, what if Dr. Evil goes into the future? I had ideas and Mike has a billion characters in his head.
"Suddenly, we were saying, 'What about Austin Powers in space?' " And one more idea that could happen? "I have an idea for a prequel," Roach says. "You'll see Dr. Evil as the ultimate cold warrior guy and, meanwhile, Austin Powers launches the British invasion."
Another shagadelic detail about the movie with the $71.5 million mojo at the box office this weekend: Getting Ozzy Osbourne and family for a cameo was rough. "It was a complex deal and happened at the last minute," Roach says. "Ozzy and Sharon didn't know if they wanted to do it until the last minute. We needed five hours from them. They gave us one. But they did it because they love Mike Myers who [was on the set] the day we shot their cameo even though he wasn't in the scene. Mike just stood there off-camera talking to their dogs and helping the Osbournes feel good about themselves."
PS: The actual shoot will be featured in the new season of "The Osbournes" on MTV.
And Dark Horizons had this from Mike Myers:
Mike Myers talked with ITV the other day about the possibility of another comedy adventure: "I would love to do more, Jay and I were apprehensive about doing a 3rd, then we felt that we had a good idea, we had a great time doing it, the response has been awesome, we’ve loved this whole experience. I think now we would love to do a 4th one, I don’t have an idea yet so if I come up with an idea - then yeah…I had so much fun".
UNBREAKABLE 2 a Possibilty
Writer/director M. Night Shyamalan told SCI FI Wire that he originally wanted to do a sequel to his superhero film Unbreakable, but thought better of it when critics and audiences reacted lukewarmly to the movie. "I would have, but I just didn't feel enough love," Shyamalan said in an interview while promoting his next movie, Signs. "That's the true answer. Most people won't give you the true answer. I just didn't feel enough love."
Shyamalan added that he was a bit surprised by the negative reaction to the movie, which starred Bruce Willis as a reluctant hero. "I was mostly surprised at the lack of the acknowledgment of what at least we aspired to do, [which] was to do the classy, non-fighting [non-Green-] Goblins-on-the-roof version [of a comic-book story]. Spider-Man was the goblins on the roof. I liked Spider-Man a lot. And my favorite part of it was the first hour, again, becoming Spider-Man. That's what I like, and that's what I wanted to make a movie of. And yeah, I have other ideas for Mr. Glass [Samuel L. Jackson] and Bruce's character, but ... ."
Asked if he might be persuaded to do a sequel, Shyamalan said, "I don't know. There's a lot of [fans], like when we had the first screening of Signs, these Unbreakable fanatics came out in force. And I was like, wow. They all came out. They came out with the DVDs and the posters. I was like, holy moley. And there was one Sixth Sense DVD there. And everybody else was Unbreakable. And I was like, wow. I guess there is a little cult thing going on. But that was really sweet. I don't know. I don't know. Maybe." Signs, which stars Mel Gibson as a man who must deal with crop circles on his family farm, opens Aug. 2.
MODEL MOMMY
Claudia Schiffer is pregnant with her first child, her publicist confirmed Monday. The supermodel has reportedly made it through her first trimester--coincidentally three months after marrying film producer Matthew Vaughn.
MODEL MOMMY II
Supermodel Daniela Pestov gave birth to a daughter July 21 at New York Hospital. The girl, named Ella, weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and is the first for Pestov and boyfriend Palo Habera. She also has a six-year-old son, Yanick, from a previous relationship.
MOVING ON
The New York Post is reporting that All My Children actress Kelly Ripa, who also cohosts Live with Regis & Kelly, is planning to leave the soap opera when her contract runs out in December.
However, Ripa says, "All My Children has been and will continue to be a big part of my life. I hope to continue to appear as Hayley Santos for many years to come."
D'OH
Bugs Bunny topping TV Guide's list of 50 greatest cartoon characters, edging out Homer Simpson. Rocky and Bullwinkle check in at third, Beavis and Butt-head are in fourth and The Grinch is fifth.
Here's another review of Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising," This One From E! Online
Our Grade: A-
Our Review: No one can capture the feelings of the post-9-11 everyman like Bruce Springsteen. That fact is proven over and over again on The Rising, the Boss' first recording with the E Street Band in nearly 20 years. Nearly every tune deals with the emotional repercussions of the terrorist attacks, both literally--as rescue workers head "Into the Fire"--and figuratively. Even with the emotional weight it shoulders, this is hardly a downer of an album. Producer Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam) livens up the proceedings for an inspirational journey that's in line with Springsteen's devoted optimism. Moments of classic raspy Springsteen ("Countin' on a Miracle") are surprisingly offset by experimentation, such as the Middle Eastern inflection on "Worlds Apart." Over the years, it might not stand up to classics such as Nebraska or The River, but the The Rising gives us something more important right now: a reason to believe.
Spears Abruptly Walks Off Mexico Stage, Ending Tour
Britney Spears ended her world tour on a controversial note as rain showers cut short her final show in Mexico City on Sunday night, adding insult to injury after she made an obscene gesture upon arrival here last week.
Concert organizers OCESA said in a statement on Monday that Sunday night's thunderstorm and lightning posed a significant enough safety concern to call off the show after less than five songs.
The 20-year-old pop princess sang four songs in the last show of her Pepsi-sponsored world tour, but during the set's fifth song, "Stronger," left the stage, saying only "I'm sorry Mexico. I love you. Bye," according to a report in local daily Milenio.
Boos and jeers rained down on the stage when a public announcement asked fans to leave the Foro Sol stadium. Some concert-goers began throwing pop diva paraphernalia and chanting "fraud, fraud," the newspaper reported.
OCESA also announced in its statement that beginning Thursday fans, who paid anywhere from $14 to $190 for tickets to Sunday night's show, could get a full refund.
In the organizers' statement, Spears said she was sorry the show was canceled. "The Mexican fans are some of the best in the world. However, for the security of my company and the audience, as well as for the show's quality, I had to suspend my performance," she said.
Mexico City was the last leg of a "world tour" that began in the United States and Canada.
Spears, who rocketed to fame with her 1998 hit "Baby, one more time," spent less than a week in Mexico City, but attracted plenty of attention during her visit.
The pop star was caught by cameras extending her middle finger in a universally recognized insult after she arrived last Tuesday night at an airport in Toluca, some 40 miles from Mexico City.
Spears later said the gesture was an angry response to paparazzi, who she said nearly caused a wreck with the vehicle in which she was riding.
Sept. 11 Inspired Springsteen Album
Bruce Springsteen did some research for his new album "The Rising," written largely in response to Sept. 11.
Two widows of men killed in the terrorist attacks told Time magazine that Springsteen, 52, called them to learn more about their husbands and their loss.
"When you're putting yourself into shoes you haven't worn, you have to be very ... just very thoughtful, is the way that I'd put it. Just thoughtful," Springsteen told the magazine.
"You call on your craft, and you go searching for it, and hopefully what makes people listen is that over the years you've been serious and honest," he said.
"The Rising" goes on sale Tuesday and is Springsteen's first work of entirely new material in seven years. His 46-city tour with the E Street Band starts Aug. 7.
Springsteen's home county, Monmouth, lost 158 people in the World Trade Center bombing, more than any other in New Jersey. He noticed from reading The New York Times obituaries how often his songs, from "Thunder Road" to "Born in the U.S.A.," were played at memorial services.
"This was one of those moments when the years that I've put in and the relationships that I've developed and nurtured with my audience — this was one of those times when people want to see you," he said.
Shizzo To My Nizzo!
What up! Shout out! Get up-to-date on the current hip-hop slang! Everything from "cheddar" to "Fo'sheezy."
Washington Takes Villain Spot For Bad Sounding Ford Flick
Isaiah Washington (EXIT WOUNDS) is in negotiations to play the villain in the untitled buddy-cop movie starring Josh Hartnett (BLACK HAWK DOWN) and Harrison Ford (K-19) for Revolution Studios. Hartnett and Ford will play two cops that moonlight in acting and real estate, respectively. Somehow they become involved in a crime in the music business. Washington would play rapper Sartain, a record mogul who has arranged the deaths of several rappers under him when they wanted out of their contracts. The film will be directed by Ron Shelton working from a script he co-authored with former cop Robert Souza.
SOLARIS Rises Earlier
Fox has announced that Steven Soderbergh's SOLARIS, starring George Clooney, has been moved up from December 13 to November 27, thanks to a three week-early wrap to the film. The sci-fi thriller will be the only adult-targeted film that weekend. "Nov. 27 is a great date, but from what Steven has been showing me of the rough cut, SOLARIS is going to be such a landmark of science fiction filmmaking that it doesn't really matter when it is released," said producer James Cameron (TITANIC). In the film, Clooney plays a scientist sent to investigate odd probe readings on a station orbiting the planet Solaris.
... And Continue To Party Every Day ... Literally
Rock band Kiss has announced that their current "farewell tour" will not, in fact, be their last. "People change their minds," said band member Paul Stanley. "Am I doing this for the money or the fans? Both, and let's not forget, I'm doing this for me. That is the reason I originally started playing; because I wanted to, and only I can decide ultimately when to stop. As you know (assuming that you have a job), it is great to have both the appreciation of those around you and to be compensated financially." The band will soon be promoting their new album THE VERY BEST OF KISS COLLECTION, which drops August 27.
Celebrate Along With Them
Though silver and gold are the colors most often associated with big anniversaries, the entertainment industry is seeing green as it embraces the 25th anniversary of "The Muppet Show." In addition to a host of video releases, Rhino has compiled the album "The Muppets 25th Anniversary Celebration -- Who Let the Frogs Out," for a Sept. 17 release. The 27-song disc contains original songs from "The Muppet Show" and Muppets feature films, some of which have never been released on CD and/or have been out of print for almost a decade.
Columbia, which picked up rights to the Jim Henson Co. home entertainment library in 1997, will bring two "Best of the Muppet Show" collections on VHS/DVD to retail for the first time Sept. 3. Until now, the titles -- which contain three classic episodes each -- have been sold only via direct response as part of a TV campaign orchestrated by Time-Life. Featured episodes include appearances by Julie Andrews, Elton John, Mark Hamill, and Paul Simon.
"The direct-response campaign was a really successful one for Time-Life, and the videos have had so much exposure on television. So we thought it was the right time to bring them to retail," Columbia director of marketing Suzanne White says. "They really remind consumers of the great nostalgia of the show, and they have a variety of appeal to several markets."
Is This The Star Wars- Attack Of The Clones DVD Date?
A number of retail sources are being told the official street date for "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" on DVD and video.
Look for the 2-disc set to hit store shelves on November 12th, 2002. I expect official details to be leaked or announced in the next couple of weeks.
NEW DVDS THIS WEEK
Okay, so there isn't much coming out on DVD this week that you have to own, except for M*A*S*H if you are a fan, but that's okay! THE SIMPSONS SEASON 2 is due next Tuesday. But if you MUST spend money, here are the "big" new titles due on DVD and video tomorrow.
DINOTOPIA- This miniseries - which also served as the most expensive pilot in TV history - is coming out at a commendably low price just in time to promote the series launch Thursdays at 8 on ABC in the fall. (Opposite "Friends" and "Survivor"? Dinosaurs will probably be extinct again sooner than they wish.) The setup is the same - young men who look like models are stranded on an island where dinosaurs and humans live in harmony. But don't get too attached to any of the actors. While I found Wentworth Miller perfectly watchable in a square-jawed, soap-opera sort of way, he and almost everyone else have been replaced for the show. That's no big deal, since the real stars are the dinosaurs: this may be really, really, really lacking in the drama department, but the effects here are top-notch.
M*A*S*H SEASON 2- NBC's sitcom "Scrubs," which I love, is in exactly the same position "M*A*S*H" was in 1973. Both are critically acclaimed shows with low ratings, an unusual mix of comedy and pathos that keep viewers off balance and have uncertain futures. In its second season, "M*A*S*H," starring Alan Alda, was moved to Saturday nights right behind the smash hit "All in the Family." Its humor no longer shocks the way that classic still can, but they certainly didn't pull any punches. The accidental shelling of a village followed by a cover-up; Amerasian babies; a soldier beaten to a pulp by his buddies because they think he's gay - "M*A*S*H" certainly wore its (bleeding) heart on its sleeve. They wisely crafted the first episode of the season to serve as a second pilot that reintroduced the characters to all the new viewers that would be tuning in to the 4077th for the first time. Undoubtedly, "Scrubs" will do the same now that it's being moved to Thursdays at 8:30 right behind "Friends."
WHERE TO CATCH BRUCE
While we Springsteen fans celebrate the release of the Boss' first studio album with the E Street Band since 1984, the man himself will be quite visible this week and throughout August, performing live and appearing on TV. Here's where he'll be:
Monday
9 pm- MTV2 premieres "The Bruce Springsteen Artist Collection."
Tuesday
7 am- Bruce and the E Street Band join the "Today Show" summer concert lineup, live from Asbury Park, N.J.
11:35 pm- The Boss and his band appear on "Nightline."
Thursday and Friday
11:35 pm- Bruce and the E Streeters go on the "Late Show with David Letterman" both days.
LeAnn Rimes Announces Eighth Album
LeAnn Rimes has announced that her eighth album, TWISTED ANGEL, will drop on October 1. Rimes executive produced and wrote four of the thirteen songs on the album. "I listen to everything -- rap, rock, country, old R&B, jazz," said Rimes. "It's all come together on this record for me. It reflects where I am right now and where I've been." The first single, "Life Goes On," will hit airwaves August 5.
Britney Spears Says Her Middle Finger Was Not Meant for Mexico Fans
Pop diva Britney Spears, under fire for making an obscene gesture shortly after arriving in Mexico City for the last stop on her world tour, said on Friday she was only reacting to intrusive paparazzi.
Spears was caught by cameras extending her middle finger in a universally recognized gesture on Tuesday night as she left the airport in Toluca, some 40 miles from Mexico City.
"I'm human too. I get mad like everyone else," Spears told reporters, saying photographers and camera crews were driving recklessly around her vehicle, nearly causing a wreck as she left the airport.
Spears is slated to finish her world tour at Mexico City's Foro Sol baseball stadium on Saturday and Sunday in front of 52,000 fans, her biggest crowd yet.
"The fans are so amazing, the 20-year-old pop princess said. Dozens of fans braving rain outside the posh Four Seasons Hotel where she is staying did not seem fazed by Spears' initial greeting in Mexico.
Bush to Chat About Sept. 11 with '60 Minutes II'
U.S. President George W. Bush has granted an exclusive set of Sept. 11-related interviews to "60 Minutes II" correspondent Scott Pelley. The discussion will appear on the CBS newsmagazine on the first anniversary of the attacks.
Pelley said the White House didn't set down any parameters for the conversations, which will also include senior members of the administration.
"There are no ground rules and or understandings about how the interview will be conducted," said Pelley, the network's former chief White House correspondent during the Clinton administration. One interview will take place on Air Force One, the other in the Oval Office.
The announcement comes after a nine-month effort by Pelley to persuade the White House to participate in the documentary project.
Pelley recalled two conversations in which he conversed briefly with fellow Texan Bush, whom he last interviewed when Bush was president-elect. "He pretty much said 'sounds great, sounds like the kind of thing we want to do."'
During primetime, special versions of "60 Minutes" and "60 Minutes II" will run against a set of ABC documentaries that will feature a reconstruction of events surrounding the attacks, an examination of national security and a look at post-traumatic stress disorder.
NBC's primetime will feature "Concert for America," a Sept. 9 event that first lady Laura Bush will attend. While the network says it can't confirm the president's schedule that night, the president is likely to attend.
In what seems like a counter-programming move, the deliberately lighter, Tom Brokaw-hosted event will come at the end of what will be an emotionally draining day.
With coverage beginning on the morning of Sept. 8, CBS will have an hourlong version of "Face the Nation" and later that day will repeat the documentary "9/11," seen by 39 million viewers when it aired last March. NBC also will begin its coverage early with a two-hour version of "Dateline" on the eve of the 11th.
The Bush White House has been dividing access equitably among the three networks, with interviews granted to NBC's Brokaw and ABC's Barbara Walters and Claire Shipman.
But it was only a few months ago that Bush was photographed carrying a copy of the Bernard Goldberg book "Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News." In the bestseller, the author takes aim at networks for what he perceives as their liberal slant.
"I was in Afghanistan last December and saw that photo on the cover on the International Herald-Tribune," recalled Pelley, who was in the midst of lobbying the White House for access back then. "I thought, oh, no. This going to sink our proposal. As it turns out the president was more evenhanded than that."
Town Prepares for Springsteen Show
Public works crews, a nightclub owner and even a fortune teller are busy making sure everything is just right when The Boss comes home.
Bruce Springsteen returns Tuesday to the shabby seaside city where he got his start. This time, he'll be belting out tunes to some 6.2 million fans as he headlines a three-hour remote broadcast of NBC's "Today" from the boardwalk with co-hosts Matt Lauer and Katie Couric.
The rocker is promoting the Tuesday release of his new CD, "The Rising," by performing four songs live at Convention Hall.
"We always try to make the city look good, but now it's especially important, with all the Springsteen fans coming in and the `Today' show," said public works director Gary Giberson.
Crews have been sodding and planting flowers near Convention Hall. They've already spruced up the marquee and painted the trim on the Boardwalk-level glass doors.
Just down Ocean Avenue, at the Stone Pony nightclub, owner Domenic Santana is bracing for an onslaught of out-of-town fans.
Even Madame Marie is coming out of retirement. The fortune teller, who once ran a Boardwalk booth, was immortalized on Springsteen's second record, "The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle."
Go, Enjoy!
For the record, here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "Austin Powers in Goldmember," $71.5 million.
2. "Road To Perdition," $11 million.
3. "Stuart Little 2," $10,7 million.
4 "Men In Black II," $8.7
5. "K-19: The Widowmaker," $7.3 million.
6. "The Country Bears," $5.2 million.
7. "Mr. Deeds, "$4.2 million.
8. "Reign of Fire," $3.3 million.
9. "Minority Report," $3.1 million
10. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," $3 million.
Madonna visit ends new '007' shoot
It's better late than never for 007 and Madonna.
Filming of the forthcoming James Bond epic "Die Another Day", has been completed, ending with Madonna's visit to the set to shoot her cameo.
Madonna was joined on the final day of filming by Justin Llewelyn, son of the late Doug Llewelyn, who played gadget-maker Q. Justin spent the day working as an extra in the film.
Pierce Brosnan told reporters earlier in the year that filming was set to wrap in June. "Die Another Day" is scheduled for release on November 18, 2002.
Yes, May I Have 2 Scoops Of...
To help promote its fall season, NBC has joined forces with Baskin-Robbins to create ice-cream flavors based on its shows. Soon you will be able to buy scoops of Fear Factor Sundae, Will & Grace's Rocky Road of Romance and Stuckey Bowled-Over Brownie.
NBC Premieres
Here are all of the premiere dates and times for NBC's fall schedule:
American Dreams - Sept. 29. 8 p.m.
Boomtown - Sept. 29. 10 p.m.
Crossing Jordan - Sept. 23. 9:30 p.m.
Ed - Sept. 25. 8 p.m.
ER - Sept. 26. 10 p.m.
Fear Factor - Sept. 23. 8 p.m.
Frasier - Sept. 24. 9 p.m.
Friends - Sept. 26. 8 p.m.
Good Morning Miami - Sept. 26. 9:30 p.m.
Hidden Hills - Sept. 24. 9:30 p.m.
In-Laws - Sept. 24. 8 p.m.
Just Shoot Me - Sept. 24. 8:30 p.m.
Law & Order: CI - Sept. 29. 9 p.m.
Law & Order: SVU - Sept. 27. 10 p.m.
Providence - Oct. 4. 8 p.m.
Scrubs - Sept. 26. 8:30 p.m.
Third Watch - Sept. 30. 9 p.m.
The West Wing - Sept. 25. 9 p.m.
Will & Grace - Sept. 26. 9 p.m.
NBC Plans THREE'S COMPANY Movie
Do you picture yourself as a John Ritter-type? Well now's your chance to play him, as NBC is developing a tv movie about THREE'S COMPANY.
Fans of '70s TV will be interested to know that come Aug. 6, Hollywood will be hit with a wave of John Ritter, Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt wannabes. It's an open casting call for "Three's Company Revisited," producer Stan Brooks' NBC movie about the behind-the-scenes intrigue on the ditzy hit sitcom. A theater for the auditions has yet to be announced. Brooks notes that Ritter, Somers and DeWitt "were unknowns who became big stars. Now we're looking for unknowns to play them."
Brooks also reveals that DeWitt will serve as narrator of the flick, which is targeted for a late August production start. According to descriptions of the script, it'll show the "greed, manipulation and avarice of Hollywood managers and network producers when they get their hands on a runaway hit." Says the producer, "It's based on interviews and research, with all of us involved being big fans of the show. I actually was friends with Don Knotts' son when I was growing up, and I'd go to the 'Three's Company' Friday night tapings." Knotts, you may recall, played the ever-harried Mr. Furley on the show.
Stewart Preps For X2 and NEMESIS
Patrick Stewart told the British DreamWatch magazine that X2—the upcomimng sequel to X-Men—will hinge on his character, Professor X, according to a report on Cinescape Online. "The story goes in a direction that I thought was quite unexpected, which is always a good thing," Stewart told the magazine. "It involves my character a good deal more than the other movie did. Unlike the first X-Men, where he was just out of the movie for a big chunk of time, he is consistently active. I think it's looking really promising."
Stewart also said that the upcoming 10th Star Trek movie, Nemesis, will combine many of the elements fans have been looking for. "I think it's possible that there might be more to anticipate and to be excited about with Nemesis than with any of our previous movies, including everybody's favorite, First Contact," Stewart said. "I think we've got the mix right, in terms of a strong story. ... There are two storylines running side by side, interconnecting at different times. We have a very strong action base as well for this, which means that the dialogue scenes are broken up with really quite effective sequences of action. It has romance in it—in fact, it's probably the sexiest movie we've done in some respects, although unfortunately none of this involves me. It has a psychological aspect to it, too, which is interesting and potent. And there are surprises—the kind of surprises that, while we were shooting it, we were licking our chops with glee at the thought of these things that were going to surprise people." Nemesis opens Dec. 13; X2 is currently in production for a 2003 release.
Can 'Austin' Power Box Office?
Last weekend's threadbare box office looks likely to prove a one-weekend shortfall if New Line Cinema strikes the kind of motherlode that's predicted for "Austin Powers in Goldmember."
The studio bows its third-in-a-franchise spy spoof in 3,613 theaters Friday, with industryites forecasting a three-day haul comfortably above $50 million.
And that could be good news for more than just New Line, as conventional wisdom says buzz generated from such big bows has a beneficial effect on other current releases.
"It gets people wanting to go to the movies," said DreamWorks distribution president Jim Tharp, whose reigning champ "Road to Perdition" is entering its third weekend.
The original "Austin" debuted with $53.9 million in May 1997 and the first sequel opened at $54.9 million in June 1999.
"You always want to do better than the last one," said New Line distribution president David Tuckerman. "So that's our expectation."
New Line offered 2,416 "Austin" sneak peeks Thursday night, but those grosses won't be reflected in weekend totals.
Also bowing in wide release Friday is Disney's kids-and-parents affair "Country Bears," tagged for 2,553 locations. It will compete for the same crowd as Sony's "Stuart Little 2," which opened disappointingly last weekend.
Meanwhile, Paramount will try to salvage a decent sophomore session from its sub drama "K-19: The Widowmaker" after a poor launch last weekend. The modestly budget horror picture "Eight Legged Freaks" (Warner Bros.) will seek to avoid a drop from the top 10 in its second frame.
And DreamWorks adds about 100 engagements -- for a total 2,250 -- for "Road to Perdition." The studio appears well validated in its strategy of adding playdates this week and last after securing a solid second-place bow over the July 12 frame. Gripping but dark, the mob-themed adult drama finished No. 1 last weekend and now seems headed north of $100 million domestically.
"Country Bears" is a modestly budgeted live-action adaptation of a Disney World theme-park attraction of the same name. Never intended as a box office behemoth, "Bears" will likely remained caged in the single-digit millions over its opening weekend.
Sony marketing and distribution president Jeff Blake expressed hope that "Stuart Little 2" would follow the trajectory of its 1999 predecessor, which ended up with an impressive $140 million tally after opening with $15 million. The costly sequel opened with $15.1 million, just behind "Perdition," but has out-performed the market each weekday since then.
"But as always, we'll have to wait to see how it does this weekend," Blake said.
Industrywide, the box office was off 18% last weekend from the same frame in 2001. But 21 of the preceding 22 weekends had seen year-over-year upticks, and industryites are hoping the frame was a mere aberration.
"It's my impression that it was just a one-weekend thing," DreamWorks' Tharp said, noting mid-week grosses have shown signs of renewed vigor. "But people aren't really sure why that was last weekend."
It is definately better the second time.
My thoughts on AUSTIN POWERS IN GOLDMEMBER after I saw it the first time are easily summed up in Roger Ebert's review. He may be no Gene Siskel (RIP) but for the first time ever he crystalizes my thoughts exactly, after the first time I saw it that is.
I defer to something my friend Chris wrote about the movies to sum up my thoughts on GOLDMEMBER after my second viewing:
"I think these movies (the Austin Powers films) really get better with repeated viewings - I did laugh the most of all three movies (on first viewing)."
He is right. After 2 viewings, I can tell you it is hilarious. After one viewing, well you might agree with Roger Ebert's review.
Enjoy the popcorn and I'll see you at the movies, baby!
Shatner Praises One-Hit Wonders
William Shatner says musicians shouldn't take offense if they're featured on his new VH1 documentary show, "One Hit Wonders."
The "Star Trek" star, who has poked fun at his own cover versions of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" and "Mr. Tambourine Man," said the show is a tribute to unforgettable tunes by artists who never repeated the same success.
"In the world that we inhabit, having one hit is a lot better than having no hits," Shatner told The Associated Press this week.
Despite the show's lighthearted approach, he added, it illustrates the difficulty of achieving success in the music industry.
"This show is about the kind of songs you like and can sing, but you can't remember the artist because maybe they never caught on again," Shatner said. "We give those artists some renown."
Derived from a five-part VH1 special, the new half-hour show will debut next Monday on the music channel with new episodes scheduled weekly. About four songs will be featured on each show. Special episodes will focus on disco, heavy metal, New Wave, TV themes, novelty songs and celebrity singers.
WTC Song Features Victims' Families
Several relatives of World Trade Center victims have recorded backing vocals and will be in a video for a hip-hop song about the Sept. 11 attacks.
The song, by the group Angels with Broken Wings, is called "Wake Up Everybody." Producer Terry Lewis said a portion of the royalties will be donated to a coalition of victims' families.
Bill Doyle, who helped organize the relatives who participated, said the money would be used for family members' health care costs and other needs.
Lewis also produced another song about the attacks, called "I Cried." Both songs are expected to be released in August.
REMEMBERING
NBC announcing plans to air a prime-time concert on the first anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Associated Press reports. First lady Laura Bush will appear on NBC's Concert for America at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., but no official word yet on who will be performing. ABC and CBS, meanwhile, are both planning news programming for that night.
GOODBYE RAYMOND?
Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal telling reporters that the upcoming seventh season of Ray Romano's CBS hit could be its last. "I love Les [Moonves, president of CBS], and they've been incredibly supportive," he told Daily Variety. "But when it's over, it's over. You don't want to get repetitive, and I've never seen a show get better after seven seasons."
IT'S OFFICIAL
Jennifer Lopez filing for divorce from her hubby of 10 months, Cris Judd. Lopez and Judd, who confirmed their breakup last month, have already filed their settlement agreement, and lawyers say all of their issues are resolved. The divorce becomes official in six months.
BEN'S TURN?
The New York Post reporting that Lopez and Ben Affleck "kissed, cuddled and made goo-goo eyes at each other" during her surprise 32nd birthday party Wednesday at the Park restaurant in New York.
Tennis Anyone?
Anna Kournikova seems to spend her life launching impassioned defenses of her sporting credibility.
007 to Austin Powers: "Laugh While You Can, Baby."
Springsteen Gives Lauer Hometown Tour
Bruce Springsteen gave "Today" show host Matt Lauer a taste of Asbury Park and briefly performed at a city restaurant as he prepared for his upcoming performance on the NBC morning program.
Lauer and The Boss cruised around the city, Springsteen's adopted hometown, in a blue Mustang convertible on Wednesday. They were accompanied by cameramen shooting footage to be used Tuesday, when "Today" will broadcast Springsteen's performance before an invitation-only crowd at Convention Hall.
Lauer also interviewed Springsteen at various locations around the city. Among their stops was the Stone Pony nightclub, where Springsteen has made surprise appearances over the years.
They also stopped at Sonny's Southern Cuisine, where Springsteen performed "My City of Ruins," a song of hope for Asbury Park's revitalization. He performed with a group of gospel singers, then played guitar as they sang the gospel number, "I've Got a Feeling (Everything's Gonna Be All Right)."
A crowd of about 100 people packed the restaurant for the performance, while dozens more waited outside, unable to get in.
"It was like seeing someone on VH1, unplugged," the restaurant's owner, Bill "Sonny" Wiley, told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Thursday's editions. "I tell you, he brought tears to my eyes. You could hear a pin drop in the room."
Sheen 'Heartbroken' Over Lowe Leaving
Martin Sheen said he is heartbroken over the impending departure of "West Wing" co-star Rob Lowe, who is quitting the Emmy-winning NBC series over a salary dispute.
"I was shocked and dismayed, frankly," Sheen told reporters. "And disappointed, but for selfish reasons because we keep talking about the next four years as the next administration."
But Sheen, who plays President Josiah Bartlet on the Emmy-winning White House drama, isn't entirely surprised.
"We saw something coming but we didn't know it was such as it was, you know. We knew there were some contract disputes, but I never get into that with a fellow actor because frankly it's none of my business," he said. "Everyone's entitled to go for whatever they can get. I did, certainly."
Sheen recently renegotiated his contract to triple his salary to $300,000 per episode, according to Variety magazine.
But the show's producers, Warner Brothers, refused to increase Lowe's reported $75,000-per-episode salary. Lowe told The Associated Press Wednesday that the salary dispute spurred his decision to leave his role as White House communications director Sam Seaborn at the end of next season.
"We're all heartbroken and a bit concerned because we've become so close," Sheen said. "But with Rob and me in particular, I've known him since he was a boy. You know, he grew up with my family and I've become kind of a Dutch uncle to him all these years. And to have this last three years together, we've gotten extremely close."
Despite the recent conflict, Sheen believes Lowe's "West Wing" time will help his career.
"He's been brilliant on the show. I think it's the best work he's ever done. And he's elevated his image to the public to a great level. I just have to let him go and wish him the best. He's still young and has a big career in front of him," he said.
Cocaine Cited in Entwistle's Death
John Entwistle, the 57-year-old bass player for the rock band The Who, died from a heart attack caused by cocaine use, the Clark County coroner said Thursday.
Coroner Ron Flud ruled the death accidental and said it was not an overdose.
"The heart attack we believe was brought on by the significant amount of cocaine" that was in Entwistle's system at the time of death, he said.
The exact amount of the drug remains unknown.
"Cocaine is a different animal," Flud said. "It's not like alcohol. There's no way we can put a number on it. You've got a lethal drug on board at the time you have a bad heart. That's a bad combination."
Entwistle's body was found in his bed at the Hard Rock Hotel on June 27, one day before the band was scheduled to kick off a three-month nationwide tour at the hotel's concert hall.
Hotel officials declined comment Thursday, as did a spokeswoman with the band's record label, MCA/Universal Music Enterprises. District Attorney Stewart Bell said no criminal charges were anticipated.
"From a legal point of view, there isn't anything to be done because we don't have anybody else who might be responsible," he said.
Entwistle was one of the band's founders. Another original member, drummer Keith Moon, died in 1978 of a drug overdose at the age of 32. Authorities said he took too many pills prescribed to control his alcoholism.
Entwistle's death was caused when cocaine caused the contraction of coronary arteries that were already damaged by heart disease, Flud said.
After the death, a musician in Entwistle's own band said he had been on medication for a heart condition.
The Who, founded in London in the early 1960s, was part of the British rock invasion along with the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Their parade of hits included "I Can See For Miles," "I Can't Explain," "Substitute," "Pinball Wizard," "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Who Are You."
The group, which includes original members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, is scheduled to play a show Friday in Mansfield, Mass.
Street date alert!
Bad news for Ed Wood fans...Buena Vista has just announced that the upcoming special edition of Tim Burton's Academy Award-winning comedy has been postponed until further notice. Originally scheduled for release on 8/13, no new date has been announced, but stay tuned...
Matthews' 'Stuff' Right for No. 1 Spot
The Dave Matthews Band arrived once again in a familiar place -- the top of the album sales list -- as the RCA act's disc "Busted Stuff" sold nearly 622,000 in the week ended Sunday, according to SoundScan statistics.
The opening numbers are lower than those for "Everyday," which sold nearly 750,000 copies in its first week last year and also debuted at No. 1. It's a considerable leap, though, from the band's two previous studio efforts, 1998's "Before These Crowded Streets" (422,000 sold) and '96's "Crash," which debuted at No. 2 on sales of 254,000.
The week was a good one for rock 'n' roll in general. "Highly Evolved," from Capitol's Australian import the Vines, hit No. 11 on sales of 64,000; Robert Plant's "Dreamland" (Universal) dropped in at No. 40, selling 25,000; and the Flaming Lips' "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" sold 22,000 to come in at No. 50. Other high-charting debuts were gospel duo Mary Mary at No. 22, selling 43,000 copies of "Incredible" (Columbia), and, one slot lower, country artist Darryl Worley's "I Miss My Friend" with sales of 42,000.
Last week's top nine all stayed in the top 10, with Nelly's "Nellyville" (Universal) dropping to No. 2 on sales of 305,000. The Red Hot Chili Peppers' "By the Way" sold 140,000 plus -- almost exactly half of its debut week total.
Warners' soundtrack to "Austin Powers in Goldmember" made its debut at No. 56 on sales of 20,000.
Mike Myers Gets Star in Hollywood
Comedian Mike Myers of the "Austin Powers" films now has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Wearing a black suit and shirt, the Canadian-born actor displayed his trademark self-deprecating humor Wednesday as he accepted the award in front of an adult gift shop.
"It's a long way from playing street hockey in Toronto to having a star in front of the International Love Boutique," he quipped.
Myers, 39, was accompanied by his wife, Robin Ruzan, his mother and two brothers. Celebrity guests included "Austin Powers" cast members Robert Wagner, Mindy Sterling and Seth Green.
The ceremony took place two days before the nationwide release of "Austin Powers in Goldmember," the third installment of the spy spoof.
A crowd of 350 screaming fans interrupted Myers' speech several times by yelling "Yeah, baby!" The line is often used by his Austin Powers character.
Heather Locklear 'Scrubs' in for Guest Spot
When he was an executive producer of "Spin City," Bill Lawrence hired Heather Locklear to be part of the cast. He left the show, however, before her first appearance.
The two will finally work together this fall, when Locklear does a three-episode guest stint on Lawrence's current show, NBC's "Scrubs."
Lawrence casually announced Locklear's involvement in the show during a session Wednesday (July 24) at the TV Critics Association press tour in Pasadena. Following the session, he elaborated on her role.
She'll play a "slutty pharmaceutical rep" who gets under the skin of Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley), creating a sort of love triangle with Cox and his ex-wife, Jordan (Christa Miller, Lawrence's real-life wife). Locklear's episodes will air during November sweeps.
"She'll be doing very edgy stuff that I don't think she's done before," Lawrence says. "It should be fun."
Although their paths never crossed on "Spin City," Lawrence says he's gotten to know Locklear in recent years and says "She's a very sweet lady, and I thought it would be fun" to bring her on the show.
Lawrence also says that Miller may have a bigger role on "Scrubs" this season, as she's leaving ABC's "Drew Carey Show" after the first two episodes in the fall.
Remember..."Lower Your Expectations."
Oh No!
There is a space rock on a collision course with earth.
Some Big Stars Have Joined The New Muppet Christmas Movie
NBC has tapped several celebrities for the first ever tv muppet movie, A VERY MERRY MUPPET CHRISTMAS MOVIE. In the movie, Kermit the Frog must try and save the Muppet theater from a Scrooge-like character. Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Cusack, David Arquette, Sir Michael Caine, William H. Macy, Snoop Dogg, Carson Daly, Kelly Ripa, Jon Stewart and Rachel Hunter will all appear in the Christmas movie.
'The West Wing' Lets Lowe Go
In the latest behind-the-scenes drama involving the NBC series "The West Wing," Rob Lowe is quitting his role as White House deputy communications director Sam Seaborn.
Barring some unforeseen twist, his character will be phased out in an episode to air next March, the result of an exit strategy that has already been agreed upon by both parties. The show has just wrapped its third season.
Sources on both sides paint the pending exit as amicable but clearly, money is at the heart of it. The prime reason, said sources, is that Lowe was stung by the unwillingness of the show's producers to even discuss raising his per-show price of $75,000. This comes right after they tripled Martin Sheen's salary to $300,000 per episode and last season doubled the salaries of Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer and Bradley Whitford after a protracted salary stalemate that ended when the quartet committed to a seventh season, each getting $70,000 an episode.
That left Lowe the only cast member to not get his first season salary bumped up. Warner Bros. TV, the show's producer, feels the show has evolved into Sheen's show, surrounded by an ensemble on equal footing. Sources on the show point out that all of the stars are Emmy-nominated this year except Lowe, who petitioned in the lead actor category, which is TV's toughest ticket.
They were unwilling to even open pay hike talks with Lowe's reps, Creative Artists Agency and veteran manager Bernie Brillstein. That left Lowe feeling hurt, after believing that his turn would come. Lowe is expected to wing his way back to features or star in another series. If he does the latter, Lowe, who got one Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe nominations during his "Wing" run, will probably command a higher salary.
The show's makeup has changed since Lowe signed on for the pilot as the regular cast's most recognizable name. Back then, he cut a higher price quote that had been established in a previous Paramount TV deal. Sheen at the time was only supposed to serve as a diversion to the drama's core players on the White House staff. Sheen's participation grew while Lowe's scenes have progressively diminished.
Sources on both sides doubted this was another salary posturing exercise, and that the show would survive his exit, even if it does come as WB is working out a new license deal with NBC.
"From The Whatever Happened To?" File
One posed for Playboy, one battles a deadly disease, another drifts between dead-end jobs and another is a successful businessman. Its time to find out whatever happeend to The Waltons?
Springsteen to Appear Twice on 'Letterman'
Viewers of "The Late Show With David Letterman" will be getting a double dose of Grammy and Academy Award-winning musician, Bruce Springsteen and his E Street band in August.
Springsteen will be returning to the show as a guest musical act for the first time since 1995. Making up for lost time, he will be performing on consecutive nights: Thursday, August 1, and Friday, August 2.
Incidentally, Springsteen was the last musical guest on David Letterman's NBC show, "Late Night," on June 25, 1993.
Springsteen will be kicking off his international tour shortly afterward, beginning on August 7 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. He and the E Street Band are promoting their latest release, The Rising, their first all-new studio recording since 1984.
Fox Premiere Dates
If you are sick of Summer TV here are the premiere dates and times for all of your favourite Fox series:
The Bernie Mac Show: Sept. 18 8 p.m.
Boston Public: Oct. 21 8 p.m.
Cedric the Entertainer Presents: Sept. 18 8:30 p.m.
Fastlane: Sept. 18 9 p.m.
Firefly: Sept. 20 8 p.m.
Futurama: Nov. 10 7 p.m.
Girls Club: Oct. 21 9 p.m.
Grounded For Life: Sept. 17 9:30 p.m.
The Grubbs: Nov. 3 11 p.m.
John Doe: Sept. 20 9 p.m.
King of the Hill: Nov. 3 8:30 p.m.
Malcolm in the Middle: Nov. 3 9 p.m.
The Simpsons: Nov. 3 8 p.m.
That ‘70s Show: Sept. 17 8 p.m.
24: Oct. 29 9 p.m.
CHANGING THEIR TUNE
Variety is reporting that directors Joel and Ethan Coen are producing "Romance and Cigarettes," a new musical written by John Turturro.
The filmmakers are looking at an all-star cast for the film, eyeing James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Julia Stiles, Christopher Walken and Steve Buscemi, among others, for roles.
ON THE LINE
'N Sync popster Lance Bass signing a contract with the Russians to join them on an October Soyuz flight to the International Space Station. The move comes despite concerns raised by NASA over whether Bass has enough education and fluency in the Russian language.
Coming Soon On DVD
First Up, Spock Lives!
Just in time for the big screen debut of the latest Star Trek adventure Nemesis, Paramount Home Entertainment has announced a 10/8 street date for a new two-disc special edition of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Retail is $29.95, and stay tuned for specs.
Also just announced for a 10/8 release from Paramount is The Carol Burnett Show: Showstoppers, a 42-minute reunion special with clips of some of Carol's best skits. Presented in 4:3 full screen and 2.0 stereo, retail is $19.95. Finally, making its way to DVD is the recent limited theatrical release Lucky Break, starring Christopher Plummer. Presented in 1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen with English 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby surround tracks, extras include the trailer. Retail is $29.95.
Mr. Sandler Goes To Washington
Quick! Preorder yours today before Winona steals it! The latest Adam Sandler comedy smash Mr. Deeds is coming to DVD on 10/22, complete in a new special edition from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment. Presented in both anamorphic widescreen and full screen presentations with English and French 5.1 Dolby surround tracks, extras include an audio commentary with director Steven Brill and writer Tim Herlihy, two making-of featurettes, deleted scenes, a Dave Matthews music video, production notes, filmographies and trailers. Retail is $27.95.
Conan O'Brien to Host Emmy Awards
The job of Emmy host is going to Conan O'Brien instead of NBC's top late-night star, Jay Leno.
"We think it's Conan's turn to be seen by the biggest audience that will ever" see him, NBC Entertainment president Jeff Zucker said of the "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" host.
"Jay was thrilled with that," Zucker added. The network gave "Tonight Show" host Leno the "courtesy" of informing him that O'Brien was NBC's Emmy pick, Zucker said Tuesday.
The show has been on a four-network rotation for several years and is often used by the networks to showcase their own talent.
In addition to O'Brien, "Today" hosts Katie Couric and Matt Lauer will anchor an hourlong pre-ceremony show for the Sept. 22 Emmy Awards, Zucker told the Television Critics Association.
O'Brien, talking to reporters later, was asked if he was concerned that Leno might be hurt because he was bypassed.
"That guy has so many cars," O'Brien said, jokingly, then added that Leno had called him Friday to offer advice.
"I mean, he's the host of the 'Tonight Show,' and I'm sure he's thrilled to have me do it. It's a lot of work," O'Brien said.
A call to Leno seeking comment was not immediately returned.
Bryce Zabel, chairman of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which organizers the Emmys, said he looked forward to an emphasis on the awards and glamour after last year's disruptions.
The 2001 ceremony was twice delayed, first by the Sept. 11 attacks and then by U.S. strikes in Afghanistan. A subdued show was finally held Nov. 4.
"One of the things we want to do is return to normalcy for the Emmys ... which means it's a high-stylin' night," Zabel said. "It's a time for people to walk the red carpet" and celebrate TV excellence.
"Six Feet Under," HBO's funeral home drama, is the leading Emmy contender with 23 Emmy nominations, followed by "The West Wing," NBC's White House drama, with 21 bids.
BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN Is First In Line
Warner Bros. has decided that BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN will be the first out of the gate in a new generation of DC Comics superhero movies. WB is hoping that BVS will reinvigorate the primary two characters so that the market will be open for an McG-directed SUPERMAN film and Darren Aronofsky's BATMAN: YEAR ONE. Other projects on the plate for WB through 2010 include CATWOMAN, WONDER WOMAN, with George Miller possibly directing, and BATMAN BEYOND.
New On Disc And Tape
I am going to abide by the credo "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" with today's releases.
Except in the captions!
Here are the new video and DVD releases for Tuesday, July 23rd, 2002.
UP FIRST, THE "MAJOR" TITLES
The Time Machine- This is the crap remake of the H.G. Wells book. Sadly, it was Wells' own Grandson who is responsible. (Guy Pierce, Samantha Mumba)
Crossroads- Three woman set out on cross-country trip but there is (sadly) no nudity and (unfortunately) lots of bad acting. (Britney Spears, Anson Mount, Zoe Saldana)
Kung Pow!: Enter The Fist- A spoof on the great Kung Fu movies that is horrible, but its supposed to be. (Steve Oedekerk, Tad Horino, Joon B. Kim)
Comic Book Confidential- Cool comic-book culture, from 1930s to modern day. (Stan Lee, Robert Crumb, Kevin Smith)
M*A*S*H: The Complete Second Season- Do you really need me to write anything about this one?
Tarzan & Jane- The jungle couple from Disney's animated, and Oscar winning, "Tarzan" exchange anniversary gifts and memories. They also exchange voices as none of the original films cast is back. (Olivia d'Abo (voice), Michael T. Weiss (voice), John O'Hurley (voice))
AND THEN THE REST OF TODAY'S TITLES
Abbot White
Battle Queen 2020
The Best Man In Grass Creek
Betty
The Big Day
Big Red
Black Eyed Dog
The Black Hole (Widescreen)
Blood Theater
Body Parts (Conservative Box Art)
Body Parts (Wild Wrap)
The Brainiacs.com
Carried Away
Chloe In The Afternoon
Claire's Knee
Con Express
Con Games
A Crack In The Floor
Crackerjack 3
D.R.E.A.M. Team
Dagon
Daughters Of Darkness
Dead Heat
Delirium
Demons Of The Mind
Dirt Boy
Discovery: Raising The Mammoth
Elvis & June: A Love Story
Escaflowne: The Movie
Escaflowne: The Movie (Ultimate Edition)
Fallen Arches
The Florentine
The Fox And The Hound (Gold Collection)
Gleaners & I
Hell's Gate
High School Terrors
Hitchhike!
Hookers In A Haunted House
The Hunter's Moon
In The Line Of Duty: Mob Justice
In The Realm Of Passion
In The Realm Of Senses
Jacked Up
Lloyd
Luckytown
Mad Monster Party
Moby Dick
NBA 2002 Championship
Never Cry Wolf
Nosferatu The Vampyre
Orfeu
Paragraph 175
Plymptoons
Poetry In Motion
Pups
Replicant
The Rescuers Down Under (Gold Collection)
Return To Oz
The Saltmen Of Tibet
Seduced: Pretty When You Cry
Seductress
Sexual Chemistry (Unrated)
Sexual Intrigue
The Shark Hunter
Soul Survivors
Spy Kids
Straight On Till Morning
Tex
Thomas: Best Of Percy
Thomas: Cranky Bugs
Thomas: Races, Rescues And Runaways
Tiger Claws III
Twist
Vanaprastham
Vegas In Space
Wild Flowers
Willie Nelson: Willie
Today's New Releases
Okay, below you will see a list of the new CD's that are in stores today. But who really cares! Next week, July 30th, will see the release of the new CD "The Rising" from Bruce Springsteen. It is an awesome disc that you must own.
As for today's discs. Whatever!
See you next Tuesday!
Here are the new CD releases for Tuesday, July 23, 2002:
* ABRA MOORE No Fear (J Records)
* ALEXANDRA SLATE Edge of the Girl (Hollywood/Universal)
* BELLAMY BROTHERS Redneck Girls Forever (Curb)
* BOYZ II MEN Full Circle (Arista)
* BRETT JAMES TBA (Brett James)
* CAPLETON More Fire (VP)
* DANKO JONES Born A Lion (Universal)
* DENNIS BROWN Love And Hate (VP)
* DIAMOND RIO Completely
* DIANA FOX Running On Empty (Isba)
* FOURPLAY Heartfelt (RCA)
* GARNETT SILK 100% Silk (VP)
* HAYDEN Live From Convocation Hall (Hardwood)
* HOLMES BROTHERS Righteous! The Essential Collection
* HOW WE ROCK How We Rock (Burning Heart)
* J-ZONE Pimps Don't Pay Taxes (Fatbeats)
* JULIAN AUSTIN Bulletproof (Civilian Records)
* JUNIOR KELLY Love So Nice (VP)
* KRAMDENS Quiet Collision (Sextant Records)
* LIL WAYNE 500 Degreez (Cash Money/Universal)
* MACK 10 Presents Da Hood (Navarre)
* MARIO Mario (J Records)
* MARK OLSON December's Child (Razor & Tie)
* PEPPER SANDS Pepper Sands (Universal)
* PLAY Play (Columbia)
* PUBLIC ENEMY Revolverlution (SlamJamz Records/Koch Entertainment)
* RON CARTER Stardust (Blue Note)
* SAFETY IN NUMBERS Build And Structure (BMG)
* SCHILLER Voyage (Popular)
* SOLOMON BURKE Don't Give Up On Me (Fat Possum)
* TOBY KEITH Unleashed (DreamWorks)
* TORTOISE TBA (Tortoise) (Thrill Jockey)
HE'S PHRASE-A-DELIC
HERE are some expressions Austin Powers has added to our vocabulary - and what they mean:
Bag: Something you like, as in, "It's my bag, baby!"
Hop on the good foot and do the bad thing: Shagging
Jubblies: A woman's chest (one of many such expressions)
S---- and giggles: The only possible explanation for doing something purely for the hell of it
Tops and tails: A full-frontal view of a naked woman
X zip it A: Shut up
Yeah, baby!: Austin's signature line
English Producer Gus Dudgeon Killed
Veteran English record producer Gus Dudgeon was killed when his Jaguar veered off a motorway and down an embankment in Berkshire, England, last night (July 22). A female passenger in the car, believed to be his wife, was also killed.
Dudgeon, 59, was best known for his productions during the 1970s with Elton John, which yielded such hits as "Your Song," "Rocket Man," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me." In a statement, John said he was "devastated" by the news, describing Dudgeon as "an incredibly talented producer and a very dear friend. I will miss him terribly."
Born in Surrey on September 30, 1942, Dudgeon began his career as a tea boy at Olympic Studios, and by his early 20s was an in-house engineer at Decca Records' studios in West Hampstead. Early sessions there included recordings for Marianne Faithfull with producer Andrew Loog Oldham and session guitarists Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, later of Led Zeppelin.
The first album on which Dudgeon was listed as producer was rock act Ten Years After's self-titled set on Deram. In 1969, he produced David Bowie's first hit, "Space Oddity," and, later, albums by such artists as Chris Rea, Lindisfarne, and XTC, for whom he oversaw 1992's "Nonsuch." He also served as producer for such one-off projects as the tribute set to John and Bernie Taupin, "Two Rooms."
Billboard contributor David Stark says Dudgeon was enthusing in conversation only last week about a new British band he had been working with called Slinky, and that he'd also done some work on a tribute album to erstwhile musical comedy act the Bonzo Dog Band. Contributions had been recorded for that set some time ago by both Ringo Starr and the late George Harrison.
Weezer Tangles With 'The Lion And The Witch'
Weezer is preparing a 7-song EP, titled "The Lion and the Witch," for limited U.S. release this summer. The disc, for which a release date has not been finalized, is a special promotion from the group's label Geffen, and will only be available in a limited pressing of 25,000 at select independent retail outlets.
According to Weezer's official Web site, the tracks for "The Lion and the Witch" were recorded live during the group's recent Japanese tour. The EP will also include a newly recorded studio version of the group's latest single, "Keep Fishin'." While a finalized track list has not been announced, the set will also feature at least one unreleased track which has been known as "Polynesia" on recent set lists, and will appear here as a "hidden" unlisted song.
Weezer art director Francesca Restrepo commissioned artwork and put together special packaging for the EP, which comes on the heels of the group's fourth album, "Maladroit." The set debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200 last month and has sold 363,000 copies in the U.S. to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "Keep Fishin'" is No. 27 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart this week.
The group's Enlightenment tour with Sparta and Dashboard Confessional hits Holmdel, N.J., tomorrow (July 23) and wraps Aug. 10 in Concord, Calif. Afterward, Weezer will on Aug. 23-24 play the U.K.'s Reading and Leeds festivals.
New Bon Jovi Single 'A Big, Loud Rock Song'
Bon Jovi has set an Oct. 8 release date for its next Island album, "Bounce." The set will be preceded by the single "Everyday," described by the band's official Web site as "a big, loud rock song." A 30-second clip of the track is running in advertisements for the German TV station ZDF; it is due to hit U.S. radio outlets later this summer.
A video for "Everyday" was recently shot in Socorro, N.M., with the band performing amid the 27 satellites that make up the Very Large Array (VLA) radio observatory (seen in the Jodie Foster film "Contact"). The final aerial shot was jeopardized by a lightning storm, necessitating the evacuation of most of the crew. But the take was completed amid "torrential rain," according to a statement.
"Bounce" is due Sept. 11 in Japan and Sept. 23 internationally.
Blushing Bride Julia Says 'Born to Love' Moder
From "Runaway Bride" to blushing bride, Julia Roberts said on Monday that she was "born to love" her new cameraman husband Danny Moder, calling him "a man among men, unselfish and all-encompassing."
Roberts, speaking for the first time about her secret midnight wedding on July 4, told ABC television's Diane Sawyer that she and Moder planned to have children "in due course."
Roberts has broken off three engagements in the past and her first marriage, to country singer Lyle Lovett, lasted less than two years.
Her love life was so chaotic that she was dubbed the "Runaway Bride" even before making the 1999 movie of the same name.
She married Moder at her ranch in Taos, New Mexico just a year after he divorced his wife, in a ceremony held at midnight to avoid the media. The pair met on the set of "The Mexican."
"He is formidable. He is a man among men, unselfish and all-encompassing," Roberts said, blushing with pride. "He stands by the choices he made. He will never blame it on somebody else, and I have never seen anybody else do that."
Hollywood's highest paid female star said she and Moder were meant to be together.
"I hope there are some people who agree that I have done some good, some kind things in my life, but to really ultimately stand fully in a moment of realizing that I was born to love and to be the wife of this man," she said.
Roberts' romance with Moder began in spring last year, shortly after the end of her four year relationship with actor Benjamin Bratt. Bratt married actress Talisa Soto earlier this year and is expecting a child with her.
Roberts and Bratt have never spoken publicly about the reasons for their split, but Roberts said on Monday that Bratt had made his own choices. "All the better because he was unhappy and he left and moved along and found happiness," she said.
Eminem, Elliott, P.O.D. Lead MTV Noms
Rappers Eminem and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and the rock band P.O.D. lead the nominees for this year's MTV Video Music Awards with six each, the cable channel announced Monday.
Eminem's comic book-style clip for "Without Me," in which he dresses up as a version of Batman's sidekick, Robin, received nominations including video of the year, best male video and best rap video.
Elliott's "One Minute Man," which takes place in a hotel and features rappers Ludacris and Trina, is up for best hip-hop video. It also was nominated in several technical categories including best direction, editing and special effects.
"Alive" by P.O.D., which features an elaborate highway crash, was nominated in categories including video of the year and best group video. The band's other hit, "Youth of the Nation," was nominated for best rock video.
Also drawing multiple nominations is Shakira's "Whenever, Wherever." The Colombian singer was recognized in four categories, including best female video, best dance video and best pop video.
The garage band The White Stripes also has four nominations for "Fell in Love With a Girl." The clip, done completely in Lego animation, is up for video of the year, breakthrough video, editing and special effects.
Besides "Without Me" and "Alive," the other nominees for video of the year are "Gone" by 'N Sync; "In the End" by Linkin Park; and "One Mic" by Nas.
Jimmy Fallon of "Saturday Night Live" will be the host of the 2002 Video Music Awards ceremony, scheduled for Aug. 29 at Radio City Music Hall. Bruce Springsteen is among the scheduled performers.
'Road to Perdition' Tops Box Office
Tom Hanks' gangster tale "Road to Perdition" took in $15.4 million to win a close race against "Stuart Little 2" for the weekend box-office crown.
"Stuart Little 2," with Michael J. Fox providing the title character's voice, grossed $15.1 million.
The two films switched ranks since Sunday, when preliminary estimates had "Stuart Little 2" in the No. 1 spot, slightly ahead of "Road to Perdition."
The top 20 movies at North American theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. and Nielsen EDI Inc. are:
1. "Road to Perdition," DreamWorks, $15.4 million, 2,159 locations, $7,139 average, $47.3 million, two weeks.
2. "Stuart Little 2," Sony, $15.1 million, 3,255 locations, $4,644 average, $15.1 million, one week.
3. "Men in Black II," Sony, $14.6 million, 3,641 locations, $3,997 average, $158.1 million, three weeks.
4. "K-19: The Widowmaker," Paramount, $12.8 million, 2,828 locations, $4,519 average, $12.8 million, one week.
5. "Reign of Fire," Disney, $7.32 million, 2,629 locations, $2,784 average, $29.2 million, two weeks.
6. "Mr. Deeds," Sony, $7.3 million, 2,823 locations, $2,590 average, $107.6 million, four weeks.
7. "Eight Legged Freaks," Warner Bros., $6.5 million, 2,530 locations, $2,563 average, $9.1 million, one week.
8. "Halloween: Resurrection," Dimension, $5.5 million, 2,094 locations, $2,636 average, $22 million, two weeks.
9. "Lilo & Stitch," Disney, $5 million, 2,127 locations, $2,338 average, $128.4 million, five weeks.
10. "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course," MGM, $4.7 million, 2,525 locations, $1,849 average, $18.7 million, two weeks.
11. "Minority Report," Fox, $4.5 million, 1,672 locations, $2,666 average, $118.1 million, five weeks.
12. "Like Mike," 20th Century Fox, $4.4 million, 1,786 locations, $2,449 average, $41.3 million, three weeks.
13. "The Bourne Identity," Universal, $3.8 million, 1,629 locations, $2,335 average, $105.7 million, six weeks.
14. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," IFC Films, $2.5 million, 530 locations, $4,712 average, $30.9 million, 14 weeks.
15. "Scooby-Doo," Warner Bros., $1.5 million, 1,302 locations, $1,169 average, $148.5 million, six weeks.
16. "Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones," Fox, $1 million, 562 locations, $1,816 average, $295.6 million, 10 weeks.
17. "The Sum of All Fears," Paramount, $940,545, 913 locations, $1,030 average, $117 million, eight weeks.
18. "Windtalkers," MGM, $833,136, 1,285 locations, $648 average, $40.1 million, six weeks.
19. "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," Warner Bros., $768,452, 572 locations, $1,343 average, $66.6 million, seven weeks.
20. "Space Station," IMAX, $674,941, 61 locations, $11,065 average, $15 million, 14 weeks.
Mmmmmmm....Beer
Like beer? So take the Beer Quiz!
I "Own" Most Of These Discs
A recently-posted list of 100 Albums You Should Remove from Your Collection has immediately garnered a bit of conversation (and criticism) lately.
Among the discs one guy urges you to discard: No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom, the Pulp Fiction soundtrack and — this one might spur some controversy — Nirvana's Nevermind.
Fallon to Host MTV Music Video Awards
"Saturday Night Live" star Jimmy Fallon will host the MTV Video Music Awards, while Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band are close to signing on to headline the Aug. 29 show.
Fallon, who co-anchors "SNL's" "Weekend Update" newscast with Tina Fey, will host the 19th annual New York kudocast solo; the comic-thesp fronted last year's MTV Movie Awards with Kirsten Dunst ("Spider-Man").
MTV has frequently turned to "SNL" talent to host its annual awards show/concert.
The first kudocast in 1984 was co-hosted by Dan Aykroyd (paired with Bette Midler), while ex-"Weekend Update" anchor Dennis Miller toplined the 1995 and 1996 festivities. Chris Rock hosted twice, in 1997 and 1999, while Dana Carvey and Eddie Murphy both got a single at-bat for the gig, in 1992 and 1985, respectively.
Jamie Foxx hosted last year's VMAs.
As for Springsteen, MTV is expected to announce his performance and the names of several other performers as early as Monday. The Boss backed up the Wallflowers on the 1997 VMAs; he performed solo in 1994.
Springsteen and his band will be promoting their new album, "The Rising," which is awesome and hits stores next week. The group will perform a special concert from Asbury Park, N.J., on a special edition of NBC's "Today" show July 30; they'll also pop up on "Late Show with David Letterman" Aug. 31.
'Y Tu Mama' Helmer Gets Potter Film
Alfonso Cuaron, director of this year's Spanish-language hit "Y Tu Mama Tambien," has been picked to direct "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," the third movie in the film franchise.
Production will begin in England early next year, with the film scheduled for release in summer 2004, distributor Warner Bros. announced Sunday.
All key cast members are expected to return, including Daniel Radcliffe as boy wizard Harry.
Cuaron will take over from Chris Columbus, who directed "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," last year's biggest hit, and is finishing "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," due in theaters this November.
Columbus will be a producer on the third film based on the book series created by British author J.K. Rowling.
Born in Mexico, Cuaron made his directing debut in 1991 with "Love in the Time of Hysteria," following with "A Little Princess" in 1995 and "Great Expectations" in 1998.
The "Harry Potter" tales have "captured the imaginations of many people, myself included, and I am so excited to join an amazingly talented cast and crew," Cuaron said.
Jackson Derides Rap Crossover Trend
Samuel L. Jackson doesn't think much of the trend that is turning rap singers into movie stars.
"To take people from the music world and give them the same kind of credibility and weight that you give me, Morgan Freeman, Laurence Fishburne, Forest Whitaker — that's like an aberration to me," Jackson said.
He won't even look at a script that gives a rapper a starring role.
"It's not my job to lend credibility to so-and-so rapper who's just coming into the business."
Jackson has appeared with rappers in supporting roles in films such as the upcoming "XXX," and he applauds Will Smith as a rapper who has won some credibility as an actor.
But overall, he dislikes the crossover trend, he told the Sacramento Bee recently.
"I know there's some young actor sitting in New York or L.A. who's spent half of his life learning how to act and sacrificing to learn his craft but isn't going to get his opportunity ... because of some actor who's been created," he said.
The Major New DVDs and Videos This Week THIS WEEK
The 2 biggest films coming out for home use tomorrow are both not very good. But since you may be curious to see them, and nothing I can say will change that, I'll preview them for you.
The complete list of new releases will appear tomorrow, but for right now, here's a look at the "major" releases for Tuesday, July 23, 2002:
CROSSROADS- Sometimes bad movies can be just what you want. Other times they are just bad. This title is the latter. The virginal Britney Spears goes on a road trip with her childhood friends right after high school graduation. One of them wants to compete in a rock 'n roll talent contest, though her blossoming pregnancy might be a barrier. Besides, the girl can't really sing and it's Britney who spends all her time writing "poetry" in a little notebook she carries around. The audience laughed when a hunky boyfriend asked if he could look at her notebook and set her words to music, thereby creating Britney's then-current hit single "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman." What were they expecting? I would have been shocked if that scene hadn't happened. The movie also has one of the most over-the-top melodramatic climaxes not seen since the heyday of the women's film in the '40s. By the way, she's actually not that bad an actress. And for the record, the Ralph Macchio movie called "Crossroads" was much better.
THE TIME MACHINE- After L.A. Confidential, Russell Crowe exploded into a major superstar, snagging one important role after enough. The equally compelling Guy Pearce took his own sweet time, finally delivering his first major role in an offbeat independent film . . . called Memento. So there was method to his madness. But Pearce's taste in mainstream movies isn't nearly as canny as Crowe's. He's since starred in a dull remake of The Count of Monte Cristo and this disastrously silly remake of Time Machine. He cuts a dashing figure, so there's no reason Pearce couldn't be an action star, I suppose. Pearce should scurry back to smart, independent moviemaking before what little box office pull he has left is squandered. Don't waste you time!
YEAH, BABIES: A TALE OF AUSTIN'S LEADING LADIES
If it weren't for the bodacious ladies he teams up with - both in the sack and on the crime-fighting front - Austin Powers would be nothing but a doofus with bad teeth and questionable style. Here's a rundown of the kittenish sidekicks who keep Austin powered.
Actress: Elizabeth Hurley
Character: CIA agent Vanessa Kensington
Movie: "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery"
Most shagadelic moment: They playing Twister in their hotel room.
Wacky declaration: "Do I make you horny?"
Actress: Heather Graham
Character: CIA agent Felicity Shagwell
Movie: "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"
Most shagadelic moment: They dancing to "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" at a London coffee shop.
Wacky declaration: "Felicity Shagwell - Shagwell by name; Shag-very-well by reputation."
Actress: Beyonce Knowles
Character: CIA agent Foxy Cleopatra
Movie: "Austin Powers in Goldmember"
Most shagadelic moment: When Foxxy flips open her badge, she tells Austin he has "the right to remain sexy," then kisses him on the cheek.
Wacky declaration: "You may be a cunning linguist, but I'm a master debater."
Everclear Returns with DAYDREAM
Everclear will makes its return to the Billboard charts on October 8 with SLOW MOTION DAYDREAM. Lead singer Art Alexakis says that the album is, "the most cohesive and most rock-sounding Everclear record since SPARKLE & FADE and SO MUCH FOR THE AFTERGLOW." He also said that many are saying it is the heaviest Everclear album yet.
Adds Alexakis, "Lyrically it's the best songs I've written, ever, and it's definitely the best collection of songs that fit together lyrically without trying to be MR. ROBOTO, like a concept record."
Fox Looks For Latenight
Fox is apparently looking to try again at a late night show, as top-level execs met yesterday to discuss various options for the timeslot. The network isn't fully committed to development, as they are still focused on developing the primetime slots. If a show is developed, it will not air before fall 2003, however. Fox has tried and failed miserably before with Joan Rivers show in 1986 and Chevy Chase in 1993.
Orlando Jones (THE REPLACEMENTS) is apparently the front runner to take over, however.
IF THEY MATED
Late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien is rumoured to have signed on to host the 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards September 22 on NBC.
Neither NBC nor O'Brien's reps are commenting.
Destiny's Child Star in 'Goldmember'
It must have been destiny.
Beyonce Knowles played it straight opposite comedian Mike Myers in her first audition for "Austin Powers in Goldmember."
But when the Destiny's Child singer got a callback, she was ready to show she could play Foxxy Cleopatra, a spy posing as a singer at a 1970s roller disco.
"I went back in wearing a Pam Grier-like catsuit, an Afro wig and had memorized every blaxploitation film ever made," Knowles told Newsweek magazine in editions on sale this week.
Myers, whose third installment of the spy-comedy series opens this week, says Knowles worked hard on the part.
"She came to the set prepared in every way, every day," he said.
Weekend Box Office
Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.
1. "Stuart Little 2," $15.6 million.
1. "Road to Perdition," $15.57 million.
3. "Men in Black II," $15 million.
4. "K-19: The Widowmaker," $13.1 million.
5. "Mr. Deeds," $7.3 million.
6. "Reign of Fire," $7.1 million.
7. "Eight Legged Freaks," $6.7 million.
8. "Halloween: Resurrection," $5.4 million.
9. "Lilo & Stitch," $5.1 million.
10. "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course," $4.8 million.
I Give Them 8 Months
How long will Julia Roberts' marriage last? Is the Sarah Michelle Gellar-Freddie Prinze Jr. union doomed to fail? Cast your vote at StarsInLove.com, a site dedicated to the odds of celebrity relationships.
Nostalgia fuels the fourth 'Indiana Jones'
No one involved with the three Indiana Jones blockbusters ever really considered the idea of a fourth until the American Film Institute threw a tribute dinner for Ford in 2001, says producer Frank Marshall. The film's principals "all saw each other backstage in tuxedoes, and it was a nostalgic moment where we got to talking and we found how much fun we had on these movies. But these days it takes us all a while to clear our schedules."
"It's going to be the same team: George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg and me," Marshall adds. "We are working on the film as we speak. I think production will start in 2004 for release in the summer of 2005. There are certain elements that are in all three movies that we will strive to maintain: the archaeology aspect, the fun of the movies and a little bit of the supernatural."
Speaking of the supernatural, Marshall also is the producer of Signs, starring Mel Gibson and opening Aug. 2. Audiences won't know too much of the plot before it opens, Marshall predicts. Even Touchstone Pictures' advertising campaign for the latest film from writer/director M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense) is a red herring, he says. "It's not a straight-ahead science-fiction movie," Marshall says. "It's about a lot more things than the advertising suggests, which is that it is about crop circles," those mysterious rural images that are supposed to be