Wanna Be In A Kevin Smith Movie?

I you have ever wanted to be in a movie with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, Kevin Smith wants to give you a chance.

The writer-director is recruiting extras (the speaking parts are already taken) for his movie "Jersey Girl" through his Web site, viewaskew.com.

Contenders must submit a photo, contact information and statistics (age, gender, height and weight) by Friday.

CD Sales Further Decline

Compact disc music sales decreased 7 percent during the first half of the year, a further indication that online music sharing sites are hurting the recording industry, a trade group said Monday.

The decline cost the industry $284 million in lost sales, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

The decline, measured by PricewaterhouseCoopers, compares with a 5.3 percent drop in CD shipments in the first half of 2001. The RIAA said the industry uses just-in-time delivery, so CD shipments are reliably indicative of actual sales.

Also Monday, the RIAA released a separate survey of Internet users' music habits, which found that most consumers between the ages of 12 and 54 bought fewer CDs as they downloaded more tracks.

Previous studies independent of the music industry have suggested that access to free music on the Web actually encourages consumers to experiment with new acts and buy more CDs.

"We find a striking connection between people who say they are downloading more and buying less," said Geoff Garin, the pollster for Peter D. Hart Research Associates, who conducted the random telephone survey of 860 consumers for the RIAA in May. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

Of consumers polled whose downloading increased during the last six months, 41 percent reported buying less music, compared with 19 percent who said they were purchasing more, he said.

Among those polled who said they were downloading the same amount as six months earlier, 25 percent said they purchased less music, compared with 13 percent who bought more, Garin said.

The survey also reported that 35 percent said they go straight to an Internet file sharing site whenever they hear an unfamiliar artist they like. Only 10 percent reported that they immediately buy the artist's album.

The poll did not provide information about consumer attitudes on other factors widely considered to be affecting CD sales, including the quality of new releases and the lack of easy-to-use online services from the major recording labels.

"I very strongly conclude that the ability to get music for free is an important factor and has an adverse effect on music purchasing. I would not argue that it is the one and only factor," Garin said.

Serena in U.S. Open Fashion Stir

World No. 1 Serena Williams created a fashion stir during her 6-2 6-3 first-round win Monday over fellow American Corina Morariu at the U.S. Open.

Stepping out onto the Arthur Ashe court in a short-legged, all-in-one, black leather-look, skin-tight outfit with pink wristbands and a diamond tiara, the younger Williams exposed her personality and whole lot more to the large opening day crowd.

While immediate reviews seemed split, the Williams family fashion critic and design student, Venus, gave her sibling the stamp of approval.

"She (Venus) really liked it," said Serena. "She said it was a great outfit. It is really fun and really exciting and very sexy ... I mean she just basically described me."

Two years ago, it was Venus who made a fashion statement at the Australian Open with a plunging, halter-top design that also revealed more of the American's charms than maybe was intended.

Serena acknowledged that her outfit would not be to everyone's taste.

"This is a cat suit, it's made of Lycra and it's supposed to have the illusion of looking a little bit like leather from a distance," said Serena. "It sticks to the body, it really sticks to what type of shape you have.

"If you don't have a decent shape this isn't the best outfit to have."

Sony Takes Axe to Betamax

What VHS couldn't do, digital did. Sony Corp's Betamax video tape recorder, which famously lost the 1980s video format war but held on for decades as a niche product, will finally be laid to rest after digital formats delivered a death blow to its prospects.

Sony said on Tuesday it would only make 2,000 more Betamax machines before discontinuing the product altogether, ending its 27-year history -- spent mostly in the shadow of the Matsushita group's rival VHS format.

"With digital machines and other new recording formats taking hold in the market, demand has continued to decline and it has become difficult to secure parts," Sony said in a statement.

Betamax -- held up as an example of how the first to market is not guaranteed commercial success -- had already been pulled from overseas markets in the 1990s, a Sony spokesman said.

Production of the machine in the last business year to March totaled 2,800 units, a tiny fraction of the 2.3 million made in the peak year of 1984 and the 18 million made over its lifetime.

Sony said it would continue to offer repairs and manufacture tapes for the format, adding the move would not affect its Betacam products for the broadcasting industry.

Rapid sales growth in digital versatile disc (DVD) players and recorders has posed a threat in recent years not just to the remnants of Betamax but to the mainstream VHS videotape recorders pioneered by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co, maker of Panasonic goods, and Victor Co of Japan, a subsidiary.

In the DVD arena as well, the industry is groping for ways to set standards without risking a destructive format war.

A fragmentation of standards for DVD recorders has been blamed for delaying the take-off of that market, and a potential format war is also brewing over next-generation DVD products.

Sony, Matsushita and seven other industry giants joined hands early this year on a common format for DVD players using blue laser light, which are due out as early as next year and will vastly increase disc storage capacity.

But Toshiba Corp, a pioneer in DVD technology, said this week it aimed to offer an alternative blue-laser format it believes will be cheaper and more compatible with existing red-laser technology.

Today's New Releases

Well, they have been a long time gone, but my beloved Dixie Chicks return today with their new disc "Home." Sadly, you don't get to take any of the Chicks hoem when you pick it up, but you do get some great music!

Let's see, are there any of today's other new releases that I would call great...OH! AIMEE MANN! That one is great, but you have to really like her music, or the sound of 'Til Tuesday, to like it, so...well, actually, there are some great discs coming out today!

Take a look!

Here are the new CD releases for Tuesday, August 27th, 2002:

* ABBA The Definitive Collection (DVD) (Polydor)
* AIMEE MANN Lost In Space (Outside Music)
* ANNE MURRAY Country Croonin': 30 Timeless Country Classic (EMI)
* BBMAK Into Your Head (Hollywood)
* BEL BIV DEVOE Best Of (MCA)
* BILLY PRESTON Best Of (20th Century Masters)
* BLACK UHURU Best Of (20th Century Masters)
* BLACKHAWK Spirit Dancer (Columbia)
* BREAKING BENJAMIN Saturate (Hollywood)
* BURNING SPEAR Best Of (20th Century Masters)
* CATTLE DECAPITATION To Serve Man (Metal Blade)
* CHICAGO Chicago V (Remaster) (Rhino)
* CHICAGO Chicago VI (Remaster) (Rhino)
* COLDPLAY A Rush Of Blood To The Head (EMI)
* DIAGA Diaga (D.W. Records)
* DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN Irony Is A Dead Scene (Epitaph)
* DINAH WASHINGTON Best Of (20th Century Masters)
* DIVISION OF LAURA LEE Black City (Burning Heart)
* DIXIE CHICKS Home (Sony)
* DONOVAN The Very Best Of The Early Years (Castle Music)
* DUNCAN SHEIK Daylight (Atlantic)
* DWIGHT PINKNEY More Memories (VP)
* ED THE SOCK Unwashed Collection
* EVE Eve-Olution (Interscope)
* FASTBALL The Best Of (Hollywood)
* GINO VANNELLI Best Of (20th Century Masters)
* GORDON GANO Hitting The Ground (Cooking Vinyl/True North)
* GRANT-LEE PHILLIPS Ladies Love Oracle (Rounder)
* HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH TBD (Hootie & The Blowfish) (Atlantic)
* JEFFREY STEELE Somethin' In The Water (Sony Nashville)
* JENE Jene's Reign (Motown)
* JIMI HENDRIX Smash Hits (Remaster) (MCA)
* JIMMY FALLON The Bathroom Wall (DreamWorks)
* JOAN OSBORNE Womanly Hips
* JULEE CRUISE The Art Of Being A Girl (Water Music Records/Universal)
* JUNIOR KIMBROUGH You Better Run: The Essential Junior Kimbrough (Fat Possum)
* KISS Very Best Of (Mercury)
* LLOYD PRICE Best Of (20th Century Masters)
* MAGIC SLIM & THE TEARDROPS Blue Magic (Stony Plain)
* MILES HUNT The Miles Hunt Club (Eagle Rock Records/EMI Canada)
* MONTGOMERY GENTRY My Town (Columbia)
* MOONGLOWS Best Of (20th Century Masters)
* MS. JADE Girl Interrupted (Interscope)
* P.O.D. Satellite (Special Edition) (Atlantic)
* POPA CHUBBY The Good The Bad And The Chubby (Stony Plain)
* PULP FICTION OST Pulp Fiction OST (Collectors Edition) (MCA)
* QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE Songs For The Deaf (Interscope)
* RAMONES End Of The Century (Remaster) (Rhino)
* RAMONES Pleasent Dreams (Remaster) (Rhino)
* RAMONES Subterranean Jungle (Remaster) (Rhino)
* RAMONES Too Tough To Die (Remaster) (Rhino)
* RINGO STARR Ringo & His New All-Starr Band (King Biscuit Flower Hour)
* SEPULTURA Chaos (DVD Video) (Roadrunner)
* SHANGRI-LAS Best Of (20th Century Masters)
* SINGING MELODY Expressions (VP)
* STAGGERED CROSSING Last Summer When We Were Famous (Independent)
* STONE SOUR Stone Sour (Roadrunner)
* STROKE 9 Rip It Off (Universal)
* THE MUSIC Take The Long Road And Walk It (Capitol)
* THE WHO My Generation (Deluxe Edition) (MCA)
* TOBY KEITH Totally Toby (DVD/VHS) (Dreamworks Nashville)
* TONY FURTADO American Gypsy (Rounder)
* VARIOUS ARTISTS Frosh 5 (MCA)
* VARIOUS ARTISTS The Angels Are Singing (Rounder)
* VARIOUS ARTISTS World 2002 (Hemisphere)
* VARIOUS ARTISTS Soca 101 Volume 2 (VP)
* VARIOUS ARTISTS Dancehall 101 - Volume 3 (VP)
* VARIOUS ARTISTS Dancehall 101 - Volume 4 (VP)
* VARIOUS ARTISTS Party Time (VP)
* VARIOUS ARTISTS Snoop Dogg Presents Doggy Style Allstars (DVD) (MCA)
* VARIOUS ARTISTS The Best Of Doo Wop (Hip-O)
* VARIOUS ARTISTS Pop Dreamers (Universal)
* WIDE MOUTH MASON Rained Out Parade (Domestic)
* ZAWOSE & BROOK Assembly (Real World/Narada)

Today's New Releases

Well, the titles that we were all waiting for last week in Canada have been delayed. But until when? When we we get to see the SPECIAL EDITIONS of PULP FICTION and JACKIE BROWN?!?! Today? Next week!??

I have no answer for you. And unfortunately, one of the titles that MIGHT see the light of day today, the SPECIAL EDITION of RESERVOIR DOGS, could be delayed as well.

So, what you see here is a slew of titles that are SUPPOSED to come out today, that is unless situations occur that prevents them from arriving (meaning some idiot screwed up and we are forced to suffer due to their moronic nature).

So good luck! And if the title that you are looking for is in stores and available, well then count yourself lucky!

Here are the new DVD and video titles "scheduled" for release today, Tuesday, August 27th, 2002:

UP FIRST, THE MAJOR TITLES

The Rookie- A great movie about a High school baseball coach who tries to be a big league player. (Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez)

High Crimes- A lawyer defends her husband against military accusations. (Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, Jim Caviezel)

The Queen Of The Damned- Lestat returns as a rock star and women obsess over him in what may be one of 2002 worst movies. (Aaliyah, Vincent Perez, Lena Olin)

Crush- Three English women meet and swap sex stories. (Andie MacDowell, Imelda Staunton, Anna Chancellor)

Dahmer- The true story of the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. (Jeremy Renner, Artel Kayaru, Matt Newton)

Farscape: Season 2, Volume 1- The second volume of the second season of the TV series. (Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Virginia Hey)

The Sopranos: The Complete Third Season- The complete third season of The Sopranos. (James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco)

Strictly Sinatra- A lounge singer is brought into the world of the mob. (Ian Hart, Kelly Macdonald, Brian Cox)

Reservoir Dogs: Special Edition- The Tarantino flick that started it all is available in five different packages. Keep in mind, the one that will be the hardest to find is the one featuring Mr. Brown. (Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Michael Madsen)

AND THEN THERE IS ALL THE REST

The Alfred Nobel Story (B&W)
Amazons
Anaconda (Superbit)
Anywhere But Here
Are You Being Served: Classic Years Vol
Barney: Round And Round We Go
The Believers
Best Laid Plans (Special Edition)
Beyond Suspicion
Big (Full Screen)
Big Trouble In Little China
Born To Lose
The Bourne Identity
A Bucket Of Blood
A Bullet For Sandoval
Capone's Boys
Castle Freak
Cat People (Widescreen)
Christina's House
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (Collector's Edition)
Crush
Dahmer
Dandelion Dead
Daria Movie: Is It College Yet?
Dead Hate The Living
Death Ring
Def Leppard: Hysteria
Downtown 81 (Special Edition)
Dr. Dolittle (Full Screen)
Dr. Dolittle 2 (Full Screen)
Edge Of Sanity
The Education Of Sonny Carson
The Erotic Time Machine
Erotica
Fangs Of The Living Dead
Farscape: Season 2, Volume 1
Fart: The Movie
Femalien (Ultimate Edition Unrated)
Fight Club
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
The Fog (Special Edition)
The Game
Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai
Hammer Down
Head Of The Family
Hellchild & The World Of Nick Lyon
Hercules Against The Moon Men
High Crimes
Homework
The Honeymooners 6 Box Set (Set)
The Honeymooners Vol 23
The Honeymooners Vol 24
The Horrible Doctor Bones
Horrorvision
The House Next Door
I Love Lucy: Lost Episodes
The Incubus
The Iron Chef
Jeepers Creepers
Jericho
Johnny Dangerously
Killing Zoe
Kiss Of The Dragon (Widescreen)
Kiss Of The Dragon (Full Screen)
A Knight's Tale (Superbit)
Kung Fu Zombie
Larryboy: Leggo My Eggo
Lassie's Great Adventure
Last House On The Left
Laughing Boy
Lawrence Of Arabia
The Life And Times Of Hank Greenberg
The Life Of Birds
The Limey
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
Little House On The Prairie
Little Odessa
Lone Ranger: Lost Episodes
A Long Time Since
Megiddo: The Omega Code 2
Miss Marple Mysteries
Mrs. Doubtfire (Widescreen)
Mrs. Doubtfire (Full Screen)
Muffy The Vampire Slayer
My Brother Tom (2-discs)
My Man Godfrey/His Girl Friday Set (Set)
Needful Things
Never Met Picasso
Office Space (Full Screen)
The Omega Code
On The Run
Peanuts: Holiday Gift Set
Prince Caspian & The Voyage Of The Dawn
Project Human Weapon
The Return Of The Living Dead
The Royal Wedding/Last Time I Saw Paris
Rumpole Of The Bailey
Schoolhouse Rock: 30th Anniversary Editi
Scratch The Surface
Shaolin Drunk Monkey
Shaolin Temple Against Lama
Sherlock Holmes And The Deadly Necklace
Silver Chair
Simply Irresistible
Slammin' Sammy
Sleepy Heads
Snuff Bottle Connection
The Sound Of Music (Full Screen)
Spongebob Squarepants: Halloween
Straightman
Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde
Strictly Sinatra
Stripped
Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm
Suicide Kings
Tales Of Terror
The Teen Wolf Collection (Set)
Three Stooges: Cops And Robbers
The Turn Of The Screw
Two Dragons Fight Against Tiger
Ulyssess S. Grant
Vampire Journals
The Vampire Vixen
Vampire's Kiss
The Warrior And The Sorceress
The Way Of The Gun
Winnie The Pooh: Spookable Pooh And Fran
Wolfhound
Wolfhound (Unrated)
Woman On Top
Wrestling With Alligators
Zulu

HE'S BACK!

New Line Cinema cinching a deal to bring TV's MacGyver to the big screen. It's likely that Richard Dean Anderson, who played the unsinkable secret agent, will be back in a cameo role, while the character is turned over to a younger actor.

HOSPITALIZED

Country music legend Johnny Cash checking into a Nashville hospital Monday after suffering an allergic reaction to either food or medicine, his manager said. His doctors don't think the problem is serious, but they may keep the 70-year-old overnight for observation.

Celebs Enlist for Fox 'Boot Camp' Special

Celebs including rapper Coolio and former pop idol Tiffany have signed on to participate in the two-hour Fox special "Celebrity Boot Camp," which will air Sept. 30.

Taped at the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base's Camp DeLuz, the special will follow the recruits as they complete mental and physical tasks.

Two former Marine Corps drill instructors will shuffle the celebs through various missions; they'll then rank the strongest players and eliminate the four weakest. Elimination continues until just two celebs are still standing.

The two finalists will compete in a series of eight competitions (called the "Gauntlet") and vie to become the winner. The top recruit is chosen by the mix of votes and "Gauntlet" victories.

Others on board include house guest Kato Kaelin; "Married...With Children's" David Faustino; surviving ex-Milli Vanilli member Fabrice Morvan; "Baywatch" babe Traci Bingham; singer Vitamin C; "Renegade" star Lorenzo Lamas; "Brady Bunch" star Barry Williams; and "Price Is Right" spokesmodel Nikki Schieler Ziering.

The special is based on the reality series "Boot Camp," which aired on Fox in spring 2001. It started off strong for Fox but eventually tapered off with viewers.