'Sexist' Thong Ad Withdrawn
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's tourist board has temporarily withdrawn an ad showing a woman's half-naked bottom marked by the suntan outline of a thong with the slogan "Spain marks," after a deluge of complaints that it was sexist.
The ad was pulled after protests by political and women's groups, a spokeswoman for the tourist board Turespana said. A meeting of regional government and tourist authorities will decide whether the poster should be banned altogether.
"We asked the Women's Institute what they thought, and they said it was positive, not sexist. In fact, there is also a version in which a man appears, so it is a balanced campaign," the Turespana spokeswoman said.
Spain's Women's Institute is a department of the Social Affairs Ministry. But other women's' groups were not impressed.
"This resorts to the figure of a semi-naked woman as a tourist attraction, which is pitiful and it seems like we're taking a step backwards," said Micaela Navarro, responsible for equality issues at the main opposition Socialist party.
Tourism is Spain's biggest industry, accounting for more than one tenth of its economy. The "Spain marks" campaign has already been launched internationally, with a series of different photographs deemed to cause less offence.
'Buffy' Series to End After Seven Seasons
NEW YORK - Stick a stake in it: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is done.
After seven years, the series will be over at the end of this season, said its star, Sarah Michelle Gellar.
"'Buffy,' in this incarnation, is over," Gellar told Entertainment Weekly magazine for its March 7 issue, her eyes welling with tears.
The series will wrap up with a five-part story, which will include the return of Faith, the bad-girl slayer, and Buffy's first love, Angel.
"We're gearing up to tell a fabulous, huge, great arc," Gellar said. "It's going to be pretty spectacular."
But the show may come back to life in some form: Its creator, Joss Whedon, is planning a spin-off that may include some "Buffy" cast members. It will be pitched first to UPN, "Buffy's" home for the past two seasons; for five seasons before that, it was on the WB.
Gellar, 25, gained fame on the cult hit as Buffy Summers, a perky high school student burdened with the responsibility of killing vampires in the seemingly idyllic town of Sunnydale, Calif.
Last summer, she co-starred with Freddie Prinze Jr., who's now her real-life husband, in a live-action movie version of "Scooby-Doo." A sequel is scheduled for release in March 2004.
'Mr. Rogers' dies of cancer at 74
PITTSBURGH -- Fred Rogers, who gently invited millions of children to be his neighbour as host of the public television show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" for more than 30 years, died of cancer early Thursday. He was 74.
Rogers died at his Pittsburgh home, said family spokesman David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely on the show. Rogers had been diagnosed with stomach cancer sometime after the holidays, Newell said.
"He was so genuinely, genuinely kind, a wonderful person," Newell said. "His mission was to work with families and children for television. ... That was his passion, his mission, and he did it from day one."
From 1968 to 2000, Rogers, an ordained Presbyterian minister, produced the show at Pittsburgh public television station WQED. The final new episode, which was taped in December 2000, aired in August 2001, though PBS affiliates continued to air back episodes.
Rogers composed his own songs for the show and began each episode in a set made to look like a comfortable living room, singing "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood," as he donned sneakers and a zip-up cardigan.
"I have really never considered myself a TV star," Rogers said in a 1995 interview. "I always thought I was a neighbor who just came in for a visit."
His message remained simple: telling his viewers to love themselves and others. On each show, he would take his audience on a magical trolley ride into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where his puppet creations would interact with each other and adults.
Rogers did much of the puppet work and voices himself. He also studied early childhood development at the University of Pittsburgh and consulted with an expert there over the years.
"He was certainly a perfectionist. There was a lot more to Fred than I think many of us saw," said Joe Negri, a guitarist who on the show played the royal handyman in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe and owner of "Negri's Music Shop."
Negri said Rogers refused to accept shoddy ad-libbing by guests who may have thought they could slack off during a kid's show.
But Rogers could also enjoy taping as if he were a child himself, Negri recalled. Once, he said, the two of them fell into laughter because of the difficulty they had putting up a tent on the show.
Rogers taught children how to share, deal with anger and even why they shouldn't fear the bathtub by assuring them they'll never go down the drain.
During the Persian Gulf War, Rogers told youngsters that "all children shall be well taken care of in this neighborhood and beyond -- in times of war and in times of peace," and he asked parents to promise their children they would always be safe.
"We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility," he said in 1994. "It's easy to say 'It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.'
"Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes."
Rogers came out of broadcasting retirement last year to record public service announcements for the Public Broadcasting Service telling parents how to help their children deal with the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
"If they see the tragedy replayed on television, they might think it's happening at that moment," he said.
Rogers' show won four Emmy Awards, plus one for lifetime achievement. He was given a George Foster Peabody Award in 1993, "in recognition of 25 years of beautiful days in the neighborhood."
At a ceremony marking the show's 25th anniversary that year, Rogers said, "It's not the honors and not the titles and not the power that is of ultimate importance. It's what resides inside."
The show's ratings peaked in 1985-86 when about 8 percent of all U.S. households with televisions tuned in. By the 1999-2000 season, viewership had dropped to about 2.7 percent, or 3.6 million people.
As other children's programming opted for slick action cartoons, Rogers stayed the same and stuck to his soothing message.
Off the set, Rogers was much like his television persona. He swam daily, read voraciously and listened to Beethoven. He once volunteered at a state prison in Pittsburgh and helped set up a playroom there for children visiting their parents.
One of Rogers' red sweaters hangs in the Smithsonian Institution.
Rogers was born in Latrobe, 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Early in his career, Rogers was an unseen puppeteer in "The Children's Corner," a local show he helped launch at WQED in 1954. In seven years of unscripted, live television, he developed many of the puppets used in his later show, including King Friday XIII and Curious X the Owl.
He was ordained in 1963 with a charge to continue his work with children and families through television. That same year, Rogers accepted an offer to develop "Misterogers," his own 15-minute show, for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
He brought the show back to Pittsburgh in 1966, incorporating segments of the CBC show into a new series distributed by the Eastern Educational Network to cities including Boston, Philadelphia and Washington.
In 1968, "Misterogers' Neighborhood" (the spelling changed later) began distribution across the country through National Educational Television, which later became the Public Broadcasting Service.
Rogers' gentle manner was the butt of some comedians. Eddie Murphy parodied him on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1980s with his "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood," a routine Rogers found funny and affectionate.
Rogers is survived by his wife, Joanne, a concert pianist; two sons; and two grandsons.
Key events in the life of Fred Rogers:
March 20, 1928: Fred Rogers is born in Latrobe, Pa.
1954: Rogers introduces The Children's Corner, a children's show in Pittsburgh where he works as an unseen puppeteer.
February 1968: Misterrogers begins broadcasting.
1985-86: Ratings peak for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, as eight per cent of all U.S. households tune in.
1991: During the Persian Gulf War, Rogers tells youngsters, "All children shall be well taken care of in this neighbourhood and beyond -- in times of war and in times of peace," and asks parents to promise their children they will always be safe.
1993: At a ceremony marking the show's 25th anniversary, Rogers says, "It's not the honours and not the titles and not the power that is of ultimate importance. It's what resides inside."
December 2000: Rogers tapes the show's final episode.
August 2001: Final episode airs.
September 2002: Rogers comes out of broadcasting retirement to record public service announcements telling parents how to help their children deal with the Sept. 11 attacks anniversary.
Feb. 27, 2003: Rogers dies of stomach cancer.
He will be missed!
ANOTHER YEAR FOR '24,' 'ALIAS'
TWO of TV's biggest cult hits, "Alias" and "24" will both be back next fall.
ABC and Fox announced yesterday that the two shows will be returning, although there had been some doubt about the fate of the spy thrillers which havwe garnered some of TV's most passionate fans.
Fox entertainment president Gail Berman would not confirm that "24" star Keifer Sutherland would return however, apparently to protect the secrecy of what happens in the show's final episode later this year.
Final Rush?
Rush will make its first, and likely only, public appearance of 2003 tomorrow when the legendary rock trio is inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame.
The presentation takes place during a closed gala ceremony during the Canadian Music Industry Awards at Toronto's Westin Harbour Castle hotel.
The distinction between this Hall of Fame award and the one received at the 1994 Juno Awards is the qualifier "industry." Over the past 35 years, Rush has become more than a band; it has become an industry, a business.
"I hadn't thought about it in that light, but obviously we've become some kind of institution in this country," muses bassist/singer Geddy Lee.
Rush is the second band, following the Guess Who, to join such movers and shakers in the Canadian Industry Hall of Fame as retailer Sam "The Record Man" Sniderman, and concert promoter Donald Tarlton (aka Donald K. Donald).
Rush's Lee, drummer/lyricist Neil Peart and guitarist Alex Lifeson have released 22 albums, which have worldwide sales of over 35 million. They own eight Juno Awards, a Lifetime Achievement award from the Musician's Institute in Hollywood, and are Officers of the Order of Canada.
"It's a compliment," Lee says of receiving such awards. "It's recognition of what you like to consider a worthwhile life, especially for a band that's been around as long as we have. It's nice to be reminded that the industry, in particular, doesn't take it for granted."
Who could take for granted a band that returns after a five-year absence (following the tragic deaths of drummer Neil Peart's daughter in a car accident and wife from cancer) with a new studio album, Vapor Trails, and what turned out to be one of the top 20 highest-grossing tours of 2002?
The band played 63 shows in 62 North American cities to some 600,000 fans. "There was a renewed energy in the way we approached our live performances," says Lifeson.
What the future holds for Rush after such a successful comeback is anyone's guess -- even the band's. There's the brand new The Spirit Of Radio: Greatest Hits: 1974 - 1987, and a still untitled DVD, made up of footage from the band's first tour of Brazil, slated for a spring release. But a new studio album?
"This year, I plan to be with my family," says Lee, "do a lot of travelling, focus on my life outside of music, which I've been neglecting the past four years. I'm sure at some point I'll start getting itchy to do some work. I don't know what form that will take, whether it will be band work or work on my own, but this year I'm just going to try and take a break."
Lifeson says he plans to do some production or another solo album. He expects to get together with Lee later in the year to do "some casual writing" with a view to start working on an album in 2004, followed by a tour, but then he reconsiders.
"At this stage in our lives, it meant so much for us to get out on the road and play this tour and we felt so good about it, in some ways. If it were to end now I would feel that there was some kind of closure, that we went through a rough period and did it great one more time," he says. "So the door goes two ways at this point. Either we dive into the next project in a year and repeat the whole thing, or we just find that we've had our fill and move on."
Marvel sues Sony over 'Spider-Man'
HOLLYWOOD, California (Variety) -- Marvel Enterprises set the gears in motion Tuesday to sue Sony Pictures Entertainment over the Spider-Man character. Marvel asked that the filing be sealed from public view under the terms of a contractual provision.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Marvel said the suit in Los Angeles Superior Court involves its Spider-Man licensing agreement with Sony, whose Columbia Pictures division released last year's blockbuster film based on Marvel's web-slinging comic book hero.
The release goes on to say that the suit is not an attempt to stop production of the "Spider-Man" sequel slated for 2004 or to alter any of the merchandising or licensing deals that are in place.
Marvel's release cites contractual provisions as the reason for filing the suit under seal. In such a filing, there is no public record of the lawsuit being filed or the contents of the suit.
Filing under seal for a least a brief period -- 30 to 60 days -- in not unusual. California law, however, contains a strong presumption that court files are public, and filings under seal can be challenged.
Technically, Marvel filed a motion to file its complaint under seal; when the motion is heard, the public has an opportunity to challenge the sealing.
The stated purpose of Marvel's release is to inform investors that it does not foresee any negative impact from the litigation. Without the release, there would be no public record of the litigation.
Litigation is a way of life for Spider-Man. Sony grabbed the rights to the superhero in 1999 at the culmination of a six-year litigation.
Marvel initially licensed Spider-Man to Carolco and James Cameron wrote a treatment. After Carolco's bankruptcy, Sony, Viacom and MGM all claimed they owned a piece of Spider-Man. After a loss at trial by Viacom and a settlement with MGM, Sony made a deal with Marvel and emerged the winner of the Spider-Man wars.
Fox Greenlights DAREDEVIL 2, ELEKTRA
20th Century Fox has announced official plans to make sequel to the hit movie DAREDEVIL, as well as a spinoff based on the character of Elektra. Jennifer Garner, who played Elektra in Daredevil, will star in the spinoff, picking up from where character's story left off in DAREDEVIL. Garner will also play Elektra in DAREDEVIL 2.
Harry Potter Author to Cast Spell Over 'Simpsons'
LONDON (Reuters) - The creator of Harry Potter, the world's most popular boy wizard, is set to cast a spell over cult U.S. cartoon show "The Simpsons," her spokeswoman said Wednesday.
J.K. Rowling will bring a touch of magic to the animated sitcom about the dysfunctional family by appearing as herself in an episode set in England.
"I can confirm that she did a voice-over for 'The Simpsons,"' the spokeswoman told Reuters.
In the episode, Rowling will meet beer-guzzling Homer Simpson and his family when they visit England to find a girl with whom Grandpa Simpson had a wartime fling.
"'The Simpsons' bump into J.K. Rowling outside a bookshop and they talk all about Harry Potter," Don Payne, executive producer of the cult cartoon told the Sun newspaper.
The episode will also feature "Lord of the Rings" star Sir Ian McKellen, the paper said.
The family go to see him perform the Shakespeare play "Macbeth," but bring him bad luck by saying the play's name aloud -- in defiance of a well-known theatrical superstition.
This leads to the actor being hit by scaffolding and then struck by lightning.
Rowling, who has sold millions of Harry Potter books around the world, joins dozens of stars from Paul McCartney to Dustin Hoffman who have lent their voices to the show.
Bruce Willis Hosts 'Late Show,' Letterman Out Sick
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Bruce Willis filled in as host of the CBS "Late Show" on Wednesday in place of David Letterman, who was sidelined by an eye infection, producers of the program said.
It was Letterman's first absence since his recovery from open-heart surgery in early 2000, when he missed several weeks of shows, then alternated with a series of guest hosts for a few weeks.
Before then, Letterman, 55, had never missed an appearance in his more than 20 years of late-night television.
A statement released by Letterman's production company quoted the comedian's physician, Dr. Louis Aronne, as saying, "Dave has an infection of his right eye. It's under treatment and we expect a full recovery."
Willis already was scheduled to appear as a guest on Wednesday's show, along with CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather, just back from his exclusive interview with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Also appearing were actress Carmen Electra and singer John Mayer.
"Late Show" episodes scheduled to air on Thursday and Friday will be replaced with repeats, and, as previously scheduled, the show will be dark the week of March 3, producers said.
Letterman's eye was visibly puffy during Tuesday night's broadcast.
"I look like somebody gave me a beating," he remarked on the show. "It's either an irritation, inflammation or infection ... For the love of God, does it hurt?!"
Letterman was first sidelined from his show undergoing bypass heart surgery on Jan. 14, 2000. CBS ran repeats of the show for the next three weeks, followed by a series of taped "Late Show Backstage" telecasts, with frequent guests showing clips of their favorite moments from the program.
Letterman returned part time on Feb. 21 of that year, then alternated for a few weeks with a series of guest hosts, including Bill Cosby, Nathan Lane, and David Brenner, before coming back full time the week of March 27.