Bookies Offer 3-1 Odds on Quick End to J-Lo Marriage
LONDON (Reuters) - British bookmakers offered odds of 3-1 Monday that singer/actress Jennifer Lopez and her new husband Marc Anthony would divorce by the end of the year.
Lopez, 33, has already been through two marriages that lasted little more than a year. She broke off an A-list celebrity engagement to actor Ben Affleck in January after the couple called off their wedding last September.
Anthony was granted a quickie divorce in the Dominican Republic a week ago from his wife of four years, a former Miss Universe.
Ladbrokes is also offering 10 to one odds that "J-Lo marries more than eight times in her life, beating Elizabeth Taylor," a spokesman said.
Those who never quite accepted that Lopez and Affleck had split for good after one of Hollywood's most tumultuous romances also have a chance to bet.
The bookmakers are offering 14-1 odds that Affleck and Lopez are married by the end of 2004.
Summer movie preview
With apologies to Halle Berry, this summer doesn't look so hot
By DEREK TSE -- Toronto Sun
Picking our No. 1 flick -- Spider-Man 2 -- for our summer movie preview was easy. Sifting through the detritus of the other releases in search of nine other films worthy of a top-10 list was the hard part.
In what looks like the weakest summer crop in a long time, the web-slinging crimefighter stands to be the only safe bet in terms of being a crowd-pleasing, mega-bucks-raking hit. Sure, there are several others that could bust out big, but this will be remembered as the summer of the spider.
And then, as they say, there's Maude.
10. CATWOMAN
Opens July 23
- WHAT: When shy graphic designer Patience (Halle Berry) gets caught up in a corporate scandal, she survives an attempt on her life and is reborn as sexy superheroine Catwoman.
- HOT: Berry is smokin' hot in her feline duds, which pretty much consists of a whip, a leather brassiere and a cat mask.
- COLD: Uh-oh, Internet geek buzz is that this is a steaming pile of kitty litter. Then again, Internet geek buzz proclaimed Chewbacca the person they would most want to meet.
- WE SAY: The last time French director Pitof was allowed near a major Hollywood franchise, the execrable Alien: Resurrection chest-bursted onto the scene. We have a feeling he's coughed up another hairball here.
9. KING ARTHUR
Opens July 7
- WHAT: A straight-ahead retelling of the legend of Camelot, this historical adventure stars Clive Owen as reluctant leader Arthur, who longs only to return to the relative peace and quiet of Rome but comes to realize tumultuous old Britain needs a king. With the help of a tempestuous Guinevere (Keira Knightley), an unmagical Merlin (Stephen Dillane) and his Knights of the Round Table, he sets out to become that king.
- HOT: Knightley is one of Hollywood's hottest ingenues; these days, historical epics are all the rage ...
- COLD: ... sort of. Troy had a big first weekend, but interest dipped significantly afterward. Will audiences go for a medieval tale that doesn't feature sorcery and magic swords? And can director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Replacement Killers) pull this off?
- WE SAY: Anything would be better than the rancid A Knight's Tale, the last medieval epic that tried to appeal to younger audiences. But that's not saying much.
8. THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK
Opens June 11
- WHAT: Musclebound anti-hero Riddick (Vin Diesel) is once again forced to fight on the side of good -- this time, he battles the evil Lord Marshal (played by Pierre Elliot Trudeau himself, Colm Feore), who wants to transform humans into his army of mindless slaves, the Necromongers. Kind of like Trudeau did.
- HOT: Surprisingly, advance word has been mostly positive; judging from the trailers, the effects look impressive indeed.
- COLD: Those who have been anxiously awaiting a sequel to the cult flick Pitch Black, released in 2000, speak up now. Uh, how about now? (Cue sound of crickets chirping.)
- WE SAY: Diesel, who was supposed to be the next great action superstar a couple of years ago (remember all the hype that attended his action dud, XXX?), needs a hit in a big way; while we're not sure Chronicles Of Riddick will do that, it should at least be able to, like its predecessor, generate another cult following.
7. COLLATERAL
Opens Aug. 6
- WHAT: An ordinary Los Angeles cab driver (Jamie Foxx) faces an extraordinary situation when he's co-opted by a cold-blooded hitman (Tom Cruise) to chauffeur him around the city. While he kills people.
- HOT: From capable director Michael Mann, whose other sleek odes to testosterone include Heat and The Insider; Cruise plays way against type as the ruthless assassin, who kills one man by throwing him out of a highrise.
- COLD: Will audiences be able to suspend their disbelief at Cruise playing an evil killer -- with a shock of white hair, no less? We had enough trouble believing he dumped Penelope Cruz!
- WE SAY: We're willing to give the Hollywood pretty boy the benefit of the doubt -- but we still think ex Nicole Kidman will kick his ass with The Stepford Wives.
6. THE VILLAGE
Opens Aug. 6
- WHAT: An isolated 19th-century village braces itself for an attack by the mysterious creatures who dwell in the surrounding woods. But young Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix) is determined to discover these creatures' secret -- even if it means stepping across the forbidden forest boundary.
- HOT: The creepy films of writer-director M. Night Shyamalan are one of Hollywood's surest bets for a good time at the theatre; the strong cast features Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt and Adrien Brody.
- COLD: There's reportedly yet another twist ending -- which makes us wonder whether Shyamalan can ever tell a story without trying to pull the rug out from under our feet ... and whether he can do it without the convoluted climaxes of Signs and Unbreakable.
- WE SAY: Chalk up another spine-tingling crowd-pleaser for Shyamalan -- while we're sure it'll be good, we just hope the end justifies the means.
5. THE TERMINAL
Opens June 18
- WHAT: Eastern European native Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks) gets stuck in New York when civil war breaks out in his homeland. Ordered not to leave the airport, he stays true to his word, living inside the terminal and having all sorts of heartwarming adventures, including finding love with beautiful stewardess Catherine Zeta-Jones. Somebody please pass the barf bags ...
- HOT: From director Steven Spielberg, the best mainstream director working today -- you've gotta go waaay back (1991's Hook) to find his last serious misfire; add Hanks to the bill, and you've got a film discerning adults can flock to.
- COLD: Amid the bombast of the arachnoid heroes, cat-attired vixens, homicidal robots, hordes of Necromongers and chauvinistic '70s anchormen, this romantic, adult-oriented offering could get stuck on the runway.
- WE SAY: There isn't much treacle in this crop of summer flicks, so The Terminal is sure to corner the market on tearjerking, heartwarming fare. Just remember, the exits are here, here and here.
4. I, ROBOT
Opens July 16
- WHAT: Will Smith stars as robophobic detective Del Spooner, who investigates a murder in the year 2035 that apparently has been committed by a robot called Sonny (Alan Tudyk). This is bad news, since it means Sonny has broken the Laws of Robotics, which prevent all emotionless automatons from running amok and taking over the world. See, we knew Al Gore's day would come.
- HOT: This is based loosely on the old Isaac Asimov story, and promises to be a good, old-fashioned, effects-laden popcorn movie; director Alex Proyas has a strong track record for genre films (The Crow, Dark City).
- COLD: The look of the robots is a little underwhelming -- the ones we've seen look like automated crash-test dummies.
- WE SAY: While we weren't blown away by the trailer, we'd still give I, Robot a shot. Another thing going for it: Smith was once the undisputed king of the summer blockbuster, and is itching to reclaim his crown.
3. THE STEPFORD WIVES
Opens June 11
- WHAT: In this remake of the 1975 cult classic, Joanne and Walter Eberhart (Nicole Kidman and Matthew Broderick) relocate to the upscale neighbourhood of Stepford, Conn., where everything seems a little too perfect -- especially the beautiful, blond and robotic housewives who cater to their husbands' every needs.
- HOT: Kidman looks more radiant than ever -- a testament to the wonders that breaking up with Tom Cruise can do for a lady; the fantastical premise makes for potentially great satire.
- COLD: There have been reports of turmoil behind the scenes and talk of reshoots -- never a good sign. And try to avoid the latest TV trailers, which seem to completely give away a major plot point involving Bette Midler's character.
- WE SAY: Domo arigato, Mrs. Roboto. In a summer of dumb and dumber, here's hoping the high-concept Stepford Wives is a step above.
2. ANCHORMAN
Opens July 9
- WHAT: Will Ferrell stars as 1970s news-thingy Ron Burgundy, a mustachioed, sexist pig who just happens to be the leading newscaster of the top-rated Channel 4 News in San Diego. But his polyester-suited world is thrown for a loop when Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) becomes his news team's first female member.
- HOT: Ferrell is making the most consistently funny movies of any comedic actors these days; he's backed up by a terrific supporting cast, which includes The Daily Show's Steve Carrell, Vince Vaughn and Paul Rudd.
- COLD: Anchorman runs the risk of stretching a one-note joke too far.
- WE SAY: News flash: Anchorman is our second-most-anticipated movie of the summer, which says a lot about its competition. Still, Ferrell's riding a hot streak that has no signs of fizzling out anytime soon.
1. SPIDER-MAN 2
Opens June 30
- WHAT: Poor Peter Parker (Toby Maguire): His life is a wreck as he copes with being a costumed superhero and trying to lead a normal life. Not only that, but a freakish new supervillain, Dr. Octopus (Alfred Molina), shows up, apparently in league with Peter's best pal, Harry (James Franco). Can Spidey save the day? Can he win the girl of his dreams, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst)? Can millions of geeks hold back tears of rage when they realize there's no scene featuring Mary Jane kissing Spidey while wearing a wet T-shirt?
- HOT: The whole team from the blockbuster original is back, and they've promised the sequel is a big improvement; from first glimpses, Dr. Octopus actually looks cool and menacing, no mean feat for a villain whose namesake is shared with James Bond super-bimbo Octopussy.
- COLD: The first Spider-Man's lame action sequences were that film's biggest letdown -- hopefully, the past couple of years have taught director Sam Raimi et al their lesson.
- WE SAY: Web us up! The box office won't be so itsy bitsy for this spider, and it looks like it can actually deliver on all the hype.
Van Halen finishes rehearsals, gears up for still-growing tour
With their final dress rehearsal behind them, the members of Van Halen are on the verge of launching a summer tour that continues to grow.
On Thursday (6/3), the group added to its itinerary stops in Louisville, KY; Green Bay, WI; Biloxi, MS; Atlanta; and Cincinnati. Tickets for the Louisville stop hit the box office on Saturday (6/5), while tickets for the Green Bay show go on sale June 12. On-sale dates for the remaining new stops have not been announced.
The run, which is Van Halen's first with singer Sammy Hagar since the mid '90s, kicks off in Greensboro, NC, on June 11, and dates are stacked up into late September. Tickets for all of the shows announced prior to Thursday (6/3) are already on sale.
On Tuesday (6/1), Van Halen held its final dress rehearsal at a closed soundstage in Southern California. Pictures from the event, as well as the setlist and additional details, are posted at the Van Halen News Desk fan website.
Among the songs that the group reportedly performed during the rehearsal were three new tracks that will appear on "The Best of Both Worlds," a two-disc hits compilation due out on July 20. One of the three new cuts, titled "It's About Time," hit radio stations last month, and debuted at No. 10 on trade publication Radio & Records' latest rock chart.
Hagar, who split with Van Halen on bad terms in 1996, told reporters last month that his return to the group doesn't feel like a reunion.
"It's really funny, 'cause a reunion would have maybe been pressure, but, for some reason, the second we got together, it felt like a continuation," he said. "It did not feel like we had to reinvent anything or out-do anything. It just was so there."
Hollywood Reacts to Reagan's Death
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) -- Former President Ronald Reagan, who was also a long-time president of the Screen Actors Guild and made more than 50 films, died Saturday, June 5, at his home in Bel Air, Calif.
Reagan, 93, dropped out of public life about a decade ago, and was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He died of pneumonia at 1 p.m., officials say, and his family was at his side.
His wife, former actress Nancy Reagan, reportedly told CBS news commentator Mike Wallace earlier in the day that "this is it" and the White House was also notified of the former president's possible demise. President Bush is traveling through Europe.
Before his political career, Reagan had a long acting career that earned him a Golden Boot Award for his Western films, a Golden Globe Hollywood Citizenship Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Flowers were already on the star at 6374 Hollywood Boulevard within an hour of his announced death, as was a note from a fan which read, "You were a great actor, too!" and was fixed on the star with chewing gum.
One of Reagan's most popular films was 1951's "Bedtime for Bonzo," a romantic comedy which co-starred a chimpanzee. He was also Notre Dame football star George Gipp (called "The Gipper") in "Knute Rockne, All American" in 1940, giving him the nickname that stuck with him throughout his career.
He served as SAG president twice, from 1947 to 1952, and again from 1959 to 1960 before he went on to be governor of California and then president of the United States. He was president from 1981 to 1989, elected twice to office.
Present SAG President Melissa Gilbert said, "It can be said that Ronald Reagan got his start in politics at Screen Actors Guild. While President Reagan's politics grew conservative over the years and, at times, at odds with the nation's labor movement, there can be no question that he devoted years of his life to advancing the wages, benefits and working conditions of his fellow actors."
His first wife was actress Jane Wyman from 1940 to 1948. He had two children with her, Michael and Maureen. He married Nancy Davis in 1952 and had two children with her, Ron and Patti.
Reagan's last film was 1964's "The Killers," and he also starred in "Cattle Queen of Montana," "Kings Row," Prisoner of War" and "Love is on the Air" his first film in 1937.
Reagan was considered for the lead in "Casablanca," which went to Humphrey Bogart, and maintained a close relationship to the Hollywood community throughout his political career. Actor William Holden was his best man for his wedding to Nancy.
Longtime friend of Reagan's from his Hollywood days, Johnny Grant, who is also the honorary mayor of Hollywood who ordered the bouquet for Reagan's star on the Walk of Fame, said Saturday, "He was a man who loved his country. I don't know of anybody who's done more for this country and the entertainment industry."
Another longtime friend and entertainer, impressionist Rich Little, said, "I think his legacy will be that he was probably the most human of any presidents we've ever had. He was very down to earth, no particular ego, loved to talk show business, just kind of a regular guy with a great sense of humor."
Reagan's body was transported out of the house late Saturday afternoon and will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol before he is buried at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif.
Conspiracy of Four
David Duchovny told Teletext that everyone is on board with a second THE X-FILES movie. "We're all on the same page," Duchovny said. "Gillian Anderson wants to do it, I want to do it, Chris Carter, who would write and produce the film, wants to do it and I believe Fox the studio wants to do it. When you have the four major players in the enterprise wanting to do it, it will happen. It's just a matter of when. I hope it happens within the next year."
Harry Potter repeats box-office magic with $92.6 million US debut
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The boy wizard has worked his biggest box-office spell to date.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban charmed audiences to the tune of $92.65 million US in its debut weekend, the best results yet for the franchise, according to studio estimates released Sunday. It was the third-best three-day opening weekend ever, behind Spider-Man at $114.8 million in 2002 and Shrek 2 at $108 million last month.
"I guess audiences are still crazy about Harry," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., the studio behind the franchise based on J.K Rowling's fantasy series.
Harry Potter bumped off Shrek 2, which had been the No. 1 flick the previous two weekends. Shrek 2 came in second with $37 million, lifting its three-week total to $313.6 million and putting it within striking distance of Finding Nemo, the top grossing animated movie ever at $339.7 million.
The global disaster thriller The Day After Tomorrow, which debuted a strong No. 2 over Memorial Day weekend, fell to third place with $28.15 million, pushing its 10-day total to $128.8 million.
Harry Potter, Shrek 2 and The Day After Tomorrow have turned around what had been an anemic early summer season for Hollywood. Before Shrek 2 opened, early summer revenues were down 25 per cent from last year's. Summer revenues now are running six to seven per cent ahead, while the box office so far this year is up about five per cent over 2003's pace.
Still to come is summer's most anticipated movie, Spider-Man 2 on June 30, with a rush of potential hits to follow, including The Bourne Supremacy, The Manchurian Candidate and Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.
"What a difference a few weeks have made," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "This could actually be the perfect summer trajectory. Instead of a big start, stalling in the middle and a weak finish, like we usually have, we could have a weak start, a big middle and a strong finish."
The top 12 movies this weekend took in $180.9 million, up 15.6 per cent from the same weekend last year.
No other big movies opened against Harry Potter as other studios stayed out of the way of a franchise whose first two instalments totalled nearly $600 million domestically.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone launched the series in November 2001 with a $90.3 million debut on its way to a $317.6 million total. A year later, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets opened with $88.4 million, finishing at $262 million.
Prisoner of Azkaban was the franchise's first summer release and was the best-reviewed of the three movies. The movie reunites Daniel Radcliffe as Harry with Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as his allies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as they unravel the mystery of an escaped sorcerer (Gary Oldman) linked to the deaths of Harry's parents.
Alfonso Cuaron, best known for the racy Y Tu Mama Tambien, took over as director from Chris Columbus, who made the first two Harry Potter flicks. Cuaron delivered a tale with a suitably darker tone as Harry and his pals mature and learn more about the sinister forces working against them.
"What's fabulous about the series is, I think, as the actors have aged, so has the audience, and that's created a bond between them," Fellman said. "The other thing is, as the actors have gotten older, they've gotten better, so the performances are the best yet."
Part four, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, now is filming in London, with Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Mona Lisa Smile) directing. The movie is scheduled for release in November 2005.
Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theatres, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, $92.65 million.
2. Shrek 2, $37 million.
3. The Day After Tomorrow, $28.15 million.
4. Raising Helen, $6.7 million.
5. Troy, $5.7 million.
6. Mean Girls, $2.9 million.
7. Soul Plane, $2.85 million.
8. Van Helsing, $2.35 million.
9. Man on Fire, $1 million.
10. Super Size Me, $835,000.
Tony Bounces Back in 'Sopranos' Finale
NEW YORK - The somber fifth-season finale of "The Sopranos" aired Sunday night on HBO. Much of the episode, co-written by "Sopranos" creator David Chase, found crisis-beset Tony Soprano increasingly helpless as his life's work, and his life, unraveled.
Titled "All Due Respect," the finale leaves fans hanging for at least 18 months until the series returns for its last 10 episodes. But for now, surprise! Tony is sitting pretty — with the emphasis on "surprise."
Some of the "highlights" included Tony Blundetto taking a shotgun blast to the head from Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), despite numerous pledges of loyalty to his wayward cousin, and Tony gaining a new lease on life — just in time.
His New Jersey gang seemed close to an uprising over his perceived weak leadership. Then his biggest adversary — New York mob boss Johnny Sack — was busted by the Feds right before Tony's eyes.
He had stuck his neck out too far for his cousin Tony B. (Steve Buscemi), whose grudge execution of a Sack family member brought that gang's wrath crashing down on the Soprano mob.
Tony's men were growing restless at his failure to take care of the problem by serving up his cousin.
"You got some unhappy people out there," consigliere Silvio (Steve Van Zandt) informed Tony.
Meanwhile, Christopher (Michael Imperioli) was mourning the loss of Adriana, whom he had previously conspired with Tony and Silvio to kill after she confessed that she had been forced to serve as an FBI informant.
"She was willing to rat me out because she couldn't do five (doggone) years," Christopher lamented in his usual sniveling style. "I thought she loved me!"
Thus it was in vain that viewers, who never actually saw Adriana felled by Silvio's bullets, had hoped that a plot twist might reveal her still alive.
Almost as remote was the prospect that Tony's like-a-son nephew Christopher might get whacked, a rumor nurtured by Imperioli in a recent interview. Christopher lives to whine another season.
Not so lucky is Tony B., plugged unceremoniously by Tony S. in an extreme gesture to appease Johnny Sack (Vince Curatola).
"Didn't solve a thing," Sack growled when he got the news. He wanted his men to do the honors.
As the hour wound down, Tony, knowing his cousin had to die either quick or slow, seemed near a breakdown. Never had he felt so keenly the loneliness of leadership — or been so willing to express it.
"I've painted myself into a corner here, and I don't see a way out," he told Uncle Junior (Dominic Chianese), himself too addled from Alzheimer's disease to give Tony any counsel.
And he confided to his shrink, Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), "I'm very confused. All my choices were wrong."
A man brought low this season, Tony seemed pathetic even as he scored his last-minute reprieve. In Johnny Sack's snow-covered yard, where he had come to negotiate a peace, their meeting was cut short by an FBI raid. Off Tony bolted, a fat man in an overcoat slipping and puffing across the icy terrain, frantic to escape the agents.
But he needn't have worried. Only Sack's mob was named in the indictment. Not only had the Feds ignored the Soprano family, but also whisked away a major threat to the Sopranos — at taxpayers' expense.
Blessed by this somewhat-too-pat plot resolution, Tony at the fade-out was back in his home with his wife Carmela (Edie Falco), with whom he recently reconciled. That warm domestic scene struck quite a contrast to the fourth-season finale, when, after a pitched battle, Carmela threw Tony out of the house.
So during the coming "Sopranos" dry spell, fans can cling to the finale's parting message — Tony always bounces back! — and take comfort from it.
In Season Six, fate will surely prove otherwise.
'Avenue Q' Wins Tony for Best Musical
NEW YORK - "Avenue Q," a cheeky little musical that uses puppets, four-letter words and catchy, jinglelike tunes, was the upset winner Sunday at the Tonys where history was made as Phylicia Rashad became the first black actress to win for a leading dramatic role.
"I Am My Own Wife," Doug Wright's gender-bending tale of survival, was named best play.
"Avenue Q" also received Tonys for the best book and score in beating out "Wicked," the lavish "Wizard of Oz" prequel for the top musical prize.
"It certainly doesn't suck to be us tonight," said Robyn Goodman, one of the musical's surprised and overjoyed producers, referring to the musical's opening number, "It Sucks to Be Me."
Rashad's acceptance speech was more composed.
"Often I've wondered what does it take for this to happen," said the actress, who received the prize for her portrayal of Lena Younger, the tough-minded matriarch in a revival of "A Raisin in the Sun."
"And now I know. It takes effort and grace ... And in my life that grace has taken numerous forms. The first was the family into which I was born, parents who loved and wanted me, and a mother who fought fearlessly, courageously, consistently so that her children above all else could realize their full potential as human beings."
Jefferson Mays bested much better known competition (Kevin Kline, Christopher Plummer and Frank Langella) to take the top acting prize for his portrayal of a German transvestite — and some 40 other characters — in Wright's "I Am My Own Wife," a role he called "a labor of love."
"Our entire cast just won Tony Awards," joked Wright in accepting the best-play honor.
Hugh Jackman, besides serving as host of awards program, won the actor-musical prize for portraying flamboyant entertainer Peter Allen in "The Boy From Oz."
"Peter, it's an honor to play you and I dedicate this Tony to you," Jackman said in saluting Allen who died of AIDS in 1992.
"Wicked," a lavish, $14 million look at the "Wizard of Oz" witches, was celebrated for its for one of its leading ladies, Idina Menzel, who took the actress-musical prize and for its spectacle, picking up two design prizes for its gargantuan sets (Eugene Lee) and ornate costumes (Susan Hilferty).
A hint of the "Avenue Q" upset came earlier in the evening when the show won for book (Jeff Whitty) and score (Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx).
"When we started writing `Avenue Q,' Jeff (Marx) was an intern and I was a temp," said Lopez. "Our lives kinda sucked so we came up with an idea for a show about people like us whose lives all kinda suck."
"But we're here to tell you as living proof that things get better. L and Carol just gave us the Tony Award," said an exuberant Marx after Carol Channing and LL Cool J gave them the prize.
Just before announcing the award, the Broadway legend and rapper did a duet that had the audience roaring.
"Assassins," Stephen Sondheim's sardonic musical about presidential killers, picked up five Tonys, more than any other show. Its prizes included best musical revival and one for Michael Cerveris, who portrays John Wilkes Booth in the show.
"You don't have to kill somebody to get something like this. You can just pretend to on Broadway," joked Cerveris, winner of the award for featured actor in a musical.
The show also won for direction-musical (Joe Mantello), lighting design (Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer) and orchestrations (Michael Starobin).
Featured acting prizes went to Audra McDonald, her fourth Tony in 10 years, this time for her role as the hardworking wife in the revival of "A Raisin in the Sun," and to Brian F. O'Byrne, who plays a serial killer in "Frozen."
An emotional McDonald said, "The only thing I want ever wanted to do was be on Broadway." She thanked the cast, her family and said, "This belongs to Lorraine Hansberry," the play's author.
Anika Noni Rose won the featured-actress prize for her role as the defiant daughter in "Caroline, or Change."
Jack O'Brien received the director/play award, for Lincoln Center Theater's limited engagement of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," which also won for best play revival.
"I was so convinced, I talked myself out of this by repeating my mantra, `We're a classic and we're closed,'" said O'Brien, who directed last year's Tony-winning musical "Hairspray."
The regional theater award was presented to the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. James M. Nederlander, patriarch of the family which operates nine Broadway theaters, was awarded a lifetime achievement prize.
It was a busy year with 39 productions opening on Broadway during the 2003-2004 season, compared to 36 shows the previous 12 months. Grosses were up, too, from $721 million to $771 million, but so were ticket prices. Attendance reached 11.61 million, an increase from 11.42 million a year ago, but still not as high as the 11.89 million during the season before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
If there was no universally acclaimed, megamusical such as "The Producers" or "Hairspray," there were several high-profile successes. Besides "Wicked," audiences flocked to the revival of "A Raisin in the Sun," with hip-hop mogul Sean Combs the main box-office draw.
The Tony winners in 21 categories were chosen by 735 theater professionals and journalists.
MTV Awards Offer Laughs, Sex and Summer Flicks
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The MTV Movie Awards gave their annual send up to Hollywood summer movies on Saturday in a show filled with sex, jokes, action and even a full moon from rap star Eminem -- all the elements of a good summer movie.
Well, except for the rapper's naked rear end, that is.
MTV's awards come in the middle of Hollywood's summer film season and feature stars of the hottest upcoming titles. Unlike showbiz honors such as the Oscars, MTV offers fans irreverent sketches, stars cutting loose and buckets of golden popcorn for winners for best fight, best villain and best kiss.
The night's top honor, best film, went to "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," also honored for best action sequence for the battle of Gondor.
This year, the best onscreen kiss went to a three-way smooch between Carmen Electra, Owen Wilson and Amy Smart for "Starsky and Hutch." But Electra was the only one on hand to grab her popcorn bucket, so she celebrated with a kiss from rapper Snoop Dogg and -- a second one -- from Paris Hilton.
"It was very sweet and innocent. There was no tongue," she told reporters backstage, then added. "At least I had good breath."
The show's other big moment belonged to Eminem who, singing with group D12, dropped his drawers and mooned the audience.
Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx of upcoming "Collateral," gave out the first award for best female performance in a film, which went to Uma Thurman for "Kill Bill: Vol. 1."
Thurman thanked MTV voters for choosing her "kick butt, take-no-prisoners" character, who exacts revenge on those who plotted to kill her. Thurman was also a winner for best fight, in which she tangled with Chiaki Kuriyama.
Lucy Liu, who played one of the assassins aiming to kill Thurman, won the MTV popcorn bucket for best villain in a film.
DRINKS, DANCES, PLASTIC SUITS
Johnny Depp won best male performer for his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," and he accepted the award with a drink in his hand. Jack Black won for best comedic performance for "School of Rock," and said he would "party hardy" with the voters.
Seann William Scott disco danced his way to the award for best dance sequence in "American Wedding," then thanked "Saturday Night Fever" star John Travolta.
Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler were given the popcorn bucket for best onscreen team. They thanked the entire state of Hawaii where their movie "50 First Dates" was filmed.
Breakthrough female performer went to the show's host, Lindsay Lohan, for "Freaky Friday," and breakthrough male went to Shawn Ashmore for "X2: X-Men United." Breakthrough transatlantic performance went to British actress Martine McCutcheon for "Love Actually."
"I just wanted to come along for the laughs. ... I'll just sit back, relax and have a great time," said a surprised McCutcheon. "I can't wait to go back to London and watch it."
She said she thought it was important to be known in the United States where acting opportunities are abundant.
Fashion, of course, is always big at Hollywood award shows, but clothes at the MTV show range widely from designer gowns like the pink Dior worn by Electra to the jeans and t-shirts Black wore to a clear plastic suit on Marques Houston of upcoming Christmas holiday film, "Fat Albert."
"It's MTV, I had to be different," he said. "No one else has it on, thank God"
The MTV awards show airs on June 10 at 9 p.m. EDT.
J-Lo Reportedly Marries Singer Marc Anthony
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez has married her current boyfriend, salsa singer Marc Anthony, barely five months after breaking her much-publicized engagement to actor Ben Affleck, Us Weekly reported on Saturday.
The magazine said Lopez, 33, married Latin music star Anthony, 34, who was divorced less than a week ago, at her home in Los Angeles on Saturday in front of about 40 guests. Us Weekly said it had pictures of a giant tent assembled on the estate and of guests coming and going among tables covered in white table cloths and flower centerpieces.
"It was a lovely low-key intimate affair for the closest friends and family, " Us reported a friend as saying.
"She didn't hardly tell anyone. Everyone was surprised," another unidentified friend told the magazine.
Representatives for Lopez and Anthony could not immediately be reached for comment.
The reported marriage comes less than a week after Anthony was granted a quickie divorce in the Dominican Republic from his wife of four years, Dayanara Torres, a former Miss Universe.
It would be the third marriage for Lopez, the sultry star whose previous trips down the aisle have both lasted a little over a year.
Tabloid news reports have linked Anthony and Lopez for weeks. They noted that Lopez had recently returned the giant pink diamond engagement ring she was given by Affleck during the stormy "Bennifer" affair that rose to a fever pitch last September when the couple called off their wedding at short notice, citing excessive media intrusion.
Affleck and Lopez officially broke their engagement in January and both have maintained a low profile since then. But by May, Lopez was seen wearing another diamond, reportedly given to her by Anthony.