The Couch Potato Report - August 31st, 2004

This week in The Couch Potato Report, I finally have nothing to say about a movie.

In the twelve years since I've been doing The Couch Potato Report there has never been an incidence where I've had nothing to say about a film that's come out.

Through video, laserdisc and DVD releases - with both good and bad movies on them - I've always had something to say.

That all changes this week as I have absolutely nothing to say about Mel Gibson's controversial, but oh so successful THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.

I want to make sure that you know that it is now available on video and DVD, but I have nothing to say about it.

Well, other that the fact that it stars Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci and it is the story of the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life.

Other than that, sorry, but you are on your own.

You're not on your own when it comes to Ashley Judd's new film TWISTED as I do have some things to say about it.

They're just not very nice.

And I hate not being nice toward Ashley Judd because I thoroughly and completely like and respect her.

She is talented and beautiful beyond words, but in TWISTED she plays another one of her patented tough-but-misunderstood-women-who-get-into-trouble-and-have-to-fight-back roles.

Just like she did in DOUBLE JEOPARDY, HIGH CRIMES and KISS THE GIRLS.

In TWISTED Judd is a San Francisco homicide detective who is her own prime suspect in an ongoing serial murder case.

All of the victims are men she recently had recently spent time with.

Andy Garcia is Judd's partner and Samuel L. Jackson is the police commissioner and Judd's mentor.

Its a good cast, but there are way too many holes and implausibilities to make TWISTED any good.

It even seems as if the cast knows that too as they act with no apparent interest in the proceedings.

TWISTED has nothing to offer except Ashley Judd, and if she doesn't start challenging herself as an actress, and taking fewer tough-but-misunderstood-women-who-get-into-trouble-and-have-to-fight-back roles, I, for one, might have to stop paying attention to the movies she does.

I, for one, will never stop paying attention to STAR TREK.

Should you be like me, well this is a time to rejoice!

STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON is now available on an 8-disc DVD set!

If you don't know, STAR TREK features the adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise under the command of Capt. James Kirk and his first officer, Lt. Cmdr Spock during the 23rd century. They are on a mission in outer space to explore new worlds, where the Enterprise encounters Klingons, Romulans, time paradoxes, tribbles and genetic supermen.

In addition to all 29 first-run episodes - including The Naked Time, The Enemy Within, The Menagerie, Balance of Terror, Space Seed, Arena and The City on the Edge of Forever - this set also features many behind the scenes and retrospective extras.

Oh yes!! I actually think I'm drooling!

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, TWISTED and STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON are all available now at your favourite local video store.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUCH POTATO REPORT

THE LADYKILLERS is the Coen Brothers' remake of the classic 1955 Alec Guinness movie. Tom Hanks stars in this version as a professor who attempts a casino heist with help from a "gang of experts."

A few weeks ago I added HELLBOY To the list of good films made from comic books. Next week we'll add THE PUNISHER to the list of bad ones.

JERSEY GIRL is the latest release from filmmaker Kevin Smith. It didn't do well at the box office as it stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, but it is a surprisingly touching film.

And finally next week, even though the mystery and excitement started to wane last year, the exploits of Special Agent Sydney Bristow are always worth watching because of the talents of Jennifer Garner. Thus, ALIAS - THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON is a title I'm sure I'll recommend.

I'll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.

For now, that's this week's COUCH POTATO REPORT.

Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next week on The Couch!

Today's New Releases

Here is a look at the best new CD being released today:

Ray Charles Genius Loves Company (Concord Jazz) - Like Johnny Cash, Ray Charles was a tough old man who kept making music right up to the end, probably because everybody was too scared to tell him to knock it off. When he died in June, he was readying Genius Loves Company, his version of Frank Sinatra's Duets, featuring pop stars such as James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John and Norah Jones. The tone is reverential and warm, as the Genius sings "It Was a Very Good Year" with Willie Nelson, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with Johnny Mathis and "Fever" with Natalie Cole. B.B. King, the one guest who can approach Charles as a peer, pushes him to play a little blues piano. But the best moment is the live "Crazy Love": Van Morrison and Charles sing together in real time, two grizzled cats trying to top each other, competitive yet completely in tune.

The other CD's being released Tuesday, August 31st are:

BJORK Medulla (Elektra)
BRAD MEHLDAU Brad Mehldau Live in Tokyo (Nonesuch/Warner)
BRAD MEHLDAU Live In Tokyo (Nonesuch/Warner)
DOWN TO EARTH APPROACH Another Intervention (TVT)
HOT ROD CIRCUIT Reality's Coming Through (TVT)
JACKI-O Poor Little Rich Girl (TVT)
JEDD HUGHES Transcontinental (MCA Nashville)
JILL SCOTT Beautifully Human (Sony)
JOHN ADAMS On The Transmigration of Souls (Nonesuch/Warner)
JUDY COLLINS Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy (Rhino)
KATAKLYSM Victims Of This Fallen World (Linus Entertainment)
KATAKLYSM Northern Hyper Blast Live (Linus Entertainment)
LIMBLIFTER I/O (Maple Nationwide)
LL COOL J The DEFinition (Def Jam)
LUCINDA WILLIAMS Live (Lost Highway/Universal)
MEMPHIS I Dreamed We Fell Apart (Paper Bag Records)
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATRE 3000 Mystery Science Theater 3000: Essentials (Rhino)
PAPA ROACH Getting Away with Murder (Geffen)
PAUL WESTERBERG Folker (TVT)
PITBULL M.I.A.M.I (TVT)
RAZOR Decibels (Linus Entertainment)
ROKIA TRAORE Bowmboi (Nonesuch/Warner)
VARIOUS ARTISTS Platinum Dance Hits 2 (Warner Strategic Marketing)
VARIOUS ARTISTS Songs Inspired by The Passion (Sony)
VOIVOD Phobos (Linus Entertainment)
VOIVOD Kronik (Linus Entertainment)

Scrub In For Season Four

The new season of SCRUBS premieres tonight (Tuesday, August 31) at 9:25 PM ET and will be re-broadcast on September 4 at 8:30 PM ET.

The premiere episode is described as follows:

"My Old Friend's New Friend"

Elliot feels left out of the group after her break-up with J.D. It's J.D.'s (Zach Braff) last week as a resident as he tries to smooth over his relationship with Elliot (Sarah Chalke) after their break-up. The former couple squabble over having to share time with newlyweds Turk (Donald Faison) and Carla (Judy Reyes), who have their own issues when Carla starts to change everything about her new hubby.

Professional yet quirky new psychiatrist Dr. Molly Clock (guest star Heather Graham) starts her first day at Sacred Heart turning heads and forging new relationships with the staff. She befriends a lonely Elliot and tries her best to help J.D. and Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) with a patient offering profound and helpful insight.

Meanwhile, when Turk's car blows up, Carla lets him pick out the new ride only to find that instead of a car, he buys a Vespa scooter further proving Carla's point that she needs to always be in control.

NBC has also released details about the second episode of the season, which is set to air September 7.

"My Office"

J.D. and Elliot compete for the chief resident position which lends to more tension in their relationship.

Just when J.D. (Zach Braff) thinks he's landed the chief resident position, Dr. Molly Clock (guest star Heather Graham) convinces Elliot (Sarah Chalke) that she should apply as well. Carla (Judy Reeves) becomes green with envy as everyone starts listening to Dr. Clock's advice, leaving Carla feeling like she's losing control. Meanwhile, Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) and Turk (Donald Faison), find great difficulty in the removal of a light bulb from a patient's posterior.

Alan Jackson, Terri Clark among Country Music Award nominees

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Alan Jackson pulled in seven nominations, the most of the year, from the Country Music Association on Monday, including entertainer of the year and male vocalist, while Canadian Terri Clark is up for female vocalist of the year.

Jackson's nominations also include single of the year and song of the year for Remember When, video of the year for Remember When and for his duet with Jimmy Buffett, It's Five O'clock Somewhere, and musical event of the year for collaborating on a remake of the Hank Williams' tune Hey, Good Lookin.'

Toby Keith has six nominations including album of the year for Shock'N Y'all, single and video of the year for I Love This Bar, musical event for Hey, Good Lookin,' male vocalist of the year and entertainer of the year.

The other best album nominees are Brad Paisley for Mud on the Tires, Brooks & Dunn for Red Dirt Road, Kenny Chesney for When the Sun Goes Down and newcomer Gretchen Wilson for Here for the Party.

Others up for female vocalist of the year are Sara Evans, Alison Krauss, Martina McBride and Reba McEntire.

Clark, who was born in Montreal and grew up in Medicine Hat, Alta., has had a busy year. She was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and released a greatest hits record. She's also up for four awards at the Canadian Country Music Association awards, to be held Sept. 13 in Edmonton.

Wilson's first single, the No. 1 hit Redneck Woman, was nominated Monday for three awards, single, song and music video of the year. She also was nominated for the Horizon award, which honours the top new act.

"I think it's incredible considering no one knew who I was last year at this time," Wilson said. "This has been my dream since I was a little girl."

Other artists with five nominations included Chesney and Krauss.

"Country music is making waves in 2004 and this list of outstanding nominees is one of the reasons why," CMA executive director Ed Benson said in a statement. "These talented performers, musicians, songwriters and producers demonstrate the artistic depth and creativity driving the burgeoning growth of our format in the past year. It is an exciting time for country music and the 2004 CMA awards will definitely reflect that in November."

CBS will broadcast the 38th annual CMA awards show, hosted by Brooks & Dunn, live from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House on Nov. 9.

Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson, who helped announce some of the nominations on CBS's The Early Show, was selected for induction into the Country Hall of Fame.

"What a dirty trick," he said, obviously surprised to hear his name read.

"I guess it means I'm old," he said of the nomination that will put his name in the hall with Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. Kristofferson has written hits such as Help Me Make it Through the Night, Me and Bobby McGee and Sunday Morning Coming Down, and his work has been recorded by more than 450 artists.

Former industry executive Jim Foglesong, who was president of the Nashville divisions of MCA and Capitol Records, also will be inducted into the Country Hall of Fame. Foglesong, 82, teaches music business at Vanderbilt University.

The rest of the nominations were announced on the CMT cable network.

Here is the list of nominees for the 2004 CMA Awards:

-Entertainer of the Year: Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw.

-Female Vocalist: Terri Clark, Sara Evans, Alison Krauss, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire.

-Male Vocalist: Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, George Strait, Keith Urban.

-Horizon Award: Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Julie Roberts, Josh Turner, Gretchen Wilson.

-Vocal Group: Alabama, Diamond Rio, Lonestar, Rascal Flatts, Trick Pony.

-Vocal Duo: Big & Rich, Blue County, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, The Warren Brothers.

-Single of the Year (awarded to artist and producer): I Love This Bar, Toby Keith, produced by Toby Keith/James Stroud; Live Like You Were Dying, Tim McGraw, produced by Byron Gallimore/Tim McGraw/Darran Smith; Redneck Woman, Gretchen Wilson, produced by Mark Wright/Joe Scaife; Remember When, Alan Jackson, produced by Keith Stegall; Whiskey Lullaby, Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss, produced by Frank Rogers.

-Musician of the Year: Matt Chamberlain, drums; Kenny Greenberg, electric guitar; Dann Huff, guitar; Larry Paxton, bass guitar; Brent Rowan, guitar.

-Album of the Year (awarded to artist and producer): Here for the Party, Gretchen Wilson, produced by Mark Wright/Joe Scaife; Mud on the Tires, Brad Paisley, produced by Frank Rogers; Red Dirt Road, Brooks & Dunn, produced by Kix Brooks/Ronnie Dunn/Mark Wright; Shock'N Y'All, Toby Keith, produced by Toby Keith/James Stroud; When the Sun Goes Down, Kenny Chesney, produced by Buddy Cannon/Kenny Chesney.

-Music Video of the Year (awarded to artist and director): I Love This Bar, Toby Keith, directed by Michael Salomon; It's Five O'Clock Somewhere, Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett, directed by Trey Fanjoy; Redneck Woman, Gretchen Wilson, directed by David Hogan; Remember When, Alan Jackson, directed by Trey Fanjoy; Whiskey Lullaby, Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss, directed by Rick Schroder.

-Musical Event of the Year: Norah Jones with Dolly Parton, Creepin' In; Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith & George Strait, Hey Good Lookin'; James Taylor and Alison Krauss, How's the World Treating You; Kenny Chesney (duet with Uncle Kracker), When the Sun Goes Down; Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss, Whiskey Lullaby.

-Song of the Year: Live Like You Were Dying, Tim Nichols/Craig Wiseman; Long Black Train, Josh Turner; Redneck Woman, Gretchen Wilson/John Rich; Remember When, Alan Jackson; Whiskey Lullaby, Bill Anderson/Jon Randall.

Michael Moore Draws Boos at Convention

NEW YORK - Already a box office sensation, filmmaker Michael Moore got another loud reception Monday at the Republican convention. This time, it was boos.

When Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told the delegates about "a disingenuous film maker who would have us believe that Saddam's Iraq was an oasis of peace," they knew he was referring to the maker of "Fahrenheit 9-11." The film, which savages Bush's Iraq policy, has set a box office record for documentaries, grossing $115 million so far.

McCain's comments prompted prolonged booing and chants of "Four more years." Many of the delegates faced Moore, who was seated in the press seats at Madison Square Garden because he is writing a column this week for USA Today.

Moore seemed to relish the attention, thrusting his arms over his head, laughing and saying, "Two more months."

Asked about McCain's remarks, Moore said, "I can't believe they're dumb enough to bring up the film and help its box office."

Eminem Sets Nov. 16 Release for New Album

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Oscar-winning rapper Eminem will release his fourth album, to be called "Encore," on Nov. 16, his Interscope Records label said Monday.

The set will be the follow-up to 2002's "The Eminem Show," which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 9.2 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Interscope said its global sales stand at more than 19 million copies.

Because of Internet piracy, that album officially went on sale in the United States on a Sunday, nine days ahead of its originally scheduled street date.

The 2002 soundtrack to his hit film "8 Mile" also reached No. 1 on The Billboard 200. It spawned the hit "Lose Yourself," which spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and yielded an Oscar for Eminem and his two co-writers. Interscope said its global sales stand at almost nine million copies.

Although he released a new album with his group D-12 this spring, Eminem has kept a low profile over the past year. He recently announced plans to launch a hip-hop music channel with Sirius Satellite Radio, on which he will host shows with acts from his Shady Records imprint. The channel is expected to go live in the fall.

NBC's 'Pride' at Stake with New Animated Series

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Eager for new comedies to replace "Friends" and "Frasier," NBC takes a big gamble with this week's debut of a costly, computer-animated series about a sexually frisky family of talking lions in Siegfried & Roy's famed Las Vegas act.

"Father of the Pride," which premieres on Tuesday, has drawn mixed early reviews and raised advertiser eyebrows for a ribald sensibility that NBC and producers at DreamWorks describe as "edgy" but some critics see as being at odds with the show's family-friendly look.

The launch of "Pride" also comes less than a year after animal trainer Roy Horn -- depicted in cartoonish style with partner Siegfried Fischbacher -- was severely mauled by one of his tigers during a live stage performance last Oct. 3.

NBC executives acknowledge that "Pride" is a risky undertaking for the network, whose last animated show, "God, the Devil and Bob," survived less than a month in 2000.

The General Electric Co.-owned broadcaster is spending, according to the Los Angeles Times, $1.6 million per half-hour episode on the series, making it the costliest entry on its slate of new prime-time offerings.

The stakes also are high for DreamWorks, which plans to spin off its animation studio in an initial public stock offering expected this fall.

Computer-generated imagery, or CGI, has become a darling of movie audiences with box office blockbusters like DreamWorks' fairy tale satires "Shrek" and "Shrek 2." But few animated series have achieved hit status on U.S. television outside Fox, where "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" are staples.

With NBC's two marquee sitcoms -- "Friends" and "Frasier" -- having left the air in May, NBC Universal Television Group President Jeff Zucker told the Times his network is willing to take chances to score a new hit.

FRISKY FELINES

Still, the show's sometimes bawdy brand of humor has critics and Madison Avenue executives wondering whether "Pride" is tame enough for kids to watch with their parents or sophisticated enough for adults to enjoy on their own.

The debut episode features a scene in which father lion Larry, voiced by "Roseanne" star John Goodman, enthuses about getting the chance to make love to his mate, Kate (Cheryl Hines of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm") when their cubs are away.

"It may be 9 o'clock in New York, but right here it's mountin' time," he proclaims, shaking his haunches.

Larry and Kate also take it upon themselves to assist in the courtship of a pair of giant pandas (the female panda is voiced by Lisa Kudrow of "Friends").

Seeking to avoid potential complaints from parents uneasy about explaining the intricacies of animal husbandry, NBC began in mid-July advertising the show as an "adult comedy."

But Carl Reiner, the veteran writer-producer who played Alan Brady on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and co-stars on "Pride" as Larry's curmudgeonly father-in-law, dismissed suggestions that the show is too risque for family viewing.

"If children do watch it, the things that they discuss as a family of lions can easily be discussed as a family of humans," he said in a recent conference call with reporters.

Daily Variety TV critic Brian Lowry said the sexual innuendoes that fly between Larry and Kate are "not really adding much to a very old sitcom staple."

The attack on Horn forced the real-life Siegfried & Roy to close their act, but both insisted NBC go ahead with the TV show. The two are co-executive producers.

Actress Rosario Dawson Arrested at Anti-Bush March

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Actress Rosario Dawson, arrested at an anti-Bush march has been charged with two counts of disorderly conduct and the obstruction of governmental administration, officials said on Monday.

Dawson, 25, and Vija Grosgalves, 28, were filming a scene for the independent film "Medium Cool" in Manhattan on Sunday, using protests by thousands of protesters marching past Madison Square Garden as a backdrop.

Police nabbed the pair, alleging that they were "both masked" and used handkerchiefs "with only the area around their eyes showing," according to a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan Criminal Court.

City laws bar protesters from hiding their identity with masks.

When their director, Stephen Marshall, 36, showed officers that they had a legitimate film permit issued by the city, police handcuffed him, too, and hauled the three away to be processed. Police said Marshall did not have a valid permit.

The three were released early Monday after they were arraigned. They are due back in court in November. If convicted, they each face up to a year in jail at Rikers Island.

Dawson, a New York-born actress, appears alongside Colin Farrell and Angelina Jolie in Oliver Stone's upcoming costume epic film "Alexander." Her other credits include "Shattered Glass," "Men in Black II" and "The Adventures of Pluto Nash."

Thumper Returns

Buena Vista Home Entertainment has announced two big new releases today, each a classic of a different kind: a most-beloved animated perennial, and a much-maligned reimagining of a historical legend.

First up is director Antoine Fuqua's King Arthur, which will be released on December 21st in two different versions: the original PG-13 theatrical cut and a never-before-seen "hard" version that Fuqua prefers. Each will get 2.40 anamorphic widescreen transfers (the PG-13 cut will also be released in a separate full frame version with identical extras) and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks. Extras will include commentary by Fuqua, a roundtable video commentary with the cast and filmmakers, a "Knight Vision" subtitle fact track, deleted scenes, alternate ending, the "Blood on the Land: Forging King Arthur" documentary, producer Jerry Bruckheimer's photo gallery and theatrical trailers.

Buena Vista has also just announced the beloved favorite Bambi, which will hit DVD on March 1st next year. Painstakingly restored and presented in its original 1.33:1 full screen, extras include the “Walt’s Annotated Bambi" documentary, the "Disneypedia" and "Disney Time Capsule" featurettes, never-before-seen deleted scenes, the all-new "Thumper’s Storytime" short based on the Golden Book classic, a Bambi Legacy promotional gallery with stills, rare music cues, a new music video and trailers, and a Bambi II sneak peek.

Hot Shots
 
Rounding out today's news, Paramount Home Entertainment has just announced the full specs for the November 16th re-issue of the mega-hit Top Gun. This two-disc set will get the remastered anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital Surround EX and DTS 6.1 surround treatment, plus plenty of extras: audio commentary with director Tony Scott, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and screenwriter Jack Epps, six new making-of featurettes, an additional two featurettes on real pilot survival training and the original EPK, vintage Tom Cruise interviews, four music videos, a multi-angle storyboard comparison, and theatrical trailers.

Fall Flicks

The Toronto Sun rakes through the pile to pick the top 10 movies of the coming season.

Feeling dissatisfied, uncomfortable, irritated and -- let's face it -- a little gassy after this summer's slate of weak flicks? Sure, we had Spider-Man 2 and Shrek 2, and surprisingly good fare like Collateral, Napoleon Dynamite and The Bourne Supremacy.

But make no mistake: The summer movie season sucked. Suckity-suck-sucked. Virtually all of the big-buzz flicks were colossal disappointments while most of the other films were exercises in mediocrity.

Sadly, we're the bearers of more bad news: The fall movie season doesn't seem a whole lot better, and appears to have even fewer surefire hits than the summer. What it does have, though, are lots of cartoons -- and plenty of sex goddess Angelina Jolie, who appears in three of our top 10 flicks.

Hmm, maybe this fall's not so bad after all ...

10. BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON

Opens Nov. 19

- WHAT: In this sequel to the 2001 hit Bridget Jones's Diary, plump and opinionated Bridget (Renee Zellweger) is now happily married to her dream man, lawyer Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). Or is she? Many, many conflicts arise, in the form of Mark's hot new intern, the worst vacation of Bridget's life, the return of her ex-boss Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) and Bridget's discovery that Mark is -- gasp! -- a Conservative voter.

- HOT: Thankfully, most of the talent arrayed for the first flick has returned, including crack screenwriters Andrew Davies and Richard Curtis. And any excuse to add some meat to Zellweger's sinewy frame is okay by us.

- COLD: It's been years since Bridget-mania swept the nation -- and the critical reaction to this film's literary incarnation was less-than-stellar.

- WE SAY: A second helping of Miss Jones should please adult audiences -- especially all those lonely, desperate singletons. But we doubt it will be nearly as good as the original.

9. LADDER 49

Opens Oct. 1

- WHAT: When firefighter Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) gets trapped inside a burning building, he reflects on his life and marriage. Meanwhile, the other brave men from his firehall -- including father figure Chief Kennedy (John Travolta) -- try desperately to rescue him.

- HOT: With all its pyrotechnics and macho-man bonding, Ladder 49 is like a summer movie transplanted to the fall -- only, it seems, with more brains and heart; it has been a long time since we've had an honest-to-goodness firefighter flick (Backdraft, 1991).

- COLD: And it seems almost as long since Travolta has had a bona fide hit. Can we finally disassociate him from the cinematic steaming piles Battlefield Earth and The General's Daughter?

- WE SAY: Ladder 49 looks entirely predictable, but Phoenix is great in everything he does -- and that includes his summer dud The Village.

8. THE POLAR EXPRESS

Opens Nov. 10

- WHAT: In one of several high-profile animated flicks of the season, Tom Hanks lends his dulcet tones -- and body movements -- to the role of The Conductor, who's in charge of a magical train that takes kids to the North Pole. The movie uses technology called "performance capture," which computer-animates the movements of actors on bare soundstages.

- HOT: When Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis team up (Cast Away, Forrest Gump), the result usually means a big pile o' cash the two probably use to light cigars while laughing uncontrollably; Peter Scolari -- a.k.a. the less successful guy from Bosom Buddies -- is finally reunited with Hanks, playing a character likely too aptly named "Lonely Boy."

- COLD: Former Hollywood golden boy Hanks has stumbled recently -- The Ladykillers and The Terminal failed to impress audiences and critics.

- WE SAY: All aboard! But kids only -- aside from the impressive visuals, there doesn't seem to be much to appeal at an adult level, unless you still believe Santa Claus is real. And believe us, he ain't: All we got last year was a "best of" Dan Aykroyd DVD.

7. RAY

Opens Oct. 29

- WHAT: Suddenly hot actor Jamie Foxx stars as legendary soul singer Ray Charles in this biopic that covers his life from an impoverished youth to his rise to the top of the charts.

- HOT: Foxx's career is set to blast off, what with his terrific turn in this summer's Collateral and now this big, showy role as a larger-than-life icon; the lavish trailer practically screamed "For Your Oscar Consideration," as it featured great music and scenes with Charles facing his drug addiction and battling racism, etc.

- COLD: Is Foxx going to be the next Denzel Washington or the next -- dare we speaketh his unclean name -- Cuba Gooding Jr.? And is it too early to be releasing a picture based on the life of somebody who died so recently (June)? That seems so TV-movie-of-the-week.

- WE SAY: We're betting this will be a Ray of sunshine through the murk of the fall releases -- and that Foxx's stock continues to rise.

6. WIMBLEDON

Opens Sept. 17

- WHAT: In this romantic comedy/ sports movie, down-on-his-luck tennis player Peter Colt (Paul Bettany), seeded at the bottom of the rankings, somehow makes the cut at Wimbledon. There he meets hot young American tennis sensation Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst) -- and, naturally, falls in love with her. Suddenly, Peter starts playing great again -- but how long can that last?

- HOT: Wimbledon is served up to us from the fine people who made Notting Hill and Bridget Jones's Diary, which bodes very well for the quality of this flick; both Bettany and Dunst seem on the verge of big things -- so why not break out at the same time?

- COLD: Sure, it looks predictable, but what romantic comedy isn't? But tennis flicks aren't easy sells -- we're still trying to recover from Carling Bassett's 1982 grunt-a-thon, Spring Fever.

- WE SAY: Wimbledon looks like it has the potential to ace the competition -- oddly enough, experts say it's already more successful than Anna Kournikova's tennis career.

5. FINDING NEVERLAND

Opens Oct. 22

- WHAT: This is the story of eccentric Scottish playwright J.M. Barrie (Johnny Depp) and his relationship with widowed mother Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Kate Winslet) and her three young boys. Their experiences would ultimately influence Barrie's creation of Peter Pan.

- HOT: Not only is this is a Prestige movie with a capital "P," this is also a Miramax flick, meaning it's prime Oscar bait. It has an excellent pedigree, including Depp, Winslet and director Marc Forster, whose last acclaimed effort was Monster's Ball, featuring Halle Berry doing the dirty deed with Billy Bob Thornton. As Beyonce wouldn't say: Boobylicious!

- COLD: The last Peter Pan flick tanked at the box office at Christmas, leaving us wondering whether the moviegoing public gives a fig about a little boy in tights who flies around the air.

- WE SAY: Too bad this flick wasn't called Finding Neverland: The Violently Grisly Takedown Of Michael Jackson, because that's definitely something we'd be excited about. Still, if you want to see what will likely be one of the most prominent Oscar-worthy films of the year, you could do worse than check this out.

4. ALEXANDER

Opens Nov. 5

- WHAT: Oliver Stone directs this historical epic documenting the life of the Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great, who ruled most of the known world by the time he turned 30. Whereas by the time he turns 30, star Colin Farrell will have gotten drunk and passed out in most of the known world.

- HOT: His bad-boy image aside, we're anxious to see what the talented Farrell can really achieve if he actually applied himself -- and Stone may be the right director to push his buttons; the lovely Angelina Jolie stars as Olympias, Alexander's jealous mother and, we must declare, the hottest MILF in movie history.

- COLD: Anybody remember Troy, that other sword-and-sandal epic that was supposed to hack up the box office? Didn't think so.

- WE SAY: Stone seems to be the right man to make the material seem fresh -- let's just keep the conspiracy theories about the cause of Alexander's death out of it, okay?

3. SKY CAPTAIN & THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

Opens Sept. 17

- WHAT: In this fantastical sci-fi adventure set in 1930s New York, ace fighter pilot Joe "Sky Captain" Sullivan (Jude Law) and sassy reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) must rescue his sidekick Dex (Giovanni Ribisi) and missing scientists from the clutches of the evil Dr. Totenkopf (played, apparently, by long-deceased actor Laurence Olivier through archival footage). Help comes in the very curvaceous form of Capt. Frankie Cook, played by Angelina Jolie in tight outfit and eyepatch: Please put yourself in the upright position, if you know what we mean.

- HOT: The visuals are spectacularly retro-animation. Everything about this film -- from the giant robots attacking New York City to the melodramatic dialogue and music -- is like an homage to the 1930s and those old Max Fleischer Superman cartoons.

- COLD: Sure, geeks will dig it, but is this going to be another movie where it's all looks, no story? And will the idea of using Olivier -- albeit with a different actor dubbing his lines -- prove to be more offputting than inspired?

- WE SAY: This looks like the movie cheesy-serial lover George Lucas has been wanting to make all his life -- but is still incapable of even imagining. Sky Captain's visuals and cast of terrific actors make it look too good to pass up.

2. SHARK TALE

Opens Oct. 1

- WHAT: After little fish Oscar (the voice of Will Smith) takes credit for killing a great white shark, the consequences of his great white lie come catching up to him. Soon he's in trouble with the shark mafia, led by Don Lino (Robert De Niro), who's fretting about his meek, vegetarian son Lenny (Jack Black).

- HOT: In case you haven't noticed, family cartoons are all the rage these days. And while having a star cast is no guarantee of box-office success (Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas, anyone?), this kiddie flick is loaded with top-end talent, including Renee Zellweger, Martin Scorsese and -- you guessed it -- Angelina Jolie, who might as well have the word Fall '04 tattooed on her ass. Actually, it probably already is.

- COLD: Let's see ... a computer-animated movie set under the sea and featuring fish protagonists? Wasn't that called Finding Nemo? The story -- which sounds like it would probably star Matthew Perry if this were a live-action flick -- doesn't sound especially original, nor does it seem as though it would resonate emotionally like Nemo and other animated films of its ilk.

- WE SAY: Even if it isn't caviar, we're sure this fish story will be a big hit with audiences. But come on, De Niro -- get back to cursing at people and swatting them over the head with a baseball bat. Please?

1. THE INCREDIBLES

- WHAT: A family of superheroes led by Bob Parr -- a.k.a. Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) -- is called out of their self-imposed retirement in suburbia when the patriarch is summoned to a mysterious island for a top-secret mission. Too bad Mr. Incredible's Spandex tights no longer fit him the way they used to. Also too bad: Angelina Jolie doesn't make an appearance here.

- HOT: Why did this movie shoot to the top of our list faster than a speeding bullet? Because computer-animation company Pixar can do no wrong. Plus, this marks animation whiz Brad Bird's first collaboration with Pixar -- and judging by his track record (The Iron Giant, The Simpsons), we should expect something really good. And check out that cast, which also includes Holly Hunter and Samuel L. Jackson. Nelson is, fortunately, the only Coach alumnus on the roster.

- COLD: Then again, expectations may exceed what ultimately gets onto the big screen. And this is Pixar's first foray into rendering mostly human characters instead of loveable fish, wisecracking toys or fuzzy monsters, so there's an element of risk here.

- WE SAY: This flick will rule the fall season. Because if you want a movie to make a gazillion dollars, you have to make something that will appeal to families -- kids AND adults -- and get them to return to the theatre over and over again. We're certain this is one of those movies that has got that special alchemy just right.

The Who, XTC "Freak" Out

"Freaks and Geeks" finally has a soundtrack

The long-overdue soundtrack to the cancelled cult-favorite TV show Freaks and Geeks is due September 14th. Like the show, the twenty-five-track compilation is a celebration of all things late Seventies and early Eighties, featuring tracks by Rush, Styx, Joe Jackson, Joan Jett and XTC.

During its eighteen-episode run from 1999 to 2000, Freaks and Geeks (now available on DVD) frequently integrated music into scenes, most memorably when a school guidance counselor gives a captive audience of students an unwanted acoustic performance of Alice Cooper's "Eighteen" and when the parents of characters Lindsay and Sam discuss the meaning of the Who's "Squeezebox."

"We always tried to put in songs that seemed honest to what our experience was," says executive producer Judd Apatow. "One of my favorite uses of music is when Bill is home after school and his parents aren't around, and you get the sense he's a latchkey kid. He makes a grilled cheese sandwich and gets a piece of cake and a glass of milk and he watches The Dinah Shore Show and you hear the Who playing 'I'm One' as he watches Garry Shandling do stand-up comedy. He's laughing his ass off, and you realize that TV is his best friend. It's his companion."

Apatow's life was not much different. "I used to go home, watch The Mike Douglas show and eat grilled cheese sandwiches," he says. "It was an important part of my childhood, so I would try to tell those stories using the music I listened to. I would have been listening to Quadrophenia back then, so it felt right."

For the original songs performed by the characters, Apatow and Freaks and Geeks creator Paul Feig would often have the actors write them themselves -- as was the case with Jason Segal (Nick) and the cringe-inducing "Lady L."

"It is one of the worst songs ever written," says Apatow. "He barely knows how to play an instrument, but he's so talented that he could write something that funny and that bad. It was perfect, because that's what a kid would write."

Freaks and Geeks: Original Soundtrack track listing:

"Bad Reputation," Joan Jett
"Geek Hallway," Michael Andrews
"Poor Poor Pitiful Me," Warren Zevon
"Lindsay's Theme," Michael Andrews
"Keg Party Music," Michael Andrews
"Look Sharp!," Joe Jackson
"Clem's Theme," Michael Andrews
"No Language in Our Lungs," XTC
"Lindsay Disturbed Theme," Michael Andrews
"Bill Gets Funky (a.k.a. Spacefunk)," Paul Feig
"USA Rock," Michael Andrews
"The Spirit of Radio," Rush
"Daniel's Theme 2," Michael Andrews
"I'm One," The Who
"Porno Music," Michael Andrews
"Neal's Lament," Michael Andrews
"The Groove Line," Heatwave
"Ken's Ode to Joy," Michael Andrews
"Come Sail Away," Styx
"End Title Theme," Michael Andrews
"Lady L," Jason Segal
"Eighteen," Dave Gruber Allen
"Jesus Is Just Alright," Jason Segal and Sara Hagen
"Up on Cripple Creek," Dave Gruber Allen
"Dumb as a Crayon," The Leaving Trains

Coming Soon!

"The Making of Nevermind" will be released on DVD later this year. The film, part of Eagle Vision Entertainment's "Classic Albums" series, details the recording of Nirvana's breakthrough 1991 album via interviews with bandmembers and producers.

Sequel to cult classic Clerks in works

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Smith is making another convenience store run.

The writer-director of Dogma, Chasing Amy and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back told the Associated Press on Friday that he has begun work on a sequel to Clerks, his homemade indie classic from 1994.

That $27,000 movie, shot at night in a store where Smith worked, chronicled the adventures of Dante and Randal, two guys who talk about life, death, sex and movies while working at neighbouring stores.

The sequel picks up 10 years later.

"It's about what happens when that lazy, 20-something malaise lasts into your 30s. Those dudes are kind of still mired, not in that same exact situation, but in a place where it's time to actually grow up and do something more than just sit around and dissect pop culture and talk about sex," Smith said during an interview at his Hollywood office. "It's: What happened to these dudes?''

A new 10th anniversary DVD of Clerks debuts Sept. 7, and Smith said working on that three-disc set inspired him to write about what became of those characters.

The sequel — titled The Passion of the Clerks — is set to begin shooting in January. Miramax Films, which turned the original into a cult-hit after buying it at the Sundance Film Festival, plans to distribute the follow-up.

"It's funny, it's very raw, insanely foul-mouthed. In many ways it's the antithesis of Jersey Girl," Smith said, referring to his recent PG-13 comedy with Ben Affleck as the widowed father of a little girl.

Smith is also writing the screenplay for a movie version of The Green Hornet, but no longer thinks he will direct it. The Clerks movie has moved to the top of his to-do list.

He said he called Jeff Anderson, who played the combative video-store worker Randal, and Brian O'Halloran, who was the besieged-by-strangeness convenience store employee Dante, to run the idea by them first.

"Jeff was actually very protective of 'Clerks,'" Smith said. ``Jeff was like, 'Are you sure you want to do this? That movie means a lot to people and do you want to go back?' I thought about it honestly, and it would seem chicken to not give it a shot just because I'm afraid of (messing) with the first film.''

So far, he said he has gotten only positive responses from the people who have read the script, so he decided to move forward with it. Both O'Halloran and Anderson are signed on, and Jason Mewes, will return as stoner Jay, the "hetero life-mate" of Smith's stoic Silent Bob.

"I'm sure there will be naysayers who say, 'Oh my God, it's an opportunistic grab at a buck,' but it's not. We're doing it for nothing," Smith said. "We're going to do it insanely inexpensively. The budget will be somewhere between 250 grand and $5 million.''

The original was shot pre-dawn, and most of the actors worked for free and then went straight to their day-jobs with little or no sleep.

"This time around we'll afford ourselves the luxury of nice 12-hour days," Smith said. "And people can get paid.''

Graham Picks Up the Pace on 'Scrubs'

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) Heather Graham is putting the wraps on her first project as a producer, an independent film called "Cake." She worked on the movie, which she also stars in, for a couple of years and knows the material "backwards and forwards."

Now, she's filming a recurring part on NBC's "Scrubs," where relationships with scripts last a week, if that.

"It's a lot crazier," the "Boogie Nights" and "Bowfinger" star says of her first extended TV work since a stint on "Twin Peaks" in 1991. "The longest [ahead of time] I've ever gotten a script is a week before, whereas with a movie, you can get it few months before. ...

"It's a little more seat of your pants. You have to trust that you know what you're doing and just go for it -- which is kind of fun."

Graham is signed to appear in eight episodes of "Scrubs." She plays a psychiatrist who joins the staff of Sacred Heart Hospital and shakes up the lives of its staff, notably Drs. J.D. Dorian (Zach Braff) and Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke, her "Cake" co-star).

"I'm this person who understands human behavior so well, and I'm on top of it in most situations," she says of her character. "But basically my love life is really screwed up. I think I date a lot of losers who kind of torture me."

Despite that sad romantic backstory, though, Graham says she probably won't end up J.D.'s, or anyone else's, girlfriend. "When I first talked to [creator] Bill Lawrence, he said 'We really don't want to bring you on just to be a love interest. We want you to have your own full character.'"

Although Graham hadn't seen "Scrubs" prior to being offered the part, she knew of its reputation as one of the funnier shows on television. A guest appearance on FOX's "Arrested Development," which like "Scrubs" is a single-camera show with an absurdist streak, also opened her eyes to the possibilities of television.

"I just think that there are certain really great TV shows -- some of them are better than a lot of movies," she says. "I'd rather be in something where there's good material."

Graham says she's having a lot of fun on the set of "Scrubs," and she sounds as if she might be open to sticking around for more episodes if she's asked. Then again, she's found that she really enjoys being a producer as well.

"They've been very nice to me [on set], saying 'You should stay,'" she says. "It's tempting because it's so great, but I've been getting really excited about developing and producing my own things. So that's the only thing that could tear me away."

"Scrubs" begins its fourth season at 9:25 p.m. ET Tuesday, Aug. 31.

Weezer Gets Busy On Fifth Album

Weezer is more than a month into recording sessions for its long-gestating fifth studio album. After a 10-day break, the band will resume work on the set in hopes of finishing it in time for frontman Rivers Cuomo to start the fall semester at Harvard, which he last attended in 1997.

In yet another new development, producer Rick Rubin, who Cuomo credited with helping him turn a corner in his personal and professional life, has bowed out of the day-to-day work process, according to Weezer's official Web site. Work behind the boards is being handled by engineer Chad Bramford, who has worked with the band for the past several years in various capacities.

"The sessions with Rick started back in [December 2003] have been shelved in favor of the fresh start that commenced three weeks ago in the current sessions," the site says. "This was done mainly in response to Rivers regaining his sense of momentum with his songwriting, and not feeling right about continuing with the incomplete recordings from December. In effect, the band is now producing itself, as it did on [the prior albums] 'Pinkerton' and 'Maladroit,' but this time they have a wise shoulder to lean on if and when need be. So far, it's working out pretty excellently."

The site stresses the 12 "songs being recorded now are not 'brand new,' they have been worked up since early this year as demos, over the entire spring time, by Rivers. In some cases, they were developed from songs being worked on in '03, but underwent such changes as to now be totally distinct from their origins. Basically, these 12 songs are 'new', but 'new' means early and spring 2004 (not last week or whatever). Also, there is the possibility of trying some additional songs if there is time, and such material could be '04 or '03 stuff."

The as-yet-untitled set will be released by the end of the year or early 2005 via Geffen. It will be the follow-up to 2002's "Maladroit," which debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200.

'Scotty' Making Final Public Appearances

LOS ANGELES - James Doohan beamed his way through the first of a series of events honoring him in what are expected to be his final public appearances.

The 84-year-old actor who played "Scotty" on "Star Trek" laughed and smiled throughout a Hollywood tribute Saturday night featuring fellow cast members and about 600 guests.

Doohan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease several months ago and the event at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel served as a fund-raiser for an Alzheimer's research foundation.

Doohan, whose character was Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott of "Beam me up, Scotty" fame, was to appear Sunday on a stage with the entire surviving cast of the original sci-fi series, including William Shatner (Capt. Kirk) and Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock). He is getting a star Tuesday on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The events are expected to be the final public appearances for Doohan, who also suffers from Parkinson's disease (news - web sites) and diabetes.

On Saturday, Doohan was heralded by a bagpipe player and speakers included Walter Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov on "Star Trek."

'Gloria' Singer Laura Branigan Dies at 47

NEW YORK - Laura Branigan, a Grammy-nominated pop singer best known for her 1982 platinum hit "Gloria," has died. She was 47.

Branigan died of a brain aneurysm Thursday in her sleep at her home in East Quogue, said her brother Mark Branigan. He said she had complained to a friend of a headache for about two weeks before she died, but had not sought medical attention.

"Gloria," a signature song from her debut album "Branigan," stayed atop the pop charts for 36 weeks and earned her a Grammy nomination for best female pop vocalist, the first of four nominations in her career.

She also made television appearances, including guest spots on "CHiPs," and in the films "Mugsy's Girls" and "Backstage."

Branigan released seven albums after her debut "Branigan," including "Solitaire," "Self Control," and "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You," which was co-written with Michael Bolton. Her songs also appeared on soundtracks for the films "Flashdance" and "Ghostbusters."

Branigan was born July 3, 1957, and grew up in Brewster, N.Y. She attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan. During the late 1970s, she toured Europe as a backing vocalist for Canadian singer and songwriter Leonard Cohen. She signed as a solo artist with Atlantic Records in 1982.

After her run of success in the 1980s, her releases in the early 1990s attracted little attention. In 1994, she sang a duet with David Hasselhoff called "I Believe" for the soundtrack of the television show "Baywatch." She released a 13-track "Best of Branigan" LP the next year.

After the death of her husband, Lawrence Kruteck, in 1996, Branigan stopped performing but returned to the stage in 2001. In 2002 she starred as Janis Joplin in the off-Broadway musical "Love, Janis," which earned her rave reviews.

Branigan recently had been working on material for a new release.

She is survived by her mother, two brothers and a sister. Funeral services were scheduled for Monday.

Jet Li's 'Hero' Tops Box Office in Debut

LOS ANGELES - "Hero," Jet Li's acclaimed martial-arts epic, vanquished giant snakes, serial killers and a gang of superbabies to debut as the top weekend film with $17.8 million.

"Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid," a sequel to 1997's monster-serpent flick, opened in second place with $13.2 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The weekend's other new movies debuted weakly. The serial-killer tale "Suspect Zero," starring Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley and Carrie-Anne Moss, came in at No. 10 with $3.4 million.

"Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2," a follow-up to the 1999 kid flick, finished at No. 11 with $3.3 million.

The previous weekend's No. 1 movie, "Exorcist: The Beginning," tumbled to fifth-place with $6.7 million, a steep 63 percent drop from its $18.1 million debut.

Overall, the top 12 movies grossed $84.7 million, virtually unchanged over the same weekend a year ago.

With Hollywood's summer season wrapping up over Labor Day weekend, the industry will finish slightly ahead of summer 2003's revenue record of $3.9 billion. But factoring in higher admission prices, the number of tickets sold will lag a bit behind last summer's.

"Hero," nominated for the foreign-language Academy Award for 2002, is director Zhang Yimou's saga of China some 2,000 years ago. The film stars Li, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Donnie Yen, a lineup of Asian superstars that distributor Miramax calls the "`Ocean's Eleven' of Chinese films."

"It obviously hit a nerve and certainly bodes well for Chinese films and foreign-language films," said Rick Sands, chief operating officer at Miramax, which opened "Hero" in 2,031 theaters, unusually wide for a foreign-language movie. "We believed in the movie and went for it."

Presented in Mandarin with English subtitles, "Hero" twists through several retellings of an assassination plot against the ruthless leader of Qin, who seeks to subjugate China's other six kingdoms and became the land's first emperor. The stories, character motivations and even color schemes change with each retelling as the film weaves toward the ultimate truth of events.

Critics raved over the cinematography, romance, lush imagery and glorious fight sequences, whose balletic grace rivals that of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," the 2000 martial-arts hit.

"We talk about the dog days of August, but maybe these are the days of opportunity for certain types of films to do well after the blockbuster onslaught of early summer," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "This is a time when competition is a lot less fierce, and a movie like 'Hero' can take advantage of that."

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. "Hero," $17.8 million.
2. "Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid," $13.2 million.
3. "Without a Paddle," $8.7 million.
4. "Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," $8.1 million.
5. "Exorcist: The Beginning," $6.7 million.
6. "Collateral," $6.3 million.
7. "Open Water," $5 million.
8. "Alien vs. Predator," $4.8 million.
9. "The Bourne Supremacy," $4.6 million.
10. "Suspect Zero," $3.4 million.

Video Music Awards Sizzling but Shock Free

MIAMI - Holding its festivities for the first time in the city of skin, Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards was sizzling, energetic and colorful — yet tame, by MTV standards.

There were no wardrobe malfunctions. Britney didn't kiss Madonna like last year — or anyone else, for that matter (neither were at the blowout affair).

The most skin shown was from Usher, who preened in front of the camera barechested as simulated raindrops fell on his chiseled body during the opening performance.

Even the Christina Aguilera was classy, dressed sexy yet demurely as she debuted a jazzy number, "Tilt Ya Head" with rapper Nelly. And the sometimes raunchy comedian Dave Chappelle even kept it relatively clean — despite teasing that he wouldn't.

"It's the biggest mistake you made since Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl," he joked, alluding to the MTV-produced Super Bowl halftime flesh show that created a firestorm earlier this year.

There may have been plenty of sex appeal, but little shock appeal on hand, even though MTV was ready, using a several-second tape delay for the first time. (The audio delay, used for years, was in heavy use during the hip-hop medley, which featured Lil Jon, Petey Pablo and Fat Joe.)

Still, MTV provided the already broiling Miami with even more sizzle Sunday night as MTV brought its annual party known to the city for the first time in the awards' 21-year history.

The change of scenery for the awards, typically held in New York or Los Angeles, helped raise the decadence level at the already raucous, celebrity-soaked affair, held at the downtown AmericanAirlines Arena.

OutKast's vivid "Hey Ya!" — perhaps best described as the old Ed Sullivan show on acid — won four awards, including video of the year. Jay-Z's "99 Problems," the most nominated video with six, also won four. The gritty black-and-white "99 Problems," depicts his own killing as a metaphor for his much-ballyhooed retirement, which has yet to happen.

"I felt like I was trying to push the envelope," Jay-Z, dressed in a dapper white suit and hat, said as he accepted a moonman for best rap video. "That was my punishment and this is my reward."

Usher won his first moonman as he took best male video for "Yeah!"

"This is my first time coming up here — let me take my time with this," a beaming Usher said. "I'm so damned happy right now I don't wanna leave."

Later, he took a dig at Justin Timberlake, who has been touted as his rival.

"I guess there ain't really any competition between me and Justin no more, right?" he said as he picked up his second award of the night for best dance video.

As usual, the awards were an afterthought to explosive performances and surprise cameos.

Alicia Keys gave a dramatic, soulful appearance, of her hit "If I Ain't Got You," and was buoyed by Stevie Wonder on harmonica. Moments later, she joined Wonder and Lenny Kravitz as they sang a classic Wonder hit, "Higher Ground."

The daughters of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and President Bush made an appearance — the Bush daughters on videotape — to urge people to vote. Even the Rev. Al Sharpton made an appearance connected to voting — not for the election, though, but for the viewer's choice award.

Acclaimed rap newcomer Kanye West staged a dramatic version of "Jesus Walks," then instead of using a Chaka Khan sample for his hit "Through the Wire," brought the R&B veteran onstage to sing the real thing.

Perhaps the most surreal, and bizarre, performance came from the Polyphonic Spree, the twenty-something member rock choir that performed in multicolored, choirlike robes. They looked like members of a lost cult from the 1970s.

There was also an appearance by uber-twins Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Mary Kate, who recently was treated for an eating disorder, alluded to her ordeal before introducing Jessica Simpson.

"Thank you to everyone — you have been very supportive for the last couple of months," said Mary Kate.

It was one of the few subdued moments during the lavish night.

Usher and Simpson arrived on the red carpet not by car, but by luxury yacht. Simpson, glamorously attired in a white dress with a silver bodice, arrived with husband and "Newlyweds" co-star Nick Lachey in a 68-foot boat.

The biggest entrance, of course, came from P. Diddy. Dressed in a white suit and with a Mohawk haircut, he arrived in a towering yacht along with Ma$e, Naomi Campbell and Bruce Willis.

The scene outside the arena was frenzied before the show. Performers such as Ashlee Simpson and Jadakiss rocked an energetic crowd while stars walked the red carpet, showing off their fashions — or lack thereof. Lil' Kim looked anything but, as she almost busted out of the skimpy top of her flowing dress.

The awards capped what has already been a weeklong celebration in the city, as celebrities such as P. Diddy, Paris Hilton and R. Kelly held competing star-studded parties leading up to Sunday's festivities.

The show, held a day before the Republican convention was to kick off in New York City, ended on a patriotic note, as red, white and blue balloons fell from the rafters and fans held "vote" signs during OutKast's closing performance.

New Ray Charles Album Keeps His Legacy Alive

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - It's one of those situations no label would wish for.

Concord Records is about to release a star-studded duets album by Ray Charles. While the project was highly anticipated in its own right, the legendary performer's June 10 death is expected to propel the title to even greater heights.

In fact, Concord general manager Gene Rumsey believes that Charles' final album, "Genius Loves Company," could become the label's all-time best-seller.

Still, Concord resisted suggestions that it move up the release date to take advantage of the artist's passing.

"We wanted to treat this with the utmost respect," Rumsey says. "While we wanted it to be commercially successful, we agreed unanimously that we were not going to exploit anything that happened along the way."

So Concord stuck to its original Aug. 31 release date. The label is shipping 1 million units -- 700,000 domestically, with the rest going to international territories.

"We're spending millions of dollars in marketing and advertising," Rumsey says. "The $300,000 we're doing for television initially is a drop in the bucket compared to what we're going to be doing through the holidays."

CROSSING MUSICAL BORDERS

The project, distributed under Concord's new deal with Universal Music & Video Distribution, comprises duets by Charles and a host of luminaries from a cross-section of musical genres.

Concord executive VP/senior VP of A&R John Burk co-produced the album with Phil Ramone. Burk says the idea of cutting a duet set arose after Charles signed up for a Concord album last year.

"Here's a guy who had an amazingly far-reaching influence and impact on American popular music," Burk says. "He's influenced so many vocalists in so many different genres ... That segued into, 'Wow, he's a natural for a duets project."'

He adds, "Some of were really important to Ray, because they were some of the best friends that he had in life -- B.B. King and Willie Nelson and Gladys Knight fall into that category. Then there are artists on the other end of the spectrum, like Norah Jones. That came about because I was reading one of her articles early on in her career, and she cited Ray as a major influence."

Other singers appearing on the set include James Taylor, Diana Krall, Elton John, Natalie Cole, Bonnie Raitt, Michael McDonald, Johnny Mathis and Van Morrison.

STILL ON TOP

Keyboardist Billy Preston, who first performed with Charles as a teenager, plays on three of the duets. He says that though the singer/pianist was in failing health during some of the sessions, he stayed on top of the music.

"Ray was very weak at the time," Preston recalls, "but he would come back and listen to the track and see if he liked it or not. We would make adjustments to the track as he wished. He was very much actively involved."

King, one of Charles' closest friends, says the musician remained as exacting and good-humored in the studio as he was when the two cut their first session together in 1988.

King says, "The first time I recorded with him, he wanted me to do 'Save the Bones for Henry Jones.' Ray wanted to change it; he didn't want to do it the way it was written ... I couldn't ever get it right. And he said to me, 'God damn, Brother B, I thought you was a musician!"'

Sessions for "Genius Loves Company" took place at Charles' Los Angeles studio and at the Eastwood Scoring Stage on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, Calif. They lasted from July 2003 through this spring.

TEARS FROM ELTON

The last session, for the John duet "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," came in March, as Charles' health was declining.

"It was pretty awesome, and we were all deeply moved," Burk says. "People were actually crying in the control room ... Elton came back in to listen, and he started crying."

The marketplace is awaiting the release with similar emotions.

Charles' death has made his Rhino catalog releases a fixture on the Billboard Top Pop Catalog chart. This week, "The Very Best of Ray Charles" stands at No. 17 on the list with 6,000 units sold for the week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Charles' "Anthology" is at No. 34 with 5,000 units sold.

DVD Cut

After many years of waiting by Robert Altman fans, the director's last remaining epic not to get the DVD treatment is finally here.

Just announced from The Criterion Collection is a November 12th release for Short Cuts, which will get the full two-disc treatment.

Presented in a new 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 track, extras include a new "Reflections on Short Cuts" 25-minute interview with Robert Altman and Tim Robbins, the "Luck, Trust, and Ketchup: Robert Altman in Carver Country" 90-minute documentary, an isolated music score, deleted scenes, BBC TV's Moving Pictures 50-minute audio interview with Raymond Carver, an advertising gallery, theatrical trailers and a booklet reprint of Vintage Books' "Short Cuts" companion collection of short stories.

The only thing not included? The original audio commentary from the previous Criterion laserdisc.

Oh well!

Ferrell, Vaughn Join Kilborn's Farewell

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) Craig Kilborn will say goodbye to late-night TV with some of the folks who provided clip-worthy material on "The Late Late Show."

Kilborn's farewell show will air Friday (Aug. 27). "The Late Late Show" is then going into reruns for three weeks and will return in mid-September with a roster of yet-to-be-named guest hosts.

"Elf" and "Anchorman" star Will Ferrell, actor Vince Vaughn -- whose name is oft mentioned as a potential guest host -- and actress Marlee Matlin will be among Kilborn's final guests. Former Batman Adam West and Martin Mull will also join Kilborn, as will entertainer extraordinaire Wayne Newton, via satellite from Las Vegas.

Friday's show will also include highlights from Kilborn's five years on "The Late Late Show," which he took over after the departure of Tom Snyder in 1999.

Kilborn announced earlier this month that he wasn't asking for a contract renewal from CBS and Worldwide Pants, which produces the show. His departure came as something of a surprise, leading to the scramble for guest hosts.

Charlize Theron to be new face of Christian Dior's fragrance J'adore

NEW YORK (AP) - Add Christian Dior to the list of Charlize Theron fans. The company announced Thursday that the Oscar winner will be the new face of J'adore, the designer's fragrance that debuted in 2000.

Theron will start appearing in print ads and TV commercials next month -about the same time that ads for Chanel No. 5, featuring another Oscar winner, Nicole Kidman, debut.

"Ms. Theron was chosen because she represents modern femininity and embodies the spirit and energy of Dior. She is a classic beauty," said Pamela Baxter, president and CEO of LVMH Perfumes and Cosmetics, Dior's parent company.

The advertising deal with Theron is the first one between the beauty brand and a celebrity. Dior's artistic director John Galliano oversaw all aspects of the ad campaign.

Paris Hilton to Publish 198-Page Memoir

NEW YORK - Paris Hilton is trying on a new outfit: a hard cover. The model-reality TV star is publishing a 198-page memoir, "Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose," (Fireside).

Though the missing Chihuahua saga was too recent to make the book, Hilton writes about her youth as an heiress in a "really close" family. Excerpts of the book (to hit shelves Sept. 7) are printed in the Sept. 6 issue of People magazine.

"It's traditional for an heiress to be raised in a sheltered way," she writes. "No one thinks that's true of me, but it actually was."

Still, Hilton insists that she was not coddled: "The rumor is that I got a credit card at age 9, which is ridiculous. It was more like 19, and I had to get one myself without my parents."

Her "Confessions" reveal a girl not as confident as the runway model frequently seen in the tabloids. "It was so embarrassing being flat-chested that I wore padded bras til I was 17. Now, I'm happy to be small. It looks better in clothes. But back then I was really insecure."

The notorious party-girl also feels a change coming: "I don't always want the glamorous, jet-set life. Let's face it, I've done it. Someday soon, I want to have children and a big house with a lot of animals — like my parents had."

Hilton's memoirs are not without fashion tips, either. "Trust me, people act differently to you when you've got jewelry on your head."

MTV Awards May Be Toned Down

NEW YORK - In the 21-year history of MTV's Video Music Awards, viewers have been treated to some eye-popping moments — Prince's bare buttocks, Lil' Kim's sequined pasty, Britney and Madonna's steamy kiss last year.

But after the firestorm over the MTV-produced Super Bowl halftime show, in which Justin Timberlake ripped off part of Janet Jackson's costume to reveal her bare breast, might we see tamer VMAs when they air Sunday?

MTV President Van Toffler isn't promising any flesh-baring moments. But he's also not promising a Nickelodeon-friendly affair.

"You never know what they're going to do or say," Toffler said of the various artists who will converge at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, where the awards will be held for the first time. "Our audience has come to expect of MTV, and this event, very unpredictable, compelling television. That is not going to change, regardless of the Super Bowl or the kiss."

Still, there's talk of using a video delay for the first time on the live broadcast (it's had an audio delay for years).

"It simply happens when you put musicians and artists together: They don't always do want you want them to do," Toffler told The Associated Press in an interview.

That's usually the best part of the show, however. Few watch because of the awards — who can even remember last year's top winner for video of the year? (In case you forgot, it was Missy Elliott's surreal "Work It?") Instead, people watch to see Eminem threaten a sock puppet, Diana Ross fondle Lil' Kim's breast or Michael Jackson kiss then-wife Lisa Marie Presley.

"It's always a fun time, a time to relax and let loose," said Jessica Simpson, one of the performers slated for Sunday night.

Other presenters and performers include Usher, Jennifer Lopez, P. Diddy, Nelly, Christina Aguilera, Dave Chapelle, Will Smith, Hilary Duff and the Miami Heat's newest member — Shaquille O'Neal.

There will be awards to dole out — Jay-Z's gritty "99 Problems," which depicts his own killing as a metaphor for his supposed retirement, received the most nominations: six.

Other multiple nominees include his girlfriend, Beyonce, for her videos "Me Myself and I" and "Naughty Girl"; OutKast for "Hey Ya!"; and No Doubt's "It's My Life."

Usher is up for five awards. He's never won a moonman trophy, so he told the AP that a win "would mean the world. You don't win one every day, and it's very hard to get one."

But for those not nominated, it's a big party.

Traditionally, the show has been held in New York; occasionally, in Los Angeles. But for the first time, it's being held outside those two cities, in Miami. The network plans to take advantage of the beach town — celebrities will ferried to the red carpet on luxury yachts.

"Everybody's on a vacation mindset. It's going to be more of a party this time," Simpson said. "It will be nice to lay out at the pool before I perform."

There will be other changes too. There's no host, and it will be held on a Sunday, instead of the traditional Thursday night.

"There's just so much going on this summer with the conventions and the Olympics," Toffler explained. "Sunday night's a festive night over the summer."

There's usually a surprise element to the awards, in the form of a special performer or presenter. Toffler teased: "I would not be late to the show, especially in light of what happened last year," referring to the Madonna, Spears and Aguilera performance that kicked off the show and led to same-sex kissing.

Simpson says her performance will include a "pretty cool entrance." But don't expect anything shocking from her.

"I'm not good at shocking people unless I'm letting some `Chicken of the Sea' comment fly out my mouth," she said, joking about her infamous bubbleheaded comment. "I think leaving more to the imagination is better, and that's sexier to me."

Although Toffler says MTV hasn't issued any edicts to performers to be on their best behavior, he doesn't expect any Jackson-Timberlake moments at the show.

"At the end of the day, what Janet Jackson did at the Super Bowl didn't work for her, and the artists that we work with are professionals," he said.

R.E.M. Not Feeling Sunny for New 'Around the Sun'

NEW YORK (Reuters) - When R.E.M. went into the studio last year to record its 15th album, the influential rock band didn't set out to make political statements or tributes to Sept. 11 victims, but a recent first listen to "Around the Sun" revealed that is exactly what they did.

After sifting through a handful of songs ranging from rock tunes to brooding acoustic ballads, the album's mood suggested itself, the band's members told Reuters. "Around The Sun" became about "capturing the feeling of what it's like to live in America right now," guitarist Peter Buck said.

"We didn't set out to make a pointedly political record ... but to me the overwhelming feeling is sadness. Sadness for the families that have lost loved ones. Sadness for my children who have to grow up in a country where much of what we consider essential freedoms are disappearing."

The album is due in record stores on Oct. 5 in the United States and Oct. 4 internationally on Warner Brothers Records, but the band was offering an early preview to reporters late last week.

The band eliminated the harder rocking songs, making the final version a brooding affair that contains elements of every period of the band's career including the familiar 12-string guitar chimes of their early music, the acoustic ballads of "Automatic For The People" and the subtle textured sounds of their last two albums, "Up" and "Reveal."

It also contains singer Michael Stipe's most directly political lyrics to date on the song "Final Straw." "As I raise my head to broadcast my objection/As your latest triumph draw the final straw/Who died and lifted you up to perfection/And what silenced me is written into law."

The band's politics will be put into action this fall when they join Bruce Springsteen and others on the "Vote For Change" tour to benefit the liberal MoveOn political action committee.

SPEAKING OUT WITH SONGS

"Given the dire situation we find ourselves in, it was inevitable that (politics) would creep into the music," said bassist Mike Mills. "As a citizen, you have to do everything in your power to make things better, whether that's writing songs or playing the 'Vote For Change' tour."

Stipe has been ambivalent about his role. "I always believed that music and politics do not mix," he said. "It's like oil and water. There are people who write great political songs. I'm not one of them," he said. "I tried for four months not to write political songs. Finally, I gave in."

Stipe's lyrics are abstract enough to throw listeners off the scent and Mills said they remain "open to interpretation."

R.E.M. wrote many of the rules for indie rock in the 1980s with a combination of jangly folk rock, punk attitude, oblique lyrics and a stubbornly independent and tireless work ethic.

When they jumped to Warner Bros, one of the world's largest record labels, their albums got weirder, and more popular, with hits like "Losing My Religion," "Stand" and "Man On The Moon." But as the 90s wore on, their audience in the U.S. evaporated, while overseas the band's popularity grew exponentially.

It remains to be seen if "Around the Sun" can reinvigorate sales in the U.S. Each of the band's last four albums sank lower than the previous one on album charts.

Buck will not allow himself to be deluded: "I don't expect 18-year-old kids to go berserk and start dressing like us."

"Take Bob Dylan," he said. "In 1975, people thought he was going to be president. Now he plays 3,000 seat theaters. His last two records are the best things he's done in years. So I won't calculate who our audience is. I'll take whoever I can get at whatever level I can get them."

SCTV is on the air again

Shout! Factory has a second volume of Canadian Sketch Comedy on the way with SCTV: Volume 2 arriving in October.

SCTV Volume 2 picks up where the first volume left off, presenting nine more 90-minute shows from SCTV's memorable fourth season. Originally broadcast on NBC in 1981 and 1982, this set contains several of the episodes widely considered to be SCTV's best. Eugene Levy in "The Jazz Singer" or John Candy as the village idiot in the Russian TV show "Hey Giorgy!" are just two examples of the level of excellence the series achieved throughout this season. "CCCP 1," "The Godfather," "Zontar" and "Teacher's Pet" are some of the inspired wraparounds for these memorable shows.

Several featurettes are on the set including Larger Than Life: The Norman Seeff Photo Sessions, SCTV Remembers, The SCTV Writers and The Juul Haalmeyer Dancers. Also included are photo galleries.

It all arrives on October 19th!

Woo hoo!!!

Shania to release hits package

Canadian country queen Shania Twain has recorded three new tracks for a forthcoming greatest hits package, Universal Music has announced.

"Party For Two," one of the three new songs, will be the first single off the 21-track "Greatest Hits." Two versions of the single were recorded -- one with Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath, and the other with country artist Billy Currington.

The compilation is scheduled to hit Canadian stores on November 9.

Twain's last album, 2002's "Up!," spent a record 11 straight weeks on top of the Nielsen SoundScan charts.

Here's the full track listing for "Greatest Hits":

"Forever and For Always"
"I'm Gonna Getcha Good"
"UP!"
"Come On Over"
"Man! I Feel Like A Woman!"
"That Don't Impress Me Much"
"From This Moment"
"Honey, I'm Home"
"You're Still The One"
"Don't Be Stupid"
"Love Gets Me Every Time"
"No One Needs To Know"
"You Win My Love"
"I'm Outta Here"
"The Woman In Me"
"Any Man Of Mine"
"Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?"
"Party for Two' (with Mark McGrath)" (new track)
"Don't!" (new track)
"Party for Two (with Billy Currington)" (new track)
"I Ain't No Quitter" (new track)

New Tunage

Here are the new music releases for Tuesday, August 24, 2004:

BILL FRISELL Unspeakable (Nonesuch/Warner)
DAVID BYRNE Live At Union Chapel (MVA)
DAWN UPSHAW Voices Of Light (Nonesuch/Warner)
FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS Greatest Hits (Rhino)
FINN BROTHERS Everyone Is Here (Nettwerk)
GLASS TIGER No Turning Back: Glass Tiger 1985-2005 (EMI)
GUIDED BY VOICES Half Smiles of the Decomposed (Matador)
INSTRUCTION God Doesn't Care (Geffen)
JASON MRAZ Tonight Not Again: Jason Mraz Live At The Eagles Ballroom (Elektra)
JASON MRAZ Tonight Not Again: Jason Mraz Live At The Eagles Ballroom (Elektra)
JOHN BUTLER TRIO What You Want (Atlantic)
KEITH SWEAT The Best of Keith Sweat: The Video Collection (Rhino)
KELLY R Happy People/U Saved Me (Zomba)
KIDZ BOP KIDS Kidz Bop Halloween (Razor & Tie)
LAURA VEIRS Carbon Glacier (Nonesuch/Warner)
MARBLE INDEX The Marble Index (Universal Music Canada)
MASE Welcome Back (Bad Boy)
MIDTOWN Forget What You Know (Sony)
PHIL COLLINS Ballads (Warner)
RAY CHARLES OST Ray! (Rhino)
RAY CHARLES OST Ray! (Rhino)
RAY ROBINSON What It Is (Soulclap)
REED LOU NYC Man - The Greatest Hits (RCA)
TIFT MERRITT Tambourine (Lost Highway/Universal)
TIM MCGRAW Live Like You Were Dying (Curb)
VARIOUS (ANIME) Tranformers Armada: Best Of The Autobots (Rhino)
VARIOUS (ANIME) Tranformers Armada: Best Of the Decepticons (Rhino)
VARIOUS ARTISTS Disney Karaoke - Aladdin/Disney, Karaoke - Radio Disney (Disney)
VARIOUS ARTISTS Park Hyatt Chicago: On The Seventh (Milan)
VARIOUS ARTISTS Soul To Soul (MVA)
VARIOUS ARTISTS Legends Of Bluegrass (Time Life)
VOIVOD Negatron (Linus Entertainment)

The Couch Potato Report - August 24th, 2004

This week in The Couch Potato Report there are women who are enchanted, smitten and one who lives next door.

Over the last few months there have been a slew of films that have come out that have been perfect for young girls and no one else. THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN are two recent examples.

But I am happy to report that this week's first film is not only a movie that is perfect for young girls, but the rest of us can enjoy it too!

ELLA ENCHANTED is a movie where fairy tales and contemporary satire collide.

The charming and personable Anne Hathaway from THE PRINCESS DIARIES is Elle. Upon birth she receives an unfortunate gift from her fairy godmother: No matter what anyone tells her to do, she's compelled to obey.

In order to have this unfortunate gift removed, Ella must brave a forest packed with ogres, elves, and giants to find her fairy godmother, as only she - the giver of the gift - can take it back.

Sounds pretty standard, right? Well, much like the SHREK films, ELLA ENCHANTED has many modern jokes and comedic references to traditional stories.

While ELLA ENCHANTED isn't as thoroughly entertaining as either SHREK movie, I liked it a lot.

Anne Hathaway is perfectly cast, and perfectly lovely, and the supporting cast of Cary Elwes from THE PRINCESS BRIDE, Minnie Driver of GROSSE POINTE BLANK and Monty Python's Eric Idle as the narrator are all wonderful.

Yes, wonderful. That is the word I will use to describe the cast and the entire movie. ELLA ENCHANTED is wonderful.

Sadly, even though the cast of LAWS OF ATTRACTION is also wonderful, the movie itself is not.

Julianne Moore from THE HOURS and current JAMES BOND Pierce Brosnan star in LAWS OF ATTRACTION as divorce lawyers. In court they have many conflicts and when they are in Ireland they "accidentally" get married.

LAWS OF ATTRACTION doesn't have an original moment in it, but somehow Moore and Brosnan rise above the material.

As I said, the cast of LAWS OF ATTRACTION is wonderful, the movie itself is not.

The final new film this week is also less than wonderful, although the star does have some talent.

Canada's Elisha Cuthbert, from the television show 24, is THE GIRL NEXT DOOR.

In this modern day remake of RISKY BUSINESS a high school boy takes his ex-porn star neighbor to his prom.

There are some good laughs in this movie, but it just doesn't know if it wants to be a raunchy comedy or a film that teenagers can see.

That indecision stops the film in its tracks every time it starts to get going.

RISKY BUSINESS knew what it wanted to be and that is why it is a modern day classic.

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR is just a modern day release.

ELLA ENCHANTED, LAWS OF ATTRACTION and THE GIRL NEXT DOOR are all available now at your favourite local video store.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUCH POTATO REPORT

Mel Gibson's controversial, but oh so successful film THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST will debut on video and DVD. It stars Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci and tells the story of the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life.

In TWISTED Ashley Judd plays another one of her patented tough-but-misunderstood-women-who-get-into-trouble roles. This time she's a detective must solve serial killings to exonerate herself. Samuel L. Jackson and Andy Garcia co-star.

And

Star Trek nerds unite! STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON features all 29 first-run episodes, and a starship full of extras, on eight discs.

Oh yeah!!

I'll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.

For now, that's this week's COUCH POTATO REPORT.

Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next week on The Couch!

Weezer Scrap Rubin Tracks

Band begins recording fifth album fresh

Weezer have scrapped the sessions they recorded in December with producer Rick Rubin (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jay-Z, Johnny Cash) for their fifth album and have started again fresh. With help from engineer Chad Bamford, the band has been recording since July and hopes to finish before frontman Rivers Cuomo returns to Harvard University next month. The band hopes to release the album, the follow-up to 2002's Maladroit, late this year or early next year.

Rubin has not been part of the "day to day action" for the new sessions, according to the band's official site, but he is serving as an advisor. "[Rick] has become more of a 'mentor' figure," reads a post. "He had a tremendous impact on Rivers and the band in '03, helping re-organize the band's then-somewhat confused recording priorities, and being a wonderful and positive influence on Rivers, helping him 'find his way' both personally and in songwriting again."

In an email exchange with Rolling Stone, Cuomo declined to elaborate on the decision to start recording anew, writing that he was not in the "right mind-mode to speak right now."

On Monday, Cuomo posted two solo covers on his personal Web site (riverscuomo.com). Cuomo's take on Harry Nilsson's pop classic "Without You" and Francoise Hardy's "Je Changerais" were recorded in February 2003. "I don't speak French so I have no idea what I'm saying," Cuomo says of the latter. "I just transcribed the words phonetically."

Beasties Sign On For Benefit, Expand Tour

The Beastie Boys and De La Soul will hook up this weekend for a rare club show to benefit HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. The MTV2 Presents: A LIFEbeat Benefit will take place Saturday (Aug. 28) at the Miami's South Beach nightclub Crobar. The bill will also feature DJ Am and DJ Samantha Ronson.

Tickets for the event will be available tomorrow (Aug. 26) at MTV's VMA Take Over and Friday and Saturday at the VMA Block Parties, events tied to the music channel's annual Video Music Awards, which are set for Saturday at Miami's American Airlines Arena. Tickets will also be available via Wanttickets.com.

General admission tickets will sell for $35, while VIP seats will net $150. Platinum VIP tickets, which include a MTV2 VMA gift bag, will cost $250. Proceeds will benefit LIFEbeat.

The LIFEbeat concert will precede the kick-off of the Beastie Boys' tour in support of their latest album, "To the 5 Boroughs" (Capitol). The run is set to launch Sept. 9 at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Col., with dates being confirmed in sporadic blasts.

At deadline, dates stretch through Oct. 23 in Dallas, with a gap in the schedule between a Sept. 20 Vancouver date and an Oct. 9 gig in Fairfax, Va. Talib Kweli will support.

Released in July, "To the 5 Boroughs" debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200. The group's first album in more than five years has sold 874,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Here are the Beastie Boys' confirmed tour dates:

Aug. 28: Miami (Crobar; LIFEbeat benefit)
Sept. 9: Morrison, Col. (Red Rocks Amphitheatre)
Sept. 11: San Diego (Cox Arena)
Sept. 13: Universal City, Calif. (Universal Amphitheater)
Sept. 14: Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Arena)
Sept. 16-17: San Francisco (Bill Graham Civic Auditorium)
Sept. 19: Seattle (Key Arena)
Sept. 20: Vancouver (Pacific Coliseum)
Oct. 8: Fairfax, Va. (Patriot Center)
Oct. 9: New York (Madison Square Garden)
Oct. 11: Philadelphia (Wachovia Center)
Oct. 15: Duluth, Ga. (The Arena at Gwinnett Center)
Oct. 16: New Orleans (Voodoo Music Experience)
Oct. 18: Sunrise, Fla. (Office Depot Center)
Oct. 19: Tampa, Fla. (St. Pete Times Forum)
Oct. 22: Austin, Texas (Frank Erwin Center)
Oct. 23: Dallas (American Airlines Center)

Scientists pick Blade Runner as their favourite film; Asimov their top author

LONDON (AP) - A newspaper survey of top scientists has chosen Blade Runner as the world's best science fiction film.

The 1982 movie was the favourite when 60 scientists were questioned by the Guardian, including evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker, the newspaper reported Wednesday. In the film, a retired cop played by Harrison Ford hunts down renegade human replicates in a dark futuristic vision of Los Angeles.

Stephen Minger, a stem cell biologist at King's College, London, said Blade Runner was the best movie he had ever seen.

"It was so far ahead of its time and the whole premise of the story -what is it to be human and who are we, where we come from. It's the age-old questions," he said.

Stanley Kubrick's epic, 2001: A Space Odyssey, came in a close second, followed by the first two films of George Lucas's Star Wars trilogy: Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.

The others chosen, in descending order, were Alien, Solaris (1972), Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Day the Earth Stood Still, War of the Worlds, The Matrix, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Asked to pick their favourite authors, the scientists chose: Isaac Asimov (I, Robot); John Wyndham (Day of the Triffids and Chocky); and Fred Hoyle (The Black Cloud).

The other writers chosen, in descending order, were Philip K. Dick, H.G. Wells, Ursula Le Guin, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, Frank Herbert and Stanislaw Lem.

Tarantino and Latifah Meet the Muppets on ABC

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) Quentin Tarantino is an Oscar-winning writer-director, Ashanti is a Grammy winning singer and Queen Latifah has both a Grammy and an Oscar nomination, but for all of their accolades, these three stars really just want to work with the Muppets.

Ashanti is signed, Latifah is in negotiations and Tarantino is set to make a guest appearance in ABC's original telefilm "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz."

Airing as part of ABC's venerable Wonderful World of Disney franchise, "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" will star Ashanti ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") as Kansas-based Dorothy Gale, an aspiring performer stuck working at her Auntie Em's (Latifah) diner.

A twister whisks Dorothy off to a Muppet-filled world, where she makes pilgrimage to Oz with a Scarecrow (Kermit the Frog), a Tin Man (Gonzo the Great) and a Lion (Fozzie the, well, Bear). Thwarting Dorothy's mission home is the Wicked Witch (Miss Piggy).

Tarantino will make a guest appearance as the film's director, coaching Kermit through an action scene.

"I'm beside myself to have these mega-talented actresses, Ashanti and Queen Latifah, and Quentin Tarantino's involvement is an example for something the Muppets have done really well -- breaking the fourth wall," ABC movies and miniseries chief Quinn Taylor tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Muppet veteran Kirk R. Thatcher (2002's NBC pic "Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie") will direct the Frank Baum adaptation, which will feature songs, but won't officially be a musical. Lisa Henson and Brian Henson will executive produce for the Jim Henson Co.

Disney acquired rights to the Muppets in February, but development on this project began at Jim Henson Co. and ABC before that time. Originally the project was set up at Fox TV Studios.

THE ULIMATE MATRIX

December 7 is the release date set for a 10-disc DVD box set containing all three MATRIX movies, as well THE ANIMATRIX and THE MATRIX REVISITED. The box set is called THE ULTIMATE MARTIX COLLECTION and will retail for $80. The limited edition set will also include a 80-page booklet and a Neo figurine, and will run $130 and be released the same day.

JEDI MINDTRICKS?

Star Wars fansite TheForce.net reporting that employees of George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic were required to sign non-disclosure agreements promising not to talk about the possibility of a trilogy sequel. Lucas has previously said he's closing down the franchise after the prequels.

It's Deja View All Over Again on TV

LOS ANGELES - Broadcast networks are in big trouble this season if federal regulators add being derivative to the list of TV trespasses. Networks are copying their own series, sometimes with a third or fourth edition ("CSI," "Law & Order") or putting on shows that have the whiff of copycat about them ("The Contender" vs. "The Next Great Champ").

Television is used to milking ideas for all they're worth, but the trend is nearly overwhelming in the 2004-05 season — nearly, but not quite.

There are a few wayward and promising originals, including ABC's suburban satire "Desperate Housewives"; CBS' coming-of-age baseball drama "Clubhouse"; the WB's "Jack & Bobby," about a future U.S. president's youth, and NBC's animated Siegfried & Roy comedy "Father of the Pride."

Mostly, however, viewers will get what's been proven to work because networks figure playing it safe is the sanest course of action.

"The networks will continue to create similar shows or variations of franchises as long as the audience continues to watch," said industry analyst Bill Carroll of Katz Television Group.

Since people flock to CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "CSI: Miami," give 'em "CSI: NY." Or a fourth "Law & Order, coming midseason. Or two more reality series in which rich guys spread the wealth in the tradition of NBC's hit "The Apprentice" ("The Benefactor," "The Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best").

After all, one of the best characterizations of the medium, right behind Newton Minow's "vast wasteland," is the late satirist Fred Allen's assertion that imitation is the sincerest form of television.

There's deja vu in casting as well, with familiar TV faces in new places, among them Rob Lowe ("The West Wing") in "dr. vegas"; Neal McDonough ("Boomtown") and Kelli Williams ("The Practice") in "Medical Investigation," and John Goodman ("Roseanne"), Jean Smart ("Designing Women") and Ed Asner (news) ("Lou Grant") in "Center of the Universe."

(Heck, even "Jeopardy!" is bringing back last season's ongoing champion, Ken Jennings, when the syndicated game show returns in September.)

The goal for networks is to keep their footing in the unending battle against cable TV's innovative, often racy programming which broadcast can match in only a pallid fashion.

If it tries to do more than that, the Federal Communications Commission is waiting to enforce indecency regulations — now even more vigorously since Janet Jackson's Super Bowl exposure.

Broadcasters may need a laugh but they're not searching for comfort in comedy. A paltry seven new sitcoms are debuting, making an already drama-heavy schedule even more so. All told, the six networks will field up to 49 dramas by the first quarter of 2005, compared to some 37 comedies.

For the first time in two decades, NBC won't have four sitcoms on Thursday night. It will have "Joey," the "Friends" spinoff starring Matt LeBlanc and one of the season's high-profile newcomers.

Another season hallmark is the sizable number of new reality shows — six — and their introduction at the season's start. This year, they're not second-string substitutes for failed dramas and sitcoms.

The result: an extreme, if gradual, makeover.

"Comedy and newsmagazines are pushed out by the influx of reality shows — or infestation," said Shari Anne Brill, an analyst with the ad buying firm Carat USA.

Advertisers welcome the shows because they attract younger viewers but don't like how they play havoc with marketing plans when abruptly tossed on the air, said TV analyst Stacey Lynn Koerner of Initiative Media.

"There's nothing more irritating to an advertiser to be told you're scheduling a scripted series and then you change it to a reality series," she said, because the audience shift has a ripple effect across the dial.

Order is relative, however. The tradition of all shows debuting in the same fall week has been upended despite the season's official Sept. 20 start date.

Fox, accommodating the interruption caused by its postseason baseball coverage, is moving to year-round scheduling. It already debuted a trio of series ("North Shore," "Quintuplets" and "Method & Red") in June.

WB had its own summer rollout in July with "Studio 7" and "Blue Collar TV."

NBC, seeking to capitalize on its new series promos during the Olympic Games (news - web sites), is introducing part of its schedule immediately after the Games wrap up Sunday.

Now, let the Network Games begin.

Bon Jovi Empties Vaults for Boxed Set

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Bon Jovi is raiding its vaults for a boxed set boasting three discs of previously unreleased material, a disc of previously released rare tracks and a DVD of unseen film and video footage.

The package, dubbed "100 Million Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong," is due out Nov. 16 via Island Records.

Among the vault tracks set for inclusion are "Gotta Have a Reason," "Why Aren't You Dead?" and "One to Say Goodbye." The set will also revive such cuts as "Real Life" (from the 1999 "EDTV" soundtrack), "Good Guys Don't Always Wear White" (from the 1994 "The Cowboy Way" soundtrack), the B-side "Temptation" and a demo of the 1994 No. 4 pop hit "Always" will also be featured.

The liner notes for "100 Million" will be bolstered with reminiscences from fans, which the band is soliciting via e-mail at tellus@bonjovi.com.

'Exorcist' Scares Up No. 1 Slot at Box Office

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Exorcist: The Beginning," a film that had to be re-shot with a new director because the first version was not scary enough, led the North American box office over the weekend, as moviegoers once again flocked to the resurrection of an aging franchise.

According to studio estimates issued on Sunday, the fourth installment in the 30-year-old "Exorcist" series sold about $18.2 million worth of tickets in the three days since its Aug. 20 opening.

Another new entry, the comedy "Without a Paddle," launched at No. 2 with $13.2 million. The teen romance "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" slipped to No. 3 with $13.2 million in its second weekend.

Last week's champ, the monster saga "Alien vs. Predator," combining the characters from two tired movie series, fell to No. 4 with $12.5 million.

The shark thriller "Open Water" jumped 12 places to No. 5 with $11.8 million in its first weekend of wide release. Also expanding this weekend was the quirky drama "Garden State," which rose three places to No. 10 with $3.2 million.

Sales for the top 12 films totaled $102.9 million, according to tracking firm Exhibitor Relations. The figure represented a 16 percent decline from last weekend, but a 21 improvement over the year-ago period, when "Freddy vs. Jason" -- yet another horror franchise combo -- ruled for a second weekend with $13 million.

"Exorcist" stars Stellan Skarsgard as titular hero Father Merrin, who uncovers mysterious goings-on while drifting through Cairo in 1949 in an alcoholic haze. The film was originally shot by Paul Schrader, the "Taxi Driver" screenwriter who left the project a year ago after turning in an edit not to the liking of its producers. Finnish filmmaker Renny Harlin ("Cliffhanger") was then hired to start afresh. His version cost about $20 million to make.

The opening was better-than-expected, according to Dan Fellman, president of distribution at Warner Bros Pictures, a unit of Time Warner Inc., which is handling the film's release for a fee on behalf of producer Morgan Creek Prods.

"Without a Paddle" also exceeded the modest expectations of its distributor, Paramount Pictures. The film stars Matthew Lillard, Dax Shepard and Seth Green as three urban adventurers who get into trouble with wacky locals while on a rafting expedition. It cost less than $20 million to make, said a spokeswoman for the Viacom Inc. -owned studio.

After 12 days, Walt Disney Co. 's "Princess Diaries" sequel has hauled in about $61.4 million. Anne Hathaway returns as a modern-day princess who must find a consort in order to secure her succession to a mythical kingdom.

"Alien vs. Predator" has earned $63.1 million after 10 days. Its precipitous 67 percent drop was the steepest in the top 10, but not surprising for a genre film that had a big $38 million opening. The film was released by Twentieth Century Fox, a unit of News Corp.'s Fox Entertainment Group Inc .

"Open Water," loosely based on the true story of two divers accidentally left behind in shark-filled waters by their tour operator, has earned $14.8 million after three weekends. It was released by Lions Gate Films, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp, which acquired the film for a little over $2 million at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. It cost under $500,000 to make.

"Garden State," the writing and directing debut of its star, Zach Braff (of NBC's "Scrubs"), has earned about $6.7 million after four weekends. It was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures, the arthouse arm of Fox Entertainment.

Munch Paintings Stolen From Norway Museum

OSLO, Norway - Armed men stormed into an art museum Sunday, threatened staff at gunpoint and stole Edvard Munch's famous paintings "The Scream" and "Madonna" before the eyes of stunned museum-goers.

The thieves yanked the paintings off the walls of Oslo's Munch museum and loaded them into a waiting car outside, said a witness, French radio producer Francois Castang.

Police spokeswoman Hilde Walsoe said the two or three armed men threatened a museum employee with a handgun to give them the two paintings, including one of four versions of "The Scream" — Munch's famed depiction of an anguished figure with its head in its hands.

"No one has been physically injured, and the suspects escaped in an Audi A6. We are searching for the suspects with all available means," Walsoe told The Associated Press. "We found the escape car, and we have found many pieces of the frames."

Many museum visitors panicked and thought they were being attacked by terrorists.

"He was wearing a black face mask and something that looked like a gun to force a female security guard down on the floor," visitor Marketa Cajova told NTB public radio.

"What's strange is that in this museum, there weren't any means of protection for the paintings, no alarm bell," Castang told France Inter radio.

"The paintings were simply attached by wire to the walls," he said. "All you had to do is pull on the painting hard for the cord to break loose — which is what I saw one of the thieves doing."

Castang said police arrived on the scene 15 minutes later. Visitors were ushered into the museum's cafeteria.

"We don't have all the details on the situation, but we are searching for the suspects in the air and on land," Police Spokesman Kjell Moerk told the public radio network NRK.

The stolen "Madonna" was painted in 1893-1894, depicting an eroticized madonna with a blood-red halo in a dark, swirling aura. Munch later produced woodcut lithographs with a similar depiction.

There are four versions of "The Scream." The Munch Museum had two of them, a private collector owns the third and the fourth is on display at Oslo's National Gallery.

"They were all painted by Munch, and they are all just as valuable," museum spokeswoman Jorunn Christoffersen told the AP. "Still, these paintings are not possible to sell, and it is impossible to put a price tag on them."

It was the second time in 10 years that "The Scream" has been stolen. In February 1994, the version on display at Oslo's National Gallery was taken and remained missing for nearly three months. Police ultimately recovered the work, which is on fragile paper, undamaged in a hotel in Asgardstrand, about 40 miles south of the capital, Oslo. Three Norwegians were arrested.

At the time, investigators said the trio tried to ransom the painting, demanding $1 million from the government. it was never paid.

Munch, a Norwegian painter and graphic artist who worked in Germany as well as his home country, developed an emotionally charged style that was of great importance in the birth of the 20th century Expressionist movement.

He painted "The Scream" in 1893, as part of his "Frieze of Life" series, in which sickness, death, anxiety and love are central themes.

The National Art Museum owns 58 paintings by Munch, who died in 1944 at the age of 81.

'Spider-Man 2' Heads for Home Video Release

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Blockbuster comic book adventure "Spider-Man 2," one of the year's highest-grossing movies, is headed for a home video release on Nov. 30, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment said on Friday.

The superhero sequel with Tobey Maguire returning as the mild-mannered photographer turned web-spinning crime fighter will be issued in time for the holiday shopping season as a two-disc DVD set and double VHS cassette video, Columbia said.

"Spider-Man 2" has generated $361 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales since its release June 29, making it the third-highest-grossing film in North America this year after "Shrek 2" and "The Passion of the Christ."

The critically lauded "Spidey" has grossed more than $700 million in theaters worldwide. Kirsten Dunst co-stars as Spider-Man's love interest, Mary Jane Watson, and Alfred Molina plays his evil arch foe, Doctor Octopus.

The DVD release will contain more than 10 hours of all-new content. Bonus features include a blooper reel, a "Spidey Sense 2" trivia track, four original online featurettes, a documentary on the making of the film, and a multi-angle, behind-the-scenes look at the climatic fight sequence between Spider-Man and Doc Ock. A wide-screen version also will be available on DVD.

Columbia TriStar, a unit of Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures Entertainment, said it expects sales of its "Spider-Man 2" DVD release to surpass home video revenues from the first film. The original 2002 movie initially shipped 6.5 million VHS tapes and 19.5 million DVD copies for gross revenues of $423 million combined, according to Adams Media Research .

DVDs in particular now constitute a key market for movie studios, generating annual revenues of more than $16 billion worldwide.

'Twin Peaks' Star Does 'ER' Rotation

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) Madchen Amick, a former star of "Twin Peaks," will check into NBC's "ER" this season.

Amick will have an extended recurring role on the long-running medical drama, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She'll play a social worker who encounters Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle) at County General and becomes involved romantically with him.

This spring, she starred with John Stamos in a comedy pilot that picked up for midseason. It's unclear whether her commitment to "ER" will affect her role on the ABC show.

Amick played waitress Shelly Johnson on "Twin Peaks," David Lynch's surreal early-'90s ABC drama, and its feature-film prequel "Fire Walk with Me." Her credits also include "Sleepwalkers" and recurring parts on "Gilmore Girls" and "Dawson's Creek."

In other medical-show casting news, Justin Chambers ("The Musketeer," "Hysterical Blindness") has joined ABC's midseason drama "Grey's Anatomy." He'll play a new intern and potential love interest for series star Ellen Pompeo.

Van Halen Slugs Orioles With $2M Suit

Van Halen is suing the Baltimore Orioles for at least $2 million in damages, charging that the Major League Baseball team reneged on an offer for the band to play a concert Sept. 2 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

The suit -- filed Aug. 10 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles -- states that Orioles director of entertainment Don Mark, under the instruction of Orioles owner Peter Angelos, first contacted Van Halen's reps at the William Morris Agency in mid-April about playing at the stadium. According to the suit, "Van Halen was ambivalent about playing at the time requested by the Orioles," because the band would be performing in the southern United States, and playing Baltimore would "necessitate changing the tour routing previously planned."

The suit also notes that Van Halen was at the time engaged in a tour of mostly arenas, but "the Orioles insisted that they could more than compensate Van Halen for the expense and inconvenience scheduling the concert would cause."

According to court papers, the Orioles around April 27 made an offer in writing for $1 million, which the band rejected. The Orioles came back with an offer of $1.5 million, plus 80% of ticket revenues and 80% of gross merchandise revenues. Also included was a budget for expenses and a non-compete provision that prohibited Van Halen from performing in other venues in the vicinity of Baltimore.

The papers say that after numerous communications between the parties, Van Halen accepted the offer in mid-June. The band began making preparations for a Sept. 2 concert at Oriole Park; Van Halen claims it terminated any efforts to book another venue in the area, changed the dates of other scheduled concerts and did not pursue other opportunities.

The suit says that the Orioles in mid-July "repudiated the agreement, first by refusing to communicate or cooperate with Van Halen, and then expressly in a letter dated July 26 ... refusing to perform its obligations thereunder."

Mark tells Billboard.biz he had "no comment whatsoever" on the Van Halen situation. Van Halen attorney Howard E. King of King, Holmes, Paterno & Berliner in L.A., also declined to comment.

Van Halen's North American tour continues. A DVD of the 1986 concert film "Live Without a Net" arrives Sept. 14 via Warner Strategic Marketing.

KISSING star in ABC’s SCRIPT

KISSING JESSICA STEIN scribe and star Jennifer Westfeldt has sealed a deal with ABC to star in a one-hour drama project for the network. SCRIPT will be created and written by Westfeldt and her sister, Amy, and the story will be based on Westfield’s experiences as a reporter in New York.

Regis Sets World Record for Most TV Hours

NEW YORK (AP) — Regis Philbin has lived a lifetime on television. Logging 15,188 hours on the tube has yielded the talk show host fame, fortune, and now a place in the record books.

Friday's broadcast of "Live with Regis and Kelly" gives Philbin the Guinness World Record for most hours on camera. The talk show host passes broadcaster Hugh Downs for the record, as calculated by Guinness World Records researcher Stuart Claxton.

"Now it's all a big blur," Philbin told the Associated Press on Thursday as he looked back on his career that began as a San Diego news anchor in 1958. "When you look back that's a lot of hours on TV."

With now officially the longest resume in television, Philbin wonders, "You'd think it might make me better, but I don't know."

Philbin, who will turn 73 next week, has hosted the nationally syndicated "Live" in all 16 of its seasons — now with Kelly Ripa, and previously with Kathy Lee Gifford. In his 46 year career he has hosted numerous news and entertainment shows, as well as the hit prime-time ABC game show, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"

Of all the experiences, Philbin most remembers the interviews of other talk show hosts — people, he says, "that do what I do. People like Jack Paar, Steven Allen, Merv Griffin, Johnny Carson, David Letterman that know what being a talk show host is about."

Clearly all the years on TV are not a total blur — one evening broadcast from the 1950s still sticks in Philbin's memory. While doing the evening news in San Diego, Philbin and his fellow broadcasters were laughing together at a show that preceded the broadcast called, "The Big Party." When 11:00 p.m. came, Philbin was unable to control his still bubbling laugh as he was thrust into reading the headlines of the day, which began with a train wreck in the Italian Alps that killed 117.

"That is the nightmare that I remember," Philbin says with a grimace.

But the nightmares have been few for the energetic talk show host, whose record of on camera hours will only grow. He currently has two years left on his contract to host "Live."

One untelevised performance Philbin has uncoming is "roastmaster" at the Friar's Club Oct. 15 roast of real estate mogul turned TV star Donald Trump. Philbin says he may have to defend his friend from the onslaught of comedians, a suspicion concurred by Friars Club Dean Freddie Roman:

"Given the size of Trump's ego, we will be lucky to be done by Christmas."

'Exorcist,' 'Paddle' Battle for Late-Summer Scraps

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - As far as the box office is concerned, summer's over.

Neither of this weekend's two wide arrivals, the Paramount Pictures comedy "Without a Paddle" and Warner Bros. Pictures' "Exorcist: The Beginning," is likely to reach the heights typical of summer openers. Insiders forecast they will each earn in the low-teen millions for the three-day frame.

That means 20th Century Fox's "Alien vs. Predator" could rank No. 1 for a second weekend, even though it's expected to lose 60% of its audience. The double-franchise thriller, which scored $38.2 million in its opening frame, is likely to gross in the $13 million-$15 million range.

Meanwhile, Disney's "The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement," which bowed in No. 2 with $23 million last weekend, should take in $11 million-$13 million this time.

If there is a glut in the weekend's fare, it's the number of films targeting young males. "AVP" brought in droves of them last weekend, with its audience comprising 70% males. This weekend, those fans will be courted by both Renny Harlin's "Exorcist" prequel and the goofball comedy "Paddle," starring Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, Dax Shepard and Burt Reynolds.

For the R-rated "Exorcist," which will bow in 2,803 theaters, Warners is counting on a tremendous U.S. fan base that has found the original "Exorcist" from helmer William Friedkin to be one of the scariest horror films of all time. First released in 1973, then reissued in 2000 in a director's cut, the original "Exorcist" has grossed $232.7 million in its lifetime. Starring Stellan Skarsgard as Father Merrin, the prequel centers on his first encounter with the demon Pazuzu.

The film was originally directed by Paul Schrader ("American Gigolo"), but that version was scrapped after Morgan Creek Prods. judged that it wasn't scary enough. Both versions of the film are expected to be included in the DVD release.

Paramount's "Paddle," bowing in 2,730 theaters with a PG-13 rating, is targeting young males with its three comedic leads facing off against the forces of nature on a camping trip gone bad. The film was directed by Steven Brill, who helmed the Adam Sandler films "Little Nicky" and "Mr. Deeds."

Another contender is Lions Gate's expansion of "Open Water." Advertised as the scariest shark film since "Jaws," "Water" expands to 2,709 theaters this weekend. The low-budget film has made $2.5 million since it opened in 47 theaters two weeks ago and is hoping to capitalize on the buzz about its harrowing tale of two stranded scuba divers.

Fox Searchlight's "Garden State" also widens Friday. The indie fave from actor-writer-director Za