Rocky Balboa plays to the final bell
Never count Rocky out. The sixth and final Rocky film Rocky Balboa is coming to DVD and Blu-Ray in March from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Rocky Balboa has now been retired for some time, but hard-up for money, he decides to step back into the ring against a few small-time boxers.
Everything changes, though, when Rocky is offered the opportunity to step in with the reigning Heavyweight Champion, Mason “The Line” Dixon. Does Rocky still have what it takes to make another Championship comeback?
The DVD will contain bloopers, deleted scenes including an alternate ending, an audio commentary with Stallone and the featurettes Skill vs. Will: The Making of Rocky Balboa, Reality in the Ring: Filming Rocky's Final Fight and Virtual Champion: Creating the Computer Fight.
The DVD and Blu-Ray both arrive on March 20th with suggested retail prices of $28.95 and $38.96 respectively.
'Battlestar' will be back for a fourth season.
For a while, things looked iffy for "Battlestar Galactica." After the Sci Fi Channel last month moved the third-season drama about a human resistance movement against an occupying race of robots from Friday nights to Sunday nights in an attempt to goose ratings, viewership remained stagnant.
The network has ruled, however, that the show won't live by numbers alone: The Sci Fi Channel is expected to announce Tuesday that it has renewed the series for a fourth season. At least 13 new episodes will be produced this summer for a premiere next January.
The show's audience has always been modest, especially when compared with those for basic cable's "The Closer" and "Nip/Tuck," which typically reach double or triple the audience of "Battlestar Galactica." Since moving to 10 p.m. Sundays, the science-fiction show's episodes have averaged 1.7 million viewers overall and 1.1 viewers ages 18 to 49, the key demographic targeted by advertisers.
But "Battlestar Galactica" stands as one of the most critically acclaimed series on television. It also won the prestigious Peabody Award and was counted among the American Film Institute's top 10 outstanding TV programs two years in a row. Critics often describe the show in lofty terms, referring to it as a multilayered allegory for a post-9/11 world that raises questions about the ethics and politics of war.
The Sci Fi Channel cites the series' strong buzz and critical praise — a halo effect that can't be quantified in ratings points or ad dollars — as the reason for its renewal.
" 'Battlestar' is a cachet show. It gives us a lot of credibility with the creative community," said Mark Stern, head of programming for the cable network. "It's the kind of series we want to continue producing in the future."
Once known for its "Star Trek"-style space operas and Saturday night B movies, Sci Fi now boasts projects in development from George Clooney, Darren Star ("Sex and the City") and Mark Burnett ("The Apprentice"), in addition to a second miniseries for the channel from Steven Spielberg, who was the executive producer of "Taken" in 2002.
Stern also pointed out that 510,000 additional viewers in the 18-to-49 demographic are watching the show on digital video recorders. They bring the total demographic average closer to 1.6 million, the show's highest numbers since Season 1.
Advertisers, however, do not yet pay for the playback ratings because the general assumption is that viewers watching recorded programs fast-forward through the commercials. It could be a crucial point for the channel, and Stern is hopeful that the business model is shifting.
"Who knows? This upfront season you might find that we can monetize that DVR usage," he said. "The important thing is when you add in the DVR numbers, the audience is there."
Bringing back moderately rated, critically hailed series has largely been the privilege of subscription-based networks such as HBO and Showtime, which don't make money from advertisers.
The Sci Fi Channel acknowledged that "Battlestar Galactica" is the network's most expensive original series, but costs are also offset by strong DVD sales (more than 1 million discs of the show have been sold).
Either way, executives and producers say they are comfortable with where the ratings have settled.
"The show is always going to be limited [in appeal] by its title," said executive producer David Eick. "We just tell the best stories we can and hope that it will convince some people it's not a show just for 'Star Trek' fans." Ronald D. Moore, the executive producer who developed the remake of the 1978 series, and Eick are busy working on outside projects (Moore is writing a remake of the sci-fi thriller "The Thing" for Universal Pictures, while Eick is producing the NBC series pilot for "The Bionic Woman"), which gave some fans pause for concern.
Moore said with a laugh: "I don't think we ever doubted doing another season. I design my season-ending cliffhangers with the hubris that we'll be back."
Moore and Eick recently confirmed rampant online speculation that by the end of the season, one of the main characters would be revealed as a Cylon, the robotic race set on wiping out its human counterparts.
Moore said that he had a general idea of where the story would go in the fourth season but hadn't committed anything to paper. He and Eick went to Las Vegas over the weekend to get started.
"We'll hash it out over blackjack and Jack Daniels," Eick said. "We came up with the second season cliffhanger over a Johnny Walker Blue." The season finale airs March 25.
New Releases, February 13: Lucinda Williams, Van Morrison & Doctor Who!!
Lucinda Williams "West"
Williams, one of the most highly acclaimed songwriters of modern times, releases the follow-up to 2003's Grammy-nominated "World Without Tears." "West," the singer's eighth release, was co-produced by Williams and Hal Wilner (Lou Reed).
Notable contributors to the album include jazz guitar great Bill Frisell and Williams' longtime guitarist Doug Petibone. The first single is "Are You Alright."
The Louisiana native is currently on a short tour in support of the album, which stretches through a March 30 date in Nashville.
* * *
Van Morrison "At the Movies: Soundtrack Hits"
This 19-track collection reads pretty much like a greatest-hits set. The catch, as one can easily discern from the title, is that these are all Morrison songs that were featured in films.
The record includes such Van the Man staples as "Gloria," "Domino," "Wild Night," "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Into the Mystic." It also features Morrison's collaboration with Roger Waters on Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb," recorded live at the Berlin Wall in 1990 and featured in Martin Scorsese's Oscar-nominated "The Departed."
* * *
Gerald Levert "In My Songs"
"In My Songs" serves as the final farewell for this classy R&B singer. Levert, 40, died of Nov. 10, 2006 at his home in Cleveland. The soul singer's previous studio set was 2004's "Do I Speak For the World."
* * *
Doobie Brothers "Very Best Of"
The legendary San Francisco Bay Area band gets the royal Rhino treatment here. This two-disc collection includes such smokin' Doobie tunes as "China Grove," "Minute By Minute," "What a Fool Believes," "Long Train Runnin'" and "Listen to the Music."
* * *
Martha Scanlan "West Was Burning"
The former vocalist for the great bluegrass band the Reeltime Travelers delivers her solo debut. Scanlan is best known for her work with the Reeltime Travelers on the "Cold Mountain" soundtrack.
* * *
More new releases:
Uri Caine, "Plays Mozart" (Winter and Winter)
Dukedagod, "Jr Writer: Writer's Block 4" (Diplomatic Man)
Nina Hagen, "Fearless" (Koch)
Peggy Mcguire Hills, "Peggy's Violin: A Butterfly in Time" (Children's Group)
Infamous Stringdusters, "Fork in the Road" (Sugarhill)
Nouvelle Vague, "Late Night Tales" (LNT)
Daryl Sherman, "Guess Who's in Town" (Arbors)
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, "Aria: Opera Without Words" (Decca)
Various Artists, "Eat to the Beat: The Dirtiest of them Dirty Blues" (Bear Family)
Young Dubliners, "With All Due Respect: The Irish Sessions" (429)
Soundtracks and scores:
"Catch and Release" (Varese)
"Doctor Who: Original Television Soundtrack" (Silva Screen)
"Ghost Rider" (Varese)
"Music and Lyrics" (Atlantic)
"Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles" (Varese)
Morricone "Disappointed" by Honorary Oscar
Hollywood composer Ennio Morricone is disappointed he will receive an honorary Academy Award later this month, because it was his lifelong ambition to avoid winning an Oscar.
Morricone, who has scored music for over 400 films, has been nominated for Best Original Score Academy Awards for Days Of Heaven, The Mission, The Untouchables, Bugsy and Malena in the past, but failed to pick up an Oscar for his efforts.
The 70-year-old insists he liked the idea of joining iconic director Stanley Kubrick in missing out on a win - but concedes his Oscar may "fill a hole."
He says, "After five nominations I expected nothing, in fact I hoped I'd remain without an Oscar. I would have remained in the company of illustrious non-winners. I see the Oscar as a little bit of a fluke - even if those who win deserve it.
That doesn't mean that I'm not happy about it. I have received so many beautiful, incredible prizes, but there was a little hole. Maybe the Oscar fills the hole."
Goldman family subpoenas Simpson records
LOS ANGELES - In a new attempt to get some of the estimated $40 million O.J. Simpson owes it, the family of Ron Goldman subpoenaed several Hollywood groups Monday for information on payments he may have received for "The Towering Inferno" and other past film and TV appearances.
The subpoenas demand records kept by the Screen Actors Guild, the Producers Guild of America and the American Federation of Television Radio Artists.
Lawyers for Goldman's father, Fred, say they believe the records will show how much in residual payments Simpson has received for appearing TV shows and films, including the "Naked Gun" series. They said records could also show where the money has gone.
"We've all seen 'Naked Gun' repeatedly on cable. Each time it's shown again, his residuals add up," said Goldman's attorney, David J. Cook. "This is a matter of turning every stone."
Representatives for SAG and AFTRA said they haven't received the subpoenas and couldn't comment. A call to a Producer's Guild spokesman was not returned Monday.
The Goldman family has been in a decade-long battle to get the money following a 1997 civil judgment that held Simpson liable for the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman. Simpson was acquitted at trial.
Fred Goldman alleges Simpson is trying to avoid paying the $33.5 million judgment, which has ballooned to about $40 million with interest.
A state judge last month issued a restraining order barring Simpson from spending or moving any earnings from past deals, including books, films, and sports memorabilia.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Gerald Rosenberg's ruling later applied to the advance Simpson may have received for his unpublished book, "If I Did It."
The order will remain in effect until a Feb. 20 hearing.
Simpson's book reportedly described how he theoretically would have killed his ex-wife and Goldman. It was canceled by publisher HarperCollins in November amid widespread public outrage.
THE POLICE ANNOUNCE WORLDWIDE CONCERT TOUR
Following an electrifying rehearsal performance at The Whisky on Los Angeles' Sunset Strip, The Police today confirmed their highly-anticipated concert tour will begin on May 28th in Vancouver, playing arenas, some stadiums & making some special appearances throughout North America. Some of the North American tour highlights announced include a headline performance at this year's July 16th Bonnaroo Festival, an appearance at Boston's historic Fenway Park on July 28th and two Madison Square Garden performances in New York City on August 1 and 3. Concert dates were also confirmed in Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, New Orleans, St. Louis, Toronto and Montreal.
Arthur Fogel, Live Nation Chairman of Global Music, also announced that the tour will continue this fall with dates in the UK and Europe, including appearances in Holland, Germany, Italy and France with additional countries to be announced. Additional dates in Mexico, South America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are anticipated. "The anticipation and excitement to see The Police is overwhelming and I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of bringing the band to their fans worldwide," said Mr. Fogel.
In 1977, The Police stormed the music scene by blending reggae, punk, jazz and rock. Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers created an unmistakably nuanced sound filled with evocative melodies, infectious lyrics and rock & roll swagger. The Police dominated the top of the charts and radio airwaves worldwide with five #1 albums and a succession of top 10 hit singles. In the six years they were together, The Police became one of the world's most famous bands, earning six Grammy Awards and countless fans around the globe.
The North American tour is presented by Best Buy, the leading consumer electronics retailer with nearly 1,000 retail locations in the United States and Canada. "The Police Live in Concert is one of the most anticipated musical events of this decade," said Gary Arnold, senior vice president of entertainment for Best Buy. "We are proud to be able to help bring this event to music fans and to be able to offer our best customers a chance to experience this incredible tour."
In the United States, members of Best Buy's Reward Zone program will have the opportunity to access tickets prior to the general public. To qualify for the presale, participants need to be 18 years old or older and must have a current Reward Zone program membership that was activated by February 1, 2007. Presale tickets will be sold through Ticketmaster on a first come first served bases. Complete details of the Reward Zone program presale can be found at www.bestbuy.com/thepolice. Information about the Canadian concert dates can be found at www.bestbuy.ca/thepolice.
Special guest Fiction Plane will join The Police for the North American portion of the tour. Known for their high-energy live shows, this dynamic rock trio will be releasing their 2nd full length album in May. Fiction Plane are: Joe Sumner (Bass); Seton Daunt (Guitar); Pete Wilhoit (Drums). Additional support artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
A portion of the proceeds from this tour will be donated to WaterAid, an international NGO founded in 1981 and dedicated to reducing poverty by improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene education. Working in 17 of the world's poorest countries, WaterAid and its partners have already helped over 10 million people gain access to water and sanitation and is committed to helping to reduce by half the proportion of people living without these basic necessities of life by 2015.
Tickets for the North American leg of The Police tour will be scaled at 5.00, .00 and .00 in most markets (plus applicable service fees) and will go on sale beginning this Saturday, February 17th in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Tickets in Boston and New York City will go on sale Tuesday, February 20th. Additional on sale dates to be announced. There will be a 4 ticket limit per person for all arena shows and a 6 ticket limit per person for the stadium events.
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR ITINERARY 2007
DATE: CITY: VENUE: ON SALE DATE:
28-May Vancouver, BC GM Place Saturday, Feb. 17
06-June Seattle, WA Key Arena To Be Announced
09-June Denver, CO Pepsi Center To Be Announced
15-June Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena To Be Announced
16-June Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Festival To Be Announced
18-June Phoenix, AZ US Airways Arena To Be Announced
26-June Dallas, TX American Airlines Center To Be Announced
30-June New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena To Be Announced
02-July St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center To Be Announced
22-July Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre Saturday, Feb. 17
25-July Montreal, PQ Bell Centre Saturday, Feb. 17
28-July Boston, MA Fenway Park Tuesday, Feb. 20
01-Aug New York, NY Madison Square Garden Tuesday, Feb. 20
03-Aug New York, NY Madison Square Garden Tuesday, Feb. 20
Additional North American concert dates in Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Edmonton, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Tampa, San Francisco's Bay Area, Minneapolis/St. Paul and the Washington/Baltimore area will be announced in the next few weeks.
Additional cities and venues to be announced soon.
For complete tour & ticket information, fan club memberships and more visit: www.thepolicetour.com.
Sunshine, Departed Have Write Moves
The little indie comedy about an oddball family road-tripping to a kiddie beauty pageant came up big at the 2007 Writers Guild Awards Sunday, with the film's mastermind, newcomer Michael Arndt, taking home the prize for Best Original Screenplay.
Veteran scribe William Monahan scored the hardware for Best Adapted Screenplay for his high-octane script for Martin Scorsese's The Departed, a crime thriller based on the popular Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs about two moles—a Massachusetts undercover cop and a mob informant who infiltrate each others' respective organizations.
The honors, doled out annually by the Writers Guild of America, officially confer frontrunner status on both films in their respective categories at this year's Oscars, which are due to be handed out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at Hollywood's Kodak Theater on Feb. 25.
Little Miss Sunshine and The Departed are also considered the favorites to win Best Picture after sweeping through the guild awards.
The former—the feature debut of music video directors Jonathan Farris and Valerie Faris and starring Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell, Alan Arkin and Abigail Breslin—has already snagged Best Picture props from the Producer's Guild of America and Best Ensemble from the Screen Actors Guild, while the latter flick garnered Scorsese his first Directors Guild of America trophy.
At the Oscars, they'll vie for Best Picture against Letters from Iwo Jima, The Queen and Babel.
In accepting his accolade, Arndt gave thanks to producers Marc Turtletaub, Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa for sticking by a virtual unknown and defending his vision during what was a long and tortuous development process.
"They spent five years trying to protect this script from studio notes," the screenwriter said.
Arndt, who started out as an assistant on the Matthew Broderick movie Addicted to Love, had previously earned a living as a script reader.
Meanwhile, Carell, who plays a suicidal gay Proust scholar in Little Miss Sunshine, collected some hardware of his own from his day at NBC's The Office.
He and his fellow show writers received the award for Best Comedy Series, and he was singled out for Best Episodic Comedy for penning the episode "Casino Night."
Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer pilot for HBO's Big Love was tapped for Best Episodic Drama, while The Sopranos was named Best Dramatic Series for creator David Chase & Co. Long-Form Writing went to Nevin Schreiner for A&E's 9/11 drama, Flight 93.
The writing staff for ABC's Ugly Betty took home the award for Best New Series.
The guild bestowed Best Documentary Screenplay honors to Amy Berg's Deliver Us from Evil, a searing examination of sexual abuse committed by a priest and the impact it has had on his victims and their families. The movie has also been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary.
Here's a list of all the 2007 WGA movie and TV winners:
Screen:
Original Screenplay: Little Miss Sunshine
Adapted Screenplay: The Departed
Documentary Screenplay: Deliver Us from Evil
Television:
Dramatic Series: The Sopranos, HBO
Comedy Series: The Office, NBC
New Series: Ugly Betty, ABC
Episodic Drama: Big Love, HBO
Episodic Comedy: "Casino Night," The Office, NBC
Long-Form Original: Flight 93, A&E
Animation: "The Italian Bob," The Simpsons, Fox
Comedy/Variety-Music, Awards, Tributes-Specials: The National Memorial Day Concert, PBS
Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) Series: Saturday Night Live
Daytime Serials: As the World Turns, CBS
Children's Episodic & Specials: Premiere (Just for Kicks), Nickelodeon
Documentary-Current Events: The Dark Side, PBS Frontline
Documentary-Other Than Current Events: Marie Antoinette, PBS
News-Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin or Breaking Report: Remembering Lou Rawls, CBS News
News—Analysis, Feature Or Commentary: Crisis Management (America's Investigative Reports), PBS
BAFTAs Crown Queen and King
The Queen and The Last King of Scotland enjoyed the royal treatment at Sunday's BAFTAs, the U.K. equivalent of the Oscars.
Helen Mirren won Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Britain's monarch, while The Queen was named Best Film of the Year.
"This is great. What an honor," Mirren said, as she clutched her umpteenth trophy of the awards show season.
Mirren was not above poking fun at her domination of every kudos ceremony leading up to this year's Academy Awards, where she is heavily favored to win yet again.
"Oooh, she's coming in, she's coming it at 25:1. The bitch, the bitch is coming in, The Queen, I think she is going to win I think she is going to win. She is," Mirren joked with reporters backstage at the ceremony in London, comparing herself to a greyhound at the track.
Mirren's success over the course of the awards season has been mirrored by Forest Whitaker, who continued his reign over the Best Actor category with yet another win for his turn as the late Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.
In a touching acceptance speech, Whitaker dedicated his award to his grandmother, who, he said, "went to the realm of the ancestors two days ago."
The Last King of Scotland also nabbed awards for Best British Film and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The night was less lucky for Casino Royale, which was nominated in nine categories, but was shut out in all but the sound category.
United 93 helmer Paul Greengrass took the Best Director prize for his September 11 drama, beating out contenders including Stephen Frears (The Queen) and Martin Scorsese (The Departed).
"It was an amazing journey making this film," Greengrass said in his acceptance speech. "We gathered together to try and think about 9/11 and what it meant and what it means today and what it is going to mean going on from here."
Jennifer Hudson picked up another Best Supporting Actress nod for her breakout role in Dreamgirls, while Alan Arkin won in the Best Supporting Actor category for Little Miss Sunshine, which also won Best Original Screenplay.
The Spanish-language movie Pan's Labyrinth was named Best Foreign Film and also triumphed in the Costume Design and Hair and Makeup categories. Happy Feet took home the award for Best Animated Film.
Here's a complete list of the winners of the 60th Annual BAFTAS:
Best Film: The Queen
British Film of the Year: The Last King of Scotland
British Director, Writer or Producer for First Feature Film: Red Road, director Andrea Arnold
Best Director: Paul Greengrass, United 93
Best Original Screenplay: Michael Arndt, Little Miss Sunshine
Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Morgan, Jeremy Brock, The Last King of Scotland
Foreign Film: Pan's Labyrinth
Animated Feature Film: Happy Feet
Actor in a Leading Role: Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland
Actress in a Leading Role: Helen Mirren, The Queen
Actor in a Supporting Role: Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine
Actress in a Supporting Role: Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Music: Gustavo Santaolalla, Babel
Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, Children of Men
Editing: United 93
Production Design: Children of Men
Sound: Casino Royale
Special Effects: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Makeup and Hair: Pan's Labyrinth
Short Animation: Ian Gouldstone, Guy 101
Short Film: Asitha Ameresekere, Do Not Erase
The Orange Rising Star Award (voted by the public): Eva Green, Casino Royale
Police reunion tour starts in Van.
LOS ANGELES -- The Police 30th Anniversary reunion world tour will kick off May 28 at Vancouver's GM Place and travel through North America until early August.
The official tour announcement will be made this morning at legendary Sunset Strip club Whiskey A Go Go by singer-bassist Sting, 55, drummer Stewart Copeland, 54, and guitarist Andy Summers, 64.
Other Canadian dates are Edmonton on June 2 (venue TBA), Toronto's Air Canada Centre on July 22 and Montreal's Bell Centre on July 25.
Ticket prices are expected to be in three ranges -- approximately $225, $90 and $50 -- with Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal on sale Saturday (Feb. 17) and Edmonton's on-sale date still TBA.
'REHEARSALS'
There is also a chance there will be multiple shows in some markets that sell out fast.
Last week, the three members of the '80s British New Wave band invited select media and a small group of fans to the Whiskey A Go Go today for late-morning "rehearsals, where a special announcement will be made."
Last night, The Police kicked off the Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in L.A. with their uber-hit Roxanne and have been spotted around Vancouver over the past two weeks where they were rehearsing at Lions Gate Studios on the city's North Shore.
The trio is expected to rehearse elsewhere before returning to the West Coast for more fine-tuning leading up to their tour launch.
BREAK IN AUGUST
The trek, The Police's first since 1984's Synchronity tour, will make its way through North American arenas and stadiums, although there are some specialized events on the schedule, until the first week of August before a break.
From late-August until mid-October, the trio will play the U.K. and Europe, before returning to North America in late October and then travelling beyond to Mexico, South America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
The Police 30th Anniversary tour is being produced by onetime Torontonian Arthur Fogel, currently Live Nation's L.A-based chairman of global music. Fogel's most recent tours have included those by Madonna and U2.
5 Grammys mark Dixie Chicks' comeback
LOS ANGELES - The Dixie Chicks completed a defiant comeback on Sunday night, capturing five Grammy awards after being shunned by the country music establishment over the group's anti-Bush comments leading up to the Iraq invasion.
The Texas trio won all the biggest categories, including record and song of the year for the no-regrets anthem "Not Ready to Make Nice." They also won best country album, which was especially ironic considering they don't consider themselves country artists anymore.
"I'm ready to make nice!" lead singer Natalie Maines exclaimed as the group accepted the album of the year award. "I think people are using their freedom of speech with all these awards. We get the message."
Mary J. Blige's comeback also was richly rewarded: She received three trophies for her double-platinum album "The Breakthrough." The Red Hot Chili Peppers won four for their double-disc "Stadium Arcadium."
The Dixie Chicks won all five awards they were nominated for, sweet vindication after the superstars' lives were threatened and sales plummeted when Maines criticized President Bush on the eve of the Iraq war in 2003. Almost overnight, one of the most successful groups of any genre was boycotted by Nashville and disappeared from country radio.
With "Taking the Long Way," the women relied on producer Rick Rubin's guidance for an album that was more rock and less country. (Rubin, who also produced "Stadium Arcadium," was honored as producer of the year.)
The standing ovations the Chicks received Sunday illustrated how much the political climate has changed regarding the Iraq war, and even Bush.
"That's interesting," Maines crowed from the podium after the country award was handed out earlier in the night. "Well, to quote the great 'Simpsons' — 'Heh-Heh.'
"Just kidding," added Maines. "A lot of people just turned their TVs off right now. I'm very sorry for that."
Bandmate Emily Robison noted, "We wouldn't have done this album without everything we went through, so we have no regrets."
All the trophies collected by the Dixie Chicks (who shared song of the year honors with songwriter Dan Wilson), Blige and the Chili Peppers contributed to the evening's old-school feel.
The show often derided as The Grannys embraced its baby boomer status as in its 49th year. Maybe the Recording Academy was trying to relieve the industry's glory years — 2006 saw a sharp downturn in record sales, a decline that seems to grow each year as fans flock to the Internet and even ringtones to experience their tunes.
The Grammys tried to tap that new technology with its "My Grammy Moment" contest, in which three unknown singers vied for the chance to perform on stage with Justin Timberlake. Viewers determined the winner by voting on the Internet and text messaging, but the winner's performance was forgettable.
The "Moment" also incorporated a bit of "American Idol" into the telecast. Last year the Fox talent contest crushed the Grammys on a head-to-head Wednesday night. So it was no surprise when the Grammys returned to Sunday this year.
Though the show featured a medley with bright new stars such as John Mayer, John Legend and Corinne Bailey Rae, it relied heavily on the classics: Nominee Lionel Richie sang his '80s hit "Hello" and Smokey Robinson sang the Motown classic "The Tracks of My Tears" in a tribute to R&B. Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Police, who split in 1984, reunited to kick off the show with their rendition of "Roxanne" — even though they were not nominated for anything.
Soon afterward, Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder's dueted on a remake of Wonder's "For Once In My Life" beat out two of the year's biggest songs — Nelly Furtado and Timbaland's "Promiscuous" and Shakira and Wyclef Jean's "Hips Don't Lie" — for best pop vocal collaboration.
Even some of the more contemporary artists were relegated to singing songs that weren't their own. Christina Aguilera sang the late James Brown's "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" instead of her own nominated songs, while Carrie Underwood, the newcomer with one of last year's most successful albums, crooned "Desperado" and "San Antonio Rose" instead of her signature tune "Jesus, Take the Wheel," which was nominated for song of the year.
For a while, it seemed as if VH1 Classics had taken over the show's production.
But new artists were celebrated, a bit. Chris Brown injected some hot-footed funk with his "Run It," while Underwood was celebrated as the best new artist. And double winners included youngsters John Mayer, T.I. and Ludacris.
Blige was the overall nominations leader with eight. She won best R&B album for "The Breakthrough," her double-platinum triumph, plus best female R&B performance and R&B song for "Be Without You."
A tearful Blige said her album "has not only shown that I am a musician and an artist and a writer, it also shows I am growing into a better human being."
"Tonight we celebrate the better human being because for so many years, I've been talked about negatively," said Blige, who during her 15-year career has often discussed her past substance and self-esteem problems. "But this time I've been talked about positively by so many people."
Complete list of winners
(AP) - Winners at Sunday's 49th Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles:
Album of the Year: "Taking the Long Way," Dixie Chicks.
Record of the Year: "Not Ready to Make Nice," Dixie Chicks.
Song of the Year: "Not Ready to Make Nice," Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Dan Wilson (Dixie Chicks).
New Artist: Carrie Underwood.
Female R&B Vocal Performance: "Be Without You," Mary J. Blige.
Pop Vocal Album: "Continuum," John Mayer.
Pop Collaboration With Vocals: "For Once in My Life," Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder.
Country Album: "Taking the Long Way," Dixie Chicks.
Rap Album: "Release Therapy," Ludacris.
Rock Album: "Stadium Arcadium," Red Hot Chili Peppers.
R&B Album: "The Breakthrough," Mary J. Blige.
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Rick Rubin.
Traditional Pop Vocal Album: "Duets: an American Classic," Tony Bennett.
Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Ain't No Other Man," Christina Aguilera.
Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Waiting on the World to Change," John Mayer.
Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: "My Humps," Black Eyed Peas.
Pop Instrumental Performance: "Mornin'," George Benson (& Al Jarreau).
Pop Instrumental Album: "Fingerprints," Peter Frampton.
Rock Instrumental Performance: "The Wizard Turns On ... ," the Flaming Lips.
Rock Song: "Dani California," Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers);
Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Someday Baby," Bob Dylan.
Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: "Dani California," Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Hard Rock Performance: "Woman," Wolfmother.
Metal Performance: "Eyes of the Insane," Slayer.
Alternative Music Album: "St. Elsewhere," Gnarls Barkley.
Dance Recording: "Sexy Back," Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.
Electronic/Dance Album: "Confessions on a Dance Floor," Madonna.
Rap Solo Performance: "What You Know," T.I.
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: "Ridin," Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone.
Rap/Sung Collaboration: "My Love," Justin Timberlake featuring T.I.
Rap Song: "Money Maker," Christopher Bridges and Pharrell Williams (Ludacris featuring Pharrell).
Urban/Alternative Performance: "Crazy," Gnarls Barkley.
Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Heaven," John Legend.
R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: "Family Affair," (Sly and the Family Stone), John Legend, Joss Stone With Van Hunt.
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "God Bless the Child," George Benson and Al Jarreau featuring Jill Scott.
R&B Song: "Be Without You," Johnta Austin, Mary J. Blige, Bryan-Michael Cox and Jason Perry (Mary J. Blige).
Contemporary R&B Album: "B'Day," Beyonce.
Traditional Blues Album: "Risin' With the Blues," Ike Turner.
Contemporary Blues Album: "After the Rain," Irma Thomas.
Female Country Vocal Performance: "Jesus, Take the Wheel," Carrie Underwood.
Male Country Vocal Performance: "The Reason Why," Vince Gill.
Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: "Not Ready to Make Nice," Dixie Chicks.
Country Collaboration With Vocals: "Who Says You Can't Go Home," Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles.
Country Instrumental Performance: "Whiskey Before Breakfast," Bryan Sutton and Doc Watson.
Country Song: "Jesus, Take the Wheel," Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson (Carrie Underwood).
Bluegrass Album: "Instrumentals," Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.
Contemporary Jazz Album: "The Hidden Land," Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
Jazz Instrumental Solo: "Some Skunk Funk," Michael Brecker.
Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: "The Ultimate Adventure," Chick Corea.
Large Jazz Ensemble Album: "Some Skunk Funk," Randy Brecker With Michael Brecker, Jim Beard, Will Lee, Peter Erskine, Marcio.
Jazz Vocal Album: "Turned to Blue," Nancy Wilson.
Instrumental Composition: "A Prayer for Peace," John Williams, composer (John Williams), from "Munich - Soundtrack."
Instrumental Arrangement: "Three Ghouls," Chick Corea, arranger (Chick Corea), from "The Ultimate Adventure."
Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): "For Once in My Life," Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder), from "Duets: an American Classic."
Gospel Performance: "Victory," Yolanda Adams.
Gospel Song: "Imagine Me," Kirk Franklin (Kirk Franklin).
Rock or Rap Gospel Album: "Turn Around," Jonny Lang.
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: "Wherever You Are," Third Day.
Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: "Glory Train," Randy Travis.
Traditional Gospel Album: "Alive in South Africa," Israel and New Breed.
Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: "Hero," Kirk Franklin.
Short Form Music Video: "Here It Goes Again," OK Go.
Long Form Music Video: "Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run," Bruce Springsteen.
Producer of the Year, Classical: Elaine Martone.
Classical Album: "Mahler: Symphony No. 7," Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor, Andreas Neubronner, producer (San Francisco Symphony).
Orchestral Performance: "Mahler: Symphony No. 7," Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor (San Francisco Symphony).
Opera Recording: "Golijov: Ainadamar: Fountain of Tears," Robert Spano, conductor, Kelley O'Connor and Dawn Upshaw; Valerie Gross and Sid McLauchlan, producers (Women of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra).
Choral Performance: "Part: Da Pacem," Paul Hillier, conductor (Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir).
Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra): "Messiaen: Oiseaux Exotiques (Exotic Birds)," John McLaughlin Williams, conductor; Angelin Chang (Cleveland Chamber Symphony).
Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra): "Chopin: Nocturnes," Maurizio Pollini.
Chamber Music Performance: "Intimate Voices," Emerson String Quartet.
Small Ensemble Performance: "Padilla: Sun of Justice," Peter Rutenberg, conductor (Los Angeles Chamber Singers' Cappella).
Classical Vocal Performance: "Rilke Songs," Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (Peter Serkin), track from Lieberson: Rilke Songs, The Six Realms, Horn Concerto.
Classical Contemporary Composition: "Golijov: Ainadamar: Fountain of Tears," Osvaldo Golijov (Robert Spano).
Classical Crossover Album: "Simple Gifts," Bryn Terfel (London Voices; London Symphony Orchestra).
Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: "Walk the Line," Joaquin Phoenix and Various Artists.
Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: "Memoirs of a Geisha," John Williams, composer.
Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: "Our Town (From Cars)," Randy Newman (James Taylor).
Musical Show Album: "Jersey Boys."
Musical Album for Children: "Catch That Train," Dan Zanes and Friends.
Comedy Album: "The Carnegie Hall Performance," Lewis Black.
New Age Album: "Amarantine," Enya.
Traditional Folk Album: "We Shall Overcome - the Seeger Sessions," Bruce Springsteen.
Contemporary Folk/Americana Album: "Modern Times," Bob Dylan.
Latin Pop Album (tie): "Adentro," Arjona. "Limon Y Sal," Julieta Venegas.
Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album: "Amar Es Combatir," Mana.
Tropical Latin Album: "Directo Al Corazon," Gilberto Santa Rosa.
Mexican/Mexican-American Album: "Historias De Mi Tierra," Pepe Aguilar.
Tejano Album: "Sigue El Taconazo," Chente Barrera.
Norteno Album: "Historias Que Contar," Los Tigres Del Norte.
Banda Album: "Mas Alla Del Sol," Joan Sebastian.
Latin Jazz Album: "Simpatico," the Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project.
Native American Music Album: "Dance With the Wind," Mary Youngblood.
Hawaiian Music Album: "Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - Live From Maui," Various Artists.
Reggae Album: "Love Is My Religion," Ziggy Marley.
Traditional World Music Album: "Blessed," Soweto Gospel Choir.
Contemporary World Music Album: "Wonder Wheel," the Klezmatics.
Polka Album: "Polka in Paradise," Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra.
Spoken Word Album for Children: "Blah Blah Blah: Stories About Clams, Swamp Monsters, Pirates and Dogs," Bill Harley.
Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books and Story Telling). (Tie): "Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis (Jimmy Carter)," Jimmy Carter. "With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together (Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee)," Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee.
Recording Package: "10,000 Days," Adam Jones, art director (Tool).
Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: "Stadium Arcadium," Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith and Matt Taylor, art directors (Red Hot Chili Peppers).
Album Notes: "If You Got to Ask, You Ain't Got It!" Dan Morgenstern, album notes writer (Fats Waller).
Historical Album: "Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry 1891-1922."
Engineered Album, Classical: "Elgar: Enigma Variations; Britten: the Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Four Sea Interludes," Michael Bishop, engineer (Paavo Jarvi and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra).
Engineered Album, Non-Classical: "At War With the Mystics," the Flaming Lips and Dave Fridmann, engineers (The Flaming Lips).
Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: "Talk (Thin White Duke Mix)," Jacques Lu Cont, remixer (Coldplay).
Surround Sound Album: "Morph the Cat," Darcy Proper, surround mastering.