CD Review

Bruce Springsteen - Magic

There's only one event in music guaranteed to generate more buzz than a new album from Bruce Springsteen: A new album from Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band.

Why? The answer is right there in the title of The Boss's 15th studio disc.

As spellbinding and brilliant as the 58-year-old rock icon is on his own, when he plays with The E Streeters, it's magic. Call it a spark or chemisty or anything you like; whatever it is, it has always been an unmistakable, inimitable sound far greater than the sum of its parts. That's what you get on Magic, their first collaboration since 2002's stirring album The Rising (and perhaps their final album together, based on some reports).

But that's not all you get. Along with the heartland-rock sonic touchstones and everyman lyrics that preach to Bruce's congregation of fans, the dark 11-song album - recorded in Atlanta with Rising producer Brendan O'Brien - includes forays into '60s-style orchestral rock.

And while it doesn't equal Born to Run or Born in the U.S.A. - really, how many albums do? - Magic's gritty intensity almost puts it on par with Darkness on the Edge of Town and The River.

Which is to say: Bruce and the E Streeters still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Radio Nowhere 3:18

"I want a thousand guitars, I want pounding drums," The Boss demands. And on this driving rocker, that's what the band supplies - along with a howling sax solo, a jangling riff that echoes Tommy Tutone's 867-5309/Jenny and a darkly yelpy vocal reminiscent of Warren Zevon. A killer single - assuming radio will play a song about how much it sucks.

You'll be Coming Down 3:45

After Radio Nowhere, the downtempo gait of this karmic warning seems slight at first. After a few listens, the shimmery U2ish guitars, '60s folk-pop overtones and seductive chorus hook you.

Livin' in the Future 3:56

Between the bouncy swagger, twangy guitar licks, wailing sax and shimmering organ, this is a soulful celebration in the style of Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out and Hungry Heart - though lyrics about liberty sailing away add political overtones.

Your Own Worst Enemy 3:18

Bruce gets in touch with his inner Brian Wilson on this midtempo ballad, wrapping his dour melody and weary vocals in a lush blanket of sombre strings, kettle drums, percussion and bells.

Gypsy Biker 4:31

The band kicks back into high gear with a swelling, anthemic roots- rocker about a small-town hero coming home - in a coffin. The revving guitars and piercing solo are outstanding.

Girls in Their Summer Clothes 4:19

Another orchestrated pop ballad, with sweeping strings and a growling sax that follow Bruce's heartbroken protagonist as he roams the streets looking for love - and getting passed by.

I'll Work for Your Love 3:34

The tinkly piano at the start harkens back to Thunder Road - but the tune breaks into a bittersweet, Dylanesque folk-rocker laced with Biblical lyrics symbolizing the sanctity of love.

Magic 2:45

A woozy carnival organ, a sawdusty beat, a fluttery mandolin and a ghostly violin decorate this dreamy vignette in which innocent deception quickly gives way to monstrous trickery.

Last to Die 4:17

Another gritty, hard-hitting rocker accented with strings and fuelled by lyrics built upon John Kerry's famous statement about the Vietnam War. One guess what this one is about.

Long Walk Home 4:34

With its lightly strummed guitar and gently melancholy vibe, this one opens like Streets of Philadelphia, but quickly moves into a roots- rock lament about finding your way back home.

Devil's Arcade 5:05

The disc's most overtly poltical cut is this tale of a soldier wounded in battle. The striking arrangement elegantly builds from mournful strings and guitar to a richly intense orchestration.

Bonus Track: Terry's Song 4:11

Springsteen pays tender tribute to his longtime assistant Terry MacGovern, who died this summer at age 67. It's the most nakedly personal song he's written in years. And one of the most moving.

'Away From Her' tops Director's Guild Awards

TORONTO - Sarah Polley's poignant "Away From Her" was the big winner at the 2007 Directors Guild of Canada Awards on Saturday, taking home the best picture.

Polley herself was named best director and her husband, David Wharnsby, won the prize for best picture editing.

The critically acclaimed movie chronicles the intrusion of Alzheimer's disease into the lives of an aging couple, played by Gordon Pinsent and Julie Christie.

On the television front, CBC's "Dragon Boys" was named best television movie or miniseries, while "Slings and Arrows" won the best television drama award. CTV's "Corner Gas" won the best television series comedy award.

The best documentary prize went to "Sharkwater."

The other winners:

Family Television Movie/Miniseries: "Me and Luke."

Family Television Series: "Instant Star," Episode 213.

Direction, Television Movie/Miniseries: Sturla Gunnarsson, "Above and Beyond."

Direction, Television Series: Stephen Surjik, "Intelligence," Episode 311.

Production Design - Feature Film: Rob Gray, "Fido."

Production Design - Television Movie/Miniseries: Jennifer Stewart, "October 1970."

Production Design - Television Series: Sandra Kybartas, "Regenesis," Episode 301.

Picture Editing - Television Movie/Miniseries: Jeff Warren, "Above and Beyond."

Picture Editing - Television Series: Christopher Donaldson, "Slings and Arrows," Episode 303.

Sound Editing - Feature Film: Stephen Barden, Alex Bullick, Jill Purdy, Craig Henighan and Nelson Ferreira, "The Fountain."

Sound Editing - Television Movie/Miniseries: Jonas Kuhnemann, Richard Calistan and Mark Beck, "In God's Country."

Sound Editing - Television Series: Joe Mancuso, Dan Sexton, Matt Hussey and Richard Calistan, "Regenesis," Episode 301.

Canadian stars to appear on 'Little Mosque'

TORONTO - "Little Mosque on the Prairie" kicks off its second season Wednesday on a definite high.

The show is starting to air in countries around the globe while a roster of beloved Canadian personalities are showing up this year in the fictional Prairie town of Mercy.

Dave Foley of "Kids in the Hall" and "Newsradio" fame is slated to appear on the popular CBC sitcom, as is Samantha Bee from "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and Darcy Tucker, the pugnacious Toronto Maple Leaf winger who will appear as himself.

At a recent lunch at a Moroccan restaurant in downtown Toronto, the cast was relaxed and chatty after just wrapping up season two in Regina and Toronto.

"It's been the most fun I've ever had in my life," said Sheila McCarthy, who plays Sarah Hamoudi, a convert to Islam who's turned out to be more devout than her husband, Yasir.

That's quite a compliment coming from one of Canada's most celebrated actresses - McCarthy has won two Geminis, two Genies and two Doras throughout her prolific 25-year acting career on stage and screen.

"When these little projects come up from out of the blue that are completely different from anything you've ever done, it's just great," says McCarthy, who will soon be seen in the "The Stone Angel," which premiered at the recent Toronto International Film Festival.

McCarthy, 51, says she's proud to be in a TV show with a gentle message of tolerance and understanding as it's poised to air in some of the world's most troubled hotspots, including Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.

"My mother knows what Ramadan is now," McCarthy says with a laugh. "I feel very lucky to be the visible minority in this show, and I'm proud to be in something that has a little bit of weight.

"We're knocking down stereotypes, and the show is growing and developing in good ways, and I think it's a wonderful thing."

"Little Mosque" proved to be a prime-time ratings saviour for the struggling CBC last winter, routinely drawing an audience of about a million people per show for its truncated eight-episode season.

The network poached two key writing and production figures from CTV's "Corner Gas" in the spring, and has high hopes the show will sustain its audience this season with a full 20-show slate.

Season two will feature not only cameos from Canadian personalities but also a Christmas Eve special and a look at the back stories of some favourite "Little Mosque" characters, including Amaar's complex relationship with his mother back in Toronto.

"There will also be a quick glimpse into something hilarious that happened in his past," says Zaib Shaikh who, as the only Muslim in the cast, was observing Ramadan and forgoing feasting on lamb and chicken with the rest of his castmates on a warm September afternoon.

For Carlo Rota, who also plays Morris on the dark and intense American megahit "24," "Little Mosque" offers him some sweet relief.

"It's the absolute best; it's the best of all worlds," said the 46-year-old Rota, who was born in London but spent many years working as an actor in Toronto. "The adage 'to those that have much is given' is applying to me right now.

"I just hope it lasts and I can continue to appreciate it. Life is fleeting, and your fame is fleeting too."

Jackie Chan no fan of 'Rush Hour' series

HONG KONG - "Rush Hour" put Jackie Chan in Hollywood's major leagues, but the Hong Kong star isn't a fan of his successful action comedy franchise.

Chan said when he made the first installment of the "Rush Hour" series in 1998 he only wanted to test the U.S. market and didn't have high hopes.

"When we finished filming, I felt very disappointed because it was a movie I didn't appreciate and I did not like the action scenes involved. I felt the style of action was too Americanized and I didn't understand the American humor," Chan said in a blog entry on his Web site seen Sunday.

The actor said he made the sequel because he was offered an "irresistible" amount of money to do it and made the recently released third installment to satisfy fans of the series.

Chan said "Rush Hour 3" was no different from the first two installments for him.

"Nothing particularly exciting stood out that made this movie special for me ... I spent four months making this film and I still don't fully understand the humor," he said, adding the comedic scenes may be lost on Asian audiences.

Chan's comments came even though the "Rush Hour" series, which revolves around the racial humor stemming from the pairing of a Chinese (Chan) and a black (Chris Tucker) police officer, helped the action star cross over to mainstream American audiences.

"Rush Hour" was Chan's first movie to break $100 million at the U.S. box office, earning $141 million, according to the box office tracking Web site, Box Office Mojo. "Rush Hour 2" made $226 million and "Rush Hour 3" has earned $137 million so far.

Chan has been known to be blase about his Hollywood work. He said in a 2005 interview with The Associated Press that he uses the high salary he earns in the U.S. to fund Chinese-language projects that truly interest him.

He also showed little enthusiasm for his latest Hollywood project, "The Forbidden Kingdom," which marks his first on-screen collaboration with fellow action star Jet Li.

Bond's Moneypenny, Lois Maxwell, dies

LONDON (AP) — Lois Maxwell, who starred as Miss Moneypenny in 14 James Bond movies, has died, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported Sunday. She was 80.

The Canadian-born actress starred alongside Sean Connery in the first James Bond movie, "Dr. No," in 1962 as the secretary to M, the head of the secret service.

She died Saturday night at Fremantle Hospital near her home in Perth, Australia, the BBC cited a hospital official as saying.

Bond star Roger Moore said she was suffering from cancer.

"It's rather a shock," Moore, who had known her since they were students at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1944, told BBC radio.

"She was always fun and she was wonderful to be with," he said.

Born Lois Hooker in Ontario, Canada, in 1927, she began her acting on radio before moving to Britain with the Entertainment Corps of the Canadian army at the age of 15, the BBC said.

In the late 1940s, she moved to Hollywood and won a Golden Globe for her part in the Shirley Temple comedy "That Hagen Girl."

After working in Italy, she returned to Britain in the mid-1950s.

In addition to her 14 appearances as Miss Moneypenny, she also acted in Stanley Kubrick's "Lolita" and worked on TV shows including "The Saint," "The Baron, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)," and "The Persuaders!," the BBC said.

She was 58 when she appeared in her final Bond film, 1985's "A View To A Kill." She was replaced by 26-year-old Caroline Bliss for "The Living Daylights."

Her last film was a 2001 thriller called "The Fourth Angel," alongside Jeremy Irons.

'Game Plan' pays off with $22.7 million

LOS ANGELES - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson had the winning game plan at the box office. Disney's "The Game Plan," starring Johnson as a football quarterback whose bachelor lifestyle is disrupted by the arrival of a daughter he never knew he had, opened as the top weekend flick with $22.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The weekend had looked like it would be a showdown between "The Game Plan" and Universal's Middle East thriller "The Kingdom," which stars Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner as members of a U.S. team investigating a terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia.

But "The Kingdom" fell short, debuting at No. 2 with a solid $17.7 million.

The previous weekend's top movie, Sony's action tale "Resident Evil: Extinction," fell a steep 66 percent from its opening-weekend gross, finishing in third place with $8 million and raising its total to $36.8 million.

Johnson was the latest action hero aiming to broaden his audience with a family film. With a PG rating, "The Game Plan" took advantage of a long dry spell for kid-friendly movies, as parents with children made up two-thirds of the audience.

"There was definitely pent-up demand for people who don't necessarily want to go to the heavy R-rated films," said Chuck Viane, head of distribution for Disney. "The entire general audience has been underserved lately."

"The Kingdom" faced heavy competition from other violent R-rated films, among them "3:10 to Yuma," "The Brave One" and "Eastern Promises." Though not an overtly political film, "The Kingdom" also had to test audience interest for action tales set against the war on terrorism.

"If you're going to tell stories like this, you're going to tell stories of what's actually going on in our world. It's very difficult, challenging subject matter," said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal. "Either you're going to like this kind of movie or you're not."

In limited release, Fox Searchlight's "The Darjeeling Limited" opened strongly, taking in $140,000 at two New York City theaters on Saturday and Sunday, following its premiere Friday at the New York Film Festival.

Directed by Wes Anderson ("The Royal Tenenbaums"), the film stars Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman as brothers on an odyssey across India.

Focus Features' World War II saga "Lust, Caution" also did well in its debut at one New York City theater, taking in $61,688. From director Ang Lee ("Brokeback Mountain"), the NC-17-rated "Lust, Caution" features scenes of explicit sex as a Chinese woman goes undercover in a plot to kill a man collaborating with invading Japanese forces.

Both films expand to more theaters Friday.

It was the second straight weekend that Hollywood business was down after a summer of record revenue. The top 12 movies took in $76.7 million, down 11 percent from the same weekend last year, when "Open Season" was the No. 1 movie with $23.6 million.

"What goes up must come down," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. "It would be really difficult to maintain three, four months of up box office, so this was kind of inevitable. It was quite a strong fall last year, so we're having a little trouble competing."

Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Game Plan," $22.7 million.
2. "The Kingdom," $17.7 million.
3. "Resident Evil: Extinction," $8 million.
4. "Good Luck Chuck," $6.3 million.
5. "3:10 to Yuma," $4.2 million.
6. "The Brave One," $3.8 million.
7. "Mr. Woodcock," $3 million.
8. "Eastern Promises," $2.9 million.
9. "Sydney White," $2.7 million.
10. "Across the Universe," $2.05 million.

The Couch Potato Report - September 29th, 2007

This week The Couch Potato Report peels an Emmy Award winning western shot in our neck of the woods and one of the funniest films of the year!

It has been a busy two weeks full of releases, and I have six notable ones for you right now.

So let me jump right into things with an Emmy Award winning movie that was filmed in Western Canada!

The book BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE was written by Dee Brown and it was first published in 1970.

It is a history of Native Americans in the West in the late nineteenth century, and their displacement and slaughter by the United States federal government.

The book features strong documentation to original sources and is still in print 37 years later.

The movie BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE was made in and around Calgary last year and a few weeks ago it won the Emmy Award for "Outstanding Made for Television Movie".

Now while I wouldn't personally call the film Outstanding, it is very entertaining, educational and informative.

The displacement of Native Americans, and First Nations peoples here in Canada is too long, heartbreaking and detailed a story to tell in a 133 minute movie, but BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE does a good job of detailing the horrors that took place before and at the slaughter of men, women and children who were considered Sioux prisoners at Wounded Knee, South Dakota.

The film's performances are all superb, especially Montreal's August Schellenberg as Sitting Bull, Winnipeg's Academy Award winning Anna Paquin, and Ashern, Manitoba's Adam Beach as a college-educated Sioux doctor that the Americans exploit.

The only reason I can't call BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE outstanding is because it is too big a story to tell, and this film version only has the time to tell a few small parts of it.

Still, that being said, it is a solid piece of entertainment and an important encapsulation of history.

BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE is worth seeing, by young and old alike, because those who forget their history - good and bad - are condemmed to repeat it.

Up next is the comedy hit of the summer, KNOCKED UP, starring Vancouver's Seth Rogan.

Rogen plays a 23-year-old slacker, who meets the beautiful Katherine Heigl - from GREY'S ANATOMY - at a club and theys pend the night together.

And then she gets (see the name of the film!).

After that, the pair try to make the relationship work.

Now, the reason that the film works, and it works both as a love story and a comedy, is due to Rogan.

From the moment we meet him on screen, we know he doesn't deserve this girl, but he works hard to earn her, and the audience's love.

KNOCKED UP is the latest film from Judd Apatow, the man who gave us THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN, so in addition to the heartwarming scenes, this film is also very, very funny!

KNOCKED UP is one of my favourite films of the year! I laughed very, very hard, even this week when I saw it for the third time, and in addition to that, I also enjoyed it.

It's a great film!

Yes, the funny, raunchy, heartwarming KNOCKED UP is one of my favourite films of the year.

Before it was released as a part of the GRINDHOUSE double feature film back in April, I thought that Quentin Tarrantino's latest film DEATH PROOF would also be one of my favourites of 2007.

Unfortunately..., it is not.

I love Tarantino's work! From RESERVOIR DOGS and PULP FICTION through JACKIE BROWN and KILL BILL, it is my standing policy that whatever he does, I will be the first in line to see...and when this film came out, I was.

I was also disappointed...but I still enjoyed it...or parts of it anyway.

GRINDHOUSE was concieved as a double feature film collaboration with Robert Rodriguez as a tribute to the B-Movies that used to play at drive-ins and as late, late shows at some theatres in the 1970s.

As I mentioned, it was a double feature in theatres, but the two movies are being released seperately on DVD, starting with DEATH PROOF, a film about some two sets of female friends and a psychopathic stunt man who targets them with his stunt car.

Tarantino's films are known for their dialogue and action. The action in this film as it is great, but this time, his dialogue lets his film down.

Instead of interesting people talking about interesting things, full of pop culture and real life references, we get characters who have nothing to say, saying a lot of nothing.

No, I didn't love DEATH PROOF, even though I thought Kurt Russell was great in it, but I am proud to own Quentin Tarantino's latest.

And, even though I don't recommend it, I know that I will watch it again some day.

As for our next release, the high profile football movie WE ARE MARSHALL...I will never watch that movie again...and you should never see it for a first time!

WE ARE MARSHALL had the chance to be an exceptional movie, albeit one inspired by a real life tragedy.

But instead of something that will inspire, inform, and entertain movie goers, the result is something you should just ignore, even if it does feature a football team wearing green and white.

WE ARE MARSHALL is based on the true story of the Marshall University football team from West Virginia.

On November 14th, 1970, most of the school's team - and coaches - died in a plane crash. In all, there were 75 people killed.

The University was ready to shut the football program down, but in the end they kept it going. Then, by 1984, Marshall football began a streak of 21 straight winning seasons.

Now those are the facts, the real life facts.

To me, as tragic as it is, it sounds like a great idea for a very moving film.

But somehow, WE ARE MARSHALL ended up as just another sports movie full of chiches.

There are the usual, waaaay too-familiar, training montages and field action, and the film just never seems to find the right tone between sports, action and drama.

WE ARE MARSHALL does have some touching moments, but what could have been a powerful movie about never giving up, even in the face of tragedy, just is not.

Instead, it is a film that just isn't worth your time.

I will also use the contraction "isn't" for the poker movie LUCKY YOU.

It "isn't" worth your time either!

LUCKY YOU was shot and completed over two years ago, and it was finally released this year...but it shot have stayed unreleased.

It is about Huck, the gambling son of a gambler, who's itching to earn a seat in the World Series of Poker, where he'll play high-stakes Texas Hold-'Em against the world's finest, including his semi-estranged father, with whom he doesn't get along with.

Enter the female love interest who watches as Huck wins his way to the big game, but she can't fully love, or trust him, because of his gambling lifestyle.

LUCKY YOU doesn't have an engaging romantic angle, there is little to no tension between the father and the son, and even if you play poker, it is unlikley that you will feel that you have been dealt a winning hand with thsi film.

So to recap, if you watch LUCKY YOU, you will be unlucky.

Even with a cast that includes the great Robert Duvall, Eric Bana from MUNICH and the usually reliable Drew Barrymore, skip this movie! Cash out and rent or buy something else!!

Like a stupid, juvenile, exceptionally funny DVD like SEASON TWO of the hilarious TV show ROBOT CHICKEN.

ROBOT CHICKEN is an Emmy Award-Winning animated television series with short, quick sketches that parody a number of well known pop culture icons, such as Batman, Lord Of The Rings, Harry Potter, Hilary Duff, the Muppets, Austin Powers, Inspector Gadget, Looney Tunes, Spy Vs. Spy, and My Little Pony.

Each episode is less than 12 minutes long, and if you enjoy being entertained by stupid or juvenile humour, and you have not seen this show yet, then rush out and get ROBOT CHICKEN right now, and have a laugh...or two...or even more!!

The very funny SEASON TWO of ROBOT CHICKEN, the not-worth-your-time LUCKY YOU and WE ARE MARSHALL, Quentin Tarantino's DEATH PROOF, the hilarious KNOCKED UP and the very good, Emmy Award winning film BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE are all available now on DVD.


Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report

IMAGINE THE SOUND is a Canadian made documentary on some of the key pioneers of the free jazz movement from the sixties and early seventies.

The line between reality and delusion is blurred in the BUG, the latest film from the director of THE EXORCIST.

The foreign film A FEW DAYS IN SEPTEMBER begins on September the 1st, 2001, and concludes on September the 11th.

In RED ROAD a woman starts stalking a man, and the reason for her obsession is gradually revealed.

Finally next week, we will share some laughs as THE ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER COMEDY FAVOURITES COLLECTION features the Governator's best foray's into comedy - TWINS, JUNIOR, and KINDERGARTEN COP.

I'm Dan Reynish. 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 time on The Couch!

iPod Nano commercial the Apple of singer Feist's eye

NEW YORK (Billboard) - The use of Canadian singer-songwriter Feist's song "1, 2, 3, 4" in an iPod Nano TV spot is generating major attention -- online and on the Billboard charts.

Since the ad debuted in mid-September, sales of "1, 2, 3, 4" and its parent Cherrytree/Interscope album, "The Reminder," have skyrocketed.

Earlier this month, the track was selling about 2,000 downloads per week, while the album was shifting 6,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. On the most recent charts, "1, 2, 3, 4" clears 73,000 downloads and reaches new peaks of No. 7 on Hot Digital Songs and No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. "The Reminder" jumps from No. 36 to No. 28 on the Billboard 200, with sales of 19,000.

In total, "1, 2, 3, 4" and "The Reminder" have amassed sales of 181,000 and 235,000, respectively. (Feist's debut album, 2005's "Let It Die," has sold 147,000 copies.)

While the iPod Nano spot is introducing Feist to mainstream America, online chatter is paving the way to sales of the singer's music. Feist is not identified in the campaign -- created by TBWA/Media Arts Lab -- and this has led many consumers to the Web in search of the voice behind the song in the commercial.

According to Nielsen BuzzMetrics -- which monitored such search terms as "1234," "iPod," "Nano" and "campaign" -- Web discussion is increasing by triple-digit percentages weekly. In the days following the singer's August 27 appearance on "Late Show With David Letterman," where she performed "1, 2, 3, 4," online buzz increased 190 percent. On the heels of Labor Day weekend, discussion of the iPod Nano ad soared 402 percent. One week later, there was a 166 percent spike in discussion.

Feist is the latest in a string of Interscope acts to appear in iPod/Apple commercials, including the Fratellis, Wolfmother, Eminem and U2.

And while bloggers have fueled rumors of a "deal" between the companies, Interscope Geffen A&M president of marketing and sales Steve Berman denied any such thing. (Apple and TBWA/Media Arts Lab declined to comment.)

"We have a great working relationship with them," Berman said. "We are a company with much music that can be construed as left-of-center."

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers get ready for their close-up

The story behind Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will be told in a four-disc DVD/CD collection that is set to hit shelves next month and debut on big screens in select cities.

"Runnin' Down A Dream: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers" will be sold exclusively at Best Buy retail outlets beginning Oct. 16. Two days before, the film will close the 2007 New York Film Festival at the Walter Reade Theatre, and will then premiere Oct. 15 for one night only in 21 cities across the country (listed below). The Sundance Channel is also scheduled to run the film commercial-free on Oct. 29

"Runnin' Down A Dream," directed by Peter Bogdanovich, takes viewers from Petty and the Heartbreakers' humble beginnings in Gainesville, FL, to last year's 30th anniversary celebration. It also follows Petty's solo career and his time as a Traveling Wilbury alongside George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison. The film features in-depth interviews with Petty and the band, as well as their circle of musicians, friends and collaborators, according to a press release.

Petty toured last year to support "Highway Companion," his third solo release and 18th overall career album. The set debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200, making it the singer/songwriter's highest-ever chart debut. At the time of the outing, Petty told Rolling Stone the trek could be his last.

Petty continues to stay busy hosting the XM Satellite Radio show "Tom Petty's Hidden Treasures," which recently began its third season. He and his band can also be heard on the just-released tribute CD "Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino," on which they do a rendition of "I'm Walkin."

Over the past three decades, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have sold more than 50 million records. Between his work with the band and his solo efforts, Petty has picked up 18 Grammy nominations. He and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, which was the first year they were eligible for the honor.

Oct. 15 screenings in the following cities:
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Berkeley, CA
Santa Rosa, CA
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL
Detroit, MI
Evansville, IN
Lansing, MI
Grand Rapids, MI
San Luis Obispo, CA
Livermore, CA
Fairfax, CA
Martinez, CA
Petaluma, CA
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Washington, DC

Madonna, Beasties, Mellencamp Up For Rock Hall

Madonna, the Beastie Boys, John Mellencamp and Leonard Cohen lead a wildly disparate class of nominees for 2008 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

They join Afrika Bambaataa, Chic, the Ventures, Donna Summer and the Dave Clark Five on the ballot. Five acts will be inducted March 10, 2008, at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

For eligibility, artists had to release their first single no later than 1982. Last year's inductees were R.E.M., Van Halen, Patti Smith, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and the Ronettes.

'South Park' creators back new series

NEW YORK - The current kings of juvenile humor on Comedy Central, "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are pitching in to bring a series of silly competitions to the cable channel.

Comedy Central has acquired rights to a Canadian series, "Kenny vs. Spenny," and fans Parker and Stone agreed to help produce new episodes.

The series essentially consists of two friends, Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, who engage in all manner of silly competitions for bragging rights. Some of the challenges: Who can stay naked the longest? Who can sell more Bibles? Who do gay guys like more? Who can wear a dead octopus on their heads the longest?

An episode about which man could stay awake the longest — Spenny ate health food for help, Kenny (the winner) kept gobbling caffeine — caught Parker and Stone's eyes as they were pulling all-nighters to finish the movie "Team America: World Police."

"It touched our hearts because we had just gone through that," Stone told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Parker and Stone essentially gave Hotz and Rice advice on which ideas would work best and are lending their comedy cachet.

"I'd like to make a joke about how we made them understand the differences between the Canadian and American senses of humor, but it was really just letting them make their own show," Stone said.

The two buddies can't stand to lose to each other, no matter what the competition, and many guys will see themselves in it, he said.

"It's what guys do," he said. "Guys will sit around and ask, `can you throw that beer can into the waste basket?' and before you know it they've created an intricate competition."

Comedy Central has agreed to make 10 new episodes of the series and acquired 10 old ones. It will premiere Nov. 14.

Meanwhile, Parker and Stone are at work making another episode of "South Park." One new episode to look forward to: Cartman pretending he has Tourette's syndrome.

"That one seems so natural," Stone said, "we wondered why we hadn't thought of it before."

Mistrial in Phil Spector murder trial

LOS ANGELES - Music producer Phil Spector's murder trial ended in a mistrial Wednesday because of a deadlocked jury. Each juror told Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler they could not reach a verdict.

The mistrial came on the 12th day of deliberations on whether Spector murdered actress Lana Clarkson more than 4 1/2 years ago.

Spector, 67, is charged with second-degree murder. Clarkson, 40, died when a gun went off in her mouth as she sat in a chair in the foyer of Spector's Alhambra mansion about 5 a.m. on Feb. 3, 2003. She had met Spector just a few hours earlier at her job as a nightclub hostess and went home with him for a drink after work.

The Simpsons Movie comes home!

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is bringing The Simpsons Movie to DVD and Blu-ray Disc this December.

"The Simpsons" are nothing less than a cultural phenomenon - a hodge podge of pop references and satire, the television show is one of the longest running series in TV history.

Both versions released to home video will include two Commentary Tracks. The first will feature James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean, Mike Scully, David Silverman, Dan Castellaneta, and joined by Yeardley Smith, while the second one features David Silverman, Mike B. Anderson, Steven Dean Moore and Rich Moore.

Also included are Six Deleted Scenes, including an Alternate Ending. Further you will find Clips and Featurettes on the disc, such as “Homer’s Monologue On The Tonight Show,” “The Simpsons Judge American Idol,” “Homer Introduces American Idol,” “Let’s All Go To The Lobby,” and Alternate Character Designs by the directors and Matt Groening.

"The Simpsons Movie" will drop on shelves on December 18 and will cost you $29.98 for the DVD and $39.98 for the 1080p, high definition Blu-ray.

Jessica Biel: The Next Wonder Woman?

Look out, Justin Timberlake, your leading lady's might be making a move on the Man of Steel.

Jessica Biel is in talks to play Wonder Woman in Warner Bros.' upcoming Justice League of America, with the superhero all-star flick possibly serving to launch Biel's own comic-book movie franchise, according to Variety.

The live-action film aims to bring together several of DC Comics biggest stars: Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Aquaman and the Flash.

A studio rep declined to comment on Tuesday, saying Warners would rather make one big announcement regarding the ensemble. So far, Biel is the first big-name actor linked to the highly anticipated—at least among fanboys—project.

(London's Guardian newspaper has reported that producers have also done a screen test with up-and-coming Australian actress Victoria Hill.)

If Biel ends up being cast in as Diana, the busty Amazonian princess warrior turned American icon, the 25-year-old actress would also be in line to star in a series of Wonder Woman feature-film spinoffs. Warners is reportedly envisioning JLA as a means to kick start both Wonder Woman and Flash stand-alone features.

A Wonder Woman flick has long been a passion of the studio. At one point, Buffy the Vampire Slayer mastermind Joss Whedon was on board to write and direct, but he pulled out last February, criting creative differences and leaving the project in limbo.

Whedon and the studio had apparently clashed over the casting the lead role.

And although former Buffy stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Charisma Carpenter were among those rumored to be in contention to don the tiara, Whedon said he had not settled on his dream Wonder Woman.

JLA had also been on the drawing board for years, but things began to pick up steam when director George Miller, best known for his Mad Max and Babe franchises as well as last year's Oscar-winning 'toon Happy Feet, had come aboard to direct the superfriends film.

Studio executives are reportedly eager to get JLA before cameras before a potential Hollywood strike by writers and actors next summer.

After breaking out as minister's daughter Mary Camden on the long-running WB series 7th Heaven, Biel transitioned to feature films, including the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Blade: Trinity, Stealth with Jamie Foxx and The Illusionist, opposite Edward Norton.

Her most recent credits include the Iraq War drama Home of the Brave, the sci-fi thriller Next with Nicolas Cage and the summer's hit Adam Sandler-Kevin James comedy, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. After Biel wraps Powder Blue with Forrest Whitaker and Ray Liotta, she'll segue to A Woman of No Importance, Bruce Beresford's upcoming film based on the Oscar Wilde play.

If Warner Bros. can get the casting situation resolved quickly, JLA could start shooting by early next year, enough time to beat the strike deadline, and be in theaters by 2009.

But finding the right people to fill the tights has always proven problematic, especially when it comes to the Man of Steel and the Caped Crusader.

Neither Superman Returns star Brandon Routh nor Batman Begins hero Christian Bale will appear in JLA—both have expressed concerns that the new film will dilute their already successful franchises.

Production on the next Superman film is expected to proceed as soon as director Bryan Singer completes work on Valkyrie, his World War II drama starring Tom Cruise.

Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan has been shooting his Batman sequel, The Dark Knight, for a July 18, 2008 release.

Beasties eyeing guest vocalists for new album

NEW YORK (Billboard) - The Beastie Boys are moving ahead with plans for a vocal version of their latest album, the all-instrumental "The Mix-Up."

Adam "MCA" Yauch said the trio is "talking to some different artists who might do kinda like remixes and put vocals on it, so it wouldn't be us doing vocals on it. It would be kind of like a different version of the album, with a bunch of people guesting on it."

Among those in the loop, according to Yauch, are M.I.A., Lily Allen and Pulp's Jarvis Cocker -- "a bunch of British people," Yauch told Billboard.com. "It'll be interesting to see what they do with the stuff."

That might not be the only outgrowth of the "The Mix-Up," which Yauch, Mike "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz released in June. Yauch said the Beasties have an idea for a visual version of the album as well, incorporating images from the group's touring to support "The Mix-Up."

"We've been traveling with a Super 8 camera," he said, "and a lot of times we'll just make something. While we were in Singapore we filmed stuff, and in Australia and different places. We're talking about cutting it together into a full-length film that kinda goes the length of the album."

Yauch said there are no plans to document the tour with a live album or DVD. After the trek wraps September 27 in Chicago, the Beasties plan to return to the studio.

Erik the Viking is recut

The Terry Jones' satire Erik the Viking is making its way to DVD in a special Director's Son's Cut. Yes, the son of Terry Jones - with Jones' blessing - has recut the film for DVD and it is coming your way from MGM Home Entertainment.

An unusually principled young Viking becomes increasing uncomfortable with all the killing and plundering that goes with the job, and sets out on a magical journey in order to bring about world peace.

The new cut is nearly thirty minutes shorter than the original cut with rearranged and shortened scenes and a remixed soundtrack. No release for the theatrical cut is planned. In addition to the film, the disc contains a Commentary Track with Terry Jones, a Behind the scenes featurette on the new cut as well as a vintage Featurette from 1989, a Trailer and a Photo Gallery.

The new DVD is priced at $19.98 when it arrives on November 7th.

Canadian painter Ken Danby dies at 67

Renowned artist Ken Danby, one of Canada's foremost realist painters, has died at age 67.

Danby died Sunday while canoeing in Algonquin Park, according to Greg McKee, the manager of the Danby Studio in Guelph, Ont.

It's believed Danby died of a heart attack, but the cause of death will not be known until an autopsy is completed, McKee said.

Danby is best known for his 1972 painting At the Crease, showing a masked hockey player. The egg tempera work hangs in reproduction in countless homes of Canadian hockey lovers.

Danby's sports paintings are among his best-loved images, among them Lacing Up and Hockey Night in Canada, a tribute to 50 years of CBC coverage of the game.

His famous sports images include The Great Farewell, painted for Wayne Gretzky when he decided to retire from playing hockey.

In the 1980s, he prepared a series of watercolours on the Americas Cup and the Canadian athletes at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.

'Canada's soul and spirit'

While many Canadians connect Danby with hockey images, he points out they make up only a dozen images in a long painting career.

"I still love the game," he said in a 2002 interview. "I respond to it, so there's that appeal. That there has been such a focus on them in Canada shows that I've tapped into something that has to do with Canada's soul and spirit."

He also has done portraits of Canadian icons such as singer Gordon Lightfoot and former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

And he is renowned for his landscapes, including the 1997 painting Niagara. A retrospective at the Joseph Carrier Gallery in 2004 featured 60 paintings, many capturing Canadian scenes such as Lake Louise.

"I didn't set out to try and do that," he said in a 2007 interview with the Guelph Mercury. "I am Canadian … but I just respond to things I experience."

Danby was born March 6, 1940, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and was interested in drawing from an early age.

He enrolled at the Ontario College of Art in 1958, but quit two years later because of the college's emphasis on abstract art and spent the next three years working in art-related jobs while exploring various directions in his painting and drawing.

In 1963, he approached gallery owner Walter Moos of Toronto to review his work, a meeting that resulted in his first one-man show at Gallery Moos in 1964.

The show sold out and began a long dealer-artist relationship between Moos and Danby, though Moos is no longer exclusive dealer for Danby's works.

Attention of collectors

Danby's realism drew the attention of collectors and he has had sustained commercial success throughout his 43-year career.

Living and working on a sprawling 20-hectare retreat just outside Guelph, a place he called his "sanctuary," Danby cared less about the sale of the work than the process of painting.

"The fulfilment of that painting is in its completion, not about where it goes. I don't worry about them selling, I don't worry about them finding a home," Danby said.

He took five years to complete a two-metre image called Stampede, based on the annual Calgary rodeo.

"The work has to be given its fullest opportunity to be right. I often set pieces aside for months at a time, come back and see them with fresh eyes," he said.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York, The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Montreal Museum of Fine Art, the Governor General of Canada, the Vancouver Art Gallery and the City of Jerusalem are among the institutions that own Danby works.

He also has been much sought after for commissions, painting both Gordie Howe and Tim Horton, and designing an Olympic coin for the Royal Mint in 1975.

Both his 1968 painting of Trudeau and his 1973 painting of Robert Stanfield graced the covers of Time magazine.

As a painter who combined realism with an abstract edge, Danby has been compared with Christopher Pratt.

But his subject matter wasn't as rarefied. He painted a seedy room interior in 1971's Motel, a youngster staring into space in Guelph Carousel and himself, hockey stick in hand, in the 1996 painting Kissing Bridge.

In 2005, a collection of his landscape paintings entitled Earth, Sky & Water showed at the Bernarducci Meisel Gallery in New York City.

Success "is very gratifying," Danby said. "But that's not the reason I do it. I don't recycle a theme just because it has been popular. But it's gratifying to be able to reach out to an audience. To have an audience is important to every artist."

Danby was a member of the governing board of the Canada Council from 1985 to 1991, a trustee of the National Gallery of Canada from 1991 to 1995 and was awarded an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Laurentian University in 1997.

Danby was a member of both the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada.

He is survived by his wife, Gillian, and three sons.

New CD Releases, September 25: Rascal Flatts, Foo Fighters, Melissa Etheridge

Rascal Flatts "Still Feels Good"

The hugely popular country trio releases its fifth studio album. "Still Feels Good" follows 2006's "Me and My Gang," which topped The Billboard 200 chart and became the biggest sales debut of the year.

"Still Feels Good" was recorded with award-winning producer Dan Huff and its lead single, "Take Me There," is already a hit on country radio.

The new album drops during what has already been a mighty big year for the band. In particular, Rascal Flatts has been stacking up the awards this year, so far scoring a pair of People's Choice honors, Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards and its fifth consecutive Vocal Group of the Year trophy from the Academy of Country Music. In November, Rascal Flatts will be vying for Vocal Group of the Year and Entertainer of the Year at the 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards.

The country-pop trio is touring in support of "Still Feels Good." The band, which has been criss-crossing the US since July, now has dates stretching into November.

* * *
Foo Fighters "Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace"

The Grammy-winning Foos are back and ready to rock with "Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace." The album was produced by Gil Norton, who also was at the controls for 1997's double-platinum seller "The Colour and the Shape." ("Colour," by the way, was recently remastered and reissued as a 10th anniversary deluxe edition with six bonus tracks.)

The album's lead single, "The Pretender," premiered on ESPN last month and was featured throughout the network's coverage of the Summer X-Games. The song is currently making waves on Billboard's rock and pop charts.

The Foos will support "Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace" with a series of dates. Currently, the band is scheduled to perform a half-dozen club and arena dates along the East Coast next month.

* * *
Melissa Etheridge "The Awakening"

The rock vocalist/guitarist has already had quite the 2007. The big year began when her song "I Need to Wake Up," a cut featured in former Vice President Al Gore's Oscar-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in February. She followed that up in the summer with a high-profile set during the Live 8 concerts.

Now, Etheridge returns with her ninth studio album. "The Awakening" was co-produced with David Cole and features Etheridge's rocking band mates, guitarist Philip Sayce, bassist Mark Browne and drummer Mauricio ‘Fritz' Lewak.

* * *
Herbie Hancock "River: The Joni Letters"

The genre-shifting keyboardist/composer, who first came to fame as a sideman for Miles Davis, is ready to follow-up 2005's "Herbie Hancock: Possibilities." That previous set was a collection of all-star collaborations, which included work by Phish's Trey Anastastio, Sting, Annie Lennox, John Mayer, Christina Aguilera, Paul Simon and Carlos Santana.

This time around, Hancock delivers another star-studded affair, which pays tribute to great lyricist Joni Mitchell. This 13-song tribute features appearances by Tina Turner, Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, Luciana Souza, Leonard Cohen and Mitchell herself.

* * *
Joni Mitchell "Shine"

The Mitchell mania continues with this 10-track set. The collection features many of the great singer/songwriter/guitarist's best cuts, including "Night of the Iguana," "Bad Dreams" and, of course, "Big Yellow Taxi."

* * *
More new releases:
Tony Bennett, "Tony Bennett Sings The Ultimate American Songbook, Vol. 1" (Sony)
Chris Botti, "Italia" (Sony)
David Crowder Band, "Remedy" (Six Step)
Dethklok, "Dethalbum" (Williams Street)
Steve Earle, "Washington Square Serenade" (New West)
Iron & Wine, "The Shepherd's Dog" (Sub Pop)
Chaka Khan, "Funk This" (Strategic Marketing)
Bettye LaVette, "Scene of the Crime" (Anti)
Raul Malo, "Marshmallow World and Other Holiday Favorites" (New Door)
Meshell Ndegeocello, "The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams" (Emarcy)
Queen Latifah, "Trav'lin' Light" (Verve)
Jill Scott, "The Real Thing: Words And Sounds Vol. 3" (Hidden Beach)
Stars, "In Our Bedroom After the War" (Arts and Crafts)
Various Artists, "Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino" (Vanguard)

Springsteen gives fans preview of tour

ASBURY PARK, N.J. - Bruce Springsteen was back in familiar territory with a rehearsal show Monday night in the city that has become known worldwide through his songs.

The show at the oceanfront Convention Hall was the first of two benefit rehearsals for Springsteen and the E Street Band, who are about to embark on their first tour together in four years. They will also play Tuesday night, and a third rehearsal concert has been added for Friday at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford.

Springsteen and the band opened up with "Radio Nowhere," a song from their new album.

"We're going to run through some things, some new things, some old things. There may be some mistakes — but I doubt it," Springsteen told the crowd.

Asbury Park and the boardwalk where the Convention Hall is located have been featured prominently in the New Jersey native's work. His first album was titled "Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.," and the boardwalk Casino was the scene of the title track video for his 1987 "Tunnel of Love" album. Blocks away is the Stone Pony nightclub where Springsteen has performed numerous times.

Fans young and old gathered for hours before the show in warm sunshine on the boardwalk outside the hall.

"I think it's rare that you get any musician who appeals to so many generations," said Dara Webster, 34, of Westport, Conn. She was there with her 63-year-old mother, Maida Webster.

The elder Webster, a retired social worker from New Canaan, Conn., was attending her 20th Springsteen show. "I think he speaks from the heart," Maida Webster said. "He's down to earth."

Those without tickets, which cost $100, hoped to be included in the group of 100 people traditionally given last-minute admission. Standing among 300 hopefuls, Kevin Statesir, 52, a nightclub owner from Burlington, Vt., said he wasn't optimistic.

The hall isn't far from the clubs — many now closed — where Springsteen and the E Street Band rose to fame in the 1970s. Springsteen has used Convention Hall for other pre-tour rehearsals.

A native of nearby Freehold, the 58-year-old rocker still lives in Monmouth County.

Springsteen and the band are to begin a tour in support of their new album, "Magic," which is due out Oct. 2. The tour opens with a show in Hartford, Conn., that night.

Springsteen will be back at the Continental Airlines Arena Oct. 9-10, and is scheduled to perform Oct. 17-18 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

"Magic" is the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's first album with his longtime New Jersey mates since the Sept. 11-inspired "The Rising" in 2002. Their 15-month tour in support of the album has sold out stadiums and arenas around the globe.

Aside from the atmospheric title track, "Magic" returns Springsteen to rock 'n' roll, and all 11 songs are new. He released a solo acoustic effort, "Devils & Dust," in 2005 and the folk-inspired "The Seeger Sessions" last year.

"Magic" features guitarists Steve Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren, bassist Garry Tallent, drummer Max Weinberg, keyboardists Danny Federici and Roy Bittan, "Big Man" Clarence Clemons on saxophone, violinist Soozie Tyrell and vocalist Patti Scialfa, Springsteen's wife.

New CD Releases, September. 18: James Blunt, Reba McEntire, Mark Knopfler

James Blunt "All the Lost Souls"

The singer/songwriter returns with his sophomore set, which follows the mega-hit "Back to Bedlam." "All the Lost Souls" was produced by Tom Rothrock--who also oversaw Blunt's debut--and features the leadoff single "1973."

Blunt was one of the biggest "overnight" success stories of 2005-06. Thanks to some major help by Oprah Winfrey, who featured the singer on her highly rated daytime television show, Blunt rose from relative obscurity to sell more than 11 million copies of "Bedlam" worldwide. His best-known single, "You're Beautiful," was one of the most-played tracks on radio last year.

Blunt is currently scheduled to make three concert stops to back "All the Lost Souls." He has dates set for San Francisco (Sept. 23), Los Angeles (Sept. 25) and Toronto (Oct. 1).

* * *
Reba McEntire "Reba Duets"

The country queen has called upon her talented friends to lend a hand on her new album. The diverse crop of players hail from both the country and pop worlds, including Kenny Chesney, Kelly Clarkson, Ronnie Dunn, Vince Gill, Don Henley, Faith Hill, Carole King, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Justin Timberlake and Trisha Yearwood.

The first single from "Reba Duets" is "Because of You," which features Clarkson. That single is already a hit--in fact, according to a press release, it's McEntire's fastest-climbing song since 1998's "Forever Love." The tune also marks the performer's 55th Top 10 single, tying her with Dolly Parton for the female artist with the most Top 10 hits, according to Net Music Countdown.

McEntire is making a few concert appearances in support of "Reba Duets." Her next gig is Oct. 15 at Carnegie Hall in New York.

* * *
Mark Knopfler "Kill to Get Crimson"

The Grammy-winning guitarist--who came in at No. 27 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 greatest axe men of all time--is set to follow last year's "All the Roaadrunning," which was a collaboration with country vocalist Emmylou Harris.

"Kill to Get Crimson" is Knopfler's fifth solo record. Despite the success he's had in the solo world, however, Knopfler remains best known for his work as the leader of Dire Straits. That band has sold some 100 million records across the globe.

* * *
KT Tunstall zDrastic Fantastic"

Having drawn some rave reviews for her performance at the recent Live 8 event, Scottish songbird Tunstall is now ready to release a follow-up to 2006's popular "Eye of the Telescope."

Tunstall can only hope that this sophomore set, "Drastic Fantastic," will prove as popular as her debut. "Eye to the Telescope" was certified platinum in the US and featured three hit singles, one of which--"Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"--was nominated for a Grammy.

* * *
Luciano Pavarotti "Pavarotti's Greatest Hits"

The legendary singer, who died Sept. 6 at age 71 following a lengthy battle with cancer, is remembered on this two-disc set. The collection features the Italian tenor singing pieces by such composers as Puccini, Verdi and Bellini.

* * *
More new releases:
Chamillionaire, "Ultimate Victory" (Motown)
Dropkick Murphys, "The Meanest of Times" (Born and Bred)
Gloria Estefan, "90 Millas" (Sony)
Emmylou Harris, "Songbird: Rare Tracks and Forgotten Gems" (Rhino)
Diana Krall, "The Very Best of Diana Krall" (Verve)
Barry Manilow, "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies" (Arista)
Pat Monahan, "The Last of Seven" (Sony)
Paul Potts, "One Chance" (Sony)
Various Artists, "Hannah Montana: Karaoke" (Disney)
Various Artists, "High School Musical 2: Karaoke" (Disney)
Various Artists, "Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970"
Eddie Vedder, "Music for the Motion Picture Into the Wild" (J-Records)

Soundtracks and scores:
"House M.D. Original Television Soundtrack" (Nettwerk)
"The Simpsons: Testify" (Shout Factory)

J.K. Rowling to meet Harry Potter fans in Toronto

Popular Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling will be in Toronto in October, her only stop in Canada on her North American tour.

Raincoast Books, which publishes her wildly successful wizard-in-training series, announced Monday that Rowling will be at the Wintergarden Theatre on Oct. 23 during Toronto's International Festival of Authors.

Tickets to the 950-seat downtown venue are free. Starting Monday afternoon, 10 tickets a day will be awarded to fans online through the Raincoast Books website where an application is posted.

Other tickets will be disseminated through Canadian libraries, and public and Catholic school boards.

Children in Ontario can apply by taking part in the Forest of Reading program through the Ontario Library Association. The OLA will use a lottery system to award tickets.

Rowling will be reading from the seventh and final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which was released in July. The book became the fastest-selling novel, with more than 15 million copies purchased within 24 hours.

The 41-year-old author will also entertain questions and sign books during her Canadian appearance.

Rowling's six previous Harry Potter books sold more than 325 million worldwide.

A complete set of signed books, believed to be the only kind in the world, is being auctioned in England.

The charity Books Abroad, which supplies books to children in 80 countries, announced Monday a set will be auctioned on eBay.

A relative of Rowling is a volunteer for the charity.

"It could be worth £20,000 ($41,000 Cdn) or even an awful lot more," a spokesman for Books Abroad told the BBC.

What celebs didn't say onstage

As usual, some of the most interesting Emmy moments were not on screen but off, backstage with the nominees and on the red carpet before the show.

Highlights:

Field's silent moment

Brothers & Sisters star Sally Field was ecstatic on her surprise win as best actress in a drama. But explaining why Fox censors bleeped her acceptance speech, Field said, "I probably shouldn't have said the 'god' in front of the 'damn.' … I didn't have a point to get across. I have no agenda, I didn't have any political something I wanted to say. I wanted to pay homage to mothers, period, and especially the mothers waiting for children to come home from the war."

Winners all

•Tina Fey, who created best-comedy winner 30 Rock, is looking to the Emmy to boost ratings. "I certainly hope that it will," she said. "I don't think it will hurt us, but I had friends who worked on (low-rated Emmy winner) Arrested Development, so I know how hard it can be." The Emmy, word of mouth and big-time guest stars "can help us a little bit," Fey said.

•Ugly Betty's America Ferrara, who picked up the Emmy for best actress in a comedy, said the win "symbolizes all the wonderful blessings of the past year. I'm so happy and humbled to be on a show that's not only fun … but is making a difference and inspiring people and changing the way we look at prejudice and diversity."

•My Name Is Earl's Jaime Pressly, who won for best supporting actress in a comedy, lit up a backstage smoke. Nervously picking up her award, her hands were shaking. "I can't even hold it. I'm like this," she said, exaggerating the shaking. Asked what she would do with the statuette, she joked, "I'm gonna go rub it in the cast's face."

Reflecting on her career and life: "I've been in the business 13 years. It's nice to finally get noticed." She gave birth to son Dezzi in May. On having a baby and winning the Emmy in the same year: "This is not my life. It's been a new one."

•Grey's Anatomy's Katherine Heigl, who won for supporting actress in a drama, said she had begun to relax and enjoy the ceremony after leaving the stage earlier as a presenter. "I felt I wasn't going to win. So when they said my name, it took a good couple of seconds to realize they meant me and that I had to get back up and say something profound. So that was a little nerve-racking."

Of mom Nancy, whom she thanked from the stage: "She's the most phenomenal woman I've ever met. She's who I hope to be. This (Emmy) is for her because of all her strength, courage and fight. She never doubted me."

Grey'sAnatomy creator Shonda Rhimes and castmates Sara Ramirez and Kate Walsh skipped the Tony Bennett/Christina Aguilera number so they could toast Heigl backstage. "We're so proud and happy for our Katie," Ramirez said.

•Robert Duvall, who won for best actor in a miniseries for AMC Western Broken Trail, said he didn't mess around when it came to training for the role. "I bought a horse a year in advance. I could have been a cowboy. But I ride mainly in an English saddle."

•Entourage's Jeremy Piven, who won his second consecutive supporting-actor Emmy, said, "I'll never, ever get used to this."

Piven offered some insight into his obsessive talent-agent character, Ari Gold. "We all have our demons. I don't think it's me that's winning this. It's this character. He's an aggressive, type-A wrecking ball."

Winning again was humbling. "I never thought I'd be the people's favorite in anything. I've never been on anyone's list. I've never been a 'type.' I've been playing the abrasive best friend for decades."

Piven later sat in the front row with his Emmy between his legs, playing with a cigar he seemed anxious to smoke. About that snarky line from host Ryan Seacrest at the opening about keeping him away from Heroes' just-turned-18 Hayden Panettiere? "I was sort of blindsided. I don't really know where that (ladies' man rep) comes from."

•Lost's Terry O'Quinn, who won for best supporting actor in a drama, was told he could pick any of the Emmys. He paused and looked at the table with 45 statutes. He picked the third one in and third from the right. "I got the best one," he said.

As for the win, "It's a little frosting on being nominated. Beyond that, I don't have expectations. I'm gratified to be invited to the party." What keeps O'Quinn sane amid his relatively late-found fame? "The hovering specter of poverty. And my wife."

•Dick Wolf on winning for best made-for-TV movie for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: "This was the icing on the cake" after a long process to get the film made. We were six years at HBO. This was a labor of love and a labor of conscience."

Mirren's minor miracles

Though Helen Mirren, best actress in a movie or miniseries for Prime Suspect: The Final Act on PBS, appears to have been on a roll at the last few awards shows — including an Oscar this year and an Emmy last year — she is quick to point out, "I have had a few losses. Other years I've sat out there and not won. It's been an amazing year for me. It's always down to the writing. The writing is where the role springs from."

Could anyone have predicted she'd have such a strong year? "I don't believe in astrology, but I'd be very curious to what my astrological sign said about this year."

Male bonding

Steve Schirripa came with Sopranos castmate Michael Imperioli, who later lost to O'Quinn. "This is it. It's a little bit of sweet," Schirripa said. Imperioli said this last time is "bittersweet," and it was fun to get together with his castmates. But, he said, "we'll be friends forever. I'm not afraid of not seeing them again."

As for Entourage's Kevin Dillon, who lost to Piven for supporting actor, he and his castmates were almost as tight off the set as their characters were on the HBO comedy. "I play golf with Jerry Ferrara (Turtle) every week."

Denis Leary, who was up for best actor in FX's Rescue Me, picked his personal favorite in the category before the show: "James Gandolfini should win every award tonight — best actor, best drinker, best eater, everything you can win." Neither Leary nor Gandolfini did; James Spader (Boston Legal) took the gold.

Food for thought

What was on the breakfast menu for Emmy day?

•"I had lox, onions and eggs," reported Ugly Betty's Eric Mabius, on the red carpet with his wife, Ivy Sherman. "A nice Jewish breakfast, even though I'm Catholic."

•"I made breakfast for my hair and makeup team — eggs, bacon and fruit smoothies," said Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria.

•"Scrambled egg whites," said Julia Louis-Dreyfus, nominated for best comedy actress for The New Adventures of Old Christine.

•And how was Weeds' Mary-Louise Parker keeping her pre-Emmy show strength up? "Peanut M&Ms," she said.

'Sopranos' goes out on high note

In an Emmy broadcast that meandered between comedy, music and simple uncertainty, it was only fitting that there was no clear winner Sunday night at the 59th annual show.

But "The Sopranos," one of the most highly regarded TV series in history, took home the biggest prize, best drama.

The top six categories -- outstanding comedy, outstanding drama, and lead male and female performers in both genres -- were split among six different winners. "30 Rock" picked up the Emmy for best comedy series. Ricky Gervais of "Extras" and America Ferrera of "Ugly Betty" won awards for lead acting in comedy series.

Sally Field added a political statement Sunday night.

"If the mothers ruled the world, there would be no g--damned wars in the first place," said Field, trying to recover her train of thought while accepting her Emmy for best actress in a drama for "Brothers & Sisters."

Her Emmy was a mild upset, as she defeated previous winners Edie Falco and Mariska Hargitay to take the award.

James Spader took home the Emmy for best actor in a drama.

"I feel like I just stole a pile of money from the Mob," said Spader, referring to his "Sopranos" competition.

Another sometime political figure, former vice president and "recovering politician" Al Gore, received an Emmy -- and a standing ovation -- Sunday night at the 59th annual TV awards show.

Gore and Joel Hyatt won their Emmys for creating Current TV, a cable television network whose programs are often created by viewers.

"We are trying to open up the television medium so that viewers can help to make television, and join the conversation of democracy, and reclaim American democracy by talking about the choices we have to make," said Gore.

The TV honor is the latest Hollywood recognition for Gore. The film "An Inconvenient Truth," which starred Gore, earned an Oscar in February.

"Ugly Betty's" America Ferrera won best actress in a comedy series, and "Extras" star Ricky Gervais won best actor in a comedy series.

HBO's "The Sopranos," considered the front-runner for best drama series, won two awards at the Emmys, for directing and writing.

The second award went to the show's creator, David Chase. The show's lead acting performers, James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, lost in their categories.

The AMC miniseries "Broken Trail" was also roundly honored at the show, winning three awards in the early going -- for best actor, best supporting actor and best miniseries or movie.

Helen Mirren continued her remarkable run with another Emmy -- she also won last year -- this time for "Prime Suspect: The Final Act." Mirren has won several awards in the last year, including an Oscar for best actress for "The Queen."

"Come on, music," she laughed, believing that she was going on too long in her speech.

"Prime Suspect: The Final Act" also won for directing and writing.

Tony Bennett was also honored at the Emmy ceremony. His special "Tony Bennett: An American Classic" picked up several awards, including outstanding variety, music or comedy special.

In a mild upset, Ricky Gervais won best actor in a comedy for his performance in "Extras." "The Amazing Race" won best reality/competition program for the fifth time.

Katherine Heigl of "Grey's Anatomy" and Jaime Pressly of "My Name Is Earl" took home Emmys in supporting categories.

"Here's to our little engine that could, that finally did," said a tearful Pressly, accepting her honor.

Heigl maintained she didn't come prepared with a speech because her mother told her she wasn't going to win.

"My own mother told me I didn't have a shot in hell at winning tonight," said Heigl. "This is my dream come true. I've been doing this for 17 years."

Also taking home supporting performer Emmys were Jeremy Piven of "Entourage" and Terry O'Quinn of "Lost." Piven, who emotionally thanked his late father after winning at last year's Emmys, did so again this year.

The show began with an irreverent musical number sung by "Family Guy's" Stewie and Brian, taking aim at everything from "the garbage on the airwaves" to the reputations of the broadcast networks.

"We're definitely on Fox tonight," joked host Ryan Seacrest, noting the characters' jibes.

"The Office's" Rainn Wilson wasn't taking the awards too seriously.

Asked to explain why he was nominated this year but not last, he had a straightforward answer: "I'm a much better actor this year than last year," he told CNN on the red carpet.

He didn't win, which was probably for the best. If he had, he impishly threatened to put the statue on eBay. E-mail to a friend

Emmy Award Winners

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Winner: "The Sopranos" (1999)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
Winner: "30 Rock" (2006)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Winner: James Spader for "Boston Legal" (2004)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Winner: America Ferrera for "Ugly Betty" (2006)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Winner: Sally Field for "Brothers & Sisters" (2006)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Winner: Ricky Gervais for "Extras" (2005)

OUTSTANDING REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
Winner: "The Amazing Race" (2001)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Winner: Helen Mirren for Prime Suspect: The Final Act (2006) (TV)

OUTSTANDING MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE
Winner: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007) (TV)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Winner: Judy Davis for "The Starter Wife" (2007) (mini)

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SPECIAL
Winner: Tony Bennett: An American Classic (2006) (TV)

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
Winner: "The Daily Show" (1996)

OUTSTANDING MINISERIES
Winner: Broken Trail (2006) (TV)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Winner: Robert Duvall for Broken Trail (2006) (TV)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Winner: Katherine Heigl for "Grey's Anatomy" (2005)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Winner: Thomas Haden Church for Broken Trail (2006) (TV)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Winner: Jaime Pressly for "My Name Is Earl" (2005)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Winner: Terry O'Quinn for "Lost" (2004)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Winner: Jeremy Piven for "Entourage" (2004)

OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM (PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED)
Winner: "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" (2005)

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED PROGRAM (PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED)
Winner: "South Park" (1997)

Cronenberg, Maddin big winners at TIFF awards

Winnipeg director Guy Maddin was the big winner at the Toronto International Film Festival Awards, capturing the prize for best Canadian feature film for My Winnipeg.

The director, known for his quirky films such as Tales from the Gimli Hospital and The Saddest Music in the World, was given the Toronto-City Award for Best Canadian Feature Film at a gala luncheon held in Toronto on the final day of the festival.

Maddin also goes home with $30,000.

The film has been described as a poetic meditation on the filmmaker's hometown and his childhood. It was hailed as a work of "remarkable ingenuity [and] originality."

Meanwhile, another Canadian director scored a major prize. David Cronenberg's Russian mob thriller Eastern Promises, starring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts, was handed the Audience Choice Award, which comes with $15,000.

His movie beat out Jason Reitman's Juno, starring Ellen Page and Michael Cera.

Other Canadians at the podium include Stéphane Lafleur for Continental, Un Film Sans Fusil for best Canadian first feature film.

The film follows four people whose lives unexpectedly intersect because of a man's disappearance in the woods.

Chris Chong Chan Fui's Pool, in which the main character is a water reservoir, won best Canadian short.

The international critics' award, known as the FIPRESCI Prize, was given to La Zona by Rodrigo Plá. The film explores the relationship between the rich and the poor in Mexico through the strange friendship that develops between two teenage boys.

Other winners include Cochochi, by Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán, in the Discovery Award category, while the Artistic Innovation Award went to Anahí Berneri's Enacarción.

Enacarción — about a B-list actress who makes a difficult trip back to her hometown and faces her family — was noted for its "economy of vision."

The jury commended Berneri's ability to "render the fetishized female body in a distilled and forceful examination of both the movie star and movie industry and their relationship to everyday life."

The festival, which launched Sept. 6 with Canadian director Jeremy Podeswa's Fugitive Pieces, featured 349 films over a 10-day period.

O.J. faces felony charges in robbery

LAS VEGAS - O.J. Simpson was arrested Sunday and faces multiple felony charges in an alleged armed robbery of collectors involving the former football great's sports memorabilia, authorities said.

Simpson was arrested shortly after 11 a.m., Capt. James Dillon said.

The charges against Simpson will include robbery with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary with a firearm, all felonies, Dillon said. More charges could be brought against him, he said.

Simpson was being held at Las Vegas police offices pending the arrival of his lawyer, who was expected later Sunday, Dillon said.

"He was very cooperative, there were no issues," Dillon said.

At least one other person has been arrested and police said Sunday that as many as six people could be arrested in connection with the alleged armed robbery that occurred in a room inside the Palace Station casino-hotel on Thursday.

Simpson, 60, has said he and other people with him were retrieving items that belonged to him. Simpson has said there were no guns involved and that he went to the room at the casino only to get stolen mementos that included his Hall of Fame certificate and a picture of the running back with J. Edgar Hoover.

Simpson told The Associated Press on Saturday that he did not call the police to help reclaim the items because he has found the police unresponsive to him ever since his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, were killed in 1994.

"The police, since my trouble, have not worked out for me," he said, noting that whenever he has called the police "It just becomes a story about O.J."

The Heisman Trophy winner, ex-NFL star and actor lives near Miami and has been a tabloid staple since his ex-wife and Goldman were killed in 1994. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges, but a jury later held him liable for the killings in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Police said two firearms and other evidence were seized at a private residence early Sunday.

Walter Alexander, 46, of Arizona, was arrested Saturday night on two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary with a deadly weapon.

He was released without bail on Saturday night, Dillon said.

Besides the two firearms, police said they seized other evidence during early morning searches of two residences, Lt. Clint Nichols said.

"It was evidence of a crime that was committed," Nichols said. "And I believe we recovered some clothing that the individual was wearing in the commission of the robbery."

Simpson said auction house owner Tom Riccio called him several weeks ago to say some collectors were selling some of his items. Riccio set up a meeting with collectors under the guise that he had a private collector interested in buying Simpson's items.

Simpson said he was accompanied by several men he met at a wedding cocktail party, and they took the collectibles.

Alfred Beardsley, one of the sports memorabilia collectors involved in the alleged robbery, has said he wants the case dropped and that he's "on O.J.'s side."

'The Brave One' is No. 1 at box office

LOS ANGELES - The Jodie Foster vigilante flick "The Brave One" scared up $14 million at the box office to become the weekend's top film.

The Warner Bros. tale of revenge transcended gender, appealing to older women as well as men who might naturally be expected to enjoy the violent, R-rated film.

"Revenge movies often appeal to men, but the fact that Jodie Foster was in it brought in the women," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. "That combination worked."

While the film's box office take was fairly modest, it is about right for this transition time of year between the summer blockbuster season and the fall Oscar push. The Warner Bros. film displaced last week's box-office winner, "3:10 to Yuma," which placed second with $9.2 million in ticket sales.

The post-summer season is also a time when R-rated, adult-themed fare stands a better chance with audiences.

"After the summer, your midweek business drops substantially and you become a weekend business," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution at Warner Bros. "You need strong reviews to keep your motor going."

Fellman said the film should stand up well against the more youth-oriented films that will fight for the top spot next weekend — "Good Luck Chuck" and "Resident Evil."

Three smaller films hoping to build Oscar buzz finished out of the top 10 over the weekend, but did well in limited release.

The David Cronenberg crime thriller "Eastern Promises," had an impressive per-screen average of $36,845 playing on 15 screens. The movie, about Russian mobsters in London, stars Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts.

Also opening well was "Across the Universe," the Julie Taymor film inspired by music from The Beatles.

The film, starring Evan Rachel Wood, earned $685,000 for a per-screen average of $29,783.

The Iraq war film "In the Valley of Elah," opened with $138,000 on nine screens for an average take of $15,333. The movie stars Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron.

"We could be talking about all three of these films come Oscar time," Dergarabedian said. "The per-screen average indicates the intensity with which people are interested in these films and deservedly so. This is what the fall is all about."

Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Brave One," $14 million.
2. "3:10 to Yuma," $9.2 million
3. "Mr. Woodcock," $9.1 million.
4. "Dragon Wars," $5.4 million.
5. "Superbad," $5.2 million.
6. "Halloween," $5 million.
7. "The Bourne Ultimatum," $4.2 million.
8. "Balls of Fury," $3.3 million.
9. "Rush Hour 3," $3.3 million.
10. "Mr. Bean's Holiday," $2.7 million.

The Couch Potato Report - September 15th, 2007

This week The Couch Potato Report peels the careers of some former child stars, including Canadian Sarah Polley.

There is an eerie concidence that coincides with this week's Report.

You see, I plan which movies I am going to discuss week's in advance. I look for ways to tie films together, in addition to consulting the studio's planned release dates, and always attempt to attach a Saskatchewan and Canadian angle, whenever possible.

It had been decided that this week I would use the films AWAY FROM HER and GEORGIA RULE to talk about two former child stars who are now moving into very different positions as adults in the movie world.

And for all child stars, Jodie Foster has the career that most of them asprire to.

Jodie began her career at the age of three in a television commercial, and before long she made her debut as a television actress in a 1968 episode of Mayberry R.F.D.

After several TV movies, she then moved on to make films in her teens, including FREAKY FRIDAY and TAXI DRIVER, before winner her first Academy Award for Best Actress in 1988 for THE ACCUSED and her second in 1991 for THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.

And then, in addition to starring in movies and winning Oscars, she started directing movies, including LITTLE MAN TATE and HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

And now, Jodie is back in theatres this weekend with her new film THE BRAVE ONE, just as Sarah Polley's AWAY FROM HER and Lindsay Lohan's GEORGIA RULE debut on DVD.

Coincidence?

Maybe...maybe not.

Either way, between Polley and Lohan, the former star of ROAD TO AVONLEA is the one who seems most likley to follow in Jodie's footsteps, especially with her spectacular directorial debut AWAY FROM HER.

Sarah Polley was born in Toronto and her film debut came at the age of four. At the age of eight, she was cast in the title role of the television series RAMONA, and starred in the Terry Gilliam film TEH ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN.

Her next role was Sara Stanley in the CBC show ROAD TO AVONLEA, and she followed that up with roles in the films THE SWEET HEREAFTER, GO, MY LIFE WITHOUT ME and DAWN OF THE DEAD.

This year, she went behind the camera to direct Oscar winner Julie Christie of DOCTOR ZHIVAGO fame and the great Gordon Pinsent from THE SHIPPING NEWS in AWAY FROM HER, based on the Alice Munro short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain."

AWAY FROM HER is about Grant and Fiona, a couple who have been married for 45 years.

Their lives change forever when Fiona begins to suffer from Alzheimer's.

Eventually Fiona moves into a nursing home, where she loses virtually all memory of her husband.

In addition to Christie and Pinsent, who both give unforgettable performances, AWAY FROM HER also stars seasoned actors like Olympia Dukakis, Michael Murphy, Wendy Crewson and Alberta Watson, and Polley uses the fact that these are actors we know to benefit her film.

Their experience in front of the camera benefits her behind it.

Had she cast actors who we aren't as familiar, or as comfortable with seeing on screen, AWAY FROM HER could have been a completely different film.

Meaning, it could have been an uncomfortable film from an inexperienced director.

But it is neither of those things...AWAY FROM HER is a quiet and very confident film. It is a mature film, starring mature actors, for a mature audience...from a first time feature film director who is only twenty-eight years old.

It is a solid movie that is quite worthy of your time, even with it's heavy subject matter.

If Sarah Polley aspires to have the career that Jodie Foster has, as most young actresses do, she is well on her way.

Lindsay Lohan, on the other hand, has become a cautionary tale for young actresses, and her film GEORGIA RULE, on the other hand, is not worth your time.

Lindsay Lohan started in show business as a child fashion model for magazines and television commercials. At age ten, she began her acting career in a soap opera; at eleven, she made her motion picture debut by playing both twins in the 1998 remake of THE PARENT TRAP, and soon she was playing the Jodie Foster role in the 2003 remake of FREAKY FRIDAY.

She rose to stardom with the 2004 film MEAN GIRLS, and she also released her first music CD that year as well.

Since then, she hasn't made a film, or record worth mentioning.

Then, on January 18th of this year she checked herself in to a rehabilitation facility for drugs and alcohol.

In May and July she once again ran into trouble with the law, and went to rehab, and on August 23rd it was announced that Lohan would serve one day in jail and 10 days community service for both her DUI arrests.

In between all of the attention she received for her lifestyle, Lohan also got some mentions in the press for the two movies that she was in this year...but the two came together with the film GEORGIA RULE as the producer of the film publically criticized Lohan for excessive partying and showing up late to the set.

I am not sure if the resulting film would have been any different had she stopped partying, and showed up on time, and it really doesn't matter. This just isn't a very inventive movie.

In GEORGIA RULE, a rebellious uncontrollable teenager is sent to live with Georgia, her unrelenting, non-flexible grandmother who has a series of rules that she, and anyone who knows her, has to follow.

This is all done in an attempt to settle the teenager down....but maybe there is a larger problem at the core of her rowdiness....and as teh film goes on, we find out that her step-father might have been making late night visits to her room.

In addition to Lindsay Lohan, GEORGIA RULE also stars legendary actress Jane Fonda, the great Felicity Huffman from DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, and it was directed by Garry Marshall, who gave us HAPPY DAYS, LAVERNE & SHIRLEY, PRETTY WOMAN, and BEACHES.

So, this film's pedigree is top notch, but the film just does not work.

The scenes that are supposed to be funny, are not funny, and the dramatic stuff doesn't work either...and for me that was primarily die to the fact that I wasn't able to see Lohan as an actress playing a role.

Instead, I saw a young troubled woman in real life, playing a young troubled woman in a movie.

So what I was left with was a one-hour and fifty-three minute film that wasn't worth my time, and I don't think it is worth yours.

But, let me conclude by saying that I think Lohan is an actress with talent, so here's hoping that she can get her life back on track, so her career can follow.

And maybe some day, she will have a career like Jodie Foster's...or even Sarah Polley's.

Okay, I have two other new releases to quickly tell you about this week.

These days Sam Raimi is known around the world as the man who directed the SPIDER-MAN trilogy of films.

But before that trio of movies, he was involved with the great DARKMAN TRILOGY.

The original DARKMAN movie came out in 1990 and starred a pre-SCHINDLER'S LIST Liam Neeson as a scientist working on skin replacement technology who is beaten up by a group of mob hitmen and left for dead.

He survives, but is left disfigured, and he uses his replacement skin to mold a new face for himself, and other ones that will allow him to get revenge on the men who attacked him.

DARKMAN did well enough at the box office to warrant two direct-to-video sequels - DARKMAN II: THE RETURN OF DURANT and DARKMAN III: DIE DARKMAN DIE - both of which were filmed in Toronto.

The sequels weren't anywhere near as good as the original, as both Raimi and Neeson had moved on to other projects, and eventual huge success.

Now all three films are available in THE DARKMAN TRILOGY, an inexpensive package that is very worthy of your time.

And if you are a fan of the SPIDER-MAN films that Raimi has made, you should definitely see DARKMAN because he set the stage for a lot of what he did in those films in it.

Finally this week is a film called EVEN MONEY.

EVEN MONEY has a cast that includes Oscar winners Kim Basinger and Forest Whitaker, along with Danny DeVito, Kelsey Grammer, Nick Cannon, Ray Liotta, Carla Gugino and Jay Mohr.

That cast, and the description on the back of the DVD case might tempt you into renting or buying this movie, but I am here this morning to tell you not to bother.

The film is about how gambling addiction ruins three unconnected people's lives....but those lives, teh people and all of it is just a...slow...moving...melodrama.

Unless you are on the verge of a gambling addition, and you need a movie to show you how your life can change forever if that happens, then don't bet on EVEN MONEY.

Just remember, the casino always wins!!

The medicore EVEN MONEY, the THE DARKMAN TRILOGY with one great film and two mildly entertaining sequels, the Lindsay Lohan film GEORGIA RULE and the great AWAY FROM HER directed by Canadian filmmaker Sarah Polley are all available now on DVD.

Oh, and the new Jodie Foster film THE BRAVE ONE, is in theatres now!

Coming up in Two Weeks on the next Couch Potato Report

BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE is the Emmy winning film that was made right here on teh prairies and adapted from the book of the same name by Dee Brown; KNOCKED UP is the comedy hit of the summer, starring Vancouver's Seth Rogan.

I will also talk about Quentin Tarrantino's latest film, his half of the GRINDHOUSE double feature called DEATH PROOF; the football movie WE ARE MARSHALL; the poker movie LUCKY YOU; and SEASON TWO of the hilarious TV show ROBOT CHICKEN.

I'm Dan Reynish. I'll have more on those, and some other releases, in fourteen days.

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

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

McCready gets a year in prison

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) - Mindy McCready was sentenced Friday to a year in prison on a probation violation after being charged in a domestic dispute in Florida.

The 31-year-old country singer has been in jail since July, when she returned to Nashville after being accused of scratching her mother in a scuffle and resisting sheriff's deputies in her hometown of Fort Myers.

McCready received a suspended three-year sentence in 2004 for fraudulently obtaining prescription painkillers.

The singer sobbed as she asked for leniency from Circuit Judge Jeff Bivins.

"Your honour, I can honestly tell you this: This has been the longest two months of my life . . . not being able to hold my son . . . has been excruciatingly painful."

"I could only say I'm sorry," she said. "Please give me a chance to make things as right as they can possibly be."

Bivins sentenced her to a year in the county jail with credit for 75 days of time served. After her release she will face another two years of probation.

Deputy District Attorney General Derek Smith said McCready violated probation by being charged in a new offence, not reporting those charges immediately to her probation officer and by the nature of the new assault charges.

McCready had a hit in 1996 with "Guys Do It All the Time."

She has struggled with legal and personal problems that included a beating by her then-boyfriend and suicide attempts. She gave birth to her son in 2006.

Still pending is a charge of violating her probation for driving on a suspended licence in 2005. She pleaded guilty to the driving charge but her attorney has since sought to withdraw the plea, citing new evidence.

Will `Sopranos' soar in final Emmys?

LOS ANGELES - Will "The Sopranos" bury its Emmy competition Sunday? Will Ryan Seacrest shine as the ceremony's host or hit a sour note? Will controversy help or hurt contenders "Grey's Anatomy" and Alec Baldwin?

And most importantly, will anyone be watching the 59th annual Primetime Emmy Awards (8 p.m. EDT, Fox), given that it's airing against a big-time NFL matchup between the Chargers and Patriots on NBC?

Viewers who snub the awards pageant will miss out on high drama, cautioned Tom O'Neil, author of "The Emmys" and host of theenvelope.com, an entertainment awards Web site.

"You have the breakout hit comedy and drama shows, `Ugly Betty' and `Heroes,' competing for top series awards," O'Neil said. "And the stars of those shows are clashing with TV royalty: `Ugly Betty's' America Ferrera is competing with Felicity Huffman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus."

"Those are exciting diva clashes," he said. Huffman is nominated for "Desperate Housewives," while Louis-Dreyfus is trying for consecutive trophies in the comedy actress category for "Old Christine."

Their other rivals are Tina Fey for "30 Rock" and Mary-Louise Parker for "Weeds.

As for Seacrest — who's proven himself a smooth host on "American Idol" if not a comedian — "sometimes just a ringmaster works," O'Neil said.

Seacrest could be dealing with a three-ring circus. The TV academy has dropped coy hints that Justin Timberlake might perform the song from "(Blank) in a Box," the racy "Saturday Night Live" fake music video about a gift-wrapped part of the male anatomy.

If Kathy Griffin is any inspiration, the winners' speeches could be interesting. Griffin's acceptance of a creative arts Emmy trophy last weekend for her reality show, "My Life on the D-List," was to be censored for the show's weekend airing on the E! channel.

But there's even the possibility of substance as well as flash Sunday.

Former Vice President Al Gore, whose global-warming documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" received an Oscar earlier this year, could be an Emmy winner. Current TV, his youth-oriented channel featuring viewer-created videos, is up for best interactive TV programming. (The juried award can have more than one winner or none.)

The Emmys could be meaningful as well for "30 Rock," the critically acclaimed but low-rated sitcom created by Fey. It's up for best comedy series and Baldwin has a shot at best comedy actor.

Winning a top trophy helped "Cheers," "Hill Street Blues" and "All in the Family," which once found themselves in the same tenuous position as Fey's small gem. After the shows were anointed by Emmy, audiences discovered them and they became long-running, influential hits.

Baldwin's chances may depend on how voters feel about him, not just his acting. In April, the divorced dad was caught yelling at his daughter on a leaked voicemail message. He also has declared that he "couldn't care less" if he dropped acting in favor of focusing on parents' rights.

Competing against Baldwin are Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"; Steve Carell, "The Office"; Charlie Sheen, "Two and a Half Men" and Ricky Gervais, "Extras."

Whether behind-the-scenes events count in the Emmy race also could be an issue for "Grey's Anatomy," which is up for best drama series and saw four cast members nominated in the supporting categories (stars Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey were snubbed).

The series was rocked by Isaiah Washington's use of an anti-gay slur involving cast mate T.R. Knight. The turmoil culminated with Washington's firing from the hit medical drama.

All the drama for "The Sopranos" was on-screen, which famously faded to black in the final scene of the final episode of the landmark HBO series. It's going out in a blaze of glory, vying for best drama series and with acting nominations for five of its stars.

History might be working against the modern mob saga: It's rare for a drama to be crowned best series after it's off the air. That quirk might open the way for a surprise winner, maybe "Grey's Anatomy" or the freshman sci-fi sensation "Heroes."

There could, however, be Emmy riches for the "Sopranos" cast, including stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco and, with supporting nods, Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro and Lorraine Bracco.

While departing dramas usually lose out, that doesn't hold true for their stars. Alan Alda, for instance, was honored last year for outgoing "The West Wing."

Gandolfini's toughest competitor could be Hugh Laurie of "House," a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild winner who's been waiting for his Emmy. Other nominees are James Spader, "Boston Legal"; Denis Leary, "Rescue Me," and last year's winner, Kiefer Sutherland, "24."

Falco is up against last year's best-actress winner, Mariska Hargitay of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," along with Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters"; Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"; Patricia Arquette, "Medium," and Minnie Driver, "The Riches."

In the pattern of recent years, HBO claimed the most nominations, 86, and came out of last week's creative arts Emmy awards (for technical and other achievements) with a leading 15 honors. With "The Sopranos" and leading nominee "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" in the hunt, HBO looks like it will keep its winning streak alive.

Simpson named suspect in casino break-in

LAS VEGAS - Investigators questioned O.J. Simpson and named him a suspect Friday in a confrontation at a casino hotel room involving sports memorabilia. The former football star acknowledged going to the room to get property he said was stolen from him but denied breaking in.

Simpson told The Associated Press auction house owner Tom Riccio called him several weeks ago to say some collectors "have a lot of your stuff and they don't want anyone to know they are selling it."

Simpson, who was in Las Vegas for a friend's wedding, said he arranged to meet Riccio at the hotel and conducted a "sting operation."

"Everybody knows this is stolen stuff," Simpson said. "Not only wasn't there a break-in, but Riccio came to the lobby and escorted us up to the room. In any event, it's stolen stuff that's mine. Nobody was roughed up."

Investigators were reviewing a complaint of a break-in at the hotel late Thursday night, police spokesman Jose Montoya said.

"When they talked to him, Simpson made the comment that he believed the memorabilia was his," Montoya said. "We're getting conflicting stories from the two sides."

Simpson is considered a suspect in the case, Montoya said. He was released after he and several associates were questioned, and he remained in Las Vegas.

"We don't believe he's going anywhere," Montoya said.

The Heisman Trophy winner, ex-NFL star and actor lives near Miami and has been a tabloid staple since his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman were killed in 1994. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges, but a jury later held him liable for the killings in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Simpson has had to auction off his sports collectibles, including his Heisman Trophy, to pay some of the $33.5 million judgment awarded in the civil trial.

On Thursday, the Goldman family published a book about the killings that Simpson had written under the title, "If I Did It," about how he would have committed the crime had he actually done it. After a deal for Simpson to publish it fell through, a federal bankruptcy judge awarded the book's rights to the Goldman family, who retitled it "If I Did It: The Confessions of a Killer."

Fred Goldman, Ron's Goldman's father, defended the family's decision to publish the book. He noted Simpson's penchant for breaking headlines.

"He brings attention to himself every time we turn around and he will continue to do that forever," Goldman said Friday on NBC's "Today Show."

The Las Vegas district attorney's office will decide whether to pursue charges in the casino case, but had not received police paperwork by Friday morning, an office assistant said.

Simpson had been scheduled to give a deposition Friday in Miami in a bankruptcy case involving his eldest daughter. But it was rescheduled because Simpson had told attorneys that he would be out of town.

The Palace Station, an aging property just west of the Las Vegas Strip, is one of several Station Casinos-owned resorts that cater to locals. The 1,000-room hotel-casino, with a 21-story tower and adjacent buildings, opened in 1976.

A company spokeswoman did not immediately return a call for comment.

Foster enters "Brave" new world at box office

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Jodie Foster's latest thriller, "The Brave One," leads three new releases that will attempt to stir North American moviegoers from their theatrical ennui.

The Warner Bros. film, in which Foster plays a brutalized woman seeking justice and revenge in equal measures, looks likely to fetch at least $15 million and probably cop the weekend crown.

An even braver performance would see "Brave One" drawing from other demographics in addition to Foster's core base of women aged 25 and older. Tracking data also show good interest among older males.

Also opening Friday are the comedy "Mr. Woodcock" and the effects-heavy action movie "Dragon Wars."

"Mr. Woodcock," which casts Billy Bob Thornton as a hard-boiled gym teacher, could reach the double-digit millions. Executives at the film's distributor, New Line Cinema, see younger moviegoers as the key, but hope the "Woodcock" premise holds broad appeal. "Woodcock" also stars Susan Sarandon as Thornton's intended bride and the mother of his appalled former student (Seann William Scott).

"Dragon Wars," distributed by Freestyle Releasing, is the weekend wild card. A Korean production, the English-language film boasts a Western cast and was shot partly in Los Angeles -- a city beset by dragons.

Observers figure "Dragon's" box office will be limited to the single-digit millions, with genre interest likely to be keenest in home-entertainment windows.

Last weekend's champ, "3:10 to Yuma," should produce a decent sum after shooting up $14 million in its first round, as word-of-mouth spreads among older-skewing moviegoers. "Yuma" also needs to load up on as much loot as possible before the September 21 arrival of "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," which stars Brad Pitt as the iconic gangster.

In limited release, Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg's London-set mob thriller "Eastern Promises," drawing rave early reviews, debuts on single screens in Los Angeles, New York and seven other U.S. markets as well as in Toronto and Vancouver.

Focus Features plans to expand the film to about 1,400 runs within a week.

Winnipeg band tops list of Western Canadian Music Awards nominees

Roots quartet Nathan has snagged a leading five nominations for this year's Western Canadian Music Awards, followed closely by rising country music star Shane Yellowbird.

The Winnipeg-based band is up for outstanding roots recording by a duo or group and outstanding independent album for their third disc, Key Principles.

Nominations were announced Wednesday in Moose Jaw, Sask. where the fifth annual Western Canadian Music Awards will be held Oct. 21.

Nathan also has two nods for video of the year and one for songwriter of the year.

"I'm actually really surprised, I was thinking we were old news by now," said lead singer and guitarist Keri Latimer.

"We've just been around a while and it's our third album and I figured people would be starting to get sick of us by now. So it's very nice, it's good to know that we're still making things that people like."

The band's first album, Stranger, was more pop-based and the second, the Juno-nominated Jimson Weed, had a lot more of a roots element to it, Latimer said.

"The third one, we just sort of found a middle ground and I think it suits us the best," she said.

In the video of the year category, Nathan is up against Yellowbird.

The Alberta-born Yellowbird, who captured the rising star award at the Canadian Country Music Awards on Monday, has three nominations: outstanding aboriginal recording, outstanding country recording, and video of the year for his debut album Life is Calling My Name.

Other artists with multiple nominations include Manitoba group Doc Walker and Saskatchewan's Donny Parenteau with two nods each.

Led Zeppelin Takes Flight, For One Night Only

Legendary rock combo Led Zeppelin is reforming, but for one night only. The British band will play a one-off show at London's 22,000-capacity O2 arena on Nov. 26 as part of a tribute to Atlantic Records co-founder and chairman emeritus Ahmet Ertegun, who died last December. The band recorded for Atlantic its entire career.

The Who's Pete Townshend, former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, Foreigner's Mick Jones and Paolo Nutini will also perform at the event. Profits will benefit the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund, which provides scholarships to universities in the United States, United Kingdom and Ertegun's homeland, Turkey.

Tickets costing £125 ($254) will be allocated on a lottery basis through the Ahmettribute.com web site. Billboard.com understands there are no plans to broadcast or commercially release music from the show.

Putting an end to several months of speculation, it was confirmed on Wednesday during a press conference at the O2 that the three surviving members of Led Zeppelin -- Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones -- would reunite onstage for just the third time in 27 years. The drummer for the evening will be Jason Bonham, son of the band's original drummer John Bonham, who died from a heart attack in 1980.

"This is going to be the largest demand for one show in history," promoter Harvey Goldsmith said today, adding that Zeppelin will play a full two-hour set. "I can only tell from the buzz going around now, but it is really just filtering around the world. I feel there's going to be a huge amount of pressure (on tickets)."

None of the band members, however, were on hand at the media gathering. "I didn't want them to come down today," Goldsmith told Billboard.com. "It's enough that they're committed to doing this show."

Goldsmith also downplayed prospects of a larger Zeppelin reunion. "The band members are getting along really well at the moment, but there's no talk of them making a new record off the back of this," he noted.

Page, Plant and Jones initially reformed with Genesis' Phil Collins and Chic/Power Station sticksman Tony Thompson sharing drum duties for a performance at Live Aid in Philadelphia in 1985. In May 1988, Jason Bonham joined the three originals for another 'one-off" reunion at an Atlantic Records 40th anniversary concert in New York.

Plant and Page teamed in 1994 for an MTV special and subsequently toured globally and released two albums. Jones has also released two solo albums, although his post-Zeppelin work has largely concentrated on production and arranging.

The concert will follow the release of a new Atlantic/Rhino two-disc, 24-track best-of Zeppelin set, "Mothership," due Nov. 13 in the United States.

Jon Stewart will host Academy Awards

LOS ANGELES - Jon Stewart is getting a do-over as Oscar host. America's favorite faux newscaster, who drew mixed reviews for his first stint in 2006, has been picked for a return engagement in February, the film academy announced Wednesday.

"I'm thrilled to be asked to host the Academy Awards for the second time because, as they say, the third time's a charm," Stewart said Wednesday in a statement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

"He did a great job two years ago," Oscar telecast producer Gil Cates told The Associated Press Wednesday. "You need a host who is not afraid of the unexpected, who can stand out and really work a room and deal with a live show. Jon, of course, does that on his show every night."

Stewart, 44, is also "a very, very nice guy and very easy to work with," Cates said.

The 2007 show, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, drew 40.1 million viewers, compared to the 38.9 million who watched when Stewart hosted the previous year. But bringing back Stewart is "not a bad choice," said longtime TV critic David Bianculli of the New York Daily News.

"Stewart has such good will, and the worst mistake people have made — in the Oscars especially — is trying to be a little bit too cold to the room rather than cool enough for the room," he said.

Besides, people don't tune into the Oscars for the host, Bianculli said: "It's up to the films in contention more than anything else."

AP television critic Frazier Moore called Stewart a "TV veteran" who "did a good job last time and will be even more comfortable this time in the role."

"He always brings some needed irreverence and smarts to pretty much anything he does," Moore said. "The Oscars are an often very pretentious, self-important institution, and somebody like Jon Stewart is very useful to help deflate a little of that pomposity."

In his first Oscar gig, the star of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" made jokes about the Iraq war and ribbed Hollywood's elite about their ties to the Democratic Party.

"His usually impeccable blend of puckishness and self-effacement fell flat," an AP review said, adding he was "too deferential, too nice and too obvious in his targets."

Stewart, who also hosted the Grammys in 2001 and 2002, noted the split decision on his own cable TV show the night after the Oscars, saying he had a great time but didn't know how he fared until he saw the reviews.

"I sucked and was great!" he joked.

The 2008 Oscars will take place Feb. 24 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

Who hosts the Oscars each year is up to the telecast producer. Cates also produced in 2006, and chose Stewart then. Previous Cates-selected hosts include Steve Martin, Chris Rock and Billy Crystal. Laura Ziskin selected DeGeneres.

"We love them both," Academy president Sid Ganis said of the two most recent Oscar emcees.

So is it because 2008 is an election year that Stewart was chosen?

"The choice was not impacted by political issues," Ganis said. "The choice was impacted by funny issues and he's funny funny. That's the main criteria."

Stewart is "able to communicate with the live, hot-shot audience in the theater," Ganis added, "and of course we know he's great on television."

Cates said he hadn't thought about the election connection in selecting Stewart.

"I'm sure some of that might make its way into the show," Cates said, "although the show is totally nonpartisan."

Hummingbird Centre renamed Sony Centre

TORONTO (CP) - Toronto's Hummingbird Centre, originally known as the O'Keefe Centre, has a new name and a new title sponsor - Japanese electronics giant Sony.

The storied arts centre on the eastern edge of Toronto's downtown theatre district has been renamed the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in a $10 million, 20-year title sponsorship.

The 47-year-old building will undergo an interior renovation beginning in June 2008 that will transform it into "a state-of-the-art versatile, multimedia theatre and concert venue," the centre said Friday.

"Sony Canada's investment in our theatre signifies the importance of Toronto as a major centre for arts and creativity," centre chief executive Dan Brambilla said in a release.

"We strategically approached Sony as the naming sponsor of our venue because of their commitment to continually provide the very best entertainment experience. We see this partnership as a collaboration between a leading entertainment company and a live entertainment venue."

As part of the renovation, the centre will be fitted with "the most technically advanced audio and video Sony products" the company said.

"The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts will offer the highest quality live entertainment, performing arts and multicultural programming which will raise the profile of this unique centre for the City of Toronto," said Sony Canada president and CEO Doug Wilson.

The theatre, the brainchild of beer magnate E.P. Taylor who headed the O'Keefe Brewing Co. and Argus Corp. opened in 1960 with the pre-Broadway premiere of the Lerner and Loewe musical Camelot, starring Richard Burton, Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet.

Software company Hummingbird Hummingbird Ltd. bought naming rights to the theatre in 1996. Last year Hummingbird was acquired by rival Open Text Corp.

Ontario rocker wins 'Canadian Idol'

Hats off to Brian Melo. The raspy Hamilton rocker with a thing for headwear can add the Canadian Idol crown to his wardrobe.

Melo, 25, got the better of five million votes to beat out twangy teen Jaydee Bixby and become the fifth Idol last night. In other words, his life is now complete.

"This is incredible. I didn't think a year ago I'd be standing here," said the construction worker who undoubtedly won't be reporting back to the job site this week.

A glowing Melo embraced family and friends after singing the CTV karaoke competition's victory song, All I Ever Wanted. The track will instantly become his first single this morning, when it hits airwaves across the country. After last night's show, Melo signed a contract with Sony BMG, and will soon be off to the recording studio to work on his album, due out in fall. Not a second to waste here, folks.

Despite having been done wrong on national TV, there were no tears in Drumheller, Alta. native Bixby's beer for a couple of reasons: 1) He's only 17 and can't legally drink; and, 2) He'll have a music career regardless -- or at least a regular casino stint impersonating his beloved Elvis.

"No matter what, Jaydee wins because he's just created such a buzz about himself," judge Zack Werner said before the final results came in.

A consistently strong Melo clearly had this one in the bag -- especially after Bixby "completely bombed" (the singer's own words) a cover of Bon Jovi's Who Says You Can't Go Home and the aforementioned winners single on Monday's performance s