TV reminds you to drink responsibly this New Year's

Today is New Year's Eve -- or, as some call it, Amateur Drunk Night. As we close the books on 2008, it's likely that a fair number of us will be knocking back a glass of champagne or five, or perhaps a couple of nice cocktails.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, provided you're not driving and provided you don't overdo it and end up with a tongue-fuzzing, eye-reddening, dear-lord-why-won't-everyone-just-be-quiet hangover.

I'm not going to go all The More You Know on you or anything, but I thought it might be helpful to share a few examples from recent TV history about what happens when you overindulge.

Beverly Hills, 90210 - "U4EA"

The story: This Very Special Episode of the original 90210 finds the gang heading to a rave that Emily Valentine (in one of her earlier appearances, before she came back with the really weird haircut) knows about. She slips a mickey -- the Ecstasy stand-in referenced in the episode title -- into Brandon's drink, which causes him to get so loopy that he has to leave his beloved car at the club, where it's vandalized. Also, David downs a bottle of whiskey, but only Kelly seems appalled. (Link is to the full episode, which has some embedded ads.)

The lesson: While at an underground club populated by your new friend's sketchy acquaintances, make sure you keep your drink in your hands. Plus, make sure you bring your egg to the right convenience store.

Gilmore Girls - "To Live and Let Diorama"

The story: While Stars Hollow wonders (OK, snickers) at the new town museum, Rory, Paris and Lane -- each of them feeling down on love -- partake of a few cups of Miss Patty's leftover Founder's Day punch, which Rory says "is used to remove tar from construction sites." Paris ends up wandering the streets barefoot, Lane discovers Zach is in a bluegrass band, and Rory finds herself on Lorelai's bathroom floor, still despondent. Kirk, meanwhile, gets sideways on sugar and needs a Pop-Tart hair of the dog the next day.

The lesson: Stay away from any beverage that can also be used as a solvent, but if you don't, greasy food will help.

The Bachelor: London Calling - "Episode 1"

The story: Opening-night jitters have gotten the better of several Bachelor contestants over the years, causing them to overdo it on the champagne and make slurry spectacles of themselves on national television. Few have done that as spectacularly, though, as Stacey Elza, who got very handsy with Matt Grant, shoved her underwear into his hands and babbled on about discovering a drug to cure a disease no one even knows about yet -- before passing out. The relevant clips are about seven minutes in here and at the start of this one.

The lesson: Eat something before the limo picks you up. And don't go on The Bachelor.

Friends - "The One in Vegas"/"The One After Vegas"

The story: Before "What happens in Vegas ..." became a tourism-board tagline and an Ashton Kutcher movie vehicle, this season finale/season premiere two-parter put the lie to that, while also illustrating a lesser-known maxim: It's all fun and games until someone with a fake beard drawn on her face gets married to the guy who said her name when he was marrying someone else. (Although I do love the "Hello, Mrs. Ross!" "Hello, Mr. Rachel!" exchange.)

The lesson: When you're married in Las Vegas, you're married everywhere.

The Simpsons - "Boy Scoutz 'N the Hood"

The story: After finding $20, Bart and Milhouse go on a Squishee- and candy-fueled bender (Broadway style!) that ends with the two of them enrolled in the Junior Campers. I'm actually not a fan of the episode's second half -- despite the presence of Ernest Borgnine, Homer is a little too aggressively stupid for my taste -- but the first part is absolutely brilliant. The Squishee scenes can be found here, as well as below.

The lesson: You need to cut your Squishee syrup with some kind of mixer, and never, ever go camping with Homer.

Happy New Year, everyone!!

Famous faces who have left us in 2008

A roll call of notable people in arts, entertainment and popular culture who died this year:

(Cause of death cited for younger people if available.)

January

- Milt Dunnell, 102. Legendary Canadian sports journalist known for his deft turn of phrase and encyclopedic breadth of experience. Jan. 3.

- Bill Belew, 76. Costume designer, created Elvis Presley's jumpsuits. Jan. 7.

- Johnny Grant, 84. Honorary Hollywood mayor. Jan. 9.

- Maila Nurmi, 85. TV's spooky, sexy "Vampira." Jan. 10.

- Dusty Cohl, 78. Credited with taking the Toronto International Film Festival to an international level. Jan. 11

- Brad Renfro, 25. Actor; played title role in The Client. Jan. 15. Drug overdose.

- Allan Melvin, 84. Actor; Sam the Butcher on The Brady Bunch. Jan. 17.

- Lois Nettleton, 80. Actress; had long career on Broadway, television. Jan. 18.

- Suzanne Pleshette, 70. Beautiful, husky-voiced actress; sardonic wife on The Bob Newhart Show. Jan. 19.

- John Stewart, 68. Member of Kingston Trio; wrote Monkees hit Daydream Believer. Jan. 19.

- Heath Ledger, 28. Actor nominated for Oscar for Brokeback Mountain. Jan. 22. Drug overdose.

- Margaret Truman Daniel, 83. Harry Truman's only child; a singer, TV personality, mystery writer. Jan. 29.

February

- Shell Kepler, 49. Actress; gossipy nurse Amy Vining on General Hospital. Feb. 1.

- Barry Morse, 89. Canadian actor played the relentless detective in 1960s TV series The Fugitive. Feb. 2.

- Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, around 91. Beatles' guru; introduced transcendental meditation to West. Feb. 5.

- Phyllis A. Whitney, 104. Novelist whose suspense tales (Feather on the Moon) sold millions. Feb. 8.

- Roy Scheider, 75. Two-time Oscar nominee (The French Connection, All That Jazz); police chief in Jaws. Feb. 10.

- Steve Gerber, 60. Comic-book writer, created Howard the Duck. Feb. 10. Pulmonary fibrosis.

- David Groh, 68. Played Valerie Harper's husband on sitcom Rhoda. Feb. 12.

- Perry Lopez, 78. TV, film actor (Chinatown.) Feb. 14.

- Robin Moore, 82. Wrote The French Connection, The Green Berets. Feb. 21.

- Mike Smith, 64. Lead singer for British band Dave Clark Five. Feb. 28.

March

- Jeff Healey, 41. Rock, jazz musician (Angel Eyes). March 1. Cancer.

- Gary Gygax, 69. He co-created Dungeons & Dragons; hailed as father of role-playing games. March 4.

- Dave Stevens, 52. Comic book artist, created "The Rocketeer." March 10. Leukemia complications.

- Ivan Dixon, 76. Actor; Kinchloe on Hogan's Heroes. March 16.

- Anthony Minghella, 54. Oscar-winning director, turned literary works (The English Patient) into acclaimed movies. March 18. Hemorrhage.

- Paul Scofield, 86. British actor; won Oscar for A Man for All Seasons. March 19.

- Arthur C. Clarke, 90. Visionary science fiction writer (2001: A Space Odyssey). March 19.

- George Gross, 85. Founding sports editor of the Toronto Sun and considered by many a legend in the sports journalism field. March 21.

- Neil Aspinall, 66. Longtime Beatles friend; managed their business enterprises. March 23.

- Sherri Wood, 28. Vibrant Sun Media entertainment writer, after a courageous 11-month battle against brain cancer. In four short but dynamic years with Sun Media, she interviewed everyone from Kim Cattrall to Coldplay and reviewed everything from music to movies. March 24.

- Richard Widmark, 93. Hollywood leading man; made sensational debut as a giggling killer (Kiss of Death). March 24.

- Abby Mann, 80. Socially conscious screenwriter, won Oscar (Judgment at Nuremberg). March 25.

- Sean Levert, 39. A third of 1980s R&B trio LeVert (Casanova). March 30. Natural causes.

- Dith Pran, 65. Cambodian journalist whose harrowing story inspired The Killing Fields. March 30.

April

- Wayne Frost, 44. Hip-hop pioneer known as Frosty Freeze (Flashdance). April 3.

- Charlton Heston, 84. Oscar winner (Ben-Hur). April 5.

- Ollie Johnston, 95. Last of Disney animators called "Nine Old Men" (Fantasia). April 14.

- Hazel Court, 82. Actress in 1950-60s horror movies (The Raven). April 15.

- Danny Federici, 58. Keyboard player for Bruce Springsteen (Hungry Heart). April 17. Cancer.

- Al Wilson, 68. 1970s soul singer (Show and Tell). April 21.

- Albert Hofmann, 102. Discoverer of LSD, which influenced music, art in 1960s. April 29.

May

- Jim Hager, 66. One of Hager Twins on Hee Haw. May 1.

- Eddy Arnold, 89. Country singer known for his mellow baritone (Make the World Go Away). May 8.

- Larry Levine, 80. Recording engineer; helped Phil Spector create Wall of Sound. May 8.

- John Rutsey, 55. Original drummer and co-founding member of the seminal rock band Rush. May 11.

- Robert Rauschenberg, 82. His use of odd and everyday articles made him an art world giant. May 12.

- John Phillip Law, 70. 1960s actor (Barbarella). May 15.

- Alexander Courage, 88. Emmy-winning composer (Star Trek theme.) May 15.

- Jack Duffy, 81. Actor and singer best known for playing charades on the popular 1970s TV comedy show Party Game. May 19.

- Dick Martin, 86. Zany co-host of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, which took television by storm in 1960s. May 24.

- Sydney Pollack, 73. Oscar-winning director, a Hollywood mainstay (Tootsie, Out of Africa). May 26.

- Harvey Korman, 81. Emmy winner for The Carol Burnett Show. May 29.

- Lorenzo Odone, 30. His parents' battle to save him from rare disease inspired Lorenzo's Oil. May 30.

June

- Yves Saint Laurent, 71. One of the most influential, enduring designers of the 20th century. June 1.

- Mel Ferrer, 90. Actor (War and Peace), producer of movies starring then-wife Audrey Hepburn. June 2.

- Bo Diddley, 79. A founding father of rock 'n' roll, known for "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm. June 2.

- Bob Anderson, 75. He played young George Bailey (James Stewart) in It's a Wonderful Life. June 6.

- Jim McKay, 86. Wide World of Sports host who told Americans about killings at 1972 Olympics. June 7.

- James Reaney, 81. Governor General's Award-winning poet, author and dramatist of three famous plays about Ontario's Donnelly family. June 11.

- Tim Russert, 58. Host of Meet the Press whose personality and passion made him beloved in Washington. June 13.

- Stan Winston, 62. Oscar-winning special-effects maestro (Jurassic Park). June 15.

- Cyd Charisse, 86. Dancer turned actress; starred in musicals with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly. June 17.

- Kermit Love, 91. Costume designer; helped create Big Bird, other Sesame Street characters. June 21.

- George Carlin, 71. The dean of counterculture comedians who taught us "Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV." June 22.

- Dody Goodman, 93. Daffy comedian (Jack Paar Show, Grease) June 22.

July

- Larry Harmon, 83. He turned Bozo the Clown into a show business staple. July 3.

- Evelyn Keyes, 91. She played middle O'Hara sister in Gone With the Wind. July 4.

- Dorian Leigh, 91. 1950s supermodel, made Revlon's super-red "Fire and Ice" lipstick famous. July 7.

- Les Crane, 74. Innovator in talk radio, TV; hosted show opposite Johnny Carson in 1960s. July 13.

- Jo Stafford, 90. Singer; topped charts in early 1950s (You Belong to Me). July 16.

- Larry Haines, 89. Actor on Search for Tomorrow for nearly its entire 35-year run. July 17.

- Estelle Getty, 84. Actress; played the sarcastic Sophia on The Golden Girls. July 22.

August

- Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 89. Nobel-winning Russian author who chronicled Stalin's slave labour camps. Aug. 3.

- Bernie Brillstein, 77. Agent, studio head; guided Saturday Night Live stars. Aug. 7.

- Mahmoud Darwish, 67. Palestinian poet who eloquently told of his people's experiences. Aug. 9.

- Bernie Mac, 50. One of "Original Kings of Comedy" who connected with audiences across a wide spectrum (Ocean's Eleven). Aug. 9. Pneumonia.

- Isaac Hayes, 65. Soul crooner who laid groundwork for disco; won Oscar, Grammy for Theme From Shaft. Aug. 10.

- George Furth, 75. Actor-playwright; wrote Tony-winning book for Company. Aug. 11.

- Jerry Wexler, 91. Record producer who coined "rhythm and blues". Aug. 15.

- Dave Freeman, 47. Co-author of 100 Things to Do Before You Die. Aug. 17. Accidental fall.

- Pervis Jackson, 70. Bass singer in 1970s R&B group The Spinners. Aug. 18.

- Fred Crane, 90. Actor who gave opening line in Gone With the Wind. Aug. 21.

September

- Jerry Reed, 71. Witty country singer (When You're Hot, You're Hot) and actor (Smokey and the Bandit). Sept. 1.

- Bill Melendez, 91. Producer-animator who gave life to Snoopy, Charlie Brown in Peanuts TV specials. Sept. 2.

- Anita Page, 98. Co-starred in 1929 Oscar-winner The Broadway Melody. Sept. 6.

- Gregory Mcdonald, 71. Wrote Fletch mysteries. Sept. 7.

- Richard Monette, 64. Actor and the longest-serving artistic director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Sept. 9.

- David Foster Wallace, 46. Author famed for complex, darkly witty works (Infinite Jest). Sept. 12. Suicide.

- Charlie Walker, 81. Grand Ole Opry star (Pick Me Up on Your Way Down). Sept. 12.

- Richard Wright, 65. Founding member, keyboardist for British band Pink Floyd. Sept. 15.

- Connie Haines, 87. Big-band singer; performed with Frank Sinatra. Sept. 22.

- Paul Newman, 83. Oscar-winning actor/race driver/philanthropist who never lost the heartthrob cool of his anti-hero performances. Sept. 26.

October

- House Peters Jr., 92. TV actor; the original Mr. Clean. Oct. 1.

- Frank Kerr, 52. Lead singer of Hamilton punk band Teenage Head.

- Nick Reynolds, 75. Founding member of Kingston Trio. Oct. 1.

- Eileen Herlie, 90. Stage, TV actress; Myrtle Fargate in All My Children, Oct. 8.

- Neal Hefti, 85. Trumpeter; composed themes for The Odd Couple, Batman. Oct. 11.

- Edie Adams, 81. Singer-actress; partnered with husband Ernie Kovacs. Oct. 15.

- Jack Narz, 85. Longtime game show host, unwittingly involved in quiz show scandal. Oct. 15.

- Levi Stubbs, 72. Dynamic Four Tops frontman (Baby I Need Your Loving). Oct. 17.

- Dee Dee Warwick, 63. Soul singer; performed with sister Dionne. Oct. 18.

- Rudy Ray Moore, 81. Raunchy, influential black comedian (Dolemite). Oct. 19.

- Mr. Blackwell, 86. Designer whose worst-dressed list skewered fashion felonies. Oct. 19.

- Estelle Reiner, 94. Had famed line in When Harry Met Sally -- "I'll have what she's having." Married to Carl Reiner and mother of director-actor Rob Reiner. Oct. 25.

- Gerard Damiano, 80. Directed Deep Throat, 1972 porn film that became unlikely hit. Oct. 25.

- William Wharton, 82. Painter-turned-author whose novel Birdy won National Book Award. Oct. 29.

November

- Shakir Stewart, 34. He succeeded Jay-Z as head of Def Jam Recordings. Nov. 1. Suicide.

- Michael Crichton, 66. Best-selling author whose books became blockbuster films (Jurassic Park). Nov. 4.

- Maria Elena Marques, 83. Actress (The Pearl). Nov. 11.

- Mitch Mitchell, 61. Drummer with Jimi Hendrix Experience (Purple Haze). Nov. 12

- Kenny MacLean, 52. Bassist for the 1980s band Platinum Blonde. Nov. 24.

- Patricia Marand, 74. Broadway actress ("It's a Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman.") Nov. 27.

December

- Paul Benedict, 70. Actor; played English neighbour Harry Bentley on The Jeffersons. Dec. 1.

- Odetta, 77. Folk singer with powerful voice who inspired civil rights marchers. Dec. 2.

- Forrest J. Ackerman, 92. Editor, literary agent; credited with coining term "sci-fi." Dec. 4.

- Beverly Garland, 82. Actress in 1950s cult hits (Swamp Women). Dec. 5.

- Nina Foch, 84. Oscar-nominated actress (Executive Suite, Spartacus). Dec. 5.

- Dennis Yost, 65. Lead singer of 1960s group Classics IV (Stormy). Dec. 7.

- Robert Prosky, 77. Prolific character actor (Hill Street Blues). Dec. 8.

- Bettie Page, 85. Beauty who daringly bared it all in the straitlaced '50s. Dec. 11.

- Van Johnson, 92. Boy-next-door Hollywood star (30 Seconds Over Tokyo). Dec. 12.

- Sam Bottoms, 53. Actor who had small but memorable roles in Apocalypse Now, The Last Picture Show. Dec. 16. Brain cancer.

- Majel Barrett Roddenberry, 76. Star Trek actress (Nurse Christine Chapel); widow of creator Gene Roddenberry. Dec. 18.

- Robert Mulligan, 83. Oscar-nominated director of To Kill a Mockingbird; helped launch Reese Witherspoon's career. Dec. 20.

- Eartha Kitt, 81. Sexy singer (C'est Si Bon), dancer and actress who preferred Broadway to movies. Dec. 25.

- Ann Savage, 87. Actress who earned a cult following as femme fatale in such 1940's pulp-fiction films as Detour. Dec. 25.

- Delaney Bramlett, 69. Singer-songwriter-producer who penned classic rock songs (Let It Rain) and worked with George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Dec. 27.

Hail to the Leaf: CBC campaign pitches a Cancon playlist for Obama

Barack Obama has proclaimed himself a fan of music both old-school and new, but a new CBC Radio campaign specifically aims to get some Canadian content onto the U.S. president-elect's radar for Inauguration Day.

On Monday, CBC Radio 2 is officially launching a campaign inviting music lovers to craft a definitive Canadian playlist as a gift to the incoming U.S. president.

After accepting submissions for one week, producers will determine the top 100 nominated songs and release a shortlist on Jan. 12. Five days of public online voting will determine the final tally of "49 songs from north of the 49th parallel" for Obama — to be revealed on Jan. 20, Inauguration Day.

"One of the best ways to know Canada is through the depth and breadth of our artistic expression," said Denise Donlon, executive director of CBC English Radio.

"We're excited about the new president, and we want him to be excited about us."

Early suggestions: from Bach to rap

A few CBC personalities and Canadian cultural figures have already weighed in with suggestions.

After reading that Obama enjoys Bach, pianist Angela Hewitt suggested the president-elect listen to a particular recording of Grosser Herr, o starker Konig from the composer's Christmas Oratorio, featuring "one of Canada's greatest artists, the baritone Gerald Finley."

Rick MacInnes-Rae, host of CBC Radio's Dispatches, picked the song Saskatchewan by Drummondville, Que., band Les Trois Accords because "Obama needs to know Quebec has moved on from Expo 67. And how to spell Saskatchewan. So do Canadians, come to think of it."

Canadian rap pioneer Maestro Fresh Wes listed his own song Stick to Your Vision among his choices because "it's a song dealing with perseverance and inspiration. Obama has inspired millions with his perseverance."

Obama an eclectic music lover

Obama has been described as an avid and eclectic music fan.

Last summer, when he and Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain were asked for their top 10 songs, Obama offered a wide-ranging list that included Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, The Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter, Bruce Springsteen's I'm on Fire, The Fugees' Ready or Not and Aretha Franklin's Think.

Also during the campaign, he revealed that Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé and Earth, Wind and Fire are among the other musical acts that get him dancing.

'Sesame Street' is 40 but young at heart

Ah, Sesame Street. Big Bird. Bert and Ernie. Grover. The Cookie Monster. The good old days.

The street is still hot. It celebrates its 40th year in 2009 with its largest audience: 8 million viewers on 350 stations in 120 countries.

Not wanting to be left out of the fun, hundreds of celebrities have visited TV's most famous boulevard over the years. Sarah Jessica Parker appeared to discuss the art of sighing, first lady Laura Bush stopped by to read, and Robin Williams waxed eloquent on the wonders of feet.

Now a book, the first out of the gate to mark the anniversary, is arriving in stores. Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street (Viking, 384 pp, $27.95) is by Michael Davis, a former columnist for TV Guide who spent many happy hours wandering Sesame Street with his children.

"It touched me in a very profound way," Davis says.

Davis spent five years reporting and writing the story of the longest-running children's show in TV history, which was the brainchild of Jim Henson, the late Muppets creator, and entrepreneur Joan Ganz Cooney. Davis refers to the show as "a confluence of genius" and dubs Henson "wondrously human."

Sesame Street began on Nov. 10, 1969, as an educational children's show and evolved into a sophisticated program that combined education and entertainment.

Carol-Lynn Parente, Sesame Street's executive producer, has been with the show 20 years and sees the magic firsthand.

"There are times that some of what makes this work is mysterious even to us," Parente says. "But the essence of what has made us as successful as we've been is our ability to evolve. The life of a preschooler today is much different than it was in 1969."

Davis believes the show will go on forever. "They still approach each season as an experiment. As long as they do that, they will grow and change as children grow and change and the culture grows and changes."

Some 40th-anniversary highlights scheduled in 2009:

• A panel discussion Jan. 30 featuring the show's contributors at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J.

• Another book, Sesame Street: A Celebration of Forty Years of Life on the Street, by Louise Gikow (Black Dog & Leventhal, fall).

• A Sesame Street: 40th Anniversary two-disc DVD (November release).

"Australia" another letdown for Nicole Kidman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Maybe Crocodile Dundee should have starred in "Australia."

Twentieth Century Fox appears to have given up on director Baz Luhrmann's latest period epic in North America, and is hoping that foreign sales will rescue the costly picture.

The movie has sold just $44.3 million worth of tickets at the U.S. and Canadian box office after five weekends, and is shaping up to be the latest in a line of disappointments for its star, Nicole Kidman.

The News Corp-owned studio says it hopes "Australia" will reach $50 million domestically. The project cost $130 million and movie theaters generally keep about half of the gross.

"We were hoping to do more in the U.S., but it's tough. There's a lot of competition," said Bert Livingston, Fox's senior vice-president of domestic distribution.

Adding insult to injury, "Australia" failed to get any nomination for the Golden Globe, Critics Choice and Screen Actors Guild awards. Fox had counted on the recognition to boost its Oscar hopes and to expand the movie beyond its core audience of older women.

This past Christmas holiday weekend, one of the busiest of the year, "Australia" tumbled 10 places to No. 19 with four-day sales of $1.3 million, according to tracking firm Media By Numbers. It played in 711 theaters, down from 2,212 the weekend before. The top film was Fox's canine comedy "Marley & Me," which opened to $50.7 million.

RESPECTABLE OVERSEAS SALES

"Australia" is doing respectably overseas, with ticket sales of about $46 million from 51 countries, Fox said. The top market, naturally, is Australia with $16 million after five weekends. It opened at No. 1 in Spain, France and Germany last weekend, but at No. 3 in Britain.

Foreign sales are crucial as Luhrmann's previous films, 2001's "Moulin Rouge" and 1996's "Romeo + Juliet" each earned about two-thirds of their worldwide hauls outside of North America. By contrast, recent smashes "The Dark Knight" and "Iron Man" tallied slightly more domestically.

Kidman plays an icy English aristocrat who falls for a cowboy played by compatriot Hugh Jackman as they drive her herd of cattle across the Australian outback during the early days of World War Two.

Reviews were mixed, although critics generally agreed that it looked great.
Despite winning an Oscar in 2003 for "The Hours," Kidman is not a big box office draw. The 41-year-old actress has never headlined a movie that grossed more than $100 million in North America. Her recent flops include "The Invasion" and "Fur." Forbes magazine reported in September that she was Hollywood's most overpaid celebrity.

Fox was hoping "Australia" would make up for a bad summer, when it dropped such bombs as the Eddie Murphy comedy "Meet Dave" and a belated "X-Files" sequel. But the studio enjoys a reputation for fiscal discipline, and a spokesman said Australian taxpayers would refund upwards of 40 percent of the film's $130 million cost through a new government subsidy.

Kidman's publicist did not return messages. Luhrmann's publicist referred inquiries to Fox. In an interview two weeks ago with the Hollywood Reporter, Luhrmann likened his movie to "old Hollywood classics" like "Gone with the Wind."

He also said "Australia" was on a similar trajectory as "Moulin Rouge," which ended up with $72 million in North America. But after five weekends in wide release, that film had banked about $60 million and was still playing in 1,271 theaters, according to inflation-adjusted data provided by Box Office Mojo.

BNL's 'HNIC' to debut on New Year's Eve

TORONTO - The Barenaked Ladies' cover of the old "Hockey Night in Canada" theme song will debut on TSN on New Year's Eve.

The bluegrass version of the song - which includes vocals - will air during the first intermission of a game between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames at 10 p.m. ET.

The group recorded their version of the song last month, following Simple Plan's rock recording of the iconic tune in October.

Barenaked Ladies drummer Tyler Stewart says it was a thrill for him as a die-hard hockey fan to play the song.

In June, CTV acquired the rights to the song, which is officially called, "The Hockey Theme."

It was created by Vancouver-born Dolores Claman in 1968 and was heard on the CBC for decades on "Hockey Night in Canada" broadcasts.

It is now heard on TSN and RDS and will be used during CTV's hockey coverage of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Twilight Was Bigger than Dark Knight?!

Los Angeles (E! Online) – If only Wall Street had bet on Twilight. Or Hannah Montana. Or Kirk Cameron.

With a $167.3 million overall domestic take as Sunday, per Box Office Mojo, Twilight made more than four times its reported $37 million production budget—the best rate of return on any film in the 2008 Top 10, including The Dark Knight.

The Batman epic was a pretty good investment, too, very nearly tripling its gargantuan $185 million budget with a $530.8 million domestic take, Hollywood's second-biggest ever.

Still, The Dark Knight was nothing compared to these off-the-charts performers: High School Musical 3: Senior Year ($89.7 million), which grossed about eight times its $11 million budget; the Hannah Montana concert movie, which made about nine times its $7 million budget; and, Cameron's Fireproof, which cost $500,000 to produce, and made $33.1 million—or, more than 60 times its budget.

Other winners—and losers—of the box-office year that was, per stats from Box Office Mojo and The-Numbers.com:

Winners:

• Titanic. If The Dark Knight couldn't get within even $50 million of the big-boat movie, then maybe it really won't ever be sunk as Hollywood's all-time domestic box-office king.

• Robert Downey Jr. Rising from The Shaggy Dog, Downey was the only star to score two Top 20 live-action hits, Iron Man ($318.3 million) and Tropic Thunder ($110.5 million).

• Will Smith. With apologies to Downey, Smith was the only star to sell a Top 10 movie, Hancock ($227.9 million), solely with his name.

• Women. Tween and teen girls flocked to Twilight. Actresses fronted, or helped front, four Top 20 hits: Sex and the City ($152.6 million), Mamma Mia! ($143.8 million), Wanted ($134.3 million) and Four Christmases ($111.8 million).

• Paris Hilton. Her opus, The Hottie & the Nottie ($27,696), was so not the lowest-grossing movie of the year. In fact, it reigned over films starring Catherine Zeta-Jones (Death Defying Acts, $3,561), Heather Graham (Miss Conception, $1,503) and Nick Stahl (How to Rob a Bank, $711—yes, $711).

In-Betweeners:

• Hollywood. Despite The Dark Knight, overall revenue was down $86.8 million from last year, a drop of about 1 percent. Ticket sales fell even further—a dip of about about 4.25 percent, representing 59.1 million fewer admissions. But, given the nation's economic meltdown, things could have been worse, and, oddly, things got better after Wall Street's collapse in September. "I think the fact that the Industry held its own is remarkable," Exhibitor Relations' Jeff Bock said.

• Speed Racer. In May, this looked like the flop of the year. Then came the $130 million Australia ($44.3 million gross), and the realization by Disney that Prince Caspian ($141.6 million) wasn't The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ($291.7 million). In the end, Speed was still a bomb—$43.9 million gross; $120 million budget—but it wasn't the bomb.

• Adam Sandler. You Don't Mess with the Zohan ($100 million) didn't bomb, but it didn't clear its $90 million budget by much. Bedtime Stories, which opened on Christmas, isn't bombing, but it isn't Night at the Museum.

• Brendan Fraser. Put him in a $145 million movie, like The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, or a $60 million movie, like Journey to the Center of the Earth, and you get the same result: a so-so $100 million or so gross.

• M. Night Shyamalan. His The Happening ($64.5 million) made more than it cost, but people disliked it about as much as Lady in the Water.

Losers:

• Wallets. The average ticket price hit $7.20, the National Association of Theatre Owners reported on its blog, a new all-time high.

• Blockbusters. Of the year's 24 members of the $100 million club, four failed to match their budgets with their domestic takes alone: Quantum of Solace ($164.3 million gross; $200 million budget); The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ($141.6 million gross; $200 million budget); The Incredible Hulk ($134.3 million gross; $150 million budget); and, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor ($102.3 million gross; $145 million budget).

• Prince Capsian. "That one looked like a guaranteed $200 million-plus superhit, with a real chance of surpassing $300 million," Box Office Guru's Gitesh Pandya said in an email. Instead, it might have cost the Narnia trilogy its third leg.

• The X-Files. Fox revived the franchise with a can't-lose $30 million investment only to lose when I Want to to Believe couldn't crack even $21 million.

• 10,000 B.C. ($94.8 million), The Spiderwick Chronicles ($71.2 million), Hellboy II: The Golden Army ($75.8 million) and Mike Myers' The Love Guru ($32.2 million) and every other underperformer.

Here's a look of the top-grossing films of 2008 through Sunday based on numbers compiled by Box Office Mojo:

1) The Dark Knight, $530.8 million
2) Iron Man, $318.3 million
3) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, $317 million
4) Hancock, $227.9 million
5) WALL-E, $223.8 million
6) Kung Fu Panda, $215.4 million
7) Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, $174.9 million
8) Twilight, $167.3 million
9) Quantum of Solace, $164.3 million
1) Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!, $154.5 million

(Published Dec. 29th, 2008)

'Terminator' to be preserved in US film registry

WASHINGTON – One of Arnold Schwarzenegger's most famous one-liners will be back for generations to come, now that 1984's "The Terminator" has been selected for preservation in the nation's film archive.

The low-budget film directed by James Cameron set a new standard for science-fiction and made Schwarzenegger, now California's governor, a star. The Library of Congress announced Tuesday morning that it's one of 25 films being added to the National Film Registry. The formal unveiling was scheduled for 8 a.m.

The move will guard Schwarzenegger's deadpan, "I'll be back," against deterioration, along with the sounds and images of the other culturally significant picks. Other titles being added to the registry include the groundbreaking all-black-cast film "Hallelujah" from 1929; Richard Brooks' 1967 film adaptation of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood"; and the 1972 film "Deliverance," based on James Dickey's novel about four businessmen on a nightmarish canoe trip in the remote Georgia wildnerness.

"The registry helps this nation understand the diversity of America's film heritage and, just as importantly, the need for its preservation," Librarian of Congress James H. Billington said in announcing his 2008 selections. "The nation has lost about half of the films produced before 1950 and as much as 90 percent of those made before 1920."

As time passes, older nitrate- and acetate-based films begin to deteriorate, Billington said. The Library of Congress is working to digitize and preserve endangered film and audio files at its new Packard Campus of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, an approximately $250 million facility built in a bunker in the hills near Culpeper, Va.

With Tuesday's additions, the total number of films in the registry will reach 500.

The registry, established by Congress in 1989, works with film archives and movie studios that own the rights to the selected films to ensure original copies are kept safe. It also acquires a copy for preservation in its own vaults among millions of other recordings.

Curators select films based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic significance, saying their picks wouldn't necessarily overlap with those of a movie critic. And some aren't feature films at all: This year's list includes a family's home movie, "Disneyland Dream," which documented a trip to the newly opened park in Anaheim, Calif., in 1956.

"The selection of a title for the registry is not meant to duplicate the Academy Awards or anything like that," said Patrick Loughney, head of the library's audio-visual center.

The library accepted public nominations for the film registry selections online and issued a specific call for lesser-known films, including amateur and home-movie footage.

Some films were selected for their historical value, such as "Hallelujah," the tale of a cotton sharecropper made by MGM as the studio was transitioning from silent to sound films. The 1910 film "White Fawn's Devotion," the oldest film selected this year, was made by James Young Deer. He was the first documented American Indian movie director, a member of the Winnebago tribe.

Other movies inspired the nation during times of trouble, such as "Sergeant York" from 1941, which told the story of a Tennessee pacifist who captured 130 German soldiers in World War I. The film, starring Gary Cooper, was released just months before the United States entered World War II.

Fox says it will try to stop 'Watchmen'

LOS ANGELES – An attorney for 20th Century Fox says the studio will press its case to delay the release of "Watchmen," but a rival studio says it plans to release the film as scheduled.

U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess last week agreed with Fox that Warner Bros. had infringed its copyright by developing and shooting the superhero flick, casting some doubt on its March 6 release date.

Feess said Monday he plans to hold a trial Jan. 20 to decide remaining issues.

Fox claims it never fully relinquished story rights for the graphic novel from its deal made in the late 1980s, and sued Warner Bros. in February. Warner Bros. contended Fox isn't entitled to distribution.

Warner Bros. said in a statement released Monday afternoon that it won't move the movie's release date and still thinks it will win the case, either at trial or through an appeal.

Dick Clark, 79, is still rockin' New Year's Eve

LOS ANGELES – Four years after a stroke, Dick Clark is relishing the prospect of another New Year's Eve celebration, determined to appear for his 36th year in Times Square. And he's hardly surprised by the current state of the music industry he helped build — he predicted this, after all.

Clark, who turned 79 last month and has been in front of the cameras for 61 years, said in a recent interview by e-mail that his involvement in "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2009," diminished though it may be, is a labor of love and "not really a job."

"Obviously, I'm not able to be as actively involved as I used to be out on the street, up on a platform and interacting with the crowds in Times Square" in New York, Clark wrote. "Thank goodness my friend Ryan Seacrest is able to handle that end of the activity on the show these days.

ABC-TV's 3 1/2-hour live extravaganza will include performances by Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boy, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, Pussycat Dolls, Solange and Robin Thicke. Fergie hosts the Hollywood segments.

Clark woke up with right-side paralysis on Dec. 6, 2004 — "Your life changes overnight," he said. (Regis Philbin filled in for Clark on the New Year's Eve show that year.) Clark still uses a walker or wheelchair, and speaking is difficult.

"I am one of the fortunate ones who survived and have been minimally impaired, so I'm just thankful I'm still able to enjoy this once-a-year treat of bringing in the New Year."

The "American Bandstand" icon and longtime producer of the American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and Golden Globes has long considered them "my television kids."

He's also watched their ratings plummet in recent years.

"There was a time when they attracted a huge audience," Clark wrote. "The audiences have dropped off as the years have gone by because of increasing television competition.

"What we are seeing is more and more talent and less emphasis on people getting awards. Television's award shows have now become gigantic showcases for variety."

Clark was there at the birth of rock 'n' roll ("American Bandstand" kicked off July 9, 1956), and he's watched dramatic changes in the music industry. Not that those changes would come as much of a surprise.

"I can remember writing an article several years ago where I let my imagination run wild," Clark wrote. "I said we'd see the day when music is delivered directly to our homes, and delivered to us in some form of wireless communication.

"The fun of actually holding a record in our hands will disappear and we'll all have our own individual library of our favorite songs that we'll listen to at home, at work, in the car wherever we happen to go."

These days, Clark divides his time between his Malibu home and Burbank office. There's an hourlong therapy session each morning, then he answers mail and phone calls, attends meetings and reads.

The day ends with his devoted wife Kari.

"My wife and I may join friends for dinner at a restaurant, attend a movie or just grab a bite to eat by ourselves away from home," Clark wrote. "Occasionally, we'll attend a music concert. Recently we've seen Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, Frankie Valli and Cher."

Anne of Green Gables joins The Modern Library

Anne Shirley has taken her place among some of the most well-known literary characters of all time, including Tom Sawyer, Jane Eyre and Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables has been published as part Random House's The Modern Library, a collection of the world's great literary works that was first assembled in the early 1900s.

Rebecca Shapiro of Random House is part of the group that meets monthly to consider new entries for the series.

"It's a really nice indication that the book is very much part of a literary canon," said Shapiro.

"The Modern Library is one of the most respected classics collections, I think, out there. So for a title to be included, it's a nice sort of indication of its status as a classic."

Shapiro said the choice was made in part to celebrate this year's 100th anniversary of the book's original publication.

The selection is not without controversy. Some critics describe the book as a poor example of Victorian sentimentalit, and see its selection as caving in to nostalgia.

Selection defended

"To some people this canonical promotion of a writer, who would probably now be classified as a kind of young adult writer, might seem preposterous, or slightly making too large a claim for the book itself," said Meghan O'Rourke, literary critic for the online magazine Slate.

But O'Rourke defends the selection.

"Think what Montgomery did for women's imaginative lives, their sense of imaginative autonomy," said O'Rourke.

"She did something that very few writers have done for girls."

In the past century, Anne of Green Gables has been published in 33 languages; Montgomery wrote seven sequels, and a prequel was recently published with the consent of her heirs. There have been two movies for the big screen, six for television and three television series

Anne's inclusion on the list could make her even more widely known that she is already, as The Modern Library books are often included on reading lists in high schools, colleges and universities around the world.

Here Are 23 Great Movies That Are Not Available On DVD In North America (Region 1)

1. The Tarnished Angels (1958)

It should be so simple. The technology exists to distribute old movies, and there are people out there who want to see them. And yet every movie buff has had the experience of reading up on some great film or filmmaker, then hitting the video store and discovering that for one reason or another—rights issues, perhaps, or lack of broad public interest—the movies they want to see are unavailable on DVD. A few years back, when Todd Haynes’ Far From Heaven and François Ozon’s 8 Women were reigniting interest in ’50s ironist Douglas Sirk, those curious to learn more about the director were disappointed to discover that more than 75 percent of his films are locked away, out of general circulation. The most egregious absentee: The Tarnished Angels, a 1958 romance based on William Faulkner’s Pylon, about a barnstorming pilot, his neglected wife, and the reporter who exposes their dreary lives. Abandoning the bright colors of All That Heaven Allows and Written On The Wind for stark black-and-white and empty spaces, Sirk tells a story every bit as melodramatic as his earlier films, yet darker and graver. It’s arguably Sirk’s most sophisticated, powerful work—and damnably underseen.

2. The African Queen (1951)

There’s no excuse for John Huston’s classic The African Queen to still be lacking an American DVD release. Never mind the historical qualities of the film that won Humphrey Bogart his only Oscar; never mind that it’s an enduring classic. More to the point, it’s one of the most entertaining of Huston’s many crackerjack features, and it represents a winning chance to see Bogie playing against type as a bowing-and-scraping social underling to Katharine Hepburn, who herself plays directly to type as a stuffy, virginal, patrician missionary in Africa. Their obligatory romance is a little stiff, for reasons that become clear in Hepburn’s unintentionally revealing book The Making Of The African Queen, Or, How I Went To Africa With Bogart, Bacall, And Huston And Almost Lost My Mind—surely the much-needed DVD release would be an excellent reason to bring this book back into print—but it’s hard to beat the scene where Bogie finally realizes Hepburn isn’t kidding about her crazy scheme to fight a German battleship with his broken-down wreck of a steamship, and she isn’t going to back down, either.

3. Penn & Teller Get Killed (1989)

In olden times, before Penn Jillette and his silent partner Teller were readily available all over TV, fans had a choice of catching their magic act onstage or tuning into the goofy gem Penn & Teller Get Killed, a sort of mockumentary-adventure in which the partners play increasingly elaborate gags on each other, with fatal (hey, it’s right there in the title) results. It’s maybe a little visually dated (check out Penn’s hip ’80s combination Jheri-curl/pigtail ’do!) but it’s surprisingly random and funny. And it was the last feature helmed by Bonnie And Clyde director Arthur Penn. Criterion! Get on this!


4. Los Angeles Plays Itself

Technically speaking, you can watch Los Angeles Plays Itself on DVD—if you happen to be taking a class with director Thom Andersen, or you’re a personal friend of his, or you’re lucky enough to attend one of its rare academic screenings. Otherwise, you’re out of luck, and that’s nothing short of tragic. An epic, far-reaching treatise on how the capital of moviemaking has been depicted across a century of film, Los Angeles Plays Itself is nothing short of a work of genius. Its structure is perfect, its scope is definitive, it virtually invents a new language of documentary filmmaking, and it can be counted as one of the best movies about movies ever made. But because the legal clearances for so many L.A.-based movies proved impossible to get, Andersen is restrained from any kind of commercial release, and that isn’t likely to change any time soon.


5. Brewster McCloud (1970)

Pretty much the entire Robert Altman filmography has made its way to DVD by now—even much of his early TV work—but a few holes remain. No H.E.A.L.T.H. No Come Back To The Five And Dime, Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean. No That Cold Day In The Park. And no Brewster McCloud—the eccentric comedy Altman made between M*A*S*H and McCabe & Mrs. Miller, and easily the best as-yet-unavailable Altman. Riffing freely on The Wizard Of Oz and ’60s cop shows—with Bud Cort starring as a boy who lives in the Houston Astrodome and wants to fly—Brewster McCloud is hopelessly shaggy, but pure Altman.


6. Looking For Mr. Goodbar (1977)

Echoes of Looking For Mr. Goodbar, Robert Brooks’ adaptation of the Judith Rossner novel based on the real-life murder of a 27-year-old New York teacher, can be found in everything from Twin Peaks to Madonna’s “Bad Girl” music video—yet the movie has languished in VHS purgatory for years. Why? Either Richard Gere is personally blocking the release to prevent the world from seeing him do push-ups while wearing a jock strap in a high-quality video format (unlikely), or maybe Paramount doesn’t think there’s a market for a flawed movie that can be read as a dark, disturbing cautionary tale about the dangers of promiscuous sex (more likely). But Looking For Mr. Goodbar shouldn’t be kept off the DVD shelves because of its more sensational aspects—in fact, it should be seen in part for those aspects. As an artifact depicting the gritty, decadent days of singles bars, pickup scenes, and disco in run-down ’70s New York, the movie is invaluable. And Diane Keaton’s performance as a benign schoolteacher by day, “liberated” woman looking for no-strings sex by night, is worth the DVD treatment all on its own.


7. Island Of Lost Souls (1932)

An adaptation of H.G. Wells’ The Island Of Dr. Moreau, Island Of Lost Souls stars a never-creepier Charles Laughton as the mad scientist whose experiments with animal-human hybrids yield disturbing results. They also force viewers to question what makes us human in ways that have only grown more relevant since the rise of the animal-rights movement and the coming of science that mirrors the work in Moreau’s lab. The all-time-terrible sort-of remake Island Of Dr. Moreau, on the other hand, is widely available on DVD. (Bonus: It’s where Devo got the phrase “Are we not men?”)


8. The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)

Over the course of three Decline Of Western Civilization documentaries—none of which are on DVD—Penelope Spheeris captured illuminating snapshots of the Los Angeles music scene at crucial, wildly divergent moments. While the first and third films centered on hardcore punk bands, the infamous second installment documented the city’s fame-hungry glam-metal groups. Twenty years later, The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years remains the definitive film about one of the most excessive (and unintentionally hilarious) scenes in rock history. Which makes it doubly frustrating that the movie is so hard to actually see. VHS copies still pop up in thrift stores, bootleg DVDs are available online, and the movie occasionally plays on TV. But a film with so many memorable scenes—the most famous being Chris Holmes from W.A.S.P. pouring vodka over himself in a swimming pool while his mother looks on—deserves a legitimate release.


9. The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)

Warner Brothers owns the RKO catalog, thus owns the DVD rights to The Magnificent Ambersons, which is good news for Orson Welles fans, since Warner Home Video has consistently been among the best in the business at assembling archival material and other special features on their DVD releases of old movies. When Warner finally does release The Magnificent Ambersons—it’s only a matter of time, surely—expect Welles’ version of Booth Tarkington’s decade-spanning family tragicomedy to include all kinds of treats, like Welles’ Mercury Theater radio version, and perhaps the 1925 silent-movie version. But unless Warner can come through with the big get—Welles’ original 40-minute third act, which has long been missing since his studio bosses snipped it—no DVD release will feel completely satisfactory. If anything, the fact that Warner has dragged its feet so long on putting Ambersons out has raised hopes that they’re waiting for what would be the ultimate bonus feature.

10. Urgh! A Music War (1981)

Some movies not currently available on DVD never made it to VHS either, but there are a large number of cult films—many from the early ‘80s—that were home-video staples not so long ago, yet have gone largely unseen for the better part of a decade. Urgh! is a classic example: It’s a punk/new-wave concert film featuring dynamic performances by the likes of Wall Of Voodoo, The Go-Go’s, Dead Kennedys, The Police, The Fleshtones, Gang Of Four, X, and XTC, and it was a popular rental for music buffs two decades ago, as well as a staple of USA’s Night Flight and the early days of VH1. But disputes over music rights have kept the film—and its reported hours of outtakes—off DVD for now.

11. Drowning By Numbers (1988)

It isn’t just Drowning By Numbers—the work of controversial English formalist Peter Greenaway is only spottily available on DVD. His early experimental shorts and his first major feature, The Falls, came out recently, but a number of his later, better-known films, including Prospero’s Books; The Cook, the Thief, His Wife And Her Lover; and the notorious Baby Of Mâcon are either out of print or simply unavailable in the United States. But this 1988 film may be the greatest loss: It’s a formalist masterpiece, exploring Greenaway’s obsessions with mathematics, game-playing, and painting with incredible skill and subtlety. It’s also one of his most relatable films, with a delightfully nasty plot (three women all attempt to murder their husbands by drowning), clever dialogue, and tremendous performances, especially by Joan Plowright, Juliet Stevenson, and Bernard Hill.

12. Grindhouse (2007)

Yes, Planet Terror and Death Proof are available separately on DVD, in extended versions that frankly aren’t as good as the shortened versions that screened theatrically in the U.S. Also missing on the DVDs: the fake trailers that linked the two films, and the overall spirit of collaboration and experimentation that yokes Planet Terror and Death Proof together. In its original form, Grindhouse is both riotous and generous—one of the best movies of 2007. How is it that one of the best movies of 2007 is not yet available on DVD?


13. Mickey One (1965)

Two years before Bonnie And Clyde (and well before Penn & Teller Get Killed) director Arthur Penn teamed up with Warren Beatty for this absurdist noir exercise, which stars Beatty as a traveling stand-up comic who inadvertently pisses off the mafia and constantly worries that his success on stage will draw the mob’s attention. Nonsensical, existential, highly stylish, and frequently funny, Mickey One is one of the first and best American responses to the French New Wave. The film was revived in the mid-’90s for a few festival and repertory screenings, but no home-video release has followed.

14. Greed (1924)

Regularly, and deservedly, included on lists of the greatest films of all time, Eric Von Stroheim’s adaptation of Frank Norris’ novel McTeague began as a 10-hour epic, then got clipped to two and a half hours before dying at the box office. An incinerator took the cut footage decades ago, but at any length, Greed retains its power. Von Stroheim brings a painter’s eye for composition to the then-still-new language of movies, and he takes a devastating route toward an old conclusion about humanity’s willingness to be corrupted. In 1999, Turner Classic Movies aired a sort-of restoration that used stills to reconstruct about 90 minutes of the cut footage. What the approach lacked in grace, it compensated for with clarity. Of course, on DVD, viewers could choose to watch either version. And yet…

15. Bigger Than Life (1955)

Nicholas Ray’s melodrama Bigger Than Life has been hailed as a penetrating exploration of the American psyche and the calamitous ramifications of the winner-takes-all mindset. Alas, contemporary film buffs mostly have to take the reviews’ word for it, since Ray’s searing drama about a family man (James Mason) whose life steadily unravels once he begins taking personality-warping cortisone shots has inexplicably never been released on DVD. And speaking of Ray…


16. Johnny Guitar (1954)

How Nicholas Ray’s florid Western never made it onto DVD remains baffling for several reasons: Ray (Rebel Without A Cause) is beloved among auteurists, and this film specifically has both a cult and a camp following; the basic premise was lifted whole for Sergio Leone’s masterpiece Once Upon A Time In The West; and it offers the strange spectacle of Joan Crawford, in all her grotesque splendor, teaming up with Sterling Hayden. Crawford stars as a saloon owner who wants to expand her empire once a railroad is built through town, but she gets resistance from the citizenry, particularly a moral scold (Mercedes McCambridge) consumed by jealousy. Their rivalry gives the film a uniquely feminist twist, because the men look weak by comparison; even the towering Hayden becomes a pussycat in Crawford’s arms. Freud scholars will have a ball.


17. Let It Be (1970)

The 1970 documentary Let It Be, about the troubled sessions for the eponymous Beatles album, includes one of the most iconic sequences in the band’s history—the rooftop concert at the Apple Building where the Fab Four played together in public for the last time. If Let It Be consisted only of this performance, it would be essential viewing for Beatles fans. But the movie also shows, in often-painful detail, just how much John, Paul, George, and Ringo did not like being in the same room together by the end of the band’s career. Nearly 40 years have passed since, but the bitter acrimony depicted in Let It Be apparently still cuts close to the bone for the surviving principals; late Apple Corps. head Neil Aspinall said last year that the film is still “too controversial” to be released on DVD.


18. The Landlord (1970)

Few directors have enjoyed the kind of run that director Hal Ashby had in the ’70s. For many film fans, Ashby’s winning streak begins with 1971’s Harold And Maude, and continues through The Last Detail, Shampoo, Bound For Glory, Coming Home, and Being There. But Ashby’s 1970 directorial debut, The Landlord,is just as great as the other movies he made during the decade, and it’s the only one not available on DVD. The movie stars Beau Bridges as a rich kid who takes over an inner-city building to turn it into a splashy bachelor pad, and ends up romantically involved with two black tenants. Like Ashby’s other work, The Landlord concerns issues of class and transcending rigid authority, and it exhibits the massively influential indie-quirk style made famous by Harold And Maude. It’s time the movie was released on DVD so cinephiles can finally get a complete picture of Ashby’s golden era.

19. Park Row (1952)

There’s been a welcome tide of Samuel Fuller films arriving on DVD over the past several years—including the scandalous White Dog, newly available from the Criterion Collection—but the movie Fuller considered his personal favorite isn’t currently on the market. Set during the New York newspaper wars of the mid-1880s—and informed by Fuller’s own experiences as a teenage copyboy and cub reporter—Park Row gives the seat-of-the-pants world of yellow journalism the two-fisted action of a gangster film. It’s both enormously entertaining and informative; Park Row may be the only action-packed, tough-talking period picture that also explains how to sort type.

20. Homicide (1991)

David Mamet’s films have often fallen through the cracks for one reason or another—too stylized for the mainstream, too unironically pulpy for the arthouse crowd—but the lack of attention paid to the twisty crime drama Homicide is especially unfortunate, since it’s the kind of masterfully plotted, carefully controlled think-piece that Mamet has largely abandoned over the past decade, in favor of mild sensationalism. Joe Mantegna stars as a sweet-talking cop whose investigation of a low-profile murder leads him to confront his Jewish identity. Deliberately paced and frequently surprising, Homicide promises to plunge the audience into a typically Mamet-esque underworld, but instead it sticks us into Mantegna’s shut-out, insecure point of view.

21. The Phenix City Story (1955)

Sure, Phil Karlson’s indie crime saga The Phenix City Story was daring stuff for 1955, with its indictment of the real-life corruption in a small Alabama town. And the movie’s fairly unflinching depictions of racism, prostitution, and authoritarian power grabs are still provocative today. But not so daring and provocative that Phenix City Story shouldn’t be on DVD.


22. Housekeeping (1987)

Always making a great foil to the commercial comedies of the ’80s, Glaswegian director Bill Forsyth put out a series of gentle, magical romantic comedies like Gregory’s Girl and Local Hero. But his reputation didn’t survive the VHS era, and even if it had, his 1987 gem Housekeeping was always just a minor critic’s favorite, appearing as part of the National Society Of Film Critics’ great book, Produced And Abandoned. Roger Ebert revived the film for his Ebertfest 2008 in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, so perhaps Housekeeping will finally get another chance to disarm audiences with its daffy humor and gorgeous evocation of the Pacific Northwest in the late ’50s. Based on the Marilynne Robinson novel, the film stars a superb Christine Lahti as an eccentric spinster who takes in two sisters after their mother goes for a “Sunday drive” and never comes back. Housekeeping was promoted as a comedy—and granted, Lahti’s habits are definitely funny—but it’s also a bittersweet look at how a family reconstitutes itself out of tragedy.

23. Phantasm II (1988)

Available on DVD in the U.S.: Phantasm, Phantasm III: Lord Of The Dead, Phantasm IV: Oblivion. Not available: Phantasm II. No, it doesn't make any sense to us either.

Hollywood's happy, even without a record year

LOS ANGELES – Hollywood loves breaking box-office records, yet studio executives aren't griping that their 2008 lineup will fall a bit shy of the all-time high set a year earlier.

With the overall economy in the pits, movie moguls are just glad to have weathered the year with faithful audiences that continued to crowd into theaters.

"Last year was the record of all time. The economy's tough. Things are bad out there, and I think if we can have another record-breaking year or close to it, I figure we'll all be happy," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., which released the year's biggest hit with "The Dark Knight" ($531 million).

Through New Year's Eve, 2008 domestic revenues are expected to come in just shy of 2007's record of $9.7 billion, according to box-office tracker Media By Numbers. Factoring in inflation, the actual number of tickets sold in 2008 is running 5 percent behind last year's, when admissions totaled 1.4 billion.

Hollywood historically survives recessions better than many businesses because movies remain relatively cheap compared with sporting events, live theater and other forms of entertainment.

While consumer belt-tightening no doubt costs studios some cash, the list of 2008 blockbusters is a sign of a healthy business delivering the goods across every genre.

With a $158.4 million debut, the Batman sequel "The Dark Knight" shattered the record for best opening weekend and has put Heath Ledger on track for a possible posthumous Academy Award as the maniacal villain the Joker.

Paramount and Marvel Studios' "Iron Man" was the superhero runner-up with a $318.3 million haul. Old-school hero Harrison Ford cracked his whip again as Paramount's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" followed closely with $317 million.

Among other smashes: Sony's Will Smith adventure "Hancock" and James Bond thriller "Quantum of Solace"; Universal's action tale "Wanted"; and a rush of animated comedies led by the Disney-Pixar charmer "WALL-E."

While young males remained Hollywood's core audience, girls and women flocked to theaters for the Warner Bros. comedy "Sex and the City"; Summit Entertainment's vampire romance "Twilight"; Universal's musical "Mamma Mia!"; and Disney's "Hannah Montana" concert flick.

Quality-wise, the summer blockbusters came in a cut above the usual lineup of silly action and lowbrow comedy. Critics liked "Iron Man" and adored "WALL-E" and "The Dark Knight," the latter heading toward Jan. 22 Oscar nominations with best-picture buzz.

The 2008 lineup showed that hit movies do not "have to be a mindless concept," said Rob Moore, vice chairman of Paramount, whose 2008 successes also included the comedy "Tropic Thunder," featuring fresh and wildly different performances from "Iron Man" star Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise. "If you tell a compelling story, you can get an audience to show up."

With a huge Christmas weekend, Hollywood continued to serve up must-see movies, from 20th Century Fox's family tale "Marley & Me" to a surge of awards contenders such as "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Doubt," "Revolutionary Road" and "Gran Torino."

When they see films they like, audiences tend to come back for more. So the goodwill gained from recent successes should help carry the movie business into 2009 — as long as the movies remain good, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers.

"It's vitally important now more than ever that movies deliver, because people are careful about what they're spending their money on. So they have to be satisfied with the product," Dergarabedian said. "When audiences use the movies as a retreat from their everyday troubles, that retreat had better make them feel good."

Winter TV Premiere Dates Calendar!

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Is winter secretly the best season?

TV-wise, it just might be, what with the return of Lost and 24, plus the premiere of much-anticipated series like Dollhouse, Castle and Amy Poeher, Beyond Thunderdome.

Want to know when your faves are back on the air?

Read on for the complete premiere dates calendar!

WINTER PREMIERES

* Denotes series returning from a winter break, rather than season or series premiere.

Monday, Dec. 29
The City (MTV)

Monday, Jan. 5
The Bachelor (ABC)
Gossip Girl (CW)*
Momma's Boys (NBC)
One Tree Hill (CW)*
Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Family)
True Beauty (ABC)

Tuesday, Jan. 6
90210 (CW)*
According to Jim (ABC)*
The Biggest Loser: Couples (NBC)
Law & Order: SVU (NBC)*
Nip/Tuck (FX)
Privileged (CW)*
Scrubs (ABC)

Wednesday, Jan. 7
13: The Fear Is Real (CW)
Damages (FX)
Knight Rider (NBC)*
Law & Order (NBC)*

Thursday, Jan. 8
30 Rock (NBC)*
ER (NBC)*
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)*
Kath & Kim (NBC)*
My Name Is Earl (NBC)*
The Office (NBC)*
Private Practice (ABC)*
Ugly Betty (ABC)*

Friday, Jan. 9
Flashpoint (CBS)
Monk (USA)*
Psych (USA)*

Sunday, Jan. 11
24 (Fox)

Monday, Jan. 12
Samantha Who? (ABC)*

Tuesday, Jan. 13
American Idol (Fox)

Wednesday, Jan. 14
Wonderland (DTV 101)

Thursday, Jan. 15
Bones (Fox)*
Smallville (CW)*
Supernatural (CW)*

Friday, Jan. 16
Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi)
Friday Night Lights (NBC)

Sunday, Jan. 18
American Dad (Fox)*
Big Love (HBO)
Family Guy (Fox)*
Flight of the Conchords (HBO)
King of the Hill (Fox)*
The L Word (Showtime)
Secret Diary of a Call Girl (Showtime)
The Simpsons (Fox)*
United States of Tara (Showtime)

Monday, Jan. 19
House (Fox)*

Tuesday, Jan. 20
Fringe (Fox)*

Wednesday, Jan. 21
Lie to Me (Fox)
Lost (ABC), two-hour premiere

Thursday, Jan. 22
Burn Notice (USA)*

Monday, Jan. 26
The Closer (TNT)
Trust Me (TNT)

Wednesday, Jan. 28
Life on Mars (ABC)*

Thursday, Jan. 29
Hell's Kitchen (Fox)

Monday, Feb. 2
Chuck (NBC),* 3-D episode
Heroes, Vol. IV: Fugitives (NBC)*
Medium (NBC)

Thursday, Feb. 12
Survivor (CBS)

Friday, Feb. 13
Dollhouse (Fox)
Terminator (Fox)*

Sunday, Feb. 15
The Amazing Race (CBS)

Sunday, March 8
Breaking Bad (AMC)

Monday, March 9
Castle (ABC)

Tuesday, March 17
Reaper (CW)

Thursday, March 19
Kings (NBC)

Tuesday, March 24
Cupid (ABC)

Wednesday, April 8
The Unusuals (ABC)

Thursday, April 9
Harper's Island (CBS)

EXACT DATES To Be Determined
• Amy Poehler, Beyond Thunderdome premieres on NBC in April.
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent returns to USA in March or April.
• Life returns to NBC in February.
• Prison Break and 'Til Death return to Fox in the spring.
• Rescue Me returns to FX in March or April.
• Rules of Engagement returns to CBS in the spring.
• Saving Grace returns to TNT in March.
• The Tudors returns to Showtime in April.

Futile first: Lions 0-16 after 31-21 loss to Pack

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Nobody will remember the Detroit Lions came close to winning their last game. All anyone will know — now and forever — is 0-16. The worst record in NFL history, a dubious distinction that will permanently stain everyone involved.

The Lions lost to the Green Bay Packers 31-21 on Sunday, making them the first team to go winless through a 16-game season. The 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) were the last NFL team to complete a season without a victory.

"I've got to live with this," center Dominic Raiola said. "I've been here eight years. This is on my resume."

It's also on the resume of Lions coach Rod Marinelli, who faces an uncertain future.

"No competitor wants to go through something like this," Marinelli said. "This is not fun to go through, obviously. But there's people going through a lot worse than this."

Asked what the next step might be if he does keep his job, Marinelli said, "Let me get through step one first."

The Lions' last loss didn't come without a fight. After falling behind 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter, Kevin Smith's 9-yard touchdown run put Detroit back within a field goal.

But Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers responded with a 71-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver and the Lions' Dan Orlovsky threw an interception on fourth-and-27 with 3 minutes left, dooming Detroit to futility of historic proportion.

"It's just kind of numb," veteran kicker Jason Hanson said. "It's here. It's been coming, though, a train rolling down the tracks for a while. We tried to stop it. We couldn't."

The Lions were building toward this for years and now have lost 23 of their last 24 games. The 0-16 record will be a lasting testimony to the Matt Millen era. With as president of the team from 2001 until he was fired on Sept. 24, Detroit won only 31 games — none this year, of course.

It's so bad that some Lions can't remember the last time they won.

"I don't ever want to be a part of this again," Orlovsky said. "We haven't won since, November of '07, maybe? I don't even know the last time we won a game."

The Lions haven't won since Dec. 23, 2007, actually, when they beat Kansas City. Green Bay is where this woeful streak began at the end of last season. Since then, the Lions have lost 17 straight and have been outscored 551-281.

Marinelli has gone 10-38 in three seasons. His future has not been announced, but team owner William Clay Ford has decided the leaders of the front office, Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand, will be back in some capacity.

"I am positive that every aspect of what we do as a football team has to be rethought and analyzed," Hanson said.

Orlovsky was 22-of-42 for 225 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Lions, whose bid to steer clear of the record book came undone in large part because of ill-advised penalties.

Rodgers was 21-of-31 for 308 yards and three touchdowns for the Packers (6-10), and Ryan Grant and DeShawn Wynn rushed for 106 yards each.

After a disappointing season of their own, Rodgers said the Packers wanted a win to build momentum for next season. Left unsaid was that they didn't want to be the only team to lose to the Lions this year.

"We didn't want to lose, no, we didn't," Rodgers said. "But really it's not on your mind once the game starts. I didn't even think about it until the fans started chanting in the fourth quarter. They played hard, they really did."

Packers coach Mike McCarthy didn't want any part of the 0-16 discussion.

"I want to politely try to avoid the question here," McCarthy said. "That's tough. That's a tough deal. But we were focused on winning the game."

With the Lions trailing 14-7 early in the third quarter, safety Kalvin Pearson then put a hard hit on Grant to cause a fumble, and recovered the ball at the Packers 11.

Calvin Johnson caught a pass from Orlovsky and broke three tackling attempts to score a tying 14-yard touchdown with 10:20 left in the third quarter.

But the Packers drove for a 36-yard field goal by Mason Crosby early in the fourth quarter. After a three-and-out by Detroit's offense, Lions linebacker Ernie Sims' penalty for a late hit out of bounds on Grant played a key role on a drive that ended with a 5-yard pass from Rodgers to fullback John Kuhn.

The Lions weren't finished, as Orlovsky used two long completions to John Standeford to set up Smith's touchdown with 8:34 left. After the ensuing kickoff, Rodgers reared back and threw deep to Driver, who blew past Lions cornerback Leigh Bodden and ran in for a touchdown.

Orlovsky led the Lions back into Packers territory, but a taunting penalty on Smith moved the Lions back near midfield and Orlovsky threw an interception to Nick Collins.

"It was a very bad, selfish decision," Smith said. "I let my emotions get the best of me. It was tough, but it is no excuse."

Perhaps more than anything, the penalties got Raiola riled up.

"Stupid," Raiola said. "You know, just uncalled for. You're in a game like that, you can't do that. Just dumb."

And very much like the Lions.

Notes: Green Bay's Donald Driver and Greg Jennings each had 100 yards receiving Sunday. Combined with Grant and Wynn's 100-yard rushing days, it is the first time in league history a team has had a pair of 100-yard rushers and 100-yard receivers in a single game, according to Elias. ... Packers rookie TE Jermichael Finley caught his first career touchdown pass in the first quarter.

Movie crowds adopt `Marley' with $37M weekend

LOS ANGELES – Hollywood had a happy holiday with a huge Christmas weekend as movies from Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett and Adam Sandler all opened strongly.

Even Tom Cruise scored solidly in an eye patch and a German World War II uniform.

Aniston and Wilson's dog tale "Marley & Me" debuted at No. 1 with $37 million in weekend ticket sales and a total of $51.7 million since opening Christmas Day, according to estimates Sunday from distributor 20th Century Fox.

Disney's Sandler comedy "Bedtime Stories" came in second for the weekend with $28.1 million and $38.6 million since it debuted on Christmas.

Paramount's "Benjamin Button," a romantic fantasy with Pitt and Blanchett, ran a close third with $27 million for the weekend. The film has grossed $39 million since premiering Christmas Day.

MGM's "Valkyrie," starring Cruise as a German officer plotting to kill Adolf Hitler, had a No. 4 debut weekend of $21.5 million and took in $30 million since opening on Christmas.

Rounding out the holiday rush of new wide releases was Lionsgate's action thriller "The Spirit," which came in at No. 9 with $6.5 million over the weekend and $10.4 million since its Christmas debut.

"Marley & Me" was based on John Grogan's best-seller about a couple going through the ups and downs of marriage with their mischievous dog in tow. The holiday timing was ideal for a story about an adorable pup, said 20th Century Fox distribution executive Bert Livingston.

"It's an all-audience picture, ages 8 to 80. That's who's coming," Livingston said. "This is a movie about life, love and family. It's what people want to see now."

Audiences wanted to see pretty much everything over the holiday weekend. Revenues had plunged the previous two weekends, but Hollywood ended the year on a high note as the top 12 movies took in $182.5 million, up 8 percent from the same weekend in 2007.

"It's a very strong finish to the year," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. "Audiences are really enjoying the movies in the marketplace right now."

For the year, revenues are running a fraction behind the pace of 2007, when the box office hit a record $9.7 billion. Factoring in higher admission prices, the number of tickets sold is lagging 5 percent behind last year's total, according to Media By Numbers.

"Benjamin Button" and other Academy Awards contenders packed theaters.

Miramax's acclaimed drama "Doubt" expanded nationwide after two weekends of limited release, pulling in $5.7 million to finish at No. 10.

Paramount Vantage's "Revolutionary Road," a domestic drama reuniting "Titanic" stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, had a huge $192,000 debut in just three theaters, averaging $64,000 per screen.

Warner Bros. expanded Clint Eastwood's vigilante drama "Gran Torino" to more theaters as the film continues to draw big crowds with $2.4 million in just 84 cinemas, a per-theater average of $29,048.

By comparison, "Marley & Me" had a theater average of $10,632 on 3,480 screens, "Button" had $9,036 on 2,988 screens and "Valkyrie" averaged $7,942 on 2,711 screens.

Two Fox Searchlight films, "Slumdog Millionaire" and "The Wrestler," and Universal's "Frost/Nixon" also were among Oscar prospects doing strong business.

"Awards buzz doesn't hurt," said Rob Moore, vice chairman of Paramount, which released "Benjamin Button," featuring Pitt as a man who ages backward. "We always felt it's an incredibly compelling movie and worthy of attention at the end of the year. So far, that has been going very well."

"Benjamin Button," "Doubt" and "Frost/Nixon" lead contenders for the Jan. 11 Golden Globes with five nominations each.

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. "Marley & Me," $37 million.
2. "Bedtime Stories," $28.1 million.
3. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," $27 million.
4. "Valkyrie," $21.5 million.
5. "Yes Man," $16.5 million.
6. "Seven Pounds," $13.4 million.
7. "The Tale of Despereaux," $9.4 million.
8. "The Day the Earth Stood Still," $7.9 million.
9. "The Spirit," $6.5 million.
10. "Doubt," $5.7 million.

Fox wins ruling on Watchmen

A U.S. federal judge has ruled that 20th Century Fox owns a copyright interest in Watchmen, which may jeopardize Warner Bros.'s plan to release the superhero movie in March.

Judge Gary Allen Feess issued the surprise ruling on Wednesday, Variety reported.

"Fox owns a copyright interest consisting of, at the very least, the right to distribute the Watchmen motion picture," the ruling said.

Judge Feess advised both Fox and Warner to consider either a settlement or an appeal.

Fox acquired rights to the Watchmen graphic adventure novel in the late 1980s for producer Lawrence Gordon. After spending more than $1 million US developing the project, it eventually dropped its plan to make a movie based on the work written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons.

Gordon later carried out the project with Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. The movie, about the underside of life for superbeings, was directed by Zack Snyder and stars Patrick Wilson and Jackie Earle Haley. Its release is scheduled for March 6, 2009.

In February, Fox filed a suit to prevent Watchmen from being released. It argued that Gordon's option to acquire Fox's remaining interest in Watchmen was never exercised.

Warner spokesman Scott Rowe has declined to comment on the ruling.

The Wall Street Journal says the ruling in favour of Fox comes as a surprise, "given that the studio appeared to have dropped the project more than a decade ago and was not involved in producing the film."

'Marley' stirs it up with record $14.75 mil Xmas

LOS ANGELES – Twentieth Century Fox says "Marley & Me" has set a Christmas Day record with $14.75 million at the box office.

That breaks the previous mark of $10.2 million, set by "Ali" in 2001, according to Media By Numbers LLC.

And "Marley & Me" may not be alone: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Bedtime Stories" were also expected to move past the previous Christmas Day mark, according to some studio estimates.

Even "Valkyrie" had a strong Yuletide opening with more than $8 million, those numbers show.

Sultry Eartha Kitt dead at 81

NEW YORK - Eartha Kitt, a sultry singer, dancer and actress who rose from South Carolina cotton fields to become an international symbol of elegance and sensuality, has died, a family spokesman said.

She was 81.

Andrew Freedman said Kitt, who was recently treated at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, died Thursday in Connecticut of colon cancer.

Kitt, a self-proclaimed "sex kitten" famous for her catlike purr, was one of the United States' most versatile performers, winning two Emmys and nabbing a third nomination. She also was nominated for several Tonys and two Grammys.

Her career spanned six decades, from her start as a dancer with the famed Katherine Dunham troupe, to cabarets and acting and singing on stage, in movies and on television. She persevered through an unhappy childhood as a mixed-race daughter of the South and made headlines in the 1960s for denouncing the Vietnam War during a visit to the White House.

Through the years, Kitt remained a picture of vitality and attracted fans less than half her age, even as she neared 80.

When her book "Rejuvenate," a guide to staying physically fit, was published in 2001, Kitt was featured on the cover in a long, curve-hugging black dress with a figure that some 20-year-old women would envy. Kitt also wrote three autobiographies.

Once dubbed the "most exciting woman in the world" by Orson Welles, she spent much of her life single, though brief romances with the rich and famous peppered her younger years.

After becoming a hit singing "Monotonous" in the Broadway revue "New Faces of 1952," Kitt appeared in "Mrs. Patterson" in 1954-55. (Some references say she earned a Tony nomination for "Mrs. Patterson" but only winners were publicly announced at that time.) She also made appearances in "Shinbone Alley" and "The Owl and the Pussycat."

Her first album, "RCA Victor Presents Eartha Kitt," came out in 1954, featuring such songs as "I Want to Be Evil," "C'est Si Bon" and the saucy gold digger's theme song "Santa Baby," which is revived on radio each Christmas.

The next year, the record company released follow-up album "That Bad Eartha," which featured "Let's Do It," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy."

In 1996, she was nominated for a Grammy in the category of traditional pop vocal performance for her album "Back in Business." She also had been nominated in the children's recording category for the 1969 record "Folk Tales of the Tribes of Africa."

Kitt also acted in movies, playing the lead female role opposite Nat King Cole in "St. Louis Blues" in 1958 and more recently appearing in "Boomerang" and "Harriet the Spy" in the 1990s.

On television, she was the sexy Catwoman on the popular "Batman" series in 1967-68, replacing Julie Newmar who originated the role. A guest appearance on an episode of "I Spy" brought Kitt an Emmy nomination in 1966.

"Generally, the whole entertainment business now is bland," she said in a 1996 Associated Press interview.

"It depends so much on gadgetry and flash now. You don't have to have talent to be in the business today."

"I think we had to have something to offer, if you wanted to be recognized as worth paying for."

Kitt was plainspoken about causes she believed in. Her anti-war comments at the White House came as she attended a White House luncheon hosted by Lady Bird Johnson.

"You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed," she told the group of about 50 women.

"They rebel in the street. They don't want to go to school because they're going to be snatched off from their mothers to be shot in Vietnam."

For four years afterward, Kitt performed almost exclusively overseas. She was investigated by the FBI and CIA, which allegedly found her to be foul-mouthed and promiscuous.

"The thing that hurts, that became anger, was when I realized that if you tell the truth - in a country that says you're entitled to tell the truth - you get your face slapped and you get put out of work," Kitt told Essence magazine two decades later.

In 1978, Kitt returned to Broadway in the musical "Timbuktu!" - which brought her a Tony nomination - and was invited back to the White House by President Jimmy Carter.

In 2000, Kitt earned another Tony nod for "The Wild Party." She played the fairy godmother in Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" in 2002.

As recently as October 2003, she was on Broadway after replacing Chita Rivera in a revival of "Nine."

She also gained new fans as the voice of Yzma in the 2000 Disney animated feature "The Emperor's New Groove."'

In an online discussion at Washingtonpost.com in March 2005, shortly after Jamie Foxx and Morgan Freeman won Oscars, she expressed satisfaction that black performers "have more of a chance now than we did then to play larger parts."

But she also said: "I don't carry myself as a black person but as a woman that belongs to everybody."

"After all, it's the general public that made (me) - not any one particular group. So I don't think of myself as belonging to any particular group and never have."

Kitt was born in North, S.C., and her road to fame was the stuff of storybooks. In her autobiography, she wrote her mother was black and Cherokee, while her father was white and she was left to live with relatives after her mother's new husband objected to taking in a mixed-race girl.

An aunt eventually brought her to live in New York City, where she attended the High School of Performing Arts, later dropping out to take various odd jobs.

By chance, she dropped by an audition for the dance group run by Dunham, a pioneering African-American dancer. In 1946, Kitt was one of the Sans-Souci Singers in Dunham's Broadway production "Bal Negre."

Kitt's travels with the Dunham troupe landed her a gig in a Paris nightclub in the early 1950s. Kitt was spotted by Welles, who cast her in his Paris stage production of "Faust."

That led to a role in "New Faces of 1952," which featured such other stars-to-be as Carol Lawrence, Paul Lynde and, as a writer, Mel Brooks.

While travelling the world as a dancer and singer in the 1950s, Kitt learned to perform in nearly a dozen languages and, over time, added songs in French, Spanish and even Turkish to her repertoire.

"Usku Dara," a song Kitt said was taught to her by the wife of a Turkish admiral, was one of her first hits, though Kitt says her record company feared it too remote for U.S. audiences to appreciate.

Song titles such as "I Want to be Evil" and "Just an Old Fashioned Girl" seem to reflect the paradoxes in Kitt's private life.

Over the years, Kitt had liaisons with wealthy men, including Revlon founder Charles Revson, who showered her with lavish gifts.

In 1960, she married Bill McDonald but divorced him after the birth of their daughter, Kitt.

While on stage, she was daringly sexy and always flirtatious. Offstage, however, Kitt described herself as shy and almost reclusive, remnants of feeling unwanted and unloved as a child. She referred to herself as "that little urchin cotton-picker from the South, Eartha Mae."

For years, Kitt was unsure of her birthplace or birth date. In 1997, a group of students at historically black Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., located her birth certificate, which verified her birth date as Jan. 17, 1927. Kitt had previously celebrated Jan. 26.

The research into her background also showed Kitt was the daughter of a white man, a poor cotton farmer.

"I'm an orphan. But the public has adopted me and that has been my only family," she told the Post online.

"The biggest family in the world is my fans."

Nobel-winning playwright Harold Pinter dead at 78

LONDON (Reuters) – Harold Pinter, the British playwright and Nobel laureate famous for brooding portrayals of domestic life and his barbed politics, died aged 78 on Christmas Eve after battling cancer, media reported on Thursday.

Pinter, who won the Nobel prize for literature in 2005, was a vocal opponent of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, likening President George W. Bush's administration to the Nazis and calling former British Prime Minister Tony Blair a "mass murderer."

His plays, including "The Caretaker" and "The Homecoming," were regarded as among the finest of the last half century and enjoyed a recent renaissance as modern audiences tapped into his dark studies of tedious lives balancing on the edge of chaos.

Pinter's second wife, Lady Antonia Fraser, told the Guardian newspaper he was "a great."

"It was a privilege to live with him for over 33 years. He will never be forgotten," she said.

Pinter's work influenced a generation of British dramatists, defined the "kitchen sink" drama and introduced a new word to the English language. "Pinteresque" perfectly describes taught silences peppered with half-stated insights.

His plays exuded tension, were spiced with erotic fantasies and were full of obsession, jealousy and hatred. Critics dubbed Pinter's chilling masterpieces "the theater of insecurity."

But the son of a working-class Jewish tailor never helped audiences to unravel the meaning of his plays, telling them: "There are no hard distinctions between what is real and unreal."

MARITAL SCANDAL

From 1958 to 1978 a flurry of Pinter plays changed the face of British theater. But then silence fell for 15 years until the London production of his next full-length play, "Moonlight."

He became the subject of marital scandal in 1980 when his actress wife Vivien Merchant, his long-time muse, divorced him because of an affair with Lady Fraser, a renowned author and daughter of anti-pornography campaigner Lord Longford.

Pinter married Fraser later that year but Merchant, star of many Pinter plays, died in 1982, a victim of alcoholism.

In later life Pinter turned to political activism, campaigning for human rights, nuclear disarmament and speaking out against Western foreign policy.

"The crimes of the U.S. throughout the world have been systematic, constant, clinical, remorseless and fully documented but nobody talks about them," he said.

Pinter also carved out a distinguished career as a screenwriter with hits such as "The French Lieutenant's Woman" and "The Servant."

But, back in 1958, Pinter's first full-length play -- "The Birthday Party" -- was almost his last.

Critics derided him, the play folded after a week and the budding playwright trying to support a wife and young baby contemplated quitting.

Influential critic Harold Hobson rescued him, saying "Mr Pinter, on the evidence of this work, possesses the most original, disturbing and arresting theatrical talent in London."

Less than two years after his first play flopped, Pinter's second play "The Caretaker" opened in London's West End and established his reputation as a major dramatist.

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Twas the night before Christmas Poem also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas"

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) wrote the poem Twas the night before Christmas also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve. The poem Twas the night before Christmas has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the story of Twas the night before Christmas St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers! The author of the poem Twas the night before Christmas was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Butler, sent a copy of the poem to the New York Sentinel who published the poem. The condition of publication was that the author of Twas the night before Christmas was to remain anonymous. The first publication date was 23rd December 1823 and it was an immediate success. It was not until 1844 that Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry. Clement Clarke Moore came from a prominent family and his father Benjamin Moore was the Bishop of New York who was famous for officiating at the inauguration of George Washington. The tradition of reading Twas the night before Christmas poem on Christmas Eve is now a Worldwide institution.

Oscar Ballots on the Move

Los Angeles (E! Online) – It all comes down to this for The Dark Knight, Milk, Frost/Nixon, Slumdog Millionaire and all the other films labeled "Oscar hopeful" for whatever reason in 2008.

Ballots for the 81st Annual Academy Awards are due to be mailed Friday to the 5,810 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

So, with holiday shopping (and returns) out of the way, it will be time to finally pencil in their choices for the top films, performances and technical work of 2008, be they Heath Ledger for his terrifying turn as the Joker, director Danny Boyle for Slumdog, Kate Winslet for The Reader (or Revolutionary Road) or WALL-E for either best animated film or best motion picture altogether.

Completed ballots must be back in the hands of the ballot counters and protectors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, by Jan 12.

Oscar nods will be announced in the wee hours of the morning Jan. 22, with the little gold men getting passed out Feb. 22 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Ledger's death voted top 2008 entertainment story

Heath Ledger's death was voted 2008's top entertainment story by U.S. newspaper and broadcast editors surveyed by The Associated Press.

Here are the top 10:

1. HEATH LEDGER DIES: When the Australian actor was found dead Jan. 22 at 28, shock and confusion over the circumstances of his death followed. The autopsy concluded Ledger's death was accidental, the result of a toxic combination of prescription drugs. His legacy continued, though, in a roundly acclaimed performance as the Joker in the year's biggest box office hit "The Dark Knight."

2. WRITERS STRIKE ENDS: The Writers Guild of America took to the picket lines Nov. 5 of last year. The strike played havoc on the industry, from award shows to network TV schedules, and didn't conclude until Feb. 12. When an agreement was finally reached, the Academy Awards were saved and scripted television slowly returned to the airwaves.

3. BOFFO BOX OFFICE FOR "DARK KNIGHT": As the release of Christopher Nolan's second Batman installment "The Dark Knight" neared, anticipation over Ledger's performance mounted. The film went on to gross $528 million domestically, second all-time only to "Titanic." Unlike most blockbusters, it also appeared on many critics' top 10 lists.

4. POLITICAL COMEDY SHINES: The long campaign was highlighted by late-night hosts (David Letterman chastising John McCain for missing his scheduled guest appearance), satire veterans (Tina Fey's Sarah Palin impression on "Saturday Night Live") and new media sensations ("Obama Girl"). "SNL," "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" all charted their best ratings.

5. BRITNEY SPEARS' DOWNWARD SPIRAL: Though by year's end Spears had rebounded with a new album and successful TV appearances, her 2008 started at a low point. After a custody dispute with Kevin Federline, Spears was hospitalized and held for psychiatric evaluation. The chaos eventually subsided and in November she released the aptly titled album "Circus."

6. PAUL NEWMAN DIES: Newman, one of the most beloved actors of the 20th century, died Sept. 26 at 83 after a fight with lung cancer at his longtime home in Westport, Conn. In the days after, tributes were paid to the charismatic actor in his various worlds: theater, movies, auto racing and philanthropy.

7. TV NETWORKS EMBRACE THE WEB: Online video turned pro in 2008. Networks increasingly embraced the Web, making many of their most popular shows available to stream online. News Corp. and NBC Universal banded together to created Hulu.com, while ABC and CBS continued to beef up their sites.

8. GEORGE CARLIN DIES: The truth-telling comedian — widely considered one of the greatest ever — died June 22 at 71. "He was more than just a comic," said Paul Rodriguez. "His routines became part of the American lexicon."

9. TIM RUSSERT DIES: Reaction to the unexpected June 13 death of Tim Russert at 58 was widespread and felt throughout Washington by Republicans and Democrats. Tom Brokaw delivered the news live on NBC, and would later temporarily take Russert's spot on "Meet the Press." David Gregory recently became the full-time moderator for the show, the longest-running on TV.

10. JENNIFER HUDSON'S FAMILY TRAGEDY: Days after the release of her film "The Secret Life of Bees," tragedy befell the family of the "American Idol" finalist. Her mother, brother and nephew were killed in a shooting at their Chicago home. Police have charged William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister Julia, with the murders.

Springsteen, M.I.A., Jenny Lewis Short Listed For “Best Song” Oscar

Bruce Springsteen’s “The Wrestler,” M.I.A.’s Slumdog Millionaire contribution “O… Saya,” Jack White & Alicia Keys‘ “Another Way To Die,” Beyoncé’s “Once In a Lifetime” from Cadillac Records and Jenny Lewis’ Bolt track “Barking At The Moon” are among the 49 songs on the eligibility list for Best Song at the next Academy Awards. Also up for contention are Miley Cyrus’ “I Thought I Lost You,” Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino” and Peter Gabriel’s Wall-E theme “Down To Earth,” with all three joining Springsteen and Beyoncé’s songs as this year’s Golden Globe nominees.

Unlike years’ past, when a film like Enchanted and Dreamgirls dominated the category, each film can only be represented by a maximum of two songs at the ceremony. High School Musical 3 leads the short list with 11 selections, but it’s likely the songs will split the votes and wind up with no nominee. Also noteworthy: Danny Elfman’s “The Little Things” from Wanted, Robyn Hitchcock’s “Up To Our Nex” from Rachel Getting Married and the hilarious “Dracula’s Lament” from Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Bruce Springsteen Plans Wal-Mart Only “Greatest Hits”

Hoping to cash in on Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band’s Super Bowl appearance, Wal-Mart will exclusively release the group’s Greatest Hits at a low price on January 13th. As opposed to Springsteen’s 1995 collection Hits, the comp’s 12 tracks will focus on Bruce’s work with the E Street Band, thus iconic albums like Nebraska and Lucky Town aren’t represented, nor does the LP feature any unreleased material.

Fans clamoring for new Springsteen songs will get their wish two weeks later on January 27th, as his new album Working on a Dream hits stores. The next issue of Rolling Stone features a preview of the album, and producer Brendan O’Brien opens up about his fourth collaboration with Springsteen. “Bruce was into this material being more orchestral, not just capturing the live feel,” O’Brien says. As for the album’s epic eight-minute opener “Outlaw Pete,” O’Brien says Springsteen wanted every moment of the song to be vibrant.

For much more from O’Brien, news on the tour and David Fricke’s exclusive listen to Dream, check out the issue on newsstands January 7th issue.

Tina Fey voted AP Entertainer of the Year

NEW YORK – Tina Fey is the entertainer of the year? You betcha. Fey was voted The Associated Press' Entertainer of the Year, an annual honor chosen by newspaper editors and broadcast producers across the country.

Fey was selected by AP members as the performer who had the greatest impact on culture and entertainment in 2008.

The 38-year-old comedian bested runner-up Robert Downey Jr., whose comeback was capped with the blockbuster smash "Iron Man," and the third-place vote-getter, Heath Ledger, who posthumously wowed audiences as the Joker in "The Dark Knight."

But it was Fey who most impressed voters largely with her indelible impression of Gov. Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live." Her cameos on her old show (where she had been a head writer until 2006) helped drive the show to record ratings and eventually drew an appearance from Palin herself.

"Tina Fey is such an obvious choice," said Sharon Eberson, entertainment editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "She gave us funny when we really needed it and, in a year when women in politics were making huge strides, Fey stood out in the world of entertainment."

Fey's 2008 was a full year, though.

She also starred for the first time on the big screen in "Baby Mama" (which grossed $60 million at the box office) and won three Emmys for her critically lauded NBC sitcom "30 Rock," which she created, stars in and writes. In the comedy series category, she won for best lead actress and best writing, and shared in the award for best comedy series.

"She simultaneously entertained us with her wit and put a mirror up to the nation during the election and made us think about what was going on," said Scott Shive, assistant features editor at the Lexington Herald-Leader. "She is the epitome of the smart kid coming out on top for once."

As soon as Palin was chosen as Sen. John McCain's running mate, conjecture mounted that the similar-looking Fey would have to return to "SNL" to play her.
In an interview earlier this fall, Fey recalled watching early TV coverage of Palin: "That was the first time I thought, `Well, I kinda do look like her. I'd better really listen to how this lady talks.'"

Fey debuted the impression on the "SNL" season premiere and a sensation quickly followed. She made four more pre-election appearances as Palin on the late-night satire.

"From the winks to the nods to the accent, she nailed it," said Marc Bona, assistant entertainment editor of the Plain Dealer in Cleveland. "And she did so at a time when it seemed the whole country was tuned in — both to the presidential race as well as 'Saturday Night Live.'"

Her Palin impression has benefited "30 Rock," too. The show premiered its fourth season to 8.5 million viewers, a million more than last year's opener.

Recently, she was also nominated for a Golden Globe (for best performance by an actress in a TV series, comedy or musical), as well as a Screen Actors Guild award.

"The `SNL' stuff has certainly changed things for me," Fey said in October. "A lot more people seem to know who I am."

Last year's AP Entertainer of the Year also went to a comedian whose satire blended in with politics: Stephen Colbert.

High Five: U2 Unveils Album Configurations

U2's upcoming album, " No Line on the Horizon," will be available in five different incarnations, the glitziest of which carries a $96 list price on Amazon.com. The set is due March 2 internationally and the following day in North America.

Beyond the standard CD and double vinyl packages, "Horizon" will be offered in three additional limited editions.

The digi-pack version, which lists for $35.98, has the CD in a cardboard folded sleeve with a 36-page booklet, a fold-out poster and "a new film from Anton Corbijn featuring the music of U2," the latter of which is available as a download.

The magazine version, for $49.98, finds the CD housed in "a special 60-page soft cover magazine-style book," and also includes the downloadable Corbijn film.

Lastly, the box set version comes, naturally, in a box with a 60-page hardcover book, a second poster and the Corbijn film on DVD.

Although the track list for "No Line on the Horizon" has yet to be announced, Q Magazine reports it will feature songs such as "Magnificent," "Stand Up," "Winter," "Breathe," "Every Breaking Wave" and "Crazy Tonight," the latter of which sports as-yet-unspecified contributions from the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am.

The Couch Potato Report – Bonus Box Set Edition - Monday, December 22nd, 2008

This week The Couch Potato Report peels a wide array of DVD Box Sets that might also be good gift ideas.

Only 3 shopping days left...are you out of ideas? If that happens to be the case, I have 8 very different sets and collections to tell you about right now that cover movies, music, television series and sports for the DVD fan on your list.

And lets start with sports...sports in Edmonton to be exact...with the 10 DVD set EDMONTON OILERS - 10 GREATEST GAMES.

This amazing boxed set brings you ten original game broadcasts of Edmonton Oilers hockey and is a must have for any Oilers fan.

I remain a huge Wayne Gretzky fan, so it is also a must own for people like me, especially when we get to go back to the night of December 30th, 1981 to watch Gretzky score 5 goals in one game to become the fastest person to ever score 50.

50 Goals in 39 Games!!

The set has over 21 hours of the original broadcasts, and it comes highly recommended for that reason. Sadly, it doesn't have hardly any post game interviews, so it loses points for that.

But, if you know an Oilers or NHL hockey fan - why not look for EDMONTON OILERS - 10 GREATEST GAMES, with your host Rod Phillips, the voice of the Oilers.

If you know someone who is a fan of the sweet science, or the one and only Mr. Muhammed Ali, then this next release is for them!

RINGSIDE ALI is a four disc set that includes fifteen of the three-time Heavyweight Champion of the World's most legendary match-ups, including the Thrilla' in Manila, The Fight of the Century and the Rumble in the Jungle.

RINGSIDE ALI has 10 hours of explosive fight footage, and interviews with experts and even one athlete who fought him, Canadian George Chuvalo.

RINGSIDE ALI is a great tribute to the man whose grace, jabs and jibes transformed him into a living legend.

Plus, since he was such a part of Ali's career and mystique, there is also an abundance of Mr. Howard Cosell too!

If you need some DVD ideas for someone who is not a sports fan, the next three sets I have for you have nothing to do with sports...they are all Television show sets.

Starting with KNIGHT RIDER - THE COMPLETE SERIES.

This 24 DVD set features all four seasons and 84 episodes!

David Hasselhoff is crimefighter Michael Knight, the driver of the world's most dynamic, high-tech talking car.

They take on criminals, crooks and way too many people who are trying to find out more about K.I.T.T.'s technology, and to try and use it for evil purposes.

PLUS, the KNIGHT RIDER - THE COMPLETE SERIES also comes with a flashing red light, like K.I.T.T's, and it features a sample from the show's theme song too!!

From KNIGHT RIDER, let's move now to NIGHT GALLERY.

NIGHT GALLERY was Rod Serling's follow-up series to The Twilight Zone. It aired from 1970 to 1973 and in each episode Serling appeared in an art gallery setting and introduced the macabre tales that made up each episode by unveiling paintings that depicted the stories we were about to see.

SEASON TWO of NIGHT GALLERY is a 5 DVD set with over 60 unique, well written, sometimes funny, but usually chilling stories. Some that have even stood the test of time and been referenced in other films, like Mike Myers' SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER.

If you know someone who would be entertained by this type of show, I recommend this set!! This is good stuff!!

If you know someone who likes to laugh at stuff that is perceived to be scary, but really isn't, then let me now tell you about the 12-DVD Box Set for every episode that was shot, and two movies featuring THE MUNSTERS.

THE MUNSTERS was a 1960s television comedy that showed us the home life of a family of monsters.

It was a satire of both traditional monster movies and popular family entertainment of the era, such as Leave it to Beaver.

Personally, I was never a huge fan of the show when I watched it as a kid...but I did get a few laughs out of it when I was watching THE MUNSTERS - THE COMPLETE SERIES over the past few weeks.

Alright, a music DVD now...if you are looking for something for the music fan on your list, this next release is one I highly recommend!

I GOT THE FEELIN' - JAMES BROWN IN THE 60s is a 3 disc set that includes the documentary THE NIGHT JAMES BROWN SAVED BOSTON

THE NIGHT JAMES BROWN SAVED BOSTON tells the story of a 1968 concert that not only averted riots in Boston in the aftermath of Martin Luther King Junior's assassination, but also set James Brown on a fantastic new musical path.

I GOT THE FEELIN' - JAMES BROWN IN THE 60s also shows JB's on-stage prowess, and in addition to the documentary, there are also two previously unreleased concerts, featuring classic songs such as "I Feel Good," "Cold Sweat," "Try Me," "I Got The Feelin'," "It's A Man's Man's Man's World," "Bewildered," and "Please, Please, Please."

This set is a must have for any music lover's collection.

Finally, I have two movie sets for you...two great ones!

First up, the ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION of HOW THE WEST WAS WON.

HOW THE WEST WAS WON spans from 1830 to 1880 covering the history of the westward expansion. This is an epic western that was shot in the panoramic three-camera Cinerama process, and it was directed by Hollywood legends Henry Hathaway, George Marshall, and John Ford.

The stellar cast includes Debbie Reynolds, Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, George Peppard, John Wayne, and many, many others!

This is one of those films people are talking about when they say "They don't make 'em like they used to!"

The ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION of HOW THE WEST WAS WON also includes a great documentary for all film fans who want to know more about Cinerama, and combined with the film itself, this is a great box set!

I wish I could say that the final release I have for you is also a great box set...but it isn't. It is a superb collection of films from one fo my favourite filmmakers, but instead of being an actual box, A THREESOME WITH KEVIN SMITH - which features CLERKS, CLERKS 2 and CHASING AMY - just comes with a small piece of paper that wraps around the movies.

I love Kevin Smith's films, especially CLERKS, CLERKS 2 and CHASING AMY, and I highly recommend each and every one, I just wish this release had better packaging.

Yes, I do think these films are worth seeing, and if that person on your list who likes profane, honest films about real people has yet to be crossed off, and they don't already own these movies, well then A THREESOME WITH KEVIN SMITH featuring CLERKS, CLERKS 2 and CHASING AMY is a pretty good gift idea.

So, if you need a gift idea for the DVD fan on your list, let me recap - A THREESOME WITH KEVIN SMITH, the ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION of HOW THE WEST WAS WON, I GOT THE FEELIN' - JAMES BROWN IN THE 60s, THE MUNSTERS - THE COMPLETE SERIES, SEASON TWO of NIGHT GALLERY, KNIGHT RIDER - THE COMPLETE SERIES, EDMONTON OILERS - 10 GREATEST GAMES and RINGSIDE ALI are all available now on DVD.

The Couch Potato Report returns on Saturday - January 10th, 2009, and at that time I will talk about the films PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, TRAITOR, THE WOMEN, RIGHTEOUS KILL, TOWELHEAD and BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA - SEASON 4.0.

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

For now, and for this year, that's THE COUCH POTATO REPORT.

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

White Zombie laid to rest on boxed set

DETROIT (Billboard) – Assembling the White Zombie boxed set "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie" was "weird" and somewhat bittersweet for Rob Zombie, the frontman for the defunct metal group that broke up in 1996.

"The funny thing was when I was putting it together, it seemed so long ago," Zombie told Billboard.com. "It felt like I was putting together a box set of someone else's band. It just seemed like forever ago, and some of the early songs are, like, 20 years ago or something. It just seemed weird."

The Geffen Records set, which boasts four CDs and one DVD, came out on November 26. Zombie, whose real name is Rob Cummings, said gathering the 63 tracks and a wealth of rare video footage "brought up a lot of things I'd forgotten about -- unfortunately, some of it was negative."

He was particularly reminded of the waning days of the band, when the group members would tour in separate vehicles and not see each other except at shows. None of the other band members were involved in the set.

"The main reason White Zombie ended was the people who were White Zombie didn't get along anymore," said Zombie, adding that he finished the group's final show in 1996, walked off stage, into a car, went to the airport and "didn't look back.

"That band had a lot of growing pains and a lot of baggage all the way through. I think we did a lot of good stuff and we were ahead of the curve in the beginning and did some groundbreaking stuff. But it was a painful situation most of the time, actually."

Nevertheless, Zombie hopes "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie" -- pointedly titled, he acknowledged, for those who might wonder about a White Zombie reunion -- will feed the appetites of younger generations of fans that continue to come along.

"I can see it, strangely enough, in the royalty checks. Every year the band makes more money," Zombie said. "(Retail chain) Hot Topic is doing a new line of White Zombie merch(andise). It's just one of those things that happens, I think. There's always a new wave of kids that gets super-jazzed on a band that's not around anymore."

Zombie, meanwhile, is working on his next studio album, which he predicts will be out in 2009. Zombie also hopes to get cracking on his fourth feature film, "Tyrannosaurus Rex," in the new year. He was last in theaters with 2007's "Halloween."

Carrey's 'Yes Man' earns aye vote with $18M debut

LOS ANGELES – Movie audiences greeted Jim Carrey and Will Smith with a lukewarm "yes' as snowstorms undermined weekend debuts from both stars.

Carrey's comedy "Yes Man" opened at No. 1 with $18.2 million in ticket sales, while Smith's drama "Seven Pounds" came in second with $16 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Debuting at No. 3 with $10.5 million was Matthew Broderick's animated family flick "The Tale of Despereaux."

The new movies arrived in theaters Friday just as storms pounded the Northeast.

"Those markets back east just got hammered," said Chris Aronson, distribution executive for 20th Century Fox, whose sci-fi saga "The Day the Earth Stood Still" slipped from No. 1 to No. 4 with $10.2 million. The movie starring Keanu Reeves raised its 10-day total to $48.6 million.

"Yes Man," released by Warner Bros., stars Carrey as a loser who turns his life around by subscribing to a philosophy of saying "yes" to everything. Sony's "Seven Pounds" casts Smith as a mysterious IRS agent doing good deeds for strangers, and Universal's "Tale of Despereaux" features Broderick as the mouthpiece for a tiny mouse on a heroic mission.

In limited release, Mickey Rourke's acclaimed drama "The Wrestler" had a heavyweight debut, taking in $209,474 in just four theaters for a whopping average of $52,369.

By comparison, "Yes Man" played in 3,434 theaters and averaged $5,288 per theater, while "Seven Pounds" opened in 2,758 and averaged $5,801 per theater. The No. 3 film "The Tale of Despereaux" played in 3,104 theaters and grabbed $3,385 per venue.

The film released by Fox Searchlight stars Rourke as a former wrestling champion struggling for one last taste of past glory. The comeback theme of "The Wrestler" parallels Rourke's real life, with the actor in the running for an Academy Award nomination after his bad boy behavior virtually ruined his career in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

While winter came in with a bang, Hollywood's solid year was going out with a whimper. The overall box office plunged for the second straight weekend as this season's pre-holiday offerings continued to lag far behind the strong finish provided by such 2007 hits as Smith's "I Am Legend" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks."

The top 12 movies took in $82.8 million, down 44 percent from the same weekend last year, when "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" led with $44.8 million.

The last two ho-hum weekends have hindered Hollywood's shot at breaking the domestic revenue record of $9.7 billion set last year. Revenues through Sunday were at $9.24 billion, virtually even with 2007 through the same date, according to box-office tracker Media By Numbers.

Given the sour economy, studio executives generally are satisfied with this year's results. Hollywood tends to ride out recessions with solid business, since movies are relatively inexpensive compared to entertainment options such as concerts or sports events.

"The movie business may be recession-proof, but this weekend, it's not weather-proof," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers.

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. "Yes Man," $18.2 million.
2. "Seven Pounds," $16 million.
3. "The Tale of Despereaux," $10.5 million.
4. "The Day the Earth Stood Still," $10.2 million.
5. "Four Christmases," $7.7 million.
6. "Twilight," $5.2 million.
7. "Bolt," $4.3 million.
8. "Slumdog Millionaire," $3.2 million.
9. "Australia," $2.3 million.
10. "Quantum of Solace," $2.2 million.

The Couch Potato Report - December 20th, 2008

This week The Couch Potato Report peels a border, two summer hits, a cinematic treat, and Hamlet…2!

It is the last Saturday edition of the Report for 2008, and to start off this conclusion, let's head to the border!

THE BORDER is a television show that is set in Toronto, but features stories from all of the provinces about the people who come and go from our country.

It is a procedural drama and action show about agents of the ICS - Immigration and Customs Security Agency - as they make life and death decisions about who stays and who gets deported.

Now, I know you must be thinking that a show about the people who defend the Canadian border must be a bit slow, especially if you have ever gone into The United States through the borders in Southern Saskatchewan...those places look like nothing that si worthy of being on television ever happens there!!

BUT, this is a show that features a lot of action and some interesting stories and this 3-DVD set for THE BORDER features all 13 episodes from SEASON ONE.

Admittedly, some episodes are better than others...and a few episodes aren't very interesting at all...but if you are looking for an action adventure show to entertain you until Jack Bauer returns to television in a few weeks, THE BORDER is an entertaining, and sometimes very good substitute!

Oh, while SEASON ONE of the show is now available on DVD, don't miss new episodes as SEASON TWO is airing Monday Nights at 9 o'clock on CBC Television!!

THE BORDER deals with spies and espionage across all of Canada, if you are looking for something that only takes place in one city, I offer - and highly recommend the latest film from the Academy Award winning directors of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.

Yes, the latest film from Joel and Ethan Cohen takes place only in Washington, D.C. and it is called BURN AFTER READING.

In this film, which is one of my top three for 2008, a CD is found in a gym.

It contains the the memoirs of an unemployed CIA agent, and it ends up in the hands of two of the gym's employees who decide to try and sell it.

Since this is a Coen Brothers film, nothing goes according to plan....AND since this is a comedy that is more in the vein of THE BIG LEBOWSKI and THE HUDSUCKER PROXY than NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, there are also some great secondary characters, like a womanizing George Clooney, who must get a run in after each affair, and the great John Malcovich - who plays the former CIA agent.

Not everyone will enjoy BURN AFTER READING, but I sure did!

It is funny, very profane, engaging and dramatic, and while it won't win Joel and Ethan another Oscar, it sure did win me over! I love this movie, and highly recommend it!!

Now, while I loved BURN AFTER READING, and know that not everyone will enjoy it, I also know that the opposite will be true for some other movies...especially our next release this week!

I know there are people out there who LOVE this next film, absolutely love it!! In fact, in the U.K., it was announced this week that the film is now the Number One, highest grossing film of all time there, beating even TITANIC!!

But I just didn't care for it...I wanted to, but I didn't.

That movie? MAMMA MIA!

This film - for the uninitiated who have never heard of it, or the stage musical it is based on - is the story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father so he can be with her on her wedding day.

It is all told using hit songs from the group ABBA.

Now, I lived in Europe for 6 years, so I grew up with ABBA, and I love almost every member of the cast of this film - including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgaard and Amanda Seyfried - but I just didn't get much out of this movie.

I do agree that it is fun, but it just isn't MY type of fun....however, if you think you will enjoy it, you probably will.

And you are almost guaranteed a laugh when the former James Bond Pierce Brosnan tries to sing.

No, MAMMA MIA! isn't for me, but I have another musical this week that completely is!

This one is stupid, and juvenile and immature and I loved it!!

I just loved HAMLET 2!!

HAMLET 2 is sort of parody of those "teachers who inspire kids" films like DEAD POETS SOCIETY, DANGEROUS MINDS, SCHOOL OF ROCK and MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS, and sort of a musical.

A failed actor turned High School Drama Teacher - played by the brilliant British comedia Steve Coogan, who most people in North America have never heard of - i trying to rally and inspire his Tucson, Arizona students as he conceives, writes and stages a very politically incorrect musical sequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Co-written by Pam Brady - who also worked on SOUTH PARK and TEAM AMERICA - HAMLET 2 is full of gags, very bizarre slapstick moments, celebrity cameos, and some real singing and dancing by a group of unknowns young actors.

No, HAMLET 2 will not appeal to the masses the way MAMMA MIA! has, but for those - like me - who don't completely understand MAMMA's appeal, HAMLET 2 is for us.

I loved this film, and it made me laugh out loud, so as a conclusion I say, This above all - to thine ownself be true; And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.

Finally this week are two action films that I didn't care for at all, but...if either of these movies sound interesting to you...or someone you know...you...or they...might enjoy them.

Otherwise, neither THE MUMMY - TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR or DEATH RACE are very notable at all.

Since it stars Canadian Brendan Fraser, lets start with the latest MUMMY film.

The first Fraser MUMMY film from 1999 is still a fun and entertaining movie, and THE MUMMY RETURNS from 2001 - while not as great, is also still pretty good.

Both of them are certainly better that THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR...this is an unnecessary film!

The story is an odd series of ideas that are all poorly executed, and the dialogue is poorly written and the characters, as well as almost all of their actions, render this film - and the series, for now, uttely moot.

But, if you LOVED the first two films, I mean truly loved them, them maybe there is something in this mess for you.

Personally, I didn't care for THE MUMMY - TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR at all...it isn't even a good rental.

And neither is the new version of DEATH RACE...why did they bother with this?!? It is just awful!!

The original DEATH RACE film - DEATH RACE 2000 - came out in 1975, and it remains a low budget horror film with some interesting action and characters.

The remake, which stars Jason Statham from THE TRANSPORTER films, Academy Award nominee Joan Allen - from the last two THE JASON BOURNE films - and Ian McShane of the great television show DEADWOOD, has great actors, but bad acting, a bad script, and is just bad!

It wants to be a cross between the orginal film and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION...it isn't!

Now, as you might expect, I didn't go into a film called DEATH RACE expecting high quality and a piece of art, I wanted action, dark and dirty, fun and frivolous action.

DEATH RACE did not deliver, and that is the bottom line, it is an action film that does not deliver.

But again, if you - or someone you know - loves all kinds of utterly mindless action films - I mean truly loves them, them maybe there is something in this remake for them.

Maybe!!

The not very good action films DEATH RACE and THE MUMMY - TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR, the musicals HAMLET 2 and MAMMA MIA!, the superb Coen Brothers comedy BURN AFTER READING and SEASON ONE of THE BORDER are all available now on DVD.

The Blu-Ray Beacon Returns in January.

Coming up Monday on a Special Edition of The Couch Potato Report:

I will tell you about a wide array of DVD Box Sets and Special editions that might also be good gift ideas, including a 10-Disc set about the EDMONTON OILERS and a 4-Disc MUHAMMAD ALI package that will take you RINGSIDE.

Tomorrow's Report will also spotlight KNIGHT RIDER, NIGHT GALLERY, THE MUNSTERS, JAMES BROWN IN THE 60s and more!!

For now, that's THE COUCH POTATO REPORT.

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

U2 to release new album in March

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Irish rockers U2 have named their new album "No Line On The Horizon," and will release it worldwide in early March, their label said on Thursday.

The quartet's 12th studio album was originally expected to be released by the end of this year, but the band announced in September that it would keep writing more tunes. Recording took place in Morocco, Dublin, New York and London.

Interscope Records will release "No Line On The Horizon" internationally on March 2, and a day later in North America.

It marks the follow-up to "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb," which was released in late 2004 and went on to sell 9 million copies worldwide, according to Interscope. It also garnered U2 their second album of the year Grammy, following 1987's "The Joshua Tree."

The new album was produced by long-time collaborators Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, with additional production by Steve Lillywhite. Tunes recorded in 2006 with producer Rick Rubin, the man behind Johnny Cash's comeback, have been jettisoned.

Tour plans have not been announced. The "Vertigo" world tour for the last album ran from March 2005 to December 2006. U2 is partnered on touring and merchandise with concert promoter Live Nation Inc, which said earlier on Thursday that it bought back the band's stock in the company for a guaranteed $25 million -- $19 million more than the market price. Interscope is a unit of Vivendi SA's Universal Music Group.

Majel Roddenberry, widow of 'Trek' creator, dies

LOS ANGELES – Majel Barrett Roddenberry, "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry's widow who nurtured the legacy of the seminal science fiction TV series after his death, has died. She was 76. Roddenberry died of leukemia Thursday morning at her home in Bel-Air, said Sean Rossall, a family spokesman.

At Roddenberry's side were family friends and her son, Eugene Roddenberry Jr.
Roddenberry was involved in the "Star Trek" universe for more than four decades. She played the dark-haired Number One in the original pilot but metamorphosed into the blond, miniskirted Nurse Christine Chapel in the original 1966-69 show. She had smaller roles in all five of its television successors and many of the "Star Trek" movie incarnations, although she had little involvement in the productions.

She frequently was the voice of the ship's computer, and about two weeks ago she completed the same role for the upcoming J.J. Abrams movie "Star Trek," Rossall said.

Roddenberry also helped keep the franchise alive by inspiring fans and attended a major "Star Trek" convention each year, Rossall said.

"I think `Star Trek' will always be her legacy," Rossall said.

"Star Trek" and its successors often focused on political and philosophical issues of the day. Roddenberry and her husband, who died in 1991, believed in creating "thoughtful entertainment" and were proud of the show and the passionate devotion of its fans, Rossall said.

"My mother truly acknowledged and appreciated the fact that `Star Trek' fans played a vital role in keeping the Roddenberry dream alive for the past 42 years. It was her love for the fans, and their love in return, that kept her going for so long after my father passed away," her son said in a statement on the official Roddenberry Web site.

Born Majel Lee Hudec on Feb. 23, 1932, in Cleveland, she began taking acting classes as a child. She had some stage roles, then in the late 1950s and 1960s had bit parts in a few movies and small roles in TV series, including "Leave It to Beaver" and "Bonanza."

She met her husband in 1964 during a guest role for a Marine Corps drama he produced called "The Lieutenant." That same year, she was cast in the pilot for the "Star Trek" series as the no-nonsense second-in-command. The pilot did not appeal to NBC executives and a second pilot was made, although parts of the original later showed up in a two-part episode called "The Menagerie."

The couple married in Japan in 1969 after "Star Trek" was canceled. After her husband's death, Roddenberry continued her involvement with the "Star Trek" franchise.

She also was the executive producer for two other TV science fiction series, "Andromeda" and "Earth: Final Conflict."

Time taps Obama as person of the year

Acknowledging that readers would likely not be surprised by the decision, Time magazine bestowed its person of the year title on U.S. president-elect Barack Obama for the 2008 edition.

Obama "has come to dominate the public sphere so completely that it beggars belief to recall that half the people in America had never heard of him two years ago," David Von Drehle writes in the magazine's cover story.

Runners-up included Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, who orchestrated the jaw-dropping opening and closing ceremonies for the Beijing Summer Olympics.

Established in 1927 (when aviator Charles Lindbergh was chosen for the inaugural honour), the magazine's annual person of the year issue chronicles an individual, group, object or idea that — for better or for worse — has exerted a significant influence over the past year.

Last year, the magazine chose was Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as its person of the year. Previous honourees have included Queen Elizabeth II, Adolf Hitler, the Baby Boomer, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, charity campaigners Bono with Bill and Melinda Gates, the computer and almost every sitting U.S. president.

Weezer releases holiday music from iPhone app

Weezer has digitally released six Christmas songs that originally were featured on the iPhone application "Tap Tap Revenge Christmas With Weezer."

The music was recorded specifically for the iPhone app, but demand from non-iPhone users was so great that the band decided to make the songs available at digital retailers, including Apple's iTunes store and Amazon.com, according to a press release.

The digital EP features Weezer's interpretations of six classic holiday songs--"We Wish You A Merry Christmas," "Silent Night," "O Holy Night," "The First Noel," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "O Come, All Yet Faithful"--which are the first songs ever specifically recorded for an iPhone app.

Weezer also contributed a song, "Troublemaker," to Warren Miller's latest ski film, "Children of Winter." The film also is featured in the video for the band's latest single, "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived."

Fall Out Boy turn focus outward on new CD

CHICAGO – If you're wondering how Pete Wentz feels about becoming a dad or looking for insight into his recent marriage to Ashlee Simpson, don't expect to find any details by listening to Fall Out Boy's new CD, "Folie A Deux."

Even though the bassist is the chief lyricist and the band's tabloid-centric spokesman, for "Folie A Deux," Wentz shifted the focus away from himself and turned it outward onto the world.

Lead singer Patrick Stump calls "Folie A Deux" the band's "statement record."
"(It's) dissecting how self-motivated our culture is," Stump said in a recent interview. "Pete on this record wrote from a very different perspective than he did on previous records."

"Folie A Deux," French for "shared madness of two," was released on Tuesday. It's the third major-label CD for the emo-rockers, who became a multiplatinum success story with the release of their 2005 album, "From Under the Cork Tree," which included the top single "Sugar, We're Goin Down."

While Stump's melodious falsetto anchors the band's sound, it's Wentz who provides the band's emotional content (the group's other members are guitarist Joe Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley). In the past, Wentz has worn his heart on the Fall Out Boy's lyrical sleeve, with songs about relationship dramas and painful splits.

Over the past two years, Wentz has become a sought-after star thanks to his high-profile union with Simpson, their new baby (Bronx Mowgli), his turn as TV host on MTV's "FNMTV" and his endless blog postings (Stump has had successful collaborations with the likes of bands like Gym Class Heroes — on Wentz's record label — but has preferred to stay out of the limelight).

But as Wentz's reaches a new high in name recognition, musically, he decided to stop writing as much from a personal standpoint.

"This record is not the standard autobiographical thing like when we first started," says Stump, sitting with his bandmates as they prepared to tape a concert special for Fuse TV. "Autobiography loses its luster when everyone is doing it."

"Sometimes I've gone into a big dark cave and that's no fun," adds Wentz, looking a bit fatigued.

"Folie A Deux" is the group's second album in two years. While the band has become used to topping the charts, they insist their main goal is simply creating good music.

But at the same time, they don't want to overthink it.

"A lot of bands sit on their hands and think, 'We need to make the perfect record,'" Wentz says. "(They should be) taking a snapshot of the moment you're (in) at the time."

"The Jonas Brothers can't have all the shine," he jokes.

The band purposely cut short the amount of time set aside for recording the album. Stump said that was going back to the days when they were a young, broke band who had to finish an album before the money ran out.

"There was something really interesting about that creative process when we were starting out," says Stump. "The more time you have, the more potential you have for excess."

Mamma Mia! beats UK cinema record

Musical film Mamma Mia! has become the highest grossing movie cinema release in the UK, beating 1997 film Titanic.

Mamma Mia! has now taken just over £69m at the box office, narrowly passing Titantic's record.

The record was broken just a few days after the film picked up two Golden Globe nominations including best actress for star Meryl Streep.

Now in its 23rd week of release, the movie has become the number one film in 15 countries.

'Delighted audiences'

David Kosse, president of Universal Pictures International, said breaking the record set nearly 10 years ago was "truly phenomenal".

He added: "This film has exceeded our expectations and delighted audiences around the world since it opened in July."

Titanic, starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, had taken£69,025,646 by the time it had finished its cinema run in 1998.

Mamma Mia! has slightly exceeded that with takings of £69,066,035, while Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is in third place with £66,096,060.

Last week it was announced Mamma Mia! was up for two Golden Globes.

The movie was nominated for best film (musical or comedy) and best actress (musical or comedy).

Streep leads the all-star cast in the feature-film adaptation of the musical based on Abba's hits, which also features Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Julie Walters and Dominic Cooper.

South Park season 12 is around the corner

The 12th season is coming to DVD and - for the first time - to Blu-ray early next year from Warner.

All fourteen uncensored episodes from South Park's twelfth season are now available in this exclusive three-disc set. In this collection, South Park follows the new President-elect from his acceptance speech to his first official day of duty as Commander in Chief. The boys keep busy helping a pop-princess who's down on her luck, negotiating a truce for striking Canadians, and preventing giant rodents from destroying the world. For them, it's all part of growing up in South Park.

The set will contain all the episodes as well as a behind the scenes look at the making of an episode from start to finish and a special featurette on the making of Major Boobage.

Arriving on March 10th, the four boys who started as pieces of construction paper will go 1080p.

April Wine on tap for Music Industry Hall of Fame

April Wine is now a vintage to be treasured — the Canadian rock band is to be inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in March.

The rockers who had hits like You Could Have Been a Lady, Roller and Anything You Want You Got It are still performing, though there have been several changes of personnel over the years.

Myles Goodwyn, Jim Henman and brothers David and Ritchie Henman originally formed the band in Nova Scotia in 1969.

Lead singer Goodwyn remains and the other members are Jerry Mercer, a drummer who joined the band in 1973, Brian Greenway of Hawkesbury, Ont., on guitar and vocals, who joined in 1977 and bassist Breen LeBoeuf, formerly with Offenbach, who joined April Wine in 2007.

Goodwyn was in the news after collapsing after a Halifax show on Nov. 28. He was treated in hospital for internal bleeding and released.

The band will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award and be inducted into the Hall of Fame March 13 during Canadian Music Week in Toronto.

April Wine moved to Montreal in 1970 and had their first hit with You Could Have Been a Lady, a song originally recorded by Hot Chocolate in the U.K.

Producer Ralph Murphy saw the group through a number of albums, including Stand Back and The Whole World's Goin' Crazy, with hits such as I Wouldn't Want to Lose Your Love and You Won't Dance with Me. They toured extensively, becoming known for their power ballads and rock 'n' roll sound.

The band is also famous for opening for a mystery group called the Cockroaches at the El Mocambo club in Toronto in 1977.

The Cockroaches turned out to be the Rolling Stones and the album recorded from that session, Live At The El Mocambo, features April Wine's She's No Angel.

The band's seventh studio album First Glance was a turning point, with the single Roller becoming a hit in the U.S.

The band, then with five members, continued touring throughout the 1980s with hits such as Crash and Burn and Just Between You and Me.

Goodwyn went solo for a while in the late 1980s, but the band reunited in July 1992.

Their most recent studio album is Roughly Speaking, released in 2006.

New CD Releases, December 16: Fall Out boy, Jamie Foxx, Keyshia Cole, The All-American Rejects, Anthony Hamilton, and more!

Fall Out Boy "Folie a Deux" (Island)

The alt-rock band returns with its fifth album, which follows last year's "Infinity on High." That earlier outing was the group's first No. 1 album in the US, and spawned a pair of Top 10 singles in "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" and "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs."

"Folie a Deux" features a plethora of guest stars, including Lil Wayne, Pharrell, Panic at the Disco and Blondie's Debbie Harry. Fall Out Boy is currently finishing up a short tour, which still has two California dates left: Dec. 20 in San Diego and Dec. 21 in San Francisco.

* * *
Jamie Foxx "Intuition" (J Records)

The multi-talented artist, who has made a name for himself on television, in film and on the Billboard charts, is set to drop a follow-up to the 2005 chart-topper "Unpredictable."

"Intuition," the R&B singer's third studio album, features contributions from such A-list personalities as Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Ne-Yo. The album's first single, "Just Like Me," is a collaboration with rapper T.I.

Despite his hefty success as a recording artist--"Unpredictable," for example, has been certified double platinum--Foxx remains best known for his work onscreen. Most notably, he won the Best Actor Oscar for playing the lead role in the 2004 Ray Charles biopic "Ray."

* * *
Keyshia Cole "A Different Me" (Geffen)

The R&B/soul vocalist is set to unveil her third studio effort, which follows 2005's "The Way It Is" and 2007's "Just Like You," both of which have been certified platinum.

"A Different Me" includes guest appearances by Monica, Kanye West, Nas and, most notably, Tupac Shakur. The deceased rapper is featured on the album's first single, "Playa Cardz Right." That tune was first released on Shakur's sixth posthumous album, 2006's "Pac's Life," and the version on "A Different Me" was rearranged by Cole and her producers.

Cole is currently on the road as one of the opening acts on Lil Wayne's big arena tour. That trek is set to stretch into late January. TV viewers can also catch the star on her BET reality series, "Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is."

* * *
The All-American Rejects "When the World Comes Down" (Geffen)

The pop-punk outfit is back to sing about "When the World Comes Down." The album, AAR's third studio effort, follows 2005's multi-platinum-selling "Move Along," which stayed on The Billboard 200 chart for nearly 100 weeks and spawned the hits "It Ends Tonight," "Dirty Little Secret" and the title track.

"When the World Comes Down" was produced by Eric Valentine (Maroon 5, Smash Mouth). The set's first single is the track "Gives You Hell," which has already made some noise on Billboard's Pop 100 chart.

* * *
Anthony Hamilton "The Point of It All" (La Face)

The R&B star gets around to telling fans "The Point of It All." The album is Hamilton's sixth studio effort, and comes roughly one year after his previous outing, "Ain't Nobody Worryin'."

Hamilton co-wrote and co-produced the set with longtime collaborators Mark Batson (Seal, Beyonce) and Kelvin Wooten. The album's lead single, "Cool," features a guest vocal from David Banner.

* * *
More new releases:
Bob Dylan, "Playlist: The Very Best of Bob Dylan 1960s" (Sony)
Brooks & Dunn, "Playlist: The Very Best of Brooks & Dunn" (Sony)
Led Zeppelin, "Complete Studio Recordings" (Warner Bros.)
Madonna, "Miles Away (Remix EP)" (Warner Bros.)
Martina McBride, "Playlist: The Very Best of Martina McBride" (Sony)
Dave Matthews Band, "Live at Mile High Music Festival" (RCA)
Dave Matthews Band, "Live Trax Vol. 13" (RCA)
Plies, "Da Realist" (Atlantic)
Saliva, "Cinco Diablo" (Island)
Santana, "The Best of the Fillmore Years" (Cleopatra)

Soundtracks and scores:
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Concord)
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" (Varese)
"Frost/Nixon" (Varese)
"Valkyrie" (Varese)

Jack Black to guest-star on `The Office'

NEW YORK – Jack Black is headed to "The Office," guest-starring in an episode slated to air during a ratings-rich time slot: after the Super Bowl.

The Feb. 1 episode of the sitcom, titled "Stress Relief," will follow the office drones as they try to secretly watch a bootlegged Hollywood movie at work. The network did not say how Black will factor into the story line.

Black recently starred in "Tropic Thunder." His other film credits include "King Kong," "High Fidelity" and the voice of the main character in the animated "Kung Fu Panda."

It's Tom Hanks vs. Mel Gibson as SAG Splits Into Strike Camps

Los Angeles (E! Online) – All work and no contract has made members of the Screen Actors Guild a surly bunch.

While support for an actors' strike was already running thin thanks to the industry-wide burnout still being felt from the 100-day writers' strike in 2007-08, the current state of the nation's economy—not to mention the just-underway awards season—has Hollywood up in arms over what could be another potentially disastrous work stoppage.

A select group of A-listers is in favor of authorizing a strike, should SAG leadership choose to go that route, but nearly 150 big-deal actors have now gone ahead and publicized their avowed opposition to such a move.

George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin, Cameron Diaz, Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Charlize Theron, Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman and Eva Longoria Parker are among the boldfaced names found on a petition that was sent to SAG national president Alan Rosenberg asking the board to cancel a strike-authorization vote scheduled for Jan. 2.

"We feel very strongly that SAG members should not vote to authorize a strike at this time," the petition read. "We don't think that an authorization can be looked at as merely a bargaining tool. It must be looked at as what it is—an agreement to strike if negotiations fail.

"We support our union and we support the issues we're fighting for, but we do not believe in all good conscience that now is the time to be putting people out of work."

David Boreanaz, Ewan McGregor, Sally Field, Michael C. Hall, Felicity Huffman, Rob Lowe, Kevin Spacey, Josh Brolin, Pierce Brosnan, Glenn Close, Donald Sutherland, Billy Crystal, Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Edward Norton, Tobey Maguire, Bradley Whitford and Helen Hunt also lent their signatures to the document.

Then again, plenty of A- and B-listers are in favor of authorizing a strike, having signed a "Statement of Support" for Rosenberg & Co.'s studio-fighting tactics.

Among the 30 prominent thesps who will stand by SAG if it chooses to play even harder ball are Mel Gibson, Ed Harris, Holly Hunter, Martin Sheen, Sandra Oh, Jerry O'Connell and Rob Morrow.

SAG's contract with the studio-representing Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers expired June 30 and actors have been working under the terms of their own deal ever since.

As was the case with the Writers Guild of America, SAG continues to quibble over new-media residuals and other compensation-related issues.

The AMPTP's response to SAG's upcoming vote was as follows: "SAG members are going to be asked to bail out a failed negotiating strategy by going on strike during one of the worst economic crises in history. We hope that working actors will study our contract offer carefully and come to the conclusion that no strike can solve the problems that have been created by SAG's own failed negotiation strategy."

Metallica gets 'Guitar Hero' treatment

Next up on the Guitar Hero stage … enter Metallica.

The legendary hard rockers are providing the latest riff on Guitar Hero, with a game based on their music expected in stores during the first half of 2009 for Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3 and PS2. No price or rating has been set, but past GH games have sold for $40 to $50 and have been rated T for ages 13-up.

"Us being a pretty guitar-oriented band, I think we were pretty much destined to do something with Guitar Hero," says guitarist Kirk Hammett. "It's a natural sort of relationship. We jumped at the chance."

Guitar Hero: Metallica plays out differently from Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, the first GH game based on one band (released in June). "There's a historical element involving some memorable gigs we have played, but it's not something that follows a chronological timeline to a T," says drummer Lars Ulrich. "We kind of wanted it to be a little bit more about who we are now than a who-we-were-in-1986 type of thing."

After an opening set of two Metallica songs — complete with the 3-D animated band on-screen — players take the role of a fledgling group of rockers inspired to create their own band. The story line, Ulrich says, "is about helping out a bunch of young dudes to put a band together to come on the road with us."

Metallica is one of the few bands worthy of a solo title, says Luke Plunkett of game news site Kotaku.com, "because they're one of the few popular enough — and with a large enough back catalog — to make it a worthwhile endeavor. A lot of their biggest songs are built on fast drums, fast guitars and epic solos, which should make them more enjoyable to play."

Band members Hammett, Ulrich, singer James Hetfield and bassist Robert Trujillo had a motion-capture performance session to bring their 3-D characters to life. About 40% of the 45-plus songs will be from artists that influenced Metallica, played concerts with them or appeared on 1998 covers album Garage Inc. Among them: Queen, the Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Seger, Kyuss and Samhain.

"That is another cool facet of Guitar Hero," Hammett says. "Younger kids are exposed to all this great rock and heavy metal they'd never be exposed to otherwise."

You can play solo or with up to four — two guitarists, singer and drums — using current game controllers. You also can add a second pedal (sold separately) to propel double bass drums as Ulrich does. The game takes its cue from Metallica's ferocity. "It's a couple grades harder than Guitar Hero World Tour," says lead designer Alan Flores.

Iron Man Meets The Office at AFI Awards

Los Angeles (E! Online) – The Hulk is gonna get green with envy. Well, greener.
Iron Man and The Dark Knight were both named Sunday to the American Film Institute's Movies of the Year Top 10 list.

On the television side, the AFI Awards' honorees included The Office, Lost and Mad Men, but not the Emmy-winning 30 Rock.

For Iron Man, the kudos is its first major honor of awards season. For The Dark Knight, it's its umpteenth honor. For superhero movies—the passed-over Incredible Hulk excepted—it's another step in their march toward world domination.

Brad Pitt, Michelle Williams and Clint Eastwood, meanwhile, helped represent for people who can't fly.

Pitt's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Williams' Wendy and Lucy and Eastwood's Gran Torino all made AFI's movie Top 10.

Rounding out the list: Frost/Nixon, the low-budget indie Frozen River, Milk, WALL-E, and The Wrestler.

Revolutionary Road, The Reader and Slumdog Millionaire, all of which are up for Best Drama at the Golden Globes, along with Frost/Nixon and Benjamin Button, were not AFI selections. The group's awards honor American-made films; those three movies are European productions or coproductions.

As with film, the AFI's Programs of the Year list heavily favored drama over comedy. In addition to Lost and Mad Men, Breaking Bad, In Treatment, cult-favorite Life, the miniseries John Adams, the TV movie Recount, and the late The Wire and The Shield all made the cut.

The Steve Carell-managed The Office was the only half-hour comedy honored.

Axl breaks his silence, speaks out online

NEW YORK–He's yet to grant an interview about Guns N' Roses' recently released Chinese Democracy, but Axl Rose broke his silence last week by answering questions on the message boards of popular GNR websites MyGNR.com and Here Today ... Gone to Hell.

Rose addressed a range of topics, including the status of his relationships with former band members, several specific songs from Chinese Democracy, and whether guitarists Buckethead and Robin Finck would one day return to GNR.

"What I can say now is you've been told a lot of things in order for others to promote themselves that factually they cannot back up in regard to either," Rose said when asked why the original lineup fell apart. "They are complicated legally, financially and have devoured a good portion of my life."

He added that he was recently sued by Duff McKagan and Slash over a merchandising issue "that I was unaware and not involved in. Fortunately that was resolved but it got ugly and took a while going into arbitration."

Rose didn't address what took so long for Chinese Democracy, which was started in the mid-1990s, to be released. But he did acknowledge additional material that could be released in its wake.

"For now we'll concentrate and keep our focus on this album, but I will say I've always thought of it as a double," he said of Chinese Democracy. Earlier, he told fans a video for the album's "Better" would be released "in a week or so."

Zombie romance, sci-fi horror, singing vampires among Canadian flicks for '09

Genres collide in next year's crop of Canadian films, with upcoming storylines incorporating trailer park hijinks, teen tragedy, zombie romance and rock 'n' roll vampires.

Projects in the offing include Bruce McDonald's Pontypool, Mike Clattenburg's Trailer Park Boys sequel, Atom Egoyan's Adoration, and newcomer Rob Stefaniuk's musical vampire comedy Suck.

"There's some really, really exciting things happening," Telefilm Canada's Dan Lyon said of the broad spectrum of films slated for 2009.

"What we've noticed is increasing genre diversity. In other words, a little less reliance on traditional drama and moving more toward comedies, thrillers and other genres."

One of the most highly anticipated films is McDonald's Pontypool, about a zombie-like invasion that traps the staff of a small-town radio station in a church basement studio on a snowy Valentine's Day.

McDonald, the renegade director behind cult favourites Hardcore Logo and Highway 61, is loathe to slot the picture in the horror genre, insisting that Pontypool is more of a love story with an edge.

"We're sitting down with the marketing dudes and the company that's going to present it to the world [and there's] a lot of thought [such as]: 'Well, what is it going to look like? What's the poster and the trailer? What's the vibe we put out there?"' he said at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

"It shares some things with zombie movies, but they're not zombies and we don't want to disappoint the zombie people."

All-star appearances

The melding of genres continues with the outrageous Suck, a wild romp billed as a rock 'n' roll vampire comedy starring Rob Stefaniuk (who also writes and directs) and Jessica Paré, with appearances by Malcolm McDowell, Alice Cooper, Moby, Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, Carole Pope and Dave Foley.

"I've been watching dailies and it is absolutely a crowd-pleaser," said Lyon, who expects Suck to be ready for theatres next fall.

Big things are also expected of the sci-fi/horror movie Splice, directed by Vincenzo Natali of Cube, and starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley.

"It's about a couple of scientists, played by Adrien and Sarah, who are crossing ethical lines in creating a human-animal hybrid, with disastrous results," Lyon said, noting that the film is now in post-production.

Steve Gravestock, with the Toronto International Film Festival, said he is most excited by the scheduled May release of Egoyan's family drama Adoration. Starring Scott Speedman and Rachel Blanchard, the politically tinged tale touches on lies, technology and racism. It garnered mixed reviews on the festival circuit last year, but netted Egoyan the Ecumenical Jury Prize, which honours directing, at Cannes.

Other TIFF-screened films hoping to find audiences include the Inuit film Before Tomorrow, by directors Madeline Piujuq Ivalu and Marie-Hélène Cousineau, which will screen at the Sundance Film Festival next month, and Michael McGowan's road movie One Week, starring Joshua Jackson, which is due in March.

Coming-of-age story

First-time feature filmmaker David Bezmozgis is preparing to debut his coming-of-age story, Victoria Day, at Sundance in January. The story follows 16-year-old Ben as he grapples with budding romance, family pressures and the role he may have played in a boy's mysterious disappearance.

"It's not a genre film, it's not an either-or film, it's not a comedy, it's not a tragedy," Bezmozgis said earlier this year about the movie, which takes place over the course of one week in 1988.

"With teenage life you have all these roiling emotions — the romantic, the domestic and all the things happening with friends. So that was really the impetus — to write a good film about teenage life."

Also in production is Defendor, with first-time director Peter Stebbings. Starring Woody Harrelson, Elias Koteas, Sandra Oh and Kat Dennings, it's about a man who thinks he's a superhero and tries to clean up his city.

More arty fare comes by way of Cairo Time, directed by Ruba Nadda and starring Patricia Clarkson as a Canadian woman who joins her husband in Cairo but ends up forging a close friendship with an Egyptian man.

Those looking for sheer escapism have the Trailer Park Boys sequel to look forward to, and some are already predicting boffo box office success for the delinquent Julian, Ricky and Bubbles.

The foul-mouthed, pot-smoking troublemakers scored big with fans and critics with 2006's Trailer Park Boys: The Movie, and are slated to return to the big screen next fall with Trailer Park Boys – Countdown to Liquor Day.

Lyon says the recent box office success of Paul Gross' war epic Passchendaele and the smaller film, YPF (a.k.a. Young People F---ing), has many in the movie business optimistic that homegrown fare can thrive.

"We're feeling pretty inspired by the success of`Passchendaele," Lyon said, noting that the film hit $4.4 million at the Canadian box office. "It's just given them a tremendous spike of confidence, for films at all levels.

"The tide is really changing in Canada in terms of English language film," Lyon continued, noting that last year's Oscar nominations for Away From Her and Eastern Promises were an added morale boost.

"When you combine that kind of success with the continuing good news of all the Canadian films coming up at Sundance in January, and the commercial success of Passchendaele and YPF and so on, we have really a lot of reason to be optimistic."

Actors Have Little Appetite for Potential SAG Strike

LOS ANGELES -- When Hollywood writers began a strike a little more than a year ago, movie and TV stars went out of their way to show solidarity with the mostly unheralded scribes who craft their lines. Former "Seinfeld" star Julia Louis-Dreyfus lugged a picket sign. Jay Leno passed out doughnuts to writers outside studio gates. Dozens of actors shot brief but stylish black-and-white Internet films supporting the scriptwriters.

Now the Screen Actors Guild is pondering its own walkout, possibly as early as next month. But the deepening recession has dampened the militant pro-labor sentiments many celebrities freely espoused last year. With the entertainment business and its tens of thousands of workers still reeling from the three-month writers strike -- and with the larger U.S. economy shedding more than half a million jobs last month alone -- many top performers show little enthusiasm for another smackdown with the studios.

The chill was palpable as Hollywood celebrated the Golden Globe nominations Thursday, setting up the Oscar race for such contenders as "Revolutionary Road" and " Frost/Nixon." Earlier this year, with stars bailing on the ceremony in the depths of the writers strike, NBC offered a truncated, little-watched Globes telecast.

Actors Set Date to Vote on Strike

Next month's Globes look safe to happen before any walkout could occur. But stars are nevertheless nervous about the long-term effects of a boomerang strike.

"You can't ignore what's happening in the economy," David Duchovny, star of Showtime's dark comedy " Californication," said Thursday after receiving a Globe nomination for best actor in a comedy or musical television series. Duchovny was one of many stars who showed up at picket lines last year to support writers. "Everyone wants to keep on working. Even with what little work there is, to have none would be disastrous."

Jimmy Smits, a longtime TV star who headlined CBS' since-canceled drama " Cane," said that an actors' walkout would not be "prudent," even though SAG and the studios are contending over "really serious" financial issues. "I don't see it happening," Smits said of a strike. "Middle America is going to have a hard time with a bunch of actors out there striking when there's so much hurting going on."

The A-listers' shift could highlight a split within SAG's 120,000-member union. For all their visibility, celebrity actors make up a tiny fraction of the union's membership, the vast majority of whom do not have regular employment on union-contracted shows. Because these nonworking members do not face the prospect of a lost paycheck from a strike, they are generally more receptive than busy actors to anti-studio rhetoric from SAG's leadership.

That rhetoric has ramped up in recent days. After months of negotiation, SAG and the studios have hit an impasse over a new deal that would cover such issues as residual payments for movies and TV shows streamed over the Internet. The union announced this week that it would mail out ballots to members Jan. 2 for a vote that would authorize a strike. Seventy-five percent of the membership must vote "yes" for a strike to proceed.

"SAG members understand that their futures as professional actors are at stake," SAG President Alan Rosenberg said in a statement. "A yes vote sends a strong message that we are serious about fending off rollbacks and getting what is fair for actors in new media."

To be sure, the recession hasn't made all the leading performers strike-averse. Some actors express frustration with studio negotiators who they believe are trying to give performers a raw deal by cutting back on current compensation.

"How can you exploit people's work and not pay them any money?," said Melissa George, nominated for her work on HBO's " In Treatment." "The myth is that we're asking for more. We're just asking to keep [the contract] as it is, not more. That's not being greedy."

Others are pro-labor on principle.

"I'm a union guy," said Blair Underwood, likewise nominated for "In Treatment." "So if the union decides to strike, I'm gonna have to be out there picketing. One or 2 percent of actors make a living in this game and we as union members need to be respected in terms of residuals and the ability to make a living."

"At the end of the day I will support my union, whatever they decide," said Anne Hathaway, an award contender this year for the film " Rachel Getting Married."

But top-tier performers are facing a much more awkward position than last year. Sympathizing with the writers during their walkout was relatively pain-free because the actors' own economic position was not directly at stake.

That helped many actors to walk hand-in-hand with the striking writers. As British actor Tom Wilkinson said last December, "If actors can't have solidarity with writers -- the people who put the words in their mouths -- then who can they have solidarity with?"

Now, however, the global economic meltdown has stoked fears that a SAG strike would deal a devastating financial blow not just to performers but also to everyday production workers still trying to recover from the work slowdown caused by the writers strike.

Indeed, with the stock market hammered and money from hedge funds and other private sources drying up, some worry that the survival of the entertainment industry, or at least a large portion of it, is at stake.

"The industry is in such a state of flux, because of the economy and because things are underperforming at the box office," said Irish actor Colin Farrell, Globe-nominated for the comedy "In Bruges." "A lot of films are falling apart ... I have a lot of friends who are excited to go to work on certain things and the gigs are falling apart. Some pieces are falling apart very close to principal photography. Climate-wise, it's a worrying time for the industry. I don't know that a strike at this time wouldn't be a counterproductive thing."

Wilkinson, like many of his peers who threw their support behind the writers last year, sounds much more circumspect this time around.

"I don't really know the ins and outs, since I'm over here in the U.K.," he told The Times Thursday. "But I don't think there'll be a strike. Actors don't like going on strike. And this financial climate will make it worse ... Everyone is hoping for a solution."

'Day the Earth Stood Still' launches to $31M debut

LOS ANGELES – Audiences sat still for Keanu Reeves' sci-fi remake "The Day the Earth Stood Still," making it the weekend's top movie with a $31 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The 20th Century Fox release also added $39 million in 90 overseas markets for a worldwide total of $70 million.

The movie updates the 1951 tale of an alien and his giant robot enforcer who come to Earth with a warning about the consequences of humanity's destructive nature.

"Audiences are moving to see `The Day the Earth Stood Still.' It's a visually stunning movie with timely issues everybody on this planet can relate to," said Fox distribution executive Chris Aronson. "Basically, how we treat each other and how we treat this planet that we call home."

The Warner Bros. holiday romp "Four Christmases" slipped to second place with $13.3 million. The Reese Witherspoon-Vince Vaughn comedy raised its three-week total to $88 million.

Another seasonal tale, Overture Films' "Nothing Like the Holidays," opened a weak No. 7 with $3.5 million. The movie features John Leguizamo, Debra Messing and Alfred Molina in the story of a Chicago family's holiday reunion.

The overall box office plummeted compared with the same weekend last year, when "I Am Legend" opened with $77.2 million and "Alvin and the Chipmunks" debuted with $44.3 million. This weekend's top 12 movies took in $83.3 million, down 45 percent from a year ago.

"This was predestined to be a down weekend given the incredible one-two punch of 'I Am Legend' and 'Alvin,'" said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. "There was no way this weekend could measure up."

A rush of films opened with big numbers in limited release to qualify for the Academy Awards.

Miramax's "Doubt" pulled in $525,030 in 15 theaters, averaging $35,002 a cinema, compared with $8,708 in 3,560 locations for "The Day the Earth Stood Still." The film stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams in a war-of-wills drama between an old-school nun and a progressive priest.

Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" played in six locations and took in $284,000 to average $47,333. The Warner Bros. film stars Eastwood as a bigot who becomes an unlikely protector for his immigrant neighbors against street thugs.

The Weinstein Co. drama "The Reader" rang up $170,000 in eight theaters for a $21,250 average. The Holocaust-themed story stars Kate Winslet as a former concentration camp guard standing trial years later.

Steven Soderbergh's two-part, four-hour-plus film biography "Che" took in $60,100 in two cinemas to average $30,050. The IFC Films release stars Benicio Del Toro as Latin American revolutionary Che Guevara.

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 Day the Earth Stood Still," $31 million.
2. "Four Christmases," $13.3 million.
3. "Twilight," $8 million.
4. "Bolt," $7.5 million.
5. "Australia," $4.3 million.
6. "Quantum of Solace," $3.8 million.
7. "Nothing Like the Holidays," $3.5 million.
8. "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," $3.3 million.
9. "Milk," $2.6 million.
10. "Transporter 3," $2.3 million.

The Couch Potato Report - December 13th, 2008

This week The Couch Potato Report peels a no hit summer, the biggest hit of the summer and a man on a wire.

By pure coincidence, three of my favourite films of 2008 were all released on DVD this week, and I am very excited to tell you about all of them!

In just a moment, I will rave about THE DARK KNIGHT and the documentary MAN ON WIRE, but this week's HOT POTATO is a film that made me feel like a kid again, and I absolutely love it when a movies does that!

So, our HOT POTATO this week is the made in Montreal film A NO HIT, NO RUN SUMMER.

In this film it is the Summer '69 and the city of Montreal has a new baseball team.

Twelve-year-old Martin and his friends all love the game and the spanking new Expos.

With all of his passion toward the game pushing him forward, Martin tries out for his neighbourhood team.

When he is cut, when he and all of his friends are cut, Martin's usually distant father starts up a separate team for them,... all of those kids who need to find another route to the big league.

A route that features kids playing baseball in hockey sweaters.

And since it is 1969, A NOT HIT NO RUN SUMMER also features man walking on the moon and Woodstock, in addition to Les Expos...so it has baseball, music and space travel!!

For me, this film had everything!

No, it isn't perfect, because at times there are too many stories being told, but I still loved it, and I highly recommend it!!

At it's core A NOT HIT NO RUN SUMMER is about the loss of childhood innocence and the transition into adulthood, but it isn't one that rushes that transition. This is a great little movie that looks back at a time and place where possibilities seemed endless.

A time and place where The Expos would be in Montreal forever, for as one or Martin's friends tells him - "A baseball team is for life."

A NO-HIT NO-RUN SUMMER was shot in Montreal in July and August of 2007 and it was made for $4 million.

By comparison, THE DARK KNIGHT was filmed in London, Hong Kong and Chicago last year, and it's budget was an estimated $185 million.

To date this second Batman film from Christopher Nolan has brought in over $530 million and is now the second highest grossing film of all-time, behind only TITANIC.

I loved A NO HIT NO RUN SUMMER and THE DARK KNIGHT, but if I was picking my favourite film of 2008, let me tell you that I choose THE DARK KNIGHT.

It is my belief that even people who don't consider themselves to be fans of comics and comic books, usually still have a favourite comic book character.

Whether it is "Garfield", "Peanuts", "Spider-man", "Andy Capp","Foxtrot", "House Of M", "New Avengers" or "Dennis The Menace", I think we all have a favourite comic book character.

I love "The Far Side" and "Calvin And Hobbes", "Underdog" and "Bugs Bunny", but my favourite all-time cartoon character is still "Batman."

Throughout the years I have been able to enjoy Batman in comic books, television shows, and movies, especially the movies lately, thanks to what Christopher Nolan has acheived with 2005's BATMAN BEGINS and now this year's THE DARK KNIGHT!!

This film, like almost all of the Batman movies over the years - except for the abysmal 1997 film BATMAN & ROBIN, directed by Joel Shumacher - sees batman as a dark character who walks a very fine tightrope between hero and vigilante.

Christian Bale is back as the caped crusader and THE DARK KNIGHT is primarily about how Batman - and his alter ego Bruce Wayne - District Attorney Harvey Dent, Assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes, and Police Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) struggle to find way to keep Gotham safe from The Joker.

The late Heath Ledger is absolutely spectacular in the film, and Nolan keep us guessing by never giving us the character's back story.

It is a bold move that pays off, and when Ledger gets an Academy Award nomination, to follow up his Golden Globe nod, don't be surprised!!

Yes, if you were to say you saw THE DARK KNIGHT and you found it a bit too long, or you thought that Bale's Batman voice sounded too forced when he had the mask on, I could be convinced to agree with you on those points, but I still maintain that the film is the most entertaining and engaging cinematic thrill ride of 2008, and it has some great drama too.

I obvioulsy recommend it, unapologetically, and think that it has something to offer almost everyone and so, and you can quote me on this, "THE DARK KNIGHT is my favourite film of 2008!!"

Now, if the thought of watching a man dressed up as a bat strung up on digitally removed wires doesn't appeal to you...how about a documentary about a man ON a wire.

A man walking on a wire from one of the World Trade Centre Towers in New York, to the other one?

Well, on the morning of Aug. 7, 1974, after months of preparation and years of dreaming, a French daredevil named Philippe Petit stepped into the sky above Lower Manhattan.

For almost 45 minutes he walked back and forth on a metal cable strung between the towers of the World Trade Center.

MAN ON WIRE uses some footage that was shot while Petit and his team were working on the stunt and combines that with some great recreations and spectacular photographs.

The combination of those elements, and new interviews with Petit and his crew, has resulted in a film that is very interesting, good-natured, very funny, and it even features a really nice love story.

But the best thing about this movie is what it does not mention. We all know what happened to those World Trade Center towers, and so MAN ON WIRE doesn't need to mention it.

Instead, we get to relive their glory, through the act of one man with a dream.

This is a superb film!!

MAN ON WIRE is a truly fascinating documentary, and I enjoyed it!!

Truth be told, I was also able to enjoy THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON of the television show LOST...and I wasn't sure I would, since most of SEASON THREE was not very good, but luckily the show is back on track!

LOST is the once again very interesting and entertaining show about the survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious tropical island somewhere in the South Pacific.

Each episode usually features a storyline from the island, and as a secondary storyline from another point in a character's life. Prior to SEASON FOUR they were flashbacks, but this season we were given flash-forwards as well!

SEASON FOUR of LOST is a 5-DVD set with 14 episodes, and two discs of Bonus Features.

This season focuses on the survivors dealing with the arrival of a team of people who may or may not be there to save them.

Yes, luckily LOST is back on track, and I am personally looking forward to the premiere of SEASON FIVE on Wednesday, January 21st!!

But for now, enjoy LOST - THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON...I sure did!!

Alright, it is time now for this week's Blu-ray Beacon!!

If you are wondering why the newest home entertainment viewing method is called Blu-ray, well it is because a blue laser beam is used to read data from discs, rather than the red laser that is used for standard DVDs.

A blue laser can be focused more tightly, so disc makers can pack more data on a disc the same size as a DVD. Blu-ray Discs can hold up to 50 gigabytes, compared to a DVD, which holds less than 10 GB.

That added capacity can hold video up to six times the resolution of DVD, plus more bonus features and improved surround soundtracks.

And this week, that resolution and improved soundtrack allowed me to see one of my favourite movies of all time looking better than ever...even though the film is 66 years old.

Yes, this week the BLU RAY BEACON shines the spotlight on the ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION of CASABLANCA.

The 1942 film CASABLANCA starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman is a classic film full of unforgettable lines and on Blu-ray it looks better than it ever has before!

Bogart is a man who must choose between his love for a woman and doing the right thing, and if you have never seen this film, well, the ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION of CASABLANCA is a great version to start with, as it features a wealth of special features and collector's items.

But mostly, it features one of the greatest films ever made, looking - and sounding - better than ever!!

This week's Blu-ray Beacon is pointed straight at CASABLANCA and the BLU-RAY ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION box set!

It is available now on Blu-ray and DVD, along with the DVD Box Set for THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON of LOST, the superb documentary MAN ON WIRE, the blockbuster THE DARK KNIGHT, which is also my favourite film of 2008, and the made-in-Montreal film A NO-HIT NO-RUN SUMMER, which I also highly recommend.

Coming up next Saturday AND Sunday on The Couch Potato Report

Yes, I will have two Reports for you next weeek that feature a combination of last minute gift ideas, and great DVDs to watch on a cold winters night.

On Saturday, THE BORDER, THE MUMMY - TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR, BURN AFTER READING and HAMLET 2.

And next Sunday, I will tell you about a wide array of DVD Box Sets including a 10-Disc set about the EDMONTON OILERS and a 4-Disc MUHAMMAD ALI package that will take you RINGSIDE.

I'm Dan Reynish. I'll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven AND EIGHT 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!

New KISS album in '09

Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are planning to record a new album next year, which will be the first KISS release since 1998's "Psycho Circus."

In a recent interview with askmen.com, Stanley, who will produce the album, said the new release will be "very much a vintage, classic, '70s KISS album without much regard to what's happening since then; it's back to the roots."

Simmons was not quoted in the askmen.com piece. However, last year, he told Billboard that he wasn't interested in recording new music. "The record industry is in such a mess," Simmons said. "There is nothing in me that wants to go in there and do new music. How are you going to deliver it? How are you going to get paid for it if people can just get it for free?"

There is no word regarding label affiliation or an alternate distribution method for the album, which will feature guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer alongside original members Stanley and Simmons. "Psycho Circus," was released by Mercury Records.

KISS also is expected to tour North America at some point in the coming year.

Actor Van Johnson, '40s heartthrob, dies at 92

NEW YORK – Van Johnson, whose boy-next-door wholesomeness made him a popular Hollywood star in the '40s and '50s with such films as "30 Seconds over Tokyo," "A Guy Named Joe" and "The Caine Mutiny," died Friday of natural causes. He was 92.

Johnson died at Tappan Zee Manor, an assisted living center in Nyack, N.Y., said Wendy Bleisweiss, a close friend.

With his tall, athletic build, handsome, freckled face and sunny personality, the red-haired Johnson starred opposite Esther Williams, June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor and others during his two decades under contract to MGM.

He proved to be a versatile actor, equally at home with comedies ("The Bride Goes Wild," "Too Young to Kiss"), war movies ("Go for Broke," "Command Decision"), musicals ("Thrill of a Romance," "Brigadoon") and dramas ("State of the Union," "Madame Curie").

During the height of his popularity, Johnson was cast most often as the all-American boy. He played a real-life flier who lost a leg in a crash after the bombing of Japan in "30 Seconds Over Tokyo." He was a writer in love with a wealthy American girl (Taylor) in "The Last Time I Saw Paris." He appeared as a post-Civil War farmer in "The Romance of Rosy Ridge."

More recently, he had a small role in 1985 as a movie actor in Woody Allen's "The Purple Rose of Cairo."

A heartthrob with bobbysoxers — he was called "the non-singing Sinatra" — Johnson married only once. In 1947 at the height of his career, he eloped to Juarez, Mexico, to marry Eve Wynn, who had divorced Johnson's good friend Keenan Wynn four hours before.

The marriage produced a daughter, Schuyler, and ended bitterly 13 years later. "She wiped me out in the ugliest divorce in Hollywood history," Johnson told reporters.

As a young actor, Johnson had a brief run with Warner Bros. and then got a screen test and a contract with MGM with the help of his friend Lucille Ball.

After a bit in "The War Against Mrs. Hadley," Johnson appeared with Lionel Barrymore as "Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant," as Mickey Rooney's friend in "The Human Comedy" and as a Navy pilot in "Pilot No. 5."

His big break, with Irene Dunne and Spencer Tracy in the wartime fantasy "A Guy Named Joe," was almost wiped out by tragedy.

On April 1, 1943, his DeSoto convertible was struck head-on by another car. "They tell me I was almost decapitated, but I never lost consciousness," he remembered. "I spent four months in the hospital after they sewed the top of my head back on. I still have a disc of bone in my forehead five inches long."

"A Guy Named Joe" was postponed for his recovery, and the forehead scar went unnoticed in his resulting popularity. MGM cashed in on his stardom with three or four films a year. Among them: "The White Cliffs of Dover," "Two Girls and a Sailor," "Weekend at the Waldorf." "High Barbaree," "Mother Is a Freshman," "No Leave No Love" and "Three Guys Named Mike."

Though he hadn't lost his boyish looks, Johnson's vogue faded by the mid-'50s, and the film roles became sparse, though he did have a "comeback" movie with Janet Leigh in 1963, "Wives and Lovers."

Also in the 1960s he returned to the theater, playing "Damn Yankees" in summer theaters at $7,500 a week. Then he accepted a two-year contract to star in "The Music Man" in London.

He explained why in an interview: "Because the phone didn't ring. Because the film scripts were getting crummier and crummier. Because I sat beside my pool in Palm Springs one day and told myself: `Van, you'll be 45 this year. If you don't start doing something now, you never will.'"

For three decades he was one of the busiest stars in regional and dinner theaters, traveling throughout the country from his New York base. In the 1980s, Johnson appeared on Broadway in "La Cage aux Folles," late in the run of the popular Jerry Herman msuical.

"The white-haired ladies who come to matinees are the people who put me on top," he said in a 1992 interview in Michigan, where he was appearing at a suburban Detroit theater. "I'm still grateful to them."

Television provided some gigs ("The Love Boat," "Fantasy Island" and "McMillan & Wife"), and he also became a painter, his canvases selling as high as $10,000. In a 1988 interview, he told of an important art lesson:

"I was on the Onassis yacht with Winston Churchill. He got his canvas out and so did I. He was working away, and he growled at me, `Don't just sit there and stare! Get some paint and splash it on!'"

He was born Charles Van Dell Johnson on Aug. 25, 1916, in Newport, R.I., where his father was a real estate salesman. From his earliest years he was fascinated by the touring companies that played in Newport theaters, and after high school he announced his intention to try his luck in New York. He arrived in 1934 with $5 and his belongings packed in a straw suitcase.

Johnson's tour of casting offices landed him nothing but chorus jobs. He went to Hollywood for a bit in the movie of "Too Many Girls," then was signed to a Warner Bros. contract.

"First the zenith, then the nadir," Johnson recalled. "Warner Bros. dropped me after `Murder in the Big House.'"

The discouraged young actor was about to return to New York when Ball, whom he knew on "Too Many Girls," invited him to dinner at Chasen's restaurant.

"Lucille tried to cheer me up, but I just couldn't seem to laugh," he said in a 1963 interview. "Suddenly she said to me, `There's Billy Grady over there; he's MGM's casting director. I'm going to introduce you, and at least you're going to act like you're the star I think you will be.'"

Hugh Jackman to host new-look Oscars

LOS ANGELES – Hugh Jackman will host the 81st annual Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed Friday.

The 40-year-old Australian actor, recently named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive," won an Emmy in 2005 for hosting the 59th annual Tony Awards in 2004. He was also nominated as host of the 2005 Tonys.

Jackman, who first claimed fame as Wolverine in the "X-Men" movie franchise, recently starred in Baz Luhrmann's romantic adventure film "Australia" with Nicole Kidman. He was out of the country Friday for a world promotional tour for the film and was not immediately available for comment, his representative Alan Nierob said.

He's never been an Oscar nominee, but was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in 2001's romantic film "Kate & Leopold." His other movie credits include 2006's "The Prestige" and 2004's "Van Helsing."

With new producers, a new set director and even a new music director, the Academy has been hinting at an all new look and feel for this year's Oscars telecast on Feb. 22.

Jackman's selection is a departure from the Academy's standard of big-name comedians. Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show," hosted the ceremony in 2008 and 2006; Ellen DeGeneres was the 2007 host. Chris Rock, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg have also hosted the show in recent years.

Bettie Page, 1950s pin-up queen, dies in L.A.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Bettie Page, one of America's most photographed pin-up girls during the 1950s, died in Los Angeles on Thursday from pneumonia, her agent said. She was 85.

Page was a ubiquitous sight during the 1950s, propelled to stardom when she posed for Playboy as Miss January 1955. Soon her image was gracing playing cards, record albums and bedroom posters across the country.

She stopped modeling in 1957, retreated from the public spotlight and turned to religion. She enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in the 1980s, as a new generation of fans became obsessed with her legacy.

Her agent, Mark Roesler, said Page was admitted to a Los Angeles-area hospital four weeks ago. She never regained consciousness after suffering a heart attack earlier this month.

With her dark bangs, alluring blue-gray eyes and wide smile, Page cultivated an innocent girl-next-door persona. The one-time school teacher was nice, but clearly also naughty. Some of her photos featured spanking and bondage.

"Bettie Page embodied the stereotypical wholesomeness of the Fifties and the hidden sexuality straining beneath the surface," authors Karen Essex and James L. Swanson wrote in their 1996 book "Bettie Page: The Life of a Pin-Up Legend."

Page professed to be mystified by all the attention, saying she never felt particularly attractive and had to wear a lot of makeup to cover up her large pores. After she found God, she was initially ashamed of having posed nude.

"(B)ut now most of the money I've got is because I posed in the nude," she told Playboy last year. "So I'm not ashamed of it now, but I still don't understand it."

Bettie Mae Page was born on April 22, 1923, in Nashville, one of six children. She and two sisters were sent to an orphanage after her father went to jail and her mother could not cope on her own. Page later described her father as "a sex fiend" who started sexually molesting her when she was 13.

Page, armed with an arts degree with Peabody College in Nashville, did her first modeling work in the 1940s after moving to San Francisco with the first of her three husbands. After they divorced in 1947, she pursued modeling in New York. Photos from a shoot with Miami photographer Bunny Yeager ended up in the pages of Playboy.

The layout featured Page winking at the camera wearing only a Santa hat as she decorated a Christmas tree. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner described it as "a milestone in the history of the magazine," which he had founded less than two years earlier.

Later in life, Page was furious that Yeager made a fortune from the photos and never compensated her.

Some American lawmakers were not as impressed with her modeling abilities. Page was served with a subpoena to appear before U.S. Senate investigators trying to discover a link between juvenile delinquency and pornography. Page never appeared. Soon after, she completely disappeared from the scene.

After two other brief marriages failed, Page battled acute schizophrenia beginning in the early 1970s. Her comeback gathered momentum with the 1991 movie "The Rocketeer," based on a comic book where the hero's girlfriend was Page. Fan clubs and websites proliferated, and Page made a good living signing memorabilia at conventions. On the rare occasions that she gave interviews, she insisted that she not be photographed.

Page had no children. There was no immediate information about funeral plans.

Surprises and snubs at Thursday's Golden Globe nominations

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - It's not as if any huge shockers emerged from the Golden Globe nominations Thursday. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Doubt" and "Frost/Nixon" led the field with five apiece, which makes absolute sense - they're all polished, starry, classic awards-season fare.

But still, there were a few surprises and snubs:

-A DARK DAY FOR "THE DARK KNIGHT": Heath Ledger was the only nominee from the blockbuster Batman saga, deservedly receiving a posthumous supporting-actor nomination for his riveting turn as the Joker. It's something we all expected, but director Christopher Nolan's epic actioner has been earning awards buzz across the board, with talk that it could even find itself among the best-picture contenders at the Academy Awards.

-ALONG THOSE LINES: Sean Penn was the only nominee from "Milk," being duly recognized for his richly charismatic depiction of gay politician and civil rights leader Harvey Milk, who was shot to death in 1978. Again, this is one of those movies that has been considered a front-runner all along for top awards; the New York Film Critics Circle chose it as the year's best this past week.

-I COULDN'T HELP BUT WONDER: How did the "Sex and the City" get shut out entirely? The hugely anticipated screen version of the trendsetting HBO series made $153 million in the United States, and its splashy crowd-pleasing nature would seem to make it a natural at the Globes. But it didn't get nominated for best comedy, for star Sarah Jessica Parker or for any of the supporting performances from Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall or Kristin Davis. The red carpet just got a little less glamorous.

-DOWN AND OUT DOWN UNDER: Despite its ambition, wide scope and striking imagery, "Australia" continues to be a letdown. Baz Luhrmann's homage to romantic adventure film, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, also failed to get a single nomination from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. It's gotten mixed reviews and has only made about $32 million since its Nov. 26 opening.

-GET OFFA HIS LAWN: Clint Eastwood received nominations for his score and the original song he co-wrote (and sang a bit in) for "Gran Torino," which isn't a big surprise. A longtime jazz lover, he's been writing the music for his films for many years, and previously was nominated for a Golden Globe for "Million Dollar Baby." But best-actor buzz has been building for his funny, roaring performance as a cantankerous bigot who battles the violence in his Detroit neighbourhood, and he was left out of that race Thursday.

-ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID: Michael Sheen unfortunately was overlooked again, despite consistently providing solid work opposite showier performers in splashier roles. Two years ago, it was as Tony Blair in "The Queen," in which Helen Mirren reigned supreme. Now, it's as David Frost in "Frost/Nixon," for which his co-star, Frank Langella, received a best-actor nomination as Richard Nixon.

-A LITTLE HUMOUR: Smaller movies dominated the best comedy or musical category, between "In Bruges," "Happy-Go-Lucky" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." Even "Burn After Reading," with its superstar cast including Brad Pitt and George Clooney, has a quirky Coen brothers esthetic. The ABBA-centric "Mamma Mia!", the other nominee, was the only traditional choice.

Gordie Sampson, Matt Mays, El Torpedo vie for ECMA honours

Cape Breton singer-songwriter and producer Gordie Sampson, and Halifax rockers Matt Mays and El Torpedo top a list of Atlantic Canadians vying for trophies at the 2009 East Coast Music Awards.

Nashville-based Sampson — who has made a name for himself writing hits for the likes of Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill and Bon Jovi — scored five nominations, including best songwriter and recording of the year for his latest solo album For the Few and Far Between.

Matt Mays and El Torpedo also netted five nominations, with the band's album Terminal Romance to battle Sampson in categories such as songwriter and recording of the year.

Rounding out the best recording category are Halifax's Jill Barber for Chances and two Newfoundland acts: Damhnait Doyle for her album of covers Lights Down Low and Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood) by indie rock outfit Hey Rosetta!

Besides Sampson and Mays, other best songwriter contenders include Asif Illyas for U Dream (performed by Halifax pop group MIR), Tim Baker for New Goodbye (performed by St. John's-based Hey Rosetta!) and Halifax's Christina Martin for her song Two Hearts.

Other artists who picked up multiple nominations include David Myles, Joel Plaskett Emergency, Troy MacGillivray & Shane Cook, Hot Toddy and Vishten.

The mix of nominees reflects "the vibrant musical diversity among East Coast artists, from well-established and popular bands and musicians to fresh new faces and sounds," ECMA chair Wade Pinhorn said in a statement.

A complete list of nominees is available on the East Coast Music Association website.

The roving East Coast Music Association industry conference and awards will descend on Corner Brook, N.L., for its next edition, which gets underway Feb. 26 and ends March 1.

'In Bruges' emerges as unlikely Globes contender

Though "In Bruges" was released in February — an eternity away from the fall premieres of most awards-seeking films — the Colin Farrell film emerged as an unlikely contender at the Golden Globes.

"In Bruges" scored three nominations from the Globes on Thursday, including best picture for a musical or comedy and dueling best actor in a musical or comedy nominations for Farrell and his co-star Brendan Gleeson — a first for each.

Written and directed by playwright Martin McDonagh, the film received good but mixed reviews, and grossed less than $8 million at the U.S. box office. In it, Farrell and Gleeson play hit men laid up in the picturesque and quaint town of Bruges, Belgium.

"It had been brought to my attention by people that it was a possibility, a dark-horse possibility, for getting some recognition, but I really, really didn't expect it," Farrell said Thursday. "It had been released in the early part of the year, it didn't do huge money, it wasn't seen by that many people. But it's a testament to (McDonough's) writing in his film debut that it obviously struck a chord with them."

Speaking by phone Thursday from London, Gleeson — recognized by many as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody from the "Harry Potter" films — said he was surprised at his nomination and the attention to "In Bruges."

"It's a matter of total mystery to me how all of this happens," said Gleeson. "But it's absolutely fantastic that the film has a life."

The movie's Golden Globe success may have been partially indebted to its Anglo-Irish production and Belgian setting. The Globes nominees are selected through the slightly European perspective of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

"In Bruges" also fared well with the British Independent Awards, where it was nominated for six awards and won for best screenplay.

Though Globes success can often spell good things for a film's Oscar prospects, that's unlikely in this case: Unlike the Academy Awards, the Globes split films between dramas and comedies, giving comedies more attention.

It's debatable how much of a comedy "In Bruges" is — it's at least as dramatic as it is comedic. But Gleeson, chuckling, makes one thing clear: "It's not a musical!"

'Button,' 'Frost/Nixon,' 'Doubt' grab 5 Globe noms

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Frost/Nixon" led the Golden Globes on Thursday with five nominations each, among them best drama, while "Doubt" also has five, including four acting slots.

Other best-drama nominees: "The Reader," "Revolutionary Road" and "Slumdog Millionare."

Meryl Streep had two nominations, best dramatic actress for "Doubt" and musical or comedy actress for "Mamma Mia!"; and Kate Winslet also had two, best actress for "Revolutionary Road" and supporting-actress for "The Reader."

Also chosen for dramatic actress were: Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"; Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"; and Kristin Scott Thomas, "I've Loved You So Long."

Nominees for dramatic actor were Leonardo DiCaprio, "Revolutionary Road"; Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"; Brad Pitt, "Benjamin Button"; Sean Penn, "Milk"; and Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler."

"Doubt" also scored supporting nominations for Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis, plus a screenplay slot for director John Patrick Shanley, who adapted his Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

The year's biggest hit, the Batman blockbuster, "The Dark Knight," came in with strong awards buzz across the board but had only one nomination, supporting actor for Heath Ledger as the Joker.

The Harvey Milk film biography "Milk" also had been at the top of awards watchers' lists but only grabbed an acting nomination for Penn.

Clint Eastwood had two music nominations for his "Changeling" score and for co-writing the title song for "Gran Torino." But he missed out on directing nominations for both films and for an acting slot in "Gran Torino," in which he starred.

Along with "Mamma Mia!", nominated for best musical or comedy were "Burn After Reading," "Happy-Go-Lucky," "In Bruges" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION 2008 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS NOMINATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008

1. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

a. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures

b. FROST/NIXON
Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Studio Canal; Universal Pictures

c. THE READER
Mirage Enterprises; The Weinstein Company

d. REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
An Evamere Entertainment BBC Films Neal Street Production; DreamWorks Pictures in Association with BBC Films and Paramount Vantage

e. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.; Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.

2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

a. ANNE HATHAWAY RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

b. ANGELINA JOLIE CHANGELING

c. MERYL STREEP DOUBT

d. KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG
(IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T’AIME)

e. KATE WINSLET REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

a. LEONARDO DICAPRIO REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

b. FRANK LANGELLA FROST/NIXON

c. SEAN PENN MILK

d. BRAD PITT THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN
BUTTON

e. MICKEY ROURKE THE WRESTLER

4. BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. BURN AFTER READING
Working Title/Releasing Company; Focus Features in association with Studio Canal

b. HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
Summit Entertainment, Film4, Ingenious Film Partners, Miramax Films; Miramax Films

c. IN BRUGES
Blueprint Pictures; Focus Features

d. MAMMA MIA!
Relativity Media, Playtone, Littlestar; Universal Pictures

e. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
Mediapro; The Weinstein Company

5. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. REBECCA HALL VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

b. SALLY HAWKINS HAPPY-GO-LUCKY

c. FRANCES MCDORMAND BURN AFTER READING

d. MERYL STREEP MAMMA MIA!

e. EMMA THOMPSON LAST CHANCE HARVEY

6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. JAVIER BARDEM VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

b. COLIN FARRELL IN BRUGES

c. JAMES FRANCO PINEAPPLE EXPRESS

d. BRENDAN GLEESON IN BRUGES

e. DUSTIN HOFFMAN LAST CHANCE HARVEY

7. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

a. BOLT
Walt Disney Pictures; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

b. KUNG FU PANDA
DreamWorks Animation SKG; Paramount Pictures

c. WALL-E
Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

8. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

a. THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX (GERMANY)
(DER BADDER MEINHOF KOMPLEX)
Constantin Film Produktion GmbH; Summit Entertainment, LLC

b. EVERLASTING MOMENTS (SWEDEN/DENMARK)
(MARIA LARSSONS EVIGA ÖGONBLICK)
Final Cut Productions Aps; IFC Films

c. GOMORRAH (ITALY)
(GOMORRA)
Fandango; IFC Films

d. I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (FRANCE)
(IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T’AIME)
UGC YM/UGC Images/France 3 Cinema/Integral Film; Sony Pictures Classics

e. WALTZ WITH BASHIR (ISRAEL)
Bridgit Folman Film Gang/Les Films D'Ici/Razor Films/Arte France/ITVS International; Sony Pictures Classics

9. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

a. AMY ADAMS DOUBT

b. PENELOPE CRUZ VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

c. VIOLA DAVIS DOUBT

d. MARISA TOMEI THE WRESTLER

e. KATE WINSLET THE READER

10. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

a. TOM CRUISE TROPIC THUNDER

b. ROBERT DOWNEY JR. TROPIC THUNDER

c. RALPH FIENNES THE DUCHESS

d. PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN DOUBT

e. HEATH LEDGER THE DARK KNIGHT

11. BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

a. DANNY BOYLE SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

b. STEPHEN DALDRY THE READER

c. DAVID FINCHER THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN
BUTTON

d. RON HOWARD FROST/NIXON

e. SAM MENDES REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

12. BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

a. SIMON BEAUFOY SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

b. DAVID HARE THE READER

c. PETER MORGAN FROST/NIXON

d. ERIC ROTH THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN
BUTTON

e. JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY DOUBT

13. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE

a. ALEXANDRE DESPLAT THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN
BUTTON

b. CLINT EASTWOOD CHANGELING

c. JAMES NEWTON HOWARD DEFIANCE

d. A. R. RAHMAN SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

e. HANS ZIMMER FROST/NIXON

14. BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE

a. “DOWN TO EARTH” — WALL-E
Music by: Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman
Lyrics by: Peter Gabriel

b. “GRAN TORINO” — GRAN TORINO
Music by: Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
Lyrics by: Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens

c. “I THOUGHT I LOST YOU” — BOLT
Music & Lyrics by: Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele

d. “ONCE IN A LIFETIME” — CADILLAC RECORDS
Music & Lyrics by: Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarnon, Ian Dench, James Dring, Jody Street

e. “THE WRESTLER” — THE WRESTLER
Music & Lyrics by: Bruce Springsteen

15. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a. DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
Showtime/John Goldwyn Productions/The Colleton Company/Clyde Phillips Productions

b. HOUSE (FOX)
Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions

c. IN TREATMENT (HBO)
Sheleg, Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

d. MAD MEN (AMC)
Lionsgate Television

e. TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
Your Face Goes Here Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

16. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a. SALLY FIELD BROTHERS AND SISTERS

b. MARISKA HARGITAY LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS
UNIT

c. JANUARY JONES MAD MEN

d. ANNA PAQUIN TRUE BLOOD

e. KYRA SEDGWICK THE CLOSER

17. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a. GABRIEL BYRNE IN TREATMENT

b. MICHAEL C. HALL DEXTER

c. JON HAMM MAD MEN

d. HUGH LAURIE HOUSE

e. JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS THE TUDORS

18. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. 30 ROCK (NBC)
Universal Media Studios in association with Broadway Video and Little
Stranger Inc.

b. CALIFORNICATION (SHOWTIME)
Showtime Presents in association with Aggressive Mediocrity, And Then...

c. ENTOURAGE (HBO)
Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

d. THE OFFICE (NBC)
Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille LLC, Universal Media Studios

e. WEEDS (SHOWTIME)
Lionsgate Television

19. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. CHRISTINA APPLEGATE SAMANTHA WHO?

b. AMERICA FERRERA UGLY BETTY

c. TINA FEY 30 ROCK

d. DEBRA MESSING THE STARTER WIFE

e. MARY-LOUISE PARKER WEEDS

20. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. ALEC BALDWIN 30 ROCK

b. STEVE CARELL THE OFFICE

c. KEVIN CONNOLLY ENTOURAGE

d. DAVID DUCHOVNY CALIFORNICATION

e. TONY SHALHOUB MONK

21. BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. A RAISIN IN THE SUN (ABC)
Sony Pictures Television

b. BERNARD AND DORIS (HBO)
Trigger Street Independent Productions in association with Little Bird and Chicago Films and HBO Films

c. CRANFORD (PBS)
A Co-Production of BBC and WGBH Boston.

d. JOHN ADAMS (HBO)
Playtone in association with HBO Films

e. RECOUNT (HBO)
Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films

22. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. JUDI DENCH CRANFORD

b. CATHERINE KEENER AN AMERICAN CRIME

c. LAURA LINNEY JOHN ADAMS

d. SHIRLEY MACLAINE COCO CHANEL

e. SUSAN SARANDON BERNARD AND DORIS

23. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. RALPH FIENNES BERNARD AND DORIS

b. PAUL GIAMATTI JOHN ADAMS

c. KEVIN SPACEY RECOUNT

d. KIEFER SUTHERLAND 24: REDEMPTION

e. TOM WILKINSON RECOUNT

24. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. EILEEN ATKINS CRANFORD

b. LAURA DERN RECOUNT

c. MELISSA GEORGE IN TREATMENT

d. RACHEL GRIFFITHS BROTHERS AND SISTERS

e. DIANNE WIEST IN TREATMENT

25. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. NEIL PATRICK HARRIS HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

b. DENIS LEARY RECOUNT

c. JEREMY PIVEN ENTOURAGE

d. BLAIR UNDERWOOD IN TREATMENT

e. TOM WILKINSON JOHN ADAMS

Screen Actors Guild sets January strike vote

LOS ANGELES – The Screen Actors Guild plans to send strike authorization ballots to more than 100,000 union members on Jan. 2, a date that leaves the Golden Globes safe but puts Oscar night within reach of a potential boycott.

Votes will be counted on Jan. 23, nearly two weeks after the Golden Globe Awards ceremony, but ahead of the Feb. 22 Academy Awards, the most important date on the Hollywood calendar.

Approval by 75 percent of voting members is required to pass the measure. If it is approved, the SAG national board can call a strike.

Guild President Alan Rosenberg has said a strike is the last resort to force a resolution in stalled contract talks with major movie studios, but that if it is necessary, it would be timed to have the most impact.

"SAG members understand that their futures as professional actors are at stake," Rosenberg said in a statement Wednesday.

The guild is at odds with the studios over the treatment of Internet productions and the benefits that actors can get when earthquakes or other unforeseen events, such as a strike by another union, shut down productions.

For instance, actors have an outstanding claim for payments they say they are due for work lost during the 100-day strike by writers last season. That strike reduced the Golden Globes this past January to a glorified press conference.

In the Internet debate, the guild wants union coverage of all shows made for the Web, regardless of budget, and residual payments for actors on made-for-Internet shows that are reused online. Currently, almost all provisions for made-for-Internet productions are negotiable or at the producer's discretion.

Major studios called the strike vote poorly timed.

"It's now official: SAG members are going to be asked to bail out a failed negotiating strategy by going on strike during one of the worst economic crises in history," said a statement by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

That group represents studios such as Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures and Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. The alliance has stuck to what it called its final offer made when the previous contract expired June 30.

Similar deals have already been accepted by other unions, including those representing directors, writers, stagehands and a smaller actors union. On its Web site, the movie and TV producers' group says the Screen Actors Guild has so far foregone more than $37 million in pay increases by continuing to work under the terms of the old deal.

On Monday, the guild held a closed-door town hall-style meeting at the Harmony Gold Theater in Hollywood, and Rosenberg said he was ``encouraged by the response" by the 500 members in attendance.

But the guild, which had expected to send out ballots this month, pushed back the strike vote date after the producers' alliance accused it of using the holidays to ensure a low turnout and leave more working actors out of the process.

"We want SAG members to have time to focus on this critical referendum," Rosenberg said.

The guild plans another town hall meeting in New York on Monday and one in Hollywood on Dec. 17. As well, the guild is sending out e-mails and fact sheets to members, and will put up testimonials from prominent actors such as Hal Holbrook and Ed Asner on its website to urge actors to vote yes.

But actors are divided. In guild elections in September, an upstart group called Unite For Strength broke up the majority control of the national board that had been held by a faction that supports Rosenberg.

However, the Unite group has not clarified its position on the strike vote.

Last week, at a benefit performance at the University of California, Los Angeles, "Mad Men" actor Jon Hamm told The Associated Press that he hoped the labour strife would not affect next year's TV season.

"I wish it was not happening. I wish there were sound heads on both sides who were able to discuss this like adults," he said. ``If history is any judge, it's not looking good, but we'll see, especially given the financial climate.''

Eagles' 'Long Road' stretches through next spring

The Eagles are filling in their 2009 calendar with another run of North American shows and a trip through Europe.

The veteran rockers, who wrapped their 2008 "Long Road Out of Eden Tour" earlier this month, are set to return to the road in January for a dozen US performances around the East Coast and South. Since last check, the Eagles have added March dates in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as shows in Fargo, ND; the Missouri cities of Columbia and Kansas City; and the Ohio cities of Cleveland and Columbus. The band is also scheduled to launch a six-week tour of Europe in late May.

North American stops are listed below and overseas gigs can be found at the Eagles' website. The newly added March dates go on sale beginning this Saturday (12/13).

As part of a new "all-in ticketing" program through Ticketmaster (LiveDaily's parent company), many of the concerts will be sold at the advertised price with no additional convenience fees. The program was announced last month after Ticketmaster acquired a controlling stake in Irving Azoff's Front Line Management Group, which counts the Eagles among its list of clients. Azoff is the CEO of the new entity, dubbed Ticketmaster Entertainment.

"The Eagles' use of 'all-in ticketing' is the first step in Ticketmaster's transformation to an all-encompassing entertainment company to allow artists to connect to their fans in both new and innovative ways," Azoff said in a statement.

The Eagles' ongoing tour finds Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit performing classic Eagles songs, hits from their solo careers and tunes from last year's "Long Road Out of Eden," which marked the band's first collection of new material in 28 years.

The two-disc set topped The Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart, and remains on those charts more than a year later. "Long Road Out of Eden" has gone seven-times platinum with the help of hit singles "Busy Being Fabulous" and "How Long," the latter of which scored the Eagles a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers have sold more than 120 million albums worldwide, earning five No. 1 singles and five Grammy Awards, according to a press release. The Eagles' "Greatest Hits 1971-1975" has reached 29-times platinum and is the best-selling album of all time in the US.

January 2009
12 - Hampton, VA - Hampton Coliseum
14 - Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Arena
16 - North Charleston, SC - North Charleston Coliseum
17 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum Complex
19 - Greenville, SC - Bi-Lo Center
20 - Knoxville, TN - Thompson Boling Arena
23 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
24 - Birmingham, AL - Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex Arena
26 - Sunrise, FL - BankAtlantic Center
28 - Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
29 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
31 - Orlando, FL - Amway Arena

March 2009
7 - Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place
10, 11 - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Credit Union Centre
13 - Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Centre
15 - Fargo, ND - Fargodome
17 - Columbia, MO - Mizzou Arena
24 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
28 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
29 - Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center

Fogerty Revisits 'Blue Ridge' On New Album

A pair of returns will mark a creative outburst from John Fogerty in 2009.

The former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman is finishing work on "John Fogerty: The Return of the Blue Ridge Rangers," a sequel of sorts to his 1973 solo set of vintage country and roots covers, "Blue Ridge Rangers." He'll also be putting out "John Fogerty -- Comin' Down the Road," a DVD chronicling his first concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, which took place earlier this year, as well as a documentary about his life and career. Release dates for both are still pending.

Fogerty tells Billboard that he's long hoped to return to the Blue Ridge Rangers concept, but not as the one-man band he was on the original. "I've known for years that if I ever did a Blue Ridge Rangers album again I sure didn't want to play all the instruments," Fogerty explains. "I had long felt that was probably something that was wrong with the first album."

Fogerty recorded "The Return of the Blue Ridge Rangers" during a 10-day session at Village Recorders in Santa Monica, Calif., with T-Bone Burnett and Lenny Waronker co-producing. Among the players were Buddy Miller, Greg Leisz, Dennis Crouch, Jay Bellerose and Kenny Aronoff. Fifteen songs were recorded from a list of about 40 that Fogerty, Burnett and Waronker assembled, and while Fogerty is keeping mum on specific titles, he acknowledges that there would be at least one Merle Haggard tune on the album.

"My pre-requisite was that I didn't want to get into the realm of trying to be really hip and obscure," Fogerty says. "I've seen people get really out there, and it's stuff nobody's heard of or maybe it's stuff nobody wants to hear of. For me it just had to be a good song, a great song, 'cause great songs will carry you a long way."

Fogerty does some more looking back on the "Comin' Down the Road" DVD. In addition to the concert -- a 12-camera HD affair which traverses his CCR and solo career and features guest appearances by his teenage songs Shane and Tyler -- the documentary features extensive interviews with Fogerty as well as visits to El Cerrito, Calif., where he grew up, CCR's Cosmos Factory rehearsal hall/studio and Fantasy Records' headquarters in Berkeley.

Fogerty freely discusses painful past issues such as his legal drama after CCR's break-up and subsequent writer's block, but he says those topics are "kind of academic to me now. It's not a real red-hot emotional button anymore. I'm not still trying to work it out, you know?"

The two solo projects come on the heels of Fantasy's reissues of the CCR catalog, six titles with extensive bonus tracks from the vaults. Fogerty calls them "pretty cool" but acknowledges mixed feelings about the extra material.

"The bonus tracks were some stuff I really never wanted to have released," he explains. "But their job as a record company is to try and renew interest in things that have been around awhile, and that's tricky. As long as everybody understands it's more historic than it is artistic, that's OK. That's the way I have to think about it."

Pearl Jam Raids Vaults For 'Ten' Reissue

Pearl Jam has unearthed a host of unreleased tracks and special surprises from its vaults for a deluxe reissue of its fabled 1991 debut album, "Ten." Four different editions will be available March 24 from Epic; pre-orders begin today (Dec. 10) at PearlJam.com.

Each version includes a digitally remastered version of the original album as well as a completely new remix of the set by longtime producer Brendan O'Brien, who did not work on "Ten" but produced Pearl Jam's subsequent four albums. Bassist Jeff Ament and designer Andy Fischer teamed to revamp the artwork.

The O'Brien disc also includes six previously unreleased songs from the era: early versions of "Breath" and "State of Love and Trust," "Brother" (with vocals, not the instrumental version from the 2003 rarities collection "Lost Dogs"), "Just a Girl," "Evil Little Goat" and "2,000 Mile Blues," a Stevie Ray Vaughan-inspired jam with improvised vocals from frontman Eddie Vedder.

Band members have been asking O'Brien to take a crack at a complete remix for years, and he gave the idea a trial run when he remixed the "Ten" tracks "Once," "Black" and "Alive" for Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album "Rearviewmirror."

"The original 'Ten' sound is what millions of people bought, dug and loved, so I was initially hesitant to mess around with that," says O'Brien of the album, which has sold 9.58 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and vaulted Pearl Jam to global superstardom. The Recording Industry Association of America has certified it for U.S. shipments of 12 million copies. "After years of persistent nudging from the band, I was able to wrap my head around the idea of offering it as a companion piece to the original -- giving a fresh take on it, a more direct sound."

The "Legacy" edition of "Ten" adds a DVD of Pearl Jam's previously unreleased 1992 performance on "MTV Unplugged," including a never-aired version of "Oceans." The audio has been remixed in 5.1 surround sound. Fans can also opt for a double-vinyl version featuring the original "Ten" on one LP and O'Brien's remix on the other.

But the package sure to send hardcore fans into a tizzy is the "Super Deluxe Edition," which features two CDs, a DVD and four vinyl records. It is housed in a linen-covered, slip-cased clamshell box with a replica of an item second to none in Pearl Jam lore.

In 1990, when bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard and Mike McCready were getting the nascent Pearl Jam going in Seattle, they recorded three instrumentals to send to the then-unknown Eddie Vedder, who'd been recommended by Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons.

Vedder, then living in San Diego, overdubbed vocals onto the tape, in the process creating the songs "Alive," "Once" and "Footsteps" (he was invited to join the band within weeks). Poor quality bootlegs of the demo, dubbed "Momma-Son," have circulated for years, but the "Super Deluxe Edition" will include a crystal-clear dub of the tape on a replica cassette.

In addition, fans will receive Pearl Jam's previously unreleased Sept. 20, 1992, concert at Seattle's Magnuson Park (dubbed Drop in the Park) on two vinyl LPs and a replica of Vedder's composition notebook packed with notes, photos and memorabilia from the "Ten" era. This version will sell for $140.

The "Ten" reissue is the first piece of a two-year campaign culminating with the band's 20th anniversary in 2011. Additional details have yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, Pearl Jam is recording its ninth studio album (its first with O'Brien producing since 1998's "Yield"), which is expected for release next year.

Cruise Loses His Blackberry

Hollywood star Tom Cruise is searching for his missing cellphone, after reportedly losing it during a movie junket in Canada.

The actor misplaced his trusted BlackBerry between interviews in Toronto to promote his new movie Valkyrie - and he is desperate to track it down, before all his emails, text messages, and the phone numbers of all his celebrity pals, are leaked online.

According to the National Post, Cruise's assistants have scoured TV studios across the city but failed to find the missing accessory.

'Milk' named best film by New York Film Critics

NEW YORK – Sean Penn and "Milk," Gus Van Sant's biopic about gay rights leader Harvey Milk, continued to gain awards momentum Wednesday, winning best film from the New York Film Critics Circle.

Penn was chosen as best actor for his performance in the lauded film about Milk, the openly gay San Francisco politician who was assassinated in 1978. Josh Brolin won best supporting actor for his performance in the film.

On Tuesday, Penn was chosen as best actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. "Milk" also leads the Broadcast Film Critics Association with eight nominations, tied for the most with "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

Like their West Coast brethren, the New York critics picked Sally Hawkins for best actress for her performance in Mike Leigh's "Happy-Go-Lucky." Best director went to Leigh.

The New York circle, which last year chose "No Country for Old Men" as best film, is a group of 33 New York-based critics. Their picks are one of the early film honors in Hollywood's long awards season, which continues Thursday with nominations for the Golden Globes.

Best supporting actress went to Penelope Cruz for her role in Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." Jenny Lumet, daughter of Sidney Lumet, won for her screenplay of "Rachel Getting Married."

"Man on Wire" won best documentary, "WALL-E" won best animated film and "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" won best foreign film. Anthony Dod Mantle won for his cinematography in "Slumdog Millionaire." Courtney Hunt ("Frozen River") won for best first film.

The awards ceremony will be held Jan. 5 in New York.

Jerry Lewis to receive Oscar's humanitarian award

LOS ANGELES – Jerry Lewis has never been nominated for an Oscar, but he's going to get one anyway. The 82-year-old will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscar ceremony in February.

The governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their selection Wednesday. The Hersholt Award — an actual Oscar statuette — recognizes humanitarian efforts that have brought credit to the film industry.

An actor, director, writer and producer, Lewis made his big-screen debut in 1949's "My Friend Irma." He has been national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1952 and has raised more than $2 billion for the cause through his annual Labor Day telethon.

The Oscars will be presented Feb. 22.

Bruce Springsteen Details

Bruce Springsteen's new album leads off with one of his longest studio songs in decades. "Outlaw Pete" is eight minutes long, setting the table for "Working on a Dream," due Jan. 27 from Columbia.

Other tracks from the project get in and out much quicker, including "Tomorrow Never Knows" (2:14) and "What Love Can Do" (2:57). Late E Street Band member Danny Federici, who died in April, plays on the album, as does his son Jason.

"Working on a Dream" will be available on vinyl and in a deluxe edition featuring a DVD with 38-minutes of behind-the-scenes studio footage.

Jon Stewart lampoons Canada's parliamentary crisis

Canada's parliamentary crisis is now fodder for jokes south of the border.

On Monday night, comedian Jon Stewart addressed our current problems in Ottawa on his satirical news show, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, saying Canadians are facing the biggest political challenge since the "controversial decision to reshape bacon."

Stewart appeared incredulous that a coalition of opposition politicians tried to oust Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"Force him from office? You can do that?" he asked. "Because we've had no confidence in our guy for quite some time now, and he's taking forever to leave."

He also seemed puzzled by the crisis in light of Harper's numbers in political polls.

"I mean, this guy — his approval rating is 46 per cent and they're trying to kick him out," he said. "You know what we call a 46 per cent approval rating down here? President Clinton."

Canadian voters were also the butts of Stewart's jokes. He showed video footage of a protester shouting, "What are you afraid of, sir?" at Harper.

"Sir?" Stewart said. "You're heckling him. It's not a job interview! Do you Canadians save all your obnoxiousness for hockey games?"

And he wondered aloud why Americans should care about Canadian politics, noting that Canada isn't a nuclear state and our chief export is "jokes that they are the butt of."

Stewart has hosted The Daily Show on Comedy Central since 1999.

Death Cab, Snoop, Ryan Adams To Rock Langerado

Death Cab For Cutie, Snoop Dogg, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Dashboard Confessional, Broken Social Scene and Girl Talk lead the bill for the seventh Langerado Music Festival, to be held March 6-8 at Bicentennial Park in Miami.

Thievery Corporation, Slightly Stoopid, Flogging Molly, Chromeo, Mute Math, Black Kids, Gym Class Heroes, the Faint, the Pogues, Zac Brown Band, Matisyahu, Disco Biscuits, Umphrey's McGree, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Michael Franti and Spearhead and the Virgins are also confirmed.

Tickets go on sale Friday (Dec. 12) from Langerado.com. The event will also encompass late night shows in and around Miami, with details to be announced.

Last year's Langerado Festival, held at Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in the Florida Everglades, featured R.E.M., Built To Spill, Of Montreal, the Beastie Boys, the Roots, Gov't Mule, 311, the National, Phil Lesh and Matisyahu, among others. The four-day festival drew about 25,000 people per day and grossed $4.3 million, according to festival co-producer Evan Schwartz.

Schwartz told Billboard in September he and Langerado Festival co-producer Mark Brown have diversified the event's lineup over the past four years. "We started out as a jam-oriented festival," he said. "It's more exciting for us to put together these lineups every year, because there is so much great music out there."

Ledger Honoured With Another Posthumous Award

Heath Ledger has been honoured with a posthumous acting award from the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association.

Ledger has been named Best Supporting Actor for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight by the critics.

Slumdog Millionaire claimed its second major U.S. Best Film prize, while Oscar favourites Mickey Rourke and Meryl Streep won the Best Actor and Best Actress honours for The Wrestler and Doubt, respectively.

The cast of Doubt also walked away with Best Acting Ensemble, while Rosemarie DeWitt won Best Supporting Actress for Rachel Getting Married.

The full list of Washington DC Area Film Critics Association honourees are:

Best Film: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)

Best Actor: Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)

Best Actress: Meryl Streep (Doubt)

Best Ensemble: Doubt

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)

Best Supporting Actress: Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married)

Best Breakthrough Performance: Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire)

Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)

Best Original Screenplay: Jenny Lumet (Rachel Getting Married)

Best Animated Feature: Wall-e

Best Foreign Language Film: Let The Right One In

Best Documentary: Man On Wire

Best Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Jay Leno staying on NBC in prime time

NEW YORK – Jay Leno is staying at NBC, and he's moving to prime time.

The network announced Tuesday that Leno will host a show five nights a week at 10 p.m. Eastern, after he leaves the "Tonight" show next year. The network had announced nearly five years ago that Conan O'Brien would move to "Tonight" and succeed Leno.

The deal not only prevents Leno from moving to another network and competing with O'Brien, it also has the potential to be a big cost savings for NBC. A talk show is considerably cheaper to produce than the dramas that usually air at 10 p.m. Eastern.

Leno could now deliver his nightly monologue and sketches to more viewers. Generally about 50 percent more people are watching TV at 10 p.m. than at 11:30 p.m.

Dramas used to be a mainstay of network schedules, and NBC's own history at the time slot includes "ER," "Hill Street Blues," "Law & Order" and "L.A. Law."
Yet dramas have been fading in recent years. One reason is digital video recorders; more people are watching shows they taped earlier than the live 10 p.m. shows.

Ten years ago, "ER" was the top-rated show in television, with an average of 25.4 million viewers. This season, its last, "ER" is averaging 9.9 million viewers and is ranked No. 33 in prime time.

Besides "ER," NBC this season airs "Law & Order" and its "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" spinoff in the 10 p.m. time slot — both shows that could easily move to an earlier hour. "My Own Worst Enemy" and "Lipstick Jungle," shows in the 10 p.m. hour on Monday and Friday, have already been canceled.

NBC had said last summer that Leno's last "Tonight" show would be on Friday, May 29, and that O'Brien would take over the following Monday, June 1.

Jimmy Fallon is taking over the 12:30 a.m. time slot that O'Brien is vacating.

The Eagles coming to Saskatoon

They've toured the world extensively, and now for the first time, rock legends the Eagles are coming to Saskatchewan.

Organizers announced Monday that the band will be putting on two shows at Saskatoon's Credit Union Centre on March 10 and 11. It's a huge act with prices to match — tickets going on sale this weekend will range from $99.50 to $199.50.

Still, organizers are confident the two dates will sell out — perhaps in a matter of minutes.

"The Eagles are one of the hottest shows in North America and, indeed, the world, selling out wherever they go," said Credit Union Centre spokesman Scott Ford.

Formed in the early '70s, the band had a series of hits like Lyin' Eyes, Hotel California and The Long Run before breaking up in 1980. It got back together in 1994 and has since been one of the rock world's biggest moneymakers.

Tickets for the Saskatoon shows go on sale online Saturday at 10 a.m.

New CD Releases, December 9: Common, Maroon 5, Musiq Soulchild, Brandy, Justice, and more.

Common "Universal Mind Control" (Geffen)

The Chicago hip-hop star is set to drop his eighth album, "Universal Mind Control." The record follows last year's gold-certified "Finding Forever," which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200.

The first single from the album is its title track. The set features a number of big-name guest stars, including Pharrell Williams and Kanye West. Williams' Neptunes and West also contributed production work to the record.

* * *
Maroon 5 "Call and Response: The Remix Album" (Octone)

The pop-rock combo unveils its first remix album. "Call and Response" features newly mixed versions of hit singles and tracks from the band's two prior studio records: 2002's "Songs About Jane" and 2007's "It Won't Be Soon Before Long."

The collection includes guest appearances by Mary J. Blige on one version of "Wake Up Call," David Banner on a second version of "Wake Up Call," The Cool Kids on "Harder to Breathe" and Rihanna on "If I Never See Your Face Again."

Featured producers/remixers include Pharrell Williams, Of Montreal, Deerhoof, Cut Copy and Paul Oakenfold.

* * *
Musiq Soulchild "OnMyRadio" (Atlantic)

The popular R&B vocalist is back with his fifth studio album, "OnMyRadio." The work follows 2007's chart-topping "Luvanmusiq," which has sold more than 700,000 copies to date.

The album's first single, "Radio," has already found a home on R&B radio.

"OnMyRadio" also features the track "If You Leave," which is a collaboration with Mary J. Blige.

* * *
Brandy "Human" (Epic)

B-Rocka returns with a follow-up to 2004's "Afrodisiac." "Human," the R&B singer's fifth studio release, marks Brandy's debut for Epic Records. The first single from "Human" is the track "Right Here (Departed)." The album also features several collaborations, including the song "Fall," which Brandy co-wrote with Natasha Bedingfield.

* * *
Justice "A Cross the Universe" (Atlantic)

The Grammy-nominated French electronic music duo, consisting of Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard Auge, releases a CD/DVD set. The CD portion was recorded live at a concert in San Francisco back in March, and the DVD offering features a documentary on Justice's 2008 North American tour.

* * *
More new releases:
Avant, "Avant" (Capitol)
Collective Soul, "Afterwords" (El Music Group)
Marianne Faithfull, "Easy Come Easy Go" (Naïve)
Flipper, "Album--Generic Flipper" (Water)
Flipper, "Gone Fishin'" (Water)
Mark Kozelek, "The Finally LP" (Caldo Verde)
The Maine, "... And a Happy New Year" (Fearless)
Pavement, "Brighten the Corners: Nicene Creedence Edition" (Matador)
Diana Ross, "Surrender" (Hip-O Select)
Alice Russell, "Pot of Gold" (Six Degrees)
Stereophonics, "Decade in the Sun: Best of Stereophonics" (Fontana)
Thrice, "Live at the House of Blues" (Vagrant)
Various Artists, "The Complete Motown #1s Box" (Motown)

Soundtracks and scores:
"Defiance" (Sony)

For now, Nolan and Batman will rest in 'Dark' glory

LOS ANGELES — Since he took over the Batman franchise in 2005, Christopher Nolan has produced two No. 1 movies, generated $1.4 billion in worldwide ticket sales and created the second-highest-grossing film of all time in The Dark Knight.

So what's stopping him from making a third installment?

For starters, most third acts in Hollywood stink. Look at the disappointing threequels for The Godfather, Superman and the original Batman. The conclusions weren't much better for the more recent Shrek, Spider-Man and Pirates of the Caribbean.

"I don't know why they're hard to do," Nolan says. "Maybe there's so much expectation to them. But I wouldn't want to do one if it weren't going to be as good as the first or second. That's not respectful to the fans."

Nolan says that reverence informed the making of The Dark Knight DVD and Blu-ray, out Tuesday. Then on Jan. 23, fans get another chance to see the film on the big screen as it's re-released the day after Academy Award nominations arrive.

Many consider Heath Ledger, who died of a prescription overdose on Jan. 22, a shoo-in for a supporting-actor nomination. But fans won't find much more of Ledger's Joker in DVD extras. There are features on the staging of the film's elaborate stunts, alternate angles and a segment on the technology behind Batman's gadgets, but not a single deleted scene or outtake from Ledger's performance.

Nolan says he wasn't keeping deleted scenes from fans. "For my past three films, I really haven't had scenes that didn't make it in the movie," he says. "If it's in the final script, I tend put it on screen."

Any outtakes, however, were intentionally left off the DVD. "I don't like outtakes or gag reels," Nolan says. "I don't think it's respectful to the actors, who signed on to have their performance on screen, not the takes that didn't work out. It discourages actors from going all-out if they think every mistake is going on the disc."

Nolan says he is jotting notes and doing some rough outlines for a third story, but he hasn't yet found anything he's willing to commit to film, despite Warner Bros.' eagerness to get a new film underway.

"It was obvious when the box office was so big ($530 million domestically) that we had underestimated how ready fans were to reboot the franchise," he says. "The worst thing you could do now that you've gotten the plane back in the air is mess up the landing."

Diana Krall to release Brazilian jazz record

Diana Krall describes her first record in three years as intimate, sensual — and erotic.

"I'm not coy single girl singing 'Peel Me A Grape.' I love that song but I don't love it for me any more," Krall, 43, said from her Vancouver, British Columbia home in an interview last week. "I feel more womanly, I guess, and I think this record is a love letter but very sensual, more on the erotic side. It's definitely late night."

"Quiet Nights," to be released on March 31, is Krall's CD of new material in three years. The sultry jazz vocalist and pianist known for her crossover appeal had twin sons with husband Elvis Costello in 2006; they turned 2 Dec. 6. Krall said she's never been happier, and the record reflects that.

The 10 songs include ballads, three recordings of songs by bossa nova legend Antonio Carlos Jobim, and standards such as "Walk On By" by Burt Bacharach.

"It was just the greatest recording experience I've had to date," said Krall, who was inspired to make the record following a trip to Brazil last year.

A two-time Grammy winner, Krall is surrounded by familiar faces on "Quiet Nights." In addition to her longtime quartet and producer Tommy LiPuma, who worked with her on nine previous recordings, arranger Claus Ogerman returns. He last worked with Krall on her 2001 record "The Look of Love."

Ogerman was the arranger on many of bossa nova's first wave of recordings in the 1960s, working with Jobim, Frank Sinatra, Stan Getz and Bill Evans. Ogerman came out of semiretirement to once again work with Krall.

LiPuma, who first worked with Krall in 1994, said the record shows how she has matured as a singer.

"She approaches her vocal phrasing much more like an instrumentalist than a straight singer," LiPuma said. "It's in her reading of the lyrics, and the timbre of her voice, much more misty like Peggy Lee in her mature period."

In addition to finishing "Quiet Nights," Krall is producing a new Barbra Streisand record that is slated to be completed in January and released sometime in 2009. Krall intends to tour North America in April following the release of "Quiet Nights."

"I think I've reached the best time in my life," Krall said. "I really went through some rough spots with the death of my mother (in 2002). ... But now that I have my own family, I'm working as hard as I ever worked, but I feel like I have it all."

'Milk' earns Stanley Kramer prize from Producers

LOS ANGELES – Sean Penn's film biography "Milk" is receiving the Producers Guild of America's Stanley Kramer Award, which honors pictures taking on provocative social issues.

The prize, announced Monday, will be presented at the guild's awards show Jan. 24.

"Milk" stars Penn as San Francisco politician Harvey Milk, who in 1977 won a seat on the board of supervisors to become the first openly gay man elected to major public office in the United States. The film is directed by Gus Van Sant.

The following year, Milk was slain along with Mayor George Moscone by a board colleague.

The Kramer Award is named after the legendary filmmaker whose works include "The Defiant Ones," "Judgment at Nuremberg" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."

Ledger honoured with Australian acting prize

The late actor Heath Ledger has been handed one of his country's highest film honours: the Australian Film Institute's international award for best actor for his portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight.

The 28-year-old actor died of an accidental overdose of painkillers and other medicines in a New York apartment in January.

"Heath was never one to accept mediocrity. He put his heart and soul into achieving what he believed was required and followed his passions with great enthusiasm and an insatiable curiosity," Sally Ledger said of her son.

Sister Kate stood alongside her parents as they accepted the award Saturday night at a film institute gala in Melbourne.

"It has been without a doubt the most difficult year, losing such a loved family member," Kate Ledger said, fighting back tears. "We are so proud of him and humbly accept this award on behalf of his beautiful daughter [Matilda], who we will cherish forever."

Audience members rose to their feet as the award was announced. The AFI also paid tribute to Ledger as a "ground-breaking actor trapped in the body of a leading man."

Ledger was nominated for an Oscar playing a gay cowboy in 2005's Brokeback Mountain. The Dark Night will be re-released to cinemas in January the day after this year's Oscar nominations are disclosed.

Cate Blanchett won the Australian Film Institute's female acting award for her role in Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

Meanwhile, The Black Balloon — about a teenage boy learning to live with an autistic brother — captured best film.

Heading into the awards with 11 nominations, The Black Balloon also took home trophies for best supporting actor and actress for Luke Ford and Toni Collette, while director and co-writer Elissa Down won for best direction and original screenplay.

In the TV category, the acclaimed crime drama Underbelly, about Melbourne's gang world, garnered six of eight awards for which it was nominated, including best TV drama series and best acting for its male and female leads.

'Christmases' repeats at No. 1 with $18.2 million

LOS ANGELES – Movie crowds kept up their holiday spirit as Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn's comedy "Four Christmases" rang up $18.2 million to lead the box office for a second-straight weekend.

The Warner Bros. flick raised its 12-day total to $70.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"'Four Christmases' was set up perfectly. It's an evergreen subject for the holiday period," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers. "This is a movie that can play and is playing from Thanksgiving through the end of the year."

Despite the economic downturn, Hollywood continued to outperform last year's holiday season, with revenues up for the fifth weekend in a row.

The top 12 movies took in $77.5 million, a 6 percent increase from the same weekend in 2007, when "The Golden Compass" opened at No. 1 with $25.8 million.

Revenues for the year are at $8.7 billion, slightly ahead of the pace last year, when Hollywood ended up with record receipts of $9.7 billion. However, that reflects higher ticket prices, because actual attendance is down 4 percent, according to Media By Numbers.

Only one new movie opened in full wide release, Lionsgate's action tale "Punisher: War Zone," which delivered a weak No. 8 debut with $4 million. Based on Marvel Comics' "The Punisher," the movie stars Ray Stevenson in the title role as a vigilante hero going up against a crime boss.

In narrower release, Sony's music saga "Cadillac Records" opened solidly with $3.5 million to come in at No. 9. The film features Adrien Brody, Beyonce Knowles, Jeffrey Wright, Cedric the Entertainer and Mos Def in the story of legendary blues label Chess Records.

Ron Howard's drama "Frost/Nixon" had a huge debut in limited release, taking in $180,147 in just three theaters, averaging a whopping $60,049 a cinema. That compares to a $5,451 average in 3,335 theaters for "Four Christmases."

A likely contender for a best-picture nomination at the Academy Awards, the Universal Pictures film stars Frank Langella as former President Richard Nixon and Michael Sheen as TV personality David Frost in the story of their momentous 1977 interviews.

"Frost/Nixon" expands to more theaters over the next two weeks.

Sony's James Bond sequel "Quantum of Solace" took in $6.6 million to raise its domestic total to $151.5 million. The film topped the $500 million mark worldwide.

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. "Four Christmases," $18.2 million.
2. "Twilight," $13.2 million.
3. "Bolt," $9.7 million.
4. "Australia," $7 million.
5. "Quantum of Solace," $6.6 million.
6. "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," $5.1 million.
7. "Transporter 3," $4.5 million.
8. "Punisher: War Zone," $4 million.
9. "Cadillac Records," $3.5 million.
10. "Role Models," $2.6 million.

The Couch Potato Report - December 6th, 2008

This week The Couch Potato Report peels royalty, a regal television series, and a Shawshank redemption.

I have two great new TV on DVD Box Sets to tell you about this week, and so for the first time we have TWO Hot Potatoes!

The 1978-79 season of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE is coming up in a few minutes, and first up is THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON of the great guilty pleasure, THE TUDORS.

THE TUDORS is the Gemini AND Emmy Award winning series that is based upon the early reign and marriages of King Henry VIII.

Based upon...this is not a documentary series, it is a series meant to entertain.

And it does entertain.

The series has a good cast, an interesting script, incredible costumes,...and it is all exceptionally entertaining.

In SEASON TWO of THE TUDORS King Henry continues to find a way to divorce himself from his Queen and banish Katherine of Aragon, so he can marry Anne Boleyn.

But it is Queen Anne's inability to produce male heir that cause King Henry's attention to sway toward Jane Seymour.

SEASON TWO of THE TUDORS is a little bit slower that the first one, and there seems to be a lot of waiting for things to happen, plus, if you are a historian, or study the British Monarchy as a hobby, this probably isn't the series for you.

But, this 10 part second series is full of attractive actors and seasoned professionals and if you think it might entertain you, then it probably will.

It isn't just a stuffy retelling of history, but it is a very entertaining series, and I am looking forward to the THIRD SEASON of THE TUDORS when it begins to air on CBC Television, and then comes out on DVD.

Personally, I am really looking forward to the TENTH SEASON of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE on DVD, the 1984-1985 one with Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Harry Shearer and Martin Short, but that won't be out for a few years yet, so in the meantime I have the THIRTY-FOURTH SEASON, which is currently airing on Saturday Nights...live...and I also now have SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - 1978-1979 - THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON on DVD!!

During this season, Saturday Night Live used grotesque and controversial issues as sketch ideas, such as nuclear meltdowns, and the idea of Superman as a Nazi, but there was still some funny skits, and many of the regular characters that had started to take on lives of their own.

The 7-disc set for THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE also has one episode of the show that many people, myself included may have never seen...the one hosted by Milton Berle.

No matter what instructions the director gave him, he mugged for the camera, did broad spit-takes, and ad-libbed jokes directly to the camera.

This episode only aired once, and was barred from being shown in syndication due to complaints from the show's creator - Canadian Lorne Michaels - and the cast.

This COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON also features Canadian Dan Aykroyd and the late-great John Belushi's final episode as cast members.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - 1978-1979 - THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON is a superb set, and it is one I highly recommend!!

And as they continue to release these sets twice a year, it won't be long until I have that TENTH SEASON that I so desire!!

Up next this week is a very good Quebec made film called THE AMERICAN TRAP.

THE AMERICAN TRAP is a very interesting film that is inspired by the life and crimes of legendary Quebecois drug-dealer Lucien Rivard.

The story moves from late 1950s Havana to early 1960s Montreal and New Orleans, and it is partially a crime film, but it also takes liberties with the truth and also offers some conspiracy theories about the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

I am not 100% sure how much of THE AMERICAN TRAP is true...but I did enjoy this visually interesting movie.

I also enjoyed the summer film WANTED, which is very loosely based on the comic book miniseries of the same name by Mark Millar.

It too has some great visuals...including Angelina Jolie!

Remember when Jolie was just a movie star...and not the tabloid mother and person she has become? Well, she is the main star of WANTED, so I found I was able to just see her in a character role again...the role of a mysterious woman named Fox...she attempts to recruit a man named Wesley Gibson into a fraternity of hit men and women, lead by Morgan Freeman.

James McAvoy from THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND and ATONEMENT stars alongside Jolie and Freeman in WANTED and while it isn't the greatest action film of the year, it is a really good one.

This is a great, mindless action film that is a very worthy rental.

Up next is another good rental, this is a small Irish film called HOW ABOUT YOU.

HOW ABOUT YOU is about a young woman who is left in charge of the residential home run by her older sister over Christmas.

Most of the residents have left to spend the holidays with their families, but four residents remain.

And they are not the nicest four people in the world.

HOW ABOUT YOU is a quiet, little film that is ultimately very predictable, after all, how could four people stay mean over Christmas?!?

They can't, they don't, and as such this is a pretty good film. It isn't great, but if you see it on a shelf, give it a chance. I liked it!

Finally this week, is the Blu-Ray Beacon

Blu-ray is the next step in DVDs and home viewing as a Blu-ray Disc and all blu-ray players play standard DVDs and CDs as well, so you won't have to buy all of the films you already own again, unless you want them in this new format....one that is vastly superb, and the ultimate in home viewing.

Each week for the next little while, as the format continues to take off, and the number of films available in Blu-ray increases and the price of the players goes down, I will spotlight one new release each week, and share more information about the format, in this forum - The BLU-RAY BEACON.

This week, the spotlight shines on the fantastic film THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.

SHAWSHANK is the 1994 film that is based on the Stephen King novella, "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption."

Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman star as two men behind bars at Shawshank State Prison, a fictional penitentiary in Maine, and the film is about their lives, and their growing friendship.

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION was in the same Best Picture category as Forrest Gump, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Pulp Fiction and Quiz Show and only grossed $28 million dollars at the box office. It was considered by many to be a flop, but it's critical acclaim and popularity on television, home video, and DVD has allowed it to continually be ranked by film fans as one of the greatest films of all time.

In fact, it currently heads the Internet Movie Database's poll of top 250 films, leading such pictures as The Godfather, The Dark Knight, and Pulp Fiction.

SHAWSHANK is one of my favourite films of all-time, and the Blu-ray version looks spectacular and it sounds superb!! It is now available in a new DigiBook packaging, which includes a full-color 30-page booklet with production notes, cast bios and many rare and never-before-seen publicity stills.

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION gets this week's spotlight from the BLU-RAY BEACON and it is available in stores now, along with the DVDs of the small-Irish film HOW ABOUT YOU, the great, mindless action film WANTED, the very interesting Quebec made film THE AMERICAN TRAP, the great SEASON FOUR OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and SEASON TWO of the guilty pleasure that is THE TUDORS.

And don't forget that, in addition to now being available on DVD, you can see THE TUDORS Tuesday night on CBC Television!

:)

Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report:

A NO-HIT NO-RUN SUMMER takes place in the Summer of 1969 as the city of Montreal has a new baseball team and a young man dreams of making the neighbourhood team.

And then there is THE DARK KNIGHT, starring the late Heath Ledger as The Joker.

I will also talk about the great movie MAN ON WIRE about the daredevil who walked from one of the World Trade Center Towers to the other back in 1974; LOST - THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON; and the BLU RAY BEACON next week shines on the ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION of CASABLANCA.

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!

Dixie Chick sued for defamation

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines is the target of a defamation lawsuit by the stepfather of one of three eight-year-old boys slain in 1993.

Maines spoke out for three people convicted of the slayings and alleged the stepfather was instead involved in the killings.

Terry Hobbs, stepfather of Steve Branch, who was killed in 1993 with Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, filed suit in Pulaski County Circuit Court on Nov. 25. The suit names all three members of the Dixie Chicks, but focuses on Maines.

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages. Hobbs claims he suffered loss of income, injury to his reputation and emotional distress.

Maines attended a Dec. 19 rally in Little Rock, where she claimed Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols and Jessie Misskelley - known to sympathizers as the "West Memphis Three" - were innocent and supposed new evidence pointed to Hobbs. Her comments echoed a Nov. 26, 2007, letter that was still on the Dixie Chicks' website Thursday, in which she claimed new DNA testing of hair from the crime scene linked Hobbs to the killings and his behaviour after the slayings indicated his guilt.

The lawsuit says the claim is false.

Hobbs told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper in a Feb. 1 interview his reputation is in tatters and he wants to clear his name.

"I want people to know I haven't done nothing wrong," Hobbs said.

"I want them to hear it from me."

No lawyer for Maines was listed in court filings and a publicist didn't immediately return a call for comment. Hobbs' lawyer, J. Cody Hiland, didn't immediately return a call for comment Thursday.

The lawsuit says Maines' statements were "so extreme in degree as to be beyond the pale of decency and to be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in civilized society."

Assertions similar to those made by Maines were also made by lawyers seeking new trials for the three convicts.

The boys' bodies were found by police a day after they vanished from their quiet, tree-lined neighbourhood May 5, 1993. Police arrested the three after a confession by Misskelley in which he described how he watched Baldwin and Echols sexually assault and beat two of the boys as he ran down another trying to escape. A jury gave Misskelley a life-plus-40-year sentence for the killings. A later jury gave Baldwin a life sentence without parole. Echols, then 19, the oldest of the three, received the death penalty.

The Arkansas Supreme Court later upheld the convictions but a later documentary sparked interest on the Internet, as well as among celebrities, including Maines, who felt the teens were railroaded by police for their interest in heavy metal music and the occult. Supporters say they raised more than $1 million for a legal defence fund for the three, enough to pay for lawyers, new DNA testing and a second federal appeal on behalf of Echols.

A judge has since denied defence motions for a new trial.

Batman Back In Theaters January 23

With virtually all the major Oscar contenders coming out in December or late November this year, there's just one that's been relying on our fond memories and occasional For Your Consideration ads-- until now. The Dark Knight, the biggest movie of 2008, will start working its magic in 2009 as well, getting a January 23rd re-release nationwide.

As Variety points out, this will guarantee that The Dark Knight crosses the $1 billion mark worldwide, a number it's just $4 million short of reaching. Another question is whether it can muster up the $50 million it needs to pass Titanic's domestic record. The release comes six weeks after the movie's DVD release, after all-- will even the most rabid fanboys be willing to turn off the Blu-Ray and head back to the theater?

Let's put it this way. Inflation rates make Titanic's $600 million milestone easier and easier to beat, and something will beat it in upcoming years. Do you think that movie will be better than Dark Knight? If you don't, then get out there January 23, put down your $10 and re-experience the movie you know you're dying to see it again!

'Jeffersons' Neighbor Paul Benedict Dies at 70

Paul Benedict, the actor who played the eccentric English neighbor Harry Bentley on the sitcom "The Jeffersons," was found dead Monday at his home on Martha's Vineyard, Mass. He was 70.

Authorities were investigating the cause of death, said his brother, Charles.

Benedict's oversized jaw and angular features were partly attributed to acromegaly, a pituitary disorder that was first diagnosed by an endocrinologist who saw Benedict in a theatrical production.

He underwent medical treatment to prevent the disease from spreading while he continued to act -- and used his facial features for comic effect.

As an actor, Benedict built a career portraying loony characters in films such as "The Goodbye Girl" (1977), "The Man with Two Brains" (1983) and "The Addams Family" (1991). He also appeared in the Christopher Guest comedies "This Is Spinal Tap" (1984), "Waiting for Guffman" (1997) and "A Mighty Wind" (2003). On the PBS children's show "Sesame Street," Benedict was the Mad Painter who painted numbers everywhere.

But he was mainly known for his role as Bentley on "The Jeffersons," which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1985. He left in 1981 to pursue other projects but returned in 1983. Benedict later said he hadn't expected the show to last more than a season and only agreed to the part because producer Norman Lear kept asking him to reconsider.

The accented speech that he used even offstage led many to assume that Benedict was British, but in fact he was born Sept. 17, 1938, in Silver City, N.M. He was the youngest of six children; his father a doctor, his mother a journalist.

"When I was 5 years old, from the first time I went to the movies, I knew I wanted to be an actor," Benedict told The Times in 1992.

After growing up in Boston, Benedict attended the city's Suffolk University and began his acting career in the 1960s in the Theatre Company of Boston, performing alongside such future stars as Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino.

On Broadway, he appeared opposite Pacino in Eugene O'Neill's two-character play "Hughie" in 1996 and played the mayor in a 2000 revival of "The Music Man."

As a stage director, he was known for taking a work in progress or a new play and laboring with a playwright to infuse it with "intelligence, sympathy and warmth -- and of course, humor," The Times reported in 1992.

His breakthrough show as a director was "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune" in 1987, closely followed by "The Kathy & Mo Show: Parallel Lives" in 1989, both two-person sleepers that became off-Broadway hits.

10 questions about Blu-ray you'll want the answers for

This was to be the season Blu-ray won our hearts — and it still may. But the economic downturn has thrown a tough new hurdle at the high-def disc. Blu-ray faces strapped consumers worried about investing in a new format, a new library and still-pricey players. But it's the best video source around, and if you have or plan to get a new HDTV, you may be considering Blu-ray, too. USA TODAY tech writer Mike Snider offers an FAQ.

Demystifying Blu-ray

Q: Why do they call it Blu-ray?

A: Because Blu-ray Disc players and PC drives, as well as Sony's PlayStation 3, use a blue laser beam to read data from discs, rather than the older red lasers used for DVDs. A blue laser can be focused more tightly, so disc makers can pack more data on a disc the same size as a DVD. Blu-ray Discs can hold up to 50 gigabytes, compared to a DVD, which holds less than 10 GB. That added capacity can hold video up to six times the resolution of DVD, plus more bonus features and improved surround soundtracks.

Q: Can you really see the difference between Blu-ray and DVD?

A: Side-by-side, most people can easily see Blu-ray's improvement in picture quality. The video resolution, called "1080p" because it constantly (or progressively, hence the p) redraws 1,080 lines across the screen (each line containing 1,920 pixels), surpasses the best HDTV broadcast or cable signals. "Once you start seeing high-definition (video) on a 1080p monitor, DVD cannot compare," says Peter Bracke, editor of HighDefDigest.com. "Even my mom is impressed with it."

And filmmakers are doing their bit as well to make Blu-ray stand out. "We spent more time on (the Blu-ray image) than on the theatrical release, making sure every single color and shade is there for a reason," says Hellboy II: The Golden Army director Guillermo Del Toro. "The movie has never looked and sounded better."

Q. What do I need to watch Blu-ray?

A: Other than a BD player, you'll probably want an HDTV, to get the full quality and widescreen effect. (When watched on a older, standard-shaped tube set, the image is severely letterboxed with dark bands above and below.) Before buying a Blu-ray player to connect to an older TV, check the player's back panel: Not all have the kinds of outputs needed to connect to older sets. Most players send audio and video to newer TVs and displays via a single cable called HDMI. And don't get caught up in the various flavors of HDTV — 720p, 1080i and 1080p — because Blu-ray players can send an HD signal to any of them. As for screen size, most viewers won't get much benefit, Bracke says, unless it's at least 40 inches (diagonally).

Q: Are all Blu-ray players the same?

A: No. But most important, all Blu-ray players will play standard DVDs — and most "up-convert" those DVDs so they look closer to HD quality. Most players handle music CDs as well. If you are particularly interested in checking out picture-in-picture commentary tracks and online bonus features on discs, look for players that include Profile 1.1 (picture-in-picture capability) and BD-Live or Profile 2.0 (online connections) among the specifications.

Initially, the only player that was fully equipped was Sony's PS3 game system, but many current Blu-ray players in the $250 range have both sets of features. "It's bad for early adopters, but for mainstream consumers it won't matter because by the time they jump in, it will all be settled," Bracke says.

Two recent entries, the LG BD300 ($350) and the Samsung BD-P2550 ($370) also let Netflix subscribers stream movies.

Q: Should I buy now or wait for prices to drop?

A: That depends. Earlier this year, players sold for at least $400, but special holiday deals have resulted in entry-level models "for as low as $149, and $249 for really good, fully featured models," says Bill Hunt, editor of TheDigitalBits.com. "And if you don't already have an HDTV, some manufacturers are going to be offering combo deals, where you'll get a player free or nearly so when you buy an HDTV. With the economy the way it is, major retailers are all offering terrific bargains, too." As newer, more expensive models continue to hit stores, older ones will be reduced in price. "If you love movies, buy now," says TVPredictions.com's Phil Swann. "If you don't, wait. Prices will (continue to) fall."

Players "have gotten to where they are more in the consumers' sweet spot," says NPD Entertainment analyst Russ Crupnick, but price resistance has shifted to the software side as many Blu-ray Discs cost $25, he says. "Consumers have become increasingly price-sensitive, thanks to DVD."

Q: Do I need to replace all my DVDs with Blu-ray Discs?

A: No. Remember, Blu-ray players will play DVDs and most will boost the video resolution (or "up-rez" them), so "there is no reason for the consumer to think that all of their video library is going to be antiquated," says Panasonic's Rich Simone. Adds Swann, "I would recommend getting new releases in Blu-ray, either by rental or purchase, and watch your old ones using the up-converting feature."

Studios will try to entice movie lovers to repurchase films they may have already on DVD (and perhaps videocassette) by remastering the video and adding new extra features. "They can see them in the way the director originally intended them to be seen," says Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's Rich Marty. "DVD is a huge market, and those will continue to look great, but now they have a choice. We think once they see them in high-def, it's going to be a no-brainer."

Q: What features do Blu-ray movies have that DVDs don't?

A: Most bonus features such as commentaries, documentaries and deleted scenes are "the same kind of thing DVD has, except that it tends to be more interactive and complex on Blu-ray," says Hunt. Some discs have interactive games, such as the Casino RoyaleCollector's Edition's multiplayer Bond trivia game. A few of the newest releases take advantage of bonus features delivered via the Internet: Last month, Del Toro conducted an online chat with owners of the Hellboy II Blu-ray Disc.

"It is my hope when we are proposing, planning and designing the interactive instruments for The Hobbit (Part 1 is scheduled for 2011), we can take full advantage of it," Del Toro says. "We are trying to make people very aware that there are features locked in the Blu-ray Disc that allow them to go interactive with the Net." And The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan will have a Dec. 18 screening of the Blu-ray Disc (9 p.m. ET/6 PT), during which those who own it can watch and chat online with him during the film. (More details at thedarkknight.warnerbros.com/dvdsite/event.) Another online feature lets viewers post their own feature-length commentary to share with friends.

But overall, while Hollywood may tout next-generation interactive features, Swann says, "the real feature is the picture."

Q: Will my sound system work with Blu-ray?

A: The simple answer is Blu-ray will sound as good as DVDs do on your system. Many HDTVs and displays have built-in speakers, but surround-sound fanatics will want to make sure their receiver has digital audio inputs. And movie fans who want to get the most out of Blu-ray's improved soundtracks will want to look for higher-priced players that either decode or pass along ultra-high-resolution sound formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Discs such as Dark Knight (out Tuesday) can hold one or more soundtracks with up to seven speaker channels (plus a subwoofer) for those fortunate enough to have top sound equipment. The result sounds "as good as the studio masters in some cases," Hunt says.

Q: How large a selection is available on Blu-ray?

A: So far, about 1,000 Blu-ray Discs have been released, compared with more than 93,700 DVDs, according to The DVD Release Report. Releases have ramped up this fall, Hunt says. "There's an amazing lineup of both new and catalog movies coming out now, with an even more amazing slate on the way next year," from The Dark Knight and Iron Man to Sleeping Beauty and Casablanca.

Still, Bracke says, "It's going to be a long time until the volume of Blu-ray titles matches DVD. "

Q: Rather than buying Blu-ray, shouldn't I just wait for HD movie downloads?

A: Current movie downloads can take two hours or more to arrive, and even those labeled high definition do not match the quality of Blu-ray. "Blu-ray is going to give you to the best-looking high-definition video quality you'll see anywhere — better than video-on-demand or downloading, or HD cable, or even HD satellite," Hunt says. "Blu-ray simply offers the best video and audio quality available, with the most advanced bonus features." And discs also are more convenient, whereas, "HD downloads are years away from being a convenient alternative," Swann says.

Unmade Bond Screenplay Sells For Thousands

A script co-written by Sir Sean Connery for a James Bond film that was never made has sold at auction for $68,400 (GBP46,850).

The screenplay for Warhead was penned by former 007 actor Connery, Len Deighton, and Kevin McClory in 1976, and would have seen the spy battling robot sharks to prevent them planting nuclear bombs in sewers underneath New York.

The original script, which was never made into a film due to legal problems, was put up for sale as part of the Christie's Pop Culture: Entertainment Memorabilia auction in London on Friday and was expected to fetch around $2,900 (GBP2,000).

Other items in the sale included a fur-trimmed stole worn by Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe, which sold for $61,400 (GBP42,050).

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo releases solo disc

NEW YORK (Billboard) – A Jermaine Dupri song about partying excessively seems a far cry from a Brian Wilson song about sweetly loving a girl.

The tie that binds these polar opposites of pop music is the Rivers Cuomo. The eclectic frontman for modern-rock mainstays Weezer has just released a second album of rare and unreleased solo tracks.

"Alone II" (DGC/Interscope) sold a modest 6,000 copies during its first week in U.S. stores, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The first volume, released almost exactly a year ago, started with 14,000 and has gone on to sell 43,000.

"I knew I had a lot more recordings that I wanted to share with the world, but I wanted to wait and see how 'Alone I' was received," Cuomo says.

Satisfied with the results, he delved back into the vaults. "I love the process of listening to all the old recordings and picking my favorites and going through my old journals and seeing what I was thinking when I was writing these songs."

About that Dupri song: The producer/mogul sent Cuomo a demo of "Can't Stop Partying," but the lyrics didn't initially jive with Cuomo's style. He tried to write his own, but "every line I came up with just sounded stupid compared with his, so I went back and changed the music and gave it some very sad chords filled with longing."

The cover of Wilson's "Don't Worry Baby" follows years of study of the Beach Boy's output by Cuomo, which he says has guided his own songwriting.
Cuomo "carefully transcribed" the song's five-part harmonies "in my bedroom on my tape player. But then I added the element of the modern crunchy-guitar sound. And that's what really helped me figure out what I wanted to do as a songwriter and a performer in Weezer."

Weezer will be back on the road next spring, possibly with Oasis, in support of its 2008 self-titled release, dubbed "The Red Album." The group is also putting together its own collection of unreleased material, titled "Odds and Ends."

O.J. Simpson sentenced to at least 15 years

LAS VEGAS – A broken O.J. Simpson was sentenced Friday to at least 15 years in prison for a hotel armed robbery after a judge rejected his apology and said, "It was much more than stupidity."

The 61-year-old football Hall of Famer stood shackled and stone-faced when Judge Jackie Glass quickly rattled off his punishment soon after he made a rambling, five-minute plea for leniency, choking back tears as he told her: "I didn't want to steal anything from anyone. ... I'm sorry, sorry."

The judge said several times that her sentence in the Las Vegas case had nothing to do with Simpson's 1994 acquittal in the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

"I'm not here to try and cause any retribution or any payback for anything else," Glass said.

Simpson was immediately led away to prison after the judge refused to permit him to go free on bail while he appeals.

Simpson's co-defendant and former golfing buddy, Clarence "C.J. Stewart, also was sentenced to at least 15 years.

Outside court, Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, and sister, Kim, said they were thrilled with the sentence.

"There's never closure. Ron is always gone. What we have is satisfaction that this monster is where he belongs behind bars," Fred Goldman said.

Neil Young kicks into high gear

Although he's currently touring North America behind his Chrome Dreams II album, and performing a tightly packed set of hits from his entire catalogue, Neil Young continues to sift through his storied unreleased material.

And while the long awaited Archives Vol. 1 box set is set for release early in 2009, Young recently released Sugar Mountain -- Live At Canterbury House 1968, a record containing some of the gems he would issue on his debut solo effort.

Oh and then there's Toast, a Crazy Horse album Young completed but ditched in 2000. "It's a mind-blowing record, very moody, kind of jazzy," Young told Rolling Stone last month. "The whole thing has got a massive sound."

Added to that, Young announced he'd be playing as a sideman -- along with roots rock group Drive-By Truckers -- to Booker T. Jones, front man for the legendary Booker T. and The MGs. That album is also set for a 2009 release.

But what seems to be piquing Young's curiosity most these days could be dubbed Chrome Dreams III, namely insisting the big three car manufacturers in North America (Ford, Chrysler and General Motors) get their heads out of the proverbial sand and adapt to changing times.

In a lengthy piece released through his publicist on Nov. 13, Young, performing tonight and tomorrow at the Air Canada Centre, proposed a way to save a "major automobile company."

"We need forward looking people who are not restricted by the existing culture in Detroit," he wrote. "We can no long afford to continue down Detroit's old road. The people have spoken. They do not want gas guzzlers (although they still like big cars and trucks)."

Believing the big three must reduce their output to a sedan, sports car, large family sedan, SUV and truck, Young said new vehicles called "transition rollers" could be built now with the large car manufacturers avoiding massive layoffs.

Young is so devoted to the idea that he's created his own initiative, Linc Volt Technology, to begin refurbishing current cars to run on cleaner gas and other means of energy including electric engines.

The company, which includes experts from around the world, is also vying for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize with the winner getting a $10-million prize to create a vehicle getting 100 miles per gallon or better by 2009.

Images of Young on the Linc Volt website show the singer, 63, standing in the front of a 1959 Lincoln Continental minus the engine, a vehicle Young mentioned in an interview with David Letterman that would get "nine or ten miles to the gallon."

A documentary on Young's plan is currently in the works, but Young and his group currently have the automobile running up to 65 miles per gallon in early informal testing using an electric motor.

"It's not something that everybody could do but it's something that Ford or GM or Chrysler could do," Young told Letterman earlier this year. "If I fail, who cares? Who expects me to succeed? So I'm not afraid of failure, I just want to eliminate roadside refueling."

As long as the albums and tours keep rolling out of Young's seemingly endless musical production line, fans probably won't have much problem with eco-friendly and efficient vehicles rolling out of another.

Lil Wayne Tops 51st GRAMMY Nominations

Nominations for the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards were announced tonight by The Recording Academy and reflected one of the most diverse years ever with the Album Of The Year category alone representing the rap, R&B, folk and rock genres.

Lil Wayne topped the nominations with eight, Coldplay garnered seven, and Jay-Z, Ne-Yo and Kanye West each earned six nods. Alison Krauss, John Mayer, Robert Plant, Radiohead and Jazmine Sullivan received five each, and Adele, Danger Mouse, Eagles, Lupe Fiasco, George Strait, and T.I. each received four nominations.

For the first time, nominations for the annual GRAMMY Awards were announced on prime-time television as part of "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night." The one-hour special — broadcast live on CBS from Nokia Theatre L.A Live — featured past GRAMMY winners and nominees reading nominations in several categories, as well as performing songs from the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in celebration of the grand opening of the GRAMMY Museum.

Two-time GRAMMY winner LL Cool J and 50th GRAMMY Best New Artist nominee Taylor Swift co-hosted the telecast, and presenters/performers included four-time GRAMMY winner Christina Aguilera, five-time GRAMMY winners Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, the six-time GRAMMY-winning Foo Fighters, 14-time GRAMMY winner B.B. King, five-time GRAMMY winner John Mayer, and Swift.

"The GRAMMY Awards process once again has yielded a comprehensive, diverse and eclectic group of excellent nominees across multiple genres," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "This year's nominations are truly reflective of the talented community of artists and creators who represent some of the highest levels of musical excellence. Coupled with our first-ever prime-time nominations special, featuring stellar performances by past GRAMMY winners and nominees, we're off to an incredible start on the road to Music's Biggest Night and the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards in February."

Following are the nominations in the four General Field categories:

Album Of The Year:
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (Coldplay)
Tha Carter III (Lil Wayne)
Year Of The Gentleman (Ne-Yo)
Raising Sand (Robert Plant & Alison Krauss)
In Rainbows (Radiohead)

Record Of The Year:
"Chasing Pavements" (Adele)
"Viva La Vida" (Coldplay)
"Bleeding Love" (Leona Lewis)
"Paper Planes" (M.I.A.)
"Please Read The Letter" (Robert Plant & Alison Krauss)

Song Of The Year:
"American Boy," William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray & Kanye West, songwriters (Estelle Featuring Kanye West, artist)
"Chasing Pavements," Adele Adkins & Eg White, songwriters (Adele, artist)
"I'm Yours," Jason Mraz, songwriter (Jason Mraz, artist)
"Love Song," Sara Bareilles, songwriter (Sara Bareilles, artist)
"Viva La Vida," Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay, artist)

Best New Artist:
Adele
Duffy
Jonas Brothers
Lady Antebellum
Jazmine Sullivan

Nominations in the Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals category are "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay; "Waiting In The Weeds" by Eagles; "Going On" by Gnarls Barkley; "Won't Go Home Without You" by Maroon 5; and "Apologize" by OneRepublic.

For Best Rock Album, the nominees are Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends by Coldplay; Rock N Roll Jesus by Kid Rock; Only By The Night by Kings Of Leon; Death Magnetic by Metallica; and Consolers Of The Lonely by the Raconteurs.

Nominations in the Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals are "Ribbon In The Sky" by Boyz II Men; "Words" by Anthony David Featuring Indie.Arie; "Stay With Me (By The Sea)" by Al Green Featuring John Legend; "I'm His Only Woman" by Jennifer Hudson Featuring Fantasia; and "Never Give You Up" by Raphael Saadiq Featuring Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton.

For Best Rap Album, the nominees are American Gangster by Jay-Z; Tha Carter III by Lil Wayne; The Cool by Lupe Fiasco; Nas by Nas; and Paper Trail by T.I.

The Best Country Collaboration With Vocals nominees are "Shiftwork" by Kenny Chesney & George Strait; "Killing The Blues" by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss; "House Of Cash" by George Strait & Patty Loveless; "Life In A Northern Town" by Sugarland, Jake Owen & Little Big Town; and "Let The Wind Chase You" by Trisha Yearwood & Keith Urban.

This year's Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical nominees are Danger Mouse, Nigel Godrich, Johnny Karkazis, Rick Rubin, and will.i.am.

GRAMMY ballots for the final round of voting will be mailed on Dec. 17 to the voting members of The Recording Academy. They are due back to the accounting firm Deloitte by Jan. 14, 2009, when they will be tabulated and the results kept secret until the telecast.

The 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on "GRAMMY Sunday," Feb. 8, 2009, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and once again will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Harper to visit GG Thursday morning

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will make a highly anticipated visit to the Governor General on Thursday, a day after promising Canadians in a televised address that he will use any means in his power to prevent a coalition government.

In a five-minute, pre-recorded statement Wednesday night, Harper spoke bluntly against a proposed Liberal-NDP coalition backed by "separatists," saying the federal government must stand unequivocally for keeping the country together in the face of the global economic crisis.

His criticism drew quick reactions from opposition leaders, who called on the Conservatives to accept a coalition government as the will of Parliament.

"The opposition is attempting to impose this deal without your say, without your consent, and without your vote," Harper said.

"This is no time for backroom deals with the separatists. It is a time for Canada's government to focus on the economy and specifically, measures for the upcoming budget."

Harper will visit Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean at 9:30 a.m. ET, the Prime Minister's Office announced shortly after Harper's address.

It is widely believed Harper, who pledged Wednesday night to use "every legal means at our disposal to protect our democracy, to protect our economy and to protect Canada," will ask Jean to prorogue, or suspend, Parliament.

Harper has accused Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, who would head the proposed coalition, of working to weaken Canada by signing a pact with the Bloc Québécois to bring down the Conservatives. The Bloc is not an official member of the coalition but has agreed to support it for 18 months, should it take power.

Conservatives have lost right to govern: Dion

In a taped rebuttal broadcast shortly after Harper's address, Dion defended the notion of a proposed coalition government "as normal and current practice in many parts of the world."

Moreover, the Conservatives — largely based on their reaction to the Canada's financial crunch — have lost the confidence of the majority of members of the House of Commons and thus, "have lost the right to govern," Dion said.

Dion said he sent a letter to Jean on Wednesday, urging her to reject any attempt by Harper to prorogue Parliament.

"If Mr. Harper wants to suspend Parliament, he must first face the vote of confidence," Dion said.

The back-to-back addresses were the latest in a political crisis that threatens to topple the minority Conservative government — a prospect Harper has vowed to prevent at almost all costs.

The prime minister has invited the premiers for an economic summit on Jan. 16, increasing the likelihood that he will seek to suspend the current parliamentary session until January, when his government would present a budget.

In his address, Harper said the Conservatives have invited the opposition parties to offer specific suggestions for managing the economy, and even adapted some of its own proposed measures to assuage opposition concerns.

"Unfortunately, even before the government has brought forward its budget and only seven weeks after a general election, the opposition wants to overturn the results of that election," Harper said.

Reacting to Harper's address Wednesday night, the leaders of the Bloc and NDP, Gilles Duceppe and Jack Layton, said their recommendations on how to deal with the economy have fallen on deaf ears since the Conservatives were re-elected on Oct. 14.

"Instead of acting on these ideas, unfortunately, or presenting any plan to stimulate the economy, Mr. Harper delivered a partisan attack," Layton said.

Dion said a coalition government would enable the kind of co-operative action needed to steer Canada through the current economic chaos, noting that similar efforts were being made around the world to overcome ideological differences.

"Leaders are working to cope with the recession to bring forward the kinds of investments that will help their people and their economies," Dion said. "Rivals are working together. Why not in Canada?"

Greens, Bloc to support coalition

Dion noted that both the Bloc and the Green parties have agreed to support a coalition Liberal-NDP government on matters of confidence. Three of the parties — the Liberals, NDP and Bloc — signed a coalition accord on Monday.

The Bloc will not be part of the new coalition but has agreed to support it "based on an agreement that meets the interests of Quebec," Duceppe reiterated Wednesday night.

"What we want is that in the next 18 months, the next government will work to kick-start the economy and help people affected by the crisis," Duceppe said.

The NDP's Layton accused Harper of refusing to act to preserve the economy, instead turning the financial crisis into a political one.

"Stephen Harper has broken his trust with the Canadian people and because of that, he's lost the confidence of Parliament," Layton said.

NDP leader Jack Layton gives his rebuttal to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's address to the nation. (Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)
The fate of the Canadian government now depends on how Jean, who returned to Ottawa on Wednesday from Europe, decides to handle the political crisis.

If she is asked to prorogue Parliament and agrees, Harper's Conservatives will be able to avoid a no-confidence vote in the House of Commons on Monday that could precipitate the rise of a Liberal-NDP coalition.

But if Jean refuses to suspend the current parliamentary session, she will then have to decide whether to call an election should the Conservatives lose the vote of confidence, or approve the proposed coalition government.

"Mr. Harper's solution is to extend that crisis by avoiding a simple vote, by suspending Parliament and continuing the confusion," Dion said Wednesday night.

"We offer a better way. We say settle it now and let's get to work on the people's business."

Talk of a coalition government was triggered when Finance Minister Jim Flaherty delivered his fiscal update last Thursday.

Opposition parties blasted the Tories for failing to include a stimulus package for the slumping economy and accused the party of using tumultuous times to try to push through ideologically-driven measures they said attacked women and public servants.

The mini-budget originally proposed a three-year ban on the right of civil servants to strike, limits on the ability of women to sue for pay equity, and eliminated subsidies for political parties.

The Conservatives have since promised to present their budget on Jan. 27, with the suggestion it will contain a stimulus package, and have eliminated some of the most contentious issues from the fiscal update.

The coalition has vowed to make a stimulus package a priority, proposing a multibillion-dollar plan that includes help for the auto and forestry sectors.

The coalition would have a 24-member cabinet with six New Democrats and 18 Liberals and would operate with the support of the Bloc Québécois for at least 18 months.

With 77 Liberal MPs and 37 New Democrats, plus the support of 49 Bloc members, the three parties have more seats than the 143 held by the Tories.

Battlestar Galactica prequel Caprica gets full season go-ahead

The final episodes of Battlestar Galactica will air in the new year, but a new prequel series to the hit sci-fi show is already on the horizon.

U.S. network Sci-Fi Channel has given the go-ahead for production of a full season of Caprica, a spin-off series to the critically acclaimed BSG, according to Hollywood trade press.

Though producers had originally planned to broadcast a two-hour Caprica TV movie this year, it will now serve as a pilot for the new series, which is slated to debut in early 2010.

The final 10 episodes of BSG begin in mid-January, with a two-hour movie entitled Battlestar Galactica: The Plan slated for broadcast next summer.

The prequel tale Caprica will be set 50 years before the plot of BSG, focusing on two rival families, one of whom is pushing artificial intelligence forward by developing living robots called Cylons. The cast includes Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales and Polly Walker, with the series to be executive produced by BSG creators Ronald Moore and David Eick.

Filmed in Vancouver and featuring a host of Canadian actors, the reimagined Battlestar Galactica got underway with a miniseries in 2003 and a regular TV series in 2004.

Though some originally believed the show would simply revamp the 1970s series, the latest BSG — always slated to last just four seasons — became a hit, garnering praise from both viewers and critics. Its accolades include winning a prestigious Peabody Award in 2006 and two outstanding program trophies from the American Film Institute in 2005 and 2006.

Fleetwood Mac dusts off the hits for spring tour

Fleetwood Mac will take to the road for the first time in five years this spring during an outing that will spotlight the legendary band's greatest hits.

Dubbed the Unleashed Tour, the trek gets underway March 1 at Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena. Fifteen shows are currently confirmed for March, and additional spring and summer dates will be announced, according to promoter Live Nation.

"We love our band and think the title of the tour "Unleashed" perfectly describes how we all feel when we get on stage together--especially in 2009," the band said in a joint statement. "We're so happy to get back out on the road, perform everyone's favorite songs and see our fans."

Tickets for the tour are scheduled to roll out on Dec. 15. American Express Cardmembers will have early access to tickets for most shows beginning Dec 8, according to a press release.

Current members of the band include Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. Longtime member Christine McVie last performed live with the group at its 1998 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In conjunction with the tour, Fleetwood Mac's classic 1977 album, "Rumors," is set to be re-issued as part of a special CD/DVD boxed set on Reprise Record. Additions to the set will include previously unreleased tracks recorded during the making of "Rumors," as well as a DVD component with never-before-seen footage of the band.

Fleetwood Mac last toured in 2003 and 2004 to support their 2003 album, "Say You Will."

March 2008
1 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
3 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
5 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
8 - Auburn Hills, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills
10 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
11 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Arena
13 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
14 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
16 - Rochester, NY - Blue Cross Arena
17 - Albany, NY - Times Union Center
19 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
21 - East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center
24 - Ottawa, Ontario - Scotiabank Place
25 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
26 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre

New CD Releases, December 2nd: Britney Spears, Neil Young, 'Cadillac Records', Akon, Panic at the Disco, and more

Britney Spears "Circus"

The troubled pop star, who in recent years has garnered more headlines for her personal life than for her musical endeavors, will try to bolster her career with the release of her sixth studio album.

"Circus" follows last year's "Blackout," a work that managed to get some warm reviews, peaked at No. 2 on The Billboard 200, but still fell far from reaching the multi-platinum sales heights of Spears' earlier efforts. "Blackout" did produce the hit single "Piece of Me," a tune that helped her have a big night at the most recent MTV VMA ceremony, during which won three Moonman trophies for "Video of the Year," "Best Female Vocalist" and "Best Pop Video."

The first single from "Circus" is the track "Womanizer," which was produced by Atlanta production crew The Outsyders.

Spears reportedly plans to support the new album with a spring tour. The arena trek would be her first since her 2004 outing, which reportedly grossed more than $30 million.

* * *
Neil Young "Sugar Mountain--Live at Canterbury House 1968" (Reprise)

Young's place in the rock-and-roll history books, as one of the greatest singer/songwriter/guitarists to ever go before a microphone, has been secure for decades. This new release, however, gives fans a rare look at Young's early days as a performer, well before his legend had been carved in stone.

"Sugar Mountain--Live at Canterbury House 1968," available both on CD and DVD, was recorded in Ann Arbor, MI just days before the release of Young's debut solo album. The set captures an intimate performance of some of Young's best-loved songs, including "Mr. Soul" and the title track.

* * *
Original Soundtrack "Cadillac Records" (Sony)

Set to hit movie theaters on Dec. 5, "Cadillac Records" documents the story of the legendary Chicago label Chess Records. The R-rated film stars Beyonce Knowles as Etta James, Mos Def as Chuck Berry, Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon, Columbus Short as Little Walter and Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters.

The original soundtrack to "Cadillac Records" features a number of those stars performing in character on some truly classic Chess cuts. For examples, Beyonce (who also served as one of the film's producers) sings "At Last" and "I'd Rather Go Blind," while Mos Def handles "Nadine" and "No Particular Place to Go."

* * *
Akon "Freedom" (Universal)

The R&B/rap star returns with a follow-up to 2006's triple-platinum "Konvicted." "Freedom," which was originally intended to be titled "Acquitted," is Akon's third studio album. The set features a bevy of guest stars, including Young Jeezy, T-Pain and Lil Wayne.

* * *
Panic at the Disco "Live in Chicago" (Fueled by Ramen)

The popular alt-rock troupe unveils its first full-length live release, which is available in both CD and DVD formats, and includes such fan favorites as "Nine in the Afternoon" and "That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)." The group's previous studio set, "Pretty. Odd," hit stores back in March.

* * *
More new releases:
Shoshana Bean, "Superhero" (Shotime)
Vicente Fernández, "Primera Fila" (Sony)
Sarah Elizabeth Foster, "Gardening from the Ground Up Part 1" (Studio Sarah)
Colt Ford, "Ride Through the Country" (Average Joe's)
Hillsong, "Ultimate Worship Collection Volume 2" (Integrity)
Burl Ives, "Favorites for Children" (Shout)
Kylie Minogue, "X (2008 Tour Edition)" (Capitol)
Raulin Rodriguez, "Parece Mentira" (Sony)
Queen, "The Singles Collection" (EMI)
Carly and Lucy Simon, "Sing Songs for Children" (Shout)
Jimmy Smith, "Electrifyin'" (Proper Box)
Various Artists, "Meren Hits 2009" (Sony)
Joe Veras, "Vida" (Sony)

Soundtracks and scores:
"Grimm's & Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales" (Shout)
"Halo Trilogy--The Complete Original Soundtracks" (Sumthing Else)

'Home' is where Dido's heart is

NEW YORK — As a child, Dido was "obsessed with space travel. I only wanted to be an astronaut. The idea just blew my mind."

So it's fitting that a photo of the Earth taken on a 1984 Challenger mission is on the cover of the British singer/songwriter's first studio album in five years, Safe Trip Home.

The album was inspired by the considerable ground that Dido, 36, has covered on the planet as a touring musician since 1999's No Angel. That multiplatinum debut established her as one of the most prominent artists of the Lilith Fair era. Dido spent much of the following decade accumulating frequent-flier miles, appearing at events such as 2005's Live 8.

"In one way, it's made the world a very small place," Dido says over tea in Midtown. "I'm very conscious of the fact that we're all here together."

But as the album's title suggests, Dido's journey has helped her realize "where home actually is. I'm someone who can feel at home anywhere. But the farther you go away, the more you realize that home is where your family and friends are."

For Dido, that means London — though Home took shape in a different setting. In summer 2005, producer Jon Brion, noted for his adventurous but pop-savvy work with artists as diverse as Fiona Apple and Kanye West, suggested that Dido travel to Los Angeles to work on an album.

It wasn't a natural destination. "I was brought up in the inner city," she says. "If I hadn't been working with Jon, I'd have been a bit bored. … (But) Jon is so joyful about it all. We were so productive and having so much fun that I didn't want to stop."

Brion wasn't Dido's only source of inspiration, though. "I'm not that fussed about sunshine, but L.A. in the morning is just stunning. And it's home to the film industry, so it's a city built on storytelling, on people using their imaginations."

In fact, for Home— which was also recorded in London, with Dido's brother and longtime collaborator, Rollo Armstrong, pitching in — Dido commissioned 11 short films, one to accompany each song. "I found local directors in different countries and told them the theme was 'What is home?' " The resulting clips, set in locales from a Thai boxing ring to a Mumbai taxicab, can be viewed at safetriphome.com.

Home hasn't yet yielded a hit on the order of previous Dido singles such as White Flag or Thank You, but "you don't take three years to make a record if that's your concern," says Blender editor in chief Joe Levy. He points out that her music remains "enormously popular with music supervisors for television and movies," and one track, Quiet Times, was recently featured on Grey's Anatomy.

For her part, Dido doesn't mind maintaining a lower profile. "I've always been an introvert, and as you get older, all your characteristics get more pronounced," she says.

Though she allows that the five years since her last album "have had some dramatic highs and lows," she prefers not to discuss them in detail. "It's amazing — I've had 15 kids," jokes the singer, who is single and has no children, when pressed for specifics.

Then, more seriously, and vaguely, Dido says: "I have a relatively normal life, in which there's been an exceptional freedom to travel and to make music. And I feel so lucky for that."

Australia's a Dud—So Is Nicole Kidman Over?

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Australia is kind of a bust after debuting at No. 5, right? What happens to a big-name star like Nicole Kidman after something like this? Does she lose status?

Power producers and agents have been rumbling for years that Nicole Kidman has passed her prime, that her once-endless list of fascinating attributes has dwindled to include only her hypnotically featureless forehead.

Off the record, these sources have said that she's delivered too few bona fide hits, that she has continuously lost power since The Others in 2001.

Yet—like a very leggy monster from the world of H.P. Lovecraft—she manages, every few years, to rise up from her burrow and feed. The reason is a sort of open secret in the movie business...

...and it's a list. It's called the Ulmer Scale, and every decent producer in town uses it when casting big-budget—or even microbudget—films.

"It's a scale of bankability," casting director and author Bonnie Gillespie explains. "It calculates everything—overseas sales, DVD sales—and Nicole Kidman is still near the top of the list for women."

In other words, Kidman may feel done, especially when you stack her up against, say, Robert Pattinson (everybody screeeaaaam!), but there really aren't that many other well-established stars out there who can deliver guaranteed millions in revenue.

One other thing: Australia may have debuted at No. 5, but $14 million this weekend is still a heck of a lot of money. (And it's more than the last Baz Luhrmann-Kidman tango Moulin Rouge! opened with back in '01.)

"That's really not bomby enough to ruin either of their careers," Gillespie says. ""It would need to be a huge bomb, an Ishtar-type bomb, to affect either of them. At that level, they're pretty much untouchable."

At worst, maybe Kidman will take a pay cut. Of a measly $2 million.

'Rachel,' `River,' lead Spirit Award nominees

LOS ANGELES – Anne Hathaway's family drama "Rachel Getting Married," the border-smuggling tale "Frozen River" and the Deep South saga "Ballast" led nominees Tuesday for the Spirit Awards with six nominations each, including best picture.

Other best-picture nominees for the awards, which honor independent film, were Michelle Williams' down-on-her-luck drama "Wendy and Lucy" and Mickey Rourke's broken-down athlete tale "The Wrestler."

Hathaway and Williams have lead-actress nominations, along with Melissa Leo for "Frozen River," Summer Bishil for "Towelhead" and Tarra Riggs for "Ballast."
Rourke has a lead-actor nomination, along with Javier Bardem for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," Richard Jenkins for "The Visitor," Sean Penn for "Milk" and Jeremy Renner for "The Hurt Locker."

"Rachel Getting Married," with Hathaway as an addict whose homecoming for her sister's wedding causes upheaval, also earned nominations for director Jonathan Demme, supporting actresses Debra Winger and Rosemarie DeWitt and screenwriter Jenny Lumet.

"Frozen River," which follows a white woman and a Mohawk Indian woman drawn into smuggling on a reservation along the New York-Quebec border, had writing and directing nominations for filmmaker Courtney Hunt. Supporting-actress Misty Upham and supporting-actor Charlie McDermott also were nominated.

"Ballast," the story of a single mother struggling to get by amid trauma and turmoil, grabbed directing and writing nominations for filmmaker Lance Hammer, along with slots for supporting actor JimMyron Ross and for cinematographer Lol Crawley.

Other key nominations included two more for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," for Woody Allen's screenplay and supporting actress Penelope Cruz.

Eligible films must have cost less than $20 million to produce, with significant financing from independent sources outside the Hollywood studio system.

The Spirit Awards will be presented Feb. 21, a day before the Academy Awards.
The ceremony will include the annual Robert Altman Award for an ensemble film, which is being presented to "Synecdoche, New York," the directing debut from "Being John Malkovich" screenwriter Charlie Kaufman.

'Scrubs' returns with a 'friend' as its guest star

NEW YORK – "Scrubs" will have a new medical plan when it returns next month. After seven seasons on NBC, the hospital comedy will air on ABC starting Jan. 6, with Courteney Cox Arquette in a guest role as Sacred Heart's new chief of medicine.

The former "Friends" star will be on duty for a three-episode arc, joining series regulars including Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison and John C. McGinley.

"Scrubs" marks a comedy encore for the 44-year-old Arquette, who, after the long-running "Friends," more recently starred as a tabloid-magazine boss on the FX network melodrama, "Dirt."

Tina Fey's husband talks about her facial scar

NEW YORK – Tina Fey's husband is talking about something the "30 Rock" actress would rather not discuss: the scar on her left cheek.

In an interview in Vanity Fair, Jeff Richmond says a stranger slashed Fey's face when she was 5 years old. He says the incident occurred in the front yard of her house.

Says Richmond: "That scar was fascinating to me. This is somebody who, no matter what it was, has gone through something. And I think it really informs the way she thinks about her life."

Fey says talking about the attack would seem like exploiting it.

Says Fey: "It's really almost like I'm able to forget about it, until I was on-camera, and it became a thing of `Oh, I guess we should use this side' or whatever. Everybody's got a better side."

Kids in the Hall returning to CBC

TORONTO - The Kids in the Hall are returning to the CBC.

Comedian Dave Foley says the five-member troupe is writing an eight-episode miniseries for the public broadcaster.

The show would have the quirky comics playing a multitude of roles and feature an ongoing narrative.

"We're going to start writing that very soon," Foley said recently from the Gemini Awards, where he presented an award at a glitzy bash honouring the best in Canadian drama, variety and comedy TV.

"It'll be an eight-episode arc with a narrative running through it and we will play all the characters but it won't be sketch, it'll be a single narrative miniseries. Probably the closest thing to it will probably be something like (the defunct cult British series) 'League of Gentlemen,' which I think was brilliant. So I hope it will be close to that."

The project is tentatively titled, "Death Comes to Town," and would serve as a long-awaited return by the Toronto-based group to the CBC.

That was where the improv troupe shot to fame in the late '80s and early '90s with their sketch comedy show, "The Kids In the Hall," winning a dedicated fanbase that spilled into the U.S. when the series, produced by "Saturday Night Live"'s Lorne Michaels, aired on CBS.

Their ludicrous characters and surreal worlds included Mark McKinney's sex-crazed chicken lady, Bruce McCulloch's sexist Cabbage Head, Scott Thompson's gay socialite Buddy Cole, and Kevin McDonald and Foley's insane Sizzler Sisters.

After the show went off the air in 1994, each member went on to pursue independent projects in Canada and the United States, with McKinney and McCulloch landing on "Saturday Night Live" and carving niches as sought-after TV writers. McDonald and Thompson went on to score memorable cameos in a slew of sitcoms while Foley's endeavours included a starring role in the long-running series "NewsRadio."

The gang reunited earlier this year for a cross-Canada comedy tour that had them revive their beloved sketch characters.

Most recently, Foley popped up on the Sally Field nighttime soap opera, "Brothers and Sisters," playing a gay man.

"Yes, it was my return to homosexuality," joked Foley, who also played a gay man on the defunct sitcom "Will and Grace."

These days, Foley said he spends much of his time "hanging out as a stage dad" since his five-year-old daughter has launched a blossoming acting career.

He notes that she's currently working on a movie with action superstar Jackie Chan, and in recent months did a web series, a soap opera and a pilot for Fox.

"I'm basically just living in her very tiny shadow," he said.

He said the Kids are also thinking about hitting the big screen with a feature film.

"As a group, we're still talking about doing a feature as well but first we have to wait 'til everyone who ever saw 'Brain Candy' is dead," sighed Foley, referring to their critically panned 1996 feature.

Elvis Costello's new TV show 'Spectacle' offers different look at music

NEW YORK - During an interview with Elton John for the debut of his new television show "Spectacle," Elvis Costello didn't ask about stage costumes, boyfriends or "Island Girl." Instead, the conversation turned to Laura Nyro, Leon Russell and David Ackles.

The two men closed the show performing the obscure British songwriter Ackles' "Down River."

"For all of his successes, people don't realize that he's a great fan of music," Costello said of John. "They assume that he's this flamboyant guy who has hit records. They don't know that it's grounded in a great love and tremendous knowledge about music."

Costello could as easily have been talking about himself. That background, his experience on the other side of interviews and a natural rapport with people in similar jobs more than make up for any deficits as a trained TV prober.

They give "Spectacle," a mix of music and talk, heft along with entertainment value. Although conceived in Canada and airing at some point on CTV, "Spectacle" debuts Wednesday at 9 p.m. on the U.S. Sundance Channel. Costello is married to Canadian jazz singer Diana Krall and they have a home on Vancouver Island.

Besides John, who is an executive producer of the 13-episode series, future guests include Lou Reed, James Taylor, The Police, Rufus Wainwright, Norah Jones, Herbie Hancock, Renee Fleming and Costello's wife Diana Krall (interviewed by John).

As the first episode's interview revealed, Costello's goal was to get his guests talking about their enthusiasms, hoping they'd reveal more of themselves in the process.

During his session with a clearly nervous Taylor, Costello mentioned hearing a Gene Autry record recently that reminded him of Paul McCartney, and Taylor began talking about his days at Apple Records.

Reed picked up a guitar to show the proper way of playing "Sweet Jane."

"It was funny because he wouldn't seem to be a guy who would do an instruction thing," Costello said. "He was in good humour throughout the show, contrary to a lot of people's expectations about him. Maybe they approach him through a lens of darkness, solely concentrating on the image that is projected through a very limited slice of his repertoire."

The Police's show had an end-of-tour frankness and frivolity. It also illustrated another highlight of "Spectacle" - the music - when they and Costello played a version of "Watching the Detectives" that morphed into "Walking on the Moon."

An amateur saxophone player who served two terms in the White House is on Dec. 17th's show. Former President Bill Clinton talked about music, not politics, saying how he gave up the dream of being a professional musician when he looked in the mirror and realized he'd never be good enough to be the best.

Costello's closest experience to "Spectacle" was a few nights subbing for David Letterman. He's not sure whether there will be a second season, noting the difficulty juggling his family and guests' schedules, without neglecting his day job.

The freedom to be flexible with format, and to talk in-depth with heroes like Smokey Robinson, made it a good experience.

"For every frustration, for every idiotic suggestion that you get when you work in television, the great moments far outweigh the minor frustrations," he said.