News
1. Kidman birth adds to Nashville's image as oasis
By JOHN GEROME - July 8, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nicole Kidman has described Nashville as a quiet escape, a nice place to raise a garden or grab coffee without photographers in tow.So it really shouldn't be a surprise that it's also where she and husband Keith Urban chose to have their first...
2. Leonard Cohen returns to Montreux stage
By Associated Press - July 8, 2008
MONTREUX, Switzerland -- Leonard Cohen returned to the Montreux Jazz Festival on Tuesday for his first concert here in 23 years.Cohen, who played favorite old songs "Suzanne" and the much-covered "Hallelujah," as well as the lesser-known "The Future," is on his first...
3. LA prosecutors charge Nate Dogg with stalking
By Associated Press - July 8, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Prosecutors have filed felony charges against Nate Dogg, who authorities suspect threatened and stalked his wife.The rapper, whose real name is Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, was charged Monday. He was arrested last month by the California Highway Patrol after his...
4. Fertile country: Babies linked to Colo. festival
By Associated Press - July 8, 2008
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- The effects of an annual music festival in Grand Junction, Colo., may appear months after the last act plays -- nine months, to be precise.A health official says her agency sees far more pregnant women in the weeks after Country Jam, which was...
5. Drew Barrymore and Justin Long end relationship
By Associated Press - July 8, 2008
NEW YORK -- Justin Long and Drew Barrymore have ended their romance, the actor's publicist said Tuesday. "I just wanted to confirm that, yes, they did break up," Carrie Gordon told The Associated Press in a phone interview, adding that the couple remain friends. Gordon...
6. Conductor James Levine to have kidney removed
By RONALD BLUM - July 8, 2008
NEW YORK -- James Levine will have a kidney removed in surgery this week, causing the conductor to miss the remainder of the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Tanglewood season.The 65-year-old music director of both the BSO and the Metropolitan Opera will need six weeks of...
7. Britney Spears to film footage for Madonna tour
By Associated Press - July 8, 2008
NEW YORK -- Madonna has recruited Britney Spears for a virtual appearance on her upcoming tour."There is footage being shot of Britney some time this week in conjunction with Madonna's upcoming (Sticky & Sweet) tour," Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, said in an e-mail...
8. Matthew McConaughey, girlfriend welcome baby boy
By Associated Press - July 8, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Matthew McConaughey's longtime model girlfriend, Camila Alves, has given birth to the couple's first child, a 7-pound, 4-ounce boy.Alves, 24, gave birth Monday night in California and named the child Levi, McConaughey's publicist, Alan Nierob, said in an...
9. Scalpers ask $1,500 for free Bon Jovi concert
By Associated Press - July 8, 2008
NEW YORK -- Bon Jovi's concert in Central Park this Saturday is free. But that isn't stopping some scalpers from selling tickets for as much as $1,500 a pair -- despite a warning they cannot be resold.New York City has distributed 60,000 tickets, with each person limited...
10. GAME REVIEW: 'Space Invaders,' 'Arkanoid' return
By LOU KESTEN - July 8, 2008
In 2028, when 3D holodecks are in every strip mall and we'll be able to have games downloaded directly into our brains, we'll look back wistfully on the hits of 2008. Wasn't "Grand Theft Auto IV" quaint, we'll muse. Aren't our alien overlords much nicer than that nasty Locust Horde in "Gears of War...
11. Video-game news: Best of 2008, so far
By LOU KESTEN - July 8, 2008
Real news from the virtual world:_BEST OF 2008 (SO FAR): E3, the video-game industry's big trade show, is next week, and you'll be hearing a lot about all the new software coming between now and Christmas. But there's a bit of a lull until Aug. 12, when "Madden NFL 09" unofficially marks the...
12. Original Village People policeman in hospital
By Associated Press - July 8, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Former Village People lead singer Victor Willis is recovering from vocal cord surgery and has postponed his tour.Willis, the band's original policeman, is resting in a San Diego hospital after surgery Monday to remove nodules from his vocal cords,...
13. Ringo Starr celebrates 68th in Chicago
By Associated Press - July 7, 2008
CHICAGO -- Ringo Starr celebrated his 68th birthday in Chicago giving out messages of peace and love, along with dessert. Fans surrounded the former Beatles drummer Monday as he waited for the clock to strike noon the Hard Rock Hotel. Then he flashed peace signs with...
14. Soprano Joan Sutherland hospitalized after fall
By ELIANE ENGELER - July 7, 2008
GENEVA -- Opera legend Joan Sutherland is recovering well after breaking both legs during a fall at her Swiss home, her agent said Monday. "She had an accident while doing the gardening, and somehow managed to break both her legs," agent David Sigall said. The...
15. Benny and Bjorn: No ABBA reunion
By Associated Press - July 7, 2008
LONDON -- Despite the astonishing success of the stage musical "Mamma Mia!," ABBA has ruled out any reunion tour. Songwriters Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of the Swedish pop quartet told Britain's Sunday Telegraph that ABBA will never perform together...
16. Kidman, Urban name daughter Sunday Rose
By JOHN GEROME - July 7, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As with most new parents, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban might have difficulty telling what day it is. No matter. From here on out, they'll have a little Sunday every day. The Oscar-winning actress and her country-star husband welcomed a baby girl on...
17. Nicole Kidman gives birth to baby girl
By Associated Press - July 7, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A spokesman for Keith Urban says Nicole Kidman gave birth to a baby girl Monday morning in Nashville.Paul Freundlich says Sunday Rose Kidman Urban weighed a little over 6 pounds. He says Urban was by his wife's side, and mother and baby are very well.
18. La Scala Philharmonic to make China debut Sept. 12
By Associated Press - July 7, 2008
MILAN, Italy -- La Scala's Philharmonic orchestra will make its debut in China during a seven-concert, six-city Asian tour in September.The Philharmonic will perform in Shanghai on September 12th and in Beijing on September 13th.The tour of Japan, South Korea and China...
19. Essence Festival wraps up in New Orleans
By CHEVEL JOHNSON - July 6, 2008
NEW ORLEANS -- The Essence Music Festival wrapped up its 14th year Sunday night, which was marked by the return of Grammy Award-winner Mary J. Blige and comedian Chris Rock.The Louisiana Superdome was even more packed than it was Saturday as Blige appeared once again at...
20. How's `Hancock' stack up among movie twists?
By DAVID GERMAIN - July 6, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- A Will Smith movie packs in millions of people over Fourth of July weekend. No surprises there.Yet Smith's "Hancock," the tale of an anti-social boozer who happens to be a superhero, comes with an abrupt plot twist, one that has divided critics and the...
21. Audience rolls down tracks during 'Die Soldaten'
By RONALD BLUM - July 6, 2008
NEW YORK -- The opening note of Bernd Alois Zimmermann's "Die Soldaten" has to be the most moving in opera when heard in David Pountney's production: The 974-seat bleacher containing the audience slowly starts to roll down train tracks in the Park Avenue Armory's Drill...
22. White Stripes' White pens poem about Detroit
By Associated Press - July 6, 2008
DETROIT -- Singer-guitarist Jack White has penned a poem expressing his strong feelings for Detroit to clear up any misconceptions about how the White Stripes frontman feels about his hometown.White said he was frustrated by a sense that his thoughts about the Motor City...
23. Supermodel raises awareness for pediatric cancer
By Associated Press - July 6, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- Supermodel Cindy Crawford has been making appearances this weekend in Madison, Wis., to raise awareness of pediatric cancer.Crawford's younger brother, Jeff, was a patient at University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital. The boy died of leukemia in 1975...
24. Comic book artist Michael Turner dies at 37
By Associated Press - July 4, 2008
SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Michael Turner, a comic book artist who drew covers for major titles such as "Superman/Batman," "The Flash" and "Civil War,'" has died. He was 37.Turner died June 27 at a Santa Monica hospital of complications related to cancer, said Vince...
25. Brinkley split is newest image-crushing NY divorce
By LARRY NEUMEISTER - July 4, 2008
NEW YORK -- When the media capital of the world meets a celebrity divorce, it's a breakup made in tabloid heaven. So the city that has hosted the spectacular splits of Woody Allen, Liza Minnelli and Rudolph Giuliani now is feasting on the salacious details of model...
26. Brangelina twins will always have Nice
By COLLEEN BARRY - July 4, 2008
NICE, France -- They'll always have Nice.Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's soon-to-be-born twins will always be considered honorary citizens of Nice, regardless of whether they opt to obtain French citizenship, the mayor of Nice said Friday.The Hollywood super couple have...
27. Man claims assault by Eminem in 2006 in Detroit
By Associated Press - July 4, 2008
PONTIAC, Mich. -- A man has sued Eminem, claiming the rapper punched him two years ago while they were in the bathroom of a Detroit strip club.The Detroit News reports Miad Jarbou of Royal Oak filed the lawsuit Thursday in Oakland County Circuit Court seeking more than $...
28. Workers at Milan's La Scala plan strike
By Associated Press - July 4, 2008
MILAN, Italy -- Workers at Milan's famed La Scala opera house say they will stage a strike next week that will cancel the first three performances of Franco Zeffirelli's production of "La Boheme."Union representative Giancarlo Albori said Friday that the strike will...
29. Barbershop faces a discord among members
By Associated Press - July 4, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As thousands of singers converge on Nashville for an international convention of barbershop harmony music, the old-fashioned music style is facing discord among its fans.The 70-year-old Barbershop Harmony Society moved to Tennessee last year from...
30. Paisley says working with Griffith a highlight
By Associated Press - July 3, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Brad Paisley says he got to mark a biggie off his wish list when Andy Griffith agreed to be in the video for his new single, "Waitin' On a Woman.""He has influenced my life more than most people that I grew up with -- more than most people that I...
31. Spielberg group gives $1M to Pa. Jewish museum
By Associated Press - July 3, 2008
PHILADELPHIA -- A foundation created by Steven Spielberg is giving $1 million to the National Museum of American Jewish History.The money from the Righteous Persons Foundation will go toward a new, five-story museum building being built in Philadelphia.With the donation,...
32. Just how close 'friends' are Madonna and A-Rod?
By JAKE COYLE - July 3, 2008
NEW YORK -- A-Rod and the Material Girl? That's a lot of hits. Reports that Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez and Madonna have become close just as their marriages are disintegrating have both the celebrity gossip industry and the sporting world -- each a chatty bunch --...
33. Donna Summer adds sweet sounds to summer tour
By MARGIE SZAROLETA - July 3, 2008
WASHINGTON -- Donna Summer says she approached her summer tour like a chocolate-chip cookie.The 59-year-old singer said that for the first time, she is incorporating all the music from a new album and most of her hits into the show. In the past, she's used just a few new...
34. Springsteen remembers NJ boardwalk fortuneteller
By Associated Press - July 3, 2008
ASBURY PARK, N.J. -- Bruce Springsteen is paying tribute to a boardwalk fortuneteller he made famous in a song.Madam Marie Castello, who told fortunes on the Asbury Park Boardwalk in New Jersey, died recently. She was 93.Springsteen wrote about her in his 1973 song "4th...
35. Kylie Minogue honored at Buckingham Palace
By Associated Press - July 3, 2008
LONDON -- Britain has honored Australian singer Kylie Minogue for her services to music. The 40-year-old pop star received an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, or OBE, from Prince Charles during a ceremony Thursday at Buckingham Palace in London. She was...
36. That Was the Week That Was
By The Associated Press - July 2, 2008
Entertainment highlights during the week of July 6-12:1935: Jimmy Stewart's first film, "Murder Man," opened.1949: The police drama "Dragnet," starring Jack Webb and Barton Yarborough, premiered on NBC radio.1950: "Your Hit Parade" premiered on NBC.1955: Pat Boone released his version of "Ain't...
37. Chevy Chase to host Newport jazz fest again
By Associated Press - July 2, 2008
NEWPORT, R.I. -- Live from Newport: it's Chevy Chase. Chase, the comic actor and original cast member of "Saturday Night Live," will host the Newport Jazz Festival for the second year in a row. The JVC Jazz Festival-Newport runs Aug. 8-10 at the International Tennis...
38. 2008 Essence Music Festival begins Friday
By STACEY PLAISANCE - July 2, 2008
NEW ORLEANS -- From her rebuilt but not yet fully furnished home, Irma Thomas anchors her faith in the rebirth of New Orleans to the return of the Essence Music Festival.The festival, which runs Friday to Sunday, celebrates black music and culture and moved to Houston in...
39. Judge: Snipes can travel abroad for movies
By Associated Press - July 2, 2008
OCALA, Fla. -- Wesley Snipes will be allowed to leave the United States to work on two movies while his lawyers appeal his tax convictions. Federal judge William Terrell Hodges on Wednesday approved the actor's motion to travel to London and Bangkok, Thailand. Snipes...
40. DMX arrested in Phoenix on outstanding warrants
By Associated Press - July 2, 2008
PHOENIX -- DMX has been arrested at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on outstanding warrants. Maricopa County Sheriff's Department spokesman Aaron Douglas says the rapper, 37, was taken into custody Wednesday morning after arriving from Florida. DMX (real name:...
41. Rush Limbaugh to get $38M a year for next 8 years
By Associated Press - July 2, 2008
NEW YORK -- Rush Limbaugh will make about $38 million a year to continue his radio show over the next eight years. In addition, he says will be getting a nine-figure signing bonus from Premiere Radio Networks. Premiere wouldn't disclose details of the deal but Limbaugh...
42. Fortune teller made famous by Springsteen has died
By Associated Press - July 2, 2008
ASBURY PARK, N.J. -- Fortune teller Madam Marie, a figure of rock 'n' roll mythology thanks to Bruce Springsteen, has died. She was in her mid-90s.Sally Castello tells the Asbury Park Press that her great-grandmother, Marie Castello, died Friday. The psychic reader and...
43. Actors' union, theater producers reach agreement
By Associated Press - July 2, 2008
NEW YORK -- The actors' union and Broadway theater producers have reached a tentative agreement for a new, 39-month contract that covers Broadway shows and touring productions.Actors' Equity Association and the Broadway League, which represents both producers and theater...
44. Milan opera house workers threaten strike
By Associated Press - July 2, 2008
MILAN, Italy -- Workers at La Scala opera house in Milan are threatening to stage a strike next week that would cancel the first three performances of "La Boheme."But union representative Giancarlo Albori said Wednesday that talks with management were still going on. He...
45. Animal groups out to fetch part of Helmsley estate
By Associated Press - July 2, 2008
NEW YORK -- Animal welfare groups are set to try to fetch some of Leona Helmsley's vast fortune.At least two groups are eyeing the hotel queen's estate -- estimated to be up to $8 billion -- following a report Helmsley wanted her fortune to go to the dogs.The real estate...
46. Matthews Band sax player injured in ATV wreck
By Associated Press - July 1, 2008
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Dave Matthews Band sax player LeRoi Moore is recovering from an ATV accident on his Virginia farm. According to the band's Web site, Moore was taken to the University of Virginia Health System for treatment after the Monday wreck in...
47. Rape charge dropped against Poison drummer
By CHRIS TALBOTT - July 1, 2008
JACKSON, Miss. -- A rape charge against Rikki Rockett has been dropped after authorities determined that the Poison drummer was not in the state at the time of the alleged crime. Authorities say they are now looking for a man with a history of passing himself off as a...
48. Musicians Hall of Fame announces new inductees
By Associated Press - July 1, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Booker T. and the MGs, the Memphis Horns and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section will become the newest members of the Musicians Hall of Fame.Musician and producer Al Kooper, producer Billy Sherrill and Buddy Holly's band the Crickets also will be...
49. T.I. turns to civil rights icon as mentor
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. - July 1, 2008
ATLANTA -- When he was growing up, most of T.I.'s male role models were either selling drugs or locked up in jail; he ended up following in both of those paths. Even after T.I. started his rap career and became one of its biggest stars, he didn't abandon a life of crime:...
50. Manahan to stay at NYC Opera through 2011-12
By Associated Press - July 1, 2008
NEW YORK -- Conductor George Manahan will remain a music director of the New York City Opera under incoming general manager Gerard Mortier, agreeing to a four-year contract through the 2011-12 season.Manahan, 56, was hired as music director in 1996, effective with the...
51. `The Fly' opera is buzz of Paris season
By ANGELA DOLAND - July 1, 2008
PARIS -- Be afraid, be very afraid: David Cronenberg's 1986 horror flick, "The Fly," has undergone a bizarre metamorphosis. It's now an opera.The new incarnation, with tenor Placido Domingo conducting a score by Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore ("The Lord of the...
52. 15th-century sculpture damaged at NYC's Met museum
By Associated Press - July 1, 2008
NEW YORK -- A 15th-century sculpture at The Metropolitan Museum of Art was damaged after it came loose from its moorings and fell to the floor.The museum says the damaged piece is a terra-cotta sculpture of Saint Michael the Archangel by Andrea della Robbia.It fell late...
53. Brinkley: Husband's affair 'shattered' my life
By FRANK ELTMAN - July 1, 2008
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. -- A tearful Christie Brinkley testified at her divorce trial Thursday that she was devastated by her husband's affair with a teenager and his attempts to find other paramours through pornographic Web sites."My world was completely shattered," the...
54. New York magazine founder Clay Felker dies at 82
By LILY HINDY - July 1, 2008
NEW YORK -- Clay Felker, who revolutionized the magazine genre as founding editor of New York, bringing readers a smart, sassy mix of gossip and news that was replicated relentlessly across the country, died Tuesday. He was 82.Felker died with his wife, writer Gail...
55. French and tourists seem indifferent to Brangelina
By COLLEEN BARRY - July 1, 2008
NICE, France -- Partially eclipsed by the glitterati of Cannes and the royal glare of Monaco, Nice is a place where even the brightest stars -- like Brangelina -- are greeted by little more than indifference.Only the presence of paparazzi outside the seaside hospital...
56. Jolie goes to hospital to give birth to twins
By Associated Press - July 1, 2008
PARIS -- Angelina Jolie has gone into the hospital in the south of France where she expects to give birth to twins.Nadine Bauer, a spokeswoman for the Lenval Hospital in Nice, said Jolie is fine and that everything is going well. She said the actress' admittance to the...
57. Russian label Irfe rises from its ashes in Paris
By JOELLE DIDERICH - July 1, 2008
PARIS -- The history of Russian fashion label Irfe reads like a rollicking bestseller, but for designer Olga Sorokina, it's a fairytale come true.Almost eight decades after the original house of Irfe shuttered its doors, Sorokina presented her first collection for the...
58. Bayreuth's Wagner festival will offer opera online
By PATRICK McGROARTY - July 1, 2008
BERLIN -- Germany's annual Bayreuth opera festival is going digital, streaming video and audio of its opening performance of "Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg" live via the Internet. The catch is the price -- $77.Organizers hope the online screening will draw new fans to...
59. Tavira, one-handed violinist, dies at 84
By ALEXANDRA OLSON - July 1, 2008
MEXICO CITY -- Angel Tavira, a one-handed violinist who dedicated his life to Mexican folk music and won a Cannes Film Festival award for his first movie at age 82, has died. He was 84. Tavira died of kidney problems Monday in a Mexico City hospital, said Eugenia...
60. Ledger's hometown to name theater after him
By Associated Press - July 1, 2008
PERTH, Australia -- The Australian hometown of the late actor Heath Ledger named a theater in his honor Tuesday for his commitment to acting. The $87 million, 575-seat Heath Ledger Theater in Perth is a fitting tribute because Ledger was always supportive of other young...
61. Fire at Madonna's childhood home called suspicious
By Associated Press - June 30, 2008
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. -- A weekend fire that destroyed a childhood home of Madonna has been deemed suspicious by arson investigators. The Oakland County Sheriff's Arson Unit and the Rochester Hills Fire Department are investigating the Friday night blaze. A passer-by...
62. Opera manager Edgar Vincent dead at 90
By RONALD BLUM - June 30, 2008
NEW YORK -- Edgar Vincent, who represented Placido Domingo, Beverly Sills, Mikhail Baryshnikov and a bevy of stars in classical music during a six-decade career, died Thursday following an operation in New York. He was 90.Vincent died at Lenox Hill Hospital, Patrick...
63. Pavarotti widow, daughters agree on inheritance
By Associated Press - June 30, 2008
MILAN, Italy -- A lawyer for Luciano Pavarotti's widow says his family has come to a friendly agreement on how to divide up his estate. Pavarotti had drafted two wills near the end of his yearlong battle with cancer. One divided his assets by Italian law, giving half to...
64. Actors' union, theater producers reach agreement
By Associated Press - June 30, 2008
NEW YORK -- The actors' union and Broadway theater producers have reached a tentative agreement for a new 39-month contract that covers Broadway shows and touring productions.Actors' Equity Association and the Broadway League, which represents both producers and theater...
65. Western extras play bit parts in new Egyptian film
By PAUL SCHEMM - June 30, 2008
CAIRO, Egypt -- A motley group of foreigners -- English teachers, students of Arabic, even a journalist -- gathered on a recent chilly night in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria, brought together by a love of cinema, curiosity and a furtive hope of catching a glimpse...
66. Bon Jovi to give free concert in NYC this summer
By Associated Press - June 30, 2008
DETROIT -- Jon Bon Jovi is giving some people who are living on a prayer something a bit more substantial.The Grammy winner was in a neighborhood on Detroit's East Side Monday to announce the building of five new homes as part of a partnership among his Philadelphia Soul...
67. 'Rock Band 2' to include new online modes, songs
By DERRIK J. LANG - June 30, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- "Rock Band" is ready for an encore.A sequel to the play-along music game that redefined the genre last year will be released first for the Xbox 360 in September, according to publisher MTV Games and developer Harmonix. "Rock Band 2" will feature a new...
68. Maher and Shandling honor George Carlin at service
By JOHN ROGERS - June 30, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- He was the comedian who actually said the seven words you can never say on television, but close friends and family members remembered George Carlin as a man who, when he was off stage, had only a kind word for everyone he met.At a private memorial service...
69. Hall, Statler Brothers join country hall of fame
By Associated Press - June 29, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tom T. Hall and the Statler Brothers were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame with a musical tribute. Spokeswoman Tina Wright says the two-hour ceremony was held Sunday at the hall. This year's two other inductees -- Emmylou Harris...
70. Will Smith's school insists it's not Scientologist
Associated Press Writer - June 29, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Will Smith usually plays the hero in his summer blockbusters. But in "Hancock," he drinks, swears, mouths off -- and goes to prison.Smith's role as a superhero-gone-bad could be jarring to some moviegoers -- but not his children and wife Jada Pinkett...
71. Heppner trying on Siegfried in Aix-en-Provence
By MIKE SILVERMAN - June 29, 2008
AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France -- When tenor Ben Heppner wanted to try the grueling role of Tristan for the first time back in 1997, he chose a spot that he described as "off the beaten path."Those first performances in Seattle were a huge success, and he has gone on to portray...
72. Strike 2? Hollywood braces for actor walkout
By DAVID GERMAIN - June 28, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Hollywood loves a good sequel, but here's one it could do without: Another union strike just months after the town got up and running again from a devastating walkout by writers.The contract between the Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion...
73. Official: Model's death after apartment fall a suicide
By Associated Press - June 28, 2008
NEW YORK -- The death of a fashion model who plunged from the ninth floor of a Manhattan building has been ruled a suicide. The medical examiner's office said Sunday that Ruslana Korshunova (roos-LAH'-nuh kor-shoo-NOE'-vuh) died in the fall the afternoon before...
74. Award-winning pianist Leonard Pennario dies at 83
By Associated Press - June 28, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Leonard Pennario, a Grammy-winning pianist and best-selling classical recording artist, has died. He was 83. Pennario died Friday at his home in San Diego of complications from Parkinson's disease, said his biographer, Mary Kunz Goldman. Pennario won a...
75. Report: Uma Thurman engaged to financier
By Associated Press - June 27, 2008
NEW YORK -- It's official: Uma Thurman will marry financier Arpad "Arki" Busson. "I can confirm she is engaged," Thurman's representative, Stephen Huvane, told The Associated Press in an e-mail. Huvane didn't immediately respond Monday when asked for further...
76. Steven Tyler tells AP: Rehab was for meds
By JOHN CARUCCI - June 27, 2008
NEW YORK -- Steven Tyler sought the "safe environment" of rehab last month to recover from more than just surgery -- the Aerosmith frontman now says was fighting a dependency on pain and sleep medication."To have your feet done, to have your leg done, you have to be on...
77. Statler Brothers: Country Hall of Fame honor tops
By Associated Press - June 27, 2008
STAUNTON, Va. -- Brothers Harold and Don Reid of the country and gospel group the Statler Brothers are coming clean about which career award meant the most."This one has knocked us on our behinds," Don Reid told The Associated Press about the group's induction into the...
78. Hellboy director: I would've been a bank robber
By E.J. TAMARA - June 27, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Guillermo del Toro has had it with the beautiful people of Hollywood. It's monsters -- or bank robbers -- he wants to see. The Mexican director, whose latest movie "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army" opens next month, said Thursday night that monsters have a...
79. 'Voice' of WALL-E: Robot sounds toddler-inspired
By MICHAEL WEINFELD - June 27, 2008
Sci-fi animation moviemaking in aisle four!Ben Burtt, the two-time Oscar-winning sound engineer who designed the voices of R2-D2, ET and now the main character in "WALL-E," says his out-of-this-world audio often comes from the most mundane, Earth-bound activities -- like a trip to the grocery...
80. Judge halts release of Verne Troyer sex tape
By Associated Press - June 27, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- The woman in a sex tape featuring Verne Troyer -- best known for his role in the "Austin Powers" movies -- says she allowed celebrity Web site TMZ to broadcast snippets of the tape.Troyer's ex-girlfriend, Ranae Shrider, signed a declaration filed in...
81. Another Lohan saga: Another Lohan?
By DERRIK J. LANG - June 27, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- The father of a 13-year-old girl who may be Lindsay Lohan's half-sister said the family went public with the story after Lohan's father, Michael, repeatedly refused to provide support.The Montana girl's family is looking into legal options to pursue once...
82. Report: Loren appeals for Naples cleanup
By Associated Press - June 27, 2008
ROME -- Sophia Loren is imploring people to clear the garbage off the streets of her beloved Naples."I beg you, with my hands clasped in prayer, to multiply efforts to remedy to this tragedy," Loren was quoted as saying by the Italian daily La Repubblica on Friday.Loren...
83. Wim Wenders to head jury at Venice Film Fest
By Associated Press - June 27, 2008
VENICE, Italy -- Wim Wenders will head the international jury that will award the coveted Golden Lion at this year's Venice Film Festival. The decision was made Friday during a board meeting of the Venice Biennale, whose activities include the film festival...
84. Redmond O'Neal pleads guilty to drug charges
By Associated Press - June 27, 2008
MALIBU, Calif. -- Redmond O'Neal, the son of Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O'Neal, has pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and methamphetamine. The 23-year-old O'Neal pleaded guilty Thursday in a Malibu court to the two felony counts and a misdemeanor count of driving under...
85. Stars gather for Nelson Mandela birthday show
By JILL LAWLESS - June 27, 2008
LONDON -- Queen, Leona Lewis, Amy Winehouse and a host of African stars joined tens of thousands of music fans Friday to salute Nelson Mandela at a concert honoring the South African statesman's 90th birthday.The outdoor show in London's Hyde Park opened in eclectic...
86. Ohio man accused of stalking teen singers
By Associated Press - June 27, 2008
LANCASTER, Ohio -- A man accused of stalking and threatening the teen sister act known as Aly & AJ sent e-mail and handwritten notes to the singing duo, police said Friday.Rex Mettler, 42, of Lancaster, obtained contact information for the sisters and also made threats...
87. Lil Wayne to do the Voodoo
By Associated Press - June 26, 2008
NEW ORLEANS -- Rapper Lil Wayne is the latest addition to the lineup for this year's Voodoo Experience in the rapper's native New Orleans.The musical celebration will feature dozens of acts on six stages in October. The lineup already includes R.E.M., Nine Inch Nails,...
88. Donda West surgeon arrested in California for DUI
By Associated Press - June 26, 2008
VALLEJO, Calif. -- The plastic surgeon who operated on Kanye West's mother before she died last fall has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. Police said Dr. Jan Adams was seen using an off-ramp to get on a freeway early Thursday in the Northern California...
89. Q&A: Adam 'MCA' Yauch on his hoop film 'Gunnin'
By JAKE O'CONNELL - June 26, 2008
NEW YORK -- Adam "MCA" Yauch and the Beastie Boys have always been hoop fans, with lyrical references to ballplayers from Latrell Sprewell to streetball legend Hawthorne Wingo. Now Yauch is bringing that love to the big screen with the documentary "Gunnin' for that #1...
90. Wonder talks about tour, inspirations, Obama
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY - June 26, 2008
NEW YORK -- Stevie Wonder is fidgeting with his camera phone, embarrassed because he can't get it to work right.But wait, it's not what you think.Wonder is trying to show a reporter how the device helps him "see" written documents; moments later, the blind superstar...
91. Couple gives $15M for Smithsonian Ocean Hall
By BRETT ZONGKER - June 26, 2008
WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents and his wife announced a $15 million gift Thursday to support the new Ocean Hall at the National Museum of Natural History.Roger and Vicki Sant will become the largest donors in the museum's...
92. Wesley Snipes petitions court to leave country
By Associated Press - June 26, 2008
OCALA, Fla. -- Lawyers for Wesley Snipes are asking a Florida judge to let the 45-year-old actor leave the country while they appeal his three federal tax convictions. Snipes wants to work on two films, "Gallowwalker" and "Chasing the Dragon," in London and in Bangkok,...
93. Dixie Hummingbirds' Ira Tucker Sr. dies
By Associated Press - June 26, 2008
PHILADELPHIA -- Ira Tucker Sr., longtime lead singer of the gospel group the Dixie Hummingbirds, which influenced many other performers and backed up Paul Simon on "Loves Me Like a Rock," has died. He was 83. Tucker had severe heart problems and died Tuesday in...
94. 'Dark Knight' credits pay tribute to Ledger
By Associated Press - June 26, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Heath Ledger is getting a fond tribute from his collaborators on "The Dark Knight." The end credits of the "Batman Begins" sequel include a farewell note to Ledger, who died in January from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs; and to...
95. Mindy McCready charged with violating probation
By Associated Press - June 26, 2008
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- Mindy McCready has been arrested in Tennessee and charged with violating her probation. Authorities accuse the 32-year-old country singer of falsifying her community service records. Williamson County Sheriff's Department officer Charlotte Spencer...
96. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST-SELLERS
By Associated Press - June 26, 2008
HARDCOVER FICTION1. "Fearless Fourteen" by Janet Evanovich (St. Martin's Press)(F-H)2. "Sail" by James Patterson and Howard Roughan, (Little, Brown) (F-H)3. "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown)4. "Chasing Harry Winston" by Lauren Weisberger (Simon & Schuster)5. "Love the One You're With"...
97. Bill Murray's divorce is finalized in SC
By Associated Press - June 26, 2008
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Bill Murray and his wife of nearly 11 years are divorced. A judge in Charleston County signed off on the divorce agreement June 13, barely a month after Jennifer Butler Murray asked for the separation. The couple were married in July 1997.The couple's...
98. Bill Murray's divorce is finalized
By Associated Press - June 26, 2008
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Bill Murray and his wife of nearly 11 years are divorced.Documents filed in Charleston County in South Carolina show that a judge approved a divorce agreement on June 13th, barely a month after Jennifer Butler Murray, wife of the 57-year-old...
99. Vatican paper says pope does not wear Prada
By Associated Press - June 26, 2008
VATICAN CITY -- The devil may wear Prada -- but the pope does not. According to the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, the bright red loafers that Pope Benedict XVI wears are not designed by the Milanese fashion house, as has long been rumored."Obviously the...
100. Review: Robot romance `Wall-e' has heart of gold
By CHRISTY LEMIRE - June 26, 2008
Within the rumbling, stumbling hunk of junk that is WALL-E beats the sweetest, warmest heart -- a robotic representation of humanity's highest potential. And within the sci-fi adventure "WALL-E" lies an artistic truth: that Pixar's track record remains impeccable. Following high-concept movies...
101. That Was the Week That Was
By The Associated Press - June 25, 2008
Entertainment highlights during the week of June 29-July 5:1952: The radio program "Guiding Light" made its debut as a television soap opera on CBS.1967: Actress Jayne Mansfield died at the age of 34.1969: John Wayne won his first Oscar after 200 films for playing Rooster Cogburn in "True...
102. Trouble finds McGraw at Washington state show
By Associated Press - June 25, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- If Tim McGraw isn't looking for trouble, it must've been looking for him. Fan video shot Tuesday in Auburn, Wash., shows the country singer help eject an unruly fan. McGraw shouts "Get rid of this guy," summons security and helps arriving crew...
103. Smithsonian Folklife Festival opens on Mall
By BRETT ZONGKER - June 25, 2008
WASHINGTON -- Hundreds of artists, scientists and visitors from three wildly different cultures -- Texas, NASA and the isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan -- converged Wednesday at the opening of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall.Bhutanese monks in...
104. Kate Mulgrew joins the cast of Broadway's `Equus'
By Associated Press - June 25, 2008
NEW YORK -- From "Star Trek: Voyager" to "Equus." Kate Mulgrew is joining "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths in the revival of Peter Shaffer's "Equus," which opens Sept. 25 on Broadway.Mulgrew will play a sympathetic magistrate who champions the...
105. Hanks loses Idaho home construction dispute
By Associated Press - June 25, 2008
KETCHUM, Idaho -- A Blaine County judge has rejected Tom Hanks' second request for arbitration over what the actor says was $2.5 million in faulty workmanship by the construction company that built his sprawling compound north of this central Idaho resort town...
106. Musician Shawn Colvin working on memoir
By Associated Press - June 25, 2008
NEW YORK -- Shawn Colvin, the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, is working on a memoir, "A Few Small Repairs," named for her best-known album and tentatively scheduled to come out in the fall 2009. According to HarperCollins, the book "will finally allow all of...
107. Kid Rock jokingly urges fans to `steal everything'
By Associated Press - June 25, 2008
DETROIT -- Kid Rock wants fans to know it's OK to illegally download his music. And while they're at it, they should steal cars, designer clothes and iPods, too. Well, maybe not. The 37-year-old Detroit musician posted a "special announcement" on YouTube last week...
108. Kanye West rails against Bonnaroo criticism
By JAKE COYLE - June 25, 2008
NEW YORK -- Kanye West defended himself from criticism over his delayed performance at Bonnaroo, saying on his blog that the flak he's taken has left him "the most offended I've ever been." West's performance at the Tennessee festival was scheduled for 2:45 a.m. in the...
109. Cher harassed at Nashville club; man arrested
By Associated Press - June 25, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A Nashville man has been charged with disorderly conduct and public intoxication after he repeatedly harassed Cher at the famed honky-tonk Tootsies Orchid Lounge. Police say 36-year-old Calvin Hutton Houghland tried to make contact with Cher early...
110. Steven Spielberg looks to direct `The 39 Clues'
By Associated Press - June 25, 2008
NEW YORK -- A multimedia-multi-author narrative being planned by the U.S. publisher of the Harry Potter books has picked up a famous patron: Steven Spielberg.DreamWorks Studios has acquired the film rights to "The 39 Clues," a mystery series-online game that Scholastic...
111. `Big Bird' costume creator Kermit Love dies at 91
By Associated Press - June 25, 2008
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Kermit Love, the costume designer who helped puppeteer Jim Henson create Big Bird and other "Sesame Street" characters, has died. He was 91.Love died from congestive heart failure Saturday in Poughkeepsie, near his home in Stanfordville, Love's...
112. Margaret Atwood wins Spanish literary award
By Associated Press - June 25, 2008
MADRID, Spain -- Canadian author Margaret Atwood has won Spain's Prince of Asturias literary prize. The jury praised the 68-year-old writer for work that covers several genres "with sharpness and irony." It says in a statement Wednesday that Atwood "defends the dignity...
113. Jazz vocalist faces foreclosure in Seattle
By MANUEL VALDES - June 25, 2008
SEATTLE -- Jazz vocalist Ernestine Anderson's home has been saved from foreclosure -- for now. Thanks, in part, to music legend Quincy Jones and contemporary jazz artist Diane Schuur.More than $43,000 poured in -- including donations from Jones and Schuur -- after recent...
114. `Viva La Vida' has second-best debut of 2008
By Associated Press - June 24, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Coldplay's new album is already living the life."Viva La Vida" will debut at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart with over 720,000 copies sold in its first week, the second-best opening week of 2008, according to the trade magazine's Web site. Lil...
115. 'Valkyrie' portrait flap was mistaken photo ID
By JOSH L. DICKEY - June 24, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- What looked at first like another PR blow to "Valkyrie," the twice-delayed Tom Cruise film based on the true story of a German officer who plotted to assassinate Hitler, turned out to be a case of mistaken photo identity.A report posted on Slate.com last...
116. Man guilty in death of 'Curious George' co-author
By Associated Press - June 24, 2008
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A jury convicted a man Tuesday of killing Alan Shalleck, who collaborated with the co-creator of "Curious George" to bring the mischievous monkey to TV and a series of book sequels.The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes before convicting...
117. India.Arie is set to make her Broadway debut
By Associated Press - June 24, 2008
NEW YORK -- India.Arie on Broadway -- produced by Whoopi Goldberg. The Grammy-winning singer will make her Broadway debut in a revival of Ntozake Shange's "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf." She will open in the play Sept. 8 at...
118. New book coming from `Marley & Me' author
By Associated Press - June 24, 2008
NEW YORK -- "Marley & Me" author John Grogan is working on a prequel to the million-selling memoir about his dog."The Longest Trip Home" will be released in October by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, the publisher said in a statement Tuesday."It is the...
119. Avery in Vogue: NHL's No. 1 pest is mag intern
By BEN WALKER - June 24, 2008
NEW YORK -- Sean Avery squeezes between two tables full of diners, careful to avoid jostling anyone. He quickly skims the menu at a favorite SoHo eatery and orders: the pizza with black truffles, please.The NHL's No. 1 pest is ready to dish -- about food, fashion and a...
120. `Jacob the Jeweler' gets 2 1/2 years in US prison
By DAVID N. GOODMAN - June 24, 2008
DETROIT -- The New York businessman known in the hip-hop world as "Jacob the Jeweler" was sentenced Tuesday to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for lying to investigators looking into a multistate drug ring.Jacob Arabov, 43, pleaded guilty in October to falsifying records...
121. Nelly, Scott among guests at BET Awards pre-party
By SANDY COHEN - June 24, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Beneath towering arches in an old cathedral downtown, a 20-member choir welcomed guests at the BET Awards pre-party with a rousing gospel tune.Nelly, Ashanti, Jermaine Dupri and Jill Scott were among those who gathered Monday at Vibiana -- a majestic...
122. London police seize mayor's cigar case
By JILL LAWLESS - June 24, 2008
LONDON -- Scotland Yard has a new mystery: the case of the London mayor and the red leather Iraqi cigar box.British police confirmed Tuesday they are examining an Iraqi cigar case belonging to London mayor Boris Johnson to determine whether it is a looted Iraqi artifact....
123. Don Imus says he was making 'sarcastic point'
By CRISTIAN SALAZAR - June 24, 2008
NEW YORK -- Don Imus, responding to criticism about racial remarks on his radio program, said on the air Tuesday he was trying to "make a sarcastic point" about unfair treatment of blacks in the criminal justice system but had been misunderstood. Imus resurrected his...
124. India's Reliance talking with DreamWorks
By RAMOLA TALWAR BADAM - June 24, 2008
MUMBAI, India -- India's Reliance Entertainment and other investors are in talks with Hollywood's DreamWorks SKG to raise up to $2 billion to create a movie venture, two people familiar with negotiations said Tuesday.DreamWorks, the movie studio founded in 1994 by...
125. Don Imus says race comment was misunderstood
By SAMANTHA GROSS - June 23, 2008
NEW YORK -- Months after returning to the radio with a pledge to mend the wounds caused by his comments about a women's basketball team, Don Imus is once again defending on-air remarks regarding race.During an on-air conversation Monday about the arrests of suspended...
126. Vidal Sassoon works on Habitat project
By STACEY PLAISANCE - June 23, 2008
SLIDELL, La. -- The idea of dozens of hairstylists swinging hammers and driving nails may be outrageous to some, but to Vidal Sassoon, it makes perfect sense. "When you are a hairstylist, all you think about is making a person look and feel better," the longtime...
127. 'Clank,' 'Hot Shots' keep PSP humming
By LOU KESTEN - June 23, 2008
The PlayStation Portable has been around for three years, but the machine you might buy today is far different from the one you'd get in 2005. Sony is continually tinkering with the thing in big ways (introducing a lighter, slimmer model in 2007) and small (any number of regularly issued firmware...
128. Cohen, Cotillard, Dee asked into Oscar ranks
By Associated Press - June 23, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Sacha Baron Cohen, Marion Cotillard, Ruby Dee and Jet Li have been invited to join Hollywood's most exclusive club -- the group that hands out the Academy Awards. They were among 105 actors, filmmakers, executives and others in the movie business who were...
129. Dody Goodman, stage and TV comedian, dies
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - June 23, 2008
NEW YORK -- Dody Goodman, the delightfully daffy comedian known for her television appearances on Jack Paar's late-night talk show and as the mother on the soap-opera parody "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," has died at 93. Goodman died Sunday at Englewood (N.J.) Hospital...
130. Norman Mandela in London for birthday bash
By Associated Press - June 23, 2008
LONDON -- Nelson Mandela is in London for a week of events to celebrate his 90th birthday. The former South African president's plane landed at Heathrow Airport Monday morning. He is due to attend an outdoor concert in his honor in Hyde Park on Friday. Performers...
131. Brian Wilson joins Newport Folk Festival lineup
By Associated Press - June 23, 2008
NEWPORT, R.I. -- The Newport Folk Festival is picking up good vibrations. The festival producers plan to announce Monday that Brian Wilson, a founding member of the Beach Boys, is joining the festival's lineup. He'll headline an evening performance on Aug. 1 at the...
132. Nugent sells trophies as he plans another move
By Associated Press - June 22, 2008
WACO, Texas -- Ted Nugent is moving, but he doesn't need to hunt very hard for a new pad. He's moving back to an old one -- and has some stuff to unload first. The transplanted Detroit rocker held an estate sale in Texas over the weekend, peddling big game trophies to...
133. Stars, relatives honor special-effects wiz Winston
By DERRIK J. LANG - June 22, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Friends, relatives and show-business colleagues gathered Sunday to remember Oscar-winning special-effects maestro Stan Winston, the man responsible for bringing the dinosaurs of "Jurassic Park" and other iconic movie creatures to life.Winston died at his...
134. McConaughey photog claims surfers attacked him
By Associated Press - June 22, 2008
MALIBU, Calif. -- A paparazzo trying to photograph Matthew McConaughey at the beach told police he was attacked by a mob of surfers who threw his camera in the ocean.The 29-year-old photojournalist told sheriff's deputies that a large group of surfers near Paradise Cove...
135. Minneapolis' Tony-winning Jeune Lune to close
By Associated Press - June 22, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS -- A Tony Award-winning Twin Cities theater is closing and will be sold to repay a $1 million debt.Theatre de la Jeune Lune, which won a Tony Award in 2005 as the nation's outstanding regional playhouse, is closing at the end of July. The performance...
136. Review: Dessay shines as 'Lucia' in San Francisco
By MIKE SILVERMAN - June 22, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO -- They call it "Summer Madness." OK, it's just an advertising slogan that loosely ties together the three works currently in repertory for the San Francisco Opera's June season. But the title character of Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" offers more than...
137. Prizes awarded in global music contest held in LA
By Associated Press - June 22, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- More than $250,000 in prizes were announced Sunday after a weeklong competition that mingled features from "American Idol" with the world of classical music.Top prizes of $50,000 in the Jose Iturbi International Music Competition were awarded to soprano...
138. Father: Winehouse suffers lung, heart ailments
By Associated Press - June 22, 2008
LONDON -- Amy Winehouse's father says his daughter has lung damage from smoking crack cocaine and cigarettes.Mitch Winehouse told the Sunday Mirror newspaper Amy has early stage emphysema and has been warned that she will have to wear an oxygen mask unless she stops...
139. High fuel prices put brakes on indie band tours
By JASON DEAREN - June 22, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO -- Steven Garcia pulled into a Houston gas station recently to fill up the old Dodge van his punk band uses on summer tours.For months, the 23-year-old singer-guitarist had been budgeting money and booking show dates for Something Fierce's third tour -- but...
140. Rare Monroe footage fetches $60,000 at auction
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY - June 21, 2008
LAS VEGAS -- Candid footage of Marilyn Monroe on the set of her last completed film brought in $60,000 at an auction of movie memorabilia Saturday.The two reels of silent, 8-millimeter color film shot on the set of "The Misfits" had been expected to draw starting bids of...
141. Anna Nicole ex snaps up lingerie for Dannielynn
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY - June 21, 2008
LAS VEGAS -- They're not traditional family heirlooms, but Larry Birkhead's is not a traditional family.Anna Nicole Smith's former boyfriend spent nearly $3,000 at a celebrity auction Saturday scooping up lingerie once worn in a Playboy shoot by the late playmate...
142. Paparazzo sues Woody Harrelson for $2.5 million
By Associated Press - June 21, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Woody Harrelson has been sued for $2.5 million by a paparazzo who accused the actor of assaulting him and breaking his video camera two years ago. According to a lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Josh Levine was filming Harrelson in...
143. Incredibly, Hulk gets abducted from Mass. theater
By Associated Press - June 21, 2008
LOWELL, Mass. -- Missing: an eight-foot-tall green man wearing ripped purple pants and missing his feet. Police in Lowell, Mass., say a promotional statue for the movie "The Incredible Hulk" disappeared from its spot in front of a local theater this week. Police Capt....
144. No contest plea in LA celeb embezzlement case
By Associated Press - June 20, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- A woman accused of embezzling more than $700,000 from Charlton Heston and television writer and producer Stephen J. Cannell pleaded no contest and was sentenced to more than five years in prison Friday.Sharon M. Walker, 56, pleaded no contest to two counts...
145. Ramsey Lewis to compose work on Lincoln
By Associated Press - June 20, 2008
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. -- Add a musical composition to all the tributes at next year's 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth.Ramsey Lewis has been commissioned to compose a new work inspired by Lincoln's life. It's being commissioned by the Ravinia Festival, a...
146. New Indian film festival debuts with 100 works
By DEBORAH BAKER - June 20, 2008
SANTA FE, N.M. -- In some American Indian tribes, when important matters are being discussed a "talking stick" is handed around. Whoever holds it is the only one who may speak, while the others listen. Hence the name of the Talking Stick Film Festival."I look at each...
147. Handel with care: Zurich `Rinaldo' set in airport
By RONALD BLUM - June 20, 2008
ZURICH, Switzerland -- The new jet-set production of Handel's "Rinaldo" at the Zurich Opera left a large segment of the audience pretty much dumbfounded.Director Jens-Daniel Herzog shifted the action from Jerusalem around the time of the First Crusade (1096-1099) to an...
148. R.E.M. debuts new video clip at concert
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY - June 20, 2008
NEW YORK -- Michael Stipe thinks the music video is a "dead medium" -- but the R.E.M. singer still wants the band's songs to be accompanied by some kind of visuals.So instead of hiring a top video director to create a clip for their new song "Man-Sized Wreath," they...
149. Naomi sorry for assault, but still mad at airline
By Associated Press - June 20, 2008
LONDON -- Model Naomi Campbell says she is sorry she assaulted two police officers during a dispute about lost luggage aboard a British Airways plane. But she has refused to apologize to the airline, accusing it of racism. British Airways strongly denied the...
150. Carell hosts charity screening of `Get Smart'
By NANCY RABINOWITZ - June 20, 2008
BOSTON -- Steve Carell stepped out of "The Office" to join the fight against cancer at a benefit that featured a screening of his new movie, "Get Smart."The screening was held Thursday night to benefit The Zachary Carson Brain Tumor Fund, named after a Newton teenager...
151. New Oscar rule limits song noms to 2 per film
By Associated Press - June 19, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Last time around, the Oscar songs category was three times "Enchanted" -- a trick that may never be repeated.The number of original songs that can be nominated from a single movie will now be limited to two, according to a rule change by the Academy of...
152. Poison sues label over royalties
By Associated Press - June 19, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Members of Poison say their record label has consistently underpaid them royalties throughout their career, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday. The lawsuit against Capitol Records and EMI Music Marketing claims the companies breached contracts with...
153. Wu-Tang, Peter Gabriel develop Web sites
By JAKE COYLE - June 19, 2008
A trio of musicians as disparate as Wu-Tang Clan, Peter Gabriel and MC Hammer have reincarnated themselves as Web entrepreneurs -- with fascinating results. In the song "Protect Ya Neck," Wu-Tang's RZA raps, "Y'all might just catch me in the park playin' chess, studyin' math." Now you're more...
154. `A Catered Affair' sets a July 27 closing date
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - June 19, 2008
NEW YORK -- The Broadway wedding celebration known as "A Catered Affair" will end its run next month.The Harvey Fierstein-John Bucchino musical about one family's tribulations over its daughter's upcoming nuptials closes July 27 after playing 116 performances at the...
155. Rockers Poison sue label over royalties
By Associated Press - June 19, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Members of the rock band Poison claim their recording label has consistently underpaid royalties to the group throughout their career, according to a lawsuit.The suit, filed Wednesday against Capitol Records and EMI Music Marketing, says the companies...
156. Illustrator Tasha Tudor dead at 92
By Associated Press - June 19, 2008
MARLBORO, Vt. -- Children's book illustrator Tasha Tudor, whose whimsical drawings of country outings, gardens and family life in rural New England echoed her own picturesque lifestyle, has died. She was 92.Tudor, who illustrated such classics as "Little Women" and "The...
157. World may succumb to My Morning Jacket's 'Evil Urges'
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY - June 19, 2008
NEW YORK -- The change in My Morning Jacket from their last studio album, the breakthrough "Z," to their latest, "Evil Urges," is not drastic: It's not as if they brought in Timbaland to overhaul their sound or abandoned their scruffy look for more fashionable...
158. USA TODAY BEST-SELLERS
By Associated Press - June 19, 2008
Key: F-Fiction; NF-Nonfiction; H-Hardcover; P-Paperback1. "Sail" by James Patterson and Howard Roughan, (Little, Brown) (F-H)2. "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" by David Sedaris (Little, Brown) (NF-H)3. "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow (Hyperion) (NF-H)4. "Twilight" by Stephenie...