News
1. Angelina Jolie and her twins give paparazzi the slip, leave French hospital in Nice
By JENNY BARCHFIELD - July 19, 2008
%meta(topic:01005000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:movies;%)PARIS (AP) — Angelina Jolie has left the building. Oh, and so have the twins. Before dawn Saturday, the Hollywood superstar and her newborn twins left the French Riviera hospital where she gave birth a week ago, the...
2. Milo Ventimiglia discusses the upcoming season of 'Heroes' and his trip to the Middle East
By ERIN CARLSON - July 18, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ "Iron Man" isn't the only superhero to visit the Middle East this summer. Milo Ventimiglia, who plays power-absorbing Peter Petrelli on NBC's "Heroes," traveled to the region last week as part of a USO tour of U.S. bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.He met many soldiers who were...
3. Medical examiner says Kallenbach of Howard Stern's 'Wack Packer' died of natural causes
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
LIMA, Pa. (AP) _ Comedian Kenneth Keith Kallenbach, a long-running member of Howard Stern's "Wack Pack," died of complications from cystic fibrosis, a medical examiner ruled Friday.He died April 24 at age 39 at a hospital near Philadelphia after falling ill in the county jail. Kallenbach was being...
4. Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels undergoing surgery to remove two blood clots in his arm
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of the legendary rap group Run-DMC was scheduled to undergo surgery at a New Jersey hospital Friday to remove two major blood clots in his left arm.McDaniels, 44, had been suffering from pain and swelling in his arm when doctors discovered the clots, his...
5. Song and dance man Ben Vereen hosts fundraiser for $32 million brain center at medical school
By PEGGY HARRIS - July 18, 2008
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) _ Because of his own injuries, Ben Vereen seems like a natural to highlight a fundraiser for an institute that researches brain damage, but it took an introduction from the woman who walks his dog to make it happen.Vereen was in Little Rock on Friday to visit hospital...
6. Billy Joel is in a Shea Stadium state of mind, playing ballpark's final concert
By JOSH HOFFNER - July 18, 2008
%meta(topic:01011000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:music;%)NEW YORK (AP) — Billy Joel bade a stirring farewell to Shea Stadium on Friday during an electrifying, sold-out final show at the same ballpark where the Beatles famously ushered in a new era in rock 'n' roll four decades...
7. National Black Arts Festival celebrates 20 years as gift to Atlanta with 10 days of events
By ERRIN HAINES - July 18, 2008
ATLANTA (AP) _ Stephanie Hughley's 12th floor office at the new headquarters of the National Black Arts Festival has a stunning view of Atlanta, including the city's cultural standard: the High Museum of Art.The vantage point reminds Hughley that she has arrived, and that the festival can claim the...
8. Band singer Jo Stafford, known to WWII troops as 'GI Jo,' dies of heart failure at 90
By BOB THOMAS - July 18, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Jo Stafford, the honey-voiced band singer who starred in radio and television and sold more than 25 million records with her ballads and folks songs, has died. She was 90.Stafford died of congestive heart failure Wednesday at her Century City home, her son, Tim Weston of Topanga,...
9. Walkthrough models highlight MoMA's survey of prefab home-building technology
By DAVID MINTHORN - July 18, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Prefabricated houses don't have to be ticky-tacky.Contemporary prefab homes now possess all the flair and durability of traditional housing. Computerized designs and innovative materials are behind this architectural revolution, replacing cookie-cutter forms and flimsy materials...
10. 'Dark Knight' sets box office record with $66.4 million on opening day, passing 'Spider-Man 3'
By DAVID GERMAIN - July 18, 2008
%meta(topic:01005000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:movies;%)LOS ANGELES (AP) — Batman's joust with the Joker has set another box office record. Stoked by fan fever over the manic performance of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker, "The Dark Knight" set a one-day box office record...
11. Nashville songwriting great Hank Cochran recovering from cancer surgery
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Songwriter Hank Cochran is recovering at a Nashville hospital following surgery to remove cancerous tumors from his pancreas and lymph node.The 72-year-old Cochran says the diagnosis was made very early and doctors expect him to make a full recovery.He is expected to remain...
12. Ex-Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler arrested in Los Angeles for alleged possession of drugs
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler has been arrested in Hollywood for alleged drug possession.Los Angeles police spokesman Richard French says the 43-year-old Adler was arrested around 4 a.m. Friday by officers called to a home where a man reportedly was creating a...
13. Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault call off their engagement
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Salma Hayek has called off her engagement to businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, her representative said Friday.The couple announced their plans to wed in March 2007, and welcomed a daughter, Valentina Paloma Pinault, several months later."We are sad to announce the engagement of...
14. Hong Kong Bruce Lee fans mark 35th anniversary of death with exhibit
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
HONG KONG (AP) _ Bruce Lee fans are marking the 35th anniversary of his death with an exhibit featuring movie posters, magazine covers and books about the action star.Also among the 800 items on display are letters written by Lee that detail his life in the U.S., where he attended college and...
15. Andy Warhol, Lichtenstein artworks stolen from Swedish museum
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) _ Officials say one or more thieves broke into a Swedish museum and stole work done by American pop icons Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.Police say the break-in happened at the Abergs Museum near Stockholm early Friday.Museum officials say two Warhol and three Lichtenstein...
16. 50 Cent passes court-ordered drug test and will be allowed to take son on vacation
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) _ Rapper 50 Cent is free to take a vacation with his son after passing a court-ordered drug test.The 33-year-old entertainer was in a Long Island courtroom Thursday to ask a judge for permission to take 11-year-old Marquise on a trip next month.A drug test was ordered, and...
17. Scott Storch, once 1 of the industry's top producers, watches as his music empire crumbles
By EVELYN McDONNELL - July 18, 2008
MIAMI (AP) _ Just a few years ago, Scott Storch was one of the top producers in pop music, living in a $10.5 million mansion on an exclusive Miami island, driving a phalanx of luxury cars and dating the likes of Paris Hilton and Lil Kim.Nowadays, Scott Storch, 34, is missing in action. He owes over...
18. 'Desperate Housewives' creator sees 3 more years for ABC series; tweaks 'Grey's' Heigl
By JANICE RHOSHALLE LITTLEJOHN - July 18, 2008
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) _ The women of Wisteria Lane may have only a few more years to resolve their assorted problems."Desperate Housewives" creator and executive producer Marc Cherry told a meeting of the Television Critics Association on Thursday that he plans to end the ABC series after...
19. Paul McCartney appeals to Quebec nationalists for peace ahead of his free weekend concert
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
MONTREAL (AP) _ Paul McCartney told Quebec nationalists on Thursday "to smoke the pipes of peace" over their opposition to his free concert celebrating the city's 400th anniversary.Several artists and politicians have questioned McCartney's participation in the weekend birthday celebrations of...
20. China warns foreign performers against harming 'national sovereignty'
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
BEIJING (AP) _ The government warned foreign performers and entertainers against harming China's sovereignty or ethnic unity, a sign of increasing nervousness over live performances weeks before the Olympic Games.China is ratcheting up security ahead of the Aug. 8-24 games in an all-out attempt to...
21. Poetic Justice: Spike in sales for Kay Ryan, the next poet laureate
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Kay Ryan is no longer an unknown poet.Demand for her work jumped sharply Thursday upon the Library of Congress' announcement that she had been named the new U.S. poet laureate, a one-year term beginning in the fall. Her collections "The Niagara River," ''Say Uncle" and "Elephant...
22. Two musical-theater obsessives follow their dream to Broadway
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ When we last saw Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen on stage, the two theater-obsessed lads were basking in the glow of a successful off-Broadway run in "title of show," their delightful tale of writing and putting on a musical.Now several years later, the boys, not to mention fellow...
23. Music and likeness of Jimi Hendrix coming to 'Guitar Hero' video game
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Jimi Hendrix is coming to "Guitar Hero."The Seattle-based company Experience Hendrix, which controls the rock icon's musical legacy, is providing Hendrix's music and likeness for the latest "Guitar Hero" video game, Aaron Grant, a spokesman for publisher and developer Activision...
24. U2's Bono, Edge win 4-year legal battle to redevelop Dublin hotel into futuristic landmark
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK - July 17, 2008
DUBLIN, Ireland -- U2 stars Bono and The Edge won a four-year legal battle Thursday to reshape their old-fashioned Dublin hotel, the Clarence, into a futuristic landmark — a decision that appeared to fly in the face of Ireland's conservative planning...
25. Dennis Farina receives 2 years of probation for carrying gun into Los Angeles airport
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Dennis Farina may be able to carry a gun on-screen, but he won't be able to own one in California for several months.The actor's attorney pleaded no contest on Thursday to a misdemeanor charge of bringing a weapon into a secure area at Los Angeles International Airport. A court...
26. Analysis: Emmys snub 'The Wire' 1 final time, hammering the final nail into the row house
By JAKE COYLE - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ The Emmys said goodbye to "The Wire" with the same lack of respect that it showed the HBO drama during its acclaimed five-season run.Call it the final nail in the row house.The last season of "The Wire," which was called "the best show on television" by more than a few critics,...
27. Women over 40 dominate acting categories at the 60th annual Emmy Award nominations
By SANDY COHEN - July 17, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Teens and 20-somethings may be the target demographic for many TV shows, but when it comes to top actresses, over 40 is where it's at.Only one actress nominated for an Emmy on Thursday is in her 20s: 24-year-old "Ugly Betty" star America Ferrera, for lead actress in a comedy...
28. Reality sets in for Seacrest, Bergeron, other TV hosts validated by Emmy nominations
By ERIN CARLSON - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Three minutes to showtime, and Cristian de la Fuente still hadn't decided whether he would continue after tearing a tendon in his biceps. The producers of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," the popular live dancing competition, had themselves in a tizzy.Tom Bergeron, meanwhile, was...
29. Fans at 'Dark Knight' openings filled with admiration, sadness over Ledger's performance
By JOCELYN NOVECK - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ As Chris Finegan watched Heath Ledger's stunning portrayal of the Joker on Friday in "The Dark Knight," he couldn't help but think of another actor who wasn't on the screen: James Dean, who also died prematurely and tragically, nearly 53 years ago."Heath Ledger is going to have the...
30. Former weekend anchor of 'NBC Nightly News' Seigenthaler joins family's PR firm
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Former "NBC Nightly News" weekend anchor John Seigenthaler has joined a public relations firm founded and operated by his family as partner and CEO of its New York operations.Seigenthaler had been with NBC News for 11 years, joining after local news stints in Nashville and...
31. An appearance on '30 Rock' may be the best gig in TV: 7 Emmy nominations for guest stars
By JAKE COYLE - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ An appearance on "30 Rock" may be the best gig in television.Seven actors were nominated Thursday for their guest performances on the NBC comedy, a near monopoly on the categories for guest actors and actresses in a comedy series — Edie Falco, Steve Buscemi, Will Arnett,...
32. New DVD releases include '21,' 'Doomsday,' 'Vampyr,' 'Spaced'
By DAVID GERMAIN - July 17, 2008
Selected home-video releases:"21"Kevin Spacey offers a lesson to academics everywhere on how to beat the high cost of living. Spacey plays a brilliant, greedy Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor who leads a team of math-whiz students (Kate Bosworth and Jim Sturgess among them), the gang...
33. Spider envy: ECU professor lets Stephen Colbert choose arachnid that will carry his name
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) _ Stephen Colbert has a big decision to make: Which spider species should bear his name?The Daily Reflector of Greenville reported Thursday that East Carolina University associate professor Jason Bond has agreed to name a species after Colbert, host of Comedy Central's "The...
34. AP Exclusive: Mitch Albom publishing commencement speech through Amazon.com's Kindle
By HILLEL ITALIE - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Mitch Albom has a new book out — well, not really a book, but a commencement speech in book form. And not in traditional book form, but as an e-book, published exclusively through Amazon.com's Kindle reader."Commencement Speech To His Nephew's Graduating Class: May 30, 2008,...
35. Foundation building Sept. 11 memorial names actor Billy Crystal to board of directors
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Billy Crystal is going to help build the Sept. 11 memorial.The 60-year-old actor was named Thursday to the board of directors of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, the foundation raising money to build the memorial to the 2001 terrorist attacks.Crystal becomes the 45th...
36. Amy Poehler confirms she's headed for 'Office' spinoff, eventual exit from 'SNL' likely
By JAKE COYLE - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Amy Poehler confirmed to The Associated Press that she'll be joining the planned "Office" spinoff, paving the way for her eventual exit from "Saturday Night Live" and promoting the comedian to primetime.Speaking by phone Thursday shortly after her Emmy nomination for outstanding...
37. Reactions to 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards nominations
By The Associated Press - July 17, 2008
Reaction from some of those who earned Emmy Award nominations Thursday:"What an honor, unless I don't win." — Stephen Colbert, nominated for an Emmy for outstanding individual performance in a variety or musical program.___"We will be quaffing champagne at every turn. I don't plan to be sober...
38. List of Primetime Emmy Awards nominations in major categories
By The Associated Press - July 17, 2008
Nominees in major categories for the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards announced Thursday by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.Drama Series: "Boston Legal," ABC; "Damages," FX; "Dexter," Showtime; "House," Fox; "Lost," ABC; "Mad Men," AMC.Comedy Series: "Curb Your Enthusiasm," HBO; "...
39. Weekly wrap-up of entertainment quotes from The Associated Press
By The Associated Press - July 17, 2008
"My heart is with them and all my love goes to them." — Jon Voight, after his daughter, Angelina Jolie, gave birth to twins in the south of France.___"I felt the emotion of both the mother and the father. ... They were happy." — Dr. Michel Sussmann, who delivered Angelina Jolie's...
40. 'Mad Men' (and star Jon Hamm) returning for a new season in the 1960s advertising game
By FRAZIER MOORE - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Let's twist again like we did last summer!"Mad Men" fans remember how things were really hummin' last summer, the first for that glorious drama series set in the Manhattan advertising world of 1960. There were lots of twists at the Sterling Cooper agency: Peggy's unsuspected...
41. Pioneer into secret black gay lifestyle goes straight in latest novel
By ERRIN HAINES - July 17, 2008
ATLANTA (AP) _ Best selling writer E. Lynn Harris can still remember the first time he realized he was poor.His family had been invited to the housewarming of a well-to-do family in his hometown of Fayetteville, Ark., and Harris, then a young boy fresh from an afternoon of playing outside, was...
42. Monty Python's Eric Idle adds an orchestra to his on-stage silliness
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ In Eric Idle's world, a leaf blower is part of the orchestra.The Monty Python star and "Spamalot" writer is bringing his silliness back to the stage with "Not the Messiah," a musical comedy hodgepodge that features a full orchestra and the occasional leaf blower."Musically we've...
43. First Look: Animated 'Clone Wars" rekindles old-style fun, banter of original 'Star Wars'
By DAVID GERMAIN - July 17, 2008
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) _ A tinge of Anakin Skywalker's coming dark side clearly is visible in "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." Yet the animated adventure mostly harks back to the fun, swashbuckling times of the original "Star Wars" trilogy.Lucasfilm Animation, which screened the movie Tuesday for The...
44. ABC: Rumors aside, Heigl is sticking with 'Grey's Anatomy'; actress had criticized show
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) _ Katherine Heigl is sticking with "Grey's Anatomy" despite voicing displeasure about last season's script quality, the network's programming chief said.Heigl's previous comments raised speculation that she might want to leave the ABC medical drama — rumors that ABC...
45. President Bush to attend funeral for former White House press secretary Tony Snow
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
%meta(topic:01016000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:tv;%)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush is honoring his former spokesman, Tony Snow, by recounting his experiences at the White House and offering prayers and continued support for his family.Snow died of colon cancer July 12. He was...
46. Tiger Woods captures 3 ESPY Awards; Super Bowl champion New York Giants share 3 trophies
By BETH HARRIS - July 17, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Tiger Woods won three trophies at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night, including his fifth male athlete of the year award, giving him a career-leading 21 wins in the show's 16-year history.Woods surpassed retired cyclist Lance Armstrong for most wins as male athlete. He earned his...
47. Nebraska man sues Jesse James, and his company over custom car he says was never delivered
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ A Nebraska man has sued custom car and bike-maker Jesse James, claiming the former television host failed to deliver a custom automobile despite paying more $420,000.Michael B. Jones, of Omaha, Neb. filed the suit on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court against James and his...
48. A poet goes to Washington: 'Hermit' Kay Ryan of California named poet laureate
By HILLEL ITALIE - July 16, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Kay Ryan, award-winning poet, mountain bike rider and self-described "modern hermit," will soon be going to Washington.The Library of Congress announced Thursday that the lifelong Californian, whose compressed, metaphysical poetry has been compared to Emily Dickinson's, will succeed...
49. That Was the Week That Was
By The Associated Press - July 16, 2008
Entertainment highlights during the week of July 20-26:1946: Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis began their partnership as a nightclub song and comedy act with a performance in Atlantic City, N.J. They split up in 1956.1952: "High Noon," starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly, opened.1965: Bob Dylan's...
50. Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell jams with House members at farm bill celebration
By FREDERIC J. FROMMER - July 16, 2008
%meta(topic:01011000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:music;%)WASHINGTON (AP) — The congressman-lead singer had a question for the guest keyboardist at the all-congressional band gig Wednesday night."You know 'Brown Sugar'''? asked Rep. Collin Peterson, a Minnesota Democrat."I think I...
51. Upcoming 'Star Wars' video game 'The Force Unleashed' will bridge gap between films
By DERRIK J. LANG - July 16, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Consider it "Star Wars III and a Half" — complete with a pivotal plot twist.When LucasArts releases "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" on Sept. 16, the video game will serve as George Lucas' official median between 2005's "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith"...
52. Nonprofit Second Stage Theatre is set to acquire a Broadway home
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - July 16, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Second Stage Theatre, a major showcase for contemporary American playwrights, is expanding to Broadway.The nonprofit off-Broadway theater, which in its nearly 30 years of existence has produced plays by such writers as Edward Albee, Terrence McNally, August Wilson, Douglas Carter...
53. Jessica Alba poses with baby daughter - Honor Marie Warren - on cover of OK!
By Associated Press - July 16, 2008
%meta(topic:01005000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:movies;%)NEW YORK (AP) — One reason Jessica Alba named her baby daughter Honor was that she felt her own was pretty bland. "I was always irritated that my name was Jessica," the 27-year-old actress tells OK! magazine."Come on, it's...
54. Jimmy Kimmel, ABC boss banter over post-'Tonight' Leno, but subject is serious
By LYNN ELBER - July 16, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Jimmy Kimmel can joke about how his late-night job might be affected when Jay Leno becomes a free agent — at least when his ABC boss and hundreds of reporters are around.A comedy bit involving Kimmel and ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson drew laughs Wednesday...
55. An AP Arts Review: ABT's 'Giselle' closes out New York's spring ballet season in classic style
By JOCELYN NOVECK - July 16, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ She's a good two decades older than many of her fellow dancers, a mother and director of her own ballet company. But Nina Ananiashvili was so light on her feet, so delicate as American Ballet Theatre's fragile young Giselle that she could have been a teenager.Except, of course, for...
56. From the pages of Time, a refreshing reaffirmation of the written word
By TED ANTHONY - July 16, 2008
"85 Years of Great Writing in Time" (Time Books, 560 pages, $26.95): Those of us who traffic in words for a living feel somewhat under siege these days, like a Donkey Kong machine sitting forlornly in the corner of a ramshackle pizza parlor while teenagers on the sidewalk outside play Grand Theft...
57. Broadway's 'Phantom of the Opera' gets a $750,000 sound-system makeover
By Associated Press - July 16, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ "The Phantom of the Opera" is going digital.Broadway's longest running show will close down for four performances in August to install a $750,000 Digital Sound System to improve the musical's sound design technology, producer Cameron Mackintosh and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber...
58. Bluegrass singer Del McCoury reaches out to farmers, blue-collar workers with 'Moneyland'
By JOHN GEROME - July 16, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Bluegrass singer Del McCoury has a funny new song called "40 Acres and a Fool" about a city slicker who hits it big in the stock market and moves to the country to become a rancher.Of course, the guy doesn't know a bull from a steer, and his money and arrogance only rankle...
59. GAME REVIEW: Top Spin 3 swings and misses with baffling controls
By RON HARRIS - July 16, 2008
Perhaps you thought there could be nothing more difficult in the sport of tennis than beating Roger Federer? You were dead wrong.Try taking aim at Top Spin 3 from 2K Sports, an exercise in funless futility where success is even getting a proper rally going.Don't get me wrong. The premise here is...
60. Get ready to rumble: 'West Side Story' returns to Broadway next March
By Associated Press - July 16, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Get ready to rumble. "West Side Story" returns to Broadway in 2009.The classic New York musical about the Sharks, the Jets and the ill-fated love affair involving a young man and woman caught between the gangs opens in March, producers Kevin McCollum, James L. Nederlander and...
61. Katie Holmes to guest star on ABC's 'Eli Stone'; series producer says begging did the trick
By LYNN ELBER - July 16, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Former "Dawson's Creek" star Katie Holmes will revisit her TV roots with a guest role on "Eli Stone" this fall.Holmes was courted by Greg Berlanti, who was a producer on "Dawson's Creek" and is the co-creator and executive producer of ABC's drama about a lawyer (Jonny Lee Miller)...
62. Red Steinway piano used by Lang Lang is on auction block to raise money for China quake relief
By MARTIN STEINBERG - July 16, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ What's black and white and red all over?The red Steinway grand piano used by Lang Lang at Tuesday night's New York Philharmonic concert in Central Park.It can be yours, but be prepared to open your wallet.The 9-foot piano is on the auction block to raise money for the American Red...
63. Lemons into lemonade: Brooklyn Museum finds fakes in its collection, plans an exhibit
By Associated Press - July 16, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Some museums might not want to admit they have fakes in their collections.Not The Brooklyn Museum: It's planning an exhibition on them.The museum says that a third of the sculptures in its small Coptic art collection are fake. It will be displaying them, along with the real works,...
64. Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony present more of the same at E3 video game expo
By DERRIK J. LANG - July 16, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ One word sums up the announcements made by the Big Three gaming companies at the E3 this week: more.During their flashy news conferences, Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony all announced plans for more games, more sequels, more exclusives, more connectivity and more ways for gamers to...
65. Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood enters rehab for alcoholism
By GREGORY KATZ - July 16, 2008
LONDON (AP) _ Ronnie Wood entered a rehabilitation facility Wednesday for help with alcoholism, said a spokeswoman for the Rolling Stones guitarist."Following Ronnie's continued battle with alcohol he has entered a period of rehab," the spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity as required by her...
66. Music Review: The experience of the Grascals shows on the group's third CD 'Keep On Walkin'"
By MICHAEL McCALL - July 16, 2008
The Grascals, "Keep On Walkin'" (Rounder)The Grascals jumped to the top of the bluegrass world as soon as the six-piece band released its 2005 debut. The group won consecutive Entertainer of the Year honors at he International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, and each of its two previous albums...
67. 'Sordid Lives': An all-star comedy series about small-town life, crazy love and Tammy Wynette
By FRAZIER MOORE - July 16, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ On "Sordid Lives: The Series," the colorful folk in a certain Texas town are back in action after having won an avid following with the 1996 play and 2000 movie of the same name.For the 12-episode comedy, creator-writer-director Del Shores has reunited stars from his film including...
68. Best-selling author Danielle Steel emerges with her 75th book and a goal to 'give people hope'
By MARK KENNEDY - July 16, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ It's only 9:33 a.m., but already Danielle Steel is having a lousy morning.She's in a Rockefeller Plaza dressing room, having her hair tugged and her makeup tweaked. She's endured questioning from Matt Lauer on the "Today" show and soon faces a second round with Kathie Lee Gifford...
69. EU gives boost to online music stores in telling copyright groups to open up
By AOIFE WHITE - July 16, 2008
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) _ EU regulators ordered music copyright groups on Wednesday to end a system that makes it difficult for online music stores to buy EU-wide licenses — knocking down a major obstacle to iTunes' rollout across Europe.Internet music downloads in Europe lag behind those in...
70. Barenaked Ladies singer Steven Page arrested on drug charges in upstate New York
By WILLIAM KATES - July 16, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y. (AP) _ Barenaked Ladies singer and guitarist Steven Page faces a cocaine possession charge after his arrest while visiting two woman at their suburban Syracuse apartment.Page, 38, of Toronto, was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony...
71. Natalie Cole diagnosed with hepatitis C; doctors believe her drug use years ago was a factor
By Associated Press - July 16, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole has been diagnosed with hepatitis C, her publicist said in a statement Wednesday.Hepatitis C is a liver disease spread through contact with infected blood. The statement said the disease was revealed during a routine examination and was likely...
72. Bon Jovi's Soul hopeful of ArenaBowl victory and bringing championship back to Philly
By DAN GELSTON - July 16, 2008
PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Jon Bon Jovi's next stop on the road has nothing to do with his band's tour. Fresh off a free concert in Central Park, Bon Jovi is taking a break.The rocker's Arena Football League team keeps on going. Up ahead for the Philadelphia Soul — the San Jose Sabercats in the...
73. 'CSI' series star William Petersen leaving in 9th season but door remains open to guest shots
By LYNN ELBER - July 16, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ William Petersen is leaving "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," a move that might have fans of his brainy crimebuster Gil Grissom screaming bloody murder.Petersen has agreed to return for occasional guest appearances and will remain a "CSI" executive producer but his run as an...
74. Schwarzenegger names Bo Derek to board overseeing horse racing, betting in California
By Associated Press - July 15, 2008
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named actress and animal rights activist Bo Derek on Tuesday to a state commission overseeing horse racing. Derek, 51, was appointed to fill one of two vacant posts on the California Horse Racing Board, a position...
75. Al Reynolds opens up about his marriage to Star Jones: 'I still love her'
By DERRIK J. LANG - July 15, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Al Reynolds continues to have a soft spot for Star Jones, despite their impending divorce."I still very much love her," Reynolds told The Associated Press on Monday. "I do. I can't lie to you."Jones' soon-to-be ex-husband is opening up about his relationship with the former...
76. Reports: Fox News Channel's Brit Hume to leave daily show, continue in other roles
By DAVID BAUDER - July 15, 2008
NEW YORK -- Fox News Channel's Brit Hume, the network's top political anchor, is expected to leave his daily newscast at the end of the year for a part-time role at Fox. Hume, 65, is expected to continue as a panelist on "Fox News Sunday" and work at Fox News Channel...
77. Michael J. Fox back on TV with four-episode role on 'Rescue Me'; Harden joins 'Damages'
By Associated Press - July 15, 2008
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) _ Michael J. Fox will return to series TV with a four-episode guest role on FX's "Rescue Me."FX also announced on Tuesday that Academy Award-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden ("Pollock") will be joining the Glenn Close legal drama "Damages" as a second-season series...
78. GAMES REVIEW: Rhythm nation: From hard rock to orchestral classics, music games rule
By LOU KESTEN - July 15, 2008
Rock may be hard to find on the Top 40, but it's alive and well in your living room.Thanks to the intense competition between "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band," anyone who's ever dreamed of being Slash or Pete Townshend can strap on a fake guitar and pretend to be playing Madison Square Garden.Fans of...
79. Screenwriter revises lawsuit against Mel Gibson over payments for 'Passion of the Christ'
By Associated Press - July 15, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- A screenwriter's lawsuit seeking higher payments from Mel Gibson and others for "The Passion of the Christ" has just completed its first edit. The suit was originally filed in February. A judge ordered attorneys for screenwriter Benedict Fitzgerald to...
80. 'Billy Elliot,' a London smash, announces its New York cast
By Associated Press - July 15, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Billy Elliot's dance teacher is coming to New York.Haydn Gwynne, who originated the role of Mrs. Wilkinson in the London production of "Billy Elliot the Musical," will make her Broadway debut in the hit show opening Nov. 13 at the Imperial Theatre.Also in the cast are Gregory Jbara...
81. You scream, ice cream, we all scream for ... Elton John? Here's 'Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road'
By JOHN CURRAN - July 15, 2008
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) _ Ben & Jerry's has done it again: Hoping to honor rocker Elton John before his first-ever Vermont performance, Vermont's crazy-cool confectioner has whipped up a flavor just for him — "Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road."The limited-batch ice cream, made from "an outrageous...
82. Broadway says hello to Dolly Parton's '9 to 5' next April
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - July 15, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ "It's the most fun I've ever had as a songwriter," Dolly Parton twanged Tuesday as she announced that the stage version of "9 to 5: The Musical" would open on Broadway next spring."I feel like Minnie Pearl! I'm just so glaaaad to be here," cooed Parton, a petite vision in tight...
83. Sony reveals PlayStation movie download service and price drop at E3
By DERRIK J. LANG - July 15, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Sony is raising the curtain on a PlayStation 3 movie download service.The company announced at the E3 Business and Media Summit it will launch a downloadable movie service Tuesday featuring films from such studios as Disney, Fox and Warner Bros.The standard and high definition...
84. Best-selling tale of murder in Victorian England wins Samuel Johnson prize for nonfiction
By Associated Press - July 15, 2008
LONDON (AP) _ The story of a murder case that gripped Victorian England won Britain's richest nonfiction book prize Tuesday.Kate Summerscale's "The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: Or the Murder at Road Hill House" beat five other titles for the $60,000 Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction.Summerscale's...
85. England's Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, battle again _ on Broadway
By Associated Press - July 14, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ England's Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, will square off on Broadway next spring in the critically acclaimed London production of "Mary Stuart," starring Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter.McTeer will portray Mary, Queen of Scots, and Walter will be Elizabeth in the Donmar...
86. Godfather of Sold! James Brown's furniture, medical bracelet fetch top bids at auction
By JENNIFER PELTZ - July 14, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ James Brown mementoes ranging from his signature capes to a medical bracelet fetched thousands of dollars Thursday at an auction, which the soul icon's children protested.Fans and collectors packed a Christie's salesroom as more than 300 lots of Brown's belongings were sold,...
87. Beatles producer Martin honored in Los Angeles
By MICHAEL CIDONI - July 13, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Sir George Martin, the classically trained producer who helmed the Beatles recordings from their mop-top phase through their late musical masterworks, was honored Saturday night in Los Angeles.Martin, 82, received a career award from The Recording...
88. Rock bands honor The Who in Los Angeles
By DERRIK J. LANG - July 13, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- The Who was celebrated at a special concert by a few bands outside of their generation.The legendary band was honored at the Saturday taping of the third annual "VH1 Rock Honors," which will air Thursday on the cable channel. Celebrity guests such as David...
89. Miss USA takes her humiliating fall with equal parts humor and philosophy
By BEN STOCKING - July 13, 2008
HANOI, Vietnam -- Miss USA has learned a simple lesson from her humiliating tumble during the Miss Universe pageant — the second year in a row the American contestant has taken a spill."I think I'm going to have to take some walking classes," Crystle Stewart told...
90. Bon Jovi performs free concert in N.Y.'s Central Park
By MARCUS FRANKLIN - July 12, 2008
NEW YORK -- Bon Jovi rocked Central Park, New Jersey style. The rock group gave a free concert Saturday night on the park's Great Lawn, delighting tens of thousands of fans who sang along with the lyrics on a glorious summer evening. The band opened with "Livin' on a...
91. Danish film about cop wins Czech festival prize
By Associated Press - July 12, 2008
PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- The Danish film "Terribly Happy" has won the top prize at the 43rd International Film Festival in the Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary.Director Henrik Ruben Genz's film contains elements of horror and western genres and centers on the story of...
92. Pete Seeger to do benefit for New England farmers
By Associated Press - July 12, 2008
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. -- Folk singer Pete Seeger is coming to the aid of New England farmers. Seeger will headline a Sept. 13 New England Farm Relief Concert in Brattleboro to raise money for a new micro-loan program being developed by The Carrot Project and the organization...
93. 'Gone With the Wind' actress dies in California at 91
By BOB THOMAS - July 11, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Evelyn Keyes, who played Scarlett O'Hara's younger sister Suellen in "Gone With the Wind" and counted director John Huston and bandleader Artie Shaw among her famous husbands, has died. She was 91. The actress died July 4 of uterine cancer at her home in...
94. Former 'Hollywood Madam' hit with felony drug charges
By Associated Press - July 11, 2008
PAHRUMP, Nev. -- Former "Hollywood Madam" Heidi Fleiss is facing felony drug use and possession charges stemming from a February traffic stop in the rural Nevada town where she lives.The Nye County district attorney filed a two-count complaint Thursday accusing the...
95. Correction: Tornado video story
By Associated Press - July 11, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ In a July 9 story on doubts raised about a tornado video recently used by news organizations, The Associated Press incorrectly reported that it was shot by the storm chaser who said it was doctored footage of a twister in Nebraska four years ago. He was not the camera operator for...
96. Troyer's lawyers negotiating about sex tape distribution
By Associated Press - July 11, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Actor Verne Troyer has settled a lawsuit he filed against a porn broker after the defendant agreed not distribute a sex tape depicting Troyer and a former girlfriend, court documents filed Friday show.Troyer filed a $20 million lawsuit against porn broker Kevin Blatt, distributor...
97. Hollywood power couple ends lawsuit
By Associated Press - July 11, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- A Hollywood power couple are ending their lawsuit against a security firm over a break-in at their Bel-Air home.Attorneys for "The Exorcist" director William Friedkin and former Paramount Pictures chief Sherry Lansing petitioned Wednesday for the case's...
98. DVDs to include anti-smoking messages, even while actors light up
By Associated Press - July 11, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Hollywood to kids: Our movies glamorize smoking, but don't start yourself.Six major studios will include anti-smoking announcements on millions of DVDs of motion pictures that include scenes with tobacco use.The public service announcements will appear on films rated G, PG and...
99. Movie Review: Epic sequel 'The Dark Knight' nearly lives up to impossible expectations
By CHRISTY LEMIRE - July 11, 2008
%meta(topic:ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:reviews;%)It's difficult to separate the movie from its mystique. Even under ordinary circumstances, "The Dark Knight" would have been one of the most hotly awaited movies of the summer blockbuster season. The loss of Heath Ledger to an...
100. Construction of Jackie Chan museum starts
By Associated Press - July 11, 2008
HONG KONG -- Jackie Chan's Web site says construction has begun on a museum for the action movie star in the Chinese financial capital Shanghai.A statement published Friday says the 54-year-old attended a ceremony marking the start of work earlier this week...
101. Spike Lee takes Jackson to task for Obama comments
By LYNN ELBER - July 10, 2008
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Spike Lee says the Rev. Jesse Jackson's crudely phrased criticism of Barack Obama won't affect the Democrat's campaign, which the filmmaker expects to succeed at bringing "seismic" change to the world. "I don't think his (Jackson's) comments...
102. Bruce Lee museum in old home proposed
By Associated Press - July 10, 2008
HONG KONG -- A developer who owns Bruce Lee's old home in Hong Kong lobbied the government Thursday to turn the property into a museum.Yu Pang-lin met Thursday with Hong Kong's commerce and economic development secretary about his plans for the two-story house, currently...
103. Lennon 'Peace' lyrics sell at auction for $833,654
By Associated Press - July 10, 2008
LONDON -- Christie's auction house has sold John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to "Give Peace a Chance" for $833,654. The lyrics were written during Lennon's 1969 Bed-in protest for peace at the Queens Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. Christie's spokeswoman Zoe Schoon said...
104. Newton-John marries businessman
By Associated Press - July 10, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- He's the one that she wants.Olivia Newton-John, who starred in the hit movie version of the musical "Grease," has married, it was announced Thursday. Newton-John wed John Easterling on June 21 in Cuzco, Peru, said a statement from the Reno, Nev., office...
105. 'Passing Strange' brings down curtain July 20
By Associated Press - July 10, 2008
NEW YORK -- "Passing Strange," the critically acclaimed tale of a young man's journey through sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, will close July 20 on Broadway, its producers announced Thursday, one day after director Spike Lee said he would make a film version of the...
106. Publicist: Ethan Hawke has married girlfriend
By Associated Press - July 10, 2008
NEW YORK -- Ethan Hawke has married girlfriend Ryan Shawhughes, the actor's publicist said Thursday. The couple, who are expecting a baby, were married last month in New York City, Mara Buxbaum said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "No further details are...
107. Architect sought for national black history museum
By BRETT ZONGKER - July 10, 2008
WASHINGTON -- The Smithsonian Institution issued a call for architects Thursday to submit their qualifications for a competition to build the newest museum on the National Mall, which will be dedicated to black history.The National Museum of African American History and...
108. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST-SELLERS
By Associated Press - July 10, 2008
HARDCOVER FICTION1. "Fearless Fourteen" by Janet Evanovich (St. Martin's Press)2. "The Last Patriot" by Brad Thor (Atria)3. "Sail" by James Patterson and Howard Roughan, (Little, Brown)4. "TailSpin" by Catherine Coulter (Putnam)5. "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown)6. "Rogue" by Danielle...
109. Downey does Sherlock with Holmes mystery
By Associated Press - July 10, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Robert Downey Jr. is trading Iron Man's metal suit for Sherlock Holmes' deerstalker hat.Downey is following his action blockbuster "Iron Man" with the title role in "Sherlock Holmes," a mystery drama based on Arthur Conan Doyle's detective and an upcoming...
110. Gucci gala livens up Rome fashion scene
By DANIELA PETROFF - July 10, 2008
ROME -- Just when fashion in Rome needed a dash of inspiration, Gucci's Frida Giannini comes along and throws a big party in a villa overlooking the Eternal City.Tuesday night's event marked the 70th anniversary of the famed Gucci boutique near the Spanish Steps, and...
111. Rushdie takes 'Best of Booker' prize
By JILL LAWLESS - July 10, 2008
LONDON -- Salman Rushdie is probably the Booker Prize's best-known winner. Now he is officially the best.Rushdie's 1981 novel "Midnight's Children" was named Thursday as the greatest-ever winner of Britain's most prestigious literary award. The book received more than a...
112. Crow, Groban to perform at All-Star game
By Associated Press - July 10, 2008
NEW YORK -- The All-Stars of music are coming to Yankee Stadium, too. Nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow will sing the national anthem before baseball's All-Star game on Tuesday night, and classical pop star Josh Groban will sing "God Bless America" during the seventh...
113. Koch giving $100 million to Lincoln Center theater
By Associated Press - July 10, 2008
NEW YORK -- Billionaire oil baron David Koch has pledged $100 million to renovate the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center.The theater, home to City Opera and the New York City Ballet, will be renamed the David H. Koch Theater.Koch (COKE) has an estimated net worth...
114. That Was the Week That Was
By The Associated Press - July 9, 2008
Entertainment highlights during the week of July 13-19:1933: Popeye the Sailor Man appeared in his first cartoon.1953: Elvis Presley recorded "My Happiness" as a gift for his mother. It was his first recording.1959: Jazz singer Billie Holiday died in a New York hospital while under arrest for...
115. LA County Museum of Art gets Oceanic collection
By JACOB ADELMAN - July 9, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles County Museum of Art has acquired an encyclopedic collection of sculptures and artifacts from Polynesia, Melanesia and other Oceanic cultures, museum officials said Wednesday.The 46-piece collection of Oceanic art, purchased by museum...
116. A husband explores 'Life in a Marital Institution'
By JENNIFER FARRAR - July 9, 2008
NEW YORK -- James Braly's one-man show, "Life in a Marital Institution," seems on the surface to be about his marriage and his wife, Susan -- although it's really all about him. Braly seems to know that, though, which makes his storytelling about the "tantric conflict"...
117. `Clone Wars' orbits Hollywood for Aug. 10 premiere
By Associated Press - July 9, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- George Lucas is revisiting familiar space in the heart of Hollywood to unveil his new "Star Wars" adventure.The animated tale "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" will have its world premiere at the Egyptian Theatre along Hollywood Boulevard on Aug. 10, five days...
118. Spike Lee set to film Stew's 'Passing Strange'
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - July 9, 2008
NEW YORK -- Spike Lee will film "Passing Strange," Stew's rock musical journey of self-discovery, during performances next week at Broadway's Belasco Theatre, it was announced Wednesday.The movie, budgeted at about $2 million, will be shot July 19 at both the matinee and...
119. Milwaukee museum unveils woolly mammoth skeleton
By DINESH RAMDE - July 9, 2008
MILWAUKEE -- A 14,500-year-old woolly mammoth skeleton dug up in 1994 has been unveiled at the Milwaukee Public Museum, giving locals a glimpse of perhaps the most intact specimen discovered in North America.Few paleontological specimens are as complete as the Hebior...
120. Celebrity foreclosures show extent of housing woes
By CHRISTY LEMIRE - July 9, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Tabloid magazines like to reassure us that celebrities are just like us -- they go grocery shopping, take their dogs for a stroll around the neighborhood, even pump their own gas. These days, that can also hold true when it comes to the plummeting real...
121. 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...
122. 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...
123. Rapper Nate Dogg charged with stalking
By Associated Press - July 8, 2008
COMPTON, Calif. (AP) _ Nate Dogg pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of stalking and threatening his estranged wife, and a court commissioner doubled his bail.The rapper, whose real name is Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, appeared in a Compton courtroom in a wheelchair Wednesday morning. His attorney...
124. 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...
125. 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...
126. Conductor James Levine to have kidney removed
By Associated Press - July 8, 2008
BOSTON (AP) _ A biopsy will be performed on the kidney that was removed this week from Boston Symphony Orchestra and Metropolitan Orchestra music director James Levine, his brother said Wednesday.Doctors in New York removed the kidney Tuesday because a cyst was causing pressure and discomfort.In a...
127. 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...
128. 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...
129. 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...
130. 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...
131. 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...
132. 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,...
133. 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...
134. 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...
135. 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...
136. 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...
137. 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.
138. 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...
139. 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...
140. 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...
141. 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...
142. 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...
143. 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...
144. 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...
145. 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...
146. 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...
147. 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 $...
148. 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...
149. 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...
150. 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...
151. 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,...
152. 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 --...
153. 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...
154. 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...
155. 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