Saturday, August 4, 2012

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Saturday, August 4, 2012 12:07 AM PDT
Today's Entertainment - Reuters Celebrity/Gossip News Headlines - Yahoo! News:
Jackson siblings deny money at root of family dispute
Fri,3 Aug 2012 06:54 PM PDT
Reuters - LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Three of Michael Jackson's siblings vowed on Friday to keep up their fight to have the pop star's will thrown out, but denied their efforts were motivated by money. Janet, Randy and Rebbie Jackson said in an attorney's statement issued on their behalf that their aim was only to replace the executors of their brother's multimillion-dollar estate, who they accuse of mismanagement. ... Full Story
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Schwarzenegger says tie-up with Stallone was decades in making
Fri,3 Aug 2012 06:31 PM PDT
Reuters -

U.S. actor Stallone and California Governor Schwarzenegger wait for start of WBC Heavyweight Championship boxing bout between Klitschko of Ukraine and Arreola of U.S. in Los AngelesLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Arnold Schwarzenegger said he and fellow 1980s action star Sylvester Stallone wanted to work together for decades, but it wasn't until they met up at a hair salon that their first collaboration came together. The "Rocky" and "Terminator" actors had talked about uniting on screen for 20 years, Schwarzenegger said on Friday, but never found the right script at a time when they were both free of other commitments. "There was always something off. The script was not right, or the studio was not as much interested in it as we were. ... ...


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Singer Stevie Wonder files for divorce
Fri,3 Aug 2012 02:57 PM PDT
Reuters -

Stevie Wonder poses with the Billboard Icon Award backstage at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las VegasLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Veteran singer Stevie Wonder has filed for divorce from his second wife, fashion designer Kai Millard Morris, according to court papers filed in Los Angeles on Friday. Wonder, 62, real name Stevland Morris, cited irreconcilable differences and listed the couple's date of separation as October 2009. The papers obtained by Reuters showed that the "Superstition" singer was asking for joint custody of the couple's two boys, 10-year-old Kailand and seven-year-old Mandla. ...


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Czech court frees U.S. singer in fan death case on bail
Fri,3 Aug 2012 01:00 PM PDT
Reuters - PRAGUE (Reuters) - The frontman of a U.S. heavy metal band detained on suspicion of causing the death of a fan has being released from jail in the Czech Republic after posting bail, a court spokeswoman said on Friday. Czech police detained Randy Blythe, 41, a member of the Lamb of God band, in Prague in June saying they suspected he had pushed a fan off the stage during the band's gig in the country two years ago. The fan later died due to head injuries. But on Friday, a court spokeswoman said Blythe had posted bail to the tune of 8 million crowns ($384,300) and had been released. ... Full Story
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Reuters blogging platform hacked, false Syria blog posted
Fri,3 Aug 2012 12:45 PM PDT
Reuters - (Reuters) - Thomson Reuters said the blogging platform of the Reuters News website was compromised on Friday and a false posting purporting to carry an interview with a Syrian rebel leader was illegally posted on a Reuters' journalist's blog. "Reuters.com was a target of a hack on Friday," the company said in a statement. "Our blogging platform was compromised and fabricated blog posts were falsely attributed to several Reuters journalists." One of the false posts purported to be an interview with Riad al-Asaad, the head of the Free Syrian Army. ... Full Story
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How Elton John redeemed self from 'disgusting' past
Fri,3 Aug 2012 12:35 PM PDT
Reuters -

Musician Elton John delivers the keynote speech at the AIDS 2012 conference in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 20 years ago singer-songwriter Elton John was, by his own admission, living a disgusting life of self-pity and drug abuse. Then he met Ryan White. White was an American teenager who in 1984 contracted the virus that causes AIDS through a blood transfusion due to his hemophilia. He was expelled from school because of fear of the disease and became a vocal advocate of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. ...


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Briton takes on the documentary world - and Donald Trump
Fri,3 Aug 2012 12:24 PM PDT
Reuters -

Trump plays in the pro-am before the AT&T National PGA Tour golf tournament in BethesdaNEW YORK (Reuters) - British filmmaker Anthony Baxter learned the hard way what it would take to make his debut feature documentary: Getting arrested, re-mortgaging his house for funding and personally phoning cinema houses to screen his film. Those might seem like familiar hardships to documentary makers. But add to that mix taking on U.S. business magnate Donald Trump over a proposed $1.5 billion golf and hotel resort in Scotland, and Baxter hesitates when asked whether he would do it once more. ...


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J. Geils Band's founder sues former bandmates
Fri,3 Aug 2012 12:19 PM PDT
Reuters - BOSTON (Reuters) - Former members of the J. Geils band may have to "freeze frame" their upcoming tour. John Geils, who formed the J. Geils Band, filed a lawsuit against the other members of the rock group this week, claiming they are unlawfully using the band's trademarked name for an upcoming tour without him and interfering with his business activities. The lawsuit says that band members Richard Salwitz, Danny Klein, Peter Wolf and Seth Justman had "planned and conspired" to exclude Geils from performing with them under the J. Geils Band name on a recently announced tour. ... Full Story
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Venezuela electoral body probes both sides, baseball cap
Fri,3 Aug 2012 10:41 AM PDT
Reuters -

Venezuela's President Chavez greets supporters during an election rally in CaracasCARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's election commission is investigating both sides in this year's bitterly contested presidential race over alleged campaign irregularities, a mere two months before voters head to the polls in the South American OPEC nation. President Hugo Chavez is squaring off against youthful opposition candidate Henrique Capriles in an October 7 vote that has turned into the controversial socialist leader's toughest political battle of his 14 years in power. ...


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Viacom profit misses, hurt by weak U.S. cable advertising
Fri,3 Aug 2012 10:01 AM PDT
Reuters -

The MTV logo can be seen on a sign in front of the MTV studios in Times Square New York(Reuters) - Viacom Inc reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Friday, hurt by weak advertising sales at its U.S. cable networks and a poor showing at the box office for its movies. Revenue fell more sharply than expected as ratings declines at flagship networks MTV, BET and Comedy Central hurt Viacom's wider business. Chief Executive Officer Philippe Dauman acknowledged "cyclical ratings softness" at the networks, which he said would be reinventing themselves with a slew of new shows and movies. ...


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Shares of Internet darling LinkedIn, media stalwart CBS jump
Fri,3 Aug 2012 09:35 AM PDT
Reuters -

The sign up page of Linkedin.com is seen in Singapore(Reuters) - Shares of professional networking website LinkedIn Corp and broadcaster CBS Corp shot up after both companies delivered better-than-expected results. LinkedIn reported that second-quarter revenue rose almost 90 percent and raised its full-year outlook on Thursday. Its shares were up 12.1 percent at $104.80 on Friday morning on the New York Stock Exchange. "The company just appears to get better in what would otherwise seem to be a very tough environment," Evercore analyst Ken Sena wrote in a note. ...


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Dr Dre beats any Olympic rap with headphone tactics
Fri,3 Aug 2012 09:05 AM PDT
Reuters -

Dr. Dre speaks at the 24th annual ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards in Beverly HillsLONDON (Reuters) - American rapper Dr. Dre has hip-hopped over strict Olympic marketing rules by giving his high-end headphones to athletes, with officials on Friday ruling this did not breach guidelines. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) forbids athletes from taking part in advertising for anyone except the 11 international companies that pay around $100 million each for four years of global rights to sponsor the Olympics. The rules are designed to prevent "ambush marketing", or non-sponsors getting free publicity on the back of the Games. ...


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Education business, fewer print ads hurt Washington Post
Fri,3 Aug 2012 07:34 AM PDT
Reuters -

A general view of the exterior of The Washington Post Company headquarters in Washington(Reuters) - The Washington Post Co reported a fall in quarterly revenue as new student enrollments dropped in its Kaplan education business and print advertising revenue slid. Revenue in the Kaplan division, which accounts for more than half of Washington Post's total revenue, fell 9 percent to $558.4 million in the second quarter. New-student sign-ups, which returned to growth two quarters ago after four straight quarters of declines, reversed direction again to fall 1 percent. Enrollments have been under pressure at U.S. ...


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In "Celeste & Jesse Forever," fresh devolves into familiar
Fri,3 Aug 2012 05:42 AM PDT
Reuters -

Cast member Emma Roberts talks with the media before the screening of the film "Celeste and Jesse Forever" during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UtahLOSA ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - In addition to the infamous "Bechdel test" about women and movies, cartoonist and author Alison Bechdel once noted that ending a relationship is like separating Silly Putty with your hands; sometimes it snaps cleanly in two, but other times it sags and stretches and becomes impossible to pull apart. The lead characters in "Celeste & Jesse Forever" are having a very saggy breakup, and the film's exploration of two best friends learning to live apart starts out crisp but soon slogs down into very familiar territory. ...


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GoDigital to expand distribution with investment
Fri,3 Aug 2012 05:39 AM PDT
Reuters - LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - GoDigital, a company that monetizes and distributes films online, has received a cash injection from investors at Preferred Ventures, the digital media fund founded by former Facebook and Experian Interactive executives. GoDigital CEO Logan Mulvey said the company now plans to expand its digital distribution business with capital raised from FreeCreditReport.com founder and Experian CEO Ed Odjana's venture capital fund founded with former Facebook chief privacy officer Chris Kelly. ... Full Story
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Media magnate Lebedev may sell Russian assets
Fri,3 Aug 2012 03:58 AM PDT
Reuters -

To match Interview RUSSIA-ELECTIONS/LEBEDEVMOSCOW (Reuters) - Banker and media magnate Alexander Lebedev says he could sell his business assets in Russia after coming under pressure from the Kremlin, adding he feared he might be jailed in a criminal case he regards as politically motivated. Lebedev also said Russia could face a wave of political repression following a series of moves since Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency on May 7 that opposition leaders have described as a crackdown on dissent. "I think the biggest problem is the country is being run on the model of personal power," Lebedev, whose net worth was put at $1. ...


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China TV cop says no to family conflict, historical hijinks
Thu,2 Aug 2012 10:09 PM PDT
Reuters -

Cleaners abseil down the side of the CCTV building in central BeijingSHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese television may get more boring after the country's top broadcasting regulator issued six new guidelines banning remakes of foreign shows and demanding serials cut back on excessive family conflict and jokes in historical dramas. China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television issued the new guidelines recently and they were put into effect over the past few days, the state-run Beijing News reported. ...


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Schwarzenegger twins movies, global policy after governor stint
Thu,2 Aug 2012 08:31 PM PDT
Reuters -

Former California Governor Schwarzenegger attends the Road to Rio meeting ahead of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development at the CICG in GenevaLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Arnold Schwarzenegger is to get a global policy institute in his name as he relaunches his action movie career following a seven-year stint at California Governor. The University of Southern California on Thursday announced the establishment of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy at its Los Angeles campus. USC and Schwarzenegger said in a statement that the new institute would focus on "the responsibility of leaders to transcend partisanship to implement policies that most benefit the people they serve. ...


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Analysis: NBC offers peek of future Olympics biz model, coverage
Thu,2 Aug 2012 05:21 PM PDT
Reuters -

NBC sign on the General Electric building in New YorkNEW YORK (Reuters) - NBC briefly tore down the digital wall protecting its Olympics coverage on Thursday and permitted consumers without a pay TV subscription to watch live online a much-anticipated race starring American swimmers Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. The move was aimed at appeasing critics of NBC's strategy of delaying broadcasts of major Olympics events for prime time or requiring a cable subscription for online streaming - and could foreshadow how the Comcast Corp-owned network might handle its coverage of future Games. ...


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Jackson's mom cut off from world in mystery Arizona stay
Thu,2 Aug 2012 04:14 PM PDT
Reuters -

Michael Jackson's children Prince, Blanket and Paris use Jackson's shoes and gloves to make hand and foot imprints in cement in the courtyard of Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los AngelesLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Katherine Jackson was unaware she had been reported missing or that her pop star son's three children were trying to contact her during a stay in Arizona last month in which she was unable to communicate with the outside world. The Jackson family matriarch, who on Thursday was reinstated as guardian of the "Thriller" singer's children, said in a court document that she was told the kids were fine. Her 10-day absence at a luxury resort in Arizona came as a power struggle erupted within the large Jackson clan over control of the pop star's multi-million dollar estate. ...


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Americans drop pay-TV; business matures in weak economy
Thu,2 Aug 2012 02:56 PM PDT
Reuters -

A man looks at a flat screen television at a Best Buy store in FlushingNEW YORK (Reuters) - Stubbornly high U.S. unemployment, a weak housing market combined with a mature business prone to regular programming blackouts has seen more than 400,000 American homes drop their cable or satellite TV service since the start of the year. DirecTV Group, the No.1 U.S. satellite TV provider, revealed its first-ever, quarterly customer losses on Thursday, with some 52,000 homes dropping the service in the second quarter. That was more than analysts expected from a company long seen as the best run video provider in the industry. ...


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Tiesto leads Forbes highest-paid DJs list with $22 million
Thu,2 Aug 2012 01:30 PM PDT
Reuters -

Musician "Tiesto" performs at the Coachella Music Festival in IndioLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Electronic dance music DJ Tiesto was named the world's highest paid DJ on Thursday, in a year when EDM has became a staple sound in mainstream pop music. Dutch DJ Tiesto, 43, real name Tijs Verwest, earned $22 million in the past year, fueled by headlining sets at this year's Coachella music festival and an exclusive residency at the Wynn Las Vegas, according to Forbes.com, which compiled the ranking. ...


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NBC defends Olympics coverage while acknowledging mistakes
Thu,2 Aug 2012 11:51 AM PDT
Reuters -

A broadcast camera is seen at the Aquatics Centre at the Olympic Park in Stratford, the location of the London 2012 Olympic Games, in east London(Reuters) - NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus gave an impassioned defense of the network's Olympics coverage on a conference call Thursday, but conceded some of the criticism leveled at the network has been "fair." Lazarus, along with NBC Research President Alan Wurtzel, addressed gripes about tape-delaying events to air in prime-time by noting that NBC's stable of TV networks has so far aired two-thirds of the events from London live, about 158.5 live hours out of 274 total hours. ...


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"Friends Forever" tops U.S. bestseller list
Thu,2 Aug 2012 10:01 AM PDT
Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Friends Forever" jumped to the top of Publishers Weekly's bestseller list on Thursday. The list is compiled using data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesalers and independent distributors nationwide. Hardcover Fiction Last Week 1. "Friends Forever" by Danielle Steel (Delacorte, $28.00) - 2. "Where We Belong" by Emily Giffin (St. Martin's, $27.99) - 3. "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn (Crown, $25.00) 3 4. "Black List: A Thriller" by Brad Thor (Atria, $27.99) - 5. "The Fallen Angel" by Daniel Silva (Harper, $27.99) 1 6. ... Full Story
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Actor Bryan Cranston tackles evil role in "Total Recall"
Thu,2 Aug 2012 08:57 AM PDT
Reuters -

Cranston poses at the premiere of "Total Recall" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in HollywoodLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bryan Cranston's role as a cancer-stricken chemistry teacher who manufactures methamphetamine on television's "Breaking Bad" has earned him three Emmy Awards and a massive cult following. Before the show he was best-known as the father on the comedy series "Malcolm in the Middle," but his role as a sympathetic bad guy has made Hollywood take notice. Now the 56-year-old actor is sought for feature films, having starred in "John Carter," "Red Tails," "Rock of Ages" and "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. ...


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Tippi Hedren on Hitchcock: "genius and evil and deviant"
Thu,2 Aug 2012 05:45 AM PDT
Reuters -

Actress Tippi Hedren speaks at the Cable portion of the Television Critics Association Summer press tour in Beverly HillsNEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Tippi Hedren spoke Wednesday about rampant sexual harassment by Alfred Hitchcock nearly half a century ago, during the making of "The Birds" and "Marnie." "I think he was an extremely sad character," she said during a panel discussion of HBO's upcoming "The Girl," which recounts her troubled relationship with the director. "We are dealing with a brain here that was an unusual genius, and evil, and deviant, almost to the point of dangerous, because of the effect that he could have on people that were totally unsuspecting." She was one of those people, she said. ...


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MGM settles lawsuit over "Raging Bull" sequel
Thu,2 Aug 2012 05:40 AM PDT
Reuters -

Robert DeNiro, Cathy Moriarty, Jake LaMota and Martin Scorsese pose at the 25th Anniversary screening ...LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The battle between MGM and the makers of a sequel to the 1980 film "Raging Bull" has ended in a split decision. The studio has settled its lawsuit against boxer Jake LaMotta, the inspiration for the film, and RB II Production over a big-screen adaptation of LaMotta's 1986 book "Raging Bull II." Under the agreement, the new movie has been given the working title "The Bronx Bull," LaMotta's boxing nickname. ...


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Aaron Sorkin denies "Newsroom" firings, sexism
Thu,2 Aug 2012 05:38 AM PDT
Reuters -

Sorkin and Davis pose at the premiere of the HBO television series "The Newsroom" at the Cinerama Dome in Los AngelesNEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Aaron Sorkin denied during a panel for "The Newsroom" that he has fired the show's writing staff, and denied that the women on his show are less intellectually formidable than the men. Also, he says, he is not dating anyone on his staff and never has. Sorkin faced a roomful of TV critics at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, many of whom have criticized his new HBO series. He quickly found himself responding to complaints that the women on the show, especially Emily Mortimer's Mackenzie MacHale, come off as ditzy compared to the men. ...


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Scripps Networks profit tops estimates
Thu,2 Aug 2012 04:59 AM PDT
Reuters - (Reuters) - U.S. broadcaster Scripps Networks Interactive Inc reported a quarterly profit above analysts' estimates as advertising revenue rose. Net income attributable to Scripps rose to $142 million, or 93 cents per share, for the second quarter from $77.4 million, or 78 cents per share, a year earlier. Scripps, which owns the Food Network and Home and Garden Television, said revenue rose 12.5 percent to $601 million. Advertising revenue rose 12 percent to $417 million. Analysts had expected a profit of 87 cents per share on revenue of $592.78 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. ... Full Story
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Time Warner Cable 2nd-qtr beats on higher internet revenue
Thu,2 Aug 2012 04:25 AM PDT
Reuters - (Reuters) - Time Warner Cable Inc, the second largest U.S. cable operator, posted a better-than-expected second quarter as higher sales of pricier residential broadband plans offset declines in video subscriptions. The New York-based company added 59,000 Internet and 45,000 phone residential customers in the segment in the quarter. Broadband services revenue grew 7.2 percent organically. Including additions from its Insight Communications acquisition, Internet revenue grew 13.5 percent. ... Full Story
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Book reveals softer side of Aaron Burr
Wed,1 Aug 2012 11:04 PM PDT
Reuters - TOKYO (Reuters) - Aaron Burr, a lawyer and politician in the early years of the United States, has long had a reputation as a villain, mainly due to his famous killing of political rival Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804. But in his book, "The Heartbreak of Aaron Burr," author Henry Brands paints a vastly different picture of a modern, progressive man who believed that women were the intellectual equals of men, and who was devoted to his only daughter, Theodosia. "I knew the story of Aaron Burr as a public figure. ... Full Story
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HBO documentary will celebrate 50 years of The Rolling Stones
Wed,1 Aug 2012 08:17 PM PDT
Reuters -

The Rolling Stones pose as they arrive for the opening of the exhibition "Rolling Stones: 50" at Somerset House in LondonLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Cable channel HBO will air a new documentary about The Rolling Stones this fall to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the British rock band. HBO programming president Michael Lombardo told journalists on Wednesday that the documentary, which has no title yet, was being directed by Brett Morgan. "This is all done as part of the band's 50th anniversary. This documentary has the full involvement of the four current band members, Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ron, as well as the former band members Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor. ...


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Kennedys open up for TV documentary on RFK's widow
Wed,1 Aug 2012 07:24 PM PDT
Reuters -

Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy, speaks about the film "Ethel" which her daughter documentary filmmaker and producer Rory Kennedy made, during the HBO presentation at the Cable portion of the Television Critics Association Summer press tour in BeLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Kennedys may be America's most famous political dynasty, but it took one of their own to get them to open up about their private lives and their place in U.S. history. Filmmaker Rory Kennedy, 43, the youngest of the 11 children of slain U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and his wife, Ethel, persuaded her mother to give her first extended interview in more than 20 years for an upcoming HBO documentary that is also the first film about the Kennedys to come from within the family. Even so, it wasn't easy. ...


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Clint Eastwood's "Trouble With the Curve" bumps up release date
Wed,1 Aug 2012 06:11 PM PDT
Reuters -

Clint Eastwood poses as he arrives at the AFI Awards in Beverly HillsLOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The Clint Eastwood film "Trouble With the Curve" will be winding up in theaters earlier than expected. Warner Bros. has moved the release date for the film up a week, from its original September 28 premiere date to September 21. The film stars Eastwood as an aging baseball scout who takes his daughter (Amy Adams) along for one last trip to check out a prospect. John Goodman and Justin Timberlake also star. Robert Lorenz, Eastwood's partner at Malpaso Productions, directed the film. No reason for the scheduling shift was given. ...


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Sean Hayes to guest on "Up All Night"
Wed,1 Aug 2012 06:08 PM PDT
Reuters -

Actor Sean Hayes who plays the character of Larry in the " Three Stooges: The Movie" arrives at the Hollywood premiere in Los AngelesLOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Will & Grace" star Sean Hayes has been cast on the upcoming second season of the NBC comedy "Up All Night." The show's Facebook page has posted that Hayes will star in a multi-episode arc and will portray the "former accompanist" of talk-show host Ava Alexander, played by Maya Rudolph. No airdate for Hayes' debut on the series has been announced. Hayes recently starred as Larry Fine in the Farrelly Brothers' "The Three Stooges." The second season of "Up All Night" premieres September 20 at 8:30 p.m.


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Hitchcock's "Vertigo" ends 50-year reign of "Citizen Kane"
Wed,1 Aug 2012 06:07 PM PDT
Reuters - LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Alfred Hitchcock has dethroned Orson Welles. Welles' "Citizen Kane" has ruled as the greatest film ever made, according to critics' polls by the British Film Institute's Sight & Sound magazine. Every 10 years since 1962, when the magazine asked critics to name their top 10, "Kane" reigned. Until now. But the 2012 poll results announced Tuesday place Hitchcock's psychological drama "Vertigo" first. "Citizen Kane" slid to second place. "Vertigo" follows a private eye, played by James Stewart, in San Francisco who is hired to track a man's wife. ... Full Story
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Ashton Kutcher bringing "Punk'd"-like series to web
Wed,1 Aug 2012 06:05 PM PDT
Reuters -

Ashton Kutcher sits courtside during the Los Angeles Lakers against Denver Nuggets NBA playoff game in Los AngelesLOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The guys who brought the world "Punk'd" are bringing their hidden cameras to the internet. Katalyst Network, the television and film production company founded in 2000 by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, has partnered with virtual media company Machinima to produce a new show, "Prank Lab," the companies said Wednesday. The first 40 episodes of the show will air on Machinima Prime, a new premium content channel that officially launched on August 1. "'Prank Lab' is a celebration of sophomoric humor," Anthony Batt, president of Katalyst, told TheWrap. ...


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HBO announces Larry David movie
Wed,1 Aug 2012 06:03 PM PDT
Reuters -

Actor Larry David attends Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference basketball playoff game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver NuggetsNEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - HBO plans a movie written by and starring Larry David that will find him playing a character other than himself. "He is not playing the Larry David from 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,'" said HBO president of programming Michael Lombardo, who added that "Arrested Development" and "Newsroom" veteran Greg Mottola will direct. David will work on the show before he moves forward on another season of "Curb." The network believes David plans another season of the show, but he wants to complete the film first, HBO co-president Richard Plepler said. ...


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Sorkin stands by "Newsroom", denies firing writing staff
Wed,1 Aug 2012 06:01 PM PDT
Reuters -

Actor Jeff Daniels star of "The Newsroom" and creator and executive producer Aaron Sorkin speak during the HBO presentation at the Cable portion of the Television Critics Association Summer press tour in Beverly HillsLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar-winning writer Aaron Sorkin on Wednesday vigorously defended his controversial show set in a fictional cable TV newsroom, and refuted reports that he fired his writing staff. Sorkin said that "Newsroom," which mixes real news stories with fictional characters in a workplace drama, was not intended to thumb its nose at the way established television channels have covered big news events. ...


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Due diligence on Dylan: writer found fraud in first chapter
Wed,1 Aug 2012 05:10 PM PDT
Reuters -

Handout photo of journalist Michael MoynihanNEW YORK (Reuters) - Journalist Michael Moynihan did not have to read past the first chapter of writer Jonah Lehrer's best-selling book "Imagine: How Creativity Works" to realize the high-profile writer had fabricated some of its material, namely quotes from Bob Dylan. Yet even after Moynihan exposed Lehrer's misquotations, causing the 31-year-old Rhodes scholar, neuroscientist, columnist, and nonfiction writer to resign from a staff position at The New Yorker magazine and issue an apology this week, he is still mystified by Lehrer's reckless behavior. ...


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