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| Increased online readership lifts Trinity Mirror profits Thursday, Aug 01, 2013 12:19 AM PDT LONDON (Reuters) - British media group Trinity Mirror said it was confident about prospects for 2013 after cost cuts and increased website readership helped lift pretax profit 2.5 percent in the first half of the year. The profit increase at the publisher of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers came despite an 8.5 percent drop in revenue to 332 million pounds ($503 million), due to a 4.6 percent fall in circulation volume of the daily title, which was better than the wider market which dropped 9.6 percent. The publisher's average monthly online page views grew 48. ... Full Story | Top |
| Actress Lindsay Lohan leaves rehab after 90 days Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 05:39 PM PDT  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Lindsay Lohan on Wednesday completed her 90-day stint in a rehabilitation facility to comply with court-ordered treatment for a reckless driving charge, but still faces more than year of weekly therapy sessions, a Los Angeles judge said. Lohan, 27, whose once promising Hollywood career has been upended by legal woes and erratic behavior, now must complete 15 months of therapy and 30 days of community labor to satisfy her sentence, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Dabney said. ... Full Story | Top |
| Rob Lowe, Rashida Jones to exit NBC's 'Parks and Recreation' Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:59 PM PDT  By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones will depart NBC's "Parks and Recreation" during its upcoming season, an individual familiar with the departures told TheWrap on Wednesday. The pair will exit on the 13th episode of the show's sixth season, which premieres September 26 with an hour-long episode set in London. "The Office" alum Jones has played Ann Perkins on the series since its first season, while Lowe came aboard "Parks and Recreation" as Chris Traeger for its second season. ... Full Story | Top |
| Lindsay Lohan will not be cast in Ben Affleck's 'Live By Night' Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:58 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Those hoping to see "The Canyons" star Lindsay Lohan cast in Ben Affleck's crime drama "Live By Night" can keep on dreaming, TheWrap has learned. A report on Showbiz 411 said that Lohan was "this close" to signing on to the Warner Bros. movie -- but an individual familiar with the project says that's far from the case. "It's NOT true. She will not be cast in any role in the movie. She is not being considered for any role in the movie. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Celebrity Wife Swap' renewed for Season 3 Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:57 PM PDT By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELS (TheWrap.com) - Rejoice; another round of semi-famous people trading mates will be coming to your TV before too long. "Celebrity Wife Swap" has been renewed for a third season, a spokeswoman for ABC told TheWrap on Wednesday. The upcoming season will run for 13 episodes. The series, which is produced by Zodiak, wrapped its second season on Sunday. That season featured such luminaries as Andy Dick, Kate Gosselin, Kendra Wilkinson, Bristol Palin and Joan Rivers. The finale posted a 1. ... Full Story | Top |
| Exclusive: James Cameron recruits 'Terminator' series creator Josh Friedman for 'Avatar 2' Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:50 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - James Cameron has recruited Josh Friedman, who created Fox's cult hit series "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," to work on the screenplay for the much-anticipated "Avatar 2," an individual familiar with the 20th Century Fox project has told TheWrap. Friedman did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and a representative for his agency, UTA, referred TheWrap to Cameron's production company Lightstorm Entertainment. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Punky Brewster' star Soleil Moon Frye to host OWN's 'Home Made Simple' Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:48 PM PDT  By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Finally, the awesome power of Punky Brewster and Oprah Winfrey has been brought together for a common goal. Former "Punky Brewster" star Soleil Moon Frye has been tapped to host Season 3 of OWN's "Home Made Simple," the network said Wednesday. The series had previously been hosted by Paige Davis, of "Trading Spaces" renown. In addition to Frye coming aboard, "Home Made Simple" - which will return in October - is shifting to half-hour episodes from its former hour-long format. ... Full Story | Top |
| Singer Randy Travis sent to physical therapy center Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:40 PM PDT  DALLAS (Reuters) - Country singer Randy Travis has been moved to a physical therapy facility from a Texas hospital, where he had spent several weeks recovering from a viral heart infection and stroke, his spokesman Kirt Webster said on Wednesday. He was sent from Baylor Heart Hospital in Plano, Texas, to an unspecified rehabilitation center, Webster said in a statement. "Thanks to all the fans and friends for your continued prayers and support as Randy continues on the road to recovery," Travis' fiancée, Mary Davis, said in an accompanying statement. ... Full Story | Top |
| Singer Selena Gomez tops Billboard album chart for first time Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:16 PM PDT  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - American pop singer Selena Gomez topped the Billboard 200 album chart for the first time on Wednesday, besting rapper Jay-Z and the soundtrack to "Teen Beach Movie." Backed by her hit single "Come & Get It," 21-year-old Gomez's fourth studio album, "Stars Dance," sold 97,000 in the past week, according to figures compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. Jay-Z, whose album "Magna Carta Holy Grail" topped the chart for two weeks, fell to No. 2, selling 77,000 copies. The soundtrack to "Teen Beach Movie," a Disney Channel film, rose to No. 3 from No. ... Full Story | Top |
| UK's multitaskers take to Twitter to swap TV talk: report Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:08 PM PDT  By Max De Haldevang LONDON (Reuters) - Tweeting and texting while watching TV is supplanting the traditional water-cooler chat about the previous night's viewing among increasingly media-savvy Britons, the country's telecoms regulator has found. "Just a few years ago, we would be talking about last night's TV at work or at school. Now, we're having those conversations live while watching TV - using social media, text and instant messaging," James Thickett, director of research at regulator Ofcom, said. ... Full Story | Top |
| TCA: Seth Meyers has a comic team in transition - and not just on 'SNL' Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:04 PM PDT  By Tim Molloy NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - When Seth Meyers got to "Saturday Night Live" in 2001, he quickly bonded with writer Michael Shoemaker over comics. "One of the first things we did together was walk down to Midtown Comics because we had a shared love of that. Also, 'SNL' was the first time in my life I had enough money to buy all the comic books I wanted," Meyers said in a Television Critics Association panel Wednesday. "Seth was the first friend I knew who actually liked comics," added Shoemaker. "I liked comics, but it was a solitary experience. ... Full Story | Top |
| Feds: spending on movie, TV development slows, but still on the rise Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:02 PM PDT By Ira Teinowitz LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Spending to develop movies, TV shows and "artistic originals" in the U.S. increased in the second quarter of the year -- though at a slower pace than in the first quarter, according to Gross Domestic Product numbers released by Commerce Department Wednesday. Spending grew 1.3 percent to $75.9 billion in the second quarter, as compared to the 4 percent in the previous quarter. Still, the feds said, the news wasn't entirely bad. Last year, entertainment spending dropped in the first three quarters, only turning up in the last quarter. ... Full Story | Top |
| Nick Cannon to host Style's 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous' reboot Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:02 PM PDT  By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Move over Robin Leach, Nick Cannon is hosting Style's reboot of 80s show "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." Set to go into production in the fall, the network plans a modern take on the series that documents the lavish spending of the 10 percent. "To be a part of Style's re-imagination of this iconic show and follow in the footsteps of the legendary Robin Leach is a dream come true," said Cannon, who already hosts NBC's "America's Got Talent" and MTV2's "Wild N' Out. ... Full Story | Top |
| TLC goes balls-out with '132 Lb Scrotum' special Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:00 PM PDT By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - TLC will air quite the ballsy special next month. The network that gave the world "Best Funeral Ever" announced on Wednesday that will air the one-hour special "The Man With the 132 Lb Scrotum' on August 19 at 9 p.m. The documentary will document the life of 49-year-old Las Vegas resident Wesley Warren Jr., who suffers from the thankfully rare medical condition scrotal lymphedema. ... Full Story | Top |
| Denzel Washington returning to Broadway in 'Raisin in the Sun' Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 03:59 PM PDT  By Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Denzel Washington is headed back to Broadway in a revival of "A Raisin in the Sun," his publicist told TheWrap. The Oscar-winning actor will play the lead role of Walter Younger and the play is scheduled to debut in spring of 2014. Lorraine Hansberry's acclaimed drama revolves African-American family's struggles to determine what to do with $10,000 in insurance money. In the play, Walter hopes to use the money to invest in a liquor store, while his mother would prefer he use it for his sister's education. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Sharknado' swag coming to a store near you Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 03:56 PM PDT By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Swag from the surprise TV hit of the summer is coming to a store near you. A "Sharknado" merchandising program was announced by Syfy and partner The Asylum on Wednesday. An assortment of fashion tees, bags, posters, accessories, costumes and games will "extend the 'Sharknado 'pop culture and social media phenomenon," the companies said. Retailer Earthbound LLC will be a partner in the program. The first wave of "Sharknado" T-shirts will hit retail stores nationally within the coming weeks. ... Full Story | Top |
| Boos at Bayreuth, but Brunnhilde shines for Wagner 200th Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 03:53 PM PDT  By Michael Roddy BAYREUTH, Germany (Reuters) - The gods did not go up in flames but the audience erupted in a fury of booing on Wednesday night as an unorthodox new staging of Richard Wagner's "Ring" cycle for his 200th birthday at his opera house in Bayreuth came to a near-riotous conclusion. ... Full Story | Top |
| Lady Gaga: there were 'giant craters' in my injured hip Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 01:38 PM PDT  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Lady Gaga had a "huge breakage" and "giant craters" in her right hip that forced the pop singer to cancel about two dozen concerts this year and undergo surgery. Her tour promoter, Live Nation, said in February that the "Born This Way" singer was treated for a labral tear in her right hip. "My injury was actually a lot worse than just a labral tear," Lady Gaga told Women's Wear Daily magazine this week. "I had a broken hip." Lady Gaga, 27, said her doctor warned that if she had performed one more dance-filled concert, she may have needed a hip replacement. ... Full Story | Top |
| Who knew? Denzel Washington reveals comedic flair in '2 Guns' Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 11:38 AM PDT  By Patricia Reaney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Denzel Washington was looking for something light after his role as an alcoholic airline pilot in "Flight" and found it in "2 Guns," an action buddy film that showcases the two-time Academy Award winner's flair for comedy. The film, which opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, is new territory for Washington, who was nominated for his sixth Oscar for "Flight" and took home golden statuettes for the 2001 crime drama "Training Day" and the 1989 Civil War film "Glory. ... Full Story | Top |
| Head of Krupp Foundation dies at 99 Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 10:36 AM PDT  FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Berthold Beitz, the 99-year-old conservative head of the Krupp Foundation, died on Tuesday, potentially opening the way for deeper change at Germany's largest steelmaker ThyssenKrupp, already in the midst of a major strategic shift. The death of Beitz, famous in Germany for rescuing Jews from the SS during World War II, was confirmed in a statement by on Wednesday and prompted tributes from Chancellor Angela Merkel and Jewish leaders. World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. ... Full Story | Top |
| NBC Universal's fortune reversal lifts Comcast results Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 09:56 AM PDT  By Liana B. Baker (Reuters) - Comcast Corp posted a higher quarterly profit on Wednesday, as it added more Internet customers than expected on the cable side and saw a more than 20 percent increase in operating cash flow at its NBC Universal unit. Its shares rose more than 6 percent in morning trading to $45.30 on the better-than-expected results. Analysts said Comcast's cable business outperformed in what is generally a seasonally weak quarter for the industry, when colleges close for the summer and people disconnect cable service ahead of a move. ... Full Story | Top |
| Sarajevo film festival faces deep spending cuts Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 09:19 AM PDT By Daria Sito-Sucic SARAJEVO (Reuters) - The Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF), the largest movie competition in the Balkans, will open on August 16 and showcase 214 films, but this year's edition faces deep budget cuts which organizers blamed on the political and economic crisis in Bosnia. Bosnia's Oscar-winning film director Danis Tanovic, whose acclaimed docu-drama "An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker" opens the festival, will chair the jury, SFF director Mirsad Purivatra told a news conference. ... Full Story | Top |
| BT takes on BSkyB sport to protect broadband business Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 09:09 AM PDT By Keith Weir and Kate Holton LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's BT will launch its much heralded sports TV service on Thursday in the biggest challenge to the dominance of BSkyB since Rupert Murdoch launched the pay-TV group over 20 years ago. The former telecoms monopoly, which has committed around 1 billion pounds ($1.5 billion) to the project, is stepping into an arena where others have failed, invariably outmaneuvered by BSkyB in the battle for programming and subscribers. But the deep-pocketed, 168-year-old BT has learnt from the master. ... Full Story | Top |
| Star India awarded TV rights for 2014, 2016 Olympics Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 09:07 AM PDT (Reuters) - Star India was awarded the broadcast rights for the 2014 winter Olympics and 2016 summer Games for seven South Asian countries, including India and Pakistan, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday. The IOC has broken new ground in recent years, directly negotiating broadcast rights for some markets instead of selling the rights for all territories on a continent to one umbrella broadcasting institution. ... Full Story | Top |
| Law firm makes donation after revealing JK Rowling's identity Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 08:55 AM PDT  By Costas Pitas LONDON (Reuters) - Harry Potter creator JK Rowling accepted a substantial charity donation from the London-based law firm which revealed she had written a detective novel under a pseudonym, a British court heard on Wednesday. Rowling brought legal action against a partner at Russells law firm and his friend after her identity as author of "The Cuckoo's Calling" was disclosed in mid-July. Rowling wrote the crime fiction book under the pen name Robert Galbraith. Russells will hand over an undisclosed sum to ABF The Soldiers' Charity, chosen by Rowling. ... Full Story | Top |
| Music streamer Spotify doubles 2012 revenues after expansion Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 07:15 AM PDT  STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Music streaming web service Spotify more than doubled revenues in 2012 to 435 million euros ($577 million) as it expanded to new markets and almost doubled its users, documents showed on Wednesday. The Stockholm-based company, which provides free on-demand music or ad-free tunes for paying customers, posted a 58.7 million euro net loss, compared with the 45.4 million loss it had in 2011 on turnover of 190 million. ... Full Story | Top |
| RCS MediaGroup reaffirms guidance of significant 2013 loss Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 06:50 AM PDT MILAN (Reuters) - Italian publisher RCS MediaGroup reaffirmed on Wednesday its guidance of a 10 percent sales drop and a significant net loss in 2013 amid continued economic uncertainty and a weak advertising market. In a statement, RCS MediaGroup, publisher of influential Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera and of Spain's El Mundo, said its net loss narrowed to 125.4 million euros ($166.2 million) in the first half from 427 million euros a year ago, while sales declined 14.3 percent on lower advertising and circulation sales. Revenues from its digital operations rose 4.3 percent to 73. ... Full Story | Top |
| Rihanna wins Topshop T-shirt legal case Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 06:41 AM PDT  LONDON (Reuters) - Barbadian singer Rihanna on Wednesday won a legal case against British fashion chain Topshop over the use of her image on a T-shirt it sold without her approval. High Court Judge Birss ruled in Rihanna's favor following a four-day hearing earlier this month. In March last year Topshop, which is owned by billionaire Philip Green's Arcadia Group, started selling a T-shirt with an image of Rihanna on it. The image was a photograph taken by a freelance photographer in Northern Ireland while Rihanna was filming a music video. ... Full Story | Top |
| A Minute With: singer Mary Bridget Davies on channeling Janis Joplin Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 06:35 AM PDT  By Patricia Reaney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cleveland-born blues singer Mary Bridget Davies had no idea when she auditioned for a part in "A Night With Janis Joplin" that a year later she would be playing the wailing, raspy voiced rock'n'roll legend on Broadway. But a stroke of luck and a talent for transforming herself into the singer/songwriter, who died of a heroin overdose at the age of 27 in 1970, sealed the deal. "I was asked at the last minute during previews, 'Oh my gosh, can you go on?' And I said, 'sure. ... Full Story | Top |
| Chef Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi step closer to divorce Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 05:43 AM PDT  LONDON (Reuters) - British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and her multi-millionaire art collector husband Charles Saatchi moved one step closer to legally ending their marriage on Wednesday. Just over a month after photographs appeared in newspapers showing Saatchi with his hands around Lawson's throat, a British judge issued a "decree nisi", which signals court approval of the application for divorce. The couple will now have to wait six weeks before they can be granted a "decree absolute", which will formally terminate their 10-year marriage. ... Full Story | Top |
| UK playwright Tom Stoppard wins PEN/Pinter prize Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 04:58 AM PDT  LONDON (Reuters) - British playwright Tom Stoppard has won the 2013 PEN/Pinter Prize established in memory of the late Nobel laureate and fellow dramatist Harold Pinter, organizers said on Wednesday. The 76-year-old Czech-born Stoppard, who co-wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for the 1998 film "Shakespeare in Love", came to fame in the theatre for writing plays such as "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead", "Jumpers" and "Arcadia". ... Full Story | Top |
| Macau mogul hopes dinosaurs trump volcanoes in new casino resort Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 01:26 AM PDT  By Farah Master MACAU (Reuters) - Macau tycoon David Chow is ripping up the fake volcano and Roman amphitheatre that were the show pieces of a failed theme park he built in the Chinese gaming enclave seven years ago. He is replacing them with something a little less kitsch and more in keeping with the neighborhood: a casino resort boasting an opera house and dinosaur museum that he hopes will return him to the spotlight of the world's largest gambling hub. ... Full Story | Top |
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