Ashton and Cameron Diaz know a hookers and booze night in Vegas can follow you home
By Matthew B. Zeidman
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/9/08 – To the average tourist, “What Happens in Vegas…” is a pledge that no matter how debauched one might become while visiting Las Vegas, no consequences will be waiting back home. As the title of Ashton Kutcher’s new film, however, the phrase takes on a whole new (and ironic) meaning.
“That’s just a giant sales tool that Vegas uses to get you to spend all of your money on strippers and booze and gambling,” Kutcher told Hollywood Today. “The only thing that’s going to stay there is your money.”
The film isn’t an indictment of Las Vegas’ gambling machine, of course. The irony here comes when both Kutcher and co-star Cameron Diaz marry after a night of heavy drinking. Because they’re both strangers, they decide to annul the union, but before that can happen, Kutcher hits a slot-machine jackpot on Diaz’s quarter and the two find themselves stuck together indefinitely. At first motivated only by the money, Kutcher and Diaz soon find themselves asking if their relationship could actually work.
“I think what’s really revealed in this film is that sometimes the most illogical decisions that you make in your life can be the best ones, when it come to love,” said Kutcher. “I think people have a preconceived notion that you meet a person, you fall in love with him and then you get married and not the other way around…I don’t think it always works out that way.”
“In a lot of cases, when you think about it too much, you just don’t make the right decision. If I were to have stepped back and looked at my relationship in my life with my wife logically when I first met her…I think my logical mind would have talked me out of it,” explained Kutcher, 30, referring to his marriage to “Ghost” actress Demi Moore, 45. “But, my sort of illogical mind and my heart talked me into it, and it was just like, ‘I have to do this. I have to be with this person.’ I woke up this morning, and my logical mind had caught up to my heart, and I went, ‘God, that was the smartest decision you ever made.’”
“What I responded to in this movie and what, to me, plays out in this movie is that story,” continued Kutcher. “Two people that make a completely illogical decision to be together and find a place by the end where their logic catches up to their heart.”
“What Happens in Vegas…” also features Rob Corddry, Zach Galifianakis, Queen Latifah, Dennis Miller and Jason Sudeikis. The film opens nationwide today.
Soprano Godfather moves into features with Par’s Brad Grey
By Jeffrey Jolson
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/9/08 — David Chase, the seven time Emmy award-winning creator of “The Sopranos,” has signed a deal with Paramount Pictures to write, direct and produce his first feature film, an original drama.
Chase has a long-standing relationship with Paramount Studios chairman Brad Grey, his producing partner on “The Sopranos.”
“Brad has always been adventurous as a producer and looked for different ways of doing things,” said Chase. “I look forward to once again working with him, and now his team. For years, Brad has been a great partner, who helped enable me to do what I need to creatively.”
“David is one of the great storytellers of our time, and his debut as a filmmaker is both highly anticipated and long overdue,” said Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures. “In truth, David has been creating cinematic-quality filmed drama Read the rest of this Hollywood Today story »
Thurman case one of first signs stalker threats now being taken seriously
By Christie Cohen
NEW YORK (Hollywood Today) 5/8/08- Uma Thurman came face to face with her long time stalker this week. The serious situation saw her in a New York courtroom this week fighting stalkerJack Jordan. Tuesday, Thurman’s pursuer was only found guilty of one count of second-degree aggravated harassment. He was acquitted of two additional counts of second-degree aggravated harassment even though he has been unwontedly pursuing Uma since 2005.
Many celebrity stalkers have gotten off in the past with no more than a slap on the wrist. Most cases result in a temporary restraining order, not an actual conviction and jail time. Will these potential criminals receive a punishment? Most every popular actor has to deal with stalker Read the rest of this Hollywood Today story »
Robert Redford Stings Cablevision for half a bil, still owns Sundance Institute that puts on Sundance fest
By Jeffrey Mitchell
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/8/08 — Cablevision Rainbow Media, already owners of IFC and AFC will add a jewel to their crown by buying Robert Redford’s Sundance Channel.
The New York-based cable-TV operator has agreed to buy the Sundance Channel from NBCUniversal, CBS Corp. and actor-director Robert Redford for $496 million to expand its programming lineup.
Cablevision will pay for the cable network with 12.7 million General Electric Co. shares. NBC parent GE will receive all of the stock and provide cash that Cablevision will use to pay CBS and Redford for their stakes.
The Sundance Channel was founded in 1996 by the actor-director Redford as an outgrowth of his Sundance Institute, an independent film organization which runs his annual film festival near Park City
.
The network features independent movies, as well as original programming, some of which reflects Redford’s concerns about the environment and progressive issues.
Redford owned a 6 percent stake in the network, while GE’s NBC unit had 57 percent and CBS owned 37 percent.
The purchase gives Cablevision’s Rainbow Media another movie channel to complement its IFC Independent Film Channel, AMC and WE: Women’s Entertainment networks. Cablevision acquired the GE stock in its 2002 sale of the Bravo channel to GE for $1.25 billion. The share exchange lets Cablevision use tax savings and gains from a hedge against the GE stock to subsidize the purchase, said Sanford Bernstein & Co. analyst Craig Moffett.
Lohan caught mink-handed By Jeffrey Mitchell
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/8/08 — A student and model has accused Lindsay Lohan of stealing an $11,000 mink coat she wore to a mutual friend’s birthday party. The troubled starlet was even photographed walking out of the nightclub wearing the coat, mink-handed.
It’s owner Masha Markova was absolutely devastated when she realized that the fur coat her grandmother had given her was missing.
Markova, who is a student at an American university, had been sitting next to the actress at the trendy Manhattan club 10ak.
Lohan arrived at the club and was photographed wearing a black coat and was actually photographed leaving the same club wearing the now infamous “Blonde Mink” The New York Post reports Masha Markova, 22, believed she had forever lost the prized jacket - a gift from her grandmother - while attending a private birthday party at New York’s Meatpacking District in the early-morning hours of January 26.
The club was closed for a friend of jet-setting playboy Stavros Niarchos, Markova said.
She added that at one point, she was seated next to Lohan, and recalled putting the mink in a common bin with other jackets.
It was gone when she prepared to leave after an hour, Markova said.
Wachowskis create family-pleasing live action version of anime series - 4 Stars****
By W. H. Bourne
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/8/08 – “I liked the idea that the Racer family lives in a timeless little pod, where they still sit down together to have dinner every night,” says Oscar-winner by Susan Sarandon who plays Mom in ‘Speed Racer’. “Mom Racer is the glue that holds everybody together.”
John Goodman, who plays Pop, grew up watching the ‘Speed Racer’ cartoon series on TV. “I’d never seen anything like ‘Speed Racer’ when it first came out,” says Goodman. “When I heard that the Wachowskis were shooting a live-action version, I jumped at the chance be a part of it.”
“Besides being one of their favorite cartoons growing up, one of the things that interested the Wachowskis most in adapting ‘Speed Racer’ was the strong family dynamic in the original series,” says ‘Speed Racer’ producer Grant Hill. “Larry and Andy had a strong desire to make a family film; they wanted to create a movie their nieces and nephews could see.”
“It didn’t feel sci-fi, like ‘The Matrix’films,” says Emile Hirsch who plays the role of Speed Racer. “It felt more magical. It’s more about Read the rest of this Hollywood Today story »
A tale of the Fourth Crusade - the sacking of Constantinople - 3 Stars ***
By Gabrielle Pantera
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/8/08 – “The modern parallels are important to me, and I hope that people notice them,” says ‘Crossed’ author Nicole Galland. “I feel like that’s the most compelling part of the book. Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
The idea for the novel came to Golland in 2004 while visiting her Uncle Jamil, an Iraqi Jew. Jamil was anxious about what was happening politically in the world. “That made me think, someone who knows about the Middle Ages and writes novels really needs to write a novel about the Crusades,” says Golland. “Five minutes later I had the thought, wait a minute, I write novels and I know about the Middle Ages!”
In the year 1202, a vagabond Welshman is rescued in Venice by a pious knight who has joined thousands of crusaders preparing to free the Holy City from Muslim rule. The journey to Constantinople is one of danger, violence and moral dilemmas for those on the trek.
The vagabond frees a mysterious woman who could be an Arab princess. His plan is to get her back to her people. But the army has other problems to tackle before they get to Constantinople. How do they feed the army when everyone wants to get paid?
The crusaders’ original mission is to go to the Middle East. Instead they wind up in Constantinople mired in politics. The crusaders try to unseat a secular government run by a tyrant and return the rightful heir, Prince Alexius, to the throne.
Galland took a trip in the fall of 2005 to retrace the steps of the Crusade. She’d done a phenomenal amount of research. “I was amazed at how similar it was to what was going on in Iraq,” says Galland. There were many Crusades, but the Crusade of 1200 was the one she chose to write. Her previous two books were also set around 1200.
If you enjoy history you’ll like this book. The book moves slowly at times, but is worth reading even if you have to put it down and come back to it.
‘Crossed, A Tale of the Fourth Crusade’
Trade Paperback $15.95
672 pages
Harper Paperbacks
Release Date: February 5, 2008
ISBN: 978-0060841805
Castro’s exit leaves David Archuleta, David Cook duel likely
By Matthew B. Zeidman
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/8/08 – He admitted he had already packed his bags and cheerfully poked fun at his own poor performances from the previous night, so it was no surprise when “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest announced that underdog Jason Castro was leaving the show Wednesday night.
As Castro happily accepted the final nail in his coffin, the stage was set for a faceoff between competition frontrunners David Archuleta (the optimistic fresh face) and David Cook (the rocker with an appreciation for lesser-known arrangements).
Of course, crooner Syesha Mercado survived the “bottom two” yet again during last night’s installment. But, while she is undeniably talented and has pulled herself away from the abyss of elimination an astonishing number of times, both Davids are juggernauts with consistently loyal fanbases.
Neither David has ever been in danger of getting the boot, and while the wildly popular Castro’s exit was self-imposed, both Archuleta and Cook are passionate contenders, who will see it through to the very end.
Though Mercado has now taken Castro’s place as the underdog, at least all the remaining “Idol” aspirants will be able to say they won or lost fair and square after giving their all. Previous critic favorites will have to settle for a spot on this summer’s concert tour.
Spears’ new privileges result of ‘recognition of progress’
By Matthew B. Zeidman
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/8/08 – Britney Spears’ follow-up to her widely lauded CBS sitcom appearance will air Monday, but the pop princess has another reason to be excited. A Los Angeles court has granted the mother of two longer visits with her toddler sons, who currently reside with their father, Spears’ former husband and backup dancer Kevin Federline.
“We are so pleased with Britney’s progress,” said the 26-year-old entertainer’s parents in a statement released on Tuesday, “and we are very appreciative of the court’s recognition of this progress.” A lawyer for Federline, Mark Vincent Kaplan, also complimented Spears for her “progress in structure and stability.”
Before divorcing in July 2007, Spears and Federline had two sons, Sean Preston (2) and Jayden James (1). The pair agreed to share custody following their separation, but the court ordered the children taken into their father’s care on Oct. 1, 2007, following increasingly erratic behavior by Spears.
Her rights to see the children were temporarily suspended Jan. 14, following an incident Jan. 3, wherein Spears refused to let her sons return home after a scheduled visit and was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation. After a second hospitalization later in the month, Spears’ father, James, was made co-conservator of her estate.
Spears’ legal victory Tuesday is the latest bit of good news for the troubled singer, who, in addition to appearing in March on CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother,” has enjoyed strong sales of her latest album, “Blackout,” which has also been a hit with critics.
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/7/08 — For the second time in less than two weeks,(see related HT story) troubled Britain’s troubled “popwreck” and multi-Grammy Award winning singer, Amy Winehouse is once again comfortably being afforded housing and enjoying the surroundings of a London jail. This time, it’s on drug charges. Last month the star spent a night in prison in London on common assault.charges for head butting a fellow club goer and punching out another!
According to Scotland Yard, the “Rehab” singer showed up “voluntarily” again to turn herself in at the police station only to be arrested for further questioning concerning the “infamous” home video footage of her allegedly smoking crack cocaine back in January.
The official statement read, “Around 1pm today a 24-year-old woman from the Camden area attended a London police station by arrangement and was arrested in connection with the alleged possession of a controlled drug. She remains in custody. This is in connection with an investigation connected to footage passed to the Metropolitan Police on January 22.”
Footage obtained by The Sun, A British tabloid newspaper, showed the troubled singer inhaling fumes coming from a crack pipe following an almost-20 minute binge on drugs. And on January 22nd, a newspaper published the photos.
Amy’s publicist has been decidedly tight-lipped about the whole ordeal, only saying, “She is being questioned in a police station. We will be releasing a statement later.”
Photographers and television cameras have gathered outside Limehouse police station in east London where Ms Winehouse is believed to be held.
Hasselhoff says being judge on America’s Got Talent reminded him of his other ambitions
By Viola Stephens
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/7/08 — David Hasselhoff (55), troubled yet celebrated star of Baywatch andKnight Rider, looks younger than ever.Pumped up with muscles and only pure water,he told Hollywood Today “I am making a “crazy fun Hasselhoff show in Las Vegas telling my life story.”
Being vague about the venue, he says that he might start off at the Mandalay Bay doing two shows, one for kids during the day and one for the grown-up audience at night. He even considers a sexy after hour show.
“I appeal to Barry Manilow fans as well as to Sponge Bob kids”, he says. “And I love Las Vegas.”
It seemsThe Hoff, how he calls himself, found his true spirit. “Yes, I had my down times but being recently at the Coachella Music Festival listening to 50.000 people channeling “The Hoff”. I thought I am such an idiot. People love me.”
Hasselhoffretainsthe rights to more than 50 of his albums and singles, including “I don’t do Sex,David Hasselhoff sings America andWir zwei allein heut’ Nacht, which made him one of Germany’s top-selling music artists.
Serving as judge on television’s newly popular showsAmerica’s Got Talent , Hasselhoff rediscovered his passion for singing. “This show gives me such inspiration”, he admits. “I should make James Bond movies. But then with being a judge I make dreams come true.”
Hasselhoff was last seen in NBC’s remake of the television series Knight Rider.
Tired of the limelight, Jason Castro’s missteps may have been purposeful
By Matthew B. Zeidman
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/7/08 – The crestfallen backers of Michael Johns, Carly Smithson and Brooke White all got to enjoy just a little bit of schadenfreude Tuesday night, when “American Idol” underdog Jason Castro descended from the realm of mediocre to just plain terrible, catching the judges’ ire with his channeling of Bob Marley (“I Shot the Sheriff”) and forgetting an entire verse of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man.”
Even soft-touch judge Paula Abdul couldn’t help but criticize Castro’s rendition of “I Shot the Sheriff,” and fellow commentator Simon Cowell was visibly horrified, telling the dreadlocked singer just choosing a Marley song was a big mistake.
Castro’s second performance was technically better, but humming several missing lines only snowballed the residual negativity from his first attempt of the night, leading Cowell to suggest he should pack his bags in anticipation of elimination.
Of course, Tuesday’s spectacle wasn’t completely unexpected. Just one week ago, Castro, himself, told an “Entertainment Weekly” reporter that he was being overwhelmed by the attention he was getting and that he was “kind of ready to go home.” The 21-year-old reality show veteran even went so far as to admit that he had neglected learning his songs that week in favor of visiting with family.
Castro’s revelation that he may be done contending for the “American Idol” crown, coupled with what was easily his (and perhaps the entire contestant pool’s) worst song choices and performances of the season, might finally be enough to stick to the previously untouchable contestant.
While the young guitarist’s fans have been fiercely loyal so far, keeping him out of the dreaded “bottom two” throughout the entire competition, perhaps it’s time they respect Castro’s apparent decision to stop seriously competing and let the remaining finalists—David Archuleta, David Cook and Syesha Mercado—go after the championship with true talent and zeal. One wonders the point of voting for Castro, if he doesn’t really want it?
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