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| Whitney Houston's FBI files show fan letters, possible extortion Monday, Mar 04, 2013 05:08 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The FBI on Monday released decades-old files on late pop singer Whitney Houston, detailing letters from obsessed fans and an alleged extortion attempt investigated by the bureau. The 128 pages from Houston's files posted online on the FBI's website showed one fan's attention-seeking letters but did not divulge any new insights into the troubled singer's personal life. Houston, known both for her soaring ballads and well chronicled history of drug abuse, was found dead last year in a Beverly Hills hotel bathtub. She was 48. ... Full Story | Top |
| Dinner with Spain's elBulli chef to be sold at auction Monday, Mar 04, 2013 05:02 PM PST  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fans of Spain's award-winning elBulli restaurant who did not get there before it closed will get a chance to eat with its celebrated chef when dinners with Ferran Adria are sold at auctions, Sotheby's said on Monday. The two dinners, each for four people, will be among the highlights of sales next month in Hong Kong and New York, when the restaurant's wine cellar, equipment and memorabilia will also go under the hammer. "It is a unique experience ... ... Full Story | Top |
| "Mad Men" lawsuit: Model sues over title sequence Monday, Mar 04, 2013 04:45 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The hit AMC drama "Mad Men" has depicted all sorts of unsavory behavior among members of the advertising community. Now the show is being accused of the sort of unscrupulous activities that would make Don Draper blush. Model Gita Hall May has filed suit against Lions Gate Entertainment, alleging that the opening title sequence uses her image without permission, and that the show has failed to compensate her for the use of the image. ... Full Story | Top |
| "Schindler's List" red coat girl was "horrified" by Spielberg's film before being "proud" Monday, Mar 04, 2013 02:54 PM PST LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Oliwia Dabrowska, the polish actress who played Red Genia - otherwise known as the little girl in the red coat - in "Schindler's List," really wishes she had taken director Steven Spielberg's advice and not watched the Holocaust drama until she was 18. In an interview published Monday by UK newspaper the Times, Dabrowska says she ignored Spielberg's direction to "grow up into the film and watched the film at the age of 11, only to be "horrified" by what she saw. "It was too horrible," the now 23-year-old university student explained. ... Full Story | Top |
| "Gilmore Girls" star Alexis Bledel tapped for Fox relationship comedy pilot Monday, Mar 04, 2013 02:52 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Alexis Bledel is eyeing a regular return to the small screen. Bledel, who starred as Rory Gilmore on "Gilmore Girls" for seven years, has been cast as the female lead in Fox's comedy pilot "Friends and Family." The series, based on the BBC series "Gavin & Stacey," follows the long distance budding romance of a couple whose romantic relationship is constantly disrupted by their friends and family. Bledel will star opposite Jason Ritter as the female half of the beleaguered couple. ... Full Story | Top |
| Rebecca Hall joins Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany in "Transcendence" Monday, Mar 04, 2013 02:49 PM PST  NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Rebecca Hall has joined Johnny Depp and Paul Bettany in the cast "Transcendence," the directorial debut of Oscar-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister, Alcon Entertainment announced on Monday. Hall, who played Ben Affleck's love interest in "The Town," worked with Pfister on Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige." Pfister has been Nolan's cinematographer on every film since "Memento" and will try his hand at directing with this sci-fi thriller. Alcon Entertainment is financing and producing the project, which will begin principal photography in Los Angeles this April. ... Full Story | Top |
| Will pricey "Oz" stay on track after "Jack" got whacked at box office? Monday, Mar 04, 2013 02:47 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - If the box office were baseball, Warner Bros and Disney would be sluggers, the kind of hitters that hush the crowd, take a mighty rip and then hit it out of the park. Or strike out. That whooshing sound you heard over the weekend was WB swinging and missing with its costly and effects-laden fairy tale "Jack the Giant Slayer." Next up, Disney, with its own pricey CGI fantasy, "The Great and Powerful Oz.," which opens Friday. ... Full Story | Top |
| Jamie Lee Curtis rips Monday, Mar 04, 2013 02:38 PM PST  NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Jamie Lee Curtis says Oscar host Seth MacFarlane turned the ceremony into a "cheesy vaudeville show" with his song, "We Saw Your Boobs." Curtis said the song, which noted nudity by some of Hollywood's top actresses, demeaned the telecast. MacFarlane has also come in for criticism because some of the nudity he described during the song occurred during rape scenes. "The 'boob' song, as it will be known in perpetuity, may go down as the highest-rated Oscar number in history, but at what cost?" Curtis wrote in the Huffington Post. ... Full Story | Top |
| "Charlie's Angels" Alum Annie Ilonzeh joins NBC's "Hatfields & McCoys" pilot Monday, Mar 04, 2013 02:35 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Annie Ilonzeh has found herself in the middle of a family feud. Ilonzeh, who starred on ABC's short-lived 2011 revamp of "Charlie's Angels," has been cast in NBC "Hatfields & McCoys" pilot. Ilonzeh will play Shannon Hatfield, the adopted daughter of Rebecca De Mornay's Mary Hatfield. Shannon develops a romantic interest in Patrick McCoy (played by "As the World Turns" star Jesse Lee Soffer) - which could prove to be problematic, as the two families have a history of not getting along so well together. ... Full Story | Top |
| Sundance expands film festival to Hollywood this summer Monday, Mar 04, 2013 02:31 PM PST  NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Sundance is coming to Los Angeles. The Sundance Institute will launch a four-day film festival in Hollywood this summer, an extension of the Sundance Film Festival's NEXT section. That section of the Park City, Utah-based festival features films that take risks with visual and narrative style, defined by little more than their audacious filmmakers. It launched in 2010, and has been home to such projects as Craig Zobel's divisive thriller "Compliance," Mike Birbiglia's "Sleepwalk With Me" and Alexandre Moors' unreleased "Blue Caprice. ... Full Story | Top |
| Fox renews "The Following," "New Girl," "Mindy Project," "Raising Hope" Monday, Mar 04, 2013 02:28 PM PST NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Fox has ordered a second season of the new Kevin Bacon serial killer drama "The Following" and the freshman comedy "The Mindy Project," as well as new seasons of the sitcoms "New Girl" and "Raising Hope." "New Girl" will return for a third season, and "Raising Hope" for a fourth. Fox has had high hopes for "The Following," which has earned decent ratings since its much-hyped January debut. Network entertainment president Kevin Reilly has said he believes it could be an Emmy contender. Its second season, like its first, will be 15 episodes. ... Full Story | Top |
| Saint Laurent goes grunge for winter, Stella sees volume Monday, Mar 04, 2013 02:12 PM PST  PARIS (Reuters) - With the spirit of 1990s grunge pervading the runway, it wasn't your mother's YSL at the Saint Laurent fashion show in Paris on Monday night. New designer Hedi Slimane channeled the Seattle scene in the era of grunge-rock band Nirvana. Models in ratty Courtney Love hairdos moved sullenly down the catwalk, with shapeless plaid lumberjack shirts covering babydoll dresses cut up to there. ... Full Story | Top |
| Viacom CEO calls Cablevision lawsuit "frivolous" Monday, Mar 04, 2013 12:00 PM PST  (Reuters) - Viacom Inc Chief Executive Philippe Dauman criticized Cablevision Corp on Monday for filing an "ill-advised and frivolous" antitrust lawsuit against Viacom that he said would just turn into a waste of legal fees. Dauman's remarks, his first public response to the lawsuit, come a week after Cablevision accused Viacom Inc of illegally forcing it to pay for more than a dozen low-rated cable networks in order to get access to Viacom's most popular channels, including Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central. ... Full Story | Top |
| "Walking Dead" creator Robert Kirkman developing exorcism series Monday, Mar 04, 2013 11:56 AM PST LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Break out the holy water: "Walking Dead" creator Robert Kirkman is moving on from zombies to exorcisms. Kirkman is developing an exorcism series with "Walking Dead" distributor Fox International Channels, based on Kirkman's upcoming comic-book series based in the world of exorcism. The series will follow a young man, Kyle Barnes, who has been plagued by possession since he was a child. Now an adult, he embarks on a spiritual journey to find answers. But what he uncovers could mean the end of life on Earth as we know it. ... Full Story | Top |
| News Ltd sells New Zealand Sky TV stake Monday, Mar 04, 2013 11:55 AM PST WELLINGTON (Reuters) - News Corporation has sold its near 44 percent stake in New Zealand's dominant pay television operator, Sky Network Television Ltd, although no immediate details on the price were available, the companies said on Tuesday. Sky TV said it had been informed that News had sold the shares to a range of institutional and retail investors. The pay-television company's closing price on Friday was NZ$5.17. Media reports had suggested the shares were being sold at a discount of around 7 percent at NZ$4.80 each. A trading halt imposed on Monday was lifted. ... Full Story | Top |
| Pilot season: TheWrap's best bets, Part I Monday, Mar 04, 2013 11:51 AM PST  NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - We think we can guess what you'll be watching on TV next season. As the broadcast networks root through nearly a hundred pilots, trying to decide which ones deserve to become series, we'd like to offer our extremely early bets on which will get the green light for 2013-14. We're making our predictions based on the talent and creators involved, each network's needs and, well, what looks cool. Consult out our list of every broadcast network pilot to look for shows you think we missed. ... Full Story | Top |
| Former Village Voice film editor Dennis Lim to program Lincoln Center Film Society Monday, Mar 04, 2013 11:04 AM PST NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - The Film Society of Lincoln Center has appointed former Village Voice film editor Dennis Lim as its new Director of Programming, a position previously held by Robert Koehler. Koehler is resigning due to unspecified family health problems and moving back to Los Angeles. Koehler, a critic and festival programmer, took the job in September after Richard Pena, head of programming for both the center and the New York Film Festival, stepped down. Koehler has written for such publications as the Christian Science Monitor and Variety. ... Full Story | Top |
| Wu-Tang's The Rza joins Fox pilot "Gang Related" Monday, Mar 04, 2013 11:01 AM PST NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Wu-hoo: Wu-Tang Clan mastermind The Rza has joined the Fox pilot "Gang Related." The rapper/producer/actor/director/producer will co-star on the series about a gang member (Ramon Rodriguez) who infiltrates the San Fracisco police department and finds his loyalties torn between his old family and his new one. The Rza, born Robert Driggs, has a slew of acting credits, including in "The Man With the Iron Fists," which he also co-wrote and directed. His TV credits include Showtime's "Californication. ... Full Story | Top |
| Keith Olbermann wants to return to ESPN; ESPN not interested (Report) Monday, Mar 04, 2013 10:56 AM PST  NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Keith Olbermann has burned a lot of bridges, but seems eager to build one back to ESPN. The anchor, who is suing his most recent employer, Current TV, has made several overtures to the sports network he left in 1997, the New York Times reports. His efforts included a recent dinner with ESPN president John Skipper. Skipper told the newspaper he had dinner with the former "Sportscenter" co-host because he believed Olbermann would be "provocative and witty and fun to have dinner with." He added that Olbermann "was indeed lots of fun. ... Full Story | Top |
| Chinese reach out to U.S. screenwriters with competition Monday, Mar 04, 2013 10:45 AM PST LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - China's film industry is reaching out to U.S. screenwriters with a first-of-its-kind competition designed to foster artistic collaboration between China and the U.S. On behalf of the Cultural Assets Office of the Beijing municipal government, director Huiguang Zhang on Monday will announce the launch of the 2013 Beijing International Screenwriting Competition. Open to U.S.-based contestants of all nationalities, the competition is asking writers to submit both short film and feature film screenplays centered on Beijing and its multifaceted culture. ... Full Story | Top |
| Telecom Italia Media sells La7 channel for 1 million euros Monday, Mar 04, 2013 10:41 AM PST MILAN (Reuters) - Telecom Italia Media said on Monday it would pump money into its cash-burning La7 channel before offloading it to media firm Cairo Communication for a token price. The Italian broadcaster, controlled by telecoms group Telecom Italia, has agreed to sell its flagship network for 1 million euros in a deal that underscores the difficulties of Italy's media industry. "I have taken on a hot potato," the head of Cairo Communication, Urbano Cairo, said in a radio interview after a Telecom Italia Media board meeting on Monday to approve the deal. ... Full Story | Top |
| Supermodel Heidi Klum new judge on NBC's "America's Got Talent" Monday, Mar 04, 2013 09:59 AM PST  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Supermodel and television host Heidi Klum said on Monday that she will be a new judge on the popular summer TV talent show "American's Got Talent." Klum will be the fourth judge on the talent show created by British entertainment mogul Simon Cowell. She joins comedian Howie Mandel, radio "shock jock" Howard Stern and former Spice Girl Mel B on the show hosted by Nick Cannon. "Excited 2 join @HowardStern @howiemandel @OfficialMelB & @NickCannon on @nbcagt as new judge! Will be so fun," Klum tweeted. Broadcaster NBC said Klum, 39, adds a discerning taste to the jury panel. ... Full Story | Top |
| Violin found in Bulgaria may be Stradivarius stolen in London Monday, Mar 04, 2013 09:46 AM PST  LONDON (Reuters) - British detectives are investigating whether a violin recovered during a police operation in Bulgaria is a $1.8 million Stradivarius stolen from a London train station more than two years ago. The 300-year-old violin was snatched from Euston station in central London in November 2010, when its owner, Korean-born classical musician Min-Jin Kym, stopped at a restaurant to buy a sandwich. Two bows stored inside the instrument's case, a Peccatte worth 62,000 pounds and another made by the School of Bazin valued at more than 5,000 pounds, were also taken. ... Full Story | Top |
| Recluse behind Zara is now world's third richest man Monday, Mar 04, 2013 08:49 AM PST  MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's Amancio Ortega, elevated by Forbes to become the third richest person in the world, may have discovered fashion's secret of eternal youth. The "fast fashion" tycoon's estimated net worth of $57 billion is built on a formula of endless renewal, with dresses and blouses displayed in thousands of Zara stores worldwide for only a few days before they are taken off the rails and replaced with an even newer line of must-have garments. Customers know they have to buy the clothes quickly if they want them because they will not be available for long. ... Full Story | Top |
| Opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa to act, sing in Downton Abbey Monday, Mar 04, 2013 08:34 AM PST  LONDON (Reuters) - New Zealand opera star Kiri Te Kanawa will act, and sing, in an upcoming episode of the hit British stately home drama "Downton Abbey", a spokeswoman for the ITV series said on Monday. The 68-year-old singer will play a house guest staying at Downton Abbey, joining the award-winning cast in the fourth season of the period drama that has won large audiences in Britain and the United States. ... Full Story | Top |
| Oprah Winfrey to deliver commencement address at Harvard Monday, Mar 04, 2013 06:57 AM PST  BOSTON (Reuters) - Talk show host, entrepreneur and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey will deliver this year's graduation address at Harvard University, the Ivy League school said on Monday. "Oprah's journey from her grandmother's Mississippi farm to becoming one of the world's most admired women is one of the great American success stories," Harvard President Drew Faust said in announcing her selection. Winfrey will join a long list of politicians, policy makers, captains of industry and authors - including George Marshall, Bill Gates and J.K. ... Full Story | Top |
| Dutch police arrest Romanian woman in connection with art heist Monday, Mar 04, 2013 06:50 AM PST  AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch police arrested a 19-year-old Romanian woman on Monday in connection with the audacious theft last October of paintings including a Picasso and a Monet from an art gallery in Rotterdam, police said. The woman was the girlfriend of one of two Romanian men arrested in Romania in January in connection with the heist, one of the most dramatic in years, in which seven paintings were stolen. ... Full Story | Top |
| Think bling as Mongolian youth rap away their cares Sunday, Mar 03, 2013 09:00 PM PST  BEIJING (Reuters) - Forget nomads, heavy tents and epic songs chanted after a long day of herding across vast grasslands. These days, Mongolian young people are entranced by rap. Born on the mean streets of U.S. cities and fanned by frustrated youth, rap and the hip-hop culture it extols are helping young Mongolians express the stresses of dealing with an increasingly urban society and all its woes. ... Full Story | Top |
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