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| CA-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Wednesday, May 01, 2013 08:47 PM PDT 'Great Gatsby' filmmaker wants to inspire summer of lavish parties (Reuters) - The latest big-screen adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" gets its world premiere in New York on Wednesday, kicking off what film director Baz Luhrmann hopes will be a summer of extravagant Gatsby-inspired parties. "Is there a book that captures summer in New York more accurately, more viscerally than 'The Great Gatsby'? I don't think so," Luhrmann told Reuters ahead of the film's premiere and May 10 U.S. release date. ... Full Story | Top |
| US-MUSIC Summary Wednesday, May 01, 2013 08:47 PM PDT Beyonce, J.Lo to headline London charity concert for women LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Florence & The Machine are teaming up for a four-hour charity concert in London next month to benefit women's health and education projects around the world. The "Sound of Change Live" concert on June 1 in London's Twickenham sports stadium could fund at least 120 projects supporting girls and women in more than 70 nations, if all the tickets are sold, organizers said on Wednesday. ... Full Story | Top |
| Kris Kross rapper Chris 'Mac Daddy' Kelly dies at 34 Wednesday, May 01, 2013 08:46 PM PDT ATLANTA (Reuters) - Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly, one half of the 1990s rap duo Kris Kross, has died at an Atlanta hospital at the age of 34, a Fulton County Medical Examiner's spokesman said on Wednesday. Dumonder Dawson, an investigator for the medical examiner's office, said Kelly died on Wednesday evening. He declined to discuss the cause of the rapper's death. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper reported that Kelly had been found unresponsive at his home and that an autopsy had been scheduled for Thursday morning. ... Full Story | Top |
| Kriss Kross rapper Chris 'Mac Daddy' Kelly dies at 34 Wednesday, May 01, 2013 08:19 PM PDT ATLANTA (Reuters) - Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly, one half of the 1990s rap duo Kriss Kross, has died at an Atlanta hospital at the age of 34, a Fulton County Medical Examiner's spokesman said on Wednesday. Dumonder Dawson, an investigator for the medical examiner's office, said Kelly died on Wednesday evening. He declined to discuss the cause of the rapper's death. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper reported that Kelly had been found unresponsive at his home and that an autopsy had been scheduled for Thursday morning. ... Full Story | Top |
| US-FILM Summary Wednesday, May 01, 2013 06:34 PM PDT 'Great Gatsby' filmmaker wants to inspire summer of lavish parties (Reuters) - The latest big-screen adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" gets its world premiere in New York on Wednesday, kicking off what film director Baz Luhrmann hopes will be a summer of extravagant Gatsby-inspired parties. "Is there a book that captures summer in New York more accurately, more viscerally than 'The Great Gatsby'? I don't think so," Luhrmann told Reuters ahead of the film's premiere and May 10 U.S. release date. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Great Gatsby' filmmaker wants to inspire summer of lavish parties Wednesday, May 01, 2013 06:34 PM PDT  By Zorianna Kit (Reuters) - The latest big-screen adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" gets its world premiere in New York on Wednesday, kicking off what film director Baz Luhrmann hopes will be a summer of extravagant Gatsby-inspired parties. "Is there a book that captures summer in New York more accurately, more viscerally than 'The Great Gatsby'? I don't think so," Luhrmann told Reuters ahead of the film's premiere and May 10 U.S. release date. ... Full Story | Top |
| Native American tribe plans to dub 'Star Wars' in Navajo Wednesday, May 01, 2013 06:18 PM PDT  By David Schwartz PHOENIX (Reuters) - The largest Native American tribe in the United States is seeking to dub the classic 1977 movie "Star Wars" movie in Navajo as a way to help preserve its traditional language. Fluent Navajo speakers have been invited for a casting call in Window Rock in northern Arizona on Friday and Saturday to dub the roles of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and others, tribal officials said. ... Full Story | Top |
| Kelsey Grammer to play human villain in Michael Bay's 'Transformers 4' Wednesday, May 01, 2013 05:25 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Director Michael Bay has tapped Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer to play the human antagonist in Paramount's "Transformers 4," TheWrap has learned. Grammer joins a revamped cast that includes Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci, as well as up-and-coming actors Jack Reynor ("What Richard Did") and Nicole Peltz ("Bates Motel"). Grammer, who recently won a Golden Globe for his turn as a scheming politician (is there any other kind?) on Starz's "Boss," will play a counter-intelligence operative who figures prominently in the plot. ... Full Story | Top |
| US-TELEVISION Summary Wednesday, May 01, 2013 05:23 PM PDT Jon Cryer nearing deal to star in Ricky Blitt's comedy 'Hit By Lightning' By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - After securing a hefty raise, "Two and a Half Men" star Jon Cryer is in final negotiations to star in the indie comedy "Hit By Lightning," which marks the feature directorial debut of former "Family Guy" writer-producer Ricky Blitt. J.J. Abrams to be honored with International Emmy Founders Award By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Star Trek" director J.J. Abrams is about to boldly do what he's never done before: receive the International Emmy Founders Award. ... Full Story | Top |
| Jon Cryer nearing deal to star in Ricky Blitt's comedy 'Hit By Lightning' Wednesday, May 01, 2013 05:23 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - After securing a hefty raise, "Two and a Half Men" star Jon Cryer is in final negotiations to star in the indie comedy "Hit By Lightning," which marks the feature directorial debut of former "Family Guy" writer-producer Ricky Blitt. Blitt wrote the script, which is described as a cross between "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" and "Body Heat." Cryer is nearing a deal to play a single fast food manager who finally finds love with the perfect woman, but there's a catch - she's married and wants him to kill her husband. ... Full Story | Top |
| AMC inks first-look deal with Ridley Scott's Scott Free productions Wednesday, May 01, 2013 05:22 PM PDT  By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - AMC has inked a first look deal with Ridley Scott's Scott Free productions. Under the pact, the company will develop and produce scripted television projects for the cable channel. "Scott Free boasts such an impressive list of credits in both film and television and we look forward to collaborating with a company that shares this same vision for and commitment to great material," said AMC's executive vice president of original programming, production and digital content, Joel Stillerman, in a statement. ... Full Story | Top |
| US-INDUSTRY Summary Wednesday, May 01, 2013 04:49 PM PDT Viacom and CBS beat expectations in tough TV ad market (Reuters) - Sumner Redstone had a good day on Wednesday as his two companies Viacom Inc and CBS Corp reported quarterly results that beat Wall Street estimates on the back of unexpectedly strong TV advertising revenue. Viacom reversed a long ad revenue slide, surprising analysts by posting growth in the first quarter. CBS reported a profit that easily beat the most optimistic of Wall Street estimates, as special events helped its broadcast network increase ad revenue by 8 percent. ... Full Story | Top |
| CBS profit gains on advertising, cable revenue Wednesday, May 01, 2013 04:48 PM PDT By Lisa Richwine (Reuters) - Broadcaster CBS Corp reported a better-than-expected first-quarter profit, boosted by advertising during February's Super Bowl telecast and a jump in revenue from Showtime and its other cable channels. The company recorded $463 million in net earnings for the January through March period, a 17.5 percent increase from $394 million a year earlier, CBS said on Wednesday. Adjusted earnings per share reached 73 cents, up from 59 cents last year. ... Full Story | Top |
| US-PEOPLE Summary Wednesday, May 01, 2013 04:02 PM PDT Beyonce, J.Lo to headline London charity concert for women LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Florence & The Machine are teaming up for a four-hour charity concert in London next month to benefit women's health and education projects around the world. The "Sound of Change Live" concert on June 1 in London's Twickenham sports stadium could fund at least 120 projects supporting girls and women in more than 70 nations, if all the tickets are sold, organizers said on Wednesday. ... Full Story | Top |
| Beyonce, J.Lo to headline London charity concert for women Wednesday, May 01, 2013 04:01 PM PDT  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Florence & The Machine are teaming up for a four-hour charity concert in London next month to benefit women's health and education projects around the world. The "Sound of Change Live" concert on June 1 in London's Twickenham sports stadium could fund at least 120 projects supporting girls and women in more than 70 nations, if all the tickets are sold, organizers said on Wednesday. ... Full Story | Top |
| Laura Bush, top country singers headline George Jones memorial Wednesday, May 01, 2013 03:48 PM PDT (Reuters) - Country music legend George Jones will be remembered in a public memorial service featuring former First Lady Laura Bush and a list of speakers and musical performers including Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson on Thursday at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee. Jones, whose honky-tonk career spanned more than six decades, died in Nashville last week at the age of 81. The memorial service will be open to the public, the singer's publicist announced. ... Full Story | Top |
| Viacom and CBS beat expectations in tough TV ad market Wednesday, May 01, 2013 03:23 PM PDT  By Jennifer Saba and Liana B. Baker (Reuters) - Sumner Redstone had a good day on Wednesday as his two companies Viacom Inc and CBS Corp reported quarterly results that beat Wall Street estimates on the back of unexpectedly strong TV advertising revenue. Viacom reversed a long ad revenue slide, surprising analysts by posting growth in the first quarter. CBS reported a profit that easily beat the most optimistic of Wall Street estimates, as special events helped its broadcast network increase ad revenue by 8 percent. Viacom shares touched a new multiyear high before closing up 2. ... Full Story | Top |
| School of Visual Arts leads Student Academy Awards finalists Wednesday, May 01, 2013 02:59 PM PDT By Steve Pond LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The School of Visual Arts in New York City leads all schools in this year's Student Academy Awards competition, which has been narrowed down to a list of finalists released by the Academy on Wednesday. Five films produced at the school made the list of 34 U.S. films and nine foreign films, which will compete in five separate categories for the Student Oscars. ... Full Story | Top |
| J.J. Abrams to be honored with International Emmy Founders Award Wednesday, May 01, 2013 02:57 PM PDT  By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Star Trek" director J.J. Abrams is about to boldly do what he's never done before: receive the International Emmy Founders Award. Abrams is being honored with the Founders Award at this year's International Emmy Awards, which take place November 25 in New York. International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences president & CEO Bruce L. Paisner made the announcement on Wednesday, calling Abrams "a master of all forms of entertainment." Abrams, he said, "has made an indelible mark on our global culture," Paisner said. ... Full Story | Top |
| John Oliver takes over 'Daily Show With Jon Stewart' in June Wednesday, May 01, 2013 02:54 PM PDT By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Comedy Central's "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" will have a new face at the anchor desk starting Monday, June 10 at 11/10c. Correspondent John Oliver will take over for Jon Stewart through September 3. "Don't worry, it's still going to be everything that you love about 'The Daily Show,' just without the thing that you love the most about it," joked Oliver in a statement. ... Full Story | Top |
| Adam Driver in talks to reteam with director Noah Baumbach on 'While We're Young' Wednesday, May 01, 2013 02:52 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - After working together on "Frances Ha," Adam Driver is in talks to reteam with writer-director Noah Baumbach on his upcoming "While We're Young," several individuals familiar with the long-gestating project have told TheWrap. Driver's representative at the Gersh Agency did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Baumbach's "Greenberg" actor Ben Stiller has long been attached to star in the film, which follows a fortysomething couple that strikes up an unlikely friendship with a free-spirited younger couple. ... Full Story | Top |
| George Jones funeral: Laura Bush, Mike Huckabee to speak; Charlie Daniels, Brad Paisley to perform Wednesday, May 01, 2013 02:50 PM PDT By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Country music legend George Jones, who died last week at the age of 81, will receive a star-studded sendoff at his funeral at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Thursday, with a ceremony that will include speakers such as former First Lady Laura Bush and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, as well as musical performances from an array of musicians including Charlie Daniels, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley and others. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Downton Abbey' adds first black character Wednesday, May 01, 2013 02:48 PM PDT By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - It appears that history is catching up with "Downton Abbey." Or perhaps it's the other way around. "Downton Abbey" has officially added its first black cast member to the show. London-born Gary Carr will join the popular British period drama for its fourth season. Carr has appeared on television series "Bluestone 42" and "Death in Paradise." Carr will play Jack Ross, a charming and charismatic jazz singer. "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes had been criticized for the show's lack of diversity. ... Full Story | Top |
| "Iron Man 3" shatters midnight record at China box office Wednesday, May 01, 2013 02:47 PM PDT  By Todd Cunningham LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Iron Man 3" shattered China's box-office record for midnight shows on Wednesday, taking in a reported $2.1 million from approximately 2,500 screenings. That tops the mark set by "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," which made $1.9 million in its late-night debut back in 2011, according to BoxOffice.com. That's a good sign for Disney's Marvel superhero sequel, as "Transformers" went on to rake in $145 million during its entire China run. "The Avengers" brought in about $91 million last year. China, the world's No. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Veep' Gets Third Term; HBO Renew Wednesday, May 01, 2013 02:45 PM PDT  By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Veep" has been elected for a third season. HBO has renewed the series, which stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, the vice president of the United States. The cast also includes Tony Hale as Meyer's right-hand man Gary; Anna Chlumsky as chief of staff Amy, and Reid Scott as political aide Dan, among others. The third season, which will consist of 10 episodes, will premiere next year. "Veep" premiered its second season April 14. Its most recent episode, on Sunday at 10 p.m., drew 1.3 million total viewers, a high so far this season. ... Full Story | Top |
| Why the Rock is the first pro wrestler (or athlete) to become a movie star Wednesday, May 01, 2013 02:41 PM PDT  By Lucas Shaw NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Ask a group of pro wrestling fans to name their favorite lord of the ring and you might get 10 different answers. Older fans grew up idolizing Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and "Nature Boy" Ric Flair while newer fans might list Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin and John Cena. Yet ask those same people to pick their favorite wrestler-turned-movie star and the decision gets a whole lot easier. There's only one choice. Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, has starred in three movies over the past three months, "Snitch," "G. ... Full Story | Top |
| Supersized U.S. finale for 'The Office' but no Steve Carell Wednesday, May 01, 2013 02:36 PM PDT  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Award-winning comedy "The Office" is hoping to get an extra-long episode for the series finale later this month, but Steve Carell's bumbling office manager Michael Scott won't be joining the farewell party, the producer of the TV comedy said on Wednesday. Greg Daniels, executive producer of the U.S. mockumentary workplace comedy, said the May 16 finale will be patterned after the original British version, in which the characters reunited after becoming famous as reality TV stars. ... Full Story | Top |
| Jackson doctor was 'in desperate financial straits': trial witness Wednesday, May 01, 2013 02:32 PM PDT  By Brandon Lowrey LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Jackson's personal doctor was in financial and legal troubles at the time of the singer's death, a Los Angeles detective testified on Wednesday in the wrongful death lawsuit brought by Jackson's family against concert promoters AEG Live. Conrad Murray was "in desperate financial straits," and under legal pressure with liens against his property in Nevada, Los Angeles police detective Orlando Martinez told a jury in the civil trial. ... Full Story | Top |
| PepsiCo pulls Mountain Dew ad criticized for racism Wednesday, May 01, 2013 01:17 PM PDT (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc pulled an online ad for Mountain Dew on Wednesday after criticism from bloggers that the spot embraced racial stereotypes and made light of violence toward women. The ad was developed by African-American hip-hop artist Tyler the Creator and shows a battered white woman on crutches trying to pick out her assailant from a police lineup featuring five African-American men and a goat. As she scans the lineup, the goat threatens her: "Keep ya mouth shut," "snitches get stitches, fool" and "I'ma get outta here I'ma do you up. ... Full Story | Top |
| Booted 'Smash' creator speaks out: see, it wasn't my fault Wednesday, May 01, 2013 01:10 PM PDT  By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - For the ousted creator of NBC's "Smash," the responsibility for the show's demise doesn't lie at her feet. In a spirited email exchange with BuzzFeed's chief Los Angeles correspondent, Theresa Rebeck feels that the show's rapidly dwindling ratings and exile to live out the rest of its days on Saturday nights proves that she wasn't the one who ruined the show. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Iron Man 3' ticket prices soaring up to $25 in China Wednesday, May 01, 2013 01:08 PM PDT  By Todd Cunningham LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Big-city moviegoers in China are paying up to $25 per person to see "Iron Man 3," which opened Wednesday, while their rural counterparts could pay as little as $3 a ticket to see the same movie. In that crucial, and growing, market for Hollywood, the government controls ticket prices. Under its tiered pricing structure, moviegoers in Beijing pay an even higher premium for 3D and Imax presentations than those in New York or Los Angeles. ... Full Story | Top |
| Sergei Bodrov to direct Black List script 'Blood Mountain' Wednesday, May 01, 2013 01:03 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov, whose big-budget fantasy film "The Seventh Son" hits theaters in October, is attached to direct the 2011 Black List script "Blood Mountain" for Derby Street Films and Lawrence Bender Productions, TheWrap has learned. Written on spec by Jonathan W. Stokes, "Blood Mountain" is described as an Afghan-based thriller that follows a young army ranger whose team is ambushed and killed in Pakistan, forcing him to personally escort the world's most wanted terrorist over dangerous terrain in order to bring him to justice. ... Full Story | Top |
| DreamWorks Animation to buy YouTube channel AwesomenessTV Wednesday, May 01, 2013 12:59 PM PDT By Lisa Richwine (Reuters) - DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc has agreed to buy teen- oriented YouTube network AwesomenessTV to secure an online platform to showcase family-focused movie franchises such as "Shrek" and "Kung Fu Panda." DreamWorks said on Wednesday it will pay about $33 million in cash to acquire AwesomenessTV, with additional payments of up to $117 million if earnings targets are met in 2014 and 2015. The transaction is expected to be completed this month, it said. ... Full Story | Top |
| Mariah Carey goes as Cinderella for Disneyland wedding vow renewal Wednesday, May 01, 2013 11:29 AM PDT  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In a sumptuous princess ceremony that shut down Disneyland, Mariah Carey and her comedian husband Nick Cannon renewed their weddings vows and celebrated the second birthday of their twins. Wearing matching Cinderella and Prince Charming-style costumes, and riding in a horse-drawn crystal carriage, the "We Belong Together" singer and the "American Idol" judge tweeted photos and video of the celebration on Tuesday night at the southern California theme park. "On our way to renew our vows. I love you Nick Cannon shut down Disneyland," Carey tweeted. ... Full Story | Top |
| Michael Buble grabs top spot on Billboard 200 album chart Wednesday, May 01, 2013 11:19 AM PDT  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Canadian singer Michael Buble went straight to the top of the weekly Billboard 200 album chart, scoring his fourth No. 1 album. "To Be Loved" - a mix of standards and original songs - sold 195,000 copies in its first week, beating out its nearest competitor by more than 100,000 according to figures on Wednesday from Nielsen SoundScan. The 37-year-old singer's follow-up to his 2011 "Christmas" album had already topped the charts in the U.K. following its April 15 release there. ... Full Story | Top |
| Boosted by digital, Hollywood home entertainment sales grow 5 percent Wednesday, May 01, 2013 11:12 AM PDT  By Ronald Grover (Reuters) - Hollywood studios saw sales of Blu-ray, online distribution and other home viewing of their movies grow by 5 percent in the first quarter in comparison to only 0.23 percent for all of last year. Consumers spent $4.7 billion in the quarter to buy Blu-ray discs, subscriptions to Netflix-like services and other outlets, according to the industry-backed Digital Entertainment Group. Movie studios rely on home entertainment sales for as much as 40 percent of a movie's revenues. ... Full Story | Top |
| US-REVIEW Summary Wednesday, May 01, 2013 10:31 AM PDT Amanda Knox offers her side of sensational murder case in memoir NEW YORK (Reuters) - Amanda Knox, the American student accused of the 2007 murder of her British roommate while both were students in Italy, paints herself in her new memoir as a naive young woman railroaded by a foreign justice system. Knox, 25, spent four years in prison for the murder of Meredith Kercher while they were exchange students in Perugia, a hilltop Italian university town popular with foreigners. Knox, who became a tabloid sensation in Britain and Italy, was acquitted on appeal in 2011. ... Full Story | Top |
| Death knell for books rung too early as sex sells Wednesday, May 01, 2013 10:30 AM PDT  By Belinda Goldsmith LONDON (Reuters) - Erotic trilogy "Fifty Shades of Grey" helped drive print and e-book sales in Britain to record levels in 2012 with publishers hailing figures on Wednesday as proof that digital books are not killing the traditional market quite yet. Print and e-book sales rose 4 percent to 3.3 billion pounds ($5 billion) after slipping 2 percent in 2011, top British trade organization The Publishers Association said, although printed book sales fell 1 percent and had dropped 5 percent in 2011. ... Full Story | Top |
| Songs of unheralded Nick Drake get a new airing four decades on Wednesday, May 01, 2013 08:03 AM PDT By Jeremy Gaunt LONDON (Reuters) - Nearly four decades after his death, British singer-songwriter Nick Drake has never been as popular. Tribute singers, car and cough syrup advertisements, radio and film documentaries, and word of mouth have combined over time to turn Drake from unheralded 1970s musician into modern-day music lore. Now a new CD of Drake's songs covered by other artists and a remastered boxed vinyl of one of his few albums are set to add to the phenomenon and put his haunting, poetic music into the spotlight. ... Full Story | Top |
| Viacom turns the corner on its ad slump Wednesday, May 01, 2013 06:49 AM PDT  (Reuters) - Viacom Inc reported a 6 percent drop in revenue because of a weak slate of movies from its studio Paramount Pictures, but advertising revenue turned positive during the quarter. The company said for the quarter that ended March 31, revenue was $3.14 billion, slightly lower than analysts' expectations of $3.19 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. But its cable network properties, which include MTV and Nickelodeon, were climbing out of a slump as advertising revenue rose 2 percent in the United States. ... Full Story | Top |
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