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| Harold Ramis, 'Ghostbusters' actor, 'Groundhog Day' director dies at 69 Monday, Feb 24, 2014 06:50 PM PST  Comedy actor and director Harold Ramis, best known for films such as "Ghostbusters," "Groundhog Day" and "Caddyshack," died at his home in Chicago at the age of 69 of complications from a rare vascular disease, his agent said on Monday. He passed away from complications related to autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis," said Chris Day, a spokesman for the United Talent Agency in Los Angeles. "Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my brilliant, gifted, funny friend, co-writer/performer and teacher Harold Ramis," tweeted actor Dan Aykroyd, who co-starred with Ramis in the 1984 film "Ghostbusters." Ramis played Dr. Egon Spengler in the Ivan Reitman cult comedy "Ghostbusters," which also starred actor Bill Murray. "Harold Ramis and I together did 'The National Lampoon Show' off-Broadway, 'Meatballs,' 'Stripes,' 'Caddyshack,' 'Ghostbusters' and 'Groundhog Day.' He earned his keep on this planet. Full Story | Top |
| From bathrooms to museums: odd sets for Oscar statuettes Monday, Feb 24, 2014 06:20 PM PST  The most valuable piece of hardware in Hollywood is the 13-and-a-half-inch (34-cm) golden Oscar statuette, so it is no surprise recipients of the top film honors keep theirs in a variety of safe spots. Emma Thompson, a two-time winner for "Howards End" and "Sense and Sensibility," has stowed her Oscars in the bathroom, or rather loo, of her London abode. And it's nice for them to have a go, pick them up." Cate Blanchett, a frontrunner for best actress for her role in "Blue Jasmine" for this Sunday's Academy Awards, has to pay to see her Oscar from "The Aviator." "My Oscar is in a film museum called ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) in Melbourne," the 44-year-old star said. "I get to pay a ticket and go see it every now and again." Winners of the 2,809 Oscars awarded so far may opt for the more mundane living room, like Charlize Theron for her "Monster" Oscar, or the office, the home for George Clooney's two awards for "Argo" and "Michael Clayton." But Jennifer Hudson created an award wall and put her statuette for "Dreamgirls" in a starring role. Full Story | Top |
| Hollywood Oscar campaigns: A civil affair in a wide-open field Monday, Feb 24, 2014 06:16 PM PST  "I feel that this year is more exhausting than ever," said Tim Gray, the awards editor at trade publication Variety, noting the number of high-quality films among the best picture nominees. This year, nine films will compete for the best picture Oscar, which will be handed out on March 2 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles. "I think it works on the supposition, 'Leave no stone unturned,'" he said, noting how stars and directors have been attending screenings and question-and-answer sessions, sometimes more than one per day, to reach some 6,000 Oscar voters. Full Story | Top |
| Oscar producers bank on 'funny, very kind' host Ellen DeGeneres Monday, Feb 24, 2014 06:07 PM PST  By Mary Milliken LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Now they know how big the show is and how much people care, but the producers of the Oscars aren't making any apologies for their maiden effort running Hollywood's biggest show last year or the provocative humor of its host, Seth MacFarlane. Despite some harsh reviews from TV critics, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron pulled in the largest U.S. audience in three years, a ratings bump in the 18-49 demographic coveted by TV networks and, perhaps most importantly for them, a second chance to show what they could do. For this year, the producers have teased a homage to movie heroes, like Erin Brockovich, Harry Potter and Nelson Mandela, and a heavy dose of hit Oscar-nominated songs by hot artists, including Pharrell Williams and U2. Ellen DeGeneres, comedian, day-time talk show maven and soon-to-be two-time Oscar host. Full Story | Top |
| Netflix may need to pay AT&T, Verizon for faster speeds Monday, Feb 24, 2014 05:20 PM PST  Netflix Inc, which agreed to pay Comcast Corp for faster video delivery, may have to make similar arrangements with other broadband providers to ensure customers get trouble-free access to its streaming movies and TV shows. Verizon Communications' chief executive said on Monday he expects Netflix will pay the telecom company for faster speeds after Netflix customers complained about slow connections to Verizon's FiOS service. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel said in a statement on Monday that "we're in discussions with Netflix to establish a more direct connection between our networks, similar to agreements we have with others, so that AT&T broadband customers who use Netflix can enjoy an even better video experience." Talks with telecom companies that provide broadband Internet access gained momentum after Sunday, when Netflix agreed to pay Comcast Corp for faster speeds. Full Story | Top |
| Singer Robin Thicke and actress wife Paula Patton split Monday, Feb 24, 2014 02:49 PM PST  R&B singer Robin Thicke and his actress wife Paula Patton said on Monday that they have separated after nearly 10 years of marriage. "Blurred Lines" singer Thicke, who caused a sensation with a raunchy MTV Video Music Awards performance last year with Miley Cyrus, and Patton met as teenagers and have been married since 2005. Thicke, the 36-year-old son of actor Alan Thicke of the television series "Growing Pains," was nominated for three 2014 Grammy awards, including record of the year for "Blurred Lines." Patton, 38, appeared with actors Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg in the 2013 action comedy "2 Guns" and also stars in this year's romantic comedy "About Last Night." (Reporting by Patricia Reaney; Full Story | Top |
| Cable operator Ono sees pick-up in investor interest in Spain Monday, Feb 24, 2014 11:58 AM PST By Kate Holton and Leila Abboud BARCELONA (Reuters) - With the beginnings of an economic recovery taking hold, Spanish cable telecoms operator Ono believes the time is ripe for attracting international investors in a share market listing which would help it pay down its debts, it said on Monday. "Capital is returning to Spain. After five difficult years, things are changing quite rapidly, which is very good news for us," said Rosalia Portela, the chief executive of the private equity-backed group, in an interview. Ono, which is saddled with 3.3 billion euros ($4.5 billion)in debt after a leveraged buy-out and investment in its network, is preparing for an initial public share offer which its shareholders will vote on at a meeting in mid-March. Full Story | Top |
| Alec Baldwin strikes back at critics, vows to leave N.Y Monday, Feb 24, 2014 09:21 AM PST  Actor Alec Baldwin said New York City's tabloid media culture was forcing him to move out of town after a series of headline-grabbing incidents he was involved in last year, according to an article published on Monday. "I probably have to move out of New York," Baldwin said in a New York Magazine article. "I just can't live in New York anymore." Emmy-award winning Baldwin, who was repeatedly portrayed in press accounts last year as a hot-headed homophobe and bigot, struck out at prominent gay journalists who had criticized his behavior. Baldwin described columnist Andrew Sullivan and CNN anchor Anderson Cooper as the "Gay Department of Justice" after both men publicly criticized his alleged behavior and language. Full Story | Top |
| BBC head defends license fee as critical for quality Monday, Feb 24, 2014 03:40 AM PST  The head of the BBC, Tony Hall, will defend the British broadcaster's use of a license fee paid by the public this week as a debate over funding escalates following a spate of scandals over mismanagement and waste at the corporation. Hall, who took over as director general at the BBC last April, will use a speech in Oxford on Wednesday to dismiss calls by some critics for the 3.7 billion pound ($6 billion) a year license fee to be shared with other broadcasters. With the BBC's reputation battered over the past 18 months, critics including some ex-senior BBC executives have suggested alternative funding, such as sharing the license fee with other broadcasters, advertising, or outsourcing to the private sector. But Hall will argue that sharing, or "top-slicing", the license fee would weaken the BBC and UK broadcasters generally and negatively impact the quality of content. Full Story | Top |
| BBC head defends licence fee as critical for quality Monday, Feb 24, 2014 03:35 AM PST  The head of the BBC, Tony Hall, will defend the British broadcaster's use of a licence fee paid by the public this week as a debate over funding escalates following a spate of scandals over mismanagement and waste at the corporation. Hall, who took over as director general at the BBC last April, will use a speech in Oxford on Wednesday to dismiss calls by some critics for the 3.7 billion pound a year licence fee to be shared with other broadcasters. With the BBC's reputation battered over the past 18 months, critics including some ex-senior BBC executives have suggested alternative funding, such as sharing the licence fee with other broadcasters, advertising, or outsourcing to the private sector. But Hall will argue that sharing, or "top-slicing", the licence fee would weaken the BBC and UK broadcasters generally and negatively impact the quality of content. Full Story | Top |
| Actor Sam Worthington charged with assaulting photographer in N.Y Monday, Feb 24, 2014 12:13 AM PST  Actor Sam Worthington, best known for his starring role in 2009 film "Avatar", was arrested and charged with assaulting a photographer in Manhattan's Greenwich Village district on Sunday, police said. The photographer, Sheng Li, was also arrested and charged with assault, reckless endangerment and two counts of harassment, the force added. Worthington, born in Surrey, England but raised in Australia, played the leading role of Jake Sully in "Avatar" and is slated for three more films in the series in coming years. Full Story | Top |
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