News
1. Comic-Con guests get the world's first look at 'Terminator Salvation' footage
By SANDY COHEN - July 26, 2008
%meta(topic:01005000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:movies;%)SAN DIEGO (AP) — "Terminator Salvation" won't hit theaters until next summer, but thousands of fans got an early look at a portion of the film Saturday.Director McG presented never-before-seen footage during a Comic-Con...
2. American jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin, who played with the greats, dies in France at 80
By Associated Press - July 26, 2008
%meta(topic:01011000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:music;%)PARIS (AP) — Jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin, who played with America's greats from Thelonious Monk to Lionel Hampton but chose to live in France, died hours before a concert, his agent said Saturday. He was 80.Griffin,...
3. Country singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, 18, receives her high school diploma, in mail
By Associated Press - July 26, 2008
%meta(topic:01011000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:music;%)NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — While most of her peers donned caps and gowns to receive their high school diplomas, country star Taylor Swift was strumming a guitar and performing for thousands of fans.So Swift got her diploma in...
4. Comic-Con king Kevin Smith gets raunchier with his new film, 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno'
By SANDY COHEN - July 26, 2008
SAN DIEGO (AP) _ Kevin Smith treated his fans to some adults-only material at Comic-Con on Saturday.The writer-director — a cult favorite at the comic-book convention — showed footage from his new film, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno."He said the comedy starring Seth Rogen, Elizabeth...
5. NYC gospel singer Wright remains in critical condition, learns of wife's death in car wreck
By Associated Press - July 26, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ A Grammy-nominated gospel singer from New York City remains in critical condition three weeks after a car crash that killed his wife and grandson.Family members say the Rev. Timothy Wright is conscious and alert but still on a respirator at the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville,...
6. Federal judge tosses talk show host Michael Savage's lawsuit against Islamic organization
By Associated Press - July 26, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by conservative radio talk show host Michael Savage against an Islamic civil rights group over its use of a portion of his show in which he called the Quran a "book of hate."Savage sued the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or...
7. In Hong Kong visit, writer Ha Jin says he wants to visit China but frustrated by censorship
By MIN LEE - July 26, 2008
HONG KONG (AP) _ On a trip that's put him the closest to his homeland in 23 years, Chinese-American author Ha Jin says he wants to visit China but expressed frustration with censorship of his books.The 52-year-old National Book Award winner told The Associated Press in an interview Saturday at the...
8. TV's "Lost" to continue with Webisodes, video games and 34 hours of programming
By SANDY COHEN - July 25, 2008
SAN DIEGO (AP) _ "Lost" fans can start expecting some answers.Writer-producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof said Friday that they know exactly how the ABC series will end."We have 34 hours left for you guys to see — seasons five and six," Lindelof told the Comic-Con crowd. "We owe answers....
9. 5 Emmy-nominated reality TV hosts to preside over Sept. 21 ceremony together
By LYNN ELBER - July 25, 2008
%meta(topic:01016000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:tv;%)LOS ANGELES (AP) — The reality is, there won't be an Emmy host this year — there will be five.The reality-TV hosts nominated in the new category that honors their work will preside over the show, ABC and the Academy of...
10. Halle Berry pushes back against paparazzi; seeks trespass charges against backyard shooter
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY - July 25, 2008
%meta(topic:01005000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:movies;%)LOS ANGELES (AP) — Halle Berry said a paparazzi went too far to get a shot of her infant daughter, alleging that the shooter trespassed on her private property and snapped them hanging out in the backyard.The Oscar-winning...
11. Hank Williams Jr. to continue 'Monday Night Football' anthem on ESPN
By Associated Press - July 25, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Hank Williams Jr., who has sung the opening theme for "Monday Night Football" since 1989, will continue the tradition this season.ESPN spokesman Bill Hofheimer says Williams will again base the theme song on his hit "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight."Williams is...
12. Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks welcomes third daughter, named Harper Rosie
By Associated Press - July 25, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks and her husband, Gareth, have welcomed another addition to their all-girl brood: daughter Harper Rosie Maguire.The baby was born Friday morning in Austin, Texas, weighing in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces, the Dixie Chicks announced on their Web site.The...
13. Connie Francis hospitalized, misses NY performance; singer's agent says she's 'doing well'
By Associated Press - July 25, 2008
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) _ Singer Connie Francis is being treated at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York where she was hospitalized after falling ill earlier this week.Her agent, Mike Church, says the 69-year-old singer had been scheduled to perform Wednesday night with Neil Sedaka at The...
14. Rolling Stones sign long-term recording deal with Universal Music, ditching EMI
By JANE WARDELL - July 25, 2008
LONDON (AP) _ The Rolling Stones, the world's top-earning music act last year, have signed a long-term, exclusive worldwide contract with Vivendi SA's Universal Music, dealing a major blow to the group's former recording company, EMI Group PLC.Universal said on Friday that the new deal covered both...
15. Wolfgang Wagner opens his final Bayreuth festival, greets guests with daughter on his arm
By WOLFGANG HUEBNER - July 25, 2008
BAYREUTH, Germany (AP) _ Veteran opera director Wolfgang Wagner welcomed guests to his last Bayreuth festival Friday, walking on the arm of his youngest daughter — a leading contender to replace him after a 57-year reign and a prolonged struggle over his successor.Wagner, the 88-year-old...
16. Review: Pass on 'NCAA Football 09: All-Play' for Wii
By DIRK LAMMERS - July 25, 2008
If the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of "NCAA Football 09" are the starting seniors, then Wii owners might feel like redshirt freshmen with EA Sports' first college football game for Nintendo's popular gaming console."NCAA Football 09: All-Play" ($49.99, Wii) marks EA Sports' debut of its new...
17. CMU prof Randy Pausch, whose lecture on grappling with cancer inspired millions, dies at 47
By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI - July 25, 2008
PITTSBURGH (AP) _ Randy Pausch said obstacles serve a purpose: They "give us a chance to show how badly we want something." Confronted with incurable cancer, he devised a last lecture that became an Internet sensation, a best-selling book and a celebration of a life spent achieving his dreams.Ten...
18. Jackman makes surprise appearance at Comic-Con, announces Stan Lee cameo in 'Wolverine' film
By SANDY COHEN - July 25, 2008
SAN DIEGO (AP) _ The creator of "X-Men" bumped into Wolverine at Comic-Con.After happy introductions between Stan Lee and Hugh Jackman, the actor announced that Lee would make a cameo in the upcoming 20th Century Fox movie "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," due out next May."Don't tell anyone," Jackman...
19. Anticipated 'Watchmen' aims to answer this summer's blockbuster superhero films
By SANDY COHEN - July 25, 2008
SAN DIEGO (AP) _ Zack Snyder is standing inside a 9,000-pound, tanklike metal pod in the center of the crowded Comic-Con floor. He nonchalantly points out the features of the Owl Ship, a real-life version of the flying vehicle from the award-winning graphic novel "Watchmen.""The Owl Ship's got to...
20. Pitt-iful: Police say camouflaged paparazzi, bodyguards, fight at Jolie-Pitt chateau in France
By JOHN LEICESTER - July 25, 2008
PARIS (AP) _ It sounds like a scene from "Fight Club."French police say camouflaged paparazzi who managed to get onto the grounds of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's chateau in southern France on Thursday fought with the Hollywood couple's guards. Both the paparazzi and the Jolie-Pitt's head of...
21. Mia Farrow calls for global pressure at Olympics to end China's support for Myanmar junta
By Associated Press - July 25, 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) _ Mia Farrow said Friday the world should use next month's Olympic Games as a platform to demand that China end its support for Myanmar's junta.China is Myanmar's most important ally, providing economic, military and other aid while Western nations shun the military-ruled...
22. Mia Farrow calls for global pressure at Olympics to end China's support for Myanmar junta
By Associated Press - July 25, 2008
%meta(topic:01005000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:movies;%)BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Mia Farrow said Friday the world should use next month's Olympic Games as a platform to demand that China end its support for Myanmar's junta.China is Myanmar's most important ally, providing...
23. NY publisher sues Foxy Brown, Lil' Kim, says they received advances but never delivered books
By Associated Press - July 24, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ A New York publisher is suing Foxy Brown and Lil' Kim, saying they were paid advances for books they never delivered.Simon & Schuster Inc. says Brown was paid $75,000 in 2005 to deliver an autobiography called "Broken Silence" by February 2006; and Lil' Kim was paid $40,000 in 2003...
24. Estelle Getty remembered as funny, feisty, frugal at Hollywood funeral service
By DERRIK J. LANG - July 24, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Estelle Getty always liked a bargain.Despite her sitcom success with "The Golden Girls," son Carl Gettleman told friends and family gathered at a private memorial service Thursday that his mother always chose frugal over flashy. He recounted a time when his Emmy-winning mother's...
25. Country singer Cagle found not guilty in domestic violence case after girlfriend won't testify
By Associated Press - July 24, 2008
%meta(topic:01011000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:music;%)NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country singer Chris Cagle has been found not guilty of domestic violence after his girlfriend refused to testify against him.Cagle and Jennifer Tant were both charged with domestic violence after...
26. 'Twilight' fans camp overnight for an early look (and a good scream) at the anticipated film
By SANDY COHEN - July 24, 2008
%meta(topic:01005000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:movies;%)SAN DIEGO (AP) — If you haven't heard of "Twilight," ask a teenager. The best-selling young-adult book isn't bound for the big screen until December, but fan frenzy for the film practically took over Comic-Con on...
27. Guthrie Theater adds 2 weeks to world premiere of 'Little House on the Prairie' musical
By Associated Press - July 24, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ They're packing the "Little House" in Minneapolis.A new musical version of "Little House on the Prairie" was extended two weeks because of demand, the Guthrie Theater said. It stars Melissa Gilbert as the mother of the character she played on the TV series.The production...
28. In 'Some Americans Abroad,' Richard Nelson dissects worshippers of all-things English
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - July 24, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ "Some Americans Abroad" is a quietly malicious little comedy.Playwright Richard Nelson's attack on the pomposity of academia sneaks up on you as it follows the cultural — and personal — misadventures of a group of professors and their students as they slog their way...
29. Amy Adams engaged to acting-class sweetie and fellow actor Darren Legallo
By Associated Press - July 24, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Now Amy Adams' love life is "Enchanted," too. The Oscar-nominated Adams is engaged to fellow actor Darren Legallo, her publicist, Cari Ross, confirmed Thursday. Ross did not immediately provide further details.The couple reportedly met in acting class in 2001, and plan to tie the...
30. British actor-comedian Russell Brand to host this year's MTV Video Music Awards
By ERIN CARLSON - July 24, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ MTV is staking its brand on a lesser-known one: Russell Brand.The British actor and comedian will host this year's Video Music Awards, set to air live from Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles on Sept. 7, MTV told The Associated Press on Thursday.Brand recently co-starred in...
31. Gromit' animated series to become episodic video game
By DERRIK J. LANG - July 24, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ "Wallace & Gromit" are going on a new adventure.Telltale Games is creating an episodic video game based on Aardman Animations' Oscar-winning animated film series titled "Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures." The popular stop-motion clay animated franchise stars the cheese-loving,...
32. Sheryl Crow says she won't be working with Fleetwood Mac anytime soon
By JOHN GEROME - July 24, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Sheryl Crow is putting the "Rumours" to rest: She's not making a record with or joining Fleetwood Mac — not anytime soon at least."No, that was those 'Rumours' — to quote the album," she joked Wednesday, referring to the group's 1977 hit album."I'm a huge fan and...
33. DMX raps outside Phoenix court after pleading not guilty to theft and identity theft charges
By Associated Press - July 24, 2008
PHOENIX (AP) _ DMX rapped for reporters outside a Phoenix courtroom Thursday after pleading not guilty to felony charges of theft and identity theft.Then he plugged an album.Authorities allege the 37-year-old rapper, whose real name is Earl Simmons, gave the name "Troy Jones" and an incorrect...
34. Union Station
By JOHN GEROME - July 24, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ With Alison Krauss touring this summer with Robert Plant, the guys in her band, Union Station, had some time to kill, like enough to read biographies of all 43 presidents and maybe paint their houses and their neighbors' houses, too.But guitarist-singer Dan Tyminski kept...
35. At the Movies: capsule reviews of 'Step Brothers' and other films opening this week
By The Associated Press - July 24, 2008
Capsule reviews of films opening this week:"American Teen" — Nanette Burstein's documentary doesn't tell you anything you didn't already know about high school. It can be a rough time, even if you're pretty and popular. Kids divide themselves into cliques. They can be mean to each other....
36. Correction: Comic-Con story
By Associated Press - July 24, 2008
SAN DIEGO (AP) _ In a July 23 story about Comic-Con, The Associated Press reported erroneously that more than 100,000 people a day attend the comic-book convention. More than 125,000 guests are expected over the four-day event. It also misidentified the movie studio involved. It is named Summit...
37. B, 4-time Grammy winner Regina Belle finds comfort in singing gospel music
By AIMEE MAUDE SIMS - July 24, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ When an R&B artist decides to put out a gospel album, some will sit in judgment and question the project's sincerity.And even though four-time Grammy winner Regina Belle was raised in the church and is now a pastor's wife, the 45-year-old singer, whose career blossomed on the...
38. Movie Review: Good to see Mulder and Scully, but new 'X-Files' leaves little to believe
By CHRISTY LEMIRE - July 24, 2008
The makers of the new "X-Files" movie have done themselves a disservice in coming up with the elongated title, "The X-Files: I Want to Believe." Really, it just invites a whole bunch of bad jokes which, unfortunately, are justified.It's easy to imagine how they might go: I want to believe another "...
39. The (comic) Force is with him, as Seth Green toys around with 'Star Wars' in a DVD release
By FRAZIER MOORE - July 24, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Turns out Seth Green has the job you always wanted.He has free rein to play with toys for a living. He makes silly voices. He mocks celebrities, world leaders, even Biblical figures while tapping his seemingly bottomless reservoir of pop-culture knowledge.And he earns good money and...
40. Discus thrower's family organizes 'Art of the Olympians' collection
By SARAH LARIMER - July 24, 2008
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) _ Al Oerter was an abstract artist, who also happened to be pretty good at the discus. So good, in fact, that he won gold medals in four straight Olympics to become one of track and field's biggest stars in the 1950s and 1960s.Oerter died in 2007, but his final Olympic effort...
41. Lucy Liu becomes an animated seductive mastermind in Spike TV's 'Afro Samurai'
By Associated Press - July 24, 2008
SAN DIEGO (AP) _ Lucy Liu is set to embrace her inner warrior.The 39-year-old actress will lend her voice to "Afro Samurai: Resurrection," a two-hour sequel to the animated series starring Samuel L. Jackson, Spike TV announced Thursday.Liu will play Sio, a seductive and sadistic mastermind out to...
42. Judge's ruling prompts Craigslist to reveal who posted ad offering Oscar tickets for sale
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY - July 24, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ A judge's ruling has brought the organization that hosts the Academy Awards a step closer to discovering how tickets to this year's show got online.An attorney for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said Wednesday that the organization has learned the identity of a...
43. That Was the Week That Was
By The Associated Press - July 23, 2008
Entertainment highlights during the week of July 27-Aug. 2:1928: Leo the Lion roared for the first time at the beginning of MGM's first talking picture, "White Shadows in the South Seas."1940: The cartoon character Bugs Bunny made his official debut when Warner Brothers released the animated short "...
44. Bubble burst? Off-Broadway show's suds, toys stolen from New Jersey warehouse
By Associated Press - July 23, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ The bubble might have burst for off-Broadway's "Gazillion Bubbles Show." Someone has stolen the show's specialized soapy bubble solution, which takes two months to make.A show spokesman says 3.4 tons of bubble solution and 6,000 toys went missing in the June 10 break-in at a...
45. 50 Cent sues Taco Bell, saying it used his name in 99 Cent ad without permission
By SAMUEL MAULL - July 23, 2008
%meta(topic:01011000;ap_topic:entertainment business;subtopic:music;%)NEW YORK (AP) — 50 Cent has sued Taco Bell, claiming the fast-food restaurant chain is using his name without permission in advertising that asks him to call himself 99 Cent.The rapper says in a federal lawsuit filed...
46. Ry Cooder resurrects the L.A. sound with new album and novella, 'I, Flathead'
By JOHN ROGERS - July 23, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ It was more than 50 years ago but Ry Cooder remembers it like it could have been last week; he was 8 years old and Johnny Cash came on the radio singing "Hey Porter."A third-grader with a guitar was hooked.Cooder knew he had to head up to "Big River" himself. Or over to Folsom...
47. Movie Review: 'Step Brothers' is several steps below previous Will Ferrell comedies
By CHRISTY LEMIRE - July 23, 2008
The title is "Step Brothers." You know, because there are two of them.But Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are essentially playing the same person, which is the movie's fundamental, irreparable flaw.As 40-year-olds who've never left home and are forced to share a bedroom when their parents get...
48. Balthazar Getty says he's separated from his wife, embarrassed by photos of him kissing Miller
By Associated Press - July 23, 2008
NEW YORK -- Balthazar Getty says he's separated from his wife and is embarrassed by recent photos of him kissing a topless Sienna Miller in Italy. "The breakdown of a marriage is a very difficult and painful experience, especially when children are involved," Getty, 33,...
49. Who's got the better campaign pictures? Hard to compete with Obama this week
By DAVID BAUDER - July 23, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Barack Obama has packed his overseas trip with presidential images: a helicopter ride over Iraq with the U.S. military commander; a visit to a Holocaust memorial; a meeting at Afghan President Hamid Karzai's palace.He even found time to sink a three-point basketball shot before...
50. Downloadable 'Watchmen' video games will prequel upcoming film
By DERRIK J. LANG - July 23, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ "Watchmen" is already getting a prequel — and the film's not out until next year.Warner Bros. announced Wednesday it will release an episodic downloadable video game developed by Deadline Games that will prequel next year's big-screen adaptation of the "Watchmen" graphic...
51. 2 bald eagles named by Miley, Billy Ray Cyrus to be released into wild
By Associated Press - July 23, 2008
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (AP) _ Two 14-week-old American bald eagles named by Disney star Miley Cyrus and her country singer father, Billy Ray Cyrus, will be released into the wild Thursday at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.The American Eagle Foundation has released more than 90 eagles from...
52. Comic-book lovers, collectors, gamers and film fans flock to Comic-Con
By SANDY COHEN - July 23, 2008
SAN DIEGO (AP) _ The most passionate Spider-Men, Storm Troopers, Harry Potters and other pop-culture fanatics are headed south for their annual pilgrimage. Comic-Con, the country's biggest comic-book convention, begins Thursday at the San Diego Convention Center.More than 100,000 people a day &#...
53. Larry Haines, who appeared for 35 years on soap 'Search for Tomorrow,' dies at 89 in Florida
By Associated Press - July 23, 2008
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. -- Larry Haines, a two-time Daytime Emmy winner for his 35-year role on the soap opera "Search for Tomorrow," has died. He was 89. Haines, who also had a successful career on Broadway, died July 17 at a Delray Beach hospital where he had been admitted...
54. Neil Young documents anti-war tour in film 'CSNY: Deja Vu'; says he doesn't want to repeat it
By DAVID BAUDER - July 23, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Not every musician will make a film that features a fan facing him from a concert audience with two arms raised, middle fingers extended — more than one fan, in fact.Neil Young was singing protest songs on a "Freedom of Speech" tour with David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham...
55. 'At the Movies': A blockbuster sequel, or thumbing a ride into the sunset?
By CARYN ROUSSEAU - July 23, 2008
CHICAGO (AP) _ Richard Roeper, fresh off announcing that he was leaving the balcony of "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper," may have put it best.Hours after word of his departure, he posted on his Twitter feed: "With all the old footage and the person-on-the-street interviews, it's like watching...
56. Forbes' Ultimate Star Payback: Vince Vaughn is Hollywood's best value for the money
By Associated Press - July 23, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Vince Vaughn is the best star for the buck, says Forbes magazine. Vaughn raked in $14.73 of gross income for studios for every dollar he was paid for "The Break-up," ''Wedding Crashers" and "Dodgeball," the magazine calculated for its special entertainment issue, now on...
57. Together again: Ferrell, Reilly reunite as modern comedy duo with 'Step Brothers'
By DAVID GERMAIN - July 23, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Bob Hope and Bing Crosby might be on the road to nowhere if they tried to team up today the way they did in old Hollywood.Today's funny folks reunite now and then, like Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in "Step Brothers," a follow-up to their 2006 comedy "Talladega Nights: The...
58. Tom Cavanagh, the nice guy from 'Ed,' shows his unappealing side on a New York stage
By MARK KENNEDY - July 23, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Tom Cavanagh is the kind of guy who holds doors open for strangers.He shakes hands firmly, and seems genuinely interested in meeting you. Though famished, he politely doesn't scarf down his lunch while answering questions.Cavanagh, who poured that likability into the lead character...
59. Correction: Mick Jones story
By Associated Press - July 23, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ In a July 22 story about Foreigner's Mick Jones, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Foreigner's co-headlining tour with Bryan Adams stops Thursday. The bands have a concert Thursday, July 24, near San Antonio, Texas, before ending their combined tour Saturday in...
60. Rapper DMX indicted by grand jury in Arizona on charges of theft, giving false name
By Associated Press - July 23, 2008
PHOENIX (AP) _ Rapper DMX has been indicted on felony charges by a grand jury in Arizona for allegedly trying to get out of paying a hospital bill.Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas says the 37-year-old rapper, whose real name is Earl Simmons, has been charged with one count of theft and one...
61. Madame Tussauds in London unveils waxwork of troubled singer Amy Winehouse
By EMILY RISTOW - July 23, 2008
%meta(topic:01011000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:music;%)LONDON (AP) — Madame Tussauds unveiled a waxwork of Amy Winehouse on Wednesday complete with her signature beehive, black eyeliner and a bright yellow minidress.Winehouse's hair and 5-inch black heels make the model nearly 6...
62. Music Review: Buddy Guy is fierce and inspired on first albums of originals, 'Skin Deep'
By MICHAEL McCALL - July 23, 2008
Buddy Guy, "Skin Deep" (Silvertone/Zomba)Blues may be an ageless music, but most players ease into old age with relaxed grace. Not Buddy Guy, who sounds as distinctively piercing on "Skin Deep" as on his classic '60s Chess Records cuts or his early '90s comeback albums.At 72, Guy still cuts shards...
63. NY judge upholds charge against man accused of stalking 'SNL' producer Lorne Michaels
By Associated Press - July 23, 2008
NEW YORK -- A criminal court judge has upheld charges against a man accused of stalking "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels. A misdemeanor complaint says 31-year-old Oyster Bay resident Evans Pidhajecky (pid-uh-CHEK'-ee) claimed Michaels overheard his...
64. Gospel singer Marvin Sapp's 'Never Would Have Made It' a record-breaking phenomenon
By AIMEE MAUDE SIMS - July 23, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Marvin Sapp's single "Never Would Have Made It" is a record-breaking phenomenon far beyond the world of gospel.The track from his seventh album, "Thirsty," is in its 42nd week at No. 1 on Billboard's gospel radio charts. It is a crossover success with its perch at No. 1 on the urban...
65. Stratford's 'Music Man' and 'Cabaret' offer a study in contrast
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - July 23, 2008
STRATFORD, Ontario (AP) _ There's a nice theatrical contrast — all-American wholesomeness vs. determined Teutonic debauchery — on display at the 2008 Stratford Shakespeare Festival.It's the impossibly innocent, strawberry-phosphate, brass-band world of Meredith Willson's "The Music Man"...
66. X-ray shows Picasso's 'Guernica' has suffered a lot but is not in danger
By CIARAN GILES - July 23, 2008
MADRID, Spain (AP) _ "Guernica" depicts intense suffering but it's own health is not in danger.That's the diagnosis after the first X-ray of Pablo Picasso's 20th century anti-war opus carried out by the Reina Sofia art museum.The X-ray of the large-format canvas — 11 feet by 25 feet (...
67. Come hear Uncle John's orchestra: 'Dead Symphony No. 6' to premiere in Baltimore
By BEN NUCKOLS - July 23, 2008
BALTIMORE (AP) _ When the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra warms up a week from Friday, the musicians will be clad in their usual summer attire: White dinner jackets and bow ties for the men, white tops and black skirts or slacks for the women.Tie-dye might be more appropriate.On the day Jerry Garcia...
68. Music Review: Candlebox's first effort in 10 years, 'Into the Sun, a dose of 90's nostalgia
By JOHN KOSIK - July 23, 2008
Candlebox, "Into the Sun" (Silent Majority/ILG Records)Candlebox never found a true place among the pantheon of '90s bands. Unfairly lumped in with the grunge crowd (maybe because they are from Seattle), they eventually vanished after being shunned for their hard blues and classic rock approach.Ten...
69. B singer and Long Island native Ashanti has a new gig: tourism ambassador
By Associated Press - July 23, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Grammy-winning singer and Long Island native Ashanti has a new gig: tourism ambassador.The R&B singer was introduced Tuesday at a news conference as one of nine ambassadors who will promote tourism in Nassau County on Long Island.County Executive Thomas Suozzi placed an orange...
70. Jonas Brothers' house purchase has people buzzing in Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Westlake
By Associated Press - July 22, 2008
WESTLAKE, Texas (AP) _ The Jonas Brothers reportedly bought a house in a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb — and some young neighbors sound thrilled.Tarrant County records obtained by The Dallas Morning News indicate that the three band members granted power of attorney to their mother, Denise Jonas,...
71. Foreigner's Jones says new songs on the way, some may have country, rockabilly edge
By JOHN GEROME - July 22, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Foreigner's Mick Jones says the band's new career retrospective "No End in Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner" is a signal that new material is on the way.Besides the band's hits as well as some deeper album cuts and live versions, the double-disc set released last week...
72. Trust everyone: Mulder, Scully, series creators believe in 'X-Files' audience
By DAVID GERMAIN - July 22, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Some Mulder and Scully fans were dubious when the title for the new movie based on their favorite TV show was announced: "The X-Files: I Want to Believe."How, the skeptics wondered, could the two former FBI agents be anything but true believers after years of encountering aliens,...
73. Joyce Carol Oates examines 'tabloid hell' in novel inspired by JonBenet Ramsey killing
By TIM MOLLOY - July 22, 2008
"My Sister, My Love" (Ecco. 562 pages. $25.95), by Joyce Carol Oates: Some of Oates' books feel as if she wrote them as dares to herself. This novel, her 37th, is one of the wildest.Oates sets out to solve a fictionalized version of the JonBenet Ramsey murder, with skating prodigy "Bliss" Rampike...
74. Lope de Vega makes a belated but welcome debut at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - July 22, 2008
STRATFORD, Ontario (AP) _ It takes a lot to upstage the Bard, but Lope de Vega manages to do just that at the 2008 Stratford Shakespeare Festival.Making his Stratford debut (some 370 years after his demise), the late 16th-century Spanish playwright gets a remarkable showcase in British director...
75. 'Gossip Girl' will launch another racy campaign to lure viewers to its second season (OMG!)
By FRAZIER MOORE - July 22, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ "Gossip Girl" will get people talking. At least, that seems likely as the CW network brings to a boil its new campaign for the sexy prep-school soap.The show's second season begins Sept. 1, following an August promotion to put viewers, um, in the mood. And here's a twist: The racy...
76. Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake among performers at fifth Fashion Rocks show
By Associated Press - July 22, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce and Rihanna will perform at the fifth annual Fashion Rocks concert celebrating the relationship between music and fashion.The event will be held Sept. 5 at Radio City Music Hall, and will air in a two-hour special on CBS the following night....
77. Country duo Sugarland explores 'Love on the Inside' with new CD
By JOHN GEROME - July 22, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ After Sugarland's first two albums, singer Jennifer Nettles kept hearing how their records were good and all but somehow ... not."They'd say, 'You sound so much better live,'" Nettles recalled.So when she and musical partner Kristian Bush went to work on their third one,...
78. Aaron Spelling's widow pays $47M for LA condo; plans to 'downscale' from her 123-room home
By Associated Press - July 22, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The widow of producer Aaron Spelling paid a whopping $47 million for a two-story condo atop a Century City residential tower that's still under construction, her lawyer said.The price paid by Candy Spelling for the 16,500-square-foot property works out to $2,848 a square foot, a...
79. Ted Danson relishes first post-'Cheers' Emmy nomination: 'This is really lovely'
By JAKE COYLE - July 22, 2008
Ted Danson is relishing his first Emmy nomination since "Cheers." In a remarkable run, Danson was nominated 11 years in a row for each season of the beloved Boston bar comedy, winning twice and mixing in another nomination for the 1984 TV film "Something About Amelia," in which he played a father...
80. Jeremy Piven, Raul Esparza and Elisabeth Moss set for David Mamet's 'Speed-The-Plow'
By Associated Press - July 22, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ What do you get when you link performers from such popular television shows as "Entourage" and "Mad Men" with an actor from last season's Broadway revival of "The Homecoming"?The cast of the 20th-anniversary Broadway production of David Mamet's "Speed-The-Plow," opening in...
81. Jeremy Mercer's latest book traces the origin and surprisingly recent end of the guillotine
By MAE ANDERSON - July 22, 2008
"When the Guillotine Fell" (St. Martin's Press. 256 pages. $24.95), by Jeremy Mercer: It may come as a surprise to some that France routinely used the guillotine as its official method of capital punishment until 1977, when Hamida Djandoubi became the last man guillotined in the port town of...
82. Correction: Jo Stafford obituary
By Associated Press - July 22, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ In a July 18 obituary for singer Jo Stafford, The Associated Press incorrectly spelled a high school production in which she was cast. The show was "Roberta," not "Robert."
83. Kid Rock sentenced to year of probation for fight at suburban Atlanta Waffle House restaurant
By Associated Press - July 22, 2008
DECATUR, Ga. -- Officials in Georgia say Kid Rock has been sentenced to a year's probation and fined $1,000 for his role in a fight at a suburban Atlanta Waffle House last fall. The DeKalb County solicitor's office says the 37-year-old was also sentenced Monday to six...
84. British Museum show sees globe-trotting, wall-building emperor Hadrian a man for our times
By JILL LAWLESS - July 22, 2008
LONDON (AP) _ He led a global superpower, bought popularity with tax cuts and faced a divisive war in Iraq.In many ways, the Roman Emperor Hadrian and his 2,000-year-old world sound familiar.A new exhibition at the British Museum aims to show that Hadrian, best remembered for building a 73-mile...
85. 'Blonde' ambition: Broadway's next Elle Woods prepares for her stage debut
By ERIN CARLSON - July 22, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Bailey Hanks has yet to stage her Broadway debut, but already she's got an entourage worthy of Patti LuPone.Surrounded by a team of publicists, family members and plates of sandwiches, the 20-year-old sorority girl from Anderson, S.C., is preparing to take over the role of Elle...
86. 'At the Movies' gets new hosts Lyons, Mankiewicz, but still no thumbs; Ebert keeps those
By LYNN ELBER - July 22, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Over the years, TV's best-known movie review show has gone from hosts Siskel and Ebert to Ebert and Roeper to Roeper and guest critics — and now it's Lyons and Mankiewicz.Ben Lyons, a Hollywood reporter and film critic for "E! News" and others, and Turner Classic Movies...
87. Gladys Nederlander, producer and wife of Broadway theater owner Robert Nederlander, dies at 83
By Associated Press - July 22, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Theater and TV producer Gladys Nederlander has died. She was 83.Nederlander died Monday of heart failure, her husband, Broadway producer and theater owner Robert Nederlander, announced.Gladys Nederlander was a producer of nine Broadway shows between 1976 and 1993, most notably the...
88. Pittsburgh group behind new national award for high school musical actors, actresses
By DAN NEPHIN - July 22, 2008
PITTSBURGH (AP) _ Dozens of the best high school musical actors and actresses from around the country will compete on Broadway next year for a new national award named after theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander.The National High School Musical Theater Awards are a partnership between the...
89. Estelle Getty, peppery oldster in TV's 'Golden Girls,' dies in Los Angeles at 84
By BOB THOMAS - July 22, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Estelle Getty, the diminutive actress who spent 40 years struggling for success before landing a role of a lifetime in 1985 as the sarcastic octogenarian Sophia on TV's "The Golden Girls," has died. She was 84.Getty, who suffered from advanced dementia, died at about 5:30 a.m....
90. BSO conductor Levine had malignant kidney growth, doctors say surgery to remove it successful
By Associated Press - July 22, 2008
%meta(topic:01011000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:music;%)BOSTON (AP) — A growth on a kidney removed from conductor James Levine was malignant, but the cancer was caught early and no further treatment is needed, the Boston Symphony Orchestra said Tuesday.Doctors in New York removed...
91. A revival of 'Godspell' returns to Broadway in October
By Associated Press - July 22, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ The flower power of a 1970s Jesus returns to Broadway this fall with a revival of "Godspell."The pop musical, which has a score by Stephen Schwartz, opens Oct. 23 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, producer Adam Epstein announced Tuesday. It will feature Gavin Creel as Jesus and Joshua...
92. AP Exclusive: The sword is mightier: 'Iron Man' Robert Downey Jr. postpones 'candid' memoir
By HILLEL ITALIE - July 22, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ The "Iron Man" will not be wielding a pen: Robert Downey Jr. has postponed plans to write a memoir and has returned his advance to publisher HarperCollins, a spokeswoman for the actor told The Associated Press.Britney Ross of Rogers & Cowan declined to say Tuesday why Downey...
93. Cleveland Museum of Natural History's executive director is to retire
By Associated Press - July 22, 2008
CLEVELAND (AP) _ The executive director of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History is stepping down to return to teaching and research after eight years in the job.Bruce Latimer, 54, started with the museum in 1989 as curator and head of its Department of Physical Anthropology. He was named...
94. Music Review: Another set in the exhaustive _ and exhausting _ documentation of Black Sabbath
By CHRIS TALBOTT - July 22, 2008
Black Sabbath, "The Rules of Hell" (Rhino)These are words almost too blasphemous to type: Enough with the Black Sabbath reissues already.With "The Rules of Hell," Rhino completes an exhaustive — and ultimately exhausting — reissue of Black Sabbath's entire catalog that started with "...
95. Batman star Christian Bale asks for privacy in family assault allegations
By HAROLD HECKLE and PAUL HAVEN - July 22, 2008
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) _ Batman star Christian Bale asked for privacy Thursday in his first comments since allegations he assaulted his mother and sister at a London hotel, saying the incident was personal.The Welsh-born actor brushed off questions about the alleged family dispute, saying he...
96. Reality villain Omarosa calls talk show host Wendy Williams 'a fake and a phony'
By DERRIK J. LANG - July 21, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Omarosa is not sorry for sparring with Wendy Williams. "I stand by everything I said," Omarosa told The Associated Press on Tuesday.The reality star — whose full name is Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth — appeared Monday on "The Wendy Williams Show" to promote her...
97. Rap music figure from San Francisco convicted in Las Vegas double slaying
By Associated Press - July 21, 2008
LAS VEGAS (AP) _ A jury found a 37-year-old San Francisco rap music figure guilty in the slaying of a Kansas City rival in what authorities called a West Coast versus Midwest rap war.Andre "Mac Minister" Dow faces life in prison after being convicted Monday of first-degree murder in the May 2005...
98. Michael Savage explains comments that angered parents of autistic children
By DAVID BAUDER - July 21, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Radio talk show host Michael Savage, who described 99 percent of children with autism as brats, said Monday he was trying to "boldly awaken" parents to his view that many people are being wrongly diagnosed.Some parents of autistic children have called for Savage's firing after he...
99. Broadway mogul slammed by angry wife in popular YouTube video is granted a divorce
By SAMUEL MAULL - July 21, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ A Broadway mogul whose wife trashed him in a widely viewed Internet video was granted a divorce from her Monday. A Manhattan judge gave Philip Smith a divorce from Tricia Walsh-Smith on the grounds of cruel and inhuman treatment. Walsh-Smith lashes out against Smith in the tearful...
100. Denise Richards heads to court seeking changes in custody agreement with Charlie Sheen
By Associated Press - July 21, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Denise Richards went to court Monday seeking changes to a custody arrangement with ex-husband Charlie Sheen — but didn't get everything she wanted.Richards and her attorney brought a video to Los Angeles Superior Court to try to bolster their case, but a court commissioner...
101. With new album and newfound superstardom, Miley Cyrus steps from behind her famous character
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY - July 21, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Hannah Montana may be the most potent phenomenon in Hollywood right now — bigger than Batman, bigger than Brangelina. Yet these days, the girl who truly fascinates is not Hannah, but Miley Cyrus.The 15-year-old face of the billion-dollar Disney franchise is no longer a star...
102. Best rock albums of first half of '08 defined by naturalism, rawness
By JAKE COYLE - July 21, 2008
The first half of 2007 has already seen some great albums. There has been the majestic (Sigur Ros' sunny new opus), the super hip (Vampire Weekend's much-anticipated debut), the ultra current (Girl Talk's sample-mad "Feed the Animals") and the chart-topping classic (Death Cab for Cutie with "Narrow...
103. Best rock albums of first half of '08 defined by naturalism, rawness
By JAKE COYLE - July 21, 2008
The first half of 2008 has already seen some great albums. There has been the majestic (Sigur Ros' sunny new opus), the super hip (Vampire Weekend's much-anticipated debut), the ultra current (Girl Talk's sample-mad "Feed the Animals") and the chart-topping classic (Death Cab for Cutie with "Narrow...
104. Bill Murray to jump from plane as part of the Chicago Air and Water Show next month
By Associated Press - July 21, 2008
CHICAGO (AP) _ Former "Saturday Night Live" cast member Bill Murray has agreed to parachute from a plane as part of a special appearance at the Chicago Air and Water Show next month.A spokeswoman for the Mayor's Office of Special Events says the 57-year-old actor is jumping on behalf of USO of...
105. Music Review: Paul Weller breaks his own mold with '22 Dreams'
By SOLVEJ SCHOU - July 21, 2008
Paul Weller, "22 Dreams" (Yep Roc)Known as the Modfather in his native England, Paul Weller has sustained a successful musical career, careening from hit '70s Mod revival band The Jam to '80s group The Style Council and a Britpop solo stretch since the '90s.On "22 Dreams," his ninth solo album, the...
106. Music Review: Once again, Sugarland captures the exuberance of life on 'Love on the Inside'
By MICHAEL McCALL - July 21, 2008
Sugarland, "Love On The Inside" (Mercury Nashville)Sugarland captures the exuberant possibilities of life as well as any modern country act. On "Love On The Inside," the third album for the duo of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, they once again tap into a joyful energy that's as irresistible as...
107. Music Review: Daft Punk's experimental film 'Electroma' a love-it-or-hate-it affair
By JOHN KOSIK - July 21, 2008
Daft Punk, "Electroma" (Vice Records)French electronica duo Daft Punk — Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo — have become known as much for their visual presentation, in both their innovative videos and stage performances, as they are for their groundbreaking music.Keeping...
108. 'Greek' TV star Scott Michael Foster arrested for alleged drunken driving in Hollywood
By Associated Press - July 21, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Scott Michael Foster, star of ABC Family's frat-house series "Greek," has been released on $5,000 bail following his arrest in Hollywood for misdemeanor drunken driving.Police say the 23-year-old Foster, who plays Kappa Tau President Cappie on "Greek," was arrested at 12:20 a.m....
109. Phileas Fogg takes a fast-paced, world-wide trip _ around a tiny stage
By JENNIFER FARRAR - July 21, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ For a humorous look at the rigors of world travel and derring-do in Victorian times, take a trip with the Irish Rep's fast-paced "Around the World in 80 Days," adapted by Mark Brown from the Jules Verne novel.Cool, calculating Londoner Phileas Fogg, portrayed with amusing...
110. Excerpts from 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in 'wardrobe malfunction' case
By The Associated Press - July 21, 2008
Excerpts from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in CBS Corp. v. FCC:___"The Commission's conclusion on the nature and scope of its indecency regime — including its fleeting material policy — is at odds with the history of its actions in regulating indecent broadcasts."In...
111. Amy Winehouse's husband sentenced to 27 months in jail for bar assault, obstructing justice
By JILL LAWLESS - July 21, 2008
LONDON (AP) _ Amy Winehouse's husband was sentenced Monday to 27 months in jail for assault and obstructing justice.Blake Fielder-Civil has admitted beating up pub manager James King in a barroom fight in 2006 and then offering him $400,000 to keep quiet about it.Judge David Radford told...
112. Atlanta rapper Lil Scrappy is free on $1,500 bond following weekend arrest
By Associated Press - July 21, 2008
DECATUR, Ga. (AP) _ Police say Atlanta rapper Lil Scrappy is out of jail after being arrested following a fight with his sister's boyfriend.The 24-year-old rapper, whose name is Darryl Richardson, was released on $1,500 bond from the DeKalb County jail in Georgia on Sunday.DeKalb County police...
113. The Dark Knight's kind of town: Gotham City gets a little windy
By CARYN ROUSSEAU - July 21, 2008
CHICAGO (AP) _ Christian Bale's Batman is perched atop a skyscraper, looking over a dark and foggy skyline pierced by glittering lights, preparing for a dive to the gritty streets below.But when he alights, he won't find the gargoyle-infested, bricks-and-mortar city that Washington Irving first...
114. Leno to say goodnight to 'Tonight' next May; O'Brien takes over late-night franchise June 1
By LYNN ELBER - July 21, 2008
%meta(topic:01016000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:tv;%)BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Conan O'Brien will take over the "Tonight" show next June — and what happens to deposed host Jay Leno after that is anybody's guess.Leno's last show will be Friday, May 29, and O'Brien will...
115. Tens of thousands gather in Quebec City for free Paul McCartney concert
By Associated Press - July 20, 2008
QUEBEC CITY, Quebec (AP) _ Paul McCartney churned out a Beatles-laden song list to a pumped-up crowd gathered Sunday for a free concert as part of Quebec City's 400th anniversary celebration.McCartney opened the show with the Wings song "Jet" after which he greeted the crowd in French. The audience...
116. Gillian Anderson: Getting into character for X-Files movie was harder than expected
By Associated Press - July 20, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Gillian Anderson says getting back into Dana Scully's character for "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" was harder than she expected."It was a little odd," Anderson told Newsweek for its July 21 issue. "It was more disconcerting than I anticipated. I expected it to be a breeze. But I...
117. Juanes headlines Paris concert to press for release of Colombia hostages
By JENNY BARCHFIELD - July 20, 2008
%meta(topic:01011000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:music;%)PARIS (AP) — Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt took the stage and shook her hips to a Colombian superstar's guitar riffs, leading the crowd in chants of "Freedom for all!" at a concert Sunday dedicated to captives held by...
118. As anchors fly to Mideast to greet Obama, some wonder whether media are playing fair
By DAVID BAUDER - July 20, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Television news' royalty will fly in to meet Barack Obama during this week's overseas trip: CBS chief anchor Katie Couric in Jordan on Tuesday, ABC's Charles Gibson in Israel on Wednesday and NBC's Brian Williams in Germany on Thursday.The anchor blessing defines the trip as a Major...
119. Jolie and twins give paparazzi the slip, leave French hospital in Nice
By JENNY BARCHFIELD - July 19, 2008
PARIS -- Angelina Jolie has left the building. Oh, and so have the twins. Before dawn Saturday, the Hollywood superstar and her newborn twins left the French Riviera hospital where she gave birth a week ago, the hospital said in a statement. "The mother and her babies...
120. Milo Ventimiglia discusses the upcoming season of 'Heroes' and his trip to the Middle East
By ERIN CARLSON - July 18, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ "Iron Man" isn't the only superhero to visit the Middle East this summer. Milo Ventimiglia, who plays power-absorbing Peter Petrelli on NBC's "Heroes," traveled to the region last week as part of a USO tour of U.S. bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.He met many soldiers who were...
121. Medical examiner says Kallenbach of Howard Stern's 'Wack Packer' died of natural causes
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
LIMA, Pa. (AP) _ Comedian Kenneth Keith Kallenbach, a long-running member of Howard Stern's "Wack Pack," died of complications from cystic fibrosis, a medical examiner ruled Friday.He died April 24 at age 39 at a hospital near Philadelphia after falling ill in the county jail. Kallenbach was being...
122. Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels undergoing surgery to remove two blood clots in his arm
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of the legendary rap group Run-DMC was scheduled to undergo surgery at a New Jersey hospital Friday to remove two major blood clots in his left arm.McDaniels, 44, had been suffering from pain and swelling in his arm when doctors discovered the clots, his...
123. Song and dance man Ben Vereen hosts fundraiser for $32 million brain center at medical school
By PEGGY HARRIS - July 18, 2008
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) _ Because of his own injuries, Ben Vereen seems like a natural to highlight a fundraiser for an institute that researches brain damage, but it took an introduction from the woman who walks his dog to make it happen.Vereen was in Little Rock on Friday to visit hospital...
124. Billy Joel is in a Shea Stadium state of mind, playing ballpark's final concert
By JOSH HOFFNER - July 18, 2008
NEW YORK -- Billy Joel bade a stirring farewell to Shea Stadium on Friday during an electrifying, sold-out final show at the same ballpark where the Beatles famously ushered in a new era in rock 'n' roll four decades ago. He was joined by an all-star lineup of friends...
125. National Black Arts Festival celebrates 20 years as gift to Atlanta with 10 days of events
By ERRIN HAINES - July 18, 2008
ATLANTA (AP) _ Stephanie Hughley's 12th floor office at the new headquarters of the National Black Arts Festival has a stunning view of Atlanta, including the city's cultural standard: the High Museum of Art.The vantage point reminds Hughley that she has arrived, and that the festival can claim the...
126. Band singer Jo Stafford, known to WWII troops as 'GI Jo,' dies of heart failure at 90
By BOB THOMAS - July 18, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Jo Stafford, the honey-voiced band singer who starred in radio and television and sold more than 25 million records with her ballads and folks songs, has died. She was 90. Stafford died of congestive heart failure Wednesday at her Century City home, her...
127. Walkthrough models highlight MoMA's survey of prefab home-building technology
By DAVID MINTHORN - July 18, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Prefabricated houses don't have to be ticky-tacky.Contemporary prefab homes now possess all the flair and durability of traditional housing. Computerized designs and innovative materials are behind this architectural revolution, replacing cookie-cutter forms and flimsy materials...
128. 'Dark Knight' sets box office record with $66.4 million on opening day, passing 'Spider-Man 3'
By DAVID GERMAIN - July 18, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Batman's joust with the Joker has set another box office record. Stoked by fan fever over the manic performance of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker, "The Dark Knight" set a one-day box office record with $66.4 million on opening day, Warner Bros. head of distribution Dan...
129. Nashville songwriting great Hank Cochran recovering from cancer surgery
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Songwriter Hank Cochran is recovering at a Nashville hospital following surgery to remove cancerous tumors from his pancreas and lymph node.The 72-year-old Cochran says the diagnosis was made very early and doctors expect him to make a full recovery.He is expected to remain...
130. Ex-Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler arrested in Los Angeles for alleged possession of drugs
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler has been arrested in Hollywood for alleged drug possession.Los Angeles police spokesman Richard French says the 43-year-old Adler was arrested around 4 a.m. Friday by officers called to a home where a man reportedly was creating a...
131. Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault call off their engagement
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Salma Hayek has called off her engagement to businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, her representative said Friday.The couple announced their plans to wed in March 2007, and welcomed a daughter, Valentina Paloma Pinault, several months later."We are sad to announce the engagement of...
132. Hong Kong Bruce Lee fans mark 35th anniversary of death with exhibit
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
HONG KONG (AP) _ Bruce Lee fans are marking the 35th anniversary of his death with an exhibit featuring movie posters, magazine covers and books about the action star.Also among the 800 items on display are letters written by Lee that detail his life in the U.S., where he attended college and...
133. Andy Warhol, Lichtenstein artworks stolen from Swedish museum
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) _ Officials say one or more thieves broke into a Swedish museum and stole work done by American pop icons Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.Police say the break-in happened at the Abergs Museum near Stockholm early Friday.Museum officials say two Warhol and three Lichtenstein...
134. 50 Cent passes court-ordered drug test and will be allowed to take son on vacation
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) _ Rapper 50 Cent is free to take a vacation with his son after passing a court-ordered drug test.The 33-year-old entertainer was in a Long Island courtroom Thursday to ask a judge for permission to take 11-year-old Marquise on a trip next month.A drug test was ordered, and...
135. Scott Storch, once 1 of the industry's top producers, watches as his music empire crumbles
By EVELYN McDONNELL - July 18, 2008
MIAMI (AP) _ Just a few years ago, Scott Storch was one of the top producers in pop music, living in a $10.5 million mansion on an exclusive Miami island, driving a phalanx of luxury cars and dating the likes of Paris Hilton and Lil Kim.Nowadays, Scott Storch, 34, is missing in action. He owes over...
136. 'Desperate Housewives' creator sees 3 more years for ABC series; tweaks 'Grey's' Heigl
By JANICE RHOSHALLE LITTLEJOHN - July 18, 2008
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) _ The women of Wisteria Lane may have only a few more years to resolve their assorted problems."Desperate Housewives" creator and executive producer Marc Cherry told a meeting of the Television Critics Association on Thursday that he plans to end the ABC series after...
137. Paul McCartney appeals to Quebec nationalists for peace ahead of his free weekend concert
By Associated Press - July 18, 2008
MONTREAL (AP) _ Paul McCartney told Quebec nationalists on Thursday "to smoke the pipes of peace" over their opposition to his free concert celebrating the city's 400th anniversary.Several artists and politicians have questioned McCartney's participation in the weekend birthday celebrations of...
138. China warns foreign performers against harming 'national sovereignty'
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
BEIJING (AP) _ The government warned foreign performers and entertainers against harming China's sovereignty or ethnic unity, a sign of increasing nervousness over live performances weeks before the Olympic Games.China is ratcheting up security ahead of the Aug. 8-24 games in an all-out attempt to...
139. Poetic Justice: Spike in sales for Kay Ryan, the next poet laureate
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Kay Ryan is no longer an unknown poet.Demand for her work jumped sharply Thursday upon the Library of Congress' announcement that she had been named the new U.S. poet laureate, a one-year term beginning in the fall. Her collections "The Niagara River," ''Say Uncle" and "Elephant...
140. Two musical-theater obsessives follow their dream to Broadway
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ When we last saw Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen on stage, the two theater-obsessed lads were basking in the glow of a successful off-Broadway run in "title of show," their delightful tale of writing and putting on a musical.Now several years later, the boys, not to mention fellow...
141. Music and likeness of Jimi Hendrix coming to 'Guitar Hero' video game
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Jimi Hendrix is coming to "Guitar Hero."The Seattle-based company Experience Hendrix, which controls the rock icon's musical legacy, is providing Hendrix's music and likeness for the latest "Guitar Hero" video game, Aaron Grant, a spokesman for publisher and developer Activision...
142. U2's Bono, Edge win 4-year legal battle to redevelop Dublin hotel into futuristic landmark
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK - July 17, 2008
DUBLIN, Ireland -- U2 stars Bono and The Edge won a four-year legal battle Thursday to reshape their old-fashioned Dublin hotel, the Clarence, into a futuristic landmark — a decision that appeared to fly in the face of Ireland's conservative planning...
143. Dennis Farina receives 2 years of probation for carrying gun into Los Angeles airport
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Dennis Farina may be able to carry a gun on-screen, but he won't be able to own one in California for several months.The actor's attorney pleaded no contest on Thursday to a misdemeanor charge of bringing a weapon into a secure area at Los Angeles International Airport. A court...
144. Analysis: Emmys snub 'The Wire' 1 final time, hammering the final nail into the row house
By JAKE COYLE - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ The Emmys said goodbye to "The Wire" with the same lack of respect that it showed the HBO drama during its acclaimed five-season run.Call it the final nail in the row house.The last season of "The Wire," which was called "the best show on television" by more than a few critics,...
145. Women over 40 dominate acting categories at the 60th annual Emmy Award nominations
By SANDY COHEN - July 17, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Teens and 20-somethings may be the target demographic for many TV shows, but when it comes to top actresses, over 40 is where it's at.Only one actress nominated for an Emmy on Thursday is in her 20s: 24-year-old "Ugly Betty" star America Ferrera, for lead actress in a comedy...
146. Reality sets in for Seacrest, Bergeron, other TV hosts validated by Emmy nominations
By ERIN CARLSON - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Three minutes to showtime, and Cristian de la Fuente still hadn't decided whether he would continue after tearing a tendon in his biceps. The producers of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," the popular live dancing competition, had themselves in a tizzy.Tom Bergeron, meanwhile, was...
147. Fans at 'Dark Knight' openings filled with admiration, sadness over Ledger's performance
By JOCELYN NOVECK - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ As Chris Finegan watched Heath Ledger's stunning portrayal of the Joker on Friday in "The Dark Knight," he couldn't help but think of another actor who wasn't on the screen: James Dean, who also died prematurely and tragically, nearly 53 years ago."Heath Ledger is going to have the...
148. Former weekend anchor of 'NBC Nightly News' Seigenthaler joins family's PR firm
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Former "NBC Nightly News" weekend anchor John Seigenthaler has joined a public relations firm founded and operated by his family as partner and CEO of its New York operations.Seigenthaler had been with NBC News for 11 years, joining after local news stints in Nashville and...
149. An appearance on '30 Rock' may be the best gig in TV: 7 Emmy nominations for guest stars
By JAKE COYLE - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ An appearance on "30 Rock" may be the best gig in television.Seven actors were nominated Thursday for their guest performances on the NBC comedy, a near monopoly on the categories for guest actors and actresses in a comedy series — Edie Falco, Steve Buscemi, Will Arnett,...
150. New DVD releases include '21,' 'Doomsday,' 'Vampyr,' 'Spaced'
By DAVID GERMAIN - July 17, 2008
Selected home-video releases:"21"Kevin Spacey offers a lesson to academics everywhere on how to beat the high cost of living. Spacey plays a brilliant, greedy Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor who leads a team of math-whiz students (Kate Bosworth and Jim Sturgess among them), the gang...
151. Spider envy: ECU professor lets Stephen Colbert choose arachnid that will carry his name
By Associated Press - July 17, 2008
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) _ Stephen Colbert has a big decision to make: Which spider species should bear his name?The Daily Reflector of Greenville reported Thursday that East Carolina University associate professor Jason Bond has agreed to name a species after Colbert, host of Comedy Central's "The...
152. AP Exclusive: Mitch Albom publishing commencement speech through Amazon.com's Kindle
By HILLEL ITALIE - July 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) _ Mitch Albom has a new book out — well, not really a book, but a commencement speech in book form. And not in traditional book form, but as an e-book, published exclusively through Amazon.com's Kindle reader."Commencement Speech To His Nephew's Graduating Class: May 30, 2008,...