Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer talk from the New Mexico set of the reboot

Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer talk from the New Mexico

LAMY, N.M. — Trouble is brewing between the masked gunfighter (Armie Hammer) and his newfound Comanche traveling companion, Tonto (Johnny Depp), late at night on the New Mexico set of The Lone Ranger. In the scene, the famed lawman is on a wooden porch, fuming behind his leather mask over the smoking carnage of an apparent Indian attack. The fuming turns to full-on rage as Tonto removes a ring from the finger of a body and places a white feather on the corpse's chest. The Lone Ranger sprints down the porch steps and grabs Tonto, only to have the Comanche flip him onto his back into the dirt in one seamless motion. Despite the resounding thud from Hammer, director Gore Verbinski calls for repeated takes of the scene. It's a key moment in the reboot — which has the Pirates of the Caribbean crew, Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, at the helm — since it encapsulates the spirit of Hammer and Depp's new adventure.

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James Gandolfini’s Will: Son, Baby Daughter to Receive Bulk of $70M Estate

James Gandolfini’s Will

“Sopranos” star James Gandolfini has left a majority of his $70-million estate to his 13-year-old son, Michael, and infant daughter, Liliana. James Gandolfini’s Will: Son, Baby Daughter to Receive Bulk of $70M Estate More Pics from the Funeral Getty Images In the will, obtained by “Extra,” the fortune has been placed in a trust, which Michael will receive when he turns 21. Michael will split his father's Italian property with his half-sister when she turns 25, which came with a special request from the actor to keep it in the family “for as long as possible.” gandolfini2 Gandolfini also left millions to wife Deborah Lin, giving her the second largest ownership of his property after the children. The actor also names his siblings and relatives, including nieces, godchildren and close friends, and includes $200,000 gifts to his personal assistant and secretary. An estimated 2,000 friends, fans and relatives filled the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan on June 27 to bid a sad farewell to the New Jersey born actor, who died of a heart attack three weeks ago at age 51. 

News Source :   www.extratv.com

Miley Cyrus premieres trippy

Miley Cyrus premieres trippy

Miley Cyrus couldn't wait any longer to rock out to her new music video for "We Can't Stop." The 20-year-old entertainer told her Twitter followers Wednesday morning that she was brimming with anticipation for the clip's release, and shortly thereafter she got her wish: Cyrus has asked her followers to repeatedly watch the "We Can't Stop" clip in order to break a record on Vevo -- a goal that may just come to fruition. Less than two hours after it was posted on YouTube, the video has so far received 300,000-plus views (and counting) and more than 24,000 likes. 18 Photos Miley Cyrus "We Can't Stop" marks a far departure from Cyrus' earlier music videos. The new surreal clip is more reminiscent of Fiona Apple's provocative "Criminal" video than anything the former Disney Channel star ever did in the past. Young models are seen at an empty Los Angeles home, with a human head sculpted out of french fries and dancers wearing life-sized teddy bear backpacks also present. Cyrus sports gold caps on her teeth at one point and she also dances the twerk. The letters "t-w-e-r-k" are seen spelled out in alphabet soup letters in one shot. Tell us: Do you think Cyrus has gotten a little too edgy with "We Can't Stop," or is it about time she shows off her more adult side? You can judge for yourself by watching the music video below. 

News Source :  www.cbsnews.com

Paula Deen Allegedly Admits To Using N-Word, Racist Jokes In Deposition

Paula Deen Allegedly Admits To Using N-Word

Renowned chef Paula Deen (pictured) has allegedly admitted to using the N-word and racially-insensitive jokes towards a former employee during a recent deposition, according to the National Enquirer. SEE ALSO: The Pros & Cons Of A High-Protein Diet In the May 17 deposition, Deen allegedly confirms allegations brought by Lisa Jackson, the former general manager of her Georgia restaurant, that she used the N-word around her and that her brother, Bubba Hiers, sexually harassed her. Jackson filed a $1.2 million lawsuit against Deen over the alleged treatment and remarks last year In the suit, Jackson recalls a time in 2007 when Deen had her cater Bubba’s wedding. When she asked Deen what the servers should wear, Deen allegedly gave the following response:

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IIFA Awards 2013: Amitabh Bachchan to grace ceremony in Macau

IIFA Awards 2013: Amitabh Bachchan to grace ceremony in Macau

After a decade-long association with the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, Amitabh Bachchan, then the brand ambassador of the annual event, had a tiff with organisers Wizcraft International Entertainment. This was because the Bachchan family had refused to go to Sri Lanka for the awards in 2010 owing to some opposition to Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s film Raavan in the neighbouring country. And so, Salman Khan had famously taken over the mantle from Big B, and was seen everywhere at the Sri Lankan IIFA Weekend. But last year again, the big stars of Bollywood like Amitabh, Salman, Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Akshay Kumar (Aamir Khan doesn’t attend award ceremonies) missed the event. It was evident that the IIFA party was losing sheen. It seems now Sabbas Joseph of Wizcraft has called a truce and Big B is likely to be the face of the international Bollywood awards ceremony again. And Bachchan will make his comeback at a familiar venue – The Venetian Macao hotel in Macau, where the 2009 IIFA Weekend was held. Looks like Wizcraft preferred to go with Macau looking at its experience with The Venetian, and rejected Vancouver’s bid earlier this year. Let’s see if Shahrukh and Salman will turn up for the IIFA Awards 2013.

News Source :  www.bollywoodlife.com

2013 VIDEOCON DDB IIFA WEEKEND TO BE HELD AT THE VENETIAN MACAO-RESORT-HOTEL

Superstar Abhishek Bachchan, 'Friend of iifa'

New Delhi, 14th May, 2013: The International Indian Film Academy (iifa) today announced that the 14th iifa celebrations will be held at The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel, the Official Host Destination Partner. Having travelled to picturesque destinations across the globe over the last 13 years, iifa has graced the shores of the UK, Europe, Middle East, Southeast Asia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and North America. This year, the VIDEOCON DDB iifa Weekend will return to the crown jewel of Cotai Strip Resorts - The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel, making it one of the fortunate few destinations to host the iifa celebrations twice. The three-day long iifa Weekend and Awards is all set to take place from the 4th to 6th of July. Consumer-electronics giant Videocon Group continues its partnership, for the fifth year running, with the International Indian Film Academy as the presenting partner of the VIDEOCON DDB iifa WEEKEND at The Venetian Macao. Videocon has chosen to highlight the world's only "Digital Direct Broadcast" technology that was launched for the first time one year ago. Superstar Abhishek Bachchan, 'Friend of iifa' spoke about the impending celebrations, saying “iifa is a pioneering initiative that opens new doors and creates myriad opportunities for the film industry, taking it to new shores each year.

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Angelina Jolie tears up over fans

Angelina Jolie

Jolie became emotional when talking about the overwhelming support she has received since revealing she had undergone the major surgery. ‘I’ve been very happy to see the discussion of women’s health expanded and that means the world to me,’ the superstar said. Comments (3) By Tom Latchem AND Lachlan Cartwright / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Sunday, June 2, 2013, 10:29 PM 83 37 0 Print US actress and humanitarian campaigner Angelina Jolie (L) poses with her US actor and fiance Brad Pitt (R) as she arrives for the UK premiere of Brad Pitt's latest film "World War Z" in Leicester Square in central London on June 2, 2013. Jolie, 37, revealed in an article in the May 14 edition of The New York Times that she chose to undergo surgery to minimize the risk she might develop breast cancer due to the inheritance of a "faulty gene." The actress's partner and fellow screen star Brad Pitt led worldwide praise, declaring Jolie heroic, followed by her doctors, other stars and thousands of supporters, who took to social media to praise her openness. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURTCARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images Actress Angelina Jolie, left, poses with her fiance Brad Pitt , right, as she arrives for the U.K. premiere of Pitt's film "World War Z" at Leicester Square in central London on Sunday. Jolie, 37, revealed in mid-May that she chose to undergo surgery to minimize the risk she might develop breast cancer due to the inheritance of a 'faulty gene.' Angelina Jolie teared up as she made her first public appearance since announcing her preemptive double mastectomy, joining boyfriend Brad Pitt at the London premiere of his new film “World War Z” Sunday. Jolie, looking radiant in a sleek, backless black Yves Saint Laurent dress with mesh paneling across the front, became emotional when talking about the overwhelming support she has received since revealing she had undergone the major surgery. She became obviously affected after being told what an impact her decision had had on women. The 37-year-old superstar said, “I’ve been very happy to see the discussion of women’s health expanded and that means the world to me. “I am so grateful to have my health. And after losing my mom to these issues, I’m very grateful for it. I’ve been very moved by the support from people,” she said. PHOTOS: ANGELINA JOLIE ATTENDS 'WORLD WAR Z' PREMIERE Jolie’s mom, Marcheline Bertrand, died in 2007 at age 56, following a long bout with ovarian cancer. Angelina Jolie looks radiant in a sleek, backless black Yves Saint Laurent dress at the London premiere of Brad Pitt’s film 'World War Z.' Fans at the event expressed overhwelming support for the actress following her announcement that she'd had a double mastectomy. NEIL HALL/REUTERS Angelina Jolie looks radiant in a sleek, backless black Yves Saint Laurent dress at the London premiere of Brad Pitt’s film 'World War Z.' Fans at the event expressed overhwelming support for the actress following her announcement that she'd had a double mastectomy. Jolie revealed last month that she has an inherited genetic mutation that puts her at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer, prompting her to have the double mastectomy as a preventive measure. The “Tomb Raider” star underwent a series of surgeries to remove her breasts and have them replaced by implants. Looking very much the loving couple, she and Pitt hugged, held hands and posed for the cameras before she went off alone to sign autographs and chat to fans while her partner gave interviews. RELATED: ANGELINA JOLIE RETURNS TO RED CARPET FOR BRAD PITT AFTER DOUBLE MASTECTOMY “I think the world of her. She is an amazing woman,” the 49-year-old Pitt said. “She wasn’t really nervous about coming to support me tonight; she was so moved — we were all so moved — by how much it meant to others. We didn’t realize, or certainly I didn’t realize, how many people were in limbo over this, deliberating, and unsure of what their options were," he said. Maddox, 11, and Pax, 9, joined their famous parents on the red carpet. Dave M. Benett/WireImage for Paramount Maddox, 11, and Pax, 9, joined their famous parents on the red carpet. “They didn’t know the testing even existed, then you find out it is not available to everyone. It certainly should be, there is no reason for anyone to have to die. It’s become a tipping point. I’m very touched by the reaction; it makes me very emotional,” Pitt said. Hundreds of fans turned out to the premiere in Leicester Square to support Jolie.

News Source :   www.nydailynews.com

Bruce Is Losing It He's Met Kanye A BUNCH

Bruce Is Losing It He's Met Kanye A BUNCH 

Bruce Jenner's memory is disappearing faster than Kim's figure ... because the Kardashian patriarch has met Kanye West SEVERAL times, despite claiming he's only met the rapper once -- and Kim is pissed at her stepdad for saying it. We've done our research -- and came up with at least FOUR different occasions where Bruce and Kanye were both present ... Kourtney's baby shower in May 2012, a taping of "X Factor" in November 2012, a Clippers game in December 2012, and the Kardashian family Christmas party. 0603_kardashians_lakers-game-sub_ESPN The photographic evidence contradicts what Bruce told Extra this weekend ... that he only met Kanye once in his entire life, saying, "[Kanye is] not around." We're told Kim's upset with her 63-year-old stepdad ... because Bruce makes it sound like Kanye doesn't care about the family. And here's a clue that maybe Bruce isn't so into Kanye -- back in April, 2012, he said he was "not that excited" when Kim started dating the rapper ... because he felt Kim was rushing into a new relationship too quickly after leaving Kris Humphries.

News Source :   www.tmz.com

Philip Seymour Hoffman leaves detox for heroin use

Philip Seymour Hoffman leaves detox for heroin use

Philip Seymour Hoffman leaves detox for heroin use print Comments 0 Email Share 4 Philip Seymour Hoffman released from heroin detox By Nardine Saad May 31, 2013, 12:09 p.m. Philip Seymour Hoffman has left a detox center that he entered to get ahead of drug problems that are said to have been spinning out of control, according to reports. "The Master" actor revealed to TMZ that he'd started using drugs again about a year ago, starting off with prescription pills then excalated to snorting heroin. He said the heroin use only lasted about a week, but he decided to check himself into a detox facility on the East Coast to take control of the problem. "He recognized it and took care of it," a source told E! News. "He's doing well and back to work." Matthew Perry on addiction during 'Friends,' still no reunion Matthew Perry on addiction during 'Friends,' still no reunion Brooke Mueller in rehab for prescription drug abuse, rep says Brooke Mueller in rehab for prescription drug abuse, rep says Cory Monteith of 'Glee' enters rehab for 'substance addiction' Cory Monteith of 'Glee' enters rehab for 'substance addiction' David Tutera: TV host accused of sex addiction by partner David Tutera: TV host accused of sex addiction by partner Ads by Google Capgemini ConsultingDeveloping innovating products daily in the telecom industry Capgemini-consulting.com Cheap and Safe BerlinBerlin will not be cheap forever, buy now before you regret it. www.frontlineberlin.com Friends and family urged him to get treatment, he told the website. PHOTOS: Celebrity portraits by The Times The "Capote" Oscar-winner is said to have stayed at the detox facility for 10 days before checking out last Friday. Hoffman, 45, has struggled with substance abuse in the past but was able to stay clean for 23 years before the latest relapse. The actor, who has three children with costume designer Mimi O'Donnell, is already back at work, filming a movie in Europe, according to ET. Hoffman will next appear in "The Hunger Games" sequel "Catching Fire" in November, in which he'll play scheming head game-maker Plutarch Heavensbee. A rep for Hoffman did not immediately respond to Times requests for comment.

News Source :  www.latimes.com

Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj say goodbye to 'American Idol' -- DRAMATIZATION

Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj say goodbye to 'American Idol'

Now that well-intentioned ramble-monster Mariah Carey and professional cotton-candy-cloud of artifice Nicki Minaj have both been released from American Idol‘s sequined shackles, it was clearly time to revisit the video for Mimi and Nicki’s classic 2010 collaboration “Up Out My Face.” (you can watch the original below). Only then could we better imagine their reactions to being released from the painful prison of having to sit and look pretty for millions of dollars…. [RING, RING.] [RING, RING.] “Ugh. Hello? What. You know we don’t SPEAK.” GET EW ON YOUR TABLET: Subscribe today and get instant access! “Hold on, I’ma get up. This shot is DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO FEATURING THE BAD SIDE OF MY FACE.” “You’ve opted out of your contract too, dahhhhhhling Clown Bangs? How original. How many times to I have to TELL you, dahling. First the hit records, then agreeing under contract to say whatever Nigel Lythgoe wants (along with, in my case, 500-word scramble ft. one nugget of music industry advice), and now leaving the show the same day I do?” “STOP F—ING COPYING ME!!!!!” “This was all I ever wanted. Solitutde with my butterflies and ladypower. And you RUINED THAT TOO just by SHOWING UP!” “Mmmmm…dahling….your breath. You are NOT allowed to be this close without my bodyguard Randy present. Bitch, come any closer with that stank wig and I’m about to toss all the grapes, plums, and eggplants I ate today. It’ll be a Viiiiii-IIII-iiiii-sion of Purpllllllllllllle Vomit. Ohhhhh….ah-ooh-ah-hieeeeeEEEEEE-uh! HiiiiiieeEEE-uh-hoo-ah, yeahhhhhhhhh…uh yeah-yeahhh. Vomit.” “Fine, this is fine for a second, but DON’T YOU DARE MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH ME again! Ooh there’s the camera. How cute do we look? I look fantastic as always. It’s actually sort of sad that no one will get to see our costume so often…” “My boobs! (Nice try displaying your boobs all the time on the show, Nicki. America knows where to look! And I WOULD LIKE TO HOPE that AMERICA will make the right choice tonight and on all nights. And these boobs have a special meaning to ME PERSONALLY because my mother gave me these boobs and used to go around singing about what one day my boobs would be come. And it’s just….how do I say this…. it’s like…..there are no words. BEYOND…. Just?…..Beyond. Hashtag Pow. #Beautiful.)” “So it’s goodbye to all of this, dahling….and hello to more of this in a SOLO SETTING featuring JUST ME in decadent locale of my choosing!” I CLEARLY DON’T NEED THE MONEY! NICKI MINAJ INTERJECTS: “Thank you American Idol for a life changing experience! Wouldn’t trade it for the world! Time to focus on the Music!!! Mmmuuuaahhh!!! I’M GONNA KILL YOU AND WEAR YOU AS A WIG, BALLOON. MMMMUUUAAHHH!!!

News Source : www.popwatch.ew.com

Miranda Lambert Tears Up During Oklahoma Benefit

Miranda Lambert Tears Up During Oklahoma Benefit

It was an emotional night for Miranda Lambert, who teared up as she took the stage at the “Healing in the Heartland” benefit concert for Oklahoma tornado victims. Miranda Lambert Tears Up During Oklahoma Benefit Lambert and husband Blake Shelton live in Oklahoma and joined forces with Facebook, United Way and NBC to help raise money for the cause. Miranda3 [Credit: Facebook] The country singer, who has focused on animals affected by the disaster, got choked up as she tried to sing the words to “The House That Built Me.” Eventually the crowd had to join in to keep the tune going and Miranda mouthed “sorry” to fans as she struggled to stay strong. Sheryl Crowe was so touched by her performance, she wrote on Facebook, “Just re-watched Miranda Lambert on ‘Healing In The Heartland.’ Love your tender heart, Miranda - thank you for sharing your love for OK & those sweet animals.” RebaMcIntyre2 [Credit: Facebook] Check out behind the scenes pics of Miranda and Reba McIntyre at Chesapeake Arena in Oklahoma City above and visit  Facebook.com/UnitedWay to donate.

News Source :  www.extratv.com

Lance Bass: I'm Scared for Amanda Bynes

Lance Bass: I'm Scared for Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes's odd public behavior – and recent arrest – is worrying one of her old friends. While calling into Las Vegas radio's Mark and Mercedes show on Wednesday, Lance Bass spoke of Bynes, saying, "It's one of those situations where obviously there's some mental problems there and she's not able to see that. We all are [able to see it]." (The actress's attorney, who's representing her in a DUI case in Los Angeles, says there's nothing to worry about, though, telling PEOPLE recently, "I think Amanda's fine. I have no problems with her whatsoever. She's a fine client.") Bass produced Love Wrecked in 2005, in which Bynes starred. The movie led to their friendship. And while Bass didn't indicate how long it's been since the two have spoken, time hasn't stopped him from worrying about the troubled starlet. Keep up with Amanda Bynes in the pages of PEOPLE Magazine by subscribing now. "No one is able to get to her," he told the radio station. "I'm actually really scared for her, and I hope someone is able to get to her to give her the help she needs." 

News Source :  www.people.com

Will, Jaden Smith In Space, Without Fun

Will, Jaden Smith In Space, Without Fun

Will Smith (left) and Jaden Smith star in After Earth, an unfortunately humorless film. Courtesy of Columbia Pictures. Will Smith (left) and Jaden Smith star in After Earth, an unfortunately humorless film. Will Smith (left) and Jaden Smith star in After Earth, an unfortunately humorless film. Courtesy of Columbia Pictures. After Earth Director: M. Night Shyamalan Genre: Sci-fi Adventure Running Time: 100 minutes Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and some disturbing images With: Will Smith, Jaden Smith A disastrous father-son endeavor about a calamitous father-son expedition, After Earth doesn't play to the strengths of any of its major participants. Will Smith portrays a stern outer space hero devoid of the bantering wit and easygoing demeanor of his trademark roles. Director M. Night Shyamalan, auteur of twisty The Sixth Sense, struggles with a surprise-free plot and a trial-by-fire moral so earnest it suggests a circa-1944 World War II flick. And Jaden Smith, in the movie's tissue-thin principal role, is called on to act. He'll start losing viewers with his wooden opening narration. Set 1,000 years in the future, the story begins long after humans have fled an environmentally trashed Earth. Their new home is hardly congenial, being populated by people-eating Ursa — creatures that aren't a form of bear; they're the usual space-monster hybrid of squid, cockroach and pit bull. The Ursa are blind, but they can smell human dread. So the only people who can best then are those who are literally fearless, like Gen. Cypher Raige (the elder Smith). While he travels the universe, stoically doing brave stuff, his son Kitai (the younger Smith) is at Ranger Corps school, trying to become just like dreary old Dad. As is characteristic of aspiring cinematic Top Guns, Kitai is academically brilliant and physically unsurpassed. But he's hobbled by terror that stems from a childhood incident and recurs — again and again and then again — in motivating flashbacks. 

News Source : www.npr.org

The Hangover 3 & Before Midnight & the Return of Hit Trilogies

The Hangover Part III

If every generation gets the comedy team they deserve, here’s good news for all of us: The guys from the “Hangover” films have hilariously, crazily evolved. Not that Phil (Bradley Cooper), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Stu (Ed Helms) are thinking deep thoughts. But the pleasant surprise of “The Hangover Part III” is a belated bout of adulthood has only made the extended-adolescent characters funnier. The result is a more traditional but more hysterical crowd-pleaser. Alan, in fact, is acting like a troubled teen when Phil and Stu catch up to him. The 42-year-old just buried his dad (Jeffrey Tambor), beheaded a giraffe (don’t ask) and is acting lost (when not acting out). So Alan’s family intervenes and books him at a Southwestern mental health facility, with Phil, Stu and Alan’s brother-in-law Doug (Justin Bartha) driving him there. RELATED: DAILY NEWS CHATS WITH THE STARS OF 'THE HANGOVER PART III' Heather Graham co-stars as Jade in ‘The Hangover Part III.’ Heather Graham co-stars as Jade in ‘The Hangover Part III.’ But there’s a hitch. Barely out of L.A., the guys are shanghaied by a mob boss (John Goodman) owed $21 million in gold by Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong), the nutsy albatross around the guys’ necks. The mobster takes Doug hostage until the gold is retrieved. Turns out the gold is hidden in Vegas, a place the still-shellshocked Stu vowed never to return to, after the lost bachelor party of four years ago. But for Alan it’s a step forward, especially after a brief encounter with a tattooed antique store owner (Melissa McCarthy). Abandoning the “What happened last night?” structure — which marred the second entry — frees “Part III” to relax into its own goofy groove. Director Todd Phillips’ wild ride through the mind of the American guy (strippers, monkeys, road trips, troublemaking) now lopes easily from epic set-pieces to male rite-of-passage shenanigans. RELATED: ZACH GALIFIANAKIS TO TAKE FRIEND HE SAVED FROM HOMELESSNESS TO PREMIERE “The Hangover Part III” focuses on the character of Alan, played by Zach Galifianakis. Melinda Sue Gordon/AP “The Hangover Part III” focuses on the character of Alan, played by Zach Galifianakis. Even Jeong is palatable as Chow, the film’s irrepressible id. On the lam from a Bangkok prison, the out-there oddball is less punch line and more endearing. Yet it’s the connection between the main trio that’s most winning, mainly because the actors avoid cartoonishness. Cooper’s droll way with throwaway lines (well deployed in his Oscar-nominated turn in “Silver Linings Playbook”) has only improved. The wry Helms dials down the hysteria as Stu approaches his own self-revelation. Galifianakis, though, is the key here. Able to smash a scene to smithereens with the simplest of lines, the hirsute comic is as unpredictable as ever, yet takes director Todd Phillips’ bait to up the stakes. It’s a treat to see the loony man-child Alan blooming in love, friendship and even faux-fatherhood after a reunion with baby Carlos from the first film.

News Source :  www.nydailynews.com

Kristin Scott Thomas gets nasty at Cannes

Kristin Scott Thomas

CANNES, France — Kristin Scott Thomas is known for her cool, aristocratic demeanor in classic films such as 1994's Four Weddings and a Funeral and 1996's The English Patient. But now it's time for her to get nasty. Real nasty. The English-French actress, who turns 53 on Friday, takes on a very different role as the bloodthirsty head of a drug-running family hell-bent on revenge in Only God Forgives (out July 19). The film from writer-director Nicolas Winding Refn saw its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday. Thomas will shock — and delight — her fans as she chews her way through anyone in her path onscreen while inhaling long, thin cigarettes. The role has thrust her into the spotlight, a place usually reserved for her marquee co-star Ryan Gosling, who was pulled out of the festival because of last-minute film commitments. "She had no problem turning on the bitch switch," said Refn as the film was introduced to the international press. PHOTOS: The Cannes red carpet MORE: The latest Cannes coverage from USA TODAY "It's quite frightening," Thomas added with a laugh. The Hollywood Reporter was among the voices that instantly praised the "brilliant casting stroke." The industry magazine summed up her character as "a platinum-haired, poison-tongued ice queen who conjures thoughts of Lady Macbeth, Medea and Tamora from Titus Andronicus, as styled by Donatella Versace." You could throw in Salome as well, since Thomas' Crystal calls for the head of the people who killed her oldest son to be laid out on a platter. When told of the violent crimes that led to her son's death, she says with a shrug, "I'm sure he had his reasons." Crystal dishes out the scorn in her first moments onscreen, when she takes down hotel employees who won't let her into her suite after a long flight. But she saves her most blistering venom for her younger son Julian (Gosling), who disappoints her by not exacting revenge. During one lunch-from-hell scene, Crystal degrades him with discussions of his private parts and refers to his date by an entirely unprintable name. Refn says he incorporated the term into the script after asking Gosling for the most vile term that an American woman could be called. Thomas pulls it off coldly, but said she had trouble getting the word out when the cameras rolled. "It took me eight takes to actually pronounce it," she said. Thomas insists she was not trying to go up against her usual character type when she was offered the Only God Forgives role. "It kind of happened. When I first read the script I was so excited about playing someone far away from the upper-class thing that English people love to see me in. It wasn't like I needed to find a film that's going break this terrible shell I am trapped in. It was much more organic than that." The role also got more "wild and savage" as the filming progressed and the script morphed. "I think if it had been set up weeks ahead I would have been terrified by it," said Thomas. With Gosling on location in Detroit, it was left to the writer-director to defend the stylistic and brutal violence in Only God Forgives. It is even more extreme than in Refn and Gosling's first collaboration, Drive, which earned a director award at the 2011 Cannes festival. Refn referred to his approach to movie violence as "art" and said that he has a "fetish for violent emotions." Thomas seemed to be a little surprised to find herself presenting her Crystal character to the world, saying the attraction for her was mostly the opportunity to work with Refn. 

News Source :  www.usatoday.com

4th place finish for DWTS fave Aly Raisman

4th place finish for DWTS fave Aly Raisman

Needham Olympic gymnastics champion Aly Raisman fell short of her goal of winning “Dancing With the Stars” last night, finishing fourth with pro partner Mark Ballas. Country music singer Kellie Pickler, along with partner Derek Hough, claimed the 16th season championship of the ABC talent competition. “This is amazing! Oh, 
my God,” Kellie blurted 
after host Tom Bergeron 
announced her victory. Runner-up Zendaya led by one judges’ point through the final round, but viewer votes counted for half the final score. This win marks Hough’s fourth, a record for the franchise. In what truly was the “cruelest cut,” Aly was eliminated 20 minutes into the bloated two-hour finale and had to return after the commercial break to appear in a group number celebrating the female finalists. “I’m just sad it’s over,” Aly told the Herald after the show. “This has been the best experience ever. I’m going to miss everyone so much.” Conspiracy buffs have plenty to chew on. Bergeron announced 
that due to a glitch that prevented East Coast viewers from voting Monday night on ABC.com, all votes on the web site would be discarded and only votes via text, phone or Facebook would be considered. Asked how that hiccup might have affected her standings, Aly said, “It is what it is. I’m so happy for Kellie and Derek. The most important thing for me is that I had fun. I got fourth, and that’s OK.” To get to the results, viewers had to sit through filler punctuated by musical performances from Wynonna Judd, Psy, Pitbull and Jessica Sanchez. The judges were in a generous mood, giving the three remaining finalists — including NFL Super Bowl champion Jacoby Jones, who finished third, perfect scores for their instant dances. As for what might be next for her in the entertainment world, Aly said, “I don’t know. I like to take things one day at a time.” Her growth as a performer was one of the most remarkable arcs of the season. She needn’t hang up her shoes because “Dancing” is over. Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” could always 
use a celebrity mentor for 
its contestants.

News Source :  www.bostonherald.com

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

Robbie Collin reviews the first UK screening of Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan. 3 out of 5 stars Carey Mulligan and Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby Carey Mulligan and Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby Robbie Collin By Robbie Collin, Chief Film Critic 7:52PM BST 13 May 2013 Comments1 Comment 12A cert, 143 min Dir: Baz Luhrmann Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire, Isla Fisher In 1927, Zelda Fitzgerald attended a screening of Paramount Pictures’ film adaptation of the novel that would come to define not only the literary career of her husband Francis Scott, but also the age in which he worked. “We saw The Great Gatsby in the movies,” she wrote to her daughter, Scottie. “It’s rotten and awful and terrible and we left.” Related Articles Luhrmann's Gatsby: not so great? 06 May 2013 How I rewrote 'The Great Gatsby' 13 May 2013 Cannes is still the greatest show on earth 10 May 2013 That first Gatsby film was released a year after Fitzgerald’s novel was published, and no remaining copy of it exists: a twist that would have pleased Zelda enormously. Neither she nor F Scott lived to see any of the four subsequent Gatsby adaptations — which include the dreary 1949 noir, the frigid 1974 version with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow and the already forgotten 2000 television movie — but it seems unlikely that any would have passed the Zelda test. My guess is that she would have checked out of Baz Luhrmann’s occasionally brilliant, often undernourished 3D version at around the 20-minute mark, when Myrtle Wilson pops a record on the gramophone in her New York apartment and the voice of the rapper Kanye West comes booming out, over a bass line that would shake the girders of the Empire State Building. The party that ensues looks like the best one you’ve never been invited to, with champagne sneezing its way across the screen in great, fizzy arcs, drenching the revellers’ silk slips and singlets. That’s Luhrmann’s style, but it’s not Fitzgerald’s, and there is surely no contradiction in praising the Australian director’s batty ambitions for this story while admitting that they often work against it. He lays on a cinematic buffet of such sense-addling, smack-you-in-the-face-with-a-halibut brazenness that it takes around an hour before you notice the film is finger-food and nothing more. On the plus side, it’s an all-you-can-eat deal. Leonardo DiCaprio is Jay Gatsby, the newly minted millionaire of West Egg, New York, and Carey Mulligan is Daisy Buchanan, the lost love he longs to win back. On the rare occasions Luhrmann gives them space to act in the pulsating frenzy of his Jazz Age world, both do a wonderful job. Tobey Maguire, meanwhile, is Nick Carraway, who acts as our guide to the three parallel worlds of the 1930s: Old Money, New Money and No Money. After the party at Myrtle’s, where we get the measure of Daisy’s cruel husband Tom (Joel Edgerton), we’re in West Egg at one of Gatsby’s house parties, where streamers arc through the air like paper rainbows, and dancing girls shimmy and whirl like Tasmanian devils on the rampage. The crucial moments of drama, however, are often drably handled, and when Gatsby and Tom finally have it out over Daisy’s future in a sweltering Manhattan hotel suite, you can’t help but wish that one of them had snuck in a glitter cannon. Luhrmann last worked with DiCaprio on his 1996 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, and the ending of that film felt so immediate that you prayed for Romeo to drop his vial of poison, or for Claire Danes’s Juliet to wake a minute sooner. Here, plot is something that happens when there’s nothing better to do. Luhrmann’s film, which opens the Cannes Film Festival tomorrow evening before arriving in British cinemas on Thursday, is the Gatsby that Gatsby himself would have made, and you can hear the director’s voice whenever DiCaprio speaks. “Do you think it’s too much?” frets Gatsby, after burying Nick’s living room in flowers in advance of his fateful afternoon tea with Daisy. “I think it’s what you want,” shrugs Nick. Then Gatsby, with a thoughtful look and no apology: “I think so, too.” 

News Source :  www.telegraph.co.uk

'American Idol' mainstay Randy Jackson

'American Idol' mainstay Randy Jackson

Fox reality singing competition's ratings have been 25% lower than last year which leaves Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban on hot seat Comments (86) By David Hinckley AND Don Kaplan / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Published: Thursday, May 9, 2013, 11:19 AM Updated: Friday, May 10, 2013, 9:14 AM 633 149 0 Print Don’t get used to them! Reports are circulating thta ‘American Idol’ judge (from l.) Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban are all on their way out. Don’t get used to them! Reports are circulating thta ‘American Idol’ judges (from l.) Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban are all on their way out. Jackson (c.) confirmed that he's leaving the show. This "dawg" is giving up his golden bone. Veteran “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson announced Thursday that he’s leaving the Fox talent show — and he apparently isn’t the only one. An “insider” told The Wrap Thursday that Fox plans to start the show from scratch next time around, after a year of bad reviews and worse ratings. PHOTOS: 'AMERICAN IDOL' WINNERS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Outgoing judge Randy Jackson has been the last remaining judge on the show after Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul previously exited. Kevin Winter/Fox Outgoing judge Randy Jackson has been the last remaining judge on the show after Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul previously exited. That would mean not picking up the options of Jackson’s fellow judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban. The Wrap also says executive producer Nigel Lythgoe could be gone. Only host Ryan Seacrest seems to be sticking around. RELATED: CARRIE UNDERWOOD TO SING ‘SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL’ THEME American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, center, poses with judges, from left, Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson before the 14th season of the reality singing competition kicked off - and became the lowest rated season in the history of the show. Michael Becker/AP American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, center, poses with judges, from left, Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson before the 14th season of the reality singing competition kicked off - and became the lowest rated season in the history of the show. Jackson, known for addressing contestants as “dawg,” said in a statement that he’s bowing out. “Yo! Yo! Yo! To put all of the speculation to the rest, after 12 years of judging on ‘American Idol’ I have decided it is time to leave after this season,” he said. “I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry,” said Jackson, who has been on the show since its inception in 2002. Asked if she was returning next season, Minaj addressed the brouhaha on Seacrest’s radio show Thursday. PHOTOS: WORST CELEBRITY FEUDS Executive Producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick are looking at a complete overhaul for the show. Kelsey McNeal/FOX Executive Producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick are looking at a complete overhaul for the show. “That’s a million-dollar question,” she said. “I have to say this all the time, but I want people to know it’s genuinely from my heart. I love the people on ‘Idol.’ I genuinely do. If I had to do this all over again, I would have done ‘Idol.’ Because it’s fun, it’s laughs. "I feel happy here and I have to thank them for giving me this chance,” Minaj added. “They could have picked anyone in the world. And they picked me. So that’s all I’ll say about that.” Fox declined to comment on the report, and representatives for the other judges could not immediately be reached. But there has been speculation for some time that the show plans radical changes for next year, and they start at the table with the Coca-Cola cups. RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: SIMON COWELL LOOKS TO SHUFFLE THE DECK FOR 'X FACTOR' Nothing to smile about: ‘Idol’ has dropped nearly 25% in the ratings from last season, which was the previous low. Nothing to smile about: ‘Idol’ has dropped nearly 25% in the ratings from last season, which was the previous low. “Idol” has dropped almost 25% in the ratings from last year, when the ratings were the lowest in show history. It has also lost much of its traditional buzz, even as it builds toward the coronation of the winner next week. Like Fox’s “The X Factor” and NBC’s competing “The Voice,” “Idol” bet millions on big-name celebrity judges. Critics warned that this could take focus away from the competitors, and there are signs that the show creators may now agree. Original “Idol” judge Simon Cowell, now of “The X Factor,” called a meeting of his team in the last few days to say that he wants judges with “chemistry,” not pop-culture fame. “Idol” has the additional problem of its audience growing older. Its average viewer was 48 last year, compared to 34 when the show started. Still, Fox Entertainment Chairman Kevin Reilly has repeatedly pointed out that even if it has declined from its peak,“Idol” is still a huge moneymaker for the network. Kantar Media, a TV industry analysis firm, says the show drew $836 million in ad revenue last year, soaring well above almost everything else on television.

News Source :  www.nydailynews.com

The Great Gatsby' director Baz Luhrmann

The Great Gatsby' director Baz Luhrmann

The Great Gatsby' 'captures summer in New York... accurately... viscerally,' the director said. 'The Great Gatsby' stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the titular character and Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan. By Zorianna Kit, Reuters / May 11, 2013 'The Great Gatsby' stars Leonardo DiCaprio (l.) and Tobey Maguire (r.). Victoria Will/Invision/AP Enlarge Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on stumbleupon Share on email Film director Baz Luhrmann hopes that his film adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" will kick off a summer of extravagant Gatsby-inspired parties. Related stories The 50 best movies of all time Chapter & Verse 'The Great Gatsby' movie tie-in cover rankles some fans Chapter & Verse 'The Great Gatsby' trailer features new plot points, music Ads by Google Entertainment on Facebook Follow Your Favorite Celebrities On Facebook. Sign Up Today! www.Facebook.com Subscribe Today to the Monitor Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of The Christian Science Monitor Weekly Digital Edition "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. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and with a soundtrack produced by rapper Jay-Z, the film has struck promotional partnerships with clothing retailer Brooks Brothers, jeweler Tiffany & Co. and Moet & Chandon champagne. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best movies of all time "The idea is that you don't just come see the movie, but also celebrate that extraordinary book throughout the summer," the Australian director said of his version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1920s tale of decadence and illusion. "There's an intoxication that (protagonist) Jay Gatsby used to draw all of New York into his glittering parties and his mysterious gardens." The film, shot mostly in Australia, was a long time coming. Its release date was originally set for December 2012 but was pushed to May, causing speculation as to what was happening behind the scenes. Luhrmann, who also directed the 2001 musical "Moulin Rouge," said the biggest issue was the unrelenting bad weather that kept halting production. "It didn't rain once or twice, it rained five times," Luhrmann said. "I got shut down so many times that we had to reconvene in February (2012). When we reconvened, it rained again!" It wasn't just the lousy weather that wreaked havoc on the schedule. Luhrmann said he got hit by a crane during production just before Christmas 2011. "I wasn't going to die, but I had four stitches and a concussion," he said. "We just had to shut down at that point." With visual effects also taking longer than anticipated, Luhrmann felt confident he could still deliver the film in time for release on Dec. 25, 2012. Then another glitch occurred. Quentin Tarantino's slavery-era movie "Django Unchained," also starring DiCaprio, had the identical release date. That would have forced the actor to simultaneously promote two vastly different films during Hollywood's awards season. Movie studio Warner Bros. ultimately rescheduled "The Great Gatsby" for a summer release, which Luhrmann said was a good fit. The movie is also opening the Cannes film festival on May 15. "The convincing point for me was that the book is set in the sweltering summer," said Luhrmann. "All the action takes place during one summer period." It's mostly franchise action films playing at theaters this summer. May alone brings "Iron Man 3," "Fast & Furious 6," "The Hangover Part III" and "Star Trek Into Darkness." Luhrmann says he isn't too concerned about the competition. "Those summer blockbusters? I get it," he said. "Yet what we are saying with 'Gatsby' is our film shouldn't live or die in one weekend. We've got to play throughout the entire summer. It's going to be the summer of Gatsby."

News Source :  www.csmonitor.com

Helen Mirren gives noisy drummers a rebuke

Helen Mirren gives noisy drummers a rebuke

A troupe of street drummers got a shock when Helen Mirren, dressed as Queen Elizabeth II, emerged from a London theatre to berate them for disrupting her show. Mirren is starring in "The Audience," a drama about the weekly meetings between the queen and Britain's prime ministers over her 60-year reign. Outside noise became too much for the actress to bear during Saturday's performance. Mirren acknowledged to the Daily Telegraph newspaper that she used less-than-royal language in her rant. "I'm afraid there were a few 'thespian' words used," Mirren was quoted as saying. "They got a very stern royal ticking off but I have to say they were very sweet and they stopped immediately. "I felt rotten, but on the other hand they were destroying our performance so something had to be done." The drummers were marching through London's West End to promote As One in the Park, a gay music festival being held later this month. "Not much shocks you on the gay scene," parade organiser Mark McKenzie told the Telegraph. "But seeing Helen Mirren dressed as the queen cussing and swearing and making you stop your parade - that's a new one." Chris Dangerfield, a comedian, was filming the drummers from his nearby balcony when a cardigan-wearing figure burst through the stage door, gesticulating wildly. Dangerfield said he couldn't hear what Mirren was saying over the drumming, but "I could tell it was hostile." "I talked to a few of the drummers this morning," he said Monday. "The conductor, who really got it in the ear, said he was terrified." Festival spokesman Mark Williams said organisers "are terribly upset if we caused her any distress. If she'd like to let her hair down and attend the festival she'd be more than welcome." 

News Source : www.dailytelegraph.com.au

Kim Kardashian Marrying Kanye West In Big Sur

Kim Kardashian Marrying Kanye West In Big Sur

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Kim Kardashian and Kanye West attend the Valentino Haute-Couture show as part of Paris Fashion Week Fall / Winter 2012/13 at Hotel Salomon de Rothschild on July 4, 2012 in ParisCaption Is Kim Kardashian ready to jump back into marriage now that she’s single again? Not exactly. Despite a report claiming the pregnant reality star and beau Kanye West are planning an evening beach wedding under the moon and stars, with Kim dead set on throwing the bash in Big Sur, Calif., her rep tells E! the report is “100 percent false.” PHOTOS: The Many Men Of Kim Kardashian While the couple has yet to officially speak out regarding whether they plan to tie knot, Kanye got tongues wagging this week when he broke his long Twitter silence with two simple words, “June Eighteen.” It is unknown whether the cryptic Tweet reveals the due date of his and Kim’s baby, or their wedding, or perhaps the release of new music by the rapper.

  

News Source :  www.accesshollywood.com

James Bond's UK film studio launches mission to the U.S.

James Bond's UK film studio launches mission to the U.S.

British film studio Pinewood Shepperton, home of the James Bond movies, plans to build its first movie, television and music studio in the United States, part of an international expansion strategy launched in 2009. The owner of Europe's largest film studio, Pinewood said on Monday it would develop 288 acres of land south of Atlanta, Georgia, for a studio facility in a joint venture with River's Rock LLC, an independently managed trust of the Cathy family. The Cathy family owns the Atlanta-based fried chicken chain Chick-fil-A. It is believed to be their first significant media investment, but no one from Chick-fil-A was available for comment. Atlanta-area lawyer Douglas Warner, attorney for River's Rock, declined to comment. Attracting Pinewood is the latest victory for Georgia as it builds itself into a major U.S. production destination. Figures shows that 333 productions were shot in the state last year, boosting public coffers by $3.1 billion, with recent films including "Flight", "X-Men: First Class", and "Fast Five". Filmmaker and television producer Tyler Perry has a studio in Atlanta, and the popular zombie-themed AMC cable network series "The Walking Dead" is filmed in the southern U.S. state. Pinewood already owns studios in Canada and Germany and is building facilities in Malaysia and the Dominican Republic. Earlier this month the studio signed a joint venture with Chinese media group Seven Stars, run by media entrepreneur Bruno Wu, to expand its production services into China. "Georgia has excellent fiscal incentives and a great crew base," Pinewood CEO Ivan Dunleavy said in a statement. "With River's Rock we have a well-resourced partner that is committed to building a first-class studio facility." Producers can qualify for state income tax credits of up to 30 percent for certain production expenses, according to the Georgia film office. Under the deal, the land and studio construction costs will be funded by equity from River's Rock and a debt facility from Synovus Bank, with building to begin immediately. Pinewood will provide the sales and marketing services and own 40 percent of the joint venture that will operate under the Pinewood trademark and be called Pinewood Atlanta. The Pinewood studio, based outside of London, has been dubbed the home of James Bond with most of the 23 films featuring British spy 007 shot there over the past half century, including last year's box office hit "Skyfall". Recent films shot at Pinewood include "Jack Ryan" starring Kevin Costner and Chris Pine, and Angelina Jolie's new film "Maleficent". Whether Pinewood might shoot future James Bond films in Georgia was not known. 

News Source : www.reuters.com

Vince Vaughn & Wife Expecting Second Baby

Vince Vaughn & Wife Expecting Second Baby

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Vince Vaughn will soon be a daddy of two! During an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (set to air on Monday), the “Internship” actor, 43, revealed he and his wife Kyla are expecting their second child. “This is the first time I’ve said anything,” Vince told Ellen. “We’re very excited.” Vince, who tied the knot with Kyla in January 2010, said his wife is due on August 5. PHOTOS: Celebrity Baby Bumps The couple’s first child, daughter Locklyn Kyla Vaughn, was born in December 2010 and Vince chatted with Access Hollywood about daddy duty shortly after her birth. “It’s been really wonderful,” he told Access in a January 2011 interview. “I feel really grateful and I’ve been enjoying it. It’s very nice.” 

News Source :  www.accesshollywood.com

George Jones 10 Prime Hits

George Jones 10 Prime Hits

George Jones will always be remembered for his magnificent, evocative voice. That golden throat graced dozens of country classics across six decades of recording. Here are 10 prime hits (listed alphabetically) that helped define his incredible career -- and, on occasion, bring devoted listeners to tears. "Choices" Jones deservedly won a 1999 Grammy for this hard country ballad in which he reflects on a life of poor decisions. The steel guitar and fiddle cry along with him as he considers his taste for drinking and the loved ones he's hurt. Still, without those choices, his life wouldn't have been the same. When he was asked to shorten the song for the CMA Awards, he bowed out -- and Alan Jackson earned a standing ovation by tacking on "Choices" at the end of his own slot. "Golden Ring" (With Tammy Wynette) Although their iconic marriage didn't last, the undeniable chemistry of their duets will never tarnish. In a fitting tribute to the song's title, everything comes full circle in this three-minute narrative. Two lovers find a pair of wedding rings in a pawn shop, get married, break up and take the rings back to the shop. Back on display, they attract the eyes of another couple. Wait, do people buy used wedding rings? Well, when George and Tammy sing, you believe every word. "The Grand Tour" Nashville tourists probably would not enjoy the sort of home tour that Jones describes here in miserable, meticulous detail. With echoes of piano, he points out the empty chair and the empty bed in the empty house. About the only thing he's kept is the framed photo of the woman who's gone. "As you leave you'll see the nursery/Oh, she left me without mercy." A tour de force. "He Stopped Loving Her Today" This 1980 Grammy-winning weeper is considered by many to be the greatest country song of all time. As the story unfolds, Jones goes to a funeral visitation for a heartbroken old friend. When the orchestra is diminished, your attention is shifted to a ghostly background vocal and Jones' recitation about the woman who came to see his friend one last time. It almost feels like you're in the room when he has the epiphany. And that's the magic of Jones' vulnerable voice. "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" Sure, the song is a novelty, but that didn't keep longtime admirers like Garth Brooks, Vince Gill and Pam Tillis from chiming in their support, along with short phrases sprinkled in here and there. The boisterous track won a 1993 CMA Award for vocal event of the year. Jones later repeated in the category by harmonizing with Patty Loveless on the marvelous "You Don't Seem to Miss Me" and teaming with Brad Paisley, Buck Owens and Bill Anderson on "Too Country." "She Thinks I Still Care" Hey, he's only casually mentioning her, asking friends about her, accidentally calling her and retracing her footsteps. It doesn't mean anything, right? Where would she get such an idea? A No. 1 smash in 1962, "She Thinks I Still Care" tells its story with teardrops -- and a sly wink. "Tender Years" Instead of a honky-tonk direction, Jones took a smooth approach to "Tender Years" in 1961, surrounded by lush orchestration and elegant harmonies. Don't be misled, though. In the lyrics, he's torn up about his woman forsaking him for another man. The only solace Jones can find is the knowledge that she'll look back fondly ... someday. And in the meantime, he'll wait. (By the way, I don't think women want to hear that you'll still be there when their new relationship fails.) "White Lightning" "Sheeeew ... White lightning!" Written by J.P. Richardson (a.k.a "The Big Bopper"), this 1959 romp set the stage for a lifetime of drinking songs. With a hidden North Carolina moonshine still, the singer's dad likes to fill up a jug and pass it around. No revenuers allowed. And of course, the tough city slickers can't handle it: "I heard him a-moanin' as he hit the ground." As for Jones, he hit the ground running as "White Lightning" became his first No. 1 hit. "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" The demise of classic country music has been on listeners' minds for decades now. In 1985, Jones wondered aloud if anybody would come along to carry the traditionalist torch. Then he lists some of the men and women who altered the course of country music -- even contemporaries like Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Elvis Presley. It's an honorable tribute to country music's heritage and will be remembered as one of Jones' most poignant recordings. "Why Baby Why" This catchy tune brought Jones a national audience in 1955 after years of paying his dues.

News Source :  www.cmt.com

Dancing With the Stars Victor Ortiz Voted Off

 Victor Ortiz

 Victor Ortiz

Boxer Victor Ortiz has been on the ropes for many weeks on “Dancing with the Stars.” After multiple trips to the bottom two, he and Lindsay Arnold finally were knocked out Tuesday, becoming the latest couple eliminated from the 16th season of the show. Victor’s lackluster rumba and powerless contribution to Team Paso on Monday sealed his fate. He had the lowest score in the individual round and was on the losing team in the group-dance section. It also seemed as the season progressed that Lindsay, a new pro, didn’t always know how best to coach Victor. She would look exasperated and unsure of how to handle his mounting frustration or lack of awareness of a particular concept. He didn’t seem too sad to be leaving, smiling and inviting everyone to watch him fight. Joining Victor in the bottom two were Sean Lowe and Peta Murgatroyd. Andy Dick and Sharna Burgess were in jeopardy, and when they were declared safe, a lovefest broke out. The other couples raced to hug them, Andy trembled, Sharna shrieked with joy, and audience members jumped to their feet. By the way, Team Paso had the Twitter-chosen encore, even though the judges scored its routine three points lower than Team Samba. In case you didn’t already think the season’s Prom Queen and King, Zendaya and Jacoby Jones, were drawing the most Twitter traffic, this confirms it. On the second try of the “Higher Ground” paso, Ingo Rademacher nearly flung partner Kym Johnson into the audience. In the end group formation, the men looked exhausted moving the capes around. Host Tom Bergeron opened the show by throwing straight to Olly Murs, a British singer-songwriter who was on the U.K. version of “The X-Factor.” He performed his hit “Troublemaker;” Emma Slater from the Troupe choreographed. Will.i.am joined the fun later with his new single, “Willpower,” which had video clips of Justin Bieber (“Obi Wan Bieber, appearing in the mist,” as Tom described him) and a fusion of electronica, tech and pop. The dancers looked like robots with sunglasses and baggy jeans. The Macy’s Stars of Dance sequence emphasized “precision choreography,” as dancers in mint pants and black blazers with red squares marched in tight formations to “We Came to Smash.” It wasn’t another will.i.a, production, but it might as well have been. Stevie Wonder was the true star of Monday’s show, and he reflected afterward. It seems he and the show have been in talks for years to have him as a contestant, and he said he wants to make that come to fruition. However, after hearing the “DWTS” couples and Bruno butcher “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” Tom said, “Stevie Wonder on the line. He’s decided he’d rather do ‘Splash.’” The dancing snippets going to and coming from commercial breaks have been a nice touch this season. Often they feature the Troupe or eliminated pros, but this week showcased Derek Hough before one break and Mark Ballas and Lindsay coming back from another. This results show had more dancing than usual, including a fire-dominated number with Sharna and Peta in what appeared to be cavewomen bikinis. This was supposed to be a preview of next Monday’s Latin Week. When did tiki torches equal Latin night? Best filler of the night – the antics from the surprise star of the season, the winner of the Coco Arquette Cute Kid Award, 3-year-old Peanut Rademacher. The stars give him high-fives as they head to the skybox, and he yells to them that he’ll see them at the after party. Next week, expect the tears to flow as “DWTS” features the story of Adrianne Haslet-Davis, a ballroom dancer who lost one of her feet in the Boston Marathon bombings. Tom said he hopes the show can be part of her recovery.


News Source : blogs.wsj.com

Allan Arbus Psychiatrist With Zingers on ‘M*A*S*H’, Dies at 95

Allan Arbus

Allan Arbus

 
Allan Arbus, who left the successful fashion  photography  business he and his wife, Diane, built to become an actor, most memorably playing the caustic psychiatrist Maj. Sidney Freedman on the hit television series “M*A*S*H,” died on Friday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 95. Enlarge This Image CBS Allan Arbus in a scene from “M*A*S*H." Arts Twitter Logo. Connect With Us on Twitter Follow @nytimesarts for arts and entertainment news. Arts Twitter List: Critics, Reporters and Editors Arts & Entertainment Guide A sortable calendar of noteworthy cultural events in the New York region, selected by Times critics. Go to Event Listings » Amy Arbus, his daughter, confirmed his death. Mr. Arbus appeared in films like “Coffy” and “Crossroads” and was a TV regular during the 1970s and ’80s, appearing on “Taxi,” “Starsky & Hutch,” “Matlock” and other shows. But his best-known role was Major Freedman, the liberal psychiatrist who appeared in a dozen episodes of “M*A*S*H.” He treated wounds of the psyche much as Capt. Hawkeye Pierce treated surgery patients: with a never-ending string of zingers. Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, recalled Mr. Arbus as a very believable therapist. “I was so convinced that he was a psychiatrist I used to sit and talk with him between scenes,” Mr. Alda said in an interview with the Archive of American Television. “After a couple months of that I noticed he was giving me these strange looks, like ‘How would I know the answer to that?’ ” Allan Franklin Arbus was born in New York City on Feb. 15, 1918. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School and entered City College at 15. He left college a year and a half later for a job at Russek’s Department Store, where he met Diane Nemerov, the daughter of the store’s owners. They married in 1941 and became passionate about photography. They shot fashion photographs for Russek’s before Mr. Arbus left to serve as a photographer in the Army Signal Corps in Burma during World War II. When he was discharged in 1946 the Arbuses established a studio on West 54th Street for fashion photography and soon won a contract from Condé Nast to supply photos for magazines like Glamour and Vogue. In 1956, Ms. Arbus dissolved their business partnership to work full time on her haunting shots of marginalized people. Mr. Arbus continued to work in fashion photography but also took up acting. The Arbuses separated in 1959 and divorced in 1969, when Mr. Arbus moved to Los Angeles. Ms. Arbus committed suicide in 1971. In 1976, Mr. Arbus married Mariclare Costello. She survives him, as do his two daughters from his first marriage, Amy and Doon; and a daughter from his second marriage, Arin Arbus. Mr. Arbus’s last television role was on the HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in 2000. A version of this article appeared in print on April 24, 2013, on page A17 of the New York edition with the headline: Allan Arbus, 95, Psychiatrist With Zingers on ‘M*A*S*H’.

News Source : www.nytimes.com