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| Italian TV drops beauty contest that launched Loren to stardom Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 12:34 PM PDT  By Catherine Hornby ROME (Reuters) - It may have set Sophia Loren on the road to Hollywood stardom, but the Italian state broadcaster thinks the Miss Italia beauty contest is showing its age, and is dropping its coverage after 25 years. Predictably in a country where skimpily clad women are a common sight on mainstream television channels, especially those owned by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset empire, the decision sparked a vigorous debate. ... Full Story | Top |
| Tina Turner weds longtime partner in quiet Swiss suburb Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 11:58 AM PDT  ZURICH (Reuters) - Singer Tina Turner has married her long-time partner in a civil ceremony in Switzerland ahead of a Buddhist celebration at their home on the banks of Lake Zurich on Sunday. The 73-year-old "Simply the Best" singer tied the knot with German-born record producer Erwin Bach at a registry office in the Kuesnacht suburb of Zurich where they live, a municipal official said on Wednesday. "Turner had the civil ceremony a few days ago," Kuesnacht official Hannes Friess told Reuters. ... Full Story | Top |
| Alex Colville, 'painter laureate' of Canada, dies Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 11:49 AM PDT By Peter N Henderson TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian artist Alex Colville, who won international fame with precise, detailed paintings of everyday scenes, has died at the age of 92, according to a message on his official website. Colville, who died on Tuesday, developed an iconic style that captured tranquil moments with realistic figures in commonplace settings, such as a cow in a moonlit field, or two swimmers relaxing on a beach. His work was often compared with that of Norman Rockwell, the American illustrator of the ordinary. ... Full Story | Top |
| Time Warner's Bewkes shuffles Turner's top management Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 10:07 AM PDT By Liana B. Baker (Reuters) - Time Warner Inc said on Wednesday it is appointing a new chief at Turner Broadcasting to replace longtime executive Phil Kent, who steps down in 2014, the latest changes to hit the unit that oversees cable networks CNN, TBS and TNT. The executive shuffle, which will see Time Warner's current finance chief John Martin, 46, take over as Turner's CEO starting in 2014, when Kent steps down, comes at a time when CNN is under transition. ... Full Story | Top |
| Russian protest leader wins one battle, faces another Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 09:20 AM PDT  By Maria Tsvetkova and Gabriela Baczynska MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian protest leader Alexei Navalny won a rare victory on Wednesday by being accepted as a candidate in a Moscow mayoral election which he sees as a stepping stone to challenging Vladimir Putin for the presidency. But his ability to contest September's election and the next presidential vote in 2018 depend on a judge's verdict on Thursday in the most prominent trial of an opposition figure in Russia since Soviet times. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Glee' star Monteith died of heroin, alcohol overdose Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 09:19 AM PDT  By Nicole Mordant VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Cory Monteith, the 31-year-old heartthrob of Fox Television's musical-comedy series "Glee," died of an apparently accidental overdose of heroin and alcohol, Canadian authorities said on Tuesday. The British Columbia Coroners Service said in a release that post-mortem testing on the star, who was found dead on Saturday in a downtown Vancouver hotel room, died of "mixed-drug toxicity involving heroin and alcohol." It said Monteith's death was unlikely to have been intentional. ... Full Story | Top |
| A Minute With: Daryl Hannah on 'Hot Flashes,' age and activism Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 09:04 AM PDT  By Piya Sinha-Roy LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Daryl Hannah defied the ingenue stereotype early in her career to transform into a futuristic robot, a mermaid and a sword-wielding killer, and in her latest role she battles age and sexist stereotypes as a lesbian basketball player. Hannah, 52, is part of the ensemble cast that includes Brooke Shields and Wanda Sykes in "The Hot Flashes," out in theaters and video-on-demand now and on DVD August 13. The film follows a group of women dealing with menopause who form a basketball team to raise money for a breast cancer screening van. ... Full Story | Top |
| Vienna Boys' Choir faces crisis over rent bill Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 08:34 AM PDT  VIENNA (Reuters) - The world-famous Vienna Boys' Choir faces a financial crisis that could put it out of business if it does not reach a deal over the rent for its concert hall and school. The choir, whose roots go back to the 13th century, may have to pay 200,000 euros ($263,000) per year to stay in the Augarten Palace after an agreement for it to use the building rent-free in exchange for renovation work was declared invalid. The Austrian Court of Audit said the deal amounted to an illegal subsidy. ... Full Story | Top |
| Canadian authorities to perform autopsy on 'Glee' star Monteith Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 08:25 AM PDT  (Reuters) - Canadian authorities said on Monday they will perform an autopsy including toxicology tests to determine the cause of death of actor Cory Monteith, the 31-year-old heartthrob of Fox's musical-comedy television series "Glee" who was found dead on Saturday in a Vancouver hotel room. The British Columbia Coroners Service said the autopsy will be carried out immediately but results will not be available for several days. Toxicology tests are used to determine if drugs, alcohol or other substances were in his body at the time of death. ... Full Story | Top |
| New Pussy Riot video lambastes Putin, Russian energy industry Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 06:05 AM PDT  By Gabriela Baczynska MOSCOW (Reuters) - Four members of Pussy Riot danced on an oil pipeline in garish masks, tights and short dresses in a new video released on Tuesday, comparing President Vladimir Putin to an "ayatollah in Iran" and attacking his allies in Russia's rich energy sector. In their first performance in almost a year, posted on Youtube at http://youtu.be/qOM_3QH3bBw, the feminist punk protest collective also accused Putin of being homophobic after passage of what is widely seen as anti-gay legislation. ... Full Story | Top |
| Timberlake, Macklemore lead MTV Video Music Awards nominees Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 05:18 AM PDT  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop singer Justin Timberlake and hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis each received six nominations for the MTV Video Music Awards, which were announced on Wednesday. Timberlake, 32, made his long-awaited return to music earlier this year with "The 20/20 Experience," which has become 2013's best-selling album so far. Indie rapper-producer duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have taken the music industry by storm in the past year, with hits including "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us. ... Full Story | Top |
| Cut! China snips back some film censorship rules Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 03:34 AM PDT By Sui-Lee Wee BEIJING (Reuters) - China will relax some curbs on filmmakers, the government said on Wednesday, in a small step towards greater freedom of expression that has drawn a cautious welcome from Chinese film directors, who argue authorities will retain a tight grip. Chinese filmmakers will no longer have to submit screenplays to officials for review and approval before they can shoot a movie, the central government said on its website (www.gov.cn). ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Iron Man' Robert Downey Jr. leads Forbes' highest-paid actors Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 09:24 PM PDT  NEW YORK (Reuters) - With estimated earnings of $75 million, "Iron Man" Robert Downey Jr. is Hollywood's highest paid actor, ahead of Channing Tatum and Hugh Jackman, according to Forbes.com. Downey, 48, starred in Disney's Marvel superhero films "The Avengers" in 2012 and "Iron Man 3" in 2013, each of which earned more than $1 billion at the box office, assuring him the top spot in the annual ranking of Hollywood's top acting earners. "Every studio in town would love to cast him, and now they'll pay big buck for the privilege," Forbes. ... Full Story | Top |
| In setback for broadcasters, U.S. court won't rehear Aereo appeal Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 05:57 PM PDT By Erin Geiger Smith NEW YORK (Reuters) - In another win for Barry Diller's IAC-backed Aereo Inc, a U.S. appeals court declined on Tuesday to rehear an appeal by the major broadcasters seeking to temporarily shut down the online television start-up. The broadcasters, including Walt Disney Co's ABC and Comcast Corp's NBCUniversal, contend Aereo infringes their copyrights. In April, a panel of the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals refused to close down Aereo while a lawsuit over the service continued in Manhattan federal court. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Nightmare on Elm Street' writer Eric Heisserer in talks to pen Universal's 'Bird Box' Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 05:16 PM PDT By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Universal Pictures is turning to Eric Heisserer, who penned the studio's remake of "The Thing," to write "Bird Box," an adaptation of Josh Malerman's manuscript that will be directed by Andy Muschietti ("Mama"), TheWrap has learned. Scott Stuber and Chris Morgan are producing with Barbara Muschietti, while Ryan Lewis will executive produce. Michael Clear, who serves as director of development at Stuber's Bluegrass Films banner, brought the project into the company and will oversee on its behalf. ... Full Story | Top |
| Jay-Z's 'Magna Carta Holy Grail' smashes Spotify records Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 05:15 PM PDT By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Jay-Z's "Magna Carta Holy Grail" album just racked up the biggest first week for an album in U.S. Spotify history. The album had over 14 million streams in the U.S., topping recent new releases from Mumford & Sons, Daft Punk, Justin Timberlake and Kanye West, among others. By comparison, Daft Punk had 9.5 million streams, Mumford & Sons had 8 million. "Magna Carta Holy Grail" also had the biggest single day for an album in U.S. Spotify history. ... Full Story | Top |
| Sony sets release date for Tom Hanks-Dan Brown thriller 'Inferno' Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 05:14 PM PDT  By Todd Cunningham LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Inferno," the film adaptation of the new Dan Brown novel with Tom Hanks attached to star, will be released on December 18, 2015, Sony said Tuesday. David Koepp is adapting the book from the author of "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons," and was released in May. Both novels feature the central character Prof. Robert Langdon, who was played by Hanks in the two earlier films, both of which were box-office hits. In "Inferno," the villain threatens to unleash a plague and leaves clues from "The Inferno," Dante's 14th-century poem about hell. Full Story | Top |
| Visual effects society says business training, new bidding models could save the industry Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 05:12 PM PDT By Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Better business training and new bidding procedures could revive the visual effects industry, according to a white paper released Tuesday by the Visual Effects Society. The study by the professional honorary society, commissioned in the aftermath of bankruptcies of Oscar-winning studios like Rhythm & Hues and Digital Domain, also addressed the pros and cons of unionization and the need for a trade association with a global approach. ... Full Story | Top |
| Visual effects workers struggle without health care, overtime pay, survey finds Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 05:11 PM PDT By Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Visual effects workers frequently lack health insurance and are forced to work long hours without overtime pay, a new study by the Visual Effects Society found Tuesday. The honorary professional society tapped visual effects supervisor Scott Squires, a VE supervisor who has worked on films like "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace," to survey more than 600 visual effects artists around the globe. The findings are not scientific and are part of a larger examination of the industry's struggles to adjust to a globalizing market and shrinking profit margins. ... Full Story | Top |
| ABC fall premiere dates: 'Modern Family,' 'Grey's Anatomy' get extended debuts Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 05:10 PM PDT By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - ABC has released its fall premiere dates and it continues the trend of staggered debut dates, something broadcast networks have taken from the cable playbook. Premiering on Friday, September 6, "20/20" will officially kick off ABC's fall season, earlier than the other networks. "20/20" will be joined by returning comedies "Last Man Standing," "The Neighbors" and returning reality series, "Shark Tank." Additionally, "Modern Family" gets a one-hour return on Wed. September 25. And "Grey's Anatomy" also doubles up for a two-hour return on Thu. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Real Housewives of OC's' Vicki Gunvalson escapes $250K lawsuit, ex-beau not so lucky Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 04:27 PM PDT By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The $250,000 fraud and breach-of-contract lawsuit against Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Orange County" star Vicki Gunvalson has been dismissed - but ex-boyfriend Brooks Ayers isn't in the clear. "Mr. Williamson and Ms. Gunvalson have reached an agreed-upon resolution of the matter," Williamson's attorney Stan Johnson told TheWrap in a statement. "As a result, Mr. Williamson has dismissed Ms. Gunvalson from the lawsuit. ... Full Story | Top |
| Pop star Cody Simpson returns to Australian roots with new album Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:58 PM PDT  By Patricia Reaney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Teen pop star Cody Simpson may exude the laid-back, surfer dude attitude associated with his native Australia, but behind the mellow exterior lies a business brain. At age 10, he had the wherewithal to ask his mother to book the domain name CodySimpson.com. Three years later he signed a record deal. The 16-year-old blonde pop star with an estimated net worth of $4.5 million has already toured with Justin Bieber, is headlining his own North American tour and releases his second album, "Surfers Paradise," on Tuesday. ... Full Story | Top |
| Exclusive: Comic-con 2013: 'Twilight' producer acquires Daniel Corey's 'Prophet' Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:56 PM PDT By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Outlier has acquired feature film rights to the DangerKatt comic series "Prophet," an apocalyptic crime thriller from author Daniel Corey, whose acclaimed "Moriarty" was published by Image Comics. "Prophet" follows a killer-for-hire afflicted with supernatural visions who realizes his destiny is to use his special skills to wage war against demons and drug lords. Set in present-day Mexico, Prophet must learn to accept his fate: that he is the latest in a long line of visionary warriors. ... Full Story | Top |
| James Franco to guest-star in 'Mindy Project' arc Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:54 PM PDT  By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Thank God, James Franco has found work. Franco will guest-star in a two-episode arc of Fox's "The Mindy Project," beginning with the comedy's September 17 season premiere. Franco, who stars in the big-screen apocalyptic comedy "This Is the End," will play Dr. Paul Leotard, the charismatic and popular doctor who replaces Mindy at Shulman & Associates while she is in Haiti on a volunteer mission. A former professional fashion model, Dr. ... Full Story | Top |
| Exclusive: John Lithgow rounds out cast of Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar' Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:51 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - On the heels of back-to-back appearances in studio comedies last year, John Lithgow has signed on to round out the cast of Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar," an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap. Paramount and Nolan had no comment, while a representative for Lithgow did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ... Full Story | Top |
| Exclusive: Paramount may delay 'Paranormal Activity 5' until next year Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:49 PM PDT By Lucas Shaw NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Paramount is looking to push the release of "Paranormal Activity 5," the latest installment in its lucrative horror franchise, until next year, multiple individuals close to the studio told TheWrap. The film is currently scheduled to open October 25. One of the individuals said Paramount had already decided to move "Paranormal" while another cautioned that the studio was still debating the move. That individual said that the studio is looking at the same weekend as "The Devil Inside," which opened January 6 last year. ... Full Story | Top |
| Longtime literary agent Lew Weitzman dead at 75 Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:47 PM PDT By Greg Gilman LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - A memorial service for longtime literary agent Lew Weitzman has been set for 2 p.m. July 24 at the DGA. Weitzman died in Los Angeles on June 30 after being treated for brain cancer at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. He was 75. Weitzman, a UCLA graduate, got early training in the business at MCA, then the largest talent agency in the world, after military service. Moving to William Morris Agency in 1966, he specialized in writers and producers before forming his own agency, Lew Weitzman and Associates, in 1973. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'The Glee Project' canceled by Oxygen Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:46 PM PDT By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Oxygen has made it official. "The Glee Project" won't be returning for a third season. "'The Glee Project' will not be returning to Oxygen," a representative said in a statement to TheWrap. "But, we are extremely proud of this series which launched the careers of several talented individuals. The show had so much heart and we thank Ryan Murphy and all of the creative talent who helped make the series a critical darling. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Terminator' backer David Ellison, Paramount extend deal through 2018 Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:45 PM PDT By Lucas Shaw NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Paramount has extended its deal with David Ellison's Skydance Productions, ensuring that the financier and producer of "Star Trek Into Darkness" and 'World War Z" will continue to support the studio's films until 2018. It will make three to four films a year, supplying $200 to $250 million in financing in total. The studio first signed a deal with Skydance in 2010 after Ellison, the son of Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, raised $350 million to co-finance films. ... Full Story | Top |
| Kevin Costner scores first-look television deal with Lionsgate Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:44 PM PDT  By Greg Gilman LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Kevin Costner and his Treehouse Films have secured a first-look television deal with Lionsgate and Frank Giustra's Thunderbird Films' Sea to Sky Entertainment, the company announced on Tuesday. The deal comes a little over a year after the extraordinary success of "Hatfields & McCoys," a television miniseries he produced and starred in. The first episode broke a record for non-sports, ad-supported cable programs when it debuted on History in May 2012 with 13.9 million total viewers. ... Full Story | Top |
| Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? Maybe back on PBS Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:42 PM PDT By Sara Morrison LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - PBS is hinting at a return of its 1990s hit game show "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" But don't get too excited - we won't be getting any new episodes of the show that gave us Rockapella and that amazing Joe Biden cameo. Both PBS's Tumblr and Carmen Sandiego's "official Twitter page" (who knew the fictional master thief even HAD her own Twitter account?) have hinted that we'll be seeing the Sandiego repeats soon. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Breaking Bad' star Bryan Cranston: I fantasized about murdering ex Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:40 PM PDT  (Note: The story contains graphic description of murder fantasy) By Tim Molloy NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Now we know what darkness Bryan Cranston taps into to play Walter White. The Emmy-winning "Breaking Bad" star says in a new GQ interview that he once fantasized about murdering an ex-girlfriend who was stalking him, imagining a brutal and graphic scenario. The difference between Cranston and White, the teacher-turned-kingpin he plays on TV? Cranson didn't actually break bad. He said he called the police because he felt "temporarily insane. ... Full Story | Top |
| Showtime renews 'Ray Donovan' for second season Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:38 PM PDT By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Showtime has renewed "Ray Donovan" for a second season, the cable network announced Tuesday. The "Ray Donovan" debut episode was Showtime's highest-rated original series premiere ever, earning more than 6 million viewers across platforms. "'Ray Donovan' is on track to be our biggest season one show ever," David Nevins, Showtime's president of entertainment, said in a statement. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Turbo' battles family-film fatigue with early box-office start Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:37 PM PDT By Todd Cunnningham LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Can "Turbo" - an animated movie about a snail with the need for speed - find success in a summer box office already crowded with minions, monsters and Smurfs? DreamWorks Animation and distributor Fox will find out starting Wednesday, when its $135 million 3D kids film hits theaters. It's getting the jump on a box office weekend with three other wide releases debuting Friday: action comedy "Red 2," horror film "The Conjuring" and supernatural action thriller "R.I.P.D." The PG-rated "Turbo" will be in more theaters, around 3,500, than any of them. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'View' host Jenny McCarthy's vaccine-autism claims: beauty versus science Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:36 PM PDT By Tim Molloy NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Nothing spreads a lie faster than a smile: ABC's "The View" is being roundly criticized for its hiring of Jenny McCarthy by people who fear her belief in a phony link between vaccines and autism will hurt children. The objections aren't just to McCarthy's views, but about a culture so fixated on image that a pretty face can trump decades of research. There may be no greater testament to the power of celebrity than the fact that so many people are willing to treat this as a debate with two equal sides. ... Full Story | Top |
| Will Smith's 'Focus' eyes Margot Robbie for role vacated by Kristen Stewart Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:35 PM PDT By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Margot Robbie, who will soon be seen alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Wolf of Wall Street," is in early talks for the female lead opposite Will Smith in WB's grifter movie "Focus," TheWrap has learned. While there is no official offer on the table, Robbie landed the plum part after recently testing for the role, according to an individual familiar with the project. She beat out several higher-profile actresses including Jessica Biel. ... Full Story | Top |
| Comedy Central steals Louis C.K.'s schtick (but admits it) Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:33 PM PDT  (Note: The story has strong language in paragraph 23) By Tim Molloy NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Louis C.K. is used to people stealing his jokes - but not his business model. In December 2011, C.K. started a small DIY revolution in comedy when he decided to self-release his "Live at the Beacon Theater" special online. Charging fans $5 per download, he said he was trying to save fans money and bypass corporations. Eighteen months later, Viacom-owned Comedy Central is unabashedly embracing his $5 download idea, saying C.K. proved it works for comics and fans alike. ... Full Story | Top |
| Exclusive: Ellen Burstyn, 'Twilight's Mackenzie Foy join Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar' Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:26 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn and rising star Mackenzie Foy ("Twilight"), who just worked together on the indie movie "Wish You Well," are set to join the cast of Christopher Nolan's epic sci-fi movie "Interstellar," two individuals familiar with the project have told TheWrap. Paramount and a representative for Nolan had no comment. A co-production between Warner Bros. ... Full Story | Top |
| Exclusive: 'Dumb and Dumber' sequel producers sue over rights Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:22 PM PDT By Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The producers of the "Dumb and Dumber" sequel are suing to keep the producers of the original 1994 Jim Carrey comedy out of the picture altogether. Red Granite Productions on Monday asked a Los Angeles judge to affirm that Steve Stabler and Brad Krevoy, the producers of "Dumb and Dumber," will play no role in the follow-up. The company claims the two have threatened legal action if they are not paid a producer's fee and given a credit on the production. ... Full Story | Top |
| Jennifer Lopez slammed over $10 million earnings from performing for world's 'Worst Thugs' Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013 03:19 PM PDT  By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Human Rights Watch is not exactly singing Jennifer Lopez's praises these days. Some members of the media and human rights groups have scrutinized the singer after reports that she performed "Happy Birthday" to Turkmenistan dictator Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on June 29. The most vocally opposed organization has been HRF, which estimates that J. Lo has received in excess of $10 million for what it calls, "serenading crooks and dictators from Eastern Europe and Russia." "What those covering this story have missed is that J. ... Full Story | Top |
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