Britney Spears declared to go on international tour in 2009 on her new album Circus

Once again Britney Spears makes it to the headlines. Do not worry, she has not done anything wrong. The 26-year old singer announced to go on a world tour for her latest album, “Circus” in 2009. Since 2004, Britney Spears did not go out on any international tour. In an interview broadcast by Z100, a New York radio station Britney Spears said:

"Oh definitely, next year," she said, adding the tour would probably take her "around the world."

In the interview, Britney Spears talked about Circus. The album will be released in December 2, 2008, on the 27^th Birthday of the singer. The first single of the album, “Womanizer,” came out on September 26, 2008. Britney Spears told Z100 that she worked on the album for six months. Gina Orr, spokeswoman for Jives Records said that the tour has not been confirmed yet.

The twenty six year old singer who shot to fame in 1999 with her album, Baby One More Time had been going through tough time for the last four years. Before that she has been one of the most successful singers selling more than 62 million albums.

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Paul Newman's movies have become popular after the actor's death

His death further increased his popularity. After death of 83 year old Hollywood actor Paul Newman, his movies are flying off the shelves of DVD stores in USA. Every where, people are asking for Paul Newman’s movies. In his 53 years movie career, Paul Newman appeared in 60 movies. nydailynews.com reports:

"A lot of customers come in and ask for his movies," said David Greene, manager of New York Video on the upper East Side. "They all want his movies. He's a classic."

At We Deliver Videos, which serves upper Manhattan, employees said about one in three customers have asked for a Newman flick since news of his death from cancer at age 83 was released Saturday morning.

"'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' and 'The Hustler' seem to be the most popular," salesclerk Kristin Kraft said.

Movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Hustler, Hud, Cool Hand Luke, The Color of Money, Road to Perdition made him a legend in Hollywood. In his hey days, he was called the “Next Marlon Brando.”

Paul Newman was also a renowned humanitarian. In 1982, he established Newman’s Own, a food company that earned more than $250 million in revenue till date and all the money has been donated to various charity organizations. After Newman’s death, the company also observed a sudden surge in its sales. Lots of people are buying the products to honor the actor’s memory.

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Shia LaBeouf's Eagle Eye collected $9.7 million on the opening day

After seven years, Growing Pains actor, Kirk Cameron, returns with Fireproof, a family drama revolving around a firefighter’s failure marriage and his last effort to salvage his relationship. The low budget drama, released on September 26, 2008, registered an impressive ticket sales at the box office. The movie which cost $100,000 to make, released in 800 screens. It had 40% of advanced sales this week.

It is Shia LaBeouf starrer Eagle Eye that took the lead collecting $9.7 million. The movie brings together director D.J. Caruso and Shia LaBeouff. In 2007, they teamed up in Disturbia which was a major box office success. Eagle Eye, which released in 3,510 theaters, collected more than $8.8 million on the opening day and analysts are expecting that the movie would cross $22.2 million in the next three days.

Warner Bros.’ Nights in Rodanthe took the second position collecting $4.7 million. The movie stars Richard Gere and Diane Lane who also worked in Unfaithful.

Lakeview Terrace, which released last week, is in fourth position collecting $2.1 million this weekend.

Other major movies include: Coen Brothers, Burn After Reading; Walt Disney’s The Miracle at St. Anna; and Sam Rockwell starrer Choke.

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E Online

Variety

Actor philanthropist Paul Newman died at the age of 83

Famous actor and philanthropist, Paul Newman, died on September 26, 2008. He was suffering from Lung cancer. At the time of his death, he was 83 years old. The actor died at his long-time home in Westport, Connecticut. Though news came out that he was suffering from lung Cancer and receiving outpatient treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, he never admitted publicly. He rather said that he was “doing nicely.” In 2006, Paul Newman told an interviewer that he was surprised to survive all the alcohol, smoking, stressful career and cars.

Paul Newman was among those Hollywood actors who made it to the top not for their talents but hard work. Paul Newman can be referred as a rebel for he never tried the conventional path to success. He did not take the roles which people would like to see him but roles that he wanted to do. Los Angeles Times reports:

Annoyed by the public's fascination with his resemblance to a Roman statue and his Windex-blue eyes, Newman often chose offbeat character roles. In the 1960s, he helped define the American anti-hero and became identified with the charming misfits, cads and con men in film classics such as "The Hustler," "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."

Actors and movie makers mourned over his death. Famous director, Martin Scorsese, who directed Paul Newman in The Color of Money, said that the history of movies without Paul Newman would be incomplete. Robert Bedford who co-starred with Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid said:

"There is a point where feelings go beyond words. I have lost a real friend. My life -- and this country -- is better for his being in it."

Paul Newman was also famous as a philanthropist. He founded Newman’s Own, a food company in 1982 and earned about $250 million all of which are donated various charity organizations.

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Los Angeles Times

Shia LaBeouf will not face DUI charges. However, DMV hearing may cancel his driving license

Transformers star, Shia LaBeouf will not face DUI charges for the car accident on July 27. However, he will have to present at the California DMV hearing on September 26, 2008 for refusing to a blood-alcohol test. His driving license will be suspended for one year.

District Attorney spokesperson, Jane Robinson, said that after reviewing the case, they have decided to drop the charges against the twenty two year old actor on the ground of insufficient evidence. The Prosecutors will lodge criminal charges against, Herbert Simon, 21, the other driver who “run a red light.”

LaBeouf’s attorney Michael Norris said that they were very happy with the prosecutor’s decision. The whole thing will solve without Shia LaBeouf going to the court.

On July 27, at 2.30 Shia LaBeouf had an accident. While making a left turn, his pick up truck, Ford F-150, collided with another vehicle and rolled over twice on a West Hollywood street. Shia’s left hand was broken. His also broke two finger and sustained minor injuries to his head and knee. Isabel Lucas, Shia LaBeouf’s co-star in Transformers, who was also riding with Shia that morning, escaped with minor injuries. Another female driver involved in the accident also suffered minor injuries. After the accident, the injured people were taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Shia underwent surgery at the hospital. If his driving license were cancelled then he would face serious problems because in the upcoming Transformers sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Shia is required to drive cars.

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MTV

Lindsay Lohan admits of dating DJ Samantha Ronson for a "long time"

After ‘American Idol’ runner up Clay Aiken, it’s Lindsay Lohan’s term. Ending months of rumors and speculations, the Mean Girls actress finally admitted that she and DJ Samantha Ronson were more than just friends.On September 24, 2008, in a syndicated radio program, “Loveline,” Lindsay Lohan said that she and Samantha Ronson have been seeing each other for a long time. The show was hosted by DJ Stryker. Stryker said:

“You guys, you and Samantha, have been going out for how long now?” Lindsay laughed, and Stryker continued:”Like, two years, one year, five months, two months?

"For a very long time," Lohan said after laughing.

The couple called over the show to speak to DJ Stryker about the South Carolina plane crash on September 19, 2008. Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson’s friend, DJ AM, was in the flight and he was badly burnt.

Earlier this month, while performing at a DJ party at Hollywood hotel Chateau Marmont, Samantha Ronson declared to marry Lindsay Lohan. Samantha Ronson is very much interested to tie the knot with Lindsay Lohan. She wants to stay with Lindsay Lohan all the time and this is causing her trouble with Lindsay Lohan’s friends. However, Lindsay Lohan seems fine with the way things are going.

On the other hand, Lindsay Lohan’s father, Michael Lohan, is very much upset about his daughter’s relationship with Samantha Ronson. MSNBC reports:

In an email published on X17Online Sunday, the Lohan patriarch vented his growing frustration with Lindsay’s constant sidekick.

“Personally, I think (Samantha) is dark, hideous and a disgusting representation of humanity!” Michael wrote. “Have you ever seen her apartment? For God's sake, when she runs out of toilet paper she tells people to use the cardboard roll. (I was told this first hand).”

In reaction to her father’s comments, Lindsay Lohan said that her father should be on medication to control his moods.

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American Idol singer Clay Aiken admitted of being a "gay man"

Singer Clay Aiken ended all the rumors and speculations by acknowledging that he is gay. Recently, in an interview with People Magazine, the American Idol runner up admitted of being a gay man.

On September 23, 2008, Perezhilton.com published a photo of the upcoming issue of People Magazine. Clay Aiken posed with his son, Parker Foster Aiken, on the cover of the magazine. The caption on the cover reads “Yes I’m Gay.” Below the caption, the line goes: "I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things." Reuters reports:

A spokeswoman for People would neither confirm nor deny that Aiken told the magazine he is gay. But the magazine issued a statement saying, "We can confirm that Clay Aiken and his son appear on the next cover of People. For the complete story, visit people.com at 7 a.m. (EDT Wednesday) (1100 GMT) morning."

Clay Aiken gained fame in 2003, competing at the second season of America’s top T.V. talent show, “American Idol.” Though he was a runner-up, he built a solid singing career. Clay Aiken’s debut album, ‘Measure of a Man,’ was released in October 2003. The album became number one on the Billboard 200. In the first week, it sold 613,000 copies making it the highest-selling debut album for a solo artist in last ten years and also the highest debut of any Idol. Currently, he is working in “Monty Python’s SPAMALOT” a Broadway drama.

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Jamie Lynn Spears' stolen breastfeeding photo started pornography investigation

Stolen family photos of the Spears prompted a pornography investigation. One of the photos showing 17-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears breastfeeding her baby daughter, Maddie, as her left breast is exposed started this investigation. The photos were taken by Jamie Lynn Spears’ husband, Casey Aldridge. There were twelve family photos and Casey Aldridge took the memory card to the local Wal-Mart shop in Louisiana. Authorities believe that one of the employees at the Wal-Mart made extra copies of the photos and tried to sell them.

Fox News reports:

Because Jamie Lynn is a minor, selling the photos — or buying them — could constitute a violation of federal laws prohibiting pornography. Peddling pictures of a minor's breast — even if not taken for sexual purposes, could land the seller and buyer in federal prison if they are marketed across state lines for the purpose of being lurid, according to TMZ.

Both local and national authorities are searching for the perpetrator. Britney Spears’ lawyers are planning to sue Wal-Mart over security breach. Wal-Mart also said that they will investigate the matter.

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The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards show: John Adams takes the top position followed by 30 Rock and Mad Men

On September 21, 2008, The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Mad Men became the first basic cable series to win the prestigious Emmy Award in outstanding miniseries category. Overall, the series won 6 Emmy awards. NBC TVs 30 Rock won seven Emmy Awards including the awards for outstanding comedy series. Alec Baldwin won the Emmy Awards in the category of outstanding lead actor in a comedy series. Tina Fey of the same series won two Emmy awards as comedy series lead actress and outstanding writing. After winning the award, Tina Fey said:

"We're all so very grateful to have jobs in this turkey-burger economy. . . . I thank my parents for somehow raising me to have confidence that is disproportionate with my looks and abilities. Well done. That is what all parents should do,"

Alec Baldwin who portrayed the character of a network executive in

30 Rock said that this is the greatest job of his life.

This year, the highest Emmy winner is HBO’s John Adams. It is a seven part miniseries set in the background of the first fifty years of USA. The series won 13 Emmy Awards including: Outstanding miniseries, Outstanding lead actor (Paul Giamatti), Outstanding male supporting actor (Tom Wilkinson), Outstanding writing, Outstanding Special Visual Effects, Outstanding Sound Mixing, Outstanding Sound Editing, Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup, Outstanding Costumes, Outstanding Cinematography, Outstanding Casting, Outstanding Art Direction, and Outstanding lead actress (Laura Linney).

Useful links:

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=5853916

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/60th_Primetime_Emmy_Awards

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Adams_(TV_miniseries)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_Rock

Poor economy creates trouble for Steven Spielberg's dream project Tintin

Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson are two of the top directors in Hollywood. Over the years, they produced great movies like Lord of the Rings trilogy, Indiana Jones, King Kong etc. Now, they are working together on popular European comic character, Tintin. It is going to be a 3-D animated movie. Surprisingly, when they submitted the project budget of $130 million to Universal Studios, it backed off. People like Spielberg and Jackson are not used to hear “No” from big studio executives but the rising cost and rough economic conditions has changed the climate.

Peter Jackson’s digital workshop, WETA, already spent $30 million, on developing performance capture technology, script, and character designing. A large portion of the money was funded by Paramount Pictures Corporation.

The main problem is, Spielberg and Jackson, want a share of the revenue. In this case, it was a whopping $100 million. The two directors will receive 30 percent of all types of revenue including ticket sales, DVD, TV and ancillary sales. The studio will reach break even point if the movie crosses $425 million in global ticket sales. Hit 3-D movies like The Polar Express, Beowulf, and Monster House did not cross that mark. Moreover, Tintin is very popular in Europe but not in USA. Seeing no other option, Spielberg has asked Paramount Pictures Corporation to bear all the expenses of the movie.

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Lost Angeles Times

Barack Obama's refusal to Lindsay Lohan's fund raising offer hurt Michael Lohan

Because of Lindsay Lohan’s reputation, US presidential candidate, Barack Obama, refused her offer to do fundraiser for him. This made Lindsay Lohan’s father, Michael Lohan, very unhappy. He said that Barack Obama is a pot that is calling the kettle black. On September 17, 2008, Michael Lohan wrote an email to Fox News in which he wrote:

"His visions of a positive future for this country should be representative of a positive future for people as well. It is looking beyond the difficult times and letting go of the past. Obviously, Obama can do this for himself and not others, when in fact a good president should have hope for all."

Michael Lohan also wrote that Barack Obama condemned his daughter for ‘past indiscretions’ but he also admitted of taking drugs and alcohol in his teenage years. This shows what kind of president he would be.

Famous newspaper, Chicago Sun-Times reported that Lindsay Lohan’s Hollywood party girl reputation made Obama refuse her offer.

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Fox News

Anti-Scientology group staged protest on the opening night of Katie Holems' broadway drama

On September 18, 2008, picketers staged a protest in front of a theatre where Tom Cruise’s wife, Katie Holmes, was performing. On the opening night of the Broadway drama, All My Sons, twenty picketers from Anti-Scientology group, Anonymous, gathered in front of the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York city. They were wearing masks and shouting:

“We are not boycotting Katie, we are not boycotting the play, we are protesting Scientology. It is evil. Scientology kills people. It follows you home at night. It is perverted.”

All My Sons is Katie Holmes’ first Broadway performance. Her husband, Tom Cruise, is one of the major figures promoting Scientology. He got involved in Scientology by his first wife, Mimi Rogers. After he and Katie Holmes started dating, Katie Holmes also joined the Church of Scientology.

A spokes person for Anonymous said that their protest is not only against Scientology, they want Katie Holmes get out from the ‘evil cult’ before it is too late.

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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will marry after every one in the country will be able to wed legally

Brad Pitt, a supporter of same-sex marriage, donated $100,000 to fight ‘Proposition 8,’ a bill that would ban “same-sex marriage.” Brad Pitt said:

"Because no one has the right to deny another their life, even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn't harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8,"

So far, this is the largest donation ever made by any top Hollywood celebrity. Brad Pitt also said that he would not get married to Angelina Jolie until the right to “same-sex marriage” is not established. He said that he and Angelina will think of getting married after everyone else in the country will be able get-married legally. Earlier this week, the couple said that they donated $2 million for H.I.V/ AIDS campaign and tuberculosis in Ethiopia. In 2007, the couple was ranked sixth on the list of most generous Hollywood celebrities. They donated $8.4 milion.

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Miley Cyrus will only act but not sing in her next movie

Hollywood actress, singer, song writer, Miley Cyrus is going to act in a movie for Disney which will highlight her as an actress. The movie is going to be based on an upcoming novel of author Nicholas Spark who also wrote Mandy Moore’s, A Walk To Remember.

The title of the movie has not been decided yet. During her meeting with Disney executives, Miley Cyrus said that she wanted to do a movie like A Walk to Remember. Nicholas Spark is going to write a novel that will be released in 2009 and the movie will be adopted from the novel. Miley Cyrus’ mother, Tish Cyrus, will be the executive producer of the movie. Rumor spread out that Miley Cyrus is following Mandy Moore’s strategy. In this movie, she will not sing but act. latimesblogs reports:

Sparks told Variety that Miley Cyrus and her family "were familiar with his past work, including “The Notebook, “Message in a Bottle,” and his new “Nights in Rodanthe,” starring Diane Lane and Richard Gere, due out on Sept 26.

Miley Cyrus became successful for her performance in the famous Disney Channel series, Hannah Montana. The series tells the story of a teenage school girl who leads a double life as a famous pop-singer at night and a school going girl named Miley Stewart by day.

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Boston Herald

The Town: Ben Affleck's second directorial venture

DareDevil star Ben Affleck is now going to act and direct another movie. The Town is a “dark heist-romance” movie. Graham King is going to produce the movie. Affleck will re-write a script by Peter Craig which was revised by Chuck Hogan, author of the novel, “Prince of Thieves.” Indecent Proposal director Adrian Lyne was supposed to direct the movie but he stepped down.

Along with acting, Ben Affleck has proved his skills in script writing and directing. Last year, he debuted as a director with Gone Baby Gone. The movie was a critical and commercial success. He also co-wrote the script of the drama with Aaron Stockard. In 1998, Ben Affleck won Oscar for writing Good Will Hunting with Matt Damon.

The Town tells the story of a career thief who involves in a relationship with a bank manager in Charlestown, Massachusetts. An FBI agent, who is also in love with this bank manager, tries to bust the thief and his gang.

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The Hollywood Reporter

Nip/Tuck cast looking for a pay raise

The cast of Nip/Tuck, the popular FX Networks’ popular Golden Globe award-winning drama, are asking to raise their pay. The shooting of the sixth season will start from today. Agents of the casts are now negotiating with the producer of the show. So far, there had been no walk outs.

Agents of Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon are asking for $2,50,000 per episode which the double of their season five pay. Dylan and Julian play the famous plastic surgeons in the show. Walsh and McMohan’s attorney, famous lawyer Martin Singer did not comment on the issue.

Another actor of the show Joely Richardson, is also looking forward to a pay raise of more than $100,000 per-episode.

Because the Nip/Tuck cast is contracted through Warner Bros. TV, which produces the show, attorneys for the actors are in talks with FX honchos about compensating the cast with big bonuses, similar to last year. The hitch appears to be how much the cable net's willing to pony up.

The main reason behind this raise is that most of the stars think that as the show will continue till 2011, they will not be hired by other producers. FX publicists did not want to talk about it.

Nip/Tuck was first aired in 2003 and the first episode became the highest rated basic cable series of all time. It also inspired a new plastic surgery reality show titled, Dr. 90210.

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eonline.com

Coen Brothers' Burn After Reading takes top spot in box office

Brad Pitt and George Clooney’s latest movie, Burn After Reading, has become a success. Released on September 12, 2008, the movie collected $19.4 million in ticket sales. This is a good news for the movie industry because for the last seven weeks, the theatres were not doing good business. Four movies have been released in the last weekend and collected a total of $105 million.

Burn After Reading, written and directed by the famous Coen Brothers, is their first movie since their Oscar winning No Country for Old Man. The movie is a black spy comedy. It tells the story of Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich), a retired CIA analyst, who is blackmailed two gym employees. They find a disk containing secret information, that was left by Osbourne’s wife in the gym.

Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys took the second spot collecting $18 million. Interestingly, Lions Gate Entertainment, the distributor of the movie, did not even bothered to do a media screening. On the opening weekend, the movie collected $8705 on average per theatre. Other top movies include: The House Bunny, The Dark Knight, Bangkok Dangerous, and Tropic Thunder.

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Los Angeles Times

Paprazzi were duped by Jamie Lynn Spears

The Spears family is one of the most photographed people in USA at present. Britney Spears and her sister Jamie Lynn Spears are followed by paparazzi every where they go. On September 10, when Jamie Lynn Spears arrived at the LAX airport with her baby daughter in towel, the paparazzi rained down on her with their camera flash and every one was trying to get a good picture but there was a twist in the story. The lady in question was not actually Jamie Lynn Spears. She was another woman who looked like Jamie Lynn Spears.

It was said that to avoid the paparazzi, Jami Lynn Spears used a decoy. However, the women said that she was not a decoy, the police was just helping her to go through the crowd.

This is not the first time, such incident took place. Earlier, there were such incidents where men or women who looked like some celebrities were flocked by paparazzi. Suddenly crowd forms around the person and causes problem for other passengers as flights can not take off on time. The latest incident was singer Kanye West, who grabbed a photographers camera and broke it.

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