Following is a summary of current entertainment news
briefs.
Ghosts scare off gore for Halloween movies
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – After almost a decade in which
torture films dominated the box office, horror movies are
returning to ghostly thrills with a new slew of low-budget
productions making big money for studios. The success of 2009’s
“Paranormal Activity” – which was made for $15,000 and grossed
more than $107 million at U.S. box offices – has fueled a
thirst in audiences and movie studios for things that go bump
in the night.
Anderson Cooper’s daytime show to end after two seasons
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Anderson Cooper’s venture into daytime
is coming to an end after just two seasons after failing to
find an audience in the crowded daytime talk show market.
Warner Bros Television, which syndicates “Anderson”, said on
Monday the show will not be renewed after the current season
ends in the summer of 2013.
“South Park” takes aim at…Lance Armstrong?
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Animated TV comedy satire “South
Park” is taking aim at a disgraced icon who seems a lot like
seven-time Tour de France winning cyclist Lance Armstrong. In a
teaser clip released on Monday by Comedy Central, an episode
titled “A Scause for Applause” shows residents of the fictional
American town standing in line to get their yellow wristbands
removed.
Taylor Swift to co-host Grammy nominations in Nashville
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Country-pop star Taylor Swift will
co-host the Grammy nominations live on television from
Nashville, the capital of country music, the Recording Academy
said on Monday. Swift, 22, who has won six Grammy awards, will
join rapper-actor LL Cool J to announce nominees in some of the
major categories during a one-hour live telecast on December 5,
featuring performances from country artist Luke Bryan and
pop-rockers Maroon 5.
Armstrong rehab stint forces Green Day cancellations
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Green Day said on Monday they are
canceling their fall club tour and postponing early 2013 dates
as frontman Billie Joe Armstrong continues treatment for
substance abuse. “Obviously the timing for this isn’t ideal,
but Billie Joe’s well-being is our main concern,” band member
Mike Dirnt said in a posting on Green Day’s website.
Court rules against Polish rocker who tore up Bible
WARSAW (Reuters) – Poland’s Supreme Court opened the way on
Monday for a blasphemy verdict against a rock musician who tore
up a Bible on stage, a case that has pitted deep Catholic
traditions against a new desire for free expression. Adam
Darski, front man with a heavy metal group named Behemoth,
ripped up a copy of the Christian holy book during a concert in
2007, called it deceitful and described the Roman Catholic
church as “a criminal sect”.
“The Office” character won’t get Farm spin-off on NBC
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Dunder Mifflin’s egomaniac salesman
Dwight Schrute will not be leaving “The Office” for “The Farm”
– at least on NBC, actor Rainn Wilson tweeted on Monday. “NBC
has passed on moving forward with The Farm TV show. Had a blast
making the pilot – onwards & upwards!” Wilson, who plays
eccentric beetroot farmer/paper salesman Dwight, tweeted to his
3 million followers, before urging them to continue watching
“The Office.”
Telling the story toughest part of “Life of Pi”, says Lee
MUMBAI (Reuters) – Despite the slick special effects,
creation of a fake tiger and shooting underwater, the toughest
part of making “Life of Pi” was telling the story, director Ang
Lee said Monday. The Academy Award-winning director who is in
Mumbai to promote his latest project, based on the bestselling
novel of the same name, said it was the hardest movie he had
ever shot.
“Skyfall” breaks Bond’s UK box office record
LONDON (Reuters) – “Skyfall” set the record for the biggest
UK weekend box office takings of any James Bond film, its
producers said on Monday. The 23rd official cinematic adventure
of the suave, but brutal 007, earned 20.1 million pounds
($32.36 million) after opening last Friday at 587 cinemas
across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Former UK pop star Gary Glitter held in Savile probe
LONDON (Reuters) – British police arrested convicted sex
offender and former pop star Gary Glitter on Sunday as part of
an investigation into allegations of child sex abuse by the
late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile, media said. Glitter was
released on bail some 10 hours later. But the arrest – the
first to be reported in the case – widened a scandal that has
already damaged the reputation of the publicly-funded BBC and
the legacy of Savile, a former DJ who was one of the
broadcaster’s top show hosts and a prolific charity fundraiser.
