Following is a summary of current entertainment news
briefs.
“Hitchcock” trains lens on the love story of Alfred and
Alma
NEW YORK (Reuters) – She won Oscar gold for her uncanny
performance as Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, but Helen Mirren’s
latest portrayal finds her as the power behind the throne —
or, more precisely, the director’s chair. In “Hitchcock,”
Mirren stars opposite Anthony Hopkins as legendary director
Alfred Hitchcock’s devoted wife Alma Reville, and early buzz
has her a contender for another Oscar nomination.
Elmo puppeteer Clash resigns following new sex claims
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind the
“Sesame Street” character Elmo, resigned on Tuesday following
new allegations that he had sex with an underage boy, adding to
an ongoing controversy involving one of America’s most popular
children’s brands. In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Cecil
Singleton is seeking more than $5 million in damages from
Clash. Singleton claims he met the then-32-year-old puppeteer
in 1993 in a gay chat room when he was 15.
J.R.R. Tolkien estate sues Warner Bros. over gambling,
games
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The estate of “The Lord of the
Rings” author J.R.R. Tolkien and publisher HarperCollins have
filed an $80 million lawsuit against Warner Bros. studios over
the licensing of characters and plots in online and gambling
games derived from the films. The lawsuit, which was filed in
U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday, alleges that
Warner Bros. and its subsidiary New Line Cinema – which own the
merchandising rights to the “Lord of the Rings” and “The
Hobbit” brands – infringed on copyrights by licensing to casino
slot machines, online gambling, games and downloads.
Lindsay Lohan, Liz Taylor and pages of “what ifs” for TV’s
“Liz & Dick”
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Making a movie about Elizabeth
Taylor takes courage. Casting wayward starlet Lindsay Lohan as
the Hollywood screen legend was both daring and asking for
trouble. And indeed, trouble is what producers got during the
shooting of Lifetime TV movie “Liz & Dick” – but they say the
payoff made it all worthwhile.
International Emmys honor Lear, Alda, South American shows
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Television legend Norman Lear and
veteran actor Alan Alda received special honors at the
International Emmy Awards on Monday, while programming from
South America dominated the competition, with Argentina and
Brazil each winning two Emmys. Lear, best known as creator of
the ground-breaking 1970s hit comedy “All in the Family,” which
premiered during a time of social upheaval and tackled issues
such as race and women’s rights, said “the world will, and
needs to, come together through the arts” as he accepted the
honor.
Jackie Chan: upcoming film will be last big action movie
BEIJING (Reuters) – Kung Fu superstar Jackie Chan said that
while the upcoming film “Chinese Zodiac 2012” will be his last
major action movie, citing his increasing age, he will still be
packing punches in the world of philanthropy. Chan wrote,
directed and produced his latest film, set to premiere in
cinemas in China next month. He also plays the lead role and
said that he regarded it the “best film for myself” in the last
ten years.
Singer Fiona Apple cancels tour dates to be with ailing dog
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Grammy award-winning singer Fiona
Apple said in a handwritten letter posted on her website on
Tuesday that she has canceled upcoming tour dates in North and
South America to be with her ailing dog. Apple, who vowed to
make up the concerts, called off three shows in Brazil between
November 27 and 30, a Buenos Aires festival appearance on
December 1-2 and a December 9 performance in Mexico City,
according to her record label, Epic.
Aussie rockers AC/DC’s music to be sold on iTunes
NEW YORK (Reuters) – AC/DC’S entire catalogue, including 20
studio and live albums and three compilations will be available
on iTunes for the first time worldwide, Columbia Records and
Apple said on Monday. Until now the Australian heavy metal
group that was formed by two brothers, Angus and Malcolm Young,
in 1973, had refused to put their music on Apple Inc’s online
music store.
Metal singer Aaron Lewis finds second home in country music
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) – Aaron Lewis stands as one
of the more unusual crossovers into country music, but the
singer of the metal band Staind believes it was a fit made in
the cradle. “It’s been quite the pleasant eclectic mix of
tattoos and black eyeliner, and Stetsons, cowboy boots and big
shiny buckles,” Lewis said in an interview after the release of
his first full-length country studio album, “The Road,” this
week.
American Music Awards hits ratings low, despite Bieber
fever
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The American Music Awards pulled in
its lowest ever TV audience on Sunday, despite the presence of
teen heart-throb Justin Bieber and Korean “Gangnam Style”
sensation Psy. According to ratings data issued on Monday,
Sunday’s ceremony and performance show broadcast live on Walt
Disney Co’s ABC television was watched by an average
9.5 million viewers – down from 12 million in 2011.
