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Archive: July 2009 (101-110 of 322)

Jul 26 2009 03:30 PM ET

'American Idol' auditioner Alexis Cohen dies in car accident

Filed under: News and tagged: Television

American Idol auditioner Alexis Cohen died at age 25 on July 25 after being struck by a car in Seaside Heights, N.J., the Associated Press reports. Cohen's colorful behavior in early episodes of Idol's seventh and eighth seasons, including repeated rude gestures directed at the judges, made her a memorable presence. Authorities are seeking further information about the fatal collision.

Jul 25 2009 10:52 PM ET

Jason Bateman says 'Arrested Development' movie is 'still going forward'

by Josh Rottenberg

Tagged: Movie, Movie Biz

Asked at Comic-Con about the status of the long-discussed Arrested Development movie,series star Jason Bateman said he's still amped up to bring the cult Fox comedy to the big screen: "It's not dead. It's stillgoing forward…. I wouldn't be surprised if [AD creator] Mitch Hurwitz called me tomorrow and had 50 or 100 pages done. He's very fast. It could be anywhere between 6 months from now and 18 months from now. I hope it's sooner."

Jul 25 2009 03:05 PM ET

'Octomom' Nadya Suleman signs reality-TV deal for her kids

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Filed under: News and tagged: Television

“Octomom” Nadya Suleman has signed agreements for her 14 children to star in a reality television show, court documents obtained by the Associated Press indicate. Each of Suleman’s children will earn $250 per day according to the contracts (pending a judge’s approval); over three years, they will collectively earn approximately $250,000. The show, which is set to begin filming this Sept. 1, is being produced by Eyeworks, the European company behind such series as The Biggest Loser and Breaking Bonaduce. No network has yet bought the show.

Jul 25 2009 03:37 AM ET

'Sex and the City' creator enters 'The Broadroom' with web series

by Anthony Bartkewicz

Filed under: News

Candace Bushnell, creator of Sex and the City, will write a web series titled The Broadroom for the women’s lifestyle magazine More, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 90210‘s Jennie Garth and Mad Men‘s Talia Balsam will star in the women-in-the-workplace comedy, with four episodes scheduled to air online in September. Maybelline is on board as a Broadroom sponsor, and Bushnell will write two guest columns in the September and October issues of More.

Jul 25 2009 12:23 AM ET

Estate: Deals, recovered money will support Jackson's mom and children

by Anthony Bartkewicz

Filed under: News

Attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain, temporary administrators of the late Michael Jackson’s estate, say they have recovered $5.5 million and “substantial amounts” of personal property from one of Jackson’s former financial advisers, the Associated Press reports. Branca and McClain predict that the Jackson’s estate will become solvent, despite debts that may be as high as $400 million, after they complete several deals that they expect will generate “tens of millions of dollars of revenues.” They say the money generated from these deals will be used to pay monthly stipends to Jackson’s three children and his mother, Katherine, who currently has custody of them.

Jul 24 2009 09:29 PM ET

David Cronenberg journeys to 'Cosmopolis'

by John Young

Filed under: News and tagged: Movie

Director David Cronenberg (A History of Violence, Naked Lunch) will write a screenplay adaptation of Don DeLillo’s 2003 novel Cosmopolis, with “a view to eventually direct,” Screen Daily reports. Cosmopolis tracks the one-day cross-Manhattan voyage of Eric Packer, a 28-year-old billionaire in search of a haircut. The film is scheduled to start shooting next year in New York City and Toronto.

Jul 24 2009 09:04 PM ET

Kendra Wilkinson to pen memoir

by Anthony Bartkewicz

Filed under: News

Playboy model, reality show star and former Hugh Hefner playmate Kendra Wilkinson will write a memoir to be published next summer, according to a report from People. Wilkinson was featured on the E! reality show The Girls Next Door, along with Hef and his two other girlfriends, before starring in her own reality series titled Kendra. The autobio, yet to be titled, is being described as "a humorous, relatable, fish-out-of-water tale" covering her childhood, rise to fame and life with Hefner.

Jul 24 2009 06:26 PM ET

Best-selling author E. Lynn Harris has died

by Missy Schwartz

Tagged: Misc.

Best-selling author E. Lynn Harris died today at age 54. According to Essence, the writer's personal assistant declined to give details, but did confirm that Harris' health had declined. He was in the middle of a West Coast tour to promote his 11th novel, Basketball Jones, when he passed away.

Harris was best known for such successful novels as Invisible Life, Just As I Am, Too Good To Be True, Abide With Me, as well as his 2004 memoir What Becomes of The Brokenhearted. He specialized in writing about African-American gay culture, including the "down-low" phenomenon in the world of professional sports. (Basketball Jones is the story of an NBA star and his gay lover.) Born in Michigan and raised in Arkansas, Harris recently taught English at the University of Arkansas as a visiting professor.

Jul 24 2009 01:55 PM ET

'Star Wars' concert tour launches Oct. 1

by Tanner Stransky

Filed under: News and tagged: Movie, Musics

Star Wars is coming to a concert hall near you, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Touring production Star Wars in Concert, which will feature a symphony orchestra and choir performing composer John Williams' music from the six Star Wars films, will launch in Anaheim, Calif., on Oct. 1, before making stops in cities from Phoenix to Oklahoma City. Anthony Daniels, who played C-3P0 in the films, will narrate alongside a three-story-tall HD screen that will display footage from the movies.

Jul 24 2009 01:18 PM ET

Amy Winehouse not guilty of assault

by Kerrie Mitchell

Tagged: Misc.

CNN is reporting that Amy Winehouse was found not guilty of assault today in a London court after a two-day trial. The singer had been accused of assaulting a woman at a London charity ball last year. Her spokesperson said in a statement: "Amy would like to thank her family, friends, and her legal team for their support during this difficult time. She has always maintained her innocence and is very happy to move on with her life and put this episode behind her."