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Archive: November 2010 (51-60 of 200)

Nov 16 2010 03:04 PM ET

Kal Penn returns to the White House after shooting new 'Harold & Kumar' movie

Categories: Movies, Politics, Television

Kal Penn has returned to a job in the White House after shooting A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas this summer. Last year, Penn — who uses his given name Kalpen Modi while working for the government — requested that he be written out of his role on Fox’s House so he could take a job with the Obama Administration as a liaison to the Asian American and arts communities. He’s now working at the Office of Public Engagement as an associate director, according to a White House statement given to ABC News.

Nov 16 2010 02:42 PM ET

Randy and Evi Quaid skip hearing... again

by Jeff Labrecque

Categories: Lawsuits, Movies

Randy and Evi Quaid did not appear at this morning’s court hearing in Santa Barbara, Calif., apparently remaining in Canada, where they fled after being charged with felony vandalism. According to the AP, Quaid’s attorney, Robert Sanger, told the Superior Court judge that Canadian officials had confiscated Quaid’s passport, making his attendance impossible. The judge did not reschedule the hearing, but left open the arrest warrants for the couple. Quaid has a date in Canadian immigration court on Nov. 23.

Nov 16 2010 02:13 PM ET

'The Glee Project' announces upcoming casting calls

by Emily Exton

Categories: TV Biz

Oxygen Media is looking for the next potential Glee star. The network announced the dates and locations of the open casting calls for its upcoming reality series The Glee Project via press release. The series will premiere in June 2011 and follow aspiring performers as they compete for the chance to win an upcoming multi-episode role on Glee‘s third season. The casting calls kick off Dec. 18 and 19 in Chicago, and resume in Dallas on Jan. 8 and 9. According to the release, Oxygen is searching for “talented young men and women with strong vocal, acting, dancing abilities and big personalities.” The network also notes, “musical theater experience is a plus, but not required.”

Nov 16 2010 02:01 PM ET

Ronni Chasen, longtime Hollywood publicist, shot to death in Beverly Hills after leaving ‘Burlesque’ premiere

by Adam B. Vary

Categories: In Memoriam

Image Credit: Todd Williamson/WireImage.comRonni Chasen — a veteran publicist who has represented Oscar-winning composers like Hans Zimmer and John Williams, and filmmakers like Jim Sheridan and Richard D. Zanuck — was shot to death in her car early Tuesday morning in Beverly Hills, Calif. after leaving the premiere of Burlesque. She was 64 years old. The L.A. County coroner’s office confirmed with EW that Chasen was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and pronounced dead upon arrival. An investigation is ongoing.

“It’s very shocking,” songwriter Diane Warren, a longtime client of Chasen, told EW. “I was with her at the Burlesque premiere. I saw her just before she got in her car. It could have been any of us.” Warren says she got the news this morning from producer Donald De Line. “This is just f—ing insane. I don’t want to use the word ‘was’ with her. She’s a great person. Probably the most loved person in this town. She’s the best there is. Who would want to hurt her? Nobody would want to hurt her. Did someone follow her from [the premiere]? Did they want to steal her car? It’s utterly senseless. I hope [the police] find some answers, but it still won’t bring her back.”

Nov 16 2010 12:47 PM ET

Jean-Claude Van Damme confirmed for Joel Silver's 'Dragon Eyes'

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: Movies

Image Credit: Tony Barson/WireImage.com; Anthony G. Moore/PR PhotosJean-Claude Van Damme has signed on for a supporting role in Dragon Eyes, the action flick starring martial artist Cung Le that Joel Silver will exec produce. According to After Dark Films, Van Damme will co-star as the mysterious mentor who once trained Le’s character, Ryan Hong, who has just arrived in a neighborhood blighted by drug crime and official corruption, ready to use his fists and his street smarts to take on the local gangs and the police.” Hong inspires residents and gang members alike to reclaim their community. The movie, helmed by John Hyams (who directed Van Damme in Universal Soldier: Regeneration) and produced by Courtney Solomon, will start shooting at the end of the month. This is the second of five action films After Dark will produce with Silver. The first movie, Transit, starring Jim Caviezel, James Frain, Elisabeth Rohm, and Harold Perrineau, is in post-production. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Van Damme has also booked a cameo in the new Muppets movie (along with Alan Arkin, Jack Black, Billy Crystal, Zach Galifianakis).

Nov 16 2010 12:43 PM ET

'House' lures best-ever audience this season; Jennifer Grey lights up 'Dancing with the Stars'

by Lynette Rice

Categories: TV Ratings

Image Credit: Bob D'Amico/ABC; Florian Schneider/FOX; CBSIs Jennifer Grey on her way to winning Dancing with the Stars, or will those (mature) lady viewers throw all their support behind Bristol Palin? The audience size continues to reflect the intense interest in the competition show this season: ABC won Monday in viewers (15.2 million) and key female demographics after Stars attracted 20 million during the special 90-minute telecast, according to preliminary results.

The dancing show did particularly well in the 9 p.m. half-hour among women 25-54, earning an astonishing 9.1 rating/20 share (each rating point in the demo is worth 628,200 gals). You may think they’re mostly Tea Partiers, but ABC has gotta be seeing them as money in the bank, man. In women 18-49, the show earned a 6.4/15 at 9 (each women 18-49 rating point is worth 659,700 persons, or 1 percent of the women 18-49 population of 65.97 million). Wow. READ FULL STORY »

Nov 16 2010 12:06 PM ET

Leeza Gibbons engaged to boyfriend of two years

by Kate Ward

Categories:

Former talk show host Leeza Gibbons is engaged to her boyfriend of two years, Steven Fenton, People reports. The President of the Beverly Hills Board of Education proposed to Gibbons prior to moving into their new home in Los Angeles. “He was on one knee and I was on Cloud 9!” Gibbons told People. “I have a ring, but we decided that I won’t wear it until we have a private exchange of vows.” This will be the third marriage for Gibbons; A date for the wedding has yet to be set.

Nov 16 2010 12:03 PM ET

Michael Douglas 'Wall Street' lawsuit dismissed

by Kate Ward

Categories: Lawsuits

A judge in Manhattan has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Michael Douglas by his ex-wife, Diandra Douglas, People reports. The suit demanded that the actor hand over half of the money he earned while shooting Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, since the couple was married when he shot the first film, 1987′s Wall Street. Though the judge claimed the suit was without merit — particularly since the Douglas’ divorce was finalized in California, not New York — Diandra’s lawyer said she plans to appeal the decision.

Nov 16 2010 11:34 AM ET

Mayim Bialik now a regular on 'The Big Bang Theory'

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: Television

Sheldon’s female friend Amy is here to stay. At least for this season. Mayim Bialik has been upped to a series regular on CBS’ The Big Bang Theory. According to Michael Ausiello, her deal does not require her to be in every episode, but it will keep her in the picture for the remainder of season 4.

Nov 16 2010 10:19 AM ET

Larry Charles to join Sacha Baron Cohen for 'The Dictator'

by Jeff Labrecque

Categories: Movie Biz, Movies

Larry Charles and Sacha Baron Cohen might be back in business. The director/actor duo behind Borat and Bruno are now leaning towards making The Dictator, according to the Los Angeles Times. In the script, Cohen will play both a goat herder and a deposed foreign dictator who takes refuge in the United States.