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Archive: February 2011 (31-40 of 83)

Feb 15 2011 01:14 PM ET

'Billy Elliot' musical sued by audience members claiming injury

Two women from Kansas City, Mo., are suing the producers of the Broadway musical Billy Elliot, for $4 million, claiming they were injured at a Nov. 23, 2009 performance when a prop struck them while they were seated in the front row. According to the AP, their lawsuit accuses the producers of “negligence and carelessness” for “hazardous and dangerous” props and choreography, failing to properly train the show’s performers, and neglecting to warn the audience of potential risks.

Producers for the show declined to comment.

Feb 15 2011 10:42 AM ET

Ronnie from 'Jersey Shore' pleads not guilty to aggravated assault charge

by Darren Franich

Categories: Lawsuits

Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, a star of MTV’s Jersey Shore, has pleaded not guilty to an aggravated assault charge stemming from a Sept. 4, 2009 altercation in Seaside Heights, N.J. The altercation was partially broadcast on Season 1 of Shore. (Ortiz-Magro knocked opposing combatant Stephen Izzo unconscious during the fight, and in addition to the assault charge, Izzo has filed a lawsuit against Ortiz-Magro, Shore‘s producers, and the network.) The Superior Court scheduled a status conference for Ortiz-Magro for March 7.

Feb 15 2011 09:41 AM ET

Kenneth Mars of 'The Producers' dies

by Jeff Labrecque

Categories: In Memoriam, Movies

Image Credit: Everett CollectionKenneth Mars, the actor who played two of Mel Brooks’ nuttiest cinematic characters, has died of pancreatic cancer, according to the New York Times. He was 75. Mars had been on Broadway and appeared in several hit TV shows (Get Smart, Gunsmoke) when he was cast as the Hitler-worshiping playwright in Brooks’ 1968 comedy, The Producers. Six years later, he was Transylvania’s one-armed, eye-patch-wearing police inspector who leads the rioting townspeople against the monster (Peter Boyle) in Young Frankenstein.

Mars also appeared in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Parallax View, and two Woody Allen films, among countless other credits. In recent years, he’d voiced many animated characters (such as King Triton in The Little Mermaid) and had a recurring role on the TV series, Malcolm in the Middle.

Feb 15 2011 09:20 AM ET

El DeBarge checks in to rehab

by Jeff Labrecque

Categories: Music, Music Biz

El DeBarge, the 1980′s singing star who was attempting a career comeback after a 16-year recording sabbatical, has checked himself into rehab for substance abuse. In a statement, the 49-year-old said, “I hate to disappoint my fans but it is necessary for me to take the time to work on me so that I may continue to share my music and my story with everyone. I thank everyone in advance for their prayers and well wishes and hope that you will respect my privacy during this time.”

DeBarge, who’d been nominated for two Grammys this year for his album, Second Chance, was slated to begin a tour this week, but Billboard reports that Musiq Soulchild will be performing in his place.

Feb 15 2011 08:47 AM ET

Christina Aguilera's divorce official

by Jeff Labrecque

Categories: Lawsuits

Christina Aguilera has finalized her divorce from music executive Jordan Bratman, according to the AP. The couple, who have a 3-year-old son, separated in October after five years of marriage.

Feb 14 2011 06:30 PM ET

'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark' box office rises above the critics

by Adam Markovitz

Categories: Stage

Grosses for Broadway’s Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark went up 3 percent last week despite pans from news outlets like The New York Times and Variety, according to data posted on Broadway World. The show, which is still in previews until March 15, grossed $1.3 million during the week ending Feb. 13, putting it just behind box office champ Wicked at $1.4 million. This was the first week of sales after Spider-Man was hit with scathing reviews in several major publications on Feb. 7. Yesterday, the New York State Department of Labor issued two safety violations for the troubled musical, which has seen four of its performers injured since rehearsals began late last year.

Feb 14 2011 01:34 PM ET

Elizabeth Taylor to stay in hospital following heart scare

by Jeff Labrecque

Categories:

Elizabeth Taylor is resting comfortably in a Los Angeles hospital after being treated for congestive heart failure symptoms, and her spokesperson tells the AP that she’s expected to spend a few more days there. “At this stage, with her history, they’re going to want to keep her in for a while just to make sure they’ve fixed what they needed to fix,” said Taylor’s rep, Sally Morrison. Taylor, who had heart surgery in 2009, checked into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center last week.

Feb 13 2011 08:25 PM ET

Aretha Franklin makes video appearance for Grammys tribute

by Jennifer Armstrong

Categories: Grammy Awards, Music

Aretha Franklin appeared on the Grammys to thank the awards show for its opening tribute to her featuring Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride, and Florence Welch. Though she’s at home in Detroit recovering from a December surgery for an undisclosed condition, she thanked the academy via satellite while looking resplendent in an elaborate white gown.

Feb 13 2011 04:53 PM ET

'King's Speech,' Fincher win big at BAFTAs

by Jennifer Armstrong

Categories: Movie Biz, Movies

The King’s Speech continued to gain awards-season momentum by cleaning up at the British Academy Film Awards, though The Social Network took the director and adapted screenplay categories. See the list of the winners below, and check out EW Oscars expert Dave Karger’s reaction.

BEST FILM: The King’s Speech

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM: The King’s Speech

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER: Four Lions, Director/Writer Chris Morris

DIRECTOR: The Social Network, David Fincher

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: The King’s Speech, David Seidler

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: The Social Network, Aaron Sorkin

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

ANIMATED FILM: Toy Story 3

LEADING ACTOR: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech

LEADING ACTRESS: Natalie Portman, Black Swan

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech

ORIGINAL MUSIC: The King’s Speech, Alexandre Desplat

CINEMATOGRAPHY: True Grit, Roger Deakins

EDITING: The Social Network, Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

PRODUCTION DESIGN: Alice in Wonderland, Robert Stromberg and Karen O’Hara

COSTUME DESIGN: Alice in Wonderland, Colleen Atwood

SOUND: Inception, Richard King, Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo, and Ed Novick

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS: Inception, Chris Corbould, Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, and Peter Bebb

MAKE UP & HAIR: Alice in Wonderland

SHORT ANIMATION: The Eagleman Stag

SHORT FILM: Until the River Runs Red

ORANGE WEDNESDAYS RISING AWARD: Tom Hardy

Feb 13 2011 12:00 PM ET

Betty Garrett, 'All In the Family' and 'Laverne and Shirley' actress, dies at 91

by Jennifer Armstrong

Categories: In Memoriam, Movies, Television

Comedic actress Betty Garrett, known for appearing in MGM musicals and as a regular on All in the Family and Laverne & Shirley, died Saturday of an aortic aneurysm in Los Angeles, the L.A. Times reports. She was 91. After starting her career on Broadway, she signed a contract with MGM and starred in several musicals, including Neptune’s Daughter and On the Town with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. She was perhaps best known for her recurring roles on 1970s sitcoms — as landlady Edna Babish on Laverne & Shirley and the Bunkers’ neighbor, Irene Lorenzo, on All in the Family.