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News Briefs TV, movie and music news

Archive: March 2011 (41-50 of 94)

Mar 17 2011 12:52 PM ET

Mel Gibson booked and released for battery charge

Categories: Lawsuits

Mel Gibson did not attend yesterday’s premiere of his new movie, The Beaver, at Austin’s SXSW Film Festival. But he had a good reason. He was in El Segundo, Calif., where he turned himself in to police as a requirement of his pleading no-contest to misdemeanor battery. According to the AP, he was fingerprinted and photographed before being released. Under the plea deal, Gibson must complete 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling and perform 16 hours of community service with the organization Mending Kids International.

Mar 17 2011 11:06 AM ET

Neil LaBute's 'Fat Pig' postponed a year

by Jeff Labrecque

Categories: Stage

Neil LaBute’s Fat Pig, which was planned to open at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre this spring, has been postponed until next season, due to lack of financing. In a statement, producers Aldo Scrofani and Heather Provost said: “It’s our dream to keep this terrific cast and stunning creative team intact as we work to reschedule Fat Pig for next season. The current financial situation did not leave adequate time to maintain the integrity of the show and its marketing campaign. This play deserves to be seen on Broadway and we remain very much committed to that goal.”

LaBute was onboard to direct Dane Cook, Josh Hamilton, Julia Stiles and Heather Jane Rolff.

Mar 16 2011 09:41 PM ET

National Lampoon CEO arrested for alleged $200 million Ponzi scheme

by Dan Snierson

Categories: Movie Biz, Movies

Timothy Durham, the president and chief executive office of National Lampoon, Inc. — the comedy company that brought you such movies as Animal House and Vacation — was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly perpetrating a $200-million Ponzi scheme involving a business loan company, according to Reuters. Durham, 48, and two former executives at Fair Financial Services — a company that Durham co-owned — were charged on Tuesday with wire and securities fraud in a federal indictment. The charges allege that Durham and one of his co-defendants used investor funds to “maintain their lifestyles and to pay for personal expenses.” When contacted by EW, a National Lampoon spokesperson declined to comment.

Mar 15 2011 09:37 PM ET

Seann William Scott enters treatment for 'health and personal issues'

by Adam B. Vary

Categories: Misc., Movies

Reps for Seann William Scott (American Pie, Role Models) tell People in a statement that the 34-year-old actor “voluntarily admitted himself for proactive treatment to address health and personal issues.” What those issues entail, and where specifically Scott is being treated, were not disclosed; the statement simply concludes that he “appreciates the support of his many fans at this time.”

Mar 15 2011 06:41 PM ET

James Taylor suffers broken leg

by Kate Ward

Categories: Misc.

James Taylor broke his leg and suffered a shoulder injury while skiing in Utah, the Associated Press reports. The singer-songwriter has since reportedly resumed skiing on vacation, thanks to a splint. No other details of his injury are known at this time.

Mar 15 2011 12:12 PM ET

John Henson is new father to bouncing baby boy

by Kate Ward

Categories: Celebrity Babies!

Wipeout host John Henson and wife Jill Benjamin welcomed their first child on March 7 in Los Angeles, People reports. And the funnyman already enjoys joking with his newborn son, named Jackson Wright Henson: “I love watching him laugh,” Henson told People. “There is nothing better than a spit take with breast milk!”

Mar 14 2011 06:21 PM ET

Michael Madsen issued bench warrant for contempt

by Jeff Labrecque

Categories: Lawsuits

Image Credit: Koi Sojer/PR Photos

Actor Michael Madsen was found in contempt of court and a bench warrant was taken out for him after he missed a court date on March 2 intended to resolve his spousal and child-support debts. His ex-wife, Jeanine Madsen, is reportedly claiming that he owes her $570,000 in payments, but the actor’s lawyer, entertainment attorney Perry C. Wander, calls that figure “outrageous and completely incorrect.”

Madsen (Kill Bill) received legal custody of the couple’s two children two years ago, and Wander says that, due to inadequate representation, no accompanying child support order was modified. “There is about $50,000 that is owed, but every month, [Mrs. Madsen and her lawyers] keep adding [to that amount] because he never properly modified the child support order,” says Wander.

Madsen filed for bankruptcy in 2009, and court documents then reportedly listed his debt to his ex-wife as $350,000. “We have tried many times to settle with Mr. Madsen’s ex-wife and we’re still trying to resolve this,” says Wander. “We are looking to fully comply to the orders of the court.”

A hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, according to the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Mar 14 2011 04:37 PM ET

'Dark Knight' FX supervisor cleared of wrongdoing in crew member's death

by Adam Markovitz

Categories: In Memoriam, Movies

Oscar-winning special effects supervisor Christopher Corbould, 53, was found not guilty of failing to ensure the safety of a crew member who died during the filming of 2008′s The Dark Knight, reports Reuters. Special effects technician Conway Wickliffe, 41, was killed in 2007 when his vehicle hit a tree during a test for an action sequence in the film. Today, jurors at England’s Guildford Crown Court unanimously cleared Corbould of wrongdoing in Wickliffe’s death. In the credits of The Dark Knight, director Christopher Nolan dedicated the film to Wickliffe as well as to actor Heath Ledger, who died shortly after wrapping his Oscar-winning role as The Joker.

Mar 14 2011 02:53 PM ET

Bryan Adams to have baby with personal assistant

by Kate Ward

Categories: Celebrity Babies!

“Summer of ’69″ singer Bryan Adams will have a summer to remember this year: The musician confirmed via his Twitter account that he’s expecting his first child with personal assistant Alicia Grimaldi in May. Grimaldi helped Adams set up his charity, The Bryan Adams Foundation.

Mar 14 2011 02:34 PM ET

iPad 2 debut: Apple sells roughly one million tablets during first weekend

by Darren Franich

Categories: Tech

The iPad 2 hit stores on Friday, and according to Reuters, nearly one million iPad 2 devices were sold over the weekend. (By comparison, the original iPad took about a month to reach that milestone.) Other estimates are slightly more conservative, but with reports of sold-out stores, it’s clear that the upgraded tablet device is resonating with consumers.