The Newsdesk 06.30.09 - Amy Adams Is a Fighter; American Werewolf Remake in the Works
• Amy Adams is joining Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg in Fighter, David O. Russell's pugilistic drama. Amy Adams's presence always increases a movie's appeal by at least 75 percent.
• Dimension Films has plans to remake An American Werewolf in London. Didn't they already send him to Paris? How about An American Werewolf in Peoria?
• Guy Pearce has joined the cast of Guillermo del Toro's remake of the TV movie Don't Be Afraid of the Dark. Yes, they even remake things you've never heard of now.
• Austrians are awaiting Bruno with trepidation, as Sacha Baron Cohen plays an Austrian fashion journalist.
• New photos of Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in the horror flick Jennifer's Body have been released. The bloody photos are pretty freaky, but the scariest thing about this movie is its screenwriter -- Juno quipmeister Diablo Cody.
• Cloverfield's Matt Reeves could be remaking the Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In. Because more shaky camerawork would definitely improve on the original.
BIZ
Supreme Court Supercharges Cable Box
from Forbes.com: Media News by Evan Hessel
Cable customers should soon see lower prices and better tech as a result of ruling. Satellite TV could feel the pain.
FESTIVALS
Madness, Blur wow Glastonbury crowd
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
GLASTONBURY, England, June 29 (UPI) -- Fans acclaimed British bands Madness and Blur the stars of this year's Glastonbury music festival, observers say.
Shorts Honored at Palm Springs
from indieWIRE News
The 2009 Palm Springs International ShortFest & Short Film Market, the largest short film festival and market in North America, announced its award winners on Sunday, June 28.
MOVIES
Imax breaks 5-day record with 'Transformers'
from Hollywood Reporter by Etan Vlessing
Paramount Pictures' "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" bowed on Imax with an estimated five-day gross of $14.4 million, the biggest ever for the giant screen exhibitor, on a record opening of 169 screens.
'Transformers': Worst-Reviewed $400 Million Hit?
from Access Hollywood - Movies
After just five days, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is halfway to $400 million domestically, a box-office milestone only eight other movies have reached.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Talks '(500) Days Of Summer'
from Access Hollywood - Movies
"(500) Days of Summer" star Joseph Gordon-Levitt chats with Access about why he loves this film and the chemistry he has with co-star Zooey Deschanel.
Zooey Deschanel Talks '(500) Days Of Summer'
from Access Hollywood - Movies
"(500) Days of Summer" star Zooey Deschanel talks with Access about the buzz surrounding the film. Plus, is Zooey recording another album?
'American Werewolf in London' redo eyed
from EW.com: Movies
By Tim Stack
EW has confirmed that Dimension Films has acquired the rights to John Landis' popular horror flick
Mexico's coolest actors reunited in hit soccer movie
Eight years after their memorable breakthrough in coming-of-age road movie "Y tu Mama Tambien," Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, the two actors who became pin-ups for the resurgence in Mexican filmmaking are back together on the big screen.
Diane Keaton Injured But OK After Set Accident
from Entertainment on HuffingtonPost.com by The Huffington Post News Team
Diane Keaton may have been wearing some extra padding, but that didn't stop the actress from getting a little roughed up on the set of her new movie, Morning Glory. Keaton, 63, injured her head while filming Monday in New York.
Duncan Jones Will Follow Moon With Mute
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com)
We'd recently thought that Moon director Duncan Jones would make the submarine thriller Escape From the Deep as his next feature, but now it seems like Mute, the film he'd previously likened to a Berlin Blade Runner, will be next after all.
Bruno: Aussie PM Kevin Rudd 'uber-cute'
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
SYDNEY, June 29 (UPI) -- Comedy movie star Sasha Baron Cohen, in character as gay Austrian fashionista Bruno, said Monday that Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is "uber-cute."
TELEVISION
Despite Passing of TV Legends, Networks Fail to Win Viewers Over Weekend
from Advertising Age - MediaWorks by jrash@cmithun.com (John Rash)
MINNEAPOLIS (AdAge.com) -- With the deaths of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon and now Billy Mays, as well as "Transformers" trouncing criticism to score big at the box office, it seems the nation's common conversation this weekend was about pop culture. But as shown by Sunday night's TV ratings race, few were actually watching the medium that fueled those stars: network TV.
What to Watch for week of June 29 to July 5, 2009
from EW.com: TV
By Jessica Shaw
A day-to-day guide to notable programs*
TV Ratings: Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett continue to dominate with viewers
from Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider by Jennifer Armstrong
The week's two iconic celebrity deaths continued to dominate a weekend television lineup otherwise filled with typical summer reruns and burnoffs.
VH1 orders two hip-hop reality series
from Hollywood Reporter by James Hibberd
VH1 is giving two female hip-hop artists their own reality series -- Sandra "Pepa" Denton of Salt n Pepa and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas from TLC.
CBS Evening News Wins Murrow for Best Newscast
from mediabistro.com: TVNewser
For the second year in a row, the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric has won the Edward R. Murrow award for best evening newscast.
'SVU': Chris and Mariska are staying!
from EW.com: Today's Latest Headlines by Michael Ausiello
Michael Ausiello confirms exclusively the ''L&O'' pair ink deals to stay on beat for TWO more years
First $1 million find for 'Antiques Roadshow'
In a record for the show, four pieces of Chinese carved jade and celadon, including a large bowl crafted for the Emperor, were given a conservative auction estimate of up to $1.07 million.
Television Review | 'Nova: Musical Minds': Our Brains on Music: The Science
from NYT > Television by By MIKE HALE
"Musical Minds," the season premiere of "Nova" on PBS, is based on the neurologist Oliver Sacks's most recent book, "Musicophilia."
Drea de Matteo on Wisteria Lane!
from EW.com: TV
By Michael Ausiello
Michael Ausiello confirms exclusively Emmy-winning ''Sopranos'' alum joining ''Desperate Housewives''.
Ausiello: Christine Lahti joining 'SVU'
from EW.com: TV
By Michael Ausiello
Actress will appear in next season's first four episodes, then passes the rotating ADA baton to the returning Stephanie March
MUSIC
Michael Jackson Dominates U.K. Charts
from Billboard News - All by Paul Sexton, London
Michael Jackson's death prompted a massive surge in sales of his singles and albums in the U.K., with his "Number Ones" compilation (Epic/Sony Music Entertainment) racing to No. 1, four other albums hitting the top 20, and six songs re-entering the top 40 of the singles chart.
Michael Jackson Radio Play Jumps 1735%
from Billboard News - All by Silvio Pietroluongo, N.Y.
Airplay for Michael Jackson's biggest hits, and some of his overlooked gems (including a few dozen spins for some of the Jackson's Christmas songs), blanketed airwaves from coast to coast immediately after his death on Thursday, and continued throughout the weekend.
What Would Michael Jackson's Next Album Have Sounded Like?
from MTV News
He recorded with Akon and Will.I.Am, and had talked to T-Pain, Kanye and even 50 about collaborations.
Jackson funeral plan still being considered
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By SANDY COHEN
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Michael Jackson's father, Joe, says planning for the pop star's funeral is awaiting results of a second autopsy.
Jackson's parents declare authority over affairs
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by ALICIA QUARLES
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Michael Jackson's father declared Sunday in the strongest terms yet that he and his wife have sole authority over the late pop star's affairs.
Bon Jovi, Don Was Team Up For Iranian Solidarity Song
from Billboard News - All by Gary Graff, Detroit
A new version of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" featuring Jon Bon Jovi and exiled Iranian singer Andy Madadian, which is making the rounds as an online video, is meant to send "a musical message of worldwide solidarity" to the Iranian people in the wake of the country's controversial recent election, according to co-producer Don Was.
Phish teases plans for three-day festival
from Top Stories from LiveDaily.com
Jam band Phish [tickets], which made its name in part by playing multiple sets during extravagant multi-day festivals, is preparing to do it again over Halloween weekend.
My Morning Jacket's Jim James to Release George Harrison Covers Record as Yim Yames
from Paste Magazine
In the realm of covers records, some artist pairings are less obvious than others.
NPR Streams Björk's Voltaic Box Set
from Paste Magazine
Iceland isn't a monarchy, but they have a queen nonetheless. Two years after the well-received release of Volta, Björk will release a new box set. Voltaic hits shelves tomorrow (June 30), but if you aren't ready to throw down the cash, you can check out the music online, thanks to NPR.
Drake Signs With Lil Wayne's Young Money Label
from MTV News
'It's just a great day,' Drake says of deal; his material will be distributed by Universal Republic.
Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd Kick Off Tour
from Spin magazine's Daily Noise by Matt Kiser
It's a match made in American Badass heaven: Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd, kindred souls in music and patriotism, kicked off their joint Rock N' Rebels tour Friday night at West Palm Beach, FL's Cruzan Amphitheatre.
Medical examiner: Pitchman Mays had heart disease
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by MITCH STACY
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Television pitchman Billy Mays likely died of a heart attack in his sleep, but further tests are needed to be sure of the cause of death, a medical examiner said Monday.
'Avenue Q' reaches end of road
from Variety.com
Legit News: Musical to close on Sept. 13 -- Broadway tuner "Avenue Q" will shutter in the fall after a run of six years.
Thanks for this news updates. My concern is about MJ’s death. The Ok magazine Michael Jackson cover isn't going to require an all black cover and no one is forced to smell a metaphorical glove, but it's what's inside the cover that has people up in arms. The magazine is rumored to have the last picture of Michael alive, or perhaps just after death, as the possible post mortem photo taken of the King of Pop. Critics have thus far denounced the announcement of a possible death photo of Jackson, with the innocent OK magazine Michael Jackson cover, as little more than a crass grab for instant cash.