The Entertainment Daily Buzz

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2010-10-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

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Essence Magazine Launches ‘It Girl’ Nationwide Model Search

2010-02-25T10:06:00.000-08:00

*In an effort to address the lack of diversity on the runways, Essence kicks off its nationwide Essence It Girl model search in partnership with Elite Model Management.

The winner –to be announced in May –will be featured in the magazine’s September 2010 Fall Fashion issue and receive a one-year contract with Elite Model Management.

“If you have the beauty, talent and ambition to take over the fashion world, Essence is asking you to show us that you are the new It Girl,” says Essence.com Managing Editor, Emil Wilbekin. “We are excited to partner with Elite Model Management to find the next African-American model and to welcome her to the fashion industry.

“Even better…our audience can weigh in with their votes online and watch the competition unfold in the Making of an It Girl web series on Essence.com. What better way to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Essence than by celebrating the unique beauty of African-American women?”
Live castings will be conducted in Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York and photos will be accepted online at www.essence.com/itgirl. An expert panel of judges comprised of Essence editors, Elite managers and fashion industry VIPs will attend each of the open castings to evaluate the entrants and five finalists will be flown to New York City for a special modeling boot camp, which will be documented for the Making of an It Girl web series on Essence.com.

The Essence.com audience will cast their votes online to help select the grand prize winner from the five finalists.

‘Precious’ Too Close to Home for Mary J. Blige

2010-02-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

Although R&B star Mary J. Blige recorded a song for the soundtrack of “Precious,’ she tells Rolling Stone magazine that she had to walk out of an early screening of the movie because the story hit too close to home.

“I couldn’t do it anymore. It was making me regress,” she said of the movie, which she first saw at the New York Film Festival last year.
“Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire” tells the gritty story of a troubled teenager who is raped by her father and abused by her mother.

“I lived a lot of things from Precious. A lot of people know my story from the child molestation to me turning into a suicidal person,” she said. “I’ve seen some family members and friends actually live the depth of what Precious went through to the T.

“I know what that pain is, I know what that food is, I know the smell of those houses, I know the curse words going through her head every day that her mom called her.”

Source:Eurweb

Salvador Cabanas shot in the head

2010-01-25T09:15:00.000-08:00

Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas is in serious condition after being shot in the head during an attack in a bar, Mexico City's attorney general has confirmed.

The 29-year-old striker, who was visiting the establishment with friends and relatives, was attacked early in the morning at the bar in the south of Mexico City.

"He was shot in the head," prosecutor Miguel Angel Mancera, told the news channel Televisa. "According to an initial report it [the bullet] was a shot from a firearm with a frontal entry point and without exit."

"We don't clearly know the motive behind the injury ... The player is conscious but he has a heart problem which they're trying to stabilise.

"We're waiting to see what those arrested have to say. It seems that the attack happened in the bathroom of the bar.''

Cabanas is a prolific goalscorer for Primera División de México side Club America - scoring 18 goals in 24 matches this season - and he is an integral part of Paraguay's national side.

Club America president Michel Bauer revealed the forward was undergoing surgery. Bauer added that he believed the attack to have been unprovoked, having spoken to Cabanas' wife who was present with the striker at the time of the attack.

"He arrived conscious and responded well to the questions they asked him as he was going into hospital,'' Bauer told Televisa. "It's a key point that can be encouraging, but until further notice we cannot speculate on anything at all.

"They wanted to assault him. I can confirm that that is what his wife has said, that it was an assault. There was no shoot-out nor any quarrel.''

The former Paraguayan Footballer of the Year was expected to feature in the World Cup in South Africa where La Albirroja are in Group F with Italy, Slovakia and New Zealand.

Nancy Kerrigan father dies, Mark Kerrigan arrested

2010-01-25T09:11:00.000-08:00

The brother , Mark Kerrigan of figure skater Nancy Kerrigan has been charged with assaulting their 70-year-old father, who was found dead over the weekend in the family's Massachusetts home.

Woburn District Court Clerk John Teevan says 45-year-old Mark Kerrigan faces arraignment Monday on a charge of assault and battery on a person over 60 that resulted in injuries. Teevan identified the victim of the assault as Daniel Kerrigan.

The Middlesex district attorney's office says police responded to the home of Daniel and Brenda Kerrigan around 1:30 a.m. Sunday over reports of an unresponsive man. The man was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.

Brenda Kerrigan told the Boston Herald that her husband died of a heart attack and there was nothing suspicious about the death.

Nancy Kerrigan, a two-time Olympic medalist, lives in nearby Lynville, Mass.

She was the victim of a vicious attack in 1994 orchestrated by rival skater Tonya Harding, whose ex-husband, Jeff Gilooly, hired a hit man to assault Kerrigan during a practice sessions at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Kerrigan recovered from the assault and went on to win silver at the 1994 Winter Olympics, while Harding would receive a lifetime ban from the U.S. Figure Skating Association for her role in the attack.

Gary Coleman arrested in Utah on a warrant

2010-01-25T08:43:00.000-08:00

SANTAQUIN, UTAH — Actor Gary Coleman was arrested in Utah on a warrant for failing to appear in court, police said.

The 41-year-old former "Diff'rent Strokes" actor was booked into the Utah County Jail Sunday, said Santaquin police officer Shawn Carter.

He said early Monday that he didn't have details on the warrant or know if Coleman was still being held. He said more information would be released later in the day.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Utah County Jail records show he was arrested after police received reports of a disturbance at his Santaquin home.

The actor was arrested in Utah in 2008 after a man claimed Coleman tried to run over him in a parking lot when he tried to take a picture with the child star. The case was reportedly been settled out of court.

'Avatar' tops box office for sixth-straight week

2010-01-25T08:36:00.000-08:00

James Cameron's "Avatar" is on a course to sink "Titanic" at the box office.

No. 1 for the sixth-straight weekend with $36 million, the 20th Century Fox sci-fi spectacle lifted its domestic total to $552.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. "Avatar" raised its worldwide total to $1.841 billion. That's $2 million shy of first place behind Cameron's last movie, the 1997 shipwreck epic "Titanic," at $1.843 billion.

"It defies all superlatives," said Chris Aronson, head of distribution for Fox.

The studio said "Avatar" has hit $1.29 billion in international ticket sales, passing the $1.24 billion mark set by "Titanic." The saga set on the alien world of Pandora is also en route to overtake "Titanic" in domestic sales. After 37 days in theaters, "Avatar" soared past "The Dark Knight" on Saturday to become the second highest grossing film.

"We're witnessing box office history," said Paul Dergarabedian, box office analyst for Hollywood.com. "We're watching all of these big records fall, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. 'Avatar' is dominating at a time where it has no big summer blockbusters to compete with it. It's perfectly poised to keep breaking all these records."

"Avatar" is also positioned to win acclaim during awards season. While the computer-assisted performances didn't earn any honors at Saturday's Screen Actors Guild Awards, it captured the best drama and director trophies at last week's Golden Globes and is considered a likely best-picture front runner when Oscar nominations are announced Feb. 2.

Screen Gems' apocalyptic thriller "Legion," featuring Paul Bettany as an Armageddon-fighting fallen angel, debuted behind "Avatar" at No. 2 with $18.2 million. Fox's family fantasy comedy "Tooth Fairy," starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as a hockey player who spreads his wings as a magical deity, took flight in the No. 4 spot with $14.5 million.

Warner Bros. grabbed the No. 3 position with "The Book of Eli" at $17 million in its second week, despite three other films debuting in wide release this weekend. The post-apocalyptic action flick stars Denzel Washington as a traveling prophet who battles a villainous gang leader played by Gary Oldman while protecting the last known Bible.

The medical drama "Extraordinary Measures," the first film from new distributor CBS Films, opened with a disappointing $7 million in the No. 7 position. The film features Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser as a doctor and businessman who collaborate to develop a drug that will treat a rare genetic disorder affecting children.

"It did well in middle America," said Steven Friedlander, head of distribution for CBS Films. "This is not a shoot-'em-up or fantasy film. It's the true story of people doing courageous things, and it's building good word of mouth. This is the kind of movie that plays well to a family friendly crowd who doesn't need to see the movie the weekend it opens."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Avatar," $36 million.

2. "Legion," $18.2 million.

3. "The Book of Eli," $17 million.

4. "Tooth Fairy," $14.5 million.

5. "The Lovely Bones," $8.8 million.

6. "Sherlock Holmes," $7.1 million.

7. "Extraordinary Measures," $7 million.

8. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," $6.5 million.

9. "It's Complicated," $6.2 million.

10. "The Spy Next Door," $4.8 million.

http://www.hollywood.com/boxoffice

Aniston's Breakup Party May Be Off

2010-01-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

Several sources "close to the family" have denied to People.com that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are splitting. The breakup was reported Sunday in the British newspaper News of the World. According to the story, the couple met with divorce lawyers (even though they're not married) to work out property and custody issues. "The paperwork is already organized for a breakup — and for it to be as unmessy for them as possible," the paper said. It also noted that the couple's six children would live primarily with Jolie.

"All My Children" James Mitchell Dies At Age 89

2010-01-25T08:23:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES — James Mitchell, who for nearly three decades played gruff patriarch Palmer Cortland on the ABC soap opera "All My Children," has died, his longtime partner said Sunday night.

Mitchell died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, partner Albert Wolsky said. Mitchell had suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for years, complicated by a recent bout of pneumonia.

Mitchell appeared in more than 300 episodes of the popular soap from 1979 until a 40th anniversary episode this month. He was a regular on the show until 2008.

Mitchell enjoyed playing the icy, wealthy Palmer, who wielded power over his children and the show's fictional town of Pine Valley.

"He loved playing mean," Wolsky said. "A soap gives an actor a chance to develop something because it goes on for so long."

Born in Sacramento in 1920 and trained as a dancer, Mitchell had leading roles in the Broadway musicals "Brigadoon" and "Paint Your Wagon," and danced on stage with the American Ballet Theater.

His film credits include 1953's "The Band Wagon" with Fred Astaire, 1954's "Deep in My Heart" and 1955's "Oklahoma."

Mitchell also taught movement for actors at Yale University and Drake University, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate.

Funeral plans were pending.

SOurce: AP

'Inglourious Basterds' wins SAG film award

2010-01-25T08:18:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES — While Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock's chances for Academy Award gold were advanced with their trophies at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the blockbuster "Avatar" may have felt a touch blue.
The computer-assisted performances in James Cameron's "Avatar" didn't make the cut for SAG nominations. But the groundbreaking sci-fi film remains a strong best-picture contender for the Oscars in March.

For Bridges of "Crazy Heart," Bullock of "The Blind Side" and for SAG supporting-acting honorees Mo'Nique of "Precious" and Christoph Waltz of "Inglourious Basterds," there's reason to suspect the Oscar ceremony will be a happy rerun of Saturday's SAG Awards and last Sunday's Golden Globes.

All four were recognized at the Globes, as well, while "Avatar" was named best drama and Cameron won as best director.

He will face competition from director Quentin Tarantino, whose "Inglourious Basterds" won the SAG Award for best ensemble performance, which can be a precursor to the top Oscar award. Last year, SAG's movie cast award was presented to "Slumdog Millionaire," which went on to win the best picture Oscar.

"It was an honor to be part of it, Quentin," "Inglourious Basterds" cast member Eli Roth said in accepting the award for his fellow actors in the off-kilter World War II revenge saga.

Bullock declined — strenuously — to look ahead.

"Shhhhh. Shhhhh. Shhhhh," Bullock said backstage when she was asked to speculate on her Oscar chances. She won for her portrayal of a tenacious real-life mom, Leigh Anne Tuohy, who helped a youth in need, future NFL player Michael Oher.

"I would be a hostess or a waitress or a house restorer before I ever considered myself an actor, because I never thought I was good enough," she added.

Although respected by his peers, Bridges has largely been bypassed for major awards.

"I love being an actor — pretending to be other people and getting into the shoes of other folks," said Bridges, who plays a hard-luck, hard-living country singer in "Crazy Heart."

Waltz was honored for his role as an enthusiastically ruthless Nazi. Mo'Nique's trophy came for her searing portrayal of an abusive mother in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' By Sapphire."

On the TV side of the SAG Awards, the cast of AMC's 1960s Madison Avenue saga "Mad Men" won the trophy for best drama series ensemble for the second year in a row, while 19 cast members of Fox TV newcomer "Glee," about misfits in a high school singing club, accepted the award for best comedy series ensemble.

"Glee" claimed the best comedy series award at the Golden Globes.

Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey of NBC's "30 Rock" won for best acting in a comedy series, allowing Fey to get in a sly joke about NBC and its bitter late-night battle with Conan O'Brien in her acceptance speech.

"I just wanted to take a moment to say to everyone at NBC, we are very happy with everything, and happy to be there," she said. Both she and Baldwin won the awards last year.

Golden Globe winner Michael C. Hall of Showtime's "Dexter," wearing a cap because of treatment he's receiving for Hodgkin's lymphoma, won best actor in a drama series. The award for best actress in a drama went to Julianna Margulies of CBS' "The Good Wife."

Kevin Bacon won as best actor in a movie or miniseries for the war-themed drama, "Taking Chance," while Drew Barrymore received best actress honors in the category for "Grey Gardens," about eccentric relatives of Jacqueline Onassis.

Betty White, 88, accepted a lifetime achievement award from Bullock for an enduring career that included "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Golden Girls," and showed her sharp comedic chops.

When Bullock joked that she finds White annoying, White shot back, "Isn't it heartening to see how far a girl as plain as she is can go."

"I should be presenting an award to you for the privilege of working in this wonderful business all this time. And you still can't get rid of me," White told the audience.

Actors in two highly critically acclaimed films went home empty-handed, including "Up in the Air" star George Clooney and the film's supporting actresses, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick. The cast of "The Hurt Locker" also lost out.

Clooney, however, was lauded by SAG President Ken Howard for helping organize Friday's telethon to raise money for earthquake-devastated Haiti, a rare reference to the tragedy.

Two honors not shown in the telecast went to stunt ensembles for the film "Star Trek" and the TV show "24."

http://www.sagawards.org/

Source;AP

Wynn Las Vegas in preliminary talks with Beyonce to follow up her summer run

2009-12-09T07:44:00.000-08:00

Wynn Las Vegas officials are trying to woo Beyonce back for another concert run to follow up her successful string of concerts last summer, one of which was turned into a Thanksgiving night special on ABC.

Wynn Resorts spokeswoman Jennifer Dunne says there's no deal yet, despite published rumors of a lucrative, long-term contract, according to the Associated Press.
Beyonce appeared at the resort from July 30 through Aug. 2 this year while filming a concert DVD. Her shows helped boost visitation to Wynn and its sister Encore Las Vegas resort during a typically slow tourist season in Las Vegas.

Beyonce sang in the Encore Theater, where country star Garth Brooks plans to play a series of solo acoustic shows starting on Friday. Brooks' deal puts him in Las Vegas 15 weeks a year for possibly the next five years.

Source:Eurweb

Beyonce leads with 10 Grammy Nominations

2009-12-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

Beyonce led the field of Grammy contenders with 10 nominations on Wednesday, closely followed by teen country sensation Taylor Swift with eight, and both will compete for coveted album of the year.

Hip-hop band Black Eyed Peas, R&B singer Maxwell -- making a return to the music business after an eight-year absence -- and rapper Kanye West each earned six nods.

In a list that reflected youth and a drop-off of veteran super groups like U2, glam singer Lady Gaga and rapper Jay-Z each earned five Grammy nods apiece.

Swift, 19, whose "Fearless" album is the biggest seller in the United States in 2009, will compete with Beyonce for album of the year along with the Black Eyed Peas, Dave Matthews Band and Lady Gaga, who has gone from obscurity to worldwide fame this year with her debut album "The Fame".

Both Swift, a big winner at the Country Music Association and American Music Awards last month, and Beyonce were also nominated for two other key Grammys -- record of the year and song of the year.

"Taylor is a phenomenon in entertainment," Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy told reporters. "She has really struck a chord with people. I am not surprised" at the number of nominations.

Swift has never won a Grammy, while Beyonce is a 10-time winner in her solo career and her earlier turn in the trio Destiny's Child. Her latest solo album "I Am...Sasha Fierce" produced the hit singles "Halo" and "Single Ladies".

The six nominations for multi-ethnic Los Angeles band Black Eyed Peas followed their chart-topping album "THE E.N.D", whose singles "Boom Boom Pow" and then "I Gotta Feeling" enjoyed a record-breaking 26-week run in the U.S. charts.

Tiger Wooods $5 million payment to wife

2009-12-04T12:08:00.000-08:00

A Chicago Sun-Times columnist claims that Tiger Woods "is negotiating an immediate payout to his wife—and revising her prenuptial agreement to give her much more to stay with him two more years."

Columnist Bill Zwecker says a lawyer familiar with the hastily conducted negotiations of the past four days said that as of Wednesday evening, Elin Nordegren has already been offered a $5 million payment immediately if she agrees to stay—and her prenup is being revised to give her up to an additional $55 million.

When the couple got hitched on Oct. 5, 2004, at the Sandy Lane resort in Barbados, Nordegren signed a prenuptial agreement reportedly worth $20 million after 10 years of marriage, according to Zwecker.

"But in light of a string of women coming forward to say they had affairs with Tiger since his marriage, Elin has demanded that the prenup be rewritten," Zwecker reported Wednesday.

“The links legend’s spouse is reportedly being paid a hefty seven-figure amount—immediately transferred [sic] into an account she alone controls—to stick with her husband,” Zwecker wrote. “At this point, the couple needed to remain married for 10 years in order for Woods’ wife to collect a splitsville settlement of $20 million. I’m being told that time frame has been shortened—and the dollar amount increased ‘substantially.’”

Political blog Daily Beast is also reporting that the lawyer familiar with the couple’s negotiations said Tiger also has agreed to shorten the original prenup to seven years from the date of marriage, meaning it will vest in another two. And the revised agreement provides for a staggered schedule of payments spread out over five years that could be worth upward of $75 million.

"So for Elin to get her full $80 million, she’ll need to stay with Tiger another seven years, be a dutiful wife in showing up with him at social events and in public as if they were still the perfect couple, and sign a nondisclosure form that will prevent her from ever telling her story," reported Gerald Posner, the Daily Beast's chief investigative reporter. "Even if she lasts only two more years, she’ll still walk away with nearly twice what she was entitled to under the original prenup."

Posner wrote, "Tiger’s advisers, who have successfully gotten the couple into counseling sessions, believe that keeping the marriage intact will help Tiger keep his corporate sponsors and bolster his dented image. Elin is herself considered a good asset. She’s never been a publicity hound or used her marriage to make money through self-help books, lecture series, or QVC makeup and jewelry lines. Rather, she’s just maintained a low profile and dedicated herself to being a spouse and mother."

Source:Eurweb

Michael Jackson made history at AMA

2009-11-23T11:03:00.000-08:00

Michael Jackson made history by posthumously winning four American Music Awards on Sunday night, but he couldn't beat Taylor Swift as the year's favorite artist and the evening's top winner.
The 19-year-old took the show's top award, giving Jackson his only loss of the night, and giving her five trophies in all.

"Music has never been ultimately about competition," she said as she accepted the top prize via satellite from London, where she is to perform Monday. "To even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson, who we will miss and love forever, is an unimaginable honor."

Swift was also named favorite female pop/rock and country artist and favorite adult-contemporary artist. Her album, "Fearless," won favorite country album. Jackson was voted favorite male artist in the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories. His 2003 greatest-hits album, "Number Ones," also won favorite album in both categories, bringing his career AMA total to 23, making him the most honored artist in AMA history.

The victories came during a performance-filled show that closed with an S&M-themed, sexually charged performance by Adam Lambert (which included him shoving a male dancer's face into his crotch).

Jackson's trophies were accepted by his brother Jermaine, who paid tribute to his late brother by wearing glittery white glove. He thanked "Allah for blessing my entire family" and named each of his brothers and sisters.

He said the message of Michael, who died in June at age 50, is more important than any award.

"The message that Michael had will live on forever," he said. "He saw good in everyone and he wanted everyone to do good. He always started with love."

Jackson's victories were among the highlights of the evening, which also featured an eye-popping performance by Lady Gaga, a special award for Whitney Houston and that jaw-dropping number from Lambert, who traded in his "American Idol" image for sex, leather and chains Sunday.

On an elaborate set filled with stairs and platforms, Lambert fondled a female dancer, kissed an androgynous band mate and led two leather-clad men across the stage on leashes as he sang the title track from his new CD, "For Your Entertainment," out this week.

Lady Gaga, wearing a "Alien"-inspired headdress and vest filled with lights, performed songs from her new album, "The Fame Monster," also due in stores this week. She used her microphone to break into a glass case where a grand piano stood. It caught fire when she sat down to play.

Whitney Houston made a resplendent return to the AMA stage with an elegant performance of "I Didn't Know My Own Strength." The 46-year-old entertainer also received the International Award of Excellence for her musical and philanthropic contributions. She dedicated the honor to her daughter, music mogul Clive Davis and "everybody who supported me."

The American Music Awards honor the year's top-selling artists in eight popular genres, and fans voted for the winners online. But even more than awards, the AMAs are about performances, and more than a dozen of them filled Sunday's show.

The Black Eyed Peas, voted favorite pop/rock band, energized the crowd when they performed two of the year's most popular hits: "I Got A Feeling" and "Boom Boom Pow."

Rihanna returned to the AMA stage, sporting blonde hair, a skintight, white peek-a-boo bodysuit and a tattoo down the front of her neck that read "Rated R," the name of her new album, out this week.

Janet Jackson opened the show with a medley of some of the biggest hits from her long career — all tracks that appear on her new greatest-hits collection, also called "Number Ones."

Alicia Keys and Jay-Z dueted on their ode to New York City. Shakira was flanked by a dozen dancers in tiny black bodysuits as she sang her new single. Kelly Clarkson performed a stripped down version of her hit "Already Gone," backed by a string quartet.

Jennifer Lopez added a boxing motif to her dance-filled performance, but she slipped during a tricky move and landed on her bottom.

Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong confessed backstage that the show left him star-struck.

"When you see all the talent that's in the room" like Jay-Z and Lady Gaga, he said, "it's like holy moly, these are huge people."

The band was voted favorite alternative artist. Other winners Sunday included Jay-Z, wife Beyonce, Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts.

Like the story above just mentioned, Jennifer Lopez kinda went down for the count last night at the AMAs. But se quickly recovered from her tumble and kept it moving as you'll see in the video below. Oops!

Janet Jackson refered to Jermaine Dupri as her "ex"

2009-11-18T09:23:00.000-08:00

In a recent radio interview with Atlanta's The Bert Show, Janet Jackson refered to Jermaine Dupri as her "ex," despite recent reports that the two were back together (and had never been apart) after previous rumors suggested they had broken up.

While chatting with the radio show, Jackson, 43, included Dupri, 37, on her very short list of ex-boyfriends with whom she still keeps in touch.

"I'm not the type of girl that stays in touch with your ex like that," Jackson said.

Dupri, however, seems to be an exception. "Jermaine is one of my best friends," she said. "I love him to death. We're still connected. We're still good friends. We still talk."

President Barack Obama was crowned GQ's "Leader of the Year"

2009-11-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama was crowned GQ's "Leader of the Year" in its upcoming December issue.

Some of the honorees for the "Men of the Year" roundup also include Clint Eastwood ("Badass of the Year"), Tom Brady ("Comeback of the Year"), the "Hangover" guys ("Funnymen of the Year") and Chris Pine ("Breakout of the Year").

The December issue comes with five different covers – one per nominee, with the "Funnymen" cover featuring three of the "Hangover" stars: Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Bradley Cooper.

Rihanna flies in family to attend her "Woman of the Year Award" from Glamour magazine

2009-11-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

Rihanna's recent Woman of the Year Award from Glamour magazine meant so much to her that she spent more than $50,000 to fly family members to New York for the emotional ceremony at Carnegie Hall Monday night.

According to the New York Post, she flew in her mom, Monica Fenty, plus her brothers and aunts from her native Barbados as a way to thank them for standing by her in recent months.

During her tearful acceptance speech, Rihanna said, "I really look up to my gran and my mom. They are my two women of the year . . . Without their unconditional love and guidance, I wouldn't be here."

Afterward, the singer introduced her family to Iman, Serena Williams, Tyra Banks and fashion designer Stella McCartney. The Fentys then went to dinner at South Gate in the Essex House, where one Rihanna relative was spotted helping America's UN ambassador and fellow Woman of the Year, Susan Rice, pull down the lining of her gown in the ladies' room.

Missing from the Fenty reunion was Rihanna's father Ronald Fenty. The pop star told Diane Sawyer last week that he'd abused her mother when she was a child.

The singer and her family are expected to leave New York by the time Chris Brown arrives to appear on Wendy Williams' show Friday.

Whitney Houston set to perform at The American Music Awards

2009-11-12T07:39:00.000-08:00

The American Music Awards has booked Whitney Houston to both perform and receive the honorary International Artist Award during the ceremony airing Nov. 22 on ABC.

Houston will sing "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" from her latest album, "I Look to You." The performance will be her first time singing at the awards show in a decade.

"We're honored to have Whitney Houston back on the AMA stage after ten years," producer Larry Klein says. "She has won the most AMAs of any female artist in history and is without a doubt an international superstar."

The International Artist Award has been given out sporadically in the 36-year history of the awards and recognizes artists who "have gone beyond the borders of their own country to be acknowledged for their superstar status around the globe."

Past recipients include Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin, Rod Stewart, the Bee Gees, Madonna, Beyonce and Aerosmith.

Shaquille O'Neal and Shaunie calling it quits again

2009-11-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

The is-they-is or is-they-ain't Shaq & Shaunie show is in full effect again. So for now it looks like Mr. and Mrs Shaquille O'Neal is calling it quits again.
That's right. They've been down this path before back in Sept of 2007. At the time, the Miami Herald broke the story that the then (Miami) Heat center had filed to divorce Shaunie, his wife of nearly five years. Interestingly, they also quoted from the petition that: "The marriage between the parties is irretrievably broken."
However, the couple voided the divorce and resumed their marriage.
Fast forward to today, and according to TMZ:
"Shaunie filed legal papers yesterday in L.A., even though the couple lives in Florida. The petition says although Shaunie is filing for legal separation, she intends to file for divorce. She lists 'irreconciliable differences' as the reason for separation."
The gossip site says Shaunie pulled her kids out of school in Florida several days ago and they are with her now in L.A. They say the date of separation is listed as 11-9-09.
They also answered the question you're probably asking. Why would Shaunie cross the county to file in LA?
Their answer: A spouse generally does a lot better in the spousal support department here in California.
The site says her lawyer told them:
"Shaunie is living in California now, but she won't say how long she's been here. She claims in her papers to be a resident of L.A. Sources tell us Shaunie moved here in the last few days."
Mrs. O'Neal is asking for both spousal and child support -- though she did not specify an amount for either.
The O'Neals have four children together: Shareef, 9, Amirah, 7, Shaqir, 6, and Me'Arah, 3. From previous relationships, Shaq has a daughter, Taahirah, and Shaunie has a son, Myles.

Jamie Foxx and Martin Lawrence to star in "Sheneneh and Wanda"

2009-11-11T06:51:00.000-08:00

It started as a comedy sketch on the "BET Awards," but by popular demand, a movie will be produced starring the characters Sheneneh from "Martin" and Wanda from "In Living Color."

Screen Gems has acquired "Sheneneh and Wanda," starring Jamie Foxx and Martin Lawrence in the female characters they developed for their respective television shows.

Foxx will write the script and he and Martin will produce together through Foxx's Foxxhole and Lawrence's Runteldat production banners, reports Variety.

The project originated as a parody of a movie trailer for a film called "Skank Robbers," which Foxx and Lawrence made for the BET Awards. [Watch clip below.] The reaction was strong enough that the duo decided to turn the concept into a real film.

In the comedy, Sheneneh and Wanda are modern day independent women trying to make it on their own, one bank robbery at a time.

Foxx, who last starred in "Law Abiding Citizen," will next be seen in the romantic comedy "Valentine's Day." Lawrence will next be seen in the Screen Gems comedy "Death at a Funeral

Court Blocked Jennifer Lopez Sex Footage Story

2009-11-11T06:47:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Lopez emerged victorious Monday in her effort to block distribution of her ex-husband's proposed movie in which she apparently is shown in compromising positions.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant issued a temporary restraining order halting forward progress of "The J.Lo and Ojani Noa Story."

As previously reported, Lopez sued Noa on Friday for $10 million, claiming he breached a prior confidentiality agreement by intending to sell a movie containing hours of home video footage, including some showing Lopez in sexual situations during their 1997 honeymoon.

The suit also claims invasion of privacy by "public disclosure of private facts which would be offensive and objectionable to a reasonable person and which is not of legitimate public concern."

Lopez also sued Ed Meyer, Noa's manager and producer of the proposed movie. Meyer's attorney, Frank Sanes Jr., unsuccessfully argued in court that his client was not bound by Noa's confidentiality agreement and shouldn't be subject to the restraining order.

This isn't the first legal tangle involving J.Lo and her former husband of 11 months. He obtained a $125,000 settlement from Lopez in a 2004 suit that claimed she fired him without cause from a job as manager of her now-defunct Pasadena restaurant. As part of the settlement, he agreed not to disparage Lopez or sell private or intimate details about her or their relationship.

In 2007, Lopez won $545,000 in damages and attorney fees in another lawsuit that blocked Noa from publishing a ghostwritten tell-all book. Lopez claimed Noa had demanded $5 million to keep him from publishing the book. According to court documents, the book claimed that Lopez had multiple affairs during her marriage to Noa, including one with current husband Marc Antony.

The Box

2009-11-06T12:02:00.001-08:00

The Box (PG-13 for mature themes, violence and disturbing images) Cameron Diaz and James Marsden co-star in this remake of "Button, Button" the Twilight Zone episode about a cash-strapped couple agonizing over whether to keep an anonymous gift of a million dollars which, if accepted, will simultaneously cause the death of a perfect stranger. Cast includes Frank Langella, James Rebhorn and Gillian Jacobs.

Janet Jackson interview with ABC will be taped at her Malibu mansion

2009-11-06T11:59:00.000-08:00

ABC officially announced Thursday that its upcoming Janet Jackson interview will be taped at her Malibu mansion, marking the first time the singer has allowed television cameras into her home.

As previously reported, "Good Morning America" host Robin Roberts will sit down with Jackson for an hour-long special scheduled to air on Nov. 18. It's expected to be her first lengthy television interview since the death of her brother Michael in June.

The singer paid tribute to the King of Pop in September at MTV's Video Music Awards. She danced to a recording of their duet "Scream" and did not address the audience.

Jackson is promoting a greatest hits CD that is coming out for the holiday season.

'SOUL TRAIN' WINNERS"

2009-11-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

Beyonce, Keri Hilson and Maxwell were among the winners at the "Centric Presents: 2009 Soul Train Awards," which taped Tuesday (Nov. 3) at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta for a special simulcast on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 9 p.m. on BET and new cable network CENTRIC.

Hosted by Academy Award-nominated actors Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard, the night opened with Toni Braxton featuring Trey Songz singing "Yesterday" that was sealed with a kiss.

Then Howard and Henson welcomed the audience with a rendition of Peaches and Herb's "Reunited." Other performances were given by Keri Hilson, Robin Thicke, Ryan Leslie, Raheem DeVaughn featuring Ludacris, Chrisette Michele, Mario featuring Sean Garrett, and many more.

A Motown Records musical tribute featured a medley of Motown hits performed by Henson as a Supreme, Boyz II Men, Chico DeBarge, Johnny Gill, Estelle, Vita, Mike Phillips and Melanie Fiona.

Charlie Wilson and Chaka Khan, recipients of the evening's Icon Award, were both honored in musical tributes.

Keith Sweat, Ginuwine, Raheem DeVaughn, Kandi Burress and Brian McKnight paid homage to Charlie Wilson and The Gap Band with renditions of their hits, including "Outstanding" and "Yearning for Your Love." Following the tribute, Wilson, himself, graced the stage to perform two songs: "Burn Rubber" with K-Ci & Jo-Jo and Bootsy Collins and "There Goes My Baby."

Erykah Badu, Melle Mel, Ledisi, Fantasia, and Angie Stone paid homage to Chaka Khan with such hits as "Through the Fire" and "Tell Me Something Good."

The evening also included skits, dance sequences and throwbacks to the infamous Soul Train scramble board and Soul Train line. Monica, Tamia, Deborah Cox, Kelly Price were among the presenters.

Below is the full list of winners:

BEST NEW ARTIST
Keri Hilson
BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST FEMALE
Beyonce
BEST MALE R&B/SOUL MALE
Maxwell
SONG OF THE YEAR
"Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)" - Beyonce
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Beyonce - I am... Sasha Fierce (Platinum) Sony Music
RECORD OF THE YEAR (SONGWRITER AWARD)
Jamie Foxx Ft/T-Pain - "Blame it"
BEST REGGAE ARTIST AWARD
Sean Paul
CENTRIC AWARD - SOUL APPROVED/UNDERGROUND
Maysa
BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE MALE FEMALE OR GROUP
Mary Mary featuring Kierra "KiKi" Sheard - "God In Me"
BEST COLLABORATION
Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo - "Knock you Down"
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Michael Jackson

Rihanna dishes about "horror" during a violent argument

2009-11-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

Rihanna is still talking about her February beat down courtesy of Chris Brown on "Good Morning America."

On Friday, she described the "horror" she felt as Brown was biting and punching her during a violent argument, saying she saw "no soul in his eyes."

"There was no person when I looked at him," the 21-year-old singer recalled during the second installment of an interview airing on "GMA." "He had no soul in his eyes. Just blank."

In the interview, Rihanna, who is no longer with Brown, described him as "definitely my first big love." She said their relationship was intense.

"The more in love we became, the more dangerous we became for each other — equally as dangerous," she said. "It was a bit of an obsession almost."

A search warrant affidavit filed in the case stated that Brown hit, choked and bit Rihanna and tried at one point to push her from the car.

"It was ugly," she said.

During the beating, the singer said she had no idea how it would end: "That's all I kept thinking the whole time, 'When is it going to stop? When is it going to stop?'"

Brown was sentenced to five years' probation, six months of community labor and a year of domestic violence counseling after he pleaded guilty to felony assault.

The attack occurred in Los Angeles' Hancock Park neighborhood as Brown drove a rented sports car. She said it was triggered when she saw a text message on his phone from another woman and confronted him about it. She said he lied about it and "I wouldn't drop it