Phil Spector TV film splits opinion like record producer himself
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Phil Spector's life could be summed up in four words - musical genius, eccentric and murderer. Playwright David Mamet's HBO film "Phil Spector," which airs on Sunday, makes the most of all of them but his take on the 2007 murder trial of the record producer has split opinion as much as the crime itself.
NBC's Today show to air prison interview with Jerry Sandusky
(Reuters) - NBC's Today show on Monday will air excerpts from an interview with former Penn State assistant football coach and convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky, who is serving 30 to 60 years in prison. The former defensive coordinator for Penn State, convicted of 45 sex abuse charges for molesting 10 boys over 15 years, is in prison on a sentence of 30 to 60 years.
Musical "Book of Mormon" opens in London to mixed reviews
LONDON (Reuters) - The controversial Tony awards-winning musical "The Book of Mormon" opened in London to mixed reviews on Friday in its debut outside the United States. The musical, by the creators of the animated TV comedy "South Park", is an expletive-filled satire of two Mormon missionaries from Salt Lake City sent to Africa to win converts.
Rebecca Minkoff takes aim at Asia's sexy tomboy shoppers
TOKYO (Reuters) - She is young, a sexy tomboy, Internet savvy and a fashion trendsetter rather than a follower. With money to burn, she is designer Rebecca Minkoff's ideal customer in a booming Asia. The 32-year-old American designer, who is known mainly for her luxury handbags, has positioned Asia as a key part of the growth plan for the company she runs with her brother.
Grandfather of African literature, Chinua Achebe, dies aged 82
LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe, widely seen as the grandfather of modern African literature, has died at the age of 82. From the publication of his first novel, "Things Fall Apart", over 50 years ago, Achebe shaped an understanding of Africa from an African perspective more than any other author.
Jackson's sex abuse case may feature in new trial over death
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Jackson's 2005 trial and acquittal on child sex abuse charges may be revisited in a civil lawsuit next month that pits the pop singer's mother against concert promoters AEG Live, a Los Angeles judge ruled on Thursday. Katherine Jackson is suing AEG Live for the wrongful death of her son, alleging that the concert promoter was negligent in hiring Dr. Conrad Murray to care for the singer ahead of a series of London comeback concerts set for July 2009.
Kate Winslet joins upcoming young adult film "Divergent"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has been cast in upcoming young adult film "Divergent," boosting the profile of the latest adaptation from a best-selling novel to the big screen. Film studio Summit Entertainment said on Thursday that Winslet, 37, will play the cold and unlikeable Jeanine Matthews in the film set in a dystopian future.
T-shirt evokes late actor Heath Ledger as laidback skateboarder
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Five years after the death of renowned Australian actor Heath Ledger, friends and family have joined to pay tribute to the man known to the world as the evil Joker with a t-shirt honoring him as a laidback skateboarder with a touch of the daredevil. Ledger died at the age of 28 from an accidental overdose in January, 2008. He was subsequently awarded a posthumous Oscar for his portrayal of the Joker in the Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight".
DreamWorks looks to Stone Age for new hit with "The Croods"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After mining the worlds of fairy tales, zoos, dragons and martial arts pandas, DreamWorks Animation is going back to the Stone Age with "The Croods," in the hope of finding a new box office hit. "The Croods," out in U.S. movie theaters on Friday, is being watched closely by analysts after the weak performance of "Rise of the Guardians" last year, which led DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc to write down about $87 million in costs.
"Deep Throat" porn actor Harry Reems dies after turbulent life
(Reuters) - Porn actor Harry Reems, who made his name starring opposite Linda Lovelace in the 1972 movie "Deep Throat", has died at the age of 65, according to his wife Jeanne. She told the New York Times that her husband died on Tuesday in hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was reported to have been battling multiple health issues, including pancreatic cancer.
