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Wonka Gives Movie-Goers Their Sugar Fix (AP)
AP - Willy Wonka gave movie-goers their sugar fix for the weekend. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," starring Johnny Depp as candyman Wonka, had a sweet debut of $55.4 million, helping Hollywood make a dent in a box-office downturn that has lingered most of the year.
Rowling Filled With Dread on Potter's End (AP)
AP - J.K. Rowling, whose literary creation Harry Potter has drawn millions of fans of all ages worldwide, is filled with dread at the thought of ending her popular series when the seventh and final edition is released.
Sandra Bullock Reportedly Weds Mechanic (AP)
AP - Actress Sandra Bullock married mechanic and reality TV star Jesse James at a ranch near Santa Barbara, according to reports.
New Potter Book Breaks Sales Records (AP)
AP - The new Harry Potter book sold an astonishing 6.9 million copies in its first 24 hours, smashing the record held by the previous Potter release. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" averaged better than 250,000 sales per hour, more than the vast majority of books sell in a lifetime.
Disneyland Celebrates 50th Anniversary (AP)
AP - Thousands of Disney fans donned special gold-colored Mickey ears as they streamed through the entrance to Disneyland on Sunday, 50 years after the landmark opened its gates and gave birth to the modern theme park.
A Sweet Score for "Charlie" (E! Online)
E! Online - Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory cranked out a very sweet $55.3 million to lead the
weekend movie list.
Gretchen Wilson, Cingular 'Jacked Up' (Reuters)
Reuters - The first time fans will
hear Gretchen Wilson's new single is when a mobile phone rings.
HBO plugs 'Entourage' posse (Reuters)
Reuters - The "Entourage" crew is
coming back for more adventures in celebrity-dom next year --
many more adventures, if HBO has anything to say about it.
New Potter Book Breaks Sales Records (AP)
AP - The new Harry Potter book sold an astonishing 6.9 million copies in its first 24 hours, smashing the record held by the previous Potter release. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" averaged better than 250,000 sales per hour, more than the vast majority of books sell in a lifetime.
Former Elphaba Eden Espinosa Returns to 'Wicked' in San Francisco as Tour Star Block Rests (Playbill)
Playbill - Eden Espinosa, the original Broadway standby for the role of Elphaba in Wicked, will defy gravity as the green-skinned witch again for the national tour's San Francisco stop at the Orpheum Theatre while Stephanie J. Block recovers from an injury.
A Sweet Score for "Charlie" (E! Online)
E! Online - Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory cranked out a very sweet $55.3 million to lead the
weekend movie list.
Sandra Bullock Reportedly Weds Mechanic (AP)
AP - Actress Sandra Bullock married mechanic and reality TV star Jesse James at a ranch near Santa Barbara, according to reports.
Wonka Gives Movie-Goers Their Sugar Fix (AP)
AP - Willy Wonka gave movie-goers their sugar fix for the weekend. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," starring Johnny Depp as candyman Wonka, had a sweet debut of $55.4 million, helping Hollywood make a dent in a box-office downturn that has lingered most of the year.
Dawson up for 'Descent' as star, producer (Reuters)
Reuters - Rosario Dawson is
attached to star in "Descent," a psychological thriller she
also is producing via her newly formed banner, Trybe Films.
Depp's 'Chocolate Factory' has tasty opening (Reuters)
Reuters - Sweet.
Chow to Make Rare Film in Native Hong Kong (AP)
AP - Hollywood star Chow Yun-Fat is making his first film in native Hong Kong in a decade, saying he would forgo a higher pay check in the U.S. because he liked the part and wanted to work with the director.
U.K. Fest Nixes Film on Suicide Bombers (AP)
AP - Organizers of the Cambridge Film Festival said Saturday they decided not to screen "Paradise Now," a prize-winning film about two suicide bombers, out of deference to victims of the London bombings.
Lawyer Says Photo Shoot Video Upset Diaz (AP)
AP - Cameron Diaz's entertainment attorney testified Friday that the actress became upset when she was shown a videotape from a photo shoot in which she posed topless.
Fez of 'That '70s Show' dons superhero garb (Reuters)
Reuters - Actor Wilmer Valderrama, best known
as Fez on Fox television's "That '70s Show," says he needed a
special swagger to become Hollywood's first Latino superhero,
but he insists it's all in the suit.
Swank, Costner to Narrate Sept. 11 Film (AP)
AP - Hilary Swank and Kevin Costner will narrate the upcoming film "On Native Soil: The Documentary of the 9/11 Commission Report."
Gretchen Wilson, Cingular 'Jacked Up' (Reuters)
Reuters - The first time fans will
hear Gretchen Wilson's new single is when a mobile phone rings.
Underwood to Appear in Skechers Campaign (AP)
AP - "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood is filling the shoes of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera — at least in an ad campaign. Underwood agreed to an endorsement deal with Skechers, a California sneaker maker that has also used Spears and Aguilera in its advertising.
Village People 'Cop' in Trouble With Law (AP)
AP - Victor Edward Willis, the original policeman in the 1970s music group the Village People, was arrested by real police who allegedly found a gun and drugs in his convertible.
Aguilera Injures Arm at L.A. Home (AP)
AP - Singer Christina Aguilera accidentally cut her arm at home and has been forced to wear a cast and sling, her publicist said.
Billboard single reviews (Reuters)
Reuters - Melissa Etheridge takes on Tom Petty
& the Heartbreakers' "Refugee" as the first single from her
forthcoming greatest-hits album, "The Road Less Traveled."
While the Petty original had an uncluttered, solid groove and a
fairly uptempo beat, Etheridge goes the slow-burn, jangle-rock
route. She and producer John Shanks throw in a mess of guitars
and turn the song into a semi-personal anthem for Etheridge.
While the singer's radio fortunes have faded over time, her
stellar Grammy Awards performance earlier this year might make
programers take a second listen.
U.S. music sales get no boost from Live 8 (Reuters)
Reuters - Aside from sales ripples on some
catalog albums, it appears televised and webcast coverage of
Live 8 during the July 2-3 weekend did not have great impact on
U.S. music sales, especially when compared with the fast
reaction that occurred in the United Kingdom.
Kelly's 'Closet' saga opens door to No. 1 album (Reuters)
Reuters - Aside from earning his fifth No.
1 on the Billboard 200, R. Kelly's ninth list leader on Top
R&B/Hip-Hop Albums earns the singer a piece of chart history.
R&B artist Babyface is back with new CD (Reuters)
Reuters - Grown and sexy. The phrase aptly
describes the audience that recently gathered for the taping of
BET's forthcoming Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds special. It's also
the title of the songwriter/producer's latest album.
Singer Faith Hill reclaims her country roots (Reuters)
Reuters - Who is Fern Holloway? If you're one
of the handful of insiders in her organization, you know that
is the alias under which prereleases of Faith Hill's new CD,
"Fireflies," were sent to members of her management team and
label.
Singer-songwriter Mraz readies second album (Reuters)
Reuters - With his trademark wit intact,
singer-songwriter Jason Mraz battles the sophomore slump
head-on with his ambitious second effort, "Mr. A-Z." The
12-song collection, due July 26, showcases an artist who is
"more comfortable, more confident. Less precious about things,"
he says.
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