Entertainment News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission launched a review into how broadcasters and cable companies negotiate retransmission deals following a recent spat between Walt Disney Co's ABC Network and Cablevision Systems Corp.

JACKSON, Miss. - A lesbian high school student embroiled in a legal flap over her school's prom policy has received a $30,000 scholarship on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

PHILADELPHIA - Oprah Winfrey and several schoolgirls allegedly abused at her academy in South Africa are expected to testify in a trial over a defamation lawsuit brought by the school's former headmistress, whose performance Winfrey criticized.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Walt White's wife has left him, his crystal meth partner in crime has gone into rehab, and his desperate double life as a chemistry teacher turned drug lord is in danger of unraveling.

KABUL (Reuters) - Eight years after the fall of the Taliban, who banned television and barred women from appearing in public without an all-enveloping burqa, the Afghan government is fighting a losing battle to keep female flesh off TV.

AUSTIN, Texas (Hollywood Reporter) - Following up on 2006's "Neil Young: Heart of Gold" with the second film in an anticipated concert trilogy, Jonathan Demme returns with "Neil Young Trunk Show: Scenes from a Concert," an appreciably more visceral and spontaneous documentary.

SALT LAKE CITY - As he toiled away in the basement of his home, Brandon Mull quickly ditched the mundane for a world teeming with zombies, trolls, imps and centaurs.

NEW YORK - Activist shareholder Carl Icahn raised the stakes in his yearlong dispute with Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. on Friday, launching an all-out bid to take over the movie studio following disagreements over its spending.

CASSELBERRY, Fla. - Actresses Demi Moore and Nia Vardalos were linked to an online chain of Twitter posts that ultimately led to Florida authorities intervening Friday when an 18-year-old man threatened to commit suicide.

Twitter is so many things to so many people: infomercial, backyard fence, brain dump. The funny, famous, famous for the wrong reasons or simply very useful have thousands of followers, but who do THEY follow?

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Friday ruled against late model Anna Nicole Smith, leaving her heirs none of the $300 million she sought from the estate of her Texas oil baron husband.

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Lilith Fair founder and singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan has announced that she will release her first album in seven years, "The Laws of Illusion," on June 15.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A small company that has opened the door for companies to quickly sign endorsement deals with top athletes is eyeing the music world as its next target market.

LONDON - It was a book, then an award-winning film. Now Ian McEwan's "Atonement" is to become an opera.

GENEVA - Geneva's new "Parsifal" production escaped the boos heard after several recent Richard Wagner opera premieres at the Grand Theatre, with a richly colored staging accompanying music that was at times so sensuous the allegory of Christian salvation seemed destined to end in embrace.

The "American Idol" judge on rumors of fake tears, Simon's departure, and more.

The actor discusses "Twilight" fandom and his role as a doctor on "Nurse Betty."

Life & Style's Dawn Yanek with what's new in theaters this weekend.

Liz Smith dishes about Adam Lambert's fans

The actress' reality TV show "Big Life" documents her weight-loss struggles.

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Lilith Fair founder and singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan has announced that she will release her first album in seven years, "The Laws of Illusion," on June 15.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Sony has picked up the comedy spec script "Road to Nardo," by Andrew Waller and Mike Gagerman.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission launched a review into how broadcasters and cable companies negotiate retransmission deals following a recent spat between Walt Disney Co's ABC Network and Cablevision Systems Corp.

DEAR ABBY: I'm a career woman, working for a family-owned business. Last year was difficult because there have been a number of layoffs and no raises. When I had my annual review, I received an outstanding evaluation but was again told no raise would be forthcoming because business is slow.

DEAR ABBY: I'm writing to encourage "Wants to Do Right by Mama" (Jan. 25) to honor her mother's final wishes regarding her burial attire and the position of her body.

DEAR ABBY: I return to my hometown at least twice a year to visit my large extended family. When I do, I have tried to make time for my oldest friend, "Judith," whom I have known since kindergarten. In the past we have gotten together for a few hours here and there -- for dinner, coffee or whatever. She's great company, and we have fun together.

01/23/2009 - DEAR MARGO: My best friend since elementary school (I'll call her CJ) is married to a man I have never liked (I'll call him Phil). Even when they dated I considered Phil overbearing and foolish.

01/22/2009 - DEAR MARGO: I recently left my husband of 21 years and now live alone.

01/16/2009 - DEAR MARGO: My family is at their wits' end with a major upset, courtesy of my grandparents.

BOULDER, Colo. - In response to neighborhood reports of a topless gardener, the housing authority in a Colorado town plans to amend its rules so that tenants cover up when they're outside.

LONDON - It's common to return a library book late — but not by half a century.

NEW YORK - An elderly Brooklyn couple say they're tired of hearing the phrase, "Police! Open up!" World War II veteran Walter Martin and his 82-year-old wife, Rose, said police have come looking for criminals at their house about 50 times in the past eight years. It's not clear why.

KENNEWICK, Wash. - A burglar who spent about five hours on a store's computer after breaking into the business gave police all the clues they needed to track him down. Investigators said the 17-year-old logged into his MySpace account while at Bella Office Furniture and that made it easy for them to find him. He also spent time looking at pornography and trying to sell stolen items, all while using the business' computer.

BOSTON - A man from Maine who struck a match on a U.S. Airways flight to Boston's Logan International Airport is facing some heat — but not over matches. Massachusetts State Police detained 50-year-old Paul Prater of Sanford on Wednesday over an outstanding identity fraud warrant in Canton, Ga. State police spokesman David Procopio said no charges have been brought for the match lighting, which Prater called an accident.

LOS ANGELES - Fess Parker, a television icon to a generation of youngsters as Davy Crockett and later Daniel Boone, has died at the age of 85 of natural causes.

LOS ANGELES - Sandra Bullock reached the pinnacle of her profession on March 7, when she won an Academy Award. Her husband, Jesse James, was by her side. He even teared up when she went on stage to accept the Oscar.

NEW YORK - The theme of the 11-part Discovery Channel series "Life" is as simple as the title sounds: the fascinating things creatures large and small do to stay alive.

NEW YORK - Lady Gaga's spokesman is declining to comment on a music producer's lawsuit.

Alex Chilton, the singer and guitarist who had a No. 1 hit as a gravel-voiced teen with "The Letter" and went on to influence a generation of musicians through his work with Big Star, died Wednesday in New Orleans. He was 59.