Mischa Barton on ‘Beautiful Life’ cancellation: The best was yet to come

NEW YORK, New York -- Mischa Barton’s “The Beautiful Life” may have been short-lived, but the actress said the canceled CW series showed a lot of promise. In fact, she says, the best was yet to come.

“We were really such a great show and the first two episodes were nothing. We shot amazing, big episodes – episodes four, five and six – and it’s stuff that no one will ever see,” she told Access Hollywood at Monday night’s Whitney Museum gala in New York City.

“But they were unable to bring in an audience to it. It’s like they’ve got two other franchises going on there at the same time, and we got swallowed up,” she added of The CW. “It’s more their loss, I think. It could’ve been I think a really, really cool show.”

And while the show may not have survived very long, Mischa said she was appreciative of the fans who hopped on board the “Beautiful” bandwagon while they could.

“It was really sweet after [the show was canceled] because all these people Twittered the next day, like 10,000 people Twittered trying to save the show and stuff,” Mischa continued. “It reminded me how important the core fan base is. Whatever bulls**t gets written, you know you’ve got fans out there who care.”

As for Mischa herself, who said she is “moving on” and looking at various film and TV scripts, following the series’ cancellation, she is enjoying adjusting to life spent on the East Coast.

“I’m loving it!” she said of staying in New York. “All my girlfriends live here, so it’s nice to be bi-coastal and just go back and forth. I’m not giving up on Los Angeles, of course, but you know.”

taken from : China Daily

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Rihanna releases new single from upcoming album

Singer Rihanna poses for photographers as she arrives at the British premiere of "Inglourious Basterds" at Leicester Square in London July 23, 2009.[Agencies]

LOS ANGELES - Pop singer Rihanna on Tuesday released her first new single, "Russian Roulette," since being assaulted by former boyfriend and singer Chris Brown in February on the eve of the music industry's Grammy awards.

The single, written and produced by rapper Ne-Yo, premiered on Rihanna's web site, rihannannow.com, and it will be on the singer's fourth studio, called "Rated R", that is set to hit stores on November 23, her record company Def Jam Records said.

A "Russian Roulette" music video, which was directed by Anthony Mandler, is scheduled to debut on ABC.

The-Dream, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Chase & Status and Justin Timberlake are among other artists and producers who appear on "Rated R", the follow-up to Rihanna's 2007 album "Good Girl Gone Bad", which spawned the hit single "Umbrella".

That album has sold more than 2.5 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

taken from : China Daily

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A-Z rock tour takes band Ash off the beaten track

Guitarist Charlotte Hatherley of rock band "Ash" performs at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 7, 2002. "Ash" is opening for "Coldplay" in support of the album "Free All Angels."[Agencies]

LONDON - A rock band's A-Z tour of Britain has turned into an alphabet soup of gigs, with the group insisting on "getting off the beaten track" to promote their new series of digital downloads.

Over the next five weeks the Northern Irish band Ash will criss-cross Britain in a completely illogical fashion slavishly following the alphabet in an eclectic mix of small cities, tiny towns and even villages.

Major venues didn't get a look in when the band, who are more used to playing to 100,000 plus seat stadiums around the world, were mapping out their current tour.

"It's fun for us, its different and people appreciate it when you go to places that don't normally get bands," guitarist and singer Tim Wheeler told Reuters.

Ash opened in the town of Aldershot in southern England and on Tuesday they play Bradford, Wednesday it will be Carlisle and so on and so on, until they do their final gig in the tiny Cornish village of Zennor, near the most southwesterly point of England.

Tickets for Zennor have already sold out, but it didn't take long as the village hall only holds 70 people.

"There is definitely a much bigger connection when you've just got 70 people standing right in your face, it's just a really different experience," he said.

Ash have played around the world, including in Japan and the United States, and they have recording studios in New York. But this year they said they wanted to avoid the typical big city venues.

That's why the A-Z tour will see them total 5,000 miles as they journey back and forth across Britain.

"Our agent was compiling a list and there were some names on there that were actually big cities, so we struck them off the list and told him to get a bit more inventive," said Wheeler.

The only snag in their alphabetic itinerary - there's nowhere in Britain beginning with the letter X.

Ash came up with a solution and chose the Devon town of Exmouth instead.

"I think in this day and age with text speak people don't really care about vowels that much, so I think we can get away with it," Wheeler said.

The A-Z tour is to promote the band's new concept of releasing two songs a month as digital downloads to replace the traditional album.

"We came up with the concept of doing 26 singles in a year and then we figured how nicely that would tie in with the alphabet and we could call it the A-Z series," said Wheeler.

taken from : China Daily

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Lindsay Lohan slams lying dad

Lindsay Lohan has hit out at her estranged father Michael Lohan for making up ''excessive lies'' about her and causing her ''hurt'' over recent months.

Lindsay Lohan has slammed her father for making up "excessive lies" about her.

The 'Mean Girls' actress - who is seeking a restraining order against Michael Lohan amid fears he is going to kidnap her - doesn't want her dad in her life because of the "hurt" he has caused her in recent months.

She said: "I'm so hurt that someone who calls himself my father, needs to use the press to communicate with me.

"I have not spoken to my father, nor have I responded to his threatening and erratic messages over the last several months. It's so sad that he needs to stay in the media spotlight by using my name and making up excessive lies. He should instead try to be a real father."

Last week, Michael - who recently claimed Lindsay has an addiction to prescription drugs - told gossip website X17 he wanted to "kidnap" his daughter and take her to an isolated location to help "get her straight".

He said: "I'm going to see the judge this week. If I can't get a conservatorship, then I'm going to take her to an undisclosed location and get her straight. But I know I'm going to get charged with kidnapping."

However, he has denied his 23-year-old daughter had filed for a restraining order.

It has also been claimed Lindsay is refusing to go to rehab even though her family and friends are said to be concerned for her health.

While she claims she doesn't have a problem with prescription drugs, those close to Lindsay are worried about her erratic behaviour and are urging her to get help.

But a source said: "It's not even being considered by Lindsay, it's not even on the cards for her."
taken from : China Daily

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Snuggle fan Kristen Bell

'Couples Retreat' actress Kristen Bell says the secrets to her successful relationship with Dax Shepard are hugs, playing board games and honesty.

Kristen Bell loves having "snuggle parties" with Dax Shepard.

The 'Couples Retreat' actress, who has been dating Dax for almost two years, revealed the secrets to a successful relationship are lengthy hugs, playing board games and honesty.

She told Women's Health magazine: "It's important to talk about your deepest, darkest fears and feelings. Your partner should hear your most embarrassing insecurities, because once you say them out loud, you've created a safe zone. A snuggle party can fix anything - it's true.

"There is almost nothing, barring a natural disaster, that I would let eat into my time at home, playing Scrabble with Dax."

Kristen admits dating a fellow comic star can be difficult as she often competes with Dax to prove who is funnier.

The 29-year-old actress, who stars alongside Dax in new movie 'When in Rome', said: "We were trying to one-up each other. That's what we do at home, too. It's like, 'Wait - watch me do this funny bit.' 'No, watch me do this funny bit!' "

taken from : China Daily

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Lohan's father blasts doctors

Michael Lohan says he will not stop until he has helped his daughter Lindsay ''get her life back''.

Lindsay Lohan's father blames doctors and the internet for her alleged drug problem.

Michael Lohan claims Lindsay has found it easy to obtain prescription drugs, which he claims she is addicted to, because medical professionals prescribe them too freely.

He said in an interview on Australia's Kyle and Jackie O radio show: "It's horrible. When a child is growing if they have some kind of a psychological or medical problem it is diagnosed and you get something like Ritalin or Prozac, then they diagnose it at that age. That is medical fact. You don't all of a sudden develop it at 18.

"Doctors and the internet have to be held accountable. The people selling these drugs... they're so readily available it's insane. Once they get in your system, they're harder to detox from than illegal drugs."

Michael says he will not stop until he has helped the 23-year-old actress "get her life back".

Lindsay appeared in court last week in relation to her 2007 driving under the influence (DUI) charge, and Michael is unhappy about the way she was treated.

Her probation was extended by a year to give her time to complete alcohol education classes, but Michael thinks she should have been sent to rehab.

He said: "I want to go out and speak to the judge who let Lindsay walk out of the courtroom without any kind of a drug test or anything. Seeing the condition she was in when she walked into the court... if you're on probation and you did that you'd be in jail. A better resort would be rehab, Lindsay needs a rehab to get off the prescription drugs."

Michael added he is seriously considering applying for a conservatorship order - which would see him placed in charge of Lindsay's personal and professional affairs - if things do not change.

He said: "There's different ways of seeking conservatorship - if someone's threatening themselves, or might harm themselves, or can't make decisions for themselves. If it gets to that point I'll have to prove the reasons I need it and then we'll all know."
taken from : China Daily

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Britney Spears back with her agent

Britney Spears has rekindled her romance with Jason Trawick.

The ‘Womanizer’ singer and agent Jason – who split in August after five months together – were spotted kissing and cuddling at a California mall earlier this month.

A source told National Enquirer magazine: “They’ve been spending a lot of time together. Britney missed Jason so much when they were apart. They barely spoke. Now he’s planning to join her on her Australian tour next month.”

Britney’s father Jamie – who was made co-conservator of her personal and professional affairs following her breakdown last year – was instrumental in reuniting the love birds.

He found it hard seeing his 27-year-old daughter so heartbroken, and so asked Jason to consider giving the romance another try.

Another source added: “Jamie was really worried about Britney. She had all this free time on her hands during her tour break, and she was lonely. When Jason heard this, he came running. He really cares about Britney and doesn’t want to see her hurt.”

However, Jason still doesn’t feel ready to settle down and has told Britney he wants to date other people.

A source said: “He let her know he doesn’t want to be super-serious. Yes they’re dating, but it’s not exclusive. Britney’s not happy about that, but she’ll take what she can get.”

taken from : China Daily

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Vic Mizzy, who wrote 'Addams Family' theme, dies

TIn this 2004 photo released by Johathan Wolfson shows Vic Mizzy at his home in the Bel Air area of Los Angeles.[Agencies]

LOS ANGELES – Vic Mizzy, a songwriter who composed the catchy themes for the 1960s sit-coms "The Addams Family" and "Green Acres," has died at 93, AP reports.

Mizzy died Saturday at his home in Bel Air, his manager Jonathan Wolfson said. He said he didn't know the cause of death.

He wrote songs that were recorded by Dean Martin, Doris Day, Perry Como and Billie Holiday in the '40s and '50s. His hits included "Pretty Kitty Blue Eyes," "My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time," and "With a Hey and a Hi and a Ho-Ho-Ho."

But his most famous work was the theme to "The Addams Family," a tune accented by finger snaps and opening with the cleverly quirky lyrics: "They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky, they're altogether ooky: the Addams family."

Mizzy sang the song himself and overdubbed it three times to give the impression of multiple vocalists. He also directed the title sequence where he asked actors who played members of the Addams family to snap their fingers in a bored way.

The enduring tune is often heard during sports game to rally the home team.

"He was smart enough to demand to own the song, which was unheard of at the time. So any time you go to a Lakers game and they play that song, he made money," Wolfson said.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mizzy learned to play the piano as a child. In his teens, he teamed up with Irving Taylor and began writing songs and sketches for variety shows. They won a pair of radio contests and toured the East Coast vaudeville circuit. While served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, the pair wrote several hit songs, including "Three Little Sisters" and "Take It Easy."

Mizzy later composed and wrote songs for television and film, most recently a song for "Spiderman 2" which ended up on the DVD version of the movie.

He is survived by a brother, daughter and two grandchildren.

taken from : China Daily

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Tokyo film festival opens with 'green' carpet

U.S. actress Sigourney Weaver arrives at a 'green' carpet for the screening of her latest film 'Avatar' at the opening of the Tokyo International Film Festival in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. [Agencies]

TOKYO – The Tokyo International Film Festival opened with stars including Hollywood actress Sigourney Weaver strolling a "green" carpet made of recycled plastic bottles.

The theme of the nine-day festival, which started Saturday and will feature more than 100 movies, is ecology. Films include "The Cove," a documentary that depicts an annual hunt of dolphins in Japan. Festival organizers added it at the last minute in part because of pressure from overseas.

While the movie has won more than a dozen awards worldwide, it is not among the 15 Japanese and foreign films competing for the festival's top prize of $50,000.

"The Cove" has provoked outrage over the dolphin hunt in the seaside town of Taiji in southwestern Japan, where 2,000 dolphins are killed every year, mostly for meat.

The film shows fishermen banging on poles to frighten the dolphins into a cove, where they are killed with spears. The cove is closed off by barbed wire, and the movie crew had to film most footage covertly.

Japanese police say the film's American director, Louie Psihoyos, and other members of his crew violated trespassing laws.

"The Cove" will be screened Wednesday. Advance tickets for the film were already sold out, festival spokeswoman Haruna Koike said.

Psihoyos has said he plans to attend the screening, even though he could be arrested for the alleged trespassing.

Weaver's "Avatar" will also be screened. It is one of the first major Hollywood 3-D releases that's not animation. Directed by James Cameron, creator of "Titanic" and "The Terminator," the sci-fi epic centers on humans placed inside alien skins to survive on a distant world.

Weaver waved and blew kisses to fans at the opening ceremony. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama joined starlets walking the green carpet.

taken from : China Daily

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Paris Hilton's lobster rider

Paris Hilton reportedly demanded live lobsters on the set of her new movie.

The blonde socialite, who makes a cameo appearance in action comedy 'The Other Guys', gave movie bosses a three-page rider before she agreed to the role.

A source told the New York Post newspaper: "Paris has a cameo role in the movie, where she plays herself.

"The producers were shocked when her team handed them a three-page list of demands - including live lobsters to be prepared fresh when she's ready to eat and a bottle of Grey Goose vodka - all for just one day on the set.

"All celebrities are typically offered riders, but it seemed excessive for just one day's work playing herself. She was due to fly to New York to film in secret last week."

Paris' representative has denied the 28-year-old star demanded live lobsters, saying: "This is totally ridiculous and untrue."

'The Other Guys' stars Will Ferrell, Eva Mendes, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton and Samuel L. Jackson.

In the movie, 'The Rock' and Jackson play elite police officers, while Ferrell and Wahlberg have been cast as incompetent detectives.
taken from : China Daily

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Jennifer Love Hewitt hurt by rumours

Jennifer Love Hewitt says rumours about her relationship are "hurtful".

The 'Ghost Whisperer' actress, who began dating her co-star Jamie Kennedy earlier this year, insists claims they are on the verge of splitting are untrue.

She told People magazine: "I'm not going to lie - it's not annoying, it's hurtful. It's really hurtful that people say that. Because he is the most awesome person."

The 30-year-old star finds it particularly tough when people claim Jamie isn't kind enough to her and is adamant they have a strong relationship.

She explained: "I really hate that people would make it seem like he's not really a good guy, and not treating me well. He treats me very well.

"We are just trying to be happy. It makes it hard to do that when everybody is putting negative energy out there."

Jamie added: "I am lucky to be with her. And I love her very much."

It was recently claimed Jamie is still lusting after an ex-girlfriend.

However, the 39-year-old actor's representative dismissed the report, claiming it was a vindictive story made up by someone who used to work for Jamie.

taken from : China Daily

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Madonna's New York neighbor sues over noise

Madonna performs during her Sticky and Sweet tour at Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, July 23, 2009.[Agencies]

NEW YORK- Madonna's Manhattan neighbor has sued her co-op and the building's management company saying the pop star's habit of rehearsing with loud music is a nuisance for other residents.

"Madonna and one or more of her invited guests repeatedly dance and/or train in apartment 7A to unreasonable high decibel amplified music, causing noise and vibration to pour through the walls," said the lawsuit, filed on Friday in New York State Supreme Court.

Karen George, who lives directly above the 51-year-old singer in the Upper West Side building, sued the co-op's board of directors and Midboro Management Company, saying nothing had been done since George first complained about the noise in 2008.

George said she has been forced to vacate the building, which overlooks Central Park, during Madonna's rehearsal sessions because the noise and vibrations become "unbearable."

The management company and Madonna's spokeswoman both declined to comment.

taken from : China Daily

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Kanye West exorcises demon in new Spike Jonze clip

FILE - In this May 4, 2009 file photo, Kanye West arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala benefit in New York. [Agencies]

NEW YORK – Is Kanye West getting rid of some of his demons? That seems to be the message of his latest project — an 11-minute short film directed by Spike Jonze (JOHNZ').

The beleaguered rapper debuted the clip on his Web site Monday but later took it down. In it, West is shown acting drunk and obnoxious, and at the end of it, he stabs himself with a sword and pulls what appears to be a little demon out of his stomach. He then gives the demon a sword, and it stabs itself.

A rep for Jonze says the video was made within the past year. West's publicist did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

taken from : China Daily

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Miranda Kerr feeds her body

Model Miranda Kerr has slammed reports she embarked on a drastic weight loss regime for a recent fashion show, insisting she is perfectly healthy.

The model donned a series of outfits for Spanish fashion house Balenciaga at Paris Fashion Week earlier this month and shocked onlookers with her slight figure.

But Kerr has hit out at reports she dieted for the show, insisting photographs made her appear smaller than usual.

She tells Australia's Grazia magazine, "The exaggerated poses for the shoot have made me appear thinner than normal from behind, but I am the same weight and measurements I have maintained for more than three years.

"I am conscious of not only maintaining but promoting a healthy lifestyle and I wouldn’t be able to sustain the hectic nature of my modeling commitments if I wasn’t 100 per cent committed to feeding my body the food, vitamins and minerals it needs.'

taken from : China Daily

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Pan Weibo: A new round of amazement

October is the golden season in Beijing in terms of both weather and performance. International celebrity Beyoncé and local idol Pan Weibo (Wilber Pan) will respectively give solo vocal concerts on October 23rd and 24th in Beijing. Beyoncé has many fans in China, including none other than Pan, who is quite appreciative of her singing and glamour.

In an interview with chinadaily.com.cn, Pan said, "I watched her concert on DVD； it's quite unique and inspiring. If time permits, I will go to her show."

Earlier this year, Pan gave a fantastic show featuring Korean star Lee Hyo-lee. When asked which female singer he specially hopes to cooperate with, Pan answered, "If there is any chance, I hope to do a show with Beyoncé."

As an American-born Chinese, Pan is greatly enthusiastic about American pop music, especially hip-hop, which is his signature music style. Pan’s familiarity with and passion for hip-hop makes his music diverse, as he incorporates western pop features into Chinese music.

With a seven-year music career and a wealth of experience, Pan is a veteran performer who has the mastery of entertaining down. But in the presence of an audience of thousands, he still gets excited. "Every time before a show, especially the large-scale ones, I feel quite nervous, with sweating hands. I think nervousness is some sort of reflection of a sense of responsibility."

Pan’s 2009 I'm Will tour is completely different from previous ones, characterized by innovation and inspiration. Taking on the role of creative director of the concerts, Pan is attentive to every detail and aspires to bring a brand new kind of performance to his fans. With strenuous efforts in challenging dance moves and magnificent stage design, Pan is bound to make his audience awestruck this Saturday evening.

Along with music star and creative concert director, Pan can also add actor to his resume. Miss No Good, a Taiwan-produced TV drama, made its appearance on mainland television screens this year with Pan as the show’s hero. His acting has received positive responses, which Pan said has enhanced his confidence in front of the camera. He has received several film scripts and hopes to join a quality film as his first step into filmdom, he said.

From an inexperienced VJ to an omnipotent celebrity, Pan Weibo has made firm steps in his performing career with a down-to-earth attitude and unyielding fortitude. In the future, Pan will no doubt bring us another round of amazement and enjoyment and guide us into his dynamic world.

taken from : China Daily
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Lindsay Lohan to restrain dad

Lindsay Lohan wants a restraining order against her father.

The 'Mean Girls' actress is reportedly "scared" by Michael Lohan's behaviour and is seeking legal action to stop him from contacting her.

A source told People: "Lindsay is actively getting a restraining order, her lawyer has already been contacted. She's scared. This is really serious."

This news comes a day after Michael - who has recently spoken out claiming the starlet has an addiction to prescription drugs - told gossip website X17 he wanted to "kidnap" his daughter and take her to an isolated location to help "get her straight".

He said: "I'm going to see the judge this week. If I can't get a conservatorship, then I'm going to take her to an undisclosed location and get her straight. But I know I'm gonna get charged with kidnapping."

Meanwhile, Lindsay's mother Dina has slammed her ex-husband for criticising their daughter on TV.

The reality TV star - who divorced Michael in 2007 - has spoken out about his parenting skills and says he should focus on being a father to their children instead of discussing their personal lives with the world.

She told People.com: "Michael Lohan needs to focus on being a parent, paying child support, of which he is six months behind, and making up for all the years he was an absentee dad. And stop going on national television talking about his children publicly."
taken from : China Daily

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Stephen Gately's life celebrated

Boyzone singer Stephen Gately's friends and family reminisced about his life until 3am at a lavish 12-hour wake on Saturday (17.10.09).

Stephen Gately's Boyzone bandmates celebrated his life at a 12-hour, ￡45,000 wake on Saturday (17.10.09).

Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch hosted the lavish bash at Dublin's Four Seasons Hotel just hours after Gately's emotional funeral.

the 400 guests - including fellow Irish boy band Westlife, Boyzone's manager Louis Walsh, Jason Donovan and Sir Elton John's partner David Furnish - raised tearful toasts to Stephen as they watched videos of his life.

A friend revealed: "The Boyzone guys joined in the toasting and all his close friends and family held up a glass or two to Stephen.

"It got even more emotional when videos and songs of Stephen's career were played to guests - especially when 'No Matter What' was played.

"The guys from Westlife looked visibly upset. It was a great celebration of his life and his family were delighted. There were stories told late into the night, reminiscing about Stephen."

The wake ended at 3am, when the last mourners stumbled out of the hotel.

As he was escorted to his black car, Boyzone singer Shane said: "We gave Stephen the farewell he deserved. We all deal with grief in our own way, and this was our way.

"It was a brilliant night, fitting for a brilliant person. We will never forget him."

Stephen died of acute pulmonary oedema - a rapid build-up of fluid in the lungs - on October 10 at his home on the Spanish holiday island of Majorca.

His funeral was held at Dublin's St Laurence O'Toole's Church.

Meanwhile, Stephen's family has reportedly decided not to contest his will, which will see ￡10 million left to his grieving civil partner Andrew Cowles.
taken from : China Daily

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Elvis' hair sells for $15K at Chicago auction

In this Oct. 12, 2009 file photo, a clump of Elvis Presley's hair, given to Gary Pepper as president of the Tankers Fan Club to give to Elvis fans, is one of over 200 items in The Gary Pepper Collection of Elvis Presley Memorabilia at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, in Chicago. [Agencies]

CHICAGO – A clump of hair believed to have been trimmed from Elvis Presley's head when he joined the Army in 1958 has sold for $15,000 at a Chicago auction house.

Also among the 200 Elvis-related items up for grabs at the Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago on Sunday was a shirt that once belonged to the King which sold for $52,000.

The buyer of the hair paid $15,000 plus an additional $3,300 in auction house fees.

Other items on offer included scarves, photos from the reception of Presley's 1967 wedding to Priscilla, Christmas cards he sent and lots of records. Elvis dolls and Elvis Pez dispensers numbered among the memorabilia.

All the items had belonged to the late Gary Pepper, who ran a fan club and was a friend. Pepper, who had cerebral palsy, died in 1980.

taken from : China Daily

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Kourtney Kardashian burgled

Kourtney Kardashian's California home has been burgled.

The socialite - who is pregnant with her first child - reportedly returned to her townhouse in Calabasas at 8.30pm on Saturday (17.10.09) with her boyfriend Scott Disick to discover the building had been broken into and jewellery worth thousands of dollars was missing.

According to gossip website TMZ, Police have confirmed the 30-year-old beauty is missing a Cartier watch worth $30,000, Scott's expensive Rolex timekeeper and several diamond-encrusted accessories, including hoop earrings.

It is believed some vintage jewellery items given to her by her late father Robert Kardashian - who died of cancer in September 2003, aged just 59 - have also been taken from her home, which is part of a gated community.

It is reported Kourtney and Scott left the building at 7pm to go out for dinner.

When they returned shortly afterwards, they apparently grew suspicious after noticing several drawers had been left open.

Kourtney is due to give birth to a son in December.

taken from : China Daily

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Adults lead 'Wild Things' $32.5M box-office rumpus

In this film publicity image released by Warner Bros. Pictures, Max Records, portraying Max, right, is shown with the character Carol, voiced by James Gandolfini in 'Where the Wild Things Are.' [Agencies]

LOS ANGELES – "Where the Wild Things Are" proved a bigger hit with adult audiences than family crowds as the adaptation of Maurice Sendak's beloved children's book debuted at No. 1 with $32.5 million.

Moviegoers 18 and older accounted for 43 percent of the audience, while parents with children made up 27 percent, according to distributor Warner Bros.

Overture Films earned the No. 2 spot with Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler's vengeance thriller "Law Abiding Citizen," which debuted with $21.3 million.

Expanding into wider release, Paramount's low-budget horror sensation "Paranormal Activity" moved up to No. 3 with $20.2 million.

Shot for a reported $15,000, "Paranormal Activity" outdid the premiere of Sony's fright flick "The Stepfather," which cost $19 million and played in nearly four times as many theaters but managed just a No. 5 opening with $12.3 million.

The results for "Where the Wild Things Are" matched the intent of director Spike Jonze, who viewed his take as a story about a child, but not necessarily a children's movie.

During production, Jonze had clashed with Warner Bros., which had wanted a more kid-friendly film. The studio gave Jonze more time and money to finish the film and ultimately backed his vision with a huge marketing campaign for "Wild Things."

"I think all sides reached a very happy compromise, and certainly Spike delivered a movie that was so true to the book, yet it generated the emotion that we felt strongly about to bring in our family audience, as well," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner.

Jonze's adaptation features newcomer Max Records as Sendak's misbehaving young protagonist, a boy who journeys to a make-believe island of monsters torn between hugging him and eating him. The live-action and voice cast includes Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini and Forest Whitaker.

A cheap acquisition at the Slamdance Film Festival, "Paranormal Activity" came out of nowhere, riding online fan buzz to a domestic total of $33.7 million so far. The movie expanded to 760 theaters, up 600 from the previous weekend, and has plenty of room to grow.

Paramount plans to expand the movie to between 1,800 and 2,000 theaters next weekend, then widen its release even farther for Halloween. It will go head-to-head with an established horror franchise as Lionsgate opens "Saw VI" on Friday.

Shot in a raw documentary style, "Paranormal Activity" is a twist on the haunted house story as a couple tries to capture on camera the strange phenomena and apparitions afflicting them.

"Paranormal Activity" might have a shot to duplicate the success of "The Blair Witch Project," a 1999 Sundance Film Festival discovery that rode Internet buzz to a $140 million domestic total.

"When you have a movie playing this well and it has such a broad appeal, it certainly tells you that is a possible outcome," said Rob Moore, vice chairman of Paramount. "I certainly couldn't predict it yet, but nothing with this movie has been predictable so far."

Hollywood had its strongest weekend yet this fall, with overall business at $141 million, up 41 percent from the same weekend last year.

"All the top five movies all did really well. It's kind of exciting to see the box-office get reignited and to see consumers excited about what's available," said Kyle Davies, head of distribution for Overture.

Fans had a good range of choices among horror tales, action, family fare and romantic comedy, including the previous weekend's No. 1 movie, Universal's "Couples Retreat," which slipped to fourth-place with $17.9 million. "Couples Retreat" raised its 10-day total to $63.3 million.

"This is why the fall is such a great time to be not only a studio executive, but a moviegoer. It's really an eclectic mix out there. You don't get this in summer," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com.

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

1. "Where the Wild Things Are," $32.5 million.

2. "Law Abiding Citizen," $21.3 million.

3. "Paranormal Activity," $20.2 million.

4. "Couples Retreat," $17.9 million.

5. "The Stepfather," $12.3 million.

6. "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," $8.1 million.

7. "Zombieland," $7.8 million.

8. "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" in 3-D, $3 million.

9. "Surrogates," $1.92 million.

10. "The Invention of Lying," $1.9 million.

taken from : China Daily

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