Superiorpics.com: Entertainment News Friday, July 20, 2007

SIMMONS CONDEMNS DOG-FIGHTING

Hip-hop mogul RUSSELL SIMMONS is urging sponsors of American football player MICHAEL VICK to stop supporting the sports star after he was arrested for operating an illegal dog-fighting operation.

RUSSELL SIMMONS

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Vick was indicted by a federal grand jury for "conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in animal fighting venture" on 17 July (07).

Since Vick's controversy, Nike has announced it is dropping plans to release a special Nike Air Zoom Vick V football shoe.

Animal-loving Simmons has teamed up with civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton and People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA) President Ingrid E. Newkirk to write a letter to Vick's sponsors.

The letter reads, "The recent media spotlight on dog-fighting reminds us of society's callous disregard for the suffering of animals and disrespect for sentient beings.

"We hope that Mr. Vick is not a product of this insensitivity that runs through our society. It does us little good to prosecute just those who are famous and allow people across the country to continue to commit these hideous crimes."

Source: WENN

| Friday, July 20, 2007

O'RIORDAN'S DRUMMER 'COLLAPSES ON STAGE'

Former THE CRANBERRIES singer DOLORES O'RIORDAN's U.S. solo tour is in doubt after her drummer reportedly collapsed on stage on Thursday (19Jul07).

Sticksman Graham Hopkins suffered a seizure on stage at the gig at Los Angeles' House of Blues, according to audience members, who discussed the horrific incident on a Cranberries fansite.

ZombieGuide.com user 'New Zombie' reports, "The drummer had a seizure right on stage. They killed the lights and lowered a screen. He had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital after what seemed like 20 minutes of medical treatment while he was laying on stage."

The website claims O'Riordan's tour has been cancelled because the band do not have a replacement drummer.

Last week (13Jul07), O'Riordan was forced to cancel her Washington D.C. gig after a dental emergency.

Source: WENN

| Friday, July 20, 2007

MCCARTNEY TO PAY MILLS GBP70 MILLION?

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY will pay out $140 million (GBP70 million) to his estranged wife HEATHER MILLS in their divorce settlement, according to media reports.

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY

The couple are currently in discussions to settle their divorce without a trial following their May 2006 split after just under four years of marriage.

British newspaper Daily Mail reports the former Beatle will pay Mills a lump sum of $30 million (GBP15 million), then an annual payment of $7 million (GBP3.5 million) until their three-year-old daughter Beatrice reaches 18.

The Mail claims the couple will sign a clause forbidding them from discussing their marriage in the press.

In court papers leaked last year (06), Mills accused McCartney of physically abusing her during their marriage and claimed he was regularly stoned on marijuana.

The couple's divorce case is set for a five-day hearing in London's High Court next February (08).

Source: WENN

| Friday, July 20, 2007

SHEARS HIGH ON MUSHROOMS AT ELTON GIG

SCISSOR SISTERS frontman JAKE SHEARS started hallucinating after taking magic mushrooms during an ELTON JOHN gig.

The Laura hitmaker, 29, and his boyfriend consumed a handful of the mind-bending substances during the music legend's set in New York earlier this year (07).

He says, "My boyfriend and I ate handfuls of magic mushrooms when Elton played his 60th birthday show at Madison Square Garden in the spring.

"It was the most mind expanding concert I've ever been to. I swear when it started I thought I was in the spaceship from Independence Day, it was that intense."

Source: WENN

| Friday, July 20, 2007

STING CAUSES A STIR IN RESTAURANT

Rocker STING stunned staff at a Miami restaurant by taking along his own chef to cook his meal, according to reports.

STING

The Police star insisted on his personal chef preparing his meal in the kitchen of posh eaterie Casa Tua in Miami Beach.

A source tells British newspaper, The Sun, "It was amazing - Casa Tua is one of the best places in town. It has some fantastic chefs and Sting brings his own person to cook. No one would believe it.

"Apparently his people booked ahead and said staff would cook for his friends but not for him."

Restaurant owner Michele Gredene says he could not comment, but did not deny the incident.

Earlier this week (17Jul07), Sting and wife Trudie Styler were ordered to pay GBP24,944 ($49,888) to their former chef by a British employment tribunal.

Jane Martin claimed she was forced to work 14 hour days while pregnant and Styler was not sympathetic when she experienced sickness early in her pregnancy.

Source: WENN

| Friday, July 20, 2007

STREISAND WAS LOST FOR WORDS

Superstar BARBRA STREISAND once abandoned her music career because she forgot the lines to her greatest hits live onstage.

Barbra Streisand performing live at the O2 Arena. London, England - 18.07.07

The diva quit the music scene in the late 1960s following the incident and only returned three years later following the introduction of modern technology.

She says, "I was once doing a concert in Central Park when I forgot the words to one of my songs.

"It frightened me so much that I didn't sing again in public for three years.

"Then, as soon as they invented the teleprompter, I came back."

Source: WENN

| Friday, July 20, 2007

CLARKSON WRITES HITS IN HER SLEEP

KELLY CLARKSON struggles with insomnia - because her songs keep her awake at night.

KELLY CLARKSON

The singer admits many of her lyrics and hits come to her as she's trying to get to sleep and has to write them down or record them on the spot.

She says, "The moment a song comes to me, I have to get it out. That's why I have a hard time sleeping, because a lot of those times are at night."

Source: WENN

| Friday, July 20, 2007

COWELL WANTS TO VET ABDUL'S NEW MAN

AMERICAN IDOL judge SIMON COWELL is determined to vet PAULA ABDUL's new boyfriend - to make sure he is suitable.

PAULA ABDUL and SIMON COWELL

The eighties pop star-turned-TV star is dating restaurateur J.T. Torregiani, but friend Cowell is keen to appraise him - and it's not the first time.

She says, "Simon is already calling me and bugging me and saying 'Let me talk to him'.

"Simon always does this to me."

Source: WENN

| Friday, July 20, 2007

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN TV SHOW?

JOHNNY DEPP's PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN character JACK SPARROW will feature in a new television series.

(L-R) GEOFFREY RUSH, KEIRA KNIGHTLEY, JOHNNY DEPP in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'

Disney is reportedly planning to make a TV spin-off of the swashbuckling franchise with Sparrow as its main character.

A source tells British newspaper The Daily Star, "The idea is that we focus on a much younger Jack Sparrow and show fans how he became a famous pirate.

"The film has been such a success with spin-offs such as toys and video games and books, it only seems right to do a TV series."

It is hoped a host of high profile celebrities will provide the voiceover for the series. The source adds, "Since the film attracted guests like of Keith Richards, you can imagine the stars who will want to pop up in the television show."

Source: WENN

| Friday, July 20, 2007

SCHNEIDER FELT 'RAPED' BY BRANDO

Screen icon MARLON BRANDO pressured French actress MARIA SCHNEIDER into an explicit sex scene in their movie LAST TANGO IN PARIS, according to the actress.

MARLON BRANDO

Schneider says she was unaware she would be starring in one of film's most controversial sex scenes when she accepted the role in the 1972 movie, but was forced into it by Brando, who had written the scene into the movie.

Schneider claims the steamy scene - where Brando performs a sex act on her character Jeanne - felt like "rape" and left her feeling humiliated.

She says, "That scene wasn't in the original script. The truth is it was Marlon who came up with the idea.

"They told me about it before we had to film the scene and I was so angry. I should have called my agent or had my lawyer come to the set because he can't force someone to do something that isn't in the script, but at the time, I didn't know that.

"Marlon said to me 'Maria, don't worry, it's just a movie', but during the scene, even though what Marlon was doing wasn't real, I was crying real tears.

"I felt humiliated and to be honest, I felt a little raped both by Marlon and (filmmaker Bernado) Bertolucci.

"After the scene, Marlon didn't console me or apologise. Thankfully there was only one take."

Source: WENN

| Friday, July 20, 2007

BACHCHAN SURRENDERS LAND

Bollywood superstar AMITABH BACHCHAN has surrendered his farmland following accusations he acquired plots by falsely declaring himself a farmer.

AMITABH BACHCHAN

The 64-year-old actor owned land in the states of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, which his wife, Jaya, represents in parliament.

But the star came under fire for using his political contacts to be designated as a farmer after a court in Uttar Pradesh ruled that a 1983 certificate identifying Bachchan as a farmer was forged.

Bachchan has agreed to surrender the land and has given it to local farmers.

Source: WENN

| Friday, July 20, 2007

PIZZA BLOW-OUT MADE JAMES DREAD SHOWER SCENE

Actor KEVIN JAMES was shocked to discover he had to film a shower scene in new movie I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY sooner than was scheduled - because he'd been gorging on pizza throughout the shoot.

Kevin James as Larry Allensworth in 'I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry'

James, who stars alongside Adam Sandler and Jessica Biel in the new comedy, admits he asked for help to hide his bloated physique.

He says, "I was so out of shape. I gained 20 pounds during the movie - we were in New York, eating and partying and having fun.

"Things were being shot out of succession. And I find out the next week we're shooting the shower scene. I asked for a toiletry bag to cover up. It looks ridiculous."

Source: WENN

| Friday, July 20, 2007

THE TEN PRODUCTION STILLS, TRAILER AND THE GOOF CLIP

In Theaters August 3, 2007

Director: David Wain
Cast: Paul Rudd, Jessica Alba, Winona Ryder, Adam Brody, Gretchen Mol, Famke Janssen, Rob Corddry, Liev Schreiber, Oliver Platt, Justin Theroux, Ken Marino
Synopsis: Masters of comedy David Wain ("Wet Hot American Summer") and Ken Marino team up behind the scenes and in front of the camera to create THE TEN: a lively, smart, and irreverent film about breaking all the rules. Directed by Wain and written by Wain and Marino, THE TEN presents a series of interconnected comic sketches designed to reinterpret - and reinvent - the Ten Commandments, making them "meaningful" (and funny) to a young, hip, audience of contemporary sinners. With each story told in a different style, but containing overlapping characters and themes, the film is a grand burlesque boasting an all-star cast that puts the sin back in cinema.

Trailer:

"The Goof" Clip:

Source: specialopsmedia.com

| Friday, July 20, 2007