Superiorpics.com: Entertainment News Sunday, March 30, 2008

BAILEY RAE BELIEVES HUSBAND'S DEATH WAS AFTER COCAINE BINGE

LATEST: British soul star CORINNE BAILEY RAE is convinced her musician husband JASON RAE died from a heart attack after suffering an adverse reaction to cocaine.

Corinne Bailey Rae performing at V Festival 2007 at Hylands Park. Chelmsford, England - 19.08.07

The body of the 31-year-old saxophonist was discovered in a Leeds, England flat last Saturday (22Mar08).

A post-mortem examination carried out on Rae's body on Saturday night proved inconclusive, but a preliminary pathologist's report suggested his death was as a result of drugs.

Grammy winner Bailey Rae believes the drug-taking was a one-off for her husband of seven years, on a night which ended in tragedy.

A close pal tells U.K. newspaper the Sunday Mirror, "Corinne is sure Jason had been living a clean life. He did not have a drug habit.

"But he went on a night out which she thinks ended with him taking coke at the flat. It seems he took too much and had a heart attack. Jason liked to party, but he was no junkie."

An inquest into Rae's death, which began last week (begs24Mar08), has been adjourned and will commence once the results of further toxicology tests are available.

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

POISON'S ROCKETT PULLS GIG AFTER ARREST

LATEST: POISON drummer RIKKI ROCKETT was forced to cancel a gig in California on Saturday night (29Mar08), following his arrest on allegations of sexual assault.

RIKKI ROCKETT of Poison

The 46-year-old - real name Richard Allan Ream - was taken into police custody at Los Angeles' LAX airport last Monday (24Mar08) after arriving back in his native U.S. on a flight from New Zealand.

He was then taken to Los Angeles County Jail, where he was detained on an outstanding arrest warrant for rape, which was originally issued in Neshoba County, Mississippi.

On Saturday, Rockett, who co-founded the 1980s rock group with singer Bret Michaels, was due to perform with his singer fiancee Melanie Martel at Rattlesnake Slim's in Newhall, close to the couple's home.

But the duo pulled out of the show on Friday (28Mar08), claiming they could no longer make the gig "due to what's going on".

However, Rockett refused to elaborate further on his legal troubles, saying it was "because of his lawyers", according to TMZ.com.

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

STIPE'S SWIPE AT 'DESPICABLE' U.S. GOVERNMENT

R.E.M. frontman MICHAEL STIPE has blasted the U.S. government for using the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist atrocities to 'their own greedy' advantage.

MICHAEL STIPE of R.E.M.

The Losing My Religion star is enraged at the "despicable" acts carried out by President George W. Bush's administration, insisting this wasn't the government he was promised as a child.

And he's adamant future generations of Americans will look back at this era of U.S. politics in disgust.

He says, "This American administration is despicable. In 1973, I didn't realise it would be a big deal that a black man and a woman are running for President.

"I didn't get the future I wanted and was promised. It didn't happen because globally we have these people who are pulling us backwards for their own reasons.

"I want something more progressive. What will this decade represent when historians look back at the first decade of the 21st century? They're going to look at my government's over-reaction to 9/11 and how they used that to their own greedy end. How sad is that?"

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

RIHANNA AND BROWN WALK ALONE

RIHANNA and CHRIS BROWN used the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards to end rumours they are dating - by walking up the event's orange carpet separately.

Chris Brown and Rihanna at the 20th Annual Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards 2008 held at UCLA Pauley Pavilion. Westwood, California - 29.3.08

R+B star Brown - who scooped the favourite male singer prize at the Los Angeles ceremony on Saturday (29Mar08) - kept his distance from the Umbrella beauty as they waved to fans outside the Pauley Pavilion.

The pair has been at the centre of speculation since they were photographed frolicking in a Jamaican swimming pool together last month (Feb08).

They further fuelled rumours earlier this month (Mar08) after they were photographed leaving a London hotel together.

However, Brown is sick of the claims, and told reporters on Saturday, "We're not in a relationship or anything," before making his way inside the slime-filled ceremony.

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

PITT AND JOLIE MARRIED?

Confusion surrounds the marital status of BRAD PITT and ANGELINA JOLIE after the actor's representative failed to rule out rumours the couple had married on Saturday (29Mar08) in New Orleans, Louisiana.

ANGELINA JOLIE and BRAD PITT

The Fight Club star - who famously insisted he'd never again exchange nuptials until everyone in the U.S. had the right to - reportedly headed into a New Orleans church with Jolie to immortalise their relationship in marriage.

And Pitt's publicist stoked speculation when she admitted she had "no idea" if the reports were true.

However, according to a People.com source, there was "no wedding" - the couple travelled to New Orleans earlier this month (Mar08) so Pitt could check the progress of his Make It Right project to rebuild the city's hurricane-ravaged Lower Ninth Ward.

The website adds that Jolie and Pitt have most recently been staying in Austin, Texas, where the actor has been shooting scenes for new movie Tree Of Life.

If the reports are true, it would mark Jolie's third trip down the aisle and Pitt's second attempt at marriage. The couple already has four children - biological daughter Shiloh and adopted kids Maddox, Pax Thien and Zahara - and Jolie is currently rumoured to be pregnant with twins.

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

ROSE HIRES TOP SVENGALIS TO MANAGE GUNS N' ROSES

AXL ROSE has hired music mogul IRVING AZOFF and fellow svengali ANDY GOULD as GUNS N' ROSES' new management team.

GUNS N' ROSES

The rock supergroup has been without a manager since Rose publicly fell out with longtime handler Merck Mercuriadis in 2006, but, as he prepares to release the long-awaited Chinese Democracy album, it appears the powerful frontman wants heavyweights behind him.

Azoff has long been associated with the Eagles and the former MCA executive has also managed the careers of Christina Aguilera and Van Halen.

Gould previously worked for top talent agency The Firm.

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

CYRUS + BELL DOMINATE KIDS CHOICE AWARDS

MILEY CYRUS and DRAKE BELL reigned supreme at the 21st Annual Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday (29Mar08), scooping two prizes apiece.

Miley Cyrus at the 20th Annual Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards 2008 held at UCLA Pauley Pavilion. Westwood, California - 29.3.08

Hannah Montana star Cyrus, 15, took the favourite TV actress and favourite female singer gongs on a night that saw Harrison Ford, Cameron Diaz and Orlando Bloom drenched in green slime - as part of the ceremony's traditional ritual.

Heartthrob Bell picked up two prizes - favourite TV actor and favourite TV show for his sitcom Drake And Josh - at the Pauley Pavilion event, which was hosted by funnyman Jack Black.

One of the biggest prizes of the night, the 'Wannabe' award for a celebrity who acts as a good role model for children, went to actress Cameron Diaz.

She used the honour to promote environmental issues, telling the young audience, "You're going to change the world. Every one of you kids is the future - go out and make the world a better place."

Prior to the event, rumours began to surface that Britney Spears was lining up a surprise appearance at the ceremony. However, the rumours failed to materialise.

Other big awards went to Johnny Depp, for favourite movie actor; Jessica Alba, for favourite movie actress; Chris Brown, for favourite male singer; and the Jonas Brothers, for favourite group.

American Idol scooped the favourite reality show gong; the Harry Potter series was named the favourite book winner, and Alvin And The Chipmunks won favourite movie.

However, the night was more about the anarchic fun on offer. As well as a goo-covered Ford, Diaz and Bloom, R+B star Akon crashed a vehicle into a slime container, and Usher fired the sticky solution at a sumo wrestler from a cannon.

Meanwhile, supermodel Heidi Klum was in the thick of the action, flying from the roof on a bungee cord and popping balloons en route to ground level.

Jack Black told the crowd over 88 million votes had been registered for the 2008 ceremony - more than twice last year's (07) record-breaking 40 million. The night ended with Black and Bloom swinging in mid-air and being drenched in what the School Of Rock star claimed was "27 million gallons" of green slime.

The main list of winners is as follows:

TV show - Drake and Josh

Reality show - American Idol

TV actor - Drake Bell

TV actress - Miley Cyrus

Movie actor - Johnny Depp

Movie actress - Jessica Alba

Female singer - Miley Cyrus

Male singer - Chris Brown

Group - The Jonas Brothers

Book - Harry Potter series

Movie - Alvin and the Chipmunks

Voice from an animated movie - Eddie Murphy, for Shrek the Third.

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

COLLEGE POSTER

In Theaters August 29, 2008

Director: Deb Hagan
Cast: Andrew Caldwell, Drake Bell, Gary Owens, Kevin Covais, Ryan Pinkston
Synopsis: A wild weekend is in store for three high school seniors who visit a local college campus as prospective freshmen.

Source: Cinematical.com

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

HOLMES 'IN TALKS' FOR BROADWAY DEBUT

KATIE HOLMES' representative has played down reports the actress is heading to Broadway, New York, to star in family drama ALL MY SONS.

KATIE HOLMES

The Batman Begins actress is said to be in final negotiations to join John Lithgow and Dianne Wiest in Arthur Miller's post-World War II show, with British newspaper reports claiming she has signed on to begin in May (08).

Back in January (08) Holmes spoke of her desire to appear on Broadway: "There's nothing concrete. I've always had that fantasy when I was growing up, to be on Broadway."

However, Holmes' spokesperson insists that although the star is in talks with All My Sons producers to make her professional stage debut, "nothing is set".

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

SPIELBERG DONATES CASH TO LATE JAWS STAR'S FUND

STEVEN SPIELBERG has donated $50,000 (GBP25,000) to a fund established in his JAWS star ROY SCHEIDER's name.

STEVEN SPIELBERG

The moviemaker has handed over the cash to the Stella Adler Studios in New York, where the late actor has been honoured with his own scholarship endowment fund charity, which will help finance wannabe filmmakers' studies.

Scheider died in February (08).

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

BRUCKHEIMER TAKES ON THE LONE RANGER

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN producer JERRY BRUCKHEIMER is set to give 1956 classic THE LONE RANGER a Disney twist in a modern remake.

JERRY BRUCKHEIMER

Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, the screenwriting pair behind the Pirates trilogy, are in final talks to reteam with Bruckheimer and Disney to bring the masked hero to the big screen, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The Lone Ranger started off as a radio show in the 1930s and spurned numerous TV spin-offs and movies, including the 1956 film starring Clayton Moore.

The story follows the adventures of the Ranger, his white stallion Silver and his American Indian sidekick Tonto, as they attempt to bring local criminals to justice.

The crusader's last silver screen outing was in 1981's The Legend Of The Lone Ranger - but the film bombed so badly at the box office, the movie's star Klinton Spilsbury never worked in Hollywood again.

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

PHILLIPPE: 'STOP LOSS ARMY TRAINING WAS INTENSE'

RYAN PHILLIPPE insists the bootcamp he and his STOP-LOSS co-stars took before filming started was the most gruelling in movie history.

Ryan Phillippe as Brandon King in a scene from 'Stop Loss'

The actor and his castmates were put through extensive military training so they could get into shape and into the minds of the U.S. troops they portray in the film.

And Phillippe is sure his Army training was more intense than that other actors have been put through prior to war films in the past.

He says, "I'd never been through a boot camp as extensive as this one. We would do 14 hours a day in a six day week. It was 106 degree temperature in the middle of nowhere in Texas.

"From a distance you would not have thought it was actors preparing for a movie. They put us through a relatively hardcore training but I loved it."

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

ARQUETTE SCOLDED FOR WATCHING SEX SHOW IN HOSPITAL

Actor/director DAVID ARQUETTE had some explaining to do when a patient in a Cleveland, Ohio hospital spotted him watching what she thought was a cheap sex video on his computer.

DAVID ARQUETTE and COURTENEY COX

The Scream star was actually editing a scene in his wife Courteney Cox's TV drama Dirt in an episode he directed.

He was forced to take his work with him when Cox's mother was taken into the hospital for open-heart surgery.

And Cox explains, "We were in the hospitality suite... and David's watching the computer (of) his cut and giving notes from Cleveland.

"There was this part he was watching, where there was like a home sex video.

"He was really into it... and this woman walks by, (looks) over his shoulder and says, `What are you doing?' (She thought) he was just sitting in the hospitality suite enjoying some sex show."

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

FALL OUT BOY: 'WE WILL BE RECORD BREAKERS'

FALL OUT BOY are more determined than ever to set a world record following the cancellation of their seven continents-in-a-day attempt - and are vowing to achieve a feat far more spectacular.

FALL OUT BOY

The rockers were due to kick off their ambitious 24-hour record-breaking trek around the world on Tuesday (25Mar08), but were forced to postpone the trip - which included a show in Antarctica - due to bad weather.

However, their rescheduled outing on Wednesday (26Mar08) was also affected by the weather and subsequently scrapped.

Bassist Pete Wentz described the cancellation as an "utter f**king disappointment", and bandmembers feared the Guinness Book of World Records would no longer take their record-breaking proposals seriously.

So, drummer Andy Hurley has revealed they will achieve an entry into the legendary book by simply "doing it" - and promises their plans are much more ambitious than before.

He tells MTV.com, "We're going to make this happen. And we're going to do it first. We got so close, and I'm not the kind of person who'd bail on this. I like the adventure of doing something crazy, and this new plan is super crazy. Remember when you hear about it. It started here.

"It's going to be much bigger. But it's definitely going to happen. The thing about this trip was that there was always a chance it might not happen - (we said we were) 'attempting to set a world record' - but we're not going to attempt anything the next time. We're just gonna do it."

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

LEWIS IN LINE FOR $100 MILLION DEAL?

Pop star LEONA LEWIS is set for a $100 million (GBP50 million) pay day after rocketing to the top of the U.S. singles chart with her hit song BLEEDING LOVE.

Leona Lewis performing at The Brit Awards 2008 held at Earls Court. London, England - 20.02.08

The singer became the first British female solo star in over 20 years to take the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100, knocking Usher's Love In This Club from the top.

Bleeding Love has now been number one in more than 20 countries, and Lewis' huge success is reportedly set to earn her millions more than her current $9 million (GBP4.5 million), five-album deal with Sony BMG, Simon Cowell's Syco Records and Clive Davis' J Records.

Reports now suggest music mogul Davis is on the verge of tearing up their old contract and offering the 22-year-old a $100 million record deal to keep her signed to the labels. The deal is expected to cover all her music releases and live shows around the globe.

A spokesperson for the music industry's Forbes Magazine says, "It looks like Leona's heading straight to the top of the financial charts as well.

"She is an absolute overnight sensation and the rewards she will reap are phenomenal."

An industry insider adds, "Nobody dreamed she would suddenly become the most in demand singer in virtually every country.

"She is so hot that Clive will have to factor in U.S. and world tours, future album sales that promise to be so huge they're off the chart... and TV specials and DVD spin-offs.

"Right now, her potential even dwarfs the sort of enormous sales stars like Madonna, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston could expect."

If reports of the $100 million deal are true, it will overshadow the previous record of $80 million (GBP40 million) that Madonna signed last year (07) with promoter Live Nation.

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

FEDERLINE'S UNCLE DIES

BRITNEY SPEARS' ex-husband KEVIN FEDERLINE is mourning the death of his uncle, who reportedly passed away following a long battle with cancer.

KEVIN FEDERLINE

Federline had been to visit his mother's brother Steve - who lived in Fresno, California - in the days leading up to his demise, according to Usmagazine.com.

A source tells the website, "The whole family is very sad but at least he is out of his pain now."

Federline's loss comes after a series of traumas suffered by the dancer this year (08). In January (08) his former wife Spears subjected their children - Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one - to a three-hour stand-off with police, after the singer refused to relinquish custody of the kids following a scheduled visitation.

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

TV AND FILM UNIONS SEVER TIES

The joint strike action threatened by TV and film actors has been abandoned after union bosses fell out in their bid for improved Hollywood contracts.

The two unions - one representing TV actors, the other movie stars - were due to put negotiating plans into motion on Saturday (29Mar08).

However, just three months before contracts expire with the stars of primetime shows and film, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) has voted to sever ties with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) amid claims of sabotage - meaning both groups will have to enter into talks individually.

Hollywood stars such as Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro have been campaigning for early negotiations, and it's feared a delay could result in a strike similar to that carried out by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) last November (07), which crippled the industry.

Accusations of sabotage stem from a recent dispute over which union represented the stars of TV soap opera The Bold And The Beautiful.

AFTRA president Roberta Reardon writes, "For the past year SAG leadership in Hollywood has engaged in a relentless campaign of disinformation and disparagement."

The SAG bosses have been quick to hit back, with president Alan Rosenberg writing that the television guild's "refusal now to bargain together with us and their last-second abandonment of the joint process is calculated (and) cynical".

He adds, "It may serve the interests of their institution, but not its members."

The SAG has set a 30 June (08) deadline - the day their current contract expires - for negotiations to be resolved. If the strike goes ahead it could put hundreds of major

film and TV projects under threat.

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

STAR OF CROWE'S NEW FILM CHARGED WITH ASSAULT

RUSSELL CROWE's new movie has been rocked by scandal just a month before its big debut - one of its real-life stars has been arrested on assault charges.

Crowe is narrating the story of Australia's top surfers in Bra Boys, and one of the guys featured in the film has been charged with assault after punching a man during a fight in Hawaii.

Professional surfer Koby Abberton lashed out during a club brawl in Honolulu on 8 March (08), according to the Sydney Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Police claim the 27-year-old he punched was actually trying to break up the fight. Abberton was arrested by local police officers and taken into custody, where he was charged with assault in the third degree.

Abberton was granted bail and is expected to go before a magistrate early next week (beg31Mar08).

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

SIGEL JAILED AGAIN

Rapper BEANIE SIGEL is back behind bars after he was caught giving his probation officers fake urine samples.

The 33-year-old - real name Dwight Grant - has been living in a halfway house for the last three months as part of his sentence following a second probation violation.

He was also jailed for one day in January (08) after a judge decided he took an unauthorised trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey and associated with a convicted felon.

In addition to his halfway house sentence, the hip-hop star's probation, which had been due to end in February (08), was extended by a further 18 months.

But at a hearing in Philadelphia on Friday (28Mar08), a federal judge ruled he had broken more probation rules by giving authorities the false samples, and he was hauled

back to jail for three months.

Officials also claimed Sigel has failed five drug tests in March (08) alone, testing positive on all occasions for anxiety drug Xanax and pain reliever Percocet.

Sigel's latest woe follows a succession of legal problems, which have seen him serve time for weapons and drug charges. He was acquitted of attempted murder charges in 2005.

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008

SPECTOR LAWYER WANTS JUDGE OUSTED

LATEST: PHIL SPECTOR's new lawyer has stepped up his campaign to disqualify Los Angeles Superior Court Judge LARRY PAUL FIDLER from the music producer's murder retrial over allegations of bias.

Doron Weinberg appeared with Spector on Friday (28Mar08) and told the Superior Court he wouldn't be ready for the case until at least September (08).

In addition, Weinberg filed a 44-page document outlining alleged examples of bias by the judge, including a move to stop a Spector's wife Rachelle Short and a potential witness from talking.

The papers also contained claims Fidler withdrew a jury instruction and crafted a new one after jurors first announced they were deadlocked in September 2007.

Weinberg added that according to U.S. law, the judge can't rule on his own disqualification motion.

Fidler set another hearing for 22 May (08), when the trial date is expected to be set.

Spector is accused of murdering actress Lana Clarkson at his Alhambra, California home on 3 February, 2003.

Source: WENN

| Sunday, March 30, 2008