Entertainment News

Michael Jackson's doctor pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's doctor pleaded not guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter, capping an exhaustive investigation into the pop star's stunning death last summer and setting up the prospect of another sensational celebrity courtroom drama. Dr. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who was with Jackson when he died June 25 at his rented Los Angeles mansion, is accused of the single felony count in a five-page complaint filed in Superior Court. According to the complaint, Murray "did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson" by acting "without due caution and circumspection."
      

Veteran rockers April Wine to be inducted into Canadian Music Hall of Fame
TORONTO - Veteran rockers April Wine will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame this spring. The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences announced Monday that April Wine will receive the honour on April 18 during the 2010 Juno Awards in St. John's, N.L. In 1969, vocalist-guitarist Myles Goodwyn, guitarist David Henman, drummer Ritchie Henman and bassist Jimmy Henman formed April Wine in Halifax.
      

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie suing tabloid over claim they were about to split
LONDON - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have begun legal action against a British tabloid that reported the celebrity couple was going to split, a lawyer acting on their behalf confirmed Monday. Keith Schillings, of London-based Schillings lawyers, said in a statement that the couple had begun legal proceedings against the News of The World, a Sunday tabloid and Britain's highest selling newspaper.
      

Charlie and Brooke Sheen allowed to see each other; Brooke Sheen wants case dismissed
ASPEN, Colo. - Charlie Sheen and his wife were reunited Monday after a judge modified a restraining order and allowed them them to work out their differences following a Christmas Day domestic violence dispute in which the actor allegedly pinned his spouse on a bed with a knife to her throat. The couple hugged in court, and Brooke Mueller Sheen's attorney, Yale Galanter, said they hugged again and kissed in the basement of the 19th century Pitkin County Courthouse after the brief hearing before leaving in separate vehicles. They planned to fly out of Aspen together, and Galanter said he has asked prosecutors to drop the case.
      

'Dear John' delivers No. 1 debut with $30.5M; 'Avatar' slips to 2nd with $22.9M
LOS ANGELES - The romantic drama "Dear John" has knocked the sci-fi blockbuster "Avatar" off its No. 1 box-office perch. "Dear John" debuted with US$30.5 million, nudging "Avatar" to second-place with $22.9 million.
      

Journalist Ian Brown wins $25,000 Charles Taylor Prize for non-fiction
TORONTO - Journalist Ian Brown won the $25,000 Charles Taylor Prize for literary non-fiction Monday for his touching book about his child's rare genetic mutation. "The Boy in the Moon: A Father's Search for His Disabled Son" profiles 13-year-old Walker, who has cardio-facio-cutaneous (CFC) and is frail, mentally delayed and unable to communicate.
      

Oscar-nominated director Lee Daniels to take part in Toronto Black History panel
TORONTO - Oscar-nominated director Lee Daniels will be in Toronto on Tuesday to take part in a panel discussion celebrating Black History Month. The American filmmaker will be joined by Canadian directors Norman Jewison and Clement Virgo ("Poor Boy's Game") at the event, which is being hosted by the Canadian Film Centre.
      

Super Bowl surpasses 'M-A-S-H' finale as most-watched TV show ever in US
NEW YORK - An estimated one in two Canadians tuned into the Super Bowl Sunday, which was watched by more than 106 million people in the U.S., surpassing the ratings for the 1983 finale of "M-A-S-H" to become the most-watched program in U.S. television history, the Nielsen Co. said Monday. According to CTV, 6.7 million viewers watched the game on CTV and RDS while about 16.64 million viewers tuned into at least part of the broadcast.
      

Del Toro says he took 'Wolfman' movie role out of sympathy for monster's side of the story
MEXICO CITY - Actor Benicio del Toro says he signed on for the lead role in "The Wolfman" remake because he has a soft spot for monsters. The Oscar winner says the werewolf he portrays and many other dark characters in literature get a bad rap. In a Monday meeting with journalists in Mexico City, he said: "I have always been on the monsters' side."
      

Brit funnyman Ricky Gervais to receive Banff fest's comedy award in June
TORONTO - British comic Ricky Gervais is being recognized with this year's Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award at the Banff World Television Festival. The creator of the hit U.K. TV show "The Office" will be feted at the festival in June, when he's also set to discuss his career and success.
      

US actress Angelina Jolie visits Haitian earthquake survivors in Dominican hospital
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has met with hospitalized Haitian earthquake victims in the Dominican Republic. Dario Manon is a spokesman for the Dario Contrera Hospital in the capital of Santo Domingo, where dozens of survivors of the Jan. 12 earthquake in neighbouring Haiti are receiving medical help.
      

Miley Cyrus, other celebrities donate items for online auction to benefit Haiti
NEW YORK - Miley Cyrus has organized an online auction to benefit the relief effort in Haiti. Britney Spears, Hugh Jackman, Ellen DeGeneres, Julianne Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Demi Lovato and others will donate items and experiences.
      

Keith Carradine's ex-wife sentenced to community service for perjury
LOS ANGELES - Keith Carradine's ex-wife has been sentenced to community service for trying to cover up illegal wiretapping by former Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano. Sandra Carradine was sentenced Monday in federal court in Los Angeles to 400 hours of community service, two years of probation and a $10,000 fine.
      

Former child actor Gary Coleman pleads guilty to misdemeanour criminal mischief
SALT LAKE CITY - Former child television star Gary Coleman pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanour criminal mischief charge related to a domestic violence incident last April. In a deal with the prosecutor, Coleman entered the plea in Santaquin Justice Court on his 42nd birthday.
      

Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde a whirlwind of activity
MONTREAL - Chrissie Hynde is one busy woman these days. The lead singer of the Pretenders has finished recording an album with Welsh singer-songwriter J.P. Jones and has just contributed to a Haitian relief song featuring the likes of Nick Cave, ex-Clash guitarist Mick Jones, former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock and Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan.
      

Andre Leon Talley added to 'America's Next Top Model' judging panel
LOS ANGELES - Andre Leon Talley will help crown "America's Next Top Model." The over-the-top 60-year-old Vogue editor-at-large will join Tyra Banks, photographer Nigel Barker and a weekly guest judge on the panel of the 14th season of the CW modeling competition (premiering March 10 at 8 p.m. EST), the network announced Monday.
      

Ballet featuring White Stripes music featured in National's 2010-11 season
TORONTO - The award-winning ballet "Chroma," featuring music by the White Stripes, and a new full-length interpretation of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" are among productions in the National Ballet of Canada's 2010-11 season, the company announced Monday. British choreographer Wayne McGregor's "Chroma," to be staged Nov. 24-28, was created in 2006 for the Royal Ballet and won a Laurence Olivier Award for best new dance production.
      

'Modern Family' redefines family comedy in freshman year on ABC
LOS ANGELES - A young man arrived at Ty Burrell's hotel room to stock the minibar and immediately recognized the co-star of the ABC comedy "Modern Family." He loved the show.
      

Super Bowl sets record with 48 minutes of ads
NEW YORK - In the U.S., commercials took up nearly 48 minutes of the big Super Bowl game, the most ever. Research firm Kantar Media says the amount of ads that aired on CBS was nearly three minutes longer than last year's total, the previous record holder.
      

Backed by an authentic sound, Bridges hits a career high note in 'Crazy Heart'
NASHVILLE - When director Scott Cooper approached him with the script for "Crazy Heart," Jeff Bridges turned down the part of a lifetime. Cold. Sure, the role of outlaw country burnout Bad Blake had great potential, but the project was just a hollow shell at that point.