Alex's Entertainment Report
Alex
Reader Review
''Harry Potter''
Well, since my Lord of the Rings review was so well received - think
I'll take a shot at Harry Potter.
To begin with I think the film was reasonably well cast. Ron Weasley,
for example, is the spitting image of the picture I had in my mind's
eye. Hermione might be a little too pretty (a future heartbreaker IMHO)
- it seems in the books it's always implied that she's a bit plain. I
particularly like the casting of Professor Snapes. I'm terrible with
actor's names - but he's the guy who played the Sheriff of Nottingham in
Costner's Robin Hood (about the only thing that made that movie worth
watching). The Hagrid character was also exceptionally well cast.
Like Lord of the Rings, I suppose it was inevitable that the story had
to be condensed for the screen - but once again it seems the editors
used a machete when an exacto knife was called for. The Sorcerer's Stone
is substantially shorter (312 pg)than Fellowship of the Ring (398 pg).
In addition to being shorter, the Harry Potter stories are much less
complex than Lord of the Rings. So, one is left to wonder why there was
so much condensation, and so much left out?
The matter is complicated by the fact that nearly the first third of
Sorcorer's Stone deals with Harry's early years with his aunt and uncle
- which is justifiably condensed to a few minutes at the beginning of
the film. Since the bulk of the film deals with the latter 2/3 of the
story, one wonders why so much was left out. Hagrid, for example, plays
a much bigger part in the story than the movie suggests. Some of the
best bits in the story occur in Hagrid's "Care of Magical Creatures"
class.
And why do the female professors wear witches hats? I don't recall
that they are ever identified in Rowling's tales as being witches. Both
genders are referred to as wizards. Indeed - stereotyping even extends
into our fantasy world!
On the plus side - I thought the Quidditch (sp?) match was handled
fairly well. I wondered how they would pull that off.
In the end - I suspect the movie played well to its intended audience
- adolescents and children. For those of us who are enchanted by the
idea a wizards and magic however, it left much to be desired.
~~ Brad
Thanks, Brad! Great job, again!
The resident 9-year old has shown absolutely NO interest in Harry Potter. It's not
like all the books aren't here--his grandmother (the retired school teacher) has seen to that. Oh well, he had
the same attitude about Pokemon. However, he loves Tolkien, reveres Steven Spielberg & worships George Lucas.
It could be worse. ; )
Rolling Stone Magazine's Critics Poll
U2 & Dylan
Irish rockers U2 topped Rolling Stone magazine's critics poll for band of the year, while Bob Dylan nabbed
the artist-of-the-year and album awards.
The magazine detailed its best picks for 2001 in its current issue, which hit news stands Friday.
The Rolling Stone critics poll was conducted by six staffers, and a magazine spokeswoman said the inclusion of the
Jagger album was their decision.
U2's ``Elevation'' tour was named best tour by the Rolling Stone critics, while frontman Bono was best male
performer. No Doubt's Gwen Stefani was voted best female performer. According to Spin, British band Radiohead was the best live act.
Rolling Stone's other choices:
- best new artist: Alicia Keys
- best R&B artist: Aaliyah
- best rock artist: Linkin Park
- best dressed: Gwen Stefani
- best video: ``Weapon of Choice'' (Fatboy Slim)
- best hard rock artist: Slipknot
- year's biggest hype: the end of irony.
Rolling Stone Magazine's Critics Poll
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Didn't really get around to TV til nearly the end of primetime...ended up at CBS
for '48 Hours', and finally, an 'official' explanation of why Vanessa Leggett
was held in prison for nearly half a year, and how she may end up back there. And I thought PA
left a lot to be desired!
Tom Cruise was making the rounds today...was on 'The View' in the am, and
'Dave' much later. Sad they couldn't come up with different clips to show.
Today, Saturday, AMC is replicating a 60's Saturday Afternoon on TV with lots
of wonderfully cheesy movies - 'Earth vs. The Spider', 'Deadly Mantis', and
'Tarantula' (as they said in 'Rocky Horror - 'Leo G. Carroll was over a barrel, when
Tarantula took to the hills') - look for a very young Clint Eastwood as one of the
pilots out to bomb the really big spider.
CBS is all fresh tonight - 'Touched By An Angle', 'That's Life', and
'The District'.
NBC has a re-re-re-regurgitation of the Kevin Costner-Whitney Houston film, 'The Bodyguard'.
ABC has a wildcard playoff that dismembers primetime.
TCM has 'Double Indemnity', where Fred MacMurray plays a real shit, Barbara Stanwyck
loves it, and Edward G. Robinson, at his subtle best, is the good guy. It's followed by 'The Egg & I', also
starring Fred MacMurray - this is the movie that sprang Ma & Pa Kettle. Marjorie Main & Percy
Kilbride at their best.
Anyone have any opinions?
Or reviews?
(See below for addresses)
Yoweeee!
Chinese Acrobat
A Chinese acrobat contorts her body during a performance in the southern city of Guangzhou January 10, 2002.
Chinese acrobats are famous for their flexibility and strength and frequently tour the world, dazzling audiences
with amazing feats.
Updated!
BartCop TV!
Visit the site at BC TV
The 'Vidiot' never seems to rest - and doesn't let little things like laundry or
housekeeping get in the way!
Damn near every show on TV must is listed - days & days worth of great reading.
If you have any questions about nearly any tv program, check out
BC TV!
Newest Star On The Hollywood Walk of Fame
Muhammad Ali
The greatest star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame belonged to Muhammad Ali on Friday.
That's because the champ insisted his star be installed on the wall of the new Kodak Theater complex instead of being embedded
in the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard with the other 2,188 famous names.
Ali said he didn't want to be walked on by people who "disrespect him."
"All my life, growing up as a little boy, I always said if I could get famous I would do things to help my people that other
people won't do," the boxer said. "I don't care about being famous. I care about getting the ear of people, because if people
hear truth, some will accept it."
During the ceremony, Ali smiled and waved at hundreds of fans in the crowd and clowned with friends.
Among the celebrities at the unveiling were the stars of "Ali," including Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles
and director Michael Mann.
Over the decades, Ali, who now trembles and has difficulty walking due to Parkinson's disease, became one of sport's
most beloved figures and is often ranked as the greatest athlete of the past century.
Muhammad Ali
Phil Spector & Allen Klein
Paul McCartney
Pop legend Paul McCartney was so furious about changes a top producer made to one of his hit songs that he sent
a scathing rebuke to his lawyer that no one should ever be allowed to tamper with his music again.
In 30-year-old correspondence released by the British public record office, the former Beatle ended a letter to
lawyer Allen Klein with ``don't ever do it again'' after Klein appointed superstar pop producer Phil Spector to
work on ``The Long and Winding Road,'' the group's last number one hit in America.
``In future no one will be allowed to add or subtract from a recording of one of my songs without my permission,''
McCartney said in the letter, the Guardian newspaper reported on Saturday.
McCartney said he hated the string accompaniment Spector put on the single.
Not A 'Wall Of Sound' Fan
Refuse To Be Shaken Down By A Mouse
The Olsen Twins
Twin teen tycoons Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have dropped a double-whammy on cable's ABC Family Channel, pulling
out of their successful sitcom "So Little Time" after just two seasons.
"Time" was one of the channel's highest-rated shows and a carry-over from before ABC bought the family-oriented
programming channel from Fox last year.
According to trade reports, the new management at ABC Family wanted to keep "Time" on the schedule, but the
twins - who own their own production company - were asking for too much money to bring the series back for another year.
ABC Family regularly snares its biggest audiences when it airs "Time" and other Olsen-related programming. To
wit, ABC Family ran its fifth Olsen Twins marathon of 2001 on New Year's Eve.
Twins Show Spine!
Hotel Maid Fired, Blames Britney
Danzel Neal
A maid at Boston's ritzy Ritz-Carlton says she was fired after she called Britney Spears' room last month and demanded
an apology because one of the pop star's security guards flashed her!
Danzel Neal said she got her walking papers after her bosses scolded her for bothering Britney.
``It's not fair,'' Neal told the Track. ``I don't think I did nothing wrong. This is making me feel very low, very bad.''
Hotel Maid Fired, Blames Britney
New!
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
``Prairie de Limetz''
Claude Monet
A painting by Claude Monet not seen in public for more than a century was unveiled Friday ahead of an auction
to be held next month.
``Prairie de Limetz'' is expected to fetch up to $4.32 million at a sale of Impressionist and modern art at
Christie's auction house in London on Feb. 4, the gallery said.
Monet's painting depicts the iconic poplar trees on the bank of the River Epte near the artist's home in Giverny, France.
The oil on canvas work was purchased directly from his studio shortly after he painted it in 1888 and
has not been on public display since 1889.
Claude Monet
The Ever-Fabulous Cindy Adams Interviews....
Sir Ian McKellen
Broadway's Ian McKellen-Helen Mirren hit drama "Dance of Death" closes Sunday. "It was 16 weeks," McKellen told
me. "A limited run was always the intention."
Right. So Sir Ian, hon, you ever blow a performance?
"No. Once, as a young actor playing 'Ascent of Flowers' in the West End, I suffered a bad flu. The stage manager
asked, 'You sure you're not well enough to perform?' when I had to stay home that night. That was the performance
Laurence Olivier attended because he needed an actor for 'Much Ado About Nothing' at the National Theater and
Maggie Smith had recommended me."
Right. So what's next for the Shakespearean thespian, multiple awardee, knight of the realm, lord of the blockbuster
"The Lord of the Rings" who's about to be unemployed?
"Off to L.A. to wave the flag and support all the fun and games for 'The Lord of the Rings.' "
"Being recognized on the street is a new thing in my life, y'know. At one point, two policemen had to guard me
when fans shouted, 'Gandalf!' Even cinema audiences came to the play to see Gandalf. I well remember the days I,
too, stood outside with my autograph book. It's all so new to me that I find fans and autographers no nuisance,
even when they all have some little story to tell about having seen you doing something somewhere."
On the experiences of knighthood: "Recently, I discussed that with Ben Kingsley, who is also now a sir. I asked
what's it feel like to him? He said, 'Very warm.' I thought, in those old days the honors went to such as Laurence
Olivier and Alec Guinness and now it's us.
Ian McKellen
Liberal Radio !
Erin Hart
Liberal radio - what a concept!
Back to the usual time slot with the usual suspects--the Atty. General has recused himself from the Enron case--President
Bush is busy backpedaling--is this a tsunami that makes Whitewater look like a trickle?
And the latest on the Thomas Junta case; he is the hockey dad who killed a fellow spectator during their sons' match.
Is sports rage a defense?
Plus the jury is being selected in the case of Andrea Yates, who has confessed to the murder of her five children--is
insanity due to post-partum psychosis acceptable?
On the Seattle waterfront, Mayor Nickel has come out like gangbusters--is the City Council one of them? or is this the decisive Mayor many wanted.
That and the latest war news, and features. "Where in the World is. . . Dick Cheney?"--you might be surprised.
Plus "Tomorrow's News Today" and the "Bash". Join us!
Erin Hart at regulation time (9 pm to 1 am [pst] Sat & Sun ) on www.710kiro.com or www.kiro710.com (It's
a browser thing).
And there's a chatroom, too!
For more details, visit Erin's homepage, http://www.erinistas.com/, or to join her mailing list, drop a
note to erinistas@aol.com
102 Sexiest Women in the World
Britney Is #1 (!)
Britney Spears has all the right stuff for Stuff magazine, which put her No. 1 on its 102 Sexiest Women in the World list.
Following hard on her shapely rear are, respectively, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Heather Graham and Alyssa Milano.
Elsewhere on the Stuff list are Angelina Jolie (No. 6), Halle Berry (15), Courteney Cox (18) and Penelope Cruz (23).
Finishing dead last (102) is a 27-year-old model/singer/actress named Caprice.
102 Sexiest Women in the World
Star Wars: Episode II--Attack of the Clones
No 'N Sync?
'N Sync-er Joey Fatone, called into Tampa, Florida, radio station WFLZ-FM this week to personally deliver
the bad news that a battle-scene cameo they shot for Star Wars: Episode II--Attack of the Clones has been cut because of the subsequent fan uproar.
"I'm going to make it officially known that they dropped it because people made a big deal about it," said Fatone, who
sounded a tad perturbed about the development. "We're not going to be in it, and I'm not going to comment on it any more."
Even if they do make the final cut when Episode II is released May 16, don't expect the on-screen cameo to be very
noticeable. Despite rumors that George Lucas cast the boys to appease his boy-band-crazy daughters, Lance Bass told
Entertainment Weekly that he and his bandmates were enlisted for the scene while they were at Lucas' California sound
studios last fall working on their concert video Pop Odyssey Live.
A Lucasfilm rep denies that public criticism will have any effect on whether the boys stay or go from the
film. "George makes all his decisions himself. And the final edit of the film is what he determines it will be."
Star Wars: Episode II--Attack of the Clones
Sounds Like An Old Randy Newman Song
Michael Caine
Michael Caine thinks Tinseltown is turning into Tinytown. Caine, who's 6-foot-2, is amazed by the success of
short guys in Hollywood. "I think Ewan McGregor, Stephen Dorff, Joaquin Phoenix, Ryan Phillipe and Tobey Maguire
are wonderful actors," he told the London Express. "There are many other fine actors in Hollywood. But . . . I've
never seen a tall one.
It seems to me that there's a generation of very talented small people . . . maybe they are more ambitious because
they are more angry because they are short."
Michael Caine
``A Prairie Home Companion'' Weekend
Garrison Keillor
Some 300 visitors from around the country will experience an above-average weekend, thanks to Garrison Keillor and Minnesota Public Radio.
On a Dec. 15 broadcast of ``A Prairie Home Companion,'' Keillor invited fans outside Minnesota to spend a Wobegon Weekend in St. Paul in February.
Participation was limited to 300 people - 100 from the East, West and South. Within hours of Keillor's announcement, all
the spaces for the East were filled, and the rest of the country was sold out in less than two days. Package prices started
at $350 per person, plus airfare.
The Wobegon Weekend kicks off with a supper hosted by Keillor in a church basement on Friday, Feb. 8. The menu includes
Minnesota's favorite food, hotdish.
On Saturday, Feb. 9, participants have their choice of local tours before attending a performance of ``A Prairie Home
Companion'' at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, followed by a dessert reception.
An ice-fishing expedition on White Bear Lake rounds out the weekend on Sunday.
``A Prairie Home Companion'' Weekend
Getting 8 Percent Of The Gross
Matt Damon
It seems that hunky star Matt Damon has learned to concentrate on his acting and leave the financial decisions to
wiser heads. Matt took a bit of a bath when he invested with flaky downtown money guru Dante Gianchetto, although
he did get most of his money back before Dante was exposed and jailed as a charlatan running a Ponzi scheme.
(Matt's then-girlfriend, Winona Ryder, to whom he introduced Dante, wasn't able to get out in time, which is maybe
why she's now an alleged shoplifter.)
Anyway, Damon got good advice on his current movie, "Ocean's Eleven," and took
a pittance up front in exchange for 8 percent of the gross profit. The caper movie looks like it will end up doing
half a billion worldwide, and Damon could earn $20 million - more than he made off of his last three pictures combined.
Stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts apparently also went the 8 percent route, so don't be surprised
if some very creative accounting occurs down the road in an effort to reduce their take.
Getting 8 Percent Of The Gross
New! Updated!
(10 Dec., 2001)
The official BartCop Astrologer, Geneva, has done good, again!
Very interesting reading!
Dead Artist In ''Vanilla Sky''
Robert Rauschenberg
The familiar-looking fellow who plays Tom Cruise's dead dad in "Vanilla Sky" isn't some old character actor - it's
Robert Rauschenberg. Director Cameron Crowe dug up some vintage '60s footage of the famed painter for the
part. Crowe also used a giant portrait of the young Rauschenberg on the set. "We signed a release," a rep at the
artist's Florida studio told artnet.com. "But no one's seen the film." Maybe they read Post critic Jonathan Foreman's
review labeling it "surprisingly vulgar," "convoluted," "saggy" and "irritating."
Dead Artist In ''Vanilla Sky''
Likes ''Scrubs''
Noah Wyle
``ER'' isn't the only doctor show that star Noah Wyle watches. He thinks ``Scrubs'' is very funny.
``They've got the great benefit of having eight years of our storytelling to make fun of,'' Wyle said. ``I wish
that I could sort of slip them some story lines because I know I've got some good ones for them.''
Wyle, the drama's Dr. John Carter, soon will be the last of four original male stars of the show. Eriq LaSalle
exited earlier this season and Anthony Edwards does the same in a few months, following George Clooney out the door.
Noah Wyle
''Survivor 4'' Is Already In The Can
Nuku Hiva
The next edition of "Survivor" is going back to an island - this time the lush, tropical
isle of Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas island chain of French Polynesia.
It is set to debut in just eight weeks, on Feb. 28.
Filming for "Survivor 4" was completed before Christmas, according to sources close to the show.
And applications for "Survivor 5" - which reportedly is set for a site in the Amazon - opened this week on
CBS's website. The fourth edition of the show was initially titled "Survivor: Arabia" and had been scheduled to tape in Jordan.
The new "Survivor" island, Nuku Hiva, is located in the same island chain as Tahiti. It was formed by two
concentric volcanoes and measures 11 miles by about 9 miles.
It is home to the highest waterfall in the South Pacific and the third highest in the world. Authors Herman
Melville and Robert Louis Stevenson visited the island and the region was the setting for Melville's novel
"Typee." It was also a favorite of 19th century painter, Paul Gaugin.
Nuku Hiva
Admits ''Fox Went A Little Overboard''
Sandy Grushow Cringed
Fox went a little overboard at first with its ``virtual billboards'' promoting programs during the World
Series, the network's chief said Friday.
Sandy Grushow, chairman of Fox television, said he cringed the first night he saw an ``Ally McBeal'' ad behind home plate.
``It was pretty clear to anybody who was watching that having the image of Calista Flockhart didn't exactly feel
appropriate,'' Grushow said at a meeting with reporters. ``And had I been able to make it go away as I was sitting
in my own living room, I certainly would have.''
He went in the office the next day and ordered his promotions department to be more subtle.
``Do we think it was effective?'' Grushow said. ``Absolutely. Every little bit helps. It didn't hurt.''
``Virtual Billboards''
Short AND Obnoxious?
Russell Crowe
If Russell Crowe is surly to his adoring fans, imagine how rude he is to the strippers at Scores. The irascible
Aussie has visited the mammary mecca five times, said one insider: "The girls are surprised at how short he is,
and how obnoxious." Crowe allegedly spent $5,000 on three strippers when he was in around Christmas. After
pressuring the dancers to remove their g-strings, which is forbidden, he asked them to join him later in his
hotel room. But, "he got turned down big-time." Scores spokesman Lonnie Hanover offered a
Sphinx-like comment: "As far as Scores is concerned, we love his movies."
Russell Crowe
``Unwilling Shills''
Jennifer & Brad
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston have resolved their lawsuit against a jeweler over claims she made the Hollywood couple
``unwilling shills'' for wedding rings, representatives for both sides said Friday.
The agreement calls for movie heartthrob Pitt, 38, to design an exclusive jewelry collection for Silvia Damiani and
for Aniston, 32, who stars on the hit NBC comedy ``Friends,'' to appear in advertisements for the pricey Italian jeweler.
The couple last July filed a $50 million federal lawsuit against Damiani -- charging that after the jeweler and Pitt
designed exclusive rings for his Malibu wedding with Aniston, the jeweler marketed copies on the Internet and used
the stars' names and faces for publicity.
Jennifer & Brad - Jennifer & Brad
She Who Shames The Name ''Martha''
That Stewart Woman
Did Martha Stewart cash in $45 million worth of her stock because Christopher Byron's book, "Martha Inc.," is coming out in eight weeks?
Byron, the veteran business writer who recently joined The Post, delves into Stewart's humble beginnings, as well as
her sharp business practices. The revelations could impact the value of her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSO),
whose share price has dropped 20 percent in the past year.
Byron and Stewart were neighbors when they met for the first time at a Gold's Gym where they both worked out in Fairfield,
Conn. Byron initially had Stewart's cooperation - until his researcher began digging into her past.
Stewart, 60, continues to hold more than 60 percent of the company's stock - under pressure because Kmart,
which has the exclusive deal to sell Stewart's merchandise, is reeling.
"Her business is completely dependent on Kmart," said one source. "Kmart is in trouble, so Martha Stewart is in trouble."
That Stewart Woman
''Jury Duty Notification'' Hoax
From The WB
The WB wishes to inform you that you have been selected for jury duty by the state Superior Court.
But it's all a joke.
Some people weren't laughing, however, when they received the e-mailed hoax sent as a promotion for the new
practical-joke program "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment."
Nearly 7 million subscribers to the eUniverse humor Web site were sent the phony summons, which had a subject
line, "Jury Duty Notification," and a bogus court seal.
WB officials declined to say whether the "jury notification" hoaxes would continue.
''Jury Duty Notification'' Hoax
''Self-Defeating Personality Disorder''
Rene Elizondo & Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson's ex-husband claims he was putty in her hands because of something called "Self-Defeating Personality
Disorder," which makes him susceptible to "being manipulated, exploited and unduly influenced." Rene Elizondo says
in court papers that Jackson exploited his malleable mental state by pressuring him to forgo writing credits on 37
of her songs and forcing him to sign an iron-clad pre-nup, reports Court TV's The Smoking Gun Web site.
Elizondo, who was secretly married to Jackson for nine years before divorcing her in 2000, will get a chance to tell his sob
story to a judge in May, when the messy divorce trial finally starts. Meanwhile, Jackson, whose reported $80 million
deal with Virgin Records makes her one of the highest-paid recording artists ever, is on the prowl for a new man - but
not a husband. "I'd like to be in love," Jackson recently told an interviewer, then quickly added, "I don't want to get married, though."
Rene Elizondo & Janet Jackson
BC Entertainment Favorite Link
Moose & Squirrel Information One-Stop
http://geocities.com/mooseandsquirrel1
What a great site! Information and reference materials of the first order!
Between 'Moose & Squirrel'
and 'Google', who needs daddy drudge!
Cutting 300 Jobs At 'ABC Family'
Walt Disney Co.
The Walt Disney Co. will cut about 300 jobs -- or half the work force -- at its newly acquired ABC Family cable
network, as Disney integrates the channel with its other TV properties, a source familiar with the situation said Thursday.
Employees at ABC Family, which Disney bought in November as part of a $5.2 billion deal, were told on Thursday
they will learn their job status early next week, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The source said the job cuts will affect all areas of ABC Family, and will take effect over the next few weeks.
The decision on which jobs to cut was made after several months of consideration by Disney executives,
who started weighing the situation when talks first began with Fox Family Worldwide, the Disney executive said.
ABC Family reaches 84 million homes. The channel carries a mix of family entertainment and some Christian
programming. Disney has also said it will use the channel for some sports and second runs of programs that
have already aired on ABC.
Another Useless Cable Channel
2 Shows, 1 Premise
''The Chair'' vs ''The Chamber''
After learning that ABC plans to bow its new quizzer ``The Chair'' on Tuesday, Fox execs decided to move up the premiere of
their similarly themed ``The Chamber'' to this Sunday at 8 p.m. from Jan. 20. The short notice gives Fox hardly any time to
promote the premiere, but almost certainly ensures it'll beat ABC on the air with its show.
Insiders said it's virtually impossible that ABC could get ``The Chair'' ready for broadcast Friday night or Saturday.
Fox has provided only sketchy details about the content of ``The Chamber,'' but ABC insiders believe it borrows
several key elements from ``The Chair.''
Execs at ``Chair'' producer Touchdown Prods. are so convinced ``Chamber'' is a clone, they've sued Fox and producer
Dick Clark for copyright infringement. Fox insiders have said ``Chamber'' is a distinct program from ``The Chair.''
Fox will preempt ``King of the Hill'' and ``Futurama'' this Sunday and run double episodes of ``The Simpsons'' from
7-8 p.m. to make room for ``The Chamber.'' The reality series will get another Sunday airing Jan. 20 at 9 p.m. ``The
Chamber'' moves to its regular slot Jan. 25, at 8 p.m., preempting ``Dark Angel,'' which gets a new 9 p.m. Friday slot on Feb. 1.
Faux & Disney Squabble
135th Overseas Tour
Ray Charles
Music legend Ray Charles is ready to hit the road, Jack, for the 135th overseas tour of his career.
The 71-year-old singer and musician will head to Australia for a series of concerts in February following a
one-night appearance at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles with country star Willie Nelson, Charles' publicist said Thursday.
Overcoming grinding childhood poverty and blind since the age of 6, Charles was performing professionally by
the time he was 16 years old. In addition to piano, he plays the organ, saxophone and clarinet.
He has earned a dozen Grammy Awards and was among the first wave of artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Ray Charles
New Musical - ''Taboo''
Boy George
A musical penned by flamboyant 80s singer Boy George opens on London's West End on Monday.
In addition to being an entirely new show -- Boy George penned 21 new songs for it -- ``Taboo'' has had to overcome
technical difficulties associated with its brand-new venue, a spokeswoman told Reuters on Friday.
``Taboo,'' named after the London nightclub where Boy George spent much of his youth, is loosely based on the singer's
rollercoaster life of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll with chart-topping 80s band Culture Club.
It tells the story of a young fortune seeker to 1980s London and the colorful characters he meets -- including the
cultural icon of the day, Boy George. But the singer and club DJ, famous for his over-the-top makeup and outrageous
outfits, will not be on stage himself. His character will be played by a lookalike.
The first preview of ``Taboo'' opens to the public on Monday with the official opening scheduled for January 29.
Boy George, Playwright
40 Years Ago...
James Bond
The world's favorite secret agent is to jump back into action, with filming on the 20th installment of James Bond's
adventures starting at Pinewood Studios near London, the film's production company said. ''We're thrilled to start
filming on what promises to be one of the greatest Bond films ever,'' Barbara Broccoli, whose EON company is
producing the film, said in a statement on Friday.
Friday saw a glamorous launch party with the studio's celebration of the start of Bond's new film coinciding with the
40th anniversary of the first, 1962's ``Dr No,'' which featured Sean Connery taking on the villain of the title.
The new film, still untitled, stars Pierce Brosnan in his fourth Bond outing, with Halle Berry as the feisty female lead.
Judi Dench returns as Bond's boss, and John Cleese makes his second appearance designing 007's gadgets in ``Q'' branch.
40th Anniversary Production
60th Birthday Celebration
Stephen Hawking
Professor Stephen Hawking, the best-selling cosmologist diagnosed with a crippling muscle disease as a young
student and given only a few years to live, celebrated his 60th birthday Friday.
To mark the milestone, Hawking reviewed his life and research into the nature of the universe before an all-star
cast of physicists gathered in the ancient university town of Cambridge.
Hardly able to move, Hawking spoke through a computerized voice synthesizer he has used since undergoing a
tracheotomy after catching pneumonia in 1985.
Born on January 8, 1942, Hawking showed signs of genius from an early age.
He effortlessly won a first class honors degree in physics at Oxford University. Yet even as he embarked on his
brilliant graduate career at Cambridge, he became affected by the illness that was to condemn him to an adult life in a wheelchair.
Noticing that he was getting more and more clumsy for no apparent reason, he went to the family doctor. Tests
conducted soon after his 21st birthday revealed he had a devastating muscle wasting illness, motor neurone disease.
Hawking has gone on to write countless scientific papers and books, received 12 honorary degrees and become Cambridge's
Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, a post held by Sir Isaac Newton over 300 years ago.
In his lecture, entitled ``60 Years in a Nutshell'' -- a reference to his latest book ``The Universe in a Nutshell,''
Hawking joked that he nearly failed to make it to his own birthday party after crashing his wheelchair, ``Quantum Jazzy,'' into a wall.
``It was nearly 59.97 years in a nutshell,'' he said.
Stephen Hawking
An 'Order', Not A Request
Blaming The Red Cross
Most major news organizations Friday were abiding by an order from Pentagon officials not to transmit images
of masked and chained prisoners in Afghanistan shot the previous day.
But CBS News, which had planned to air footage on Friday's ``Early Show,'' then reconsidered, did include
grainy clips less than 10 seconds long on the ``Evening News.''
CNN didn't air its footage, though it did show images shot Wednesday of masked prisoners.
Rob Curtis, a photographer for The Army Times who often takes photos for The Associated Press, said he objected
to being barred from transmitting photos he had taken of the prisoners' departure.
The AP is protesting the Pentagon's action.
Photographers and camera crews from CNN, CBS, The Army Times and other organizations were allowed to take pictures
of the 20 prisoners in Kandahar as they boarded a C-17 cargo plane for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But the journalists
had to agree not to transmit the images until military officials gave them permission.
Shortly after the plane left the airport, the organizations were told not to send the images.
A Pentagon spokesman said the decision was made because the Red Cross raised an objection, contending the images
would violate international laws on the treatment of prisoners.
``The Geneva Convention prohibits humiliating, debasing photos,'' said Rear Adm. Craig Quigley. ``We need to be
cautious in case there is a legal action somewhere downstream.''
Officials at the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva said the organization had not contacted the
Pentagon about photographs taken in Afghanistan.
Blaming The Red Cross
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Still MISSING
Marc Chagall's "Study for 'Over Vitebsk'"
