Kodjoe Exits 'Cat,' Revival Will End in June (Playbill)
Playbill - Boris Kodjoe, the sleek actor and model known for TV's "Soul Food" and the films "All About Us" and "Madea's Family Reunion," is playing his final weekend of performances as Brick in Broadway's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof May 2-4. More »
'Panic' Is Winner of 2008 Edgar Award for Mystery Play (Playbill)
Playbill - The Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award for Best New Play was given to Joseph Goodrich for his play Panic at a May 1 ceremony in Manhattan. More »
Cameron and Ashton Bring “Vegas” to Westwood (Fashion Wire Daily)
Fashion Wire Daily - Cameron Diaz was all smiles at the red carpet premiere of her new comedy "What Happens in Vegas" at the Mann Village Theater in Westwood Thursday night, in her first public appearance since the unexpected death of her father Emilio on April 16. More »
Billboard DVD review: Josh Groban (Reuters)
Reuters - Josh Groban's third live DVD chronicles one stop during his 2007 tour in support of 2006 set "Awake," with a host of creatively retouched arrangements, world music instruments and towering vocals, testifying again that the tenor-tainer is far from your average pop star. More »
Mather suit seen focused on Pixar option practices (Reuters)
Reuters - A former Pixar Animation Studios chief financial officer, expecting a stock options backdating suit by U.S. regulators, may argue that Pixar's board, outside lawyers and auditors approved backdating long before she was hired, a source familiar with the case said. More »
TV Tidbits: Notes of Interest (Mediaweek.com)
Mediaweek.com - ION Television, the growing home of off-network product, announced its upcoming programming plans at a presentation at the famed New York Public Library in New York City. Positioned as a network for broad audiences with general entertainment appeal, ION will feature the arrival of dramas Boston Legal, ER (seasons 11-14) and The Dead Zone in 2008, and Ghost Whisperer and Criminal Minds in fall 2009 in prime-time. Two episodes of The Dead Zone will air on Thursday from 9-11 p.m. in place of Boston Legal and ER, which are scheduled Monday through Wednesday. More »
Ratings Box: What's Hot/What's Not (Mediaweek.com)
Mediaweek.com - Based on national ratings through April 22, 2008, what follows is an updated track for all syndicated game shows in households and two key demos -- women 25-54 and adults 25-54. Change versus the comparable year-ago period appears in parentheses for all established series. More »
Prime-Time Ratings: CBS Wins; ABC Poised For Victory Among Adults 18-49 (Mediaweek.com)
Mediaweek.com - -Yesterday's Winners: Survivor: Micronesia (CBS), CSI (CBS), Grey's Anatomy (ABC), The Office (NBC), Without a Trace (CBS), Lost (ABC) More »
Boston to wrap new album after summer tour (Reuters)
Reuters - Boston leader Tom Scholz tells Billboard.com that he hopes to finish recording the band's next studio album after its summer tour and release it "just after the first of the year." More »
Lil Wayne to star in sports film "Patriots" (Reuters)
Reuters - Rapper Lil Wayne will star in the New Orleans-set sports drama "Patriots" alongside Forest Whitaker and Bow Wow. More »
Parton brings crowd-pleasing country to Big Apple (Reuters)
Reuters - For a musical performer, a clearly defined persona can be just as important as talent, and after 50 years in show business, Dolly Parton possesses both in spades. Performing to an adoring sold-out crowd at Radio City, the country singer-songwriter displayed in equal parts her still beautiful soprano voice and a knack for comic shtick that makes her seem like a modern-day Minnie Pearl. More »
Tom Returns to the Scene of the Crime (E! Online)
E! Online - Tom Cruise went back to where it all began Friday. We could mockingly lead you astray for pages and pages as to what that means, but you all know: The microscopically examined movie star say down next to Oprah Winfrey today, for the first time since… yeah, that. More »
Ugly Betty Rumor Patrol (E! Online)
E! Online - Art, life and Ugly Betty. Bear with us as we try to distinguish the difference. More »
Country musician Jim Hager dies at 66 (Reuters)
Reuters - Jim Hager, who gained fame performing with his twin, Jon, on the nationally syndicated comedy and music television show "Hee Haw," has died of a heart attack, a friend said. More »
PR experts give good reviews to Cruise on Winfrey's show (AP)
AP - CHICAGO (AP) — Tom Cruise went back to where his run of negative publicity began: On a couch, next to Oprah Winfrey. But unlike his couch-jumping appearance on Winfrey's show three years ago, this time Cruise was serious, thoughtful and tried to defend his personal beliefs without seeming overbearing during an hourlong interview broadcast Friday. More »
'American Idol' top boss: Paula Abdul isn't going anywhere (AP)
AP - LOS ANGELES (AP) — For starters, Paula Abdul isn't going anywhere. "Why would we get rid of Paula?" wonders Cecile Frot-Coutaz matter-of-factly, when questioned about possibly nixing the wacky "American Idol" judge now infamous for — among other things — critiquing both of Jason Castro's songs after he'd sung only one. More »
ABC wins slow Thursday as ratings slump continues (Reuters)
Reuters - The Thursday night ratings slowdown continues. More »
Country star Rich infuriated by Abdul's "Idol" antics (Reuters)
Reuters - Country artist and upcoming "Nashville Star" judge John Rich laid into "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul for her lack of attentiveness during a recent episode. More »
Reports: Mariah Carey marries actor Nick Cannon (AP)
AP - Nick Cannon is cast as Mariah Carey's lover in her new video — but has the superstar diva given the young actor a considerably bigger role in real life? More »
Summer Movie Guide III: So-Freakin'-Funny Edition! (E! Online)
E! Online - Adam Sandler goes from spy to stylist, Steve Carell gets smart, Will Ferrell's a big loser (but what's new?), Mike Myers is here to help, Seth Rogen loses his stash, and Ben Stiller goes to war?but in a funny way. More »
Mum's the Word on Iron Man (E! Online)
E! Online - Iron Man's mouth is sealed tight. At least for now. More »
Director Brings His Kelly Bag to HSM3 (E! Online)
E! Online - Kenny Ortega is getting a glorious feeling and he's happy again. The director of the über-successful High School Musical series is once again channeling the muse?namely, his former mentor, Gene Kelly?as filming on the franchise's third installment gets underway at East High School in Salt Lake City. More »
Denzel Washington tells NY kids science is important (AP)
AP - Denzel Washington says inner-city schoolkids have to be reminded that scientists are more important than entertainers. More »
Women take the documentary helm at Tribeca fest (Reuters)
Reuters - Documentaries are the perfect genre for women, says Sheila Johnson, who produced "A Powerful Noise," a portrait of female activists and one of dozens of female-helmed documentaries playing this year at New York's Tribeca Film Festival. More »