New `Ballo' production aims to shock and inspire (AP)
AP - A new staging of Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera" has been retooled for shock value, moving the setting to the smoking ruins of the World Trade Center and inserting liberal doses of flabby flesh and Hitler in drag. More »
Lou Reed to host satellite radio show on Sirius (Reuters)
Reuters - Rocker Lou Reed is taking a walk on the wild side to Sirius Satellite Radio Inc, where he will host his own weekly show, the company said. More »
Rihanna tops U.S. singles chart for third time (Reuters)
Reuters - R&B singer Rihanna's "Take a Bow" soared 52 places to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart Thursday, the second-biggest jump to the top in the chart's 50-year history. More »
Shakira campaigns for poor children (Reuters)
Reuters - Colombian pop singer Shakira is using her fame to help poor Latin American children, but she also has her heart set on a new role -- mother to her own offspring. More »
Pearl Jam says new album in "very infant stages" (Reuters)
Reuters - Pearl Jam has started work on a new album, but it's still in "its very infant stages" according to the rock group's lead guitarist, Mike McCready. More »
Ricci to star in "Long Time Gone" (Reuters)
Reuters - Former "Las Vegas" actress Molly Sims has joined the cast of the indie drama "Hickory Nation." More »
Hollywood losing faith in spiritual movies (Reuters)
Reuters - When director Andrew Adamson began promoting "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," which opens in theaters Friday, he prepared for specific questions about the Christian audience that helped 2005's "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" gross $292 million at the domestic box office. More »
"Reprise" a bold debut for Norwegian filmmaker (Reuters)
Reuters - Style trumps content in "Reprise," an audacious feature debut by Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier. More »
Israeli filmmaker revisits his wartime experiences (Reuters)
Reuters - "Waltz With Bashir," a self-styled "animated documentary" from Israeli television director Ari Folman, adds its voice to the maelstrom that has swarmed through Middle Eastern politics for decades. More »
Al Green to scoop lifetime gong
US soul singer Al Green will be honoured with a lifetime achievement prize at the BET awards in June. More »
Top Hollywood agent Cowan dies
Hollywood agent Warren Cowan, who represented stars such as Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor, dies. More »
Stars' private eye found guilty
US celebrity private eye Anthony Pellicano is found guilty of racketeering and conspiracy charges. More »
Parker 'loves' her City co-stars
Sarah Jessica Parker denies there is a rift with her co-stars in the Sex And The City film on Jonathan Ross' TV show. More »
Actors 'to resume contract talks'
Contract talks between the actors union and the Hollywood studios will resume by 28 May, according to reports. More »
DeGeneres, de Rossi plan to marry, AP is told (AP)
AP - LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ellen DeGeneres is putting the California Supreme Court ruling in favor of gay marriage into action — she and Portia de Rossi plan to wed, DeGeneres announced during a taping of her talk show. More »
USOC still working on TV network for Beijing (AP)
AP - The U.S. Olympic Committee's aggressive plan to start its own cable network is moving forward, though officials are giving no indications that the network will be on the air before the Beijing Olympics, as the federation had once hoped. More »
Fox yells "cut" on commercials (Reuters)
Reuters - Fox Broadcasting said Thursday it would drastically reduce the commercial levels of two upcoming action dramas -- "Fringe" and "Dollhouse" -- in an effort to reinvigorate broadcast television. More »
Fans rip Radiohead after rain-drenched concert (Reuters)
Reuters - British rock band Radiohead's rain-drenched show near Washington D.C. last weekend has triggered an Internet-driven firestorm, with message boards and the blogosphere lighting up amid fan frustration. More »
Metallica play club show, eye fall tour (Reuters)
Reuters - Metallica will launch a tour in October, a month after the rock titans release their first album in five years, drummer Lars Ulrich revealed during a rare club show in Los Angeles Wednesday. More »
Filmmaker Salles focuses on Brazil in new movie (Reuters)
Reuters - Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles' career has been characterized by implausibilities. More »
Documentary revives debate about religious satire (Reuters)
Reuters - Do we have the right to caricature God? This and other questions involving religion and freedom of speech raised by the controversial Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed are examined by "It's Tough Being Loved by Jerks." More »
"Kung Fu Panda" a martial arts masterpiece (Reuters)
Reuters - Martial arts movies have always had a certain cartoonish element, so DreamWorks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda" makes perfect sense. More »
"Sex and the City" girls flabby on big screen (Reuters)
Reuters - Big is not necessarily better for the highly anticipated "Sex and the City" movie, which reaches theaters on May 30. More »
Country star Shania Twain, husband splitting up (AP)
AP - TORONTO (AP) — Shania Twain and husband-producer Robert "Mutt" Lange are splitting up after 14 years of marriage. The 42-year-old Canadian country superstar and 59-year-old Lange married in 1993 and have a 6-year-old son named Eja. Her publicist provided no further details Thursday about the couple's breakup. More »
