Johansson replaces Winslet in Allen film

"Lost in Translation" star Scarlett Johansson is replacing Kate Winslet in the lead role of Woody Allen's new film, Variety reports.

The untitled film, which also stars Emily Motimer and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, begins shooting in July and August in London.

Winslet decided to drop out of the movie to spend more time with her family.

The film marks the first time Woody Allen has headed up a movie+ entirely outside New York.

There Can Be Only One Bond, James Bond

Clive Owen told About.com that despite rumors he won't be playing 007 any time soon. TheRuggedElegance website is saying that the new 007 just might be Adrian Paul (HIGHLANDER).

Rowling Announces Title of Potter Book

NEW YORK - No word yet on when the next Harry Potter book comes out, but at least there's a title: "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince."

"Well the door opened at last and I showed you the title of book six — the genuine title, the title that will appear on the published book, the title I have been using in my head for ages and ages," author J.K. Rowling wrote on her Web site.

The British author's U.S. publisher, Scholastic, confirmed the title on Tuesday.

A previous posting on Rowling's site, listed under "Gossip," had led some fans to believe the book would be called "Harry Potter and the Pillar of Storge." Rowling dismissed that title as laughable.

The most recent Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," was released last summer. The paperback comes out Aug. 10 with a first printing of 2 million.

Can 'Spider-Man 2' Break Own Records?

LOS ANGELES - Peter Parker is older, wiser and better-equipped to navigate the web of pitfalls that accompany the superhero life. The real issue is: Can he manage a raise in pay?

"Spider-Man 2" arrives Wednesday with a huge box-office legacy to live up to. The first "Spider-Man" obliterated records by selling $114.8 million in tickets over its opening weekend, almost $25 million more than the previous champ, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

With fans in a fever for the sequel, distributor Sony can count on a big return with "Spider-Man 2," whether or not the movie breaks opening-weekend records.

Yet in a town of ever-rising expectations, big sequels often are considered letdowns if they fail to exceed the take of their predecessors.

"Yes, I think for Hollywood, if this movie doesn't make, I don't know, some number they all have in their head, I don't know what it is, then it will be considered a failure," said Sam Raimi, who directed both "Spider-Man" movies and is set to make a third due out in May 2007. "If it makes above that number, I think it will be considered a success."

How "Spider-Man 2" does in relation to 2004's other top flicks also will reflect on the franchise. At $403.7 million domestically, "Spider-Man" easily held the top box-office spot among films released in 2002, finishing some $62 million ahead of its closest rival, "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers."

"Spider-Man 2" already has stiffer competition. Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" became a surprise blockbuster with $377 million. This year's top-grossing "Shrek 2" is just crossing the $400 million mark and has enough steam left to reach $425 million or more. At $108 million over its opening three-day weekend, "Shrek 2" also ran a close second to "Spider-Man" for biggest debut ever.

Tobey Maguire reprises his role as Marvel Comics youth Peter Parker, transformed by a mutant spider's bite into the superhero. Kirsten Dunst, James Franco and other co-stars also return, and Alfred Molina plays Spider-Man's new nemesis, Doc Ock.

Unlike "Spider-Man," which debuted on a Friday, "Spider-Man 2" opens on Wednesday, which could undermine its prospects for a record weekend since many fans will have seen it the first two days. The first Sunday for "Spider-Man 2" lands on the Fourth of July, a slower movie night because many people will be watching fireworks.

"Shrek 2" also opened on Wednesday and set a record for best five-day opening at $129 million, beating "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," which did $124.1 million last December. On its first Saturday, "Shrek 2" also scored the best single-day gross ever with $44.8 million, $1.2 million ahead of the previous record held by "Spider-Man."

Sony originally scheduled "Spider-Man 2" to open the Friday before July 4 then moved it up two days to get a jump on the holiday weekend. With many people off from work Monday, the studio has positioned the film for a colossal first week.

"It looks to me like Sony is trying to maximize its return over six days," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "I think it's all about that first week, not about breaking records."

"Spider-Man 2" could rake in $150 million between Wednesday and Monday, which would surpass the record $146.9 million that "The Matrix Reloaded" grossed in its first six days, Dergarabedian said.

Considering the enthusiastic early reviews, "Spider-Man 2" could end up sweeping away all the debut records. The film opens in more than 4,100 theaters, about the same as "Shrek 2" and well above the 3,615 cinemas for the first "Spider-Man."

"On box office, I'm just too superstitious to speculate. I just know we have a better movie," said Avi Arad, head of Marvel Studios and a producer on "Spider-Man 2." "The way the reviews are looking, no one is going to look at this and be saying, `You didn't live up to the first one.'"

The Couch Potato Report - June 29th, 2004

This week in The Couch Potato Report, a movie about a mountain that will leave you cold, another barbershop and 17 more episodes of a southern park.

A lot of fuss was made in back in January when the movie COLD MOUNTAIN didn’t receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. It did receive 7 nominations, but it wasn’t nominated for Best Picture.

The fuss wasn’t due to the fact that people thought an incredible picture was snubbed, instead it was due to the fact that Miramax, the studio who released it, hadn’t been able to get COLD MOUNTAIN nominated.

Going into this year’s Oscar race Miramax had an 11-year streak of fielding at least one best-picture candidate.

In the 1990s Miramax pioneered the modern marketing blitz that has become the norm for studios seeking awards attention on their films.

Miramax's campaign machine has helped produce such best-picture winners as THE ENGLISH PATIENT, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and CHICAGO, along with other Oscar successes that include GOOD WILL HUNTING, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL and THE CIDER HOUSE RULES.

This time, Miramax was unable to sway voters in favor of its Civil War film, a movie directed by Anthony Minghella, the filmmaker – and Oscar winner – behind THE ENGLISH PATIENT.

My feeling is that this time Academy voters decided to actually watch the movie in question and not just go with the hype provided by the Miramax machine.

And when they watched COLD MOUNTAIN, what they saw was a movie that is certainly not one of the Best Pictures of last year.

Not by any stretch of the imagination!

Seemingly, COLD MOUNTAIN does offer everything you'd want from a dramatic romantic movie with big name stars. Well, everything except a resonant emotional core.

Every single thing that happens in this wannabe epic depends on whether you believe the instant love that ignites during a very, very brief encounter between Nicole Kidman, a city-bred preacher's daughter and a Confederate soldier played by the Oscar nominated Jude Law.

Admittedly, Nicole looks amazing, but there is ZERO chemistry between her and Law.

That makes the fact that Law deserts the battlefield to return, weary and wounded, to Kidman on a farm in the rural town of Cold Mountain, North Carolina utterly uninteresting.

If you can’t see the two of them together, how can you care if they end up together!??!

I didn’t care. I wasn't entertained and, truth be told, I even started to lose interest in staring at Nicole Kidman. At one point I found myself wondering how her teeth stayed so white, even though she was in dirt all the time and that she wouldn't have had time for tooth paste. Did they even have tooth paste during the time when the film was taking place?

Like I said, my mind was wondering. Except when Rene Zellweger appeared on screen to help Kidman run her farm.

Zellweger won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her work and she deserved it.

Without her support COLD MOUNTAIN might have been unwatchable.

With a running time of two hours and thirty-two minutes, I was glad for every single Zellweger moment!

COLD MOUNTAIN was obviously supposed to be an example of grand, old-fashioned filmmaking, boosted by star power of the highest order.

Instead, it is a boring movie that offers no chemistry between the two lead actors.

I hate to be harsh, but COLD MOUNTAIN left me bored, and well, cold.

On the other hand, BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS warmed me up and made me laugh.

And I like to laugh.

BARBERSHOP 2 is a great sequel that delivers fresh laughs.

Yes, the plot is just about the same as the first movie - a group of likable characters at a Chicago Barbershop rise above adversity to keep their way of life - but the movie still entertains and the cast is even better since we have a few new characters, including Queen Latifah from CHICAGO and BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE. She plays Gina, the owner of a beauty shop.

For the record, Queen Latifah is currently shooting the spin off film BEAUTY SHOP.

Ice Cube, Cedric The Entertainer and Eve all return from the original and I recommend BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS if you enjoy a good laugh.

I will also sit here and recommend SOUTH PARK – THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON, a new 3-disc box set with all 17 episodes from the fourth season of the still funny TV show South Park.

While the episodes might seem less hilarious when compared to the originality of the three previous seasons, or the incredible Oscar nominated feature film that came before them, the fourth season is still very funny.

Especially during the episodes that feature a new character. A character that most fans of the series came to love: the wheelchair bound Timmy who is only capable of saying his name.

Two of the best episodes from this season are the one that sees Eric, Stan, Kyle and Kenny form their own boy band; and the episode where the truth about Mr. Garrison is finally revealed once and for all.

Should you not be a fan of SOUTH PARK, this box set and my comments won’t change your mind.

But, if you do love the show, the fourth season is a box set you’ll need to own.

As a bonus, series creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker offer up mini-commentaries on all of the episodes. Their opinions and recollections are worth the price of the set on its own.

COLD MOUNTAIN, BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS and SOUTH PARK – THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON are all available now at a video store near you.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUCH POTATO REPORT

Since the past few months have been busy for us all, I suspect that you just don’t have as much time as you’d like to have to spend watching movies.

Well, I have time and I watch movies every week!

So next week, just in case you’ve finally found some time to catch up on some of the releases you might have missed, I’m going to look back on some of the more worthy releases of the past six months.

That includes: SPELLBOUND, SWIMMING POOL, LOST IN TRANSLATION, FREAKS & GEEKS, THE OFFICE – THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON, THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE and SCTV.

It’s a look back at the six months that were (I’ll have more on those, and some
other releases), in seven days.

For now, that's this week's COUCH POTATO REPORT.

Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next week on The Couch!

New Tunes

Not much coming out today, except for the releases from two of the best Canadian bands of all time!!!

Enjoy.

Here are the new music releases for Tuesday, June 29, 2004:

FROM FIRST TO LAST Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has A Body Count (Epitaph)
LATEEF & THE CHIEF ARE MAROONS Ambush EP (Quannum)
RUSH Feedback (Universal)
THE TRAGICALLY HIP In Between Evolution (Universal)
TIGER ARMY Tiger Army III: Ghost Tigers Return (Hellcat)

Jack Black Warns That Peter Jackson's King Kong Is A Scary Flesh-Eater

CULVER CITY, California — When it was announced that Jack Black would be starring in the new remake of "King Kong," a lot of people wondered: He's not going all serious-actor guy, is he?

"There are some funny things about my character but, yeah, it is a different thing for me," Black revealed backstage at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards. "But I'm not approaching it differently. I'm approaching it with the same balls-to-the-wall attitude."

And there'll be a similar attitude throughout Peter Jackson's "Kong" remake, which Black promised will feature a much fiercer giant gorilla than some of the kinder, gentler versions.

"I just read the script for the first time. It's so rad. And it's top secret. I can't tell you much, but I can tell you this," he teased. "King Kong is going to be scary as hell, dude. He's not gonna be sweet and cuddly. It's not gonna be the cute kind [of movie]. He's a f---ing carnivore, as in, eats flesh!"

The movie will be shot in New Zealand with Jackson's team re-creating parts of 1930s New York. Black will be joined in the movie by Naomi Watts ("The Ring") and Andy Serkis, who will provide motion-capture work for the computer-generated Kong, a role similar to what he did for Jackson when he played Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings." Serkis will also play a smaller part in the movie, sans effects.

Serkis isn't the only "Rings" alum looking to re-team with Jackson, who achieved cult status with the horror flicks "Bad Taste" and "Dead Alive" before getting art-house credibility with Kate Winslet's "Heavenly Creatures" and his Hollywood break with 1996's "The Frighteners." Late last year, while promoting "The Return of the King," everyone from Elijah Wood to Ian McKellen publicly expressed interest in being involved (see " 'Rings' Cast Scrambling For Parts In Peter Jackson's 'King Kong' ").

"I don't blame them. You know, all my friends are telling me the same thing, too: 'Get me in "King Kong," man, you're tight with Jackson!,' " Black said, laughing. "And I'm not really that tight with Jackson. And I'm not going to be telling him, you know, 'Cast my neighbor, he really wants to be in your movie!' "

Black first encountered Jackson as something of a fanboy himself.

"It was weird because I kind of look like him now, with the beard and the 'baby,' " he said, patting his stomach. "We are kind of the same guy. But it was good to meet him. I was nervous. I'm a huge fan of his and I really wanted to be in 'King Kong.' I hadn't even read it yet, you know? I just met him and said, 'Uh, yeah, I heard you're doing 'King Kong.' So, uh, what do you think, man?' And he was like, 'I'm thinking about you for the role.' And I was like, 'Oh, all right!' "

Black is such a fan that he's likening one of his other projects — the long-discussed movie about his band Tenacious D, which is written and now has an April 1, 2005, start date — to the New Zealand filmmaker's famous trilogy. "It's like the 'Lord of the Rings' of rock. I swear to God it's going to be the best movie ever made. And there are lots of special effects, car chases and stuff — for real."

"I want — I need — Meat Loaf to play my dad," he added, without a hint of irony. "I want Rob Zombie to play the wizard. And I want Ronnie James Dio to play himself. I have my dream list. If I could get those people, I'd be squared."

He mentioned to Peter Jackson that he's aiming to surpass, or at least equal, "The Lord of the Rings" with the Tenacious D flick. "He's all right with it. He's closed that chapter in his life, you know? So there's room for more epic quests."

And perhaps there'll be room on Black's shelf for another MTV Movie Award.

"It's always good to win. I'm very competitive, so when I lose, it burns in my skull," he said about his taking home the golden popcorn for Best Comedic Performance in another guitar-driven movie, "The School of Rock." "I'd like to say to the other people that were in my category: I thank you all for being not quite as funny as me this time."

"King Kong" is scheduled to begin filming in August, with a December 2005 release date. Black's voice will be heard before that in the animated "Shark Tale," alongside Will Smith and Angelina Jolie ("I call her Angie," Black noted), which opens October 1.

Moore Backtracks on 'Fahrenheit 9/11' DVD Release

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) -- When it looked like his film wasn't going to get a distributor until he won the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year, Michael Moore said he would get "Fahrenheit 9/11" out on DVD and video by November in order to get his message out and influence the presidential election.

Even after signing a deal with Lions Gate and IFC Films to distribute the movie before Independence Day, Moore says he wanted to get "Fahrenheit 9/11" out to audiences at home who won't go see a documentary in the theater.

But now, Moore tells Zap2it.com, "There are no plans yet for a DVD before the election, it's pretty much out of my hands."

It's tough to imagine anything is out of Moore's hands after overwhelming box office numbers this past weekend, becoming the most successful money-making documentary in history, landing $21.8 million in one weekend. However, Moore's movie is mixed up in a complex web of a newly-formed company -- Fellowship Adventure Group -- by Miramax co-chairmen Bob and Harvey Weinstein who joined forces with Lions Gate Films and IFC Films.

Through a deal with Lions Gate, Showtime has the pay-TV rights and the DVD/video plans are still in the works, although there is some speculation that it could end up at Universal Home Video.

Lions Gate publicist Sarah Greenberg says, "We can't comment yet on the DVD."

Meanwhile, Moore is riding high on the theatrical release.

"If it's playing this well, I'd rather people see it on the movie screen with hundreds of their fellow Americans applauding a blank screen," he says.

Wanna Be In TLC?

TLC's surviving members (Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas) are reportedly in talks with production company Fox Television Studios for a reality show/contest to find a vocalist to replace the late Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. Representatives for TLC and Fox had no comment.

Watkins and Thomas had previously insisted that TLC would not continue making music under that name in the wake of Lopes' 2002 death in a car accident.

Harry's "Goblet" Gets Going

The Hogwarts Express is heading out again.

Principal photography on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth feature based on J.K. Rowling's magical mystery series, is now underway, Warner Bros. announced Monday.

Goblet of Fire is being shot at England's Leavesden Studios and is being helmed by Mike Newell, whose credits include Four Weddings and a Funeral, Donnie Brasco and the recent Mona Lisa Smile. The film is being produced by David Heyman and features a script by Steve Kloves, who masterfully adapted all three previous installments.

Potter's troika of young stars, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) are once again on board. This time the action takes place during their fourth year at Hogwart's School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, a term in which the lightning-scarred boy magician will encounter his greatest challenge yet--taking part in the life-threatening inter-school Triwizard Competition.

As usual, the movie will feature a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, this one named Mad-Eye Moody, who will be played by Brendan Gleeson (Troy, Cold Mountain).

Other new additions to the cast include Robert Pattinson as Harry's heroic rival, Cedric Diggory, Stanislav Ianevski as Quidditch star Viktor Krum, Clemence Poesy as Fleur Delacour, Katie Leung as Harry's new crush, Cho Chang, and Francese De La Tour as Madame Maxime, the Headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.

Returning to their respective parts are Tom Felton, the young actor who plays Harry's nemesis, Draco Malfoy, along with Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Michael Gambon (Professor Albus Dumbledore), Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall), Alan Rickman (Professor Snape), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew) and Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy).

One major role yet to be cast, however, is Voldemort--the wizarding world's ultimate practitioner of the dark arts and Harry's archenemy, who finally reveals himself in Goblet of Fire (not including the fleshy bloated face that pops out the back of Professor Quirrell's head in The Sorcerer's Stone).

According to London's Daily Mirror, producers are in talks with Ralph Fiennes to play You Know Who once the actor wraps The Constant Gardener opposite Rachel Weisz currently shooting in Kenya.

Fiennes is a fine choice to play the villainous Voldemort, having earned an Oscar nomination for his work as a Nazi thug in Schindler's List and playing the serial killer known as the Tooth Fairy in 2002's Silence of the Lambs prequel Red Dragon.

There's a hitch, however. Reportedly Fiennes isn't sure he wants to commit to at least three additional Potter installments, which will likely feature Voldemort.

But if all goes accordingly, Fiennes could be on the Leavesden set by the end of the year

Meanwhile, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban--the Alfonso Cuarón-directed third film in the franchise, which received overwhelming praise from critics as the best of the three--has so far grossed more than $211 million domestically in four weeks of release. The film is projected to fall short of the $261 million and $303 million in ticket sales respectively generated by its predecessors, 2002's Chamber of Secrets and 2001's Sorcerer's Stone.

Goblet of Fire is scheduled to hit theaters in November 2005.

Box Office Tally Climbs for 'Fahrenheit 9/11'

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Box-office fever for Michael Moore's searing anti-Bush documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" climbed a bit higher on Monday as distributors touted record-breaking ticket sales about $2 million more than first reported.

According to a final tally of weekend receipts, Moore's critique of President Bush and his policies since the September 11, 2001 attacks on America grossed $23.9 million during its first three days of release across the United States and Canada.

That made it No. 1 at the box office and surpassed the $21.5 million generated by Moore's previous film, the Oscar-winning "Bowling for Columbine," as the highest-grossing documentary ever.

All told, the movie's total stood at just over $24 million counting the head-start it received on Wednesday in two Manhattan theaters, generating extra media buzz before expanding to a relatively modest 868 theaters two days later.

Previous tallies reported Sunday had Moore's film grossing $21.8 million since Friday.

By contrast, most of the other movies in the top five were showing in more than 2,500 theaters each, giving "Fahrenheit 9/11" a much higher per-theater average -- above $27,000 -- than any of its competition and demonstrating that it was playing to packed houses.

The comedy "White Chicks" opened at No. 2 with $19.6 million in Friday-through-Sunday ticket sales, the same as reported over the weekend.

Distributors Lions Gate Films and IFC Films have said release of the film, already unprecedented for a political documentary, would be expanded further in the weeks ahead.

Tom Ortenberg, Lions Gate distribution president, said the film played strongly in big cities and small towns, alike, and in Democratic as well as Republican states.

Next week, the film faces far stiffer competition from the highly anticipated opening of "Spider-Man 2."

Moore's film suggests that Bush's response to the September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon were clouded by his relatives' close ties to the Saudi Arabian elite, including Osama bin Laden's family. It further claims that the Bush administration stoked public fears about terrorism to support a needless and costly invasion of Iraq.

Moore and backers of the film have said they hope it can influence the outcome of the November presidential race. Republican supporters dismiss the movie as a blatant piece of political propaganda.

The "Indestructible" technology shows its age

The Bar-Kays' "Greatest Hits," a soul CD on Michele Youket's desk at the Library of Congress, has seen better days. On its surface are dozens of tiny holes and rusted-out blotches, making it resemble a chrome bumper that's been left to rot in a junkyard. Youket has many CDs like that -- one, by the New Age artist Paul Winter, has shed its silvery surface, leaving only a transparent disc with a printed logo on top.

Youket's music collection, stored in her windowless subbasement office in Washington, D.C., has implications for every CD buyer and record company in the world. She is the lead scientist on the library's four-year-long project testing the life span of compact discs, a twenty-two-year-old technology once touted as indestructible. It's the first major public study of its kind; upon the release of its findings, the library will decide whether to shift its large CD-ROM collection to another medium.

And as the blotchy Bar-Kays album shows, CDs are, in fact, destructible. "Oh, definitely," says Youket, who works in the library's Preservation Research and Testing Division. "Everything organic degrades."

How soon CDs wear out is a much more complicated -- and controversial -- question. The discs on Youket's desk have undergone 150-plus-degree humidity "soaks" in the library's ovens to accelerate their age. Youket can't say how many years of aging these ovens simulate, but the library's scientists estimate poorly made CDs may deteriorate after as little as five or ten years, while better-made discs could last up to a century. The Bar-Kays CD came out in 1998 on K-Tel, and Winter's 1987 Earthbeat was on a small, low-budget label. Although some major-label releases similarly wore out after being soaked, a 1996 Sony disc by soul singer Puff Johnson showed only minimal damage.

Experts say today's music CDs are built for longevity -- but only as long as they're kept in cases, unscratched, at room temperature, away from extreme moisture. "If it's stored carefully, it'd probably come close to a human's lifetime," says Alan Sahakian, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northwestern University. Adds Jerry Hartke, president of Media Sciences, a CD-quality testing facility, "The error correction in those things is so powerful you can actually drill a two-millimeter hole in the thing, and it'll still play."

The CD-deterioration issue resurfaced in early May, when Dan Koster, Web-content manager at Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina, told an Associated Press reporter he'd discovered a "constellation of pinpricks" in hundreds of his properly stored collection of more than 2,000 CDs. Youket contacted Koster -- her Bar-Kays album showed similar pinpricklike defects. Does that mean all CDs will develop deadly pricks over time? No, says Chandru Shahani, chief of Youket's division: "CDs are sturdy. We're not trying to scare people. We'd like to guide the industry into putting out a more stable product."

'Fahrenheit 9/11' Sets Documentary Record

LOS ANGELES - Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" took in a whopping $21.8 million in its first three days, becoming the first documentary ever to debut as Hollywood's top weekend film.

If Sunday's estimates hold when final numbers are released Monday, "Fahrenheit 9/11" would set a record in a single weekend as the top-grossing documentary ever outside of concert films and movies made for huge-screen IMAX theaters.

Adding the film's haul at two New York City theaters where it opened Wednesday, two days earlier than the rest of the country, boosted "Fahrenheit 9/11" to $21.96 million.

"Bowling for Columbine," Moore's 2002 Academy Award-winning documentary, previously held the documentary record with $21.6 million.

"Fahrenheit 9/11," Moore's assault on President Bush's actions after the 2001 terrorist attacks, won the top honor at last month's Cannes Film Festival and has attracted attention from both sides in the presidential campaign.

The movie has been embraced by left-wing groups, which mobilized members to see it during the opening weekend. Conservative groups sought to discourage theaters from showing it and asked the Federal Election Commission to examine its ads for potential violations of campaign-finance law regulating when commercials may feature a presidential candidate.

"I want to thank all the right-wing organizations out there who tried to stop the film, either from their harassment campaign that didn't work on the theater owners, or going to the FEC to get our ads removed from television, to all the things that have been said on television," Moore said. "It's only encouraged more people to go and see it."

The Wayans brothers' comedy "White Chicks," about two black FBI agents who go undercover as white debutantes, opened in second place with $19.6 million for the weekend. That pushed the total for "White Chicks" to $27.1 million since opening Wednesday.

The previous weekend's No. 1 movie, "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," slipped to third place, taking in $18.5 million and pushing its 10-day total to $67.2 million. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks' "The Terminal" fell from second to fourth place with $13.9 million, raising its 10-day gross to $41.8 million.

Premiering in fifth place with $13 million was the tearjerker romance "The Notebook," featuring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner and Gena Rowlands.

Despite good reviews, the family film "Two Brothers," about tiger siblings separated in youth and reunited as opponents in the ring as grown cats, opened weakly at No. 9 with $6.2 million.

"Fahrenheit 9/11" opened in 868 theaters, a wide release for a documentary but narrow compared to big Hollywood flicks. The film averaged $25,115 a theater, compared to $7,190 in 2,726 cinemas for "White Chicks."

Distributors Lions Gate and IFC Films plan to put "Fahrenheit 9/11" into a couple of hundred more theaters this Wednesday, when competition heats up with the release of "Spider-Man 2," summer's most-anticipated movie.

Lions Gate and IFC came on board after Disney refused to let subsidiary Miramax release "Fahrenheit 9/11" because of its political content. Miramax bosses Harvey and Bob Weinstein bought back the film and went looking for independent distributors.

Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Fahrenheit 9/11," $21.8 million.
2. "White Chicks," $19.6 million.
3. "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," $18.5 million.
4. "The Terminal," $13.9 million.
5. "The Notebook," $13 million.
6. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," $11.4 million.
7. "Shrek 2," $10.5 million.
8. "Garfield: The Movie," $7 million.
9. "Two Brothers," $6.2 million.
10. "The Stepford Wives," $5.2 million.

Long in the Works, Charles Biopic Nears Release

NEW YORK (Billboard) - When Ray Charles passed away June 10, he left more than his music as testament to his talent and influence.

The Universal Pictures movie "Ray" (formerly titled "Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Story") is a tribute to Charles' life and legacy. Jamie Foxx portrays Charles in the film, which opens Oct. 29 in U.S. theaters.

Curt Sobel, music supervisor and music editor for "Ray," gave Billboard an exclusive insider's story about the film.

"Ray Charles OK'ed the script, and he was 100% supportive of what we were doing in telling his life story," Sobel said.

Although Foxx did much of his own singing, Charles' vocals are a huge part of the movie. Sobel worked with the singer to re-record many of his classic songs.

"If there were that were unavailable, or if they didn't match the script, we had Ray come in and do the songs," says Sobel. "Jamie only sang on the set, not in the studio. We felt that many of the older songs needed to have Ray's vocals."

Rhino/Atlantic/Warner Strategic Marketing will release the soundtrack Aug. 24.

Taylor Hackford directed "Ray," which covers Charles' life from 1935 to 1979. James L. White and Hackford wrote the screenplay.

"The way the script was written, they told Ray's life through the songs," Sobel says. "You'll hear a song like 'Hit the Road Jack' in a scene when Ray has a fight with his wife Margie."

Sobel elaborates on his musical responsibilities for the film. "I was more like a musical director than anything else. Taylor decided that nothing on the film would happen musically unless it went through me first.

"So that meant everything from choosing the pianos to coordinating the dance routines with the Raelettes to working with Jamie Foxx on the musical numbers."

Making the film was a labor of love, Sobel adds. The picture was an independent production until Universal signed on in March for distribution, long after filming wrapped last year. Prior to that, the movie had been in development for 16 years.

"We had budgetary constraints," Sobel says. "Everyone took a paycheck cut for this picture."

Sobel says his favorite memories of working on the film include his initial meetings with Charles.

"I was there the first time Jamie met Ray. Jamie was tongue-tied at first, but Ray was so warm and giving of himself. They ended up sitting at pianos side by side and playing music and telling stories.

"I happened to bring a digital video camera with me to record those meetings. We made a 'making of' documentary, which will probably end up on the 'Ray' DVD. I deeply regret Ray's passing; it's an incredible loss to the world."

As a music editor, Sobel's credits include "X-Men," "I Am Sam," "La Bamba" and "Risky Business." He previously worked with Hackford on the films "Proof of Life," "Dolores Claiborne," "Bound by Honor," "Chuck Berry: Hail, Hail, Rock 'n' roll," "White Nights," "Against All Odds" and "An Officer and a Gentleman."

Sobel says, "Everything Taylor and I worked on before was like practice for 'Ray.' This movie is definitely a highlight of my film career. I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked on this movie."

The Clash Reissue 'London Calling' with Demos, DVD

NEW YORK (Billboard) - A disc of recently discovered demos for the Clash's "London Calling" and a DVD boasting previously unseen live performance footage will be included in Epic Records' Sept. 21 reissue of the English punk band's landmark 1979 album.

The demos, dubbed "The Vanilla Tapes," were recently discovered in a storage facility belonging to guitarist/vocalist Mick Jones, according to a statement issued Thursday by the Legacy Recordings heritage unit of Epic's Sony Music parent.

The demos include songs that did not make the final cut for "London Calling," although a spokesman said the track listing had not been finalized.

In addition to the original album and the demos, "London Calling: The 25th Anniversary Edition" will boast a DVD chronicling the Clash at that point in its existence. A 45-minute documentary was created by longtime biographer Don Letts, and features recording studio footage, previously unreleased live performances, interviews with Jones, late singer/guitarist Joe Strummer, drummer Topper Headon and bassist Paul Simonon and a conversation with one-time band manager Kosmo Vinyl.

The new edition will also feature full song lyrics, a new essay and photos by band photographer Pennie Smith, who was responsible for the blurry cover shot of an angry Simonon smashing his bass during a gig at the New York Palladium.

"London Calling," the Clash's third album, has come to be regarded as one of the best records of the punk era. Its 19 tracks feature such classics as the title cut, "Clampdown," "Guns of Brixton," "Spanish Bombs," "Rudie Can't Fail," "Death or Glory" and the final hidden tune "Train in Vain."

Vince Vaughn Revs Up 'Speed Racer' at Warner Bros.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Chim Chim must be doing back flips. Warner Bros. is back on track with development of a live-action film adaptation of the popular Japanese-made cartoon series "Speed Racer," the studio said on Thursday.

The "Speed" project, idling in Warner's slow lane for about a decade, shifted back into high gear after actor Vince Vaughn ("DodgeBall") sold the studio on his own concept for the movie, with Vaughn cast as the title character's mysterious big brother, Racer X, a studio spokeswoman said.

Entertainment trade paper Daily Variety reported that the studio was receptive to Vaughn's vision because it focused on character development and a family story in lieu of potentially costly racing scenes.

A previous incarnation of the project had director Julien Temple at the helm with Johnny Depp on board to star, but Variety said that version stalled over budget considerations.

The Warner Bros. spokeswoman said no other talent was yet attached to the project, and producer Joel Silver ("The Matrix"), who owns feature rights to "Speed Racer," is currently shopping for a screenwriter. Vaughn also will hold executive producer credit.

"Speed Racer," a popular Japanese "anime" that gained a devoted following on U.S. television, centered on the adventures of a young driver named Speed and his supercharged racing machine, the Mach 5.

A colorful cast of characters included the elder Pops Racer, Speed's girlfriend Trixie (known for shouting "SPEEEEEED!" in times of crisis), and the pet chimpanzee Chim Chim. And there was the enigmatic Racer X.

"I've been a fan of the show since I was a kid and always liked the theme of the protective older brother who can't reveal his identity," Vaughn told Variety.

In addition to the recent comedy "DodgeBall," Vaughn's other big-screen credits include "Old School," "Starsky & Hutch" and "Swingers."

Canada's Walk of Fame develops cachet as stars appear for 2004 inductions

TORONTO (CP) - They cried "Mario! Mario! Mario!"

And they sang "Born to Be Wild!"

But mostly and loudly they chanted "Jim, we love you!"

A thousand screaming fans outside Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall on Wednesday night belied the ongoing concern that there's no star system in Canada.

They waited for hours in bleachers alongside the red carpet for the official arrivals of this year's inductees into Canada's Walk of Fame, an event that included the official unveiling of the latest sidewalk plaques as well as a gala variety show telecast live on TV.

Jim Carrey's limousine was the last to arrive and he didn't disappoint, dashing along a fenceline shaking hands and signing autographs for the delirious hometown fans.

"When I come back here, I always get that same feeling, that feeling of lightness and the feeling of home and I'm so glad to finally get a chance to say to the Canadian people how much they mean to me and how wonderful the whole trip has been," he said to the crowd. "I couldn't have done it without you."

And naturally Carrey didn't just unveil his plaque. He yanked the cover off with the flourish of a matador and then sat atop it, his legs spread apart while his family flanked him for the photographers.

"It's the whole DNA strain!" he shouted with a laugh.

NHL superstar Mario Lemieux had his own cheering section, many sporting Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys.

"Obviously it's a great honour," Lemieux said. "I had a chance to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame a few years ago but this is very special."

The arrival of rocker and founder of Steppenwolf, John Kay, was greeted by an impromptu version of Born to be Wild, a rock anthem made legend by the band. Dressed in black and accompanied by his official presenter, old friend Peter Fonda, Kay injected politics into the affair when he told reporters that if the governing Liberals have dropped the ball, Canadian voters shouldn't punish them by voting them out of office.

"Don't shoot yourself in the foot by electing those who do not represent your views. Re-elect the ones who theoretically do represent your views and then hold THEIR feet to the fire."

Kay said in his world travels he's found Canadians are viewed as peacemakers and the nation as one with enlightened leadership.

"And when you have a somewhat belligerent neighbour next to you, that's not always easy."

He added that regime change may be at hand soon in the U.S., though.

Fonda said his mother was Canadian and wondered jokingly if he could have a piece of one of the Walk of Fame stars because he wanted to be a part of Canada.

Actor and social activist Shirley Douglas said it was important that events like the Walk of Fame encourage Canadian talent.

"I would say to any young actor tonight 'If you see me, believe me you can do the same thing. All you have to do is believe that you want to do it and if you truly want to do it, it will happen.

"Work at it and you'll get here."'

Actor-director Helen Shaver said she was proud of such an incredible honour.

"I remember when we used to say there are no stars in Canada, and here we are and there are so many stars that we have to scatter them on the sidewalk. It's fabulous!"

The other living inductees included jazz performer Diana Krall who, like Fonda, wore faded jeans on the bottom half of formal attire, and director Denys Arcand.

And there were posthumous inductions for four pioneers of Hollywood who had Canadian roots: studio bosses Jack Warner and Louis B. Mayer, producer Mack Sennett and silent screen star Mary Pickford.

Filmmaker Norman Jewison was on hand to help with the tribute to the so-called Canadian Connection. He said it's a much bigger event than the debut year in 1998 when he got his star.

"There was 30 people, a cop and my sister, that's who was here," he quipped. "We're growing up and we're starting to embrace success which is what we should do."

In an unusual and even daring move, unpredictable shock comic and MTV personality Tom Green served as emcee for the gala. The list of presenters included directors Jewison and David Cronenberg, film producer Robert Lantos and actors Peter Fonda and Fiona Reid.

Rohm Closing 'Law & Order' Case

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Elisabeth Rohm is expected to end her record-setting stint on NBC's veteran crime drama "Law & Order" sometime next season to pursue other acting opportunities.

Rohm, who plays Assistant District Attorney Serena Southerlyn, is locked for the first 13 episodes of the show's 15th season this fall. Beyond that, there is a possibility for her to do a few more episodes before she departs.

"Lis has done a terrific job as ADA Serena Southerlyn and she has been a consummate professional," "Law & Order" creator/executive producer Dick Wolf said in a statement. "We knew she had other career interests and opportunities and she graciously agreed to stay through the transition with Dennis (Farina), for at least 13 episodes of the new season."

Last month, Farina was tapped to join the cast of the Emmy-winning series as Detective Joe Fontana. He will replace longtime star Jerry Orbach, who is expected to join the cast of the upcoming fourth "Law & Order" series, "Trial by Jury."

Rohm, the fifth actor to play the role of the ADA, has made her character the longest-running ADA on the show, having replaced Angie Harmon in 2001 to work alongside Executive ADA Jack McCoy, played by Sam Waterston since 1994.

"Sam Waterston has been a great teacher and friend who has taught me about taking risks, and it is time to put that knowledge into action. It is because of 'Law & Order' that I have so many opportunities come my way," Rohm said.

Rohm, who is shooting "Miss Congeniality II," already has several television projects in the works. Before "Law & Order," she starred in the soap "One Life To Live."

Beastie Boys End Six-Year Lull with No. 1 Album

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Proving they can still party for their right to fight, the Beastie Boys returned in style from a six-year recording lull to top the U.S. pop album charts with their latest release, "To the 5 Boroughs."

The Beasties' toast to their native New York sold 360,000 copies for the week ended June 20, about half the first-week tally of the veteran rap trio's last offering, "Hello Nasty," but enough to clinch the fourth No. 1 album of their career, Nielsen SoundScan reported on Wednesday.

By comparison, "Hello Nasty" opened at No. 1 in July 1998 with 682,000 copies sold its first week and remained on top for three weeks, going on to sell 3.8 million units to date.

Still, "5 Boroughs" (Capitol Records) got a stronger start than the Beasties' 1994 release "Ill Communication," which opened at No. 1 with 220,000 copies sold.

The band also went to No. 1 for seven weeks with its 1986 debut album, "Licensed to Ill," which produced the band's massive cross-over hit "Fight for Your Right (To Party)" and preceded the May 1991 launch of the SoundScan sales system for calculating chart rankings.

The Beasties' 1989 album, "Paul's Boutique," peaked at No. 14, and 1992's "Check Your Head" at No. 10.

The group's sixth album finds bandmates Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock (aka Mike Diamond, Adam Yauch and Adam Horovitz) all approaching their 40s as they continue to present their familiar brand of old-school rap spiced with punk.

Last week's chart-topper, Velvet Revolver's "Contraband" (RCA Records), the first album by a rock band to top the Billboard 200 since Metallica's "St. Anger" a year ago, slipped to No. 3 with sales of 122,700 copies, a 52 percent slide from its opening number.

"Contraband," the debut album from the supergroup featuring former Guns N' Roses musicians and Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland, has sold nearly 380,000 copies to date.

Usher's "Confessions," which has spent a total of nine weeks at the top, held steady at No. 2 after a mere 1 percent drop from the previous week to sales of 169,000 copies. Its cumulative total rose to 4.3 million copies.

Gretchen Wilson remained at No. 4 for a second week with "Here for the Party," and Avril Lavigne dropping two spots to No. 5 with "Under My Skin."

Rounding out the top 10 were Prince's "Musicology," Hoobastank's "The Reason," D12's "D12 World," Los Lonely Boys' self-titled release and Celine Dion's latest set, "A New Day: Live in Las Vegas."

Josh Gracin, the active-duty Marine who finished fourth on the second season of Fox Television's "American Idol," entered the pop chart at No. 11 and the country chart at No. 2 with his self-titled debut album, selling 57,000 copies its first week.

Alias Returns To Old

In a interview with TV Guide.com ABC President Stephen McPherson is saying that next season ALIAS will be back to the old, where Sydney will juggle her dual roles as an international spy and normal twenty-something girl.

"We got so deep in the Rimbaldi and Covenant [mysteries] that we lost sight of some of the stuff we fell in love with [in the beginning]. J.J. is talking about getting back to some of the joy that she used to have in her personal life early on... while still living in this crazy world."

SHOT DOWN

The MPAA ratings board reaffirming its decision to give an R rating to Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, despite a last-ditch appeal by distributors hoping for a PG-13. Moore has encouraged teens to do whatever it takes to see the film, even sneak in. The film opens in 800 theaters on Friday.

AFI Says 'Over the Rainbow' Top Movie Tune

LOS ANGELES - There's no song like "Over the Rainbow." Kansas farm girl Dorothy Gale's wistful ditty in "The Wizard of Oz" led the American Film Institute's list of 100 best movie songs Tuesday, followed by "As Time Goes By" from "Casablanca" at No. 2 and the title tune from "Singin' in the Rain" at No. 3.

"Over the Rainbow," sung by Judy Garland in the 1939 musical fantasy, was picked as the top song in U.S. cinema in voting by about 1,500 actors, filmmakers, writers, critics and others in Hollywood.

"That deserves it. It's one of the great, great songs. Judy Garland, the emotion in that song. It gives me chills whenever I hear it," said Burt Bacharach, who was represented on the list for co-writing "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" (No. 23) from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" (No. 79) from "Arthur."

In 2001, Garland's "Over the Rainbow" (and Bing Crosby's "White Christmas") also topped the 365 "Songs of the Century" selected by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America.

The rest of the AFI top 10: 4. "Moon River" from "Breakfast at Tiffany's"; 5. "White Christmas" from "Holiday Inn"; 6. "Mrs. Robinson" from "The Graduate"; 7. "When You Wish Upon a Star" from "Pinocchio"; 8. "The Way We Were" from "The Way We Were"; 9. "Stayin' Alive" from "Saturday Night Fever"; 10. "The Sound of Music" from "The Sound of Music."

Two other songs made the list from both "The Sound of Music" ("My Favorite Things" at No. 64 and "Do Re Mi" at No. 88) and "Singin' in the Rain" ("Make 'Em Laugh" at No. 49 and "Good Morning" at No. 72). "West Side Story" also landed three songs: "Somewhere" (No. 20), "America" (No. 35) and "Tonight" (No. 59).

Chosen from 400 nominees, the list was announced in the CBS special "AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Songs," the institute's latest countdown to promote U.S. film history. The show's host was John Travolta, star of "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease," whose "Summer Nights" came in at No. 70.

"A list like this really drives people back to rediscover or discover these movies," said Jean Picker Firstenburg, the institute's director. "It's about older generations revisiting them and younger generations finding them for the first time."

Past specials presented such lists as the best 100 American movies, comedies, screen legends and love stories. AFI leaders had been mulling a list of best movie songs for years.

"It's an idea we've had floating around since the beginning," said Bob Gazzale, who produces the AFI specials. "Movies and music are so obviously linked at the heart, really. Even before sound came to films, there were songs that went with silent pictures, as well."

The earliest song to make the list was "Isn't It Romantic" (No. 73), sung by Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald in 1932's "Love Me Tonight." The newest came from 2002 with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger's rendition of "All That Jazz" (No. 98) from "Chicago" and Eminem's "Lose Yourself" (No. 93) from "8 Mile."

Unlike the Academy Awards, which honors songs written specifically for new movies, the AFI list allowed any tune integral to a movie. So songs such as "It Had to Be You" (No. 60) from "When Harry Met Sally..." and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (No. 94) from "The Big Chill" made the cut.

Other tunes ranged from sublime with Paul Robeson's "Ol' Man River (No. 24) from the 1936 version of "Show Boat" and Garland's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (No. 76) from "Meet Me in St. Louis" to the goofy with "Springtime for Hitler" (No. 80) from Mel Brooks' "The Producers" and Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle's wacky rendition of "Puttin' on the Ritz" (No. 89) from Brooks' "Young Frankenstein."

Songs came from blockbusters ("My Heart Will Go On" from "Titanic" at No. 14 and "Unchained Melody" from "Ghost" at No. 27) and from counterculture flicks ("Born to Be Wild" from "Easy Rider" at No. 29 and "Aquarius" from "Hair" at No. 33).

"I think this list is about music that has made its way into daily lives, rather than an assessment of what's great," said Jennifer Warnes, who sang two duets that made the list, "Up Where We Belong" (No. 75) from "An Officer and a Gentleman" and "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" (No. 86) from "Dirty Dancing."

"The reason why my songs made it there is that they're used. I still hear `Up Where we Belong' when I'm at the store buying frozen peas, and it makes me happier to be buying frozen peas."

Mary-Kate Olsen Being Treated for Eating Disorder

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Teen actress Mary-Kate Olsen, who with her twin sister Ashley has grown into an American pop icon and fashion brand, has entered a program for treatment of an eating disorder reported to be anorexia.

The 18-year-old co-star of last month's film "New York Minute" recently "entered a treatment facility to seek professional help for a health-related issue," publicist Michael Pagnotta said on Tuesday.

"She is thankful for the encouragement and support of her friends and family, who are with her every step of the way," he added.

A person familiar with the situation told Reuters that Olsen was suffering from an eating disorder. Olsen entered a facility during the past week or 10 days and was expected to remain in treatment for about a month, the person said.

Us Weekly magazine, in the cover story of its upcoming issue, identified the disorder as anorexia.

Speculation about Olsen's rail-thin figure has been the subject of tabloids, gossip columns and the Internet for weeks. The actress herself poked fun at the issue during the twins' recent appearance on "Saturday Night Live," shouting to an extra playing herself, "You're too skinny! Eat a sandwich!"

Pagnotta said both sisters, who turned 18 on June 13, were going ahead with plans to attend New York University together in the fall.

But Ashley Olsen will be making a planned trip later this month to Australia and New Zealand without Mary-Kate to launch overseas promotion of "New York Minute" -- the sisters' first theatrical feature, he said.

The twins have been in the public eye since they were 9 months old, starring in the television sitcom "Full House." Since then, they have sold millions of videos, DVDs and books and have launched their own fashion line.

But director-producer Michael Kruzan, who has worked with the twins for years, was quoted in Us Weekly as describing Mary-Kate as the "more competitive" of the two girls.

The Couch Potato Report - June 22nd, 2004

This week in The Couch Potato Report, there's two films that are destined to become cult classics.

Some films that come out in theatres don’t do well.

Those same films are hugely successful once they are available on video and DVD.

The best example of that is the original AUSTIN POWERS movie.

It made less than $54 million dollars when it was released in theatres, but was so successful on video and DVD that the studio green lit a sequel.

The second film turned out to be more popular than the original, grossing $54.7 million in its opening weekend on the way to a box office gross of over $200 million.

Some other popular cult films are CLERKS, THIS IS SPINAL TAP, OFFICE SPACE, HEATHERS, WITHNAIL & I, RED DAWN, REPO MAN and CABIN BOY.

This week, you can add two more recent theatrical mis-fires to that list: Johnny Depp’s SECRET WINDOW and BAD SANTA, starring Billy Bob Thornton.

I’ll begin with the less than good SANTA.

And I don’t refer to it as less than good just because the film is called BAD SANTA, but also because the film itself is less than good. Sure its funny, but I doubt anyone will ever say its a good movie.

But BAD SANTA instantly qualifies as a cult favorite because this movie is going to quite well in the company of people's homes where they can laugh without feeling bad for doing so.

And you will laugh because BAD SANTA has some great comedic moments. At times it is, plain and simply, a comedy without compromise.

Billy Bob Thornton plays a hard-drinking, chain-smoking, foul-mouthed thief who targets a different department store every holiday season. Each year he gets the job as the store’s Santa while he cases the joint with his dwarf elf-partner.

The movie also stars Bernie Mac from OCEANS 11, the lovely Lauren Graham of GILMOUR GIRLS, and the late John Ritter in his final film.

BAD SANTA is an anti-holiday film that is not for everyone.

This is a black comedy. If you have a dark sense of humor, you will enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy comedies that push the limits, then don’t watch it.

One thing is for sure, you don’t have to rush out today to check this film out. Its
cult status will ensure that it is around for years.

Just like the film SECRET WINDOW will be.

This newest release from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN star Johnny Deep has several things working it its favour to ensure it becomes a cult classic. Among those are Depp's quirky performance, a score by Philip Glass and the fact that it is based on a short story by Stephen King.

In SECRET WINDOW, Depp plays a writer who is divorced and depressed. He's stuck at an isolated cabin and he begins to lose lucidity when a stranger arrives, accusing him of plagiarism.

If you’ve seen commercials for this movie, let me tell you right now that it isn’t as scary as it looks to be. It is actually more of a suspense film.

SECRET WINDOW isn’t a great film, but if you like a movie to keep you guessing, this is the film for you.

Plus, ten years from now when this picture has the aura of OFFICE SPACE or RED DAWN, you can tell everyone that you saw it when it first came out. Maybe not in theatres, but at least during the first week it was on video and DVD.

BAD SANTA and SECRET WINDOW are available now on video and DVD. For that matter, so are cult classics AUSTIN POWERS, THIS IS SPINAL TAP, OFFICE SPACE, HEATHERS, WITHNAIL & I, RED DAWN, REPO MAN and CABIN BOY.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUCH POTATO REPORT

In the drama COLD MOUNTAIN Jude Law plays a wounded soldier who is struggling to get home to Nicole Kidman, his more than beautiful sweetheart. You will also be struggling…to get through the whole movie. Ouch is it slow! Renee Zellweger also stars and she won an Academy Award for her role as Ruby.

BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS sees the barbershop crew dealing with a new shop on the block. Ice Cube, Cedric The Entertainer and Eve all return from the original.

Not surprisingly, the 3-disc box set entitled SOUTH PARK – THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON features the complete fourth season of the still funny TV show South Park.

Finally next week,

THE PERFECT SCORE tells the story of six students who band together to cheat on their SAT tests. The cast includes young and up and coming starlets Scarlett
Johansson and Erika Christensen, but you won’t care. Call this one THE PERFECT SNORE.

I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.

For now, that's this week's COUCH POTATO REPORT.

Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next week on The Couch!

Do You Like Music!

Here are the new CD Releases for Tuesday, June 22, 2004:

BRANDY Talk About Our Love (Atlantic)
DONELL JONES TBA Donell Jones (Arista)
JOHN FRUSCIANTE The Will to Death (Warner)
KESHIA CHANTE TBA Keshia Chante (BMG Canada/Vik)
MARTIN CHARLOTTE Martin Charlotte TBA (RCA)
THE CURE TBA (The Cure) (I Am/Universal)
WILCO A Ghost Is Born (Nonesuch/Warner)

Also out today:

Brian Wilson - Gettin' In Over My Head: For the Brian Wilson faithful, the hard part is over when the wizard of SoCal releases an album. For those who need more than cheery, expert melodies and arrangements from on high to be satisfied, for skeptics not satisfied with agreeable guest spots from Eric Clapton, Elton John and Paul McCartney, and for hardheads who need to overcome Wilson's frightening detachment from our moment, there is an answer. Perhaps it's best to think of Gettin' In Over My Head as Wilson's celebrity children's record. "Make a Wish," "Rainbow Eyes" and "Fairy Tale" are right in the pocket already. On a couple of vigorous tracks, such as "Soul Searchin'," which inserts a lead vocal from departed brother Carl and deserves to appear on a future best-of, grown-ups can sneak in their enjoyment sideways.

Bill Clinton's 'My Life': Much too much of a not-so-good thing

(AP) - In 1992, presidential candidate Bill Clinton flew home from New Hampshire to affirm the execution of a cop killer, Rickey Ray Rector. Rector was brain-damaged; when he took his last walk, he left a slice of pecan pie in his cell, intending to eat it when he returned.

Many have wondered whether the Arkansas governor was influenced by politics. His campaign was struggling with reports that he had had an affair with a blond entertainer, Gennifer Flowers, and the execution embellished his tough-on-crime reputation. But Rickey Ray Rector is not mentioned in Bill Clinton's autobiography, My Life.

Instead, we read about people like Mauria Jackson, with whom he attended his senior class party in high school: "Since Mauria and I were both unattached at the time and had been in grade school together at St. John's, it seemed like a good idea, and it was."

That's it. Nothing more about Mauria Jackson, except that she showed up in New Hampshire to campaign for him in 1992, along with hordes of other Friends of Bill.

Jackson is not the only person who makes a cameo appearance in My Life. There are multitudes of them, each of them no doubt treasured by the former president but many of them completely irrelevant to the rest of us.

None of them comes alive, not even the main characters of this badly conceived, flatly written, poorly edited book. Not Hillary Rodham Clinton, who comes off as a cardboard saint who is said to be smart and tough and good. Not special prosecutor Kenneth Starr, the book's villain, who comes off as pure evil - not really a human being at all, more of an incubus.

And not even Bill Clinton himself. Here is one of the most fascinating figures of his time, a charismatic and brilliant man - a fatherless boy who rose from humble beginnings to live, in his own words, "an improbable life", and he has produced a book that lacks anything more than the most rudimentary insights. This master politician does not even offer a single good discussion of the art of politics.

Part of the problem is that My Life is relentlessly chronological, especially the second half of the book, which is devoted to his presidency. Almost every paragraph describes another meeting with a foreign leader or the signing of another bill or delivery of another speech.

The effect is mind-numbing. It's like being locked in a small room with a very gregarious man who insists on reading his entire appointment book, day by day, beginning in 1946.

There is one exception to the chronology: Clinton tells about his indiscretions with Flowers and Monica Lewinsky only when he is caught and exposed, not when they happened. The consequences, not the dalliances, are part of My Life.

He doesn't say a lot about either woman. He concentrates on his remorse and the effects on his marriage and career. He suggests that he is a damaged man, prone to secret, shameful, parallel lives because of his upbringing as the stepson of an alcoholic. But his explanations seem too pat, and finally too brief. And then the chronology continues.

There are some interesting passages, such as Clinton's accounts of his first, unsuccessful campaign (for Congress) and his later races for governor. He brings passion to his brief on the Whitewater investment scandal, and his description of his unsuccessful efforts to end the violence in the Middle East in his last months as president.

But to find the interesting stuff, you have to dig through so much that is not.

Like much of the first half of the book, which alternates the story of Clinton's life (and his encounters with such people as Mauria Jackson) with primers on the history of the 1960s and tidy lessons that would serve him well when he became president.

Like an explanation of why he allowed junior staffers to eat in the White House mess (it's good for morale).

Like occasional, detailed rundowns of University of Arkansas football or basketball games.

And like all those unhelpful descriptions of those multitudes he has encountered. On Prince Charles and Diana: "I liked them both and wished that life had dealt them a different hand."

You dig and you dig. And in the end, it just isn't worth it.

Music Labels Aim to Pocket a Comeback with New CD

LONDON (Reuters) - Some of the world's largest record companies are testing a new music format in Europe known as the pocket CD to spin new life into faltering music singles.

At three inches in diameter -- or roughly half the size of a conventional compact disc -- the pocket CD carries a selection of music tracks and mobile phone ring tones from a host of artists ranging from 50 Cent to Black Eyed Peas.

The technology made its debut in Germany last summer with Universal Music, Sony Music and later EMI and BMG, all selling a limited number of the CDs to test the public's appetite.

Now, Universal Music, for one, is introducing the format in the United Kingdom next month. A spokesman said it will ship 1,000 units of the pocket CD for 16 of its artists including 50 Cent and The Rasmus. Pricing has yet to be determined, he added.

With ringtone sales on the rise and CD single sales plummeting, record executives are hopeful the new format will reverse the fortunes of an industry beset by rampant piracy and slumping sales.

The discs can be played on a PC where the ringtones can be downloaded and then transferred to a mobile phone.

The pocket CD is viewed as a way to recapture the market for tech-savvy teenagers and twentysomethings -- the same group that has abandoned record shops in favor of downloading songs off the Internet. The CD single is one of the biggest casualties of the downloading revolution.

"We believe there is still demand for a physical single format, and hope that folding in a ringtone will make pocket CDs an attractive - and, hopefully, collectible - purchase," a Universal Music UK spokesman said.

"That said, it is a very early days, and this is purely a test to see how the market responds," he added.

A BMG spokesman in Germany said that while sales went well, retailers had difficulties stocking the odd-shaped disc forcing the label to stop the program last month.

For Universal, the move comes amid plans to phase out the sale of copy-protected compact discs in Germany, a market battered by online piracy and CD-burning.

A Universal spokesman said the decision was made to address ongoing concerns that copy-protected CDs do not play in some hi-fi devices. The company could return to some form of copy-protected discs after further fine-tuning of the technology, he added.

Chen: 'Big Brother 5' to be 'twisted'

There are changes coming to how the 'Big Brother' game is played but host Julie Chen is providing few details.

In a highly-edited promotional video interview on the official 'Big Brother 5' site, Chen confirms that the new rules are going to handicap the liars and deceivers.

"I think these new rules are probably going to hurt people who go in as a manipulative player and help those who go in with a pure and open heart," said Chen without explaining what the modifications might be. Whatever the changes are, they could be in response to finale of last year's series which saw the much loathed twosome of Jun Song and Alison Irwin finish first and second. It is rumoured that the way in which the producers are handicapping the liars is that the Head Of Household bedroom has been modified to allow those in it to spy and eavesdrop on the other houseguests.

Chen also promises that this season's twists will shock and surprise the viewers as well as the houseguests themselves.

"Last year, we threw in ex-girlfriends and ex-boyfriends of houseguests. They had to deal with that. This season, we have major twists in how the game is going to be played and it is so twisted it is going to make the X-Factor look enjoyable," Chen stated.

One surprise that Chen did unveil in the interview segment is that there will be one bedroom in the 'Big Brother' house which will be as comfortable as sleeping on a bed of nails.

"Let me just say there is one bedroom that is going to make the army cot that we had as a bed from previous seasons look comfortable. All of the bedrooms are never created equal and this season there is one that is pretty bad so you don't want to be the one stuck with that bedroom," Chen warned.

'Big Brother 5' debuts on Tuesday, July 6th on CBS. On the 'Big Brother' series, a group of strangers will live together in a house outfitted with dozens of cameras and microphones recording their every move 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As the outside world watches on television and the Internet, the HouseGuests will vote each other out, one by one, until only one remains and goes home a half million dollars richer.

Jennifer Garner Explores Elektra's Darkness

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Jennifer Garner needs to get something off her chest.

Regardless of what it may have looked like at the end of "Daredevil," Elektra isn't dead. In fact, she's alive and well and kicking some serious ninja butt in a movie of her own.

"That's a common misconception, that she died, but she wasn't dead," Garner insisted, taking a break before enduring a grueling stunt sequence on the chilly set of the "Elektra" movie.

"Apparently we didn't explain that very well. But at the very end of the movie, when Daredevil found the necklace that said 'Elektra' in braille, that was his message from her saying, 'I'm alive. I'll come back ... I'll have a spinoff!' "

FOX studio executives were so intent on launching Garner's character into a film of her own that during production on "Daredevil" — the Ben Affleck comic-book flick that made over $100 million last year despite mixed reviews from critics — they had writer/director Mark Steven Johnson film Elektra spinning her trademark Sai swords on a rooftop across from Daredevil when he finds the necklace.

Johnson ultimately cut the shot, which was done with a stunt person posing as Garner, afraid that the character's "death" at the hands of Colin Farrell's Bullseye would lose its emotional impact.

But now, a new director is at the helm (Johnson retains an executive-producer credit) and the Marvel Comics heroine lives. "We did not see her actually die in 'Daredevil.' Even if she flatlined, there is a plausible point that we can bring her back," insisted Rob Bowman, whose credits include the "X-Files" movie, several episodes of the television show and "Reign of Fire."

"But we don't bring her back through conventional means. We bring her back through... um, a higher form of martial arts," he said. "I'll just be cryptic like that. That's all I can say."

The director's attention on this particular day was focused on the rain machine, which soaked the fake pine trees on his soundstage so thoroughly that everything started to smell like mildew; and on making sure that every stunt felt real and served a genuine storytelling purpose.

Ben Affleck is nowhere to be found on the set of "Elektra," which will focus on the character's training by a band of ninja assassins known as the Hand. Bowman won't have her leaping from rooftops and isn't relying heavily on special effects, opting instead for crazy camera angles and a more character-driven story, with movies like "The Cooler" and "21 Grams" as his reference points.

"We have our share of blowing things up, I've learned a few new weapons and I'm definitely, definitely fighting. It's not like I'm in a period piece, in a corset, or talking Shakespeare," Garner promised. "But it is very much driven by Elektra's darkness and what happens when she comes back to life, and what that second life means: whether it's redemption or whether it's a dark place from which you can't be redeemed. It's very dark and honest."

To that end Bowman is employing similar lighting techniques (and the same cinematographer) he used on "X-Files" to lend the movie a look in line with its story. His goal, at least partially, is to reinvent the way comic-book movies are done. "Because Elektra is a tortured soul, and in the middle of an emotional crisis, I thought this would be the right way to go," he said.

And what makes Elektra so dark? Well, during the course of this film, we'll learn that she kills people for hire. In the comic books she does a lot more for hire, too, although the film won't be exploring that. "I would rather follow the story and not focus on the gore or the fact that she sells her body," Garner admitted. "[In the movie] she's not a prude, she just isn't interested. And I love to fight but it kind of kills it for me to see people bleeding all over the screen. As long as a ninja dies I don't really care how much blood there is."

This isn't meant to imply that "Elektra" has gone soft or will abandon its source material — far from it. In fact, the movie is relying heavily on the Marvel comic books, from putting Garner in a red outfit more true to the character than the black leather she wore alongside Affleck, to the introduction of several supporting players taken right from the page.

"I have the comics pasted up all over my trailer, because it's as though we have our storyboards right from the comic book," Garner said. "You'll see the Hand, Stick, Typhoid Mary; we definitely fold them into our story."

"Typhoid Mary is kind of loopy and armed with this enormous power to kill people," Bowman said of the villainous girl portrayed by model/actress Natassia Malthe. "Because of her beauty she can lure you in right up to that poisonous kiss."

Terence Stamp, whom comic book fans remember fondly as General Zod in the "Superman" movies, has taken on the role of Elektra's martial-arts mentor, Stick. "He is the grittiest guy in the movie, the smartest guy, and I'm sort of making him into a prophet," Bowman explained. "He is the perfect example of 'tough love' and the architect of this journey. Stick feels like there is a gem of light buried inside Elektra's black soul."

Ah yes, Elektra's "black soul." Is there any hope for her at all? Neither Bowman nor Garner will tell, but if there is, it will likely come in the form of a father (played by Goran Visnjic of "ER") and his daughter (newcomer Kirsten Prout) and the bonding the three of them do in a cabin around Christmastime.

A cabin, of course, that gets attacked by ninjas.

"I love playing this role, I love how lethal she is, how completely different she is from me, and how hard it is to find a crack or a crevice in her heart or soul," Garner said, shortly before being called back onto the set. "She's pretty cold. When we're shooting, Rob is always saying to me, 'Too nice, too nice! Go back, there's too much heart, go back.' And I love that!

"Because, he's right, Elektra would just as soon kill you as look at you. And I would play her any day of the week and twice on Sundays."

"Elektra" is due in theaters next year.

High School Confidential

Don't piss them off!

Some MEAN GIRLS are going to hit DVD on September 21st, so hide your burn books.

Paramount Home Entertainment will give this $85 million hit the special edition treatment, complete with anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, audio commentary with director Mark Waters and writer Tina Fey, featurettes, deleted scenes and the theatrical trailer.

Sam Roberts video wins three trophies as Beasties rock MuchMusic Video Awards

TORONTO (CP) - A video from Sam Roberts snagged three trophies and Avril Lavigne was the people's choice for favourite Canadian artist as fans clamoured Sunday night at the gates of the music industry's annual house party, the MuchMusic Video Awards.

"We've done very little to deserve any of this," said the scruffy-faced rocker from Montreal. Roberts' modesty was somewhat accurate, as the video Hard Road won for best director, best post production and best cinematography - tasks taken on by members outside the band.

"We contributed our song and whatever acting skills we could muster," said Roberts. But of his band's success this year, the affable singer took credit where credit was due. "It's been based on hard work, there's no hype."

The remainder of the microphone-shaped trophies were spread evenly among several other contenders at one apiece, with best video going to Finger Eleven, and best pop video to Nelly Furtado.

The video for Fallen, which marked Sarah McLachlan's return to the music scene after a lengthy hiatus, snagged the MuchMoreMusic Award.

As in previous years, the show was held at MuchMusic headquarters - both in the parking lot and throughout the building. With no podiums or scripted dialogue, and an absence of seats from which to take in the multi-stage, live performances, the event has a reputation as the most unconventional of awards shows.

Enthusiastic teenage fans squealed as the rock heroes made their way down the red carpet, but the chatter from the artists predominantly revolved around one act - Beastie Boys.

"It's huge, it's huge," said Nickelback lead vocalist Chad Kroeger of the groundbreaking hip-trio's performance at the awards. "It really puts the spotlight on Canada."

Roberts, Three Days Grace, and shock funny man Tom Green were on the same page. "I've never seen them live," Green enthused.

While the Beasties - who made the trip from hometown New York to drop their cheeky rhymes on the Much audience - were a critical favourite they left empty handed, losing to Outkast for best international video by a group. Crazy in Love won best international video for artists Beyonce and Jay-Z.

Performers who were on the bill included Evanescence, Kanye West, Hoobastank, Fefe Dobson, Finger Eleven, Three Days Grace, Hilary Duff, and Billy Talent - who won for best rock video.

"We live just down the street, so for us, this is just hilarious," said singer Benjamin Kowalewicz of the fan adulation.

Those who lined the streets around MuchMusic for the 15th annual event delighted in the star gazing, perhaps more so than the awards. Hollywood celebs Rob Lowe and Heather Locklear were joined by Vivica A. Fox of Kill Bill: Volume 1 and 2 fame and Samaire Armstrong from the TV series The O.C. on the list of guests announcing the homegrown and international winners. Kaley Cuoco, who plays daughter Bridget on the TV series 8 Simple Rules, and David Gallagher, Simon from 7th Heaven, were on hand, as was one of the Baldwin brothers - Daniel.

But there was no shortage of Canadian content. Green and Sum 41 were tabbed to present trophies as the party raged around them.

"Let's hear you make some noise Chicago," Green shouted out to the Toronto crowd.

Toronto's Jelleestone won best rap video while the honours for best R&B video went to In Essence. Local band Pilate took home the trophy for best independent video.

"We had five nominations and anything would have been great, and this is a great one to have," said singer Todd Clark.

And it wouldn't be a Canadian awards show without a couple of hockey players in attendance, namely Joe Thornton of the Boston Bruins and Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets - both on the list of invitees.

Always an event that can be counted on to be different, the inaugural MuchMusic Awards were held in 1989 during a train ride across Canada.

Awards are chosen by an in-house MuchMusic panel, except for the People's Choice Awards which are selected by fans via an online and telephone voting system.

Here are the winners of the 2004 MuchMusic Video Awards handed out Sunday night in Toronto:

- Best Video: Finger Eleven, One Thing
- Best Pop Video: Nelly Furtado, Powerless (Say What You Want)
- Best Rock Video: Billy Talent, Try Honesty
- Best Rap Video: Jelleestone featuring Elephant Man, Who Dat
- Best R&B Video: In Essence, Friend Of Mine
- MuchMoreMusic Award: Sarah McLachlan, Fallen
- Best Independent Video: Pilate, Into Your Hideout
- Best Director: Kyle Davison, Hard Road (Sam Roberts)
- Best Post Production: Kyle Davison/Erik Nordby/Pete Dionne, Hard Road (Sam Roberts)
- Best Cinematography: Erik Nordby, Hard Road (Sam Roberts)
- Best French Video: Corneille, parce qu'on vient de loin
- Best International Video, Artist: Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, Crazy In Love
- Best International Video, Group: Outkast, Hey Ya
- VidoeFACT award: Alexisonfire, Counterparts And Number Them

'Dodgeball' Bombards 'Terminal' in Debut

LOS ANGELES - Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn buried Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg under a barrage of red rubber balls. Stiller and Vaughn's "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" debuted as the weekend's top movie with $30 million, whipping Hanks and Spielberg's "The Terminal," which opened at No. 2 with $18.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"With a Spielberg and Hanks movie, we never thought we would be this far ahead. That's rarefied air," said Bruce Snyder, head of distribution for 20th Century Fox, which released "Dodgeball."

The weekend's other new wide release, Jackie Chan and Steve Coogan's "Around the World in 80 Days," came in at No. 9 with just $6.8 million for the weekend and $9.6 million since opening Wednesday.

"Dodgeball" stars Vaughn as a gym owner whose squad of geeks and losers tries to save their destitute health club in a dodgeball showdown against rival bully Stiller's team.

The movie's lowbrow humor — including a coach forcing his players to duck metal wrenches to hone their dodging skills — proved a stronger draw than the classy comedy "The Terminal," about an Eastern European stuck for months in customs limbo at Kennedy airport.

"It's really hard to beat a movie like `Dodgeball.' Everybody I talked with wanted to see it, even though they thought it looked really dumb," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

"The Terminal" had the weakest opening among Spielberg's recent wide releases — "Catch Me If You Can," "Minority Report," "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" and "Saving Private Ryan." Those films all opened in the $30 million to $35 million range.

"Dodgeball" drew a young male audience, while "The Terminal" played mostly to older crowds less likely to rush out on opening weekend. DreamWorks, which distributed "The Terminal," hopes the film has staying power.

"Smart, high-concept movies can be a difficult sell, but they often have a long theatrical life," DreamWorks head of distribution Jim Tharp said.

Based on Jules Verne's adventure and featuring a cameo by Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Around the World in 80 Days" was produced by Walden Media, a family-entertainment outfit that is part of Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz's empire.

Disney acquired the movie, which became the latest in a string of duds from the studio this year, including "The Alamo," "Home on the Range" and "Raising Helen." The studio hopes to rebound with "King Arthur," "The Village" and "Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" in July and August.

"Little streaks like this happen to everybody, but it's never about the short term," said Chuck Viane, Disney head of distribution.

After a monthlong surge, Hollywood's business dipped, with the top 12 movies taking in $126.9 million, down 10 percent from the same weekend last year.

Some of the previous weekend's new flicks tumbled. Vin Diesel's "The Chronicles of Riddick" fell from second place to seventh, taking in $8.3 million, down a steep 66 percent. Nicole Kidman's "The Stepford Wives" came in at No. 6 with $9.2 million, a 57 percent drop.

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," the No. 1 film the previous two weeks, was No. 3 with $17.4 million. Its 17-day total of $190.3 million lagged about $10 million behind revenues for the franchise's last installment, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," after 17 days.

"Shrek 2" was fourth with $13.6 million, pushing its total to $378.3 million and passing "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" to become No. 6 on the all-time domestic chart.

Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," $30 million.
2. "The Terminal," $18.7 million.
3. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," $17.4 million.
4. "Shrek 2," $13.6 million.
5. "Garfield: The Movie," $11 million.
6. "The Stepford Wives," $9.2 million.
7. "The Chronicles of Riddick," $8.3 million.
8. "The Day After Tomorrow," $7.55 million.
9. "Around the World in 80 Days," $6.8 million.
10. "Troy," $1.7 million.

Lohan Apologizes to Mental Health Watchdogs

Teen star Lindsay Lohan has apologized to mental health watchdogs who slammed her for repeatedly using the word "retarded" in interviews. The Mean Girls actress, 17, has used the slang term several times in recent chats with journalists, using it to deflect questions about her alleged breast implants, to describe the paparazzi and to rubbish reports of a feud with rival star Hilary Duff. And Maryland, America based mental health organization The ARC Of The United States president Lorriane Sheehan is not happy. She says, "There are few more deeply wounding words than these, which are painful reminders that people with disabilities are still not fully welcome in our society." But Lohan's spokeswoman Leslie Sloane Zelnik says her client had no intention of upsetting people suffering from mental or physical disabilities at all. Zelnik says, "It wasn't meant to offend anyone - it was used as slang. She'll be more cautious and conscious in the future."

Box Office Runway Cleared for 'Terminal'

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Another Steven Spielberg - Tom Hanks matchup lands at theaters this weekend, and if history is any indicator, DreamWorks' "The Terminal" has all the pedigree to knock "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" off its course.

Also vying for some box office dollars this crowded weekend are 20th Century Fox's "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" and Disney's "Around the World in 80 Days."

The latest "Potter" installment brought in $37.9 million last weekend, its second, but it also slid 63%, suggesting some softness that opens a window for the Spielberg film to take over.

"Terminal" is targeting a wide demographic similar to the one captured by the previous Hanks-Spielberg pairing, "Catch Me If You Can," which opened to $30 million during Christmas weekend in 2002. The PG-13 "Terminal," a romantic comedy-drama based on a true story, stars Hanks as an Eastern European immigrant who becomes a resident of a New York airport terminal when his passport is voided after his home country's government is overthrown. Adding to the film's marquee allure are Catherine Zeta-Jones, playing the Hanks character's love interest, with Stanley Tucci appearing as Hanks' nemesis.

Sneaks of the film conducted June 11 to raise awareness with younger audiences saw 125 screens averaging 85% capacity. The film is tracking slightly female and older, but DreamWorks hopes positive word-of-mouth will helps lure the teen audience as well. Bowing in more than 2,800 runs, "The Terminal" should get close to "Catch Me's" opening take.

However, DreamWorks' efforts to reach a teen audience will be complicated by the comedy "Dodgeball," starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn. Stiller and Vaughn, whose recent roles as goofy guys in "Starsky & Hutch" and "Old School," respectively, have earned them a strong following with young men, should be able to strike at an audience that has been rather underserved in recent weeks. With many critics finding the movie's lowbrow humor funny -- very much to the surprise of some -- "Dodgeball" is scheduled to bow in 2,694 theaters. It should earn in the high-teen millions and has the potential to garner upward of $20 million.

The crowded family audience is Jackie Chan and Steve Coogan's target with their wacky, physical-comedy roles in the latest adaptation of Jules Verne's novel "Around the World in 80 Days." Directed by Frank Coraci ("The Waterboy," "The Wedding Singer"), the film stars Chan as the partner of Coogan's English adventurer.

Produced by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz's Walden Media, "80 Days" opened Wednesday to $1.4 million from 2,612 theaters, coming in fourth place for the day behind "Potter," "Shrek 2" and "Garfield: The Movie." The packed marketplace may not bode well for "80 Days" considering that it lacks the brand-name appeal of its competitors.

Chan's most recent movie, "The Medallion," opened to only $8 million, but his previous feature, last year's sequel "Shanghai Knights," saw a much better $19.6 million opening. Industry insiders expect "80 Days" to fall somewhere in the middle, with the $13 million range as the best estimate for the three-day period.

In limited release, Paramount Classics will debut "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" in New York. British director Mike Hodges reteams with his "Croupier" star Clive Owen in a revenge tale in which Owen plays a former drug dealer lured back into the game to avenge his brother's death at the hands of his rival.

Sony Pictures Classics will release "Facing Windows" in New York and Los Angeles. A recent festival darling, the R-rated Italian picture centers on an Italian woman who takes care of a Jewish Holocaust survivor.

Stiller Gives Wife 'Dodgeball' Facial

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - The humiliating pain suffered playing dodgeball should be a distant childhood memory, but for the cast of "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," the torment is all too fresh.

On the set of the sports comedy, the actors went through a dodgeball boot camp to learn how to move and throw convincingly. Unfortunately, star Ben Stiller proved to possess the treacherous combination of a strong arm and poor aim, much to the dismay of his wife and co-star Christine Taylor, who received two accidental blows to the face.

"I hit her in the face a couple of times, which was not good. That actually affected our relationship for like a week," laments Stiller. "There's just no way not to get upset with somebody after you've done that."

His wife confirms that she was hurt physically as well as psychologically.

"He got me square on the cheek and the ear. I had red speckles on my face," explains Taylor. "[But] when you get hit, the pain isn't as much as the shame. You are mortified. You don't want people to come over and you don't want pity."

After her second agonizing mishap, the extras hired to play the dodgeball audience became outraged and booed Stiller. Taylor eventually recovered and forgave her husband, but the three cameras he nailed with errant throws weren't as resilient: All three were put out of commission.

On top of Taylor's injuries, the rest of the cast learned to live with the aches, bruises, skinned knees, sore shoulders and even a torn rotator cuff. Stiller is relieved that his dodgeball days are over.

"It was just exhausting," he says. "Children have the energy, but once you're like, in your later 30s, it's not fun."

The film's first-time director, Rawson Marshall Thurber, understood exactly what he was asking of his stars when he put them through the wringer. Thurber is one of many wise to dodgeball's revival and has participated in the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Celebrity Charity Dodgeball Tournament that's been held for the past three years.

"It's actually really fun and really fast and really strenuous. It's a hard core cardiovascular workout," says the director.

"Dodgeball" stars Stiller as White Goodman, Globo Gym's narcissistic owner who tries to buy out the run-down Average Joe's gym. He hires lawyer Kate Veatch (Taylor) to facilitate the foreclosure, but she eventually becomes his opponent on the dodgeball court.

The film opens across North America today!

Costello's Rock, Classical Albums Set for Sept. 21

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Elvis Costello has set a Sept. 21 release date for the simultaneous release of two new albums.

A new rock album will be issued by Lost Highway, while "Il Sogno," his first full-length orchestral work, will emerge via Deutsche Grammophon.

Largely recorded at Sweet Tea Studios in Oxford, Miss., the as-yet-untitled rock album features Costello backed by his band the Imposters -- Attractions drummer Pete Thomas and keyboardist Steve Nieve and former Cracker bassist Davey Farragher.

The disc also includes guest appearances by Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris, who give voice to characters in the song "The Delivery Man." Also featured is pedal steel guitarist John McFee (Doobie Brothers), who previously appeared on Costello's 1977 debut "My Aim Is True" and 1981's "Almost Blue."

Produced by Costello and Dennis Herring (Modest Mouse, Throwing Muses), the album also features the song "Monkey to Man," recorded in Clarksdale, Miss., home to the Delta Blues Museum and often referred to as the birthplace of the genre.

The set will be the follow-up to 2002's "When I Was Cruel," his last album with the Imposters. The Island set debuted at No. 20 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 201,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

As for "Il Sogno," it was recorded in 2002 by the London Symphony Orchestra after being originally commissioned by Italy's Aterballeto dance company for an adaptation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

"I was extremely surprised to be asked, I had little or no understanding of the world of dance," Costello says. "When asked 'Who is your favorite dancer?,' I replied honestly, 'Cyd Charisse."'

"There are elements of humor," he says. "When it came to writing music for the supernatural beings in the story, I thought it is only appropriate that they should be swinging faeries. However, there are also passages representing confusion, jealousy, anger and turmoil. These cues have the edges, angles that I go looking for in rock and roll but the way they are achieved is utterly different. I hope there are also moments of tenderness."

The ballet premiered in Bologna and was staged elsewhere in Italy before Costello began to adapt the score to a concert piece. Michael Tilson-Thomas conducted the London Symphony's recording, which features guest soloists drummer Peter Erskine and saxophonist John Harle.

Costello has plans to open Rotterdam's North Sea Jazz Festival with a July 8 performance at the Buhrmann Midsummer Jazz Gala. Nieve and the Metropole Orkest will join him for the performance of songs from Costello's 2003 solo album, "North," and other back-catalog tracks, as well as several unrecorded pieces.

The 52-member Metropole Orkest will reprise its performance with Costello July 13 when it makes its North American debut at New York's Lincoln Center Festival 2004. Costello will play the event two nights later with the Imposters, and on July 17 attend the continental premiere of "Il Sogno," performed by the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Nieve and Costello will also perform several songs accompanied by the orchestra during the second half of the evening's program.

Expanded reissues of "Almost Blue," the 1984 set "Goodbye Cruel World" and 1995's "Kojak Variety" will arrive Aug. 3 via Rhino. Costello is also featured performing "Let's Misbehave" on the soundtrack to the Cole Porter biopic "De-Lovely." Released Tuesday by Sony Music Soundtrax, the collection features Costello's new bride, Diana Krall, as well as Alanis Morisette, Sheryl Crow and Natalie Cole, among others.

Forbes Names Mel Gibson Most Powerful Celebrity

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mel Gibson, whose controversial film "The Passion of the Christ" paid off big at the box office, is the year's most powerful celebrity, according to Forbes magazine's Celebrity 100 power rankings.

Gibson, who directed, produced and co-wrote the violent movie about the last hours of Jesus, earned $210 million and tremendous media buzz from the project, according to Forbes magazine, which factors in media attention to compare the biggest money-makers from various fields of entertainment.

Magazine covers, press clippings, TV and radio coverage and Internet hits are all factored into the rankings formula. Money earned in the last 12 months was used to identify the finalists in each category.

Golf star Tiger Woods, the leading money-maker among athletes with $80 million, was second on the list, followed by talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, who matched Gibson in earnings.

Actor Tom Cruise ($45 million) was fourth, followed by venerable rock group Rolling Stones ($51 million). "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling was sixth on the list, boosted by her earnings of $147 million.

"Very broadly, it's a combination of money and fame," said Peter Kafka, who wrote the Forbes story on the rankings in the issue on newsstands on Friday. "We divide the celebrity world into categories and we find the top earners in each category. The power list compares them."

Actress Jennifer Aniston, who topped the rankings last year, slipped to 17th place on the 2004 list.

Casualties from the previous list included singer/actress Jennifer Lopez, who ranked fifth last year, and her former fiancee and movie bomb "Gigli" co-star Ben Affleck, rated seventh in 2003. Both failed to make the 2004 list.

Other power-list dropouts were Eminem and Dr. Dre, the performer and record producer who shared last year's No. 2 spot, and former reality show darlings The Osbournes (12th).

Former President Bill Clinton ranked 51st this year with an income of $6.3 million that qualified him in the "speakers" category. Despite his relatively low income, Clinton ranked first of all 100 contenders in TV/radio attention, press clippings and Internet hits.

"There is intense interest in him still," said Kafka.

Clinton will likely climb higher in the power rankings next year when earnings and media attention from his hotly anticipated memoir, to be published next week, is factored in.

Patti Scialfa's the Boss

Patti Scialfa has always been a mystery. As a member of the E Street Band alongside husband Bruce Springsteen, she's a familiar but enigmatic presence, and her one solo album, 1993's Rumble Doll, yielded few biographical clues. "When you're married to someone famous," she says, "people know you, but they're not really seeing you."

With her deeply personal new album, 23rd Street Lullaby, Scialfa has decided it's high time she opened up. She is sitting in a New York recording studio, where she's tweaking songs for a pay-per-view special. The epitome of a sexy rock chick, Scialfa is long and lean in her stovepipe jeans, and she kicks off her high heels to lounge barefoot, her red hair spilling down her back as she leans over the board. She is a down-to-earth Jersey girl, funny and likable. ("I'm fifty," she says at one point, moving her face under a light. "This is what fifty looks like.")

On 23rd Street Lullaby, Scialfa delves into her starving-artist years in Seventies and Eighties New York, a richly creative time both for the city and herself. Scialfa is a born storyteller, and her evocative rock songs perfectly conjure the wild hopefulness of youth, when you knew everything and stayed up all night talking, talking, talking about life and philosophy and music.

Scialfa is backed by a solid band of old friends, including E Streeter Nils Lofgren and drummer Steve Jordan, who co-produced the album with her. "I've always loved the way Patti sings," Jordan says. "She has a little Ronnie Spector in her voice, but she can remind you of Emmylou Harris." He pauses. "You know, the person she's married to casts an extremely long shadow, so there's a tendency to get lost in the sauce. But if you're making good, timeless music without the pyrotechnics and helicopters and the bombs going off, it doesn't matter when you do it."

Springsteen, her husband of thirteen years, agrees. "Patti has only been able to use a small portion of her talent onstage with the E Street Band," he says. "She's always been a beautiful songwriter, and on this record people will get the chance to hear what she can really do."

Scialfa's life is, essentially, a love story - not just between her and Springsteen, although there is that, too (they grew up ten miles from each other). It's really the story of a girl and her music. She was raised in the Jersey Shore town of Deal, the daughter of a successful entrepreneur. As a teenager at Asbury Park High School, she hung out at the beach and cruised the streets, blaring music in a Firebird repossessed from a race-car driver. (Who else could Springsteen have possibly married?) Sometimes she and her girlfriends would cut class and hitchhike into New York. "We'd tell our art teacher we weren't going to class, and that we needed to borrow markers to make hitchhiking signs," she says. "He'd go, 'Oh, don't tell me this. The world's not as nice a place as you think.' And you're that age where you're just thinking, 'Oh, please.' " She laughs. "And we'd walk out the door. We'd get lost on the subways, drunk on red wine. I just wanted to go out."

Scialfa's interest in music sparked when she was twelve and envied her older brother Michael, who played in local bands. At fourteen, she joined her first group, the excellently titled Ecstasy, which played, among other places, Catholic Youth Organization dances supervised by nuns.

After high school, she attended the University of Miami's well-regarded music school, whose alumni include Pat Metheny and Bruce Hornsby. At the time, Scialfa was the lone girl in the jazz department, and she immersed herself in the local music scene. "You'd go see your friends play, or your teachers, or your teachers would see you play, and sit in," she says. One memorable course was the Listening Class. "You'd listen to Charlie Parker or John Coltrane straight from six to nine," she says.

While at Miami, she started shopping around her demos. One day, she received a call in her dorm room from Atlantic Records honcho Jerry Wexler, who produced Bob Dylan and helped launch Aretha Franklin's career. He asked if he could give one of her songs to Franklin. When she agreed, he met with her in Miami at Criteria Studios (nicknamed Atlantic South). "He said, 'If you change one verse of this song, I guarantee you'll have a big hit,' " Scialfa recalls. With the hubris of a twenty-year-old, she refused. "I remember Jerry just shaking his head and saying, 'Well, you think about it,' " she says.

Wexler doesn't remember the incident ("I'm lurching into the sunset at the tender age of eighty-seven") but does recall that "she was charming and gracious, and had some talent for songwriting," he says. "I very well might have wanted to edit her lyrics. Because they're never sacrosanct, are they?" He laughs. "But I totally lost track of her, and the next thing I know, there's a Patti Scialfa married to Bruce Springsteen."

In 1974, Scialfa transferred to New York University and started scratching out a living in the music business, waiting tables and busking on the New York streets with her friend Soozie Tyrell (who sings on the new album). "It just looked like an adventure," she says. "And we could make forty bucks apiece on a good evening."

A third friend soon joined, and they became a downtown fixture, sometimes singing in cocktail dresses for the hell of it. "We thought we were on the Left Bank of Paris," says Scialfa. "It was one of the best times of my life. As soon as you have enough money, you go into a cafe, order some wine, talk to everybody, go to another cafe. It was this whole community."

By the late Seventies, Scialfa had landed work as a backup singer for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, which led to gigs with David Johansen and the Rolling Stones. In 1984, Springsteen auditioned her to join the E Street Band for the Born in the USA tour. They'd never had a woman in the band, he told her, warning her that he wasn't sure how this would work. Three days before the tour, he invited her on the road.

Frantically, she learned all of the band's songs, poring through piles of notebooks. ("I was a fan, but I listened to a lot of women's music.") On the tour's opening night, she realized that the group was just as unprepared for her. "I was wearing some kind of pastel kind of ribbony top," she says, "and Bruce goes, 'Maybe you should wear something not as pretty.' " She laughs. "I tease him about it now. I'm surprised he didn't ask me to get a haircut. He said, 'Why don't you try this?' It was a T-shirt of his that said BROADWAY MOTORS on it."

In 1985, Springsteen married actress Julianne Phillips, but a few years on, the marriage began to fray. Tunnel of Love, from 1987, chronicled their rocky relationship, and after Phillips saw tabloid photos of Scialfa and Springsteen together, she filed for divorce.

In 1990, Scialfa gave birth to their first son, Evan James, now fourteen. She and Springsteen married in 1991, the year their daughter, Jessica Rae, was born (their youngest son, Sam Ryan, is five). The couple have one of the most enduring marriages in rock, even if their kids are grossed out when she and Bruce kiss in the kitchen. "They say, 'Please don't do that in front of us,' " she says. "I said, 'Hey, you're going to be happy one day when you look back and know your parents really loved each other.' "

They live in a nineteenth-century farmhouse in Rumson, New Jersey, where their low-key lifestyle centers around the family. Indeed, if you live in Rumson or its environs, you are not issued your driver's license unless you can do the "Jersey boast," a story of your personal encounter with Bruce and Patti that concludes with the proud declaration that they are Just Like Us: "I saw Bruce and Patti at the grocery store/diner/dry cleaners, and they were so freakin' down to earth. They were buying trash bags/talking to my sister's cousin/eating pancakes while they sat in a booth, just like everyone else."

"What am I supposed to do at a diner?" says Scialfa. "Speak in French?"

Scialfa's peaceful home life has been the perfect perch from which to examine her past for 23rd Street Lullaby. "And it's always fun going back," she says. "I mean, you drive past your old high school, and even if everybody treated you terribly, you still go take a look, don't you?"

And as she has excavated her past, she has unearthed some surprises. Until a high school girlfriend reminded her, she had utterly forgotten that when she was fifteen, she actually called Springsteen to audition for his band. "I had seen an ad in the Asbury Park Press," she says. " 'Touring band, must be able to travel.' " She called the number and was pleased to discover that it was Springsteen, already known around town for his fast guitar playing. "He was very sweet on the phone," Scialfa recalls. "I was so relieved." How old are you? Springsteen asked. Fifteen, she replied. Well, that's a little young, he said kindly. You should stay in school. But good luck. See you around.

'Family Guy' Finds Another Home

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - The formerly unloved-by-networks "Family Guy" is going back into production at its original home, FOX. It's one of Cartoon Network's highest-rated shows. And now it's being added to a third lineup.

The animated series will join the TBS prime-time slate on July 7, airing Wednesdays at 8 and 8:30 p.m. ET. The pickup is part of TBS' effort to remake itself as "the ultimate destination for comedy lovers," chief operating officer Steve Koonin says.

"Family Guy" will be paired with "Seinfeld" reruns on Wednesdays. It will also remain part of Cartoon Network's lineup, where it remains the No. 1 show in the late-night "Adult Swim" block that's a haven for young-adult viewers, in particular the elusive college-age male.

The show follows the lives of the middle-class Griffin family of Quahog, R.I., with portly patriarch Peter (voiced by creator Seth MacFarlane) doing his best to provide for his family -- wife Lois (Alex Borstein), insecure daughter Meg (Mila Kunis, "That '70s Show"), dim-bulb son Chris (Seth Green, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), evil genius baby Stewie (MacFarlane again) and talking dog/voice of reason Brian (also MacFarlane).

After bouncing it around the schedule numerous times over three seasons, FOX cancelled "Family Guy" in 2002. Strong ratings for the Cartoon Network repeats and brisk DVD sales persuaded the network to order new episodes, scheduled for summer 2005. MacFarlane is also at work on a new FOX series, "American Dad," set for midseason.

RISE OF THE EMPIRE

USAToday recently asked George Lucas a few questions about the next STAR WARS installment. "...The director said the title of STAR WARS: EPISODE III won't officially be announced until November, when the first trailer hits theaters. But he conceded that fans on Web sites already have guessed correctly. So we threw a couple of rumored titles at him: RISE OF THE EMPIRE? "No, that's not it," Lucas said. How about REVENGE OF THE SITH? With that, Lucas smiled knowingly, backed away and teased, "That's a possibility. Lots of titles out there ..."

Triumph the Insult Dog returns to Quebec for summer comedy festival

MONTREAL (CP) - Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, who brought howls of protest after slagging French-Canadians during an appearance on Late Night With Conan O'Brien, will visit La Belle Province again.

The foul-mouthed puppet will appear in his one-dog show, Make Poop Not War, on July 22 as part of the Just for Laughs comedy festival. In February, the politically incorrect Triumph mocked French-speaking Quebecers at the Quebec City winter carnival, calling them "obnoxious" and "dull" and telling them to learn to speak English.

The skit was part of the visit to Toronto by O'Brien's show and Triumph was condemned in the House of Commons by politicians who denounced his humour and the fact that $1 million in tax money was spent to bring Late Night to Toronto.

The incident even made headlines south of the border, being picked up by CNN and USA Today, among others.

Just for Laughs said in a news release Wednesday that Triumph will "extend his paw in a demonstration of conciliation and understanding" and will show unbroadcast excerpts of his last trip to Quebec.

He will also sing bawdy songs and insult members of the audience as well as surprise guests.

Trek TOS on DVD!

Paramount has finally announced the DVD release of Star Trek: The Original Series - The Complete First Season for 8/21.

The 8-disc set (no SRP, but expect the price to be about $100) will include all 29 episodes of the show's first year in broadcast order (full frame video with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio). Extras on the first season will include the The Birth of a Timeless Legacy featurette (on how the show began), the Life Beyond Trek: William Shatner featurette (an interview with the actor who played Kirk on how the show has affected his life), the To Boldly Go... featurette (a discussion with cast and crew members on key episodes of the season), the Reflections on Spock featurette (a similar interview with actor Leonard Nimoy on how the role has influenced him), the Sci-Fi Visionaries featurette (on some of the famous Sci-Fi writers that have contributed to the series), original preview trailers for each episode and a photo 'log' (gallery). All these extras are contained on the 8th disc. In addition, the episodes Where No Man Has Gone Before, The Menagerie, Part I, The Menagerie, Part II and The Conscience of the King will all feature text commentary by Michael and Denise Okuda.

The studio has also announced the DVD release of Trekkies 2. Look for that on 8/21 as well (for about $19.99). The film will be presented in its original full frame aspect ratio with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Extras will include audio commentary (with filmmakers Roger Nygard, Denise Crosby and Mike Leahy, and composers JJ Holiday and Billy Sullivan), 20 deleted scenes and 2 short films by Trek fans Brian Dellis and Gabriel Koerner (both of whom appear in Trekkies 2).

Eddie Murphy Raw is coming on DVD!!!

No details are available yet, but Eddie Murphy: Raw and a new two-disc special edition of Star Trek: Generations are being released by Paramount Home Video on DVD on on September 7th.

Also, a Collector's Edition reissue of the Kevin Bacon 80's classic Footloose is coming out on September 28th.

But wait, there's more from Paramount this summer. For you classic fans, Paramount will also unleash six romantic favorites on August 31st. Swoon to remastered transfers and no extras for The Black Orchid, Broadway Bill, Come Back Little Sheba, The Country Girl, Desire Under the Elms, The Rose Tattoo and The White Dawn. Retail will cost you $14.95 a pop.

All-American Girl Is Also On The Way

The dream of every red-blooded, (heterosexual) American boy in suburbia, The Girl Next Door will hit DVD on August 24th from Fox Home Entertainment. Starring the sexy Elisha Cuthbert, the box office bomb is due for release in separate R-rated and Unrated edition, each is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby 5.1 surround and includes an audio commentary with director Luke Greenfield, a subtitle trivia track and theatrical trailers. The Unrated version also drops the optional 4:3 full screen version on the R-rated release in favor of an additional audio commentary with actors Emile Hirsch and Cuthbert, the "Eli XXXperience" and "A Look Next Door" featurettes, deleted scenes with optional commentary, a still gallery, and uncut "dirty" theatrical trailers.

Go On A Magic Carpet Ride

Walt Disney Home Video has just announced the full specs for two of their biggest releases of 2004, both already announced.

Debuting on October 5th for the first time ever is Aladdin, which will of course get the Disney Platinum Collection treatment. "A Whole New World of Picture and Sound!", the film will include the deleted song "Proud of Your Boy" reintegrated back into the feature (a la The Lion King and Beauty & the Beast) and a THX-certified, family-friendly 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 "Enhanced Home Theater" remix.

The extensive extras include two audio commentaries with the filmmakers (participants not specified), a pop-up Fun Facts Track, deleted scenes, "The Making of Aladdin" documentary that is accessible directly or via an extended branching version that allows you to delve off into areas of interest, an "Aladdin Art Review" with animators giving you key audio insight into the conceptualization and animation process; the Virtual DVD Ride: Aladdin's Magic Carpet" interactive game, additional "Bizarre Bazaar" game, the "Inside the Genie's Lamp" 3-D tour, also with an interactive game, "Genie's Magical Journey" short that expands upon the film's original end credit sequence, multiple music videos including a new version of "A Whole New World" by the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, theatrical trailers and extensive still galleries with concept art, sketches, unused animation and advertising materials, and the usual Disney Song Selection access feature.

And diehard fans can also pick up the Aladdin Special Edition Collector's DVD Gift Set, which includes the Platinum Edition release plus all-new sketches by the original animators, a highly collectible film frame from the movie and the exclusive DVD Companion Book.

Hitting stores three weeks later on October 26th is a new two-disc reissue of Mulan. Also presented in THX-certified, family-friendly 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen, along with Dolby Digital 5.1 English, French, Spanish and Mandarin surround tracks, the extras are copious. Fans can feast upon the never-before-heard deleted song "Keep 'Em Guessing," an audio commentary with the filmmakers (participants not specified), deleted scenes including an alternate ending, the "Disney Pedia: Mulan's World" featurette, three music videos, "Mulan Fun Facts" trivia, and a whole second disc worth's of documentary material broken into multiple parts: "The Journey Begins," "Story Artists Journey," "Design," "Production," "Music" and "International Mulan." Other extras include early presentation reels, storyboard-to-film comparisons, extensive still galleries with concept art, pencil sketches, unused animations and advertising materials, and finally theatrical trailers.

A Beastie Boys Lyrical Guide To The 5 Boroughs And Beyond

During their many years as New York's foremost musical ambassadors, the Beastie Boys have taught a generation of fans what it's like to rhyme and steal their way through Gotham. For fans from all corners of the globe, the Beasties' rhymes did more than a lifetime's worth of "I Love NY" ads to offer a tantalizing taste of the Big Apple. Paul's Boutique alone has more references to the NYC subway than an MTA map.

So now, as the Beasties deliver yet another love letter to their hometown with this week's release of To the 5 Boroughs, we take a look at the many lessons the Beasties have taught us about life in New York.

The lyric: "I think her name's Lucy, but they all call her loose/ I think I thought I seen her on 8th and forty-deuce" — "She's Crafty," from Licensed to Ill

The lesson: Eighth Avenue near 42nd Street, in the shadow of the Port Authority bus terminal, was home to a wide assortment of adult entertainment, including peep shows, pornography retailers and characters of ill repute. While there is much less local color of this variety now (the area was cleaned up years ago), the association remains.

The lyric: "He's even more over than my mayor, Ed Koch" — "Johnny Ryall," from Paul's Boutique

The lesson: Edward Koch was the hugely popular mayor of New York from 1978 to 1989, and his tenure was approaching its end at the time of Paul's Boutique's release.

The lyric: "Washing windows on the Bowery at quarter to four" — "Johnny Ryall," from Paul's Boutique

The lesson: Although it's now the site of many high-income apartment buildings, the Bowery remains synonymous with skid row, and back in 1989, homeless people (also known as "squeegee men") would often wash car windows at stoplights for change.

The lyric: "Shea Stadium, the radium, EMD squared/ Got kicked out of the Palladium. You think that I cared?" — "The Sound of Science," from Paul's Boutique

The lesson: Shea Stadium in Queens is the home of the New York Mets. The Palladium was a nightclub on East 14th Street from which the Beasties were supposedly banned for life. It was recently razed and has been replaced by a dormitory for New York University.

The lyric: "Jump the turnstile, never pay the toll" — "3-Minute Rule," from Paul's Boutique

The lesson: To get on the subway, one normally passes through a turnstile by paying with a Metrocard (which recently replaced the city's world-famous tokens). Of course, if you jump over the turnstile, you can save a lot of coin. You may also be arrested.

The lyric: "Your old lady left you and you went insane/ You blew yourself up in the back of the 6 train" — "Hey Ladies," from Paul's Boutique

The lesson: The 6 train is the Lexington Avenue local subway line, which travels from Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx to the Brooklyn Bridge/ City Hall stop in Manhattan. It's also the same train referenced in the title of Jennifer Lopez's first album, On the 6.

The lyric: "You got your finger on the trigger like the Son of Sam, I am" — "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun," from Paul's Boutique

The lesson: In 1976 and '77, David Berkowitz, a serial killer nicknamed Son of Sam, terrorized New York, killing six people and wounding several others.

The lyric: "Bum cheese on rye with ham and prosciutto/ Got more Louie than Phillip Rizzuto" — "What Comes Around," from Paul's Boutique

The lesson: Phil Rizzuto played shortstop for the New York Yankees from 1941 to 1956 and later served for many years as a color commentator. He's also well known for the unintentionally hilarious TV ads he hosted for the Money Store, a lender, throughout the 1980s.

The lyric: "So I'm out pickin' pockets at the Atlantic Antic" — "Shadrach," from Paul's Boutique

The lesson: The Atlantic Antic is an annual street festival that takes place on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn Heights, a fairly well-heeled section of Brooklyn (where Beastie MCA was raised). It's considered a prime location for picking pockets.

The lyric: "D- train ride, Coney Island vacation" — "B-Boy Bouillabaisse," from Paul's Boutique

The lesson: The D subway line, which runs from 205th Street in the Bronx to Stillwell Avenue/ Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, is one of the better ways to get to Coney Island, a legendary seaside amusement area.

The lyric: "Pickpocket gangsters paying their debts/ Caught a bullet in the lung from Bernie Goetz" — "B-Boy Bouillabaisse," from Paul's Boutique

The lesson: Bernard Goetz is the infamous "subway vigilante," who shot four teenagers attempting to rob him on the subway in 1984.

The lyric: "The Bronx is up and I'm Brooklyn down" — "B-Boy Bouillabaisse," from Paul's Boutique

The lesson: The Bronx is north of Manhattan and Brooklyn is south — uptown and downtown, respectively. When taking the subway, this is useful information, as many trains run Brooklyn- or Bronx-bound.

The lyric: "Like Harlem World battles on the Zulu Beat Show/ It's Kool Moe Dee vs. Busy Bee, there's one you should know" — "Root Down," from Ill Communication

The lesson: The Harlem World Battle was a historic battle tape from the "Zulu Beat Show" (WHBI-FM, New York, 1983-1985) that featured rappers Kool Moe Dee and Busy Bee.

The lyric: "Second by second and minute by minute/ It's like lotto, you gotta be in it to win it " — "Putting Shame in Your Game," from Hello Nasty

The lesson: "You gotta be in it to win it" is a self-explanatory tagline used to advertise the New York State lottery.

The lyric: "A curveball's what my pitch is/ So here we, here we come/ Like dum-ditty-dum/ I keep all five boroughs in stitches" — "The Negotiation Limerick File," from Hello Nasty

The lesson: New York is divided into five boroughs (constituent political divisions): the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island — hence the new album's name. Most New York natives identify strongly with their borough of birth, and the differences between Staten Islanders and Brooklynites, for example, are sometimes easily discernable. To impress all five boroughs would be an impressive feat.

Stars to come out in force for Ray Charles memorial

Remembrance plans for soul great Ray Charles - who died last week at his Beverly Hills, CA, home - include a public memorial as well as an invitation-only funeral, according to a press release his camp issued on Tuesday.

The public memorial and viewing is scheduled to take place in the Los Angeles Convention Center's South Hall from noon to 7 p.m. PT on Thursday (6/17). There, the public will be invited to sign a book of condolences.

On Friday (6/18), the invitation-only funeral is scheduled to take place at the First AME Church in Los Angeles. Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Clint Eastwood, Stevie Wonder, Glen Campbell, Cicely Tyson, Billy Preston and Rev. Jesse Jackson are among Charles' friends and associates who will honor him during the two-hour ceremony. The Crenshaw High School Elite Choir will be among the program's other participants.

After the Friday service, Charles' funeral procession will pass by his studios at 2107 Washington Blvd., a site that was declared a Los Angeles historical landmark earlier this year.

Charles died last Thursday morning (6/10) of complications from acute liver disease. He was 73.

FUTURE DIVA?

Oscar-nominated actress Minnie Driver signing a contract with Rounder Records to release a pop-folk album titled Everything I've Got in My Pocket in September.

ISN'T IT IRONIC?

Alanis Morissette telling Us Weekly that she is engaged to actor Ryan Reynolds. The couple haven't set a wedding date.

:(

Kiefer Sutherland wants to play his grandfather T.C. Douglas but no deal yet

TORONTO (CP) - Actor Kiefer Sutherland wants to play the lead in a planned CBC-TV movie about the life of T.C. Douglas but the film's schedule and Sutherland's contract with 20th Century Fox for his hit TV series 24 haven't meshed, says his actor-mother Shirley Douglas.

Tommy Douglas is the former Saskatchewan premier and federal NDP leader and is considered the father of universal health care in Canada. And Sutherland is his grandson. CBC has announced the two-part miniseries, tentatively titled The Tommy Douglas Project, as part of its 2004-2005 prime time schedule. It is to be produced by Saskatchewan's Mind's Eye Entertainment and directed by John N. Smith (The Boys of St. Vincent) from a script by Bruce M. Smith (The Sleep Room).

Shirley Douglas hopes it all works out but says it's up to Fox whether or not her son will get the time to make the biopic or if they need him for a 24 film.

"He's on hiatus right now and he's gone to New Zealand to do a movie," she says. "And if he could do it, it would be a year from now."

She says he would love to take on the part.

"Kiefer doesn't often say that he knows he can play a role. And he feels very strongly that he can play this. Oh, I would love it."

Slawko Klymkiw, CBC's chief programmer, will say only that the casting is a "work in progress."

Duran Duran Regrouping for a New Album

NEW YORK - Duran Duran, who regrouped last year for a successful tour, are reuniting again — this time, for a new album on a new record label.

Lead singer Simon LeBon told The Associated Press that the band has almost finished working on the untitled disc, which will be released in the fall on Epic Records. It will mark the first time the original band members — LeBon, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor — have recorded an album together since 1983's "Seven & the Ragged Tiger."

Working together again has been seamless, LeBon said. "It's very similar to how it worked 20 years ago. Everybody's a little bit more open to how they feel about stuff."

The British pop quintet was among the biggest rock acts in the world in the early '80s, with hits including "Girls On Film," "Rio," "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "The Reflex."

But they started going their own ways with side projects in 1985. Guitarist Andy Taylor and bassist John Taylor formed The Power Station with the late Robert Palmer; their hits included "Some Like It Hot" and "Get It On." LeBon, keyboardist Rhodes and drummer Roger Taylor recorded an album under the name Arcadia.

By the late '80s, Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor had left Duran Duran entirely.

The men reunited and starting recording new music in 2001, but only recently got a record deal.

They're working with producers Rich Harrison, who has worked with superstars including Usher, Alicia Keys and Beyonce, as well as Don Gilmore, who's produced tracks for multiplatinum acts like Good Charlotte and Linkin Park.

LeBon says the band is not trying to copy the Europop sound that sold them millions of records.

"I don't think it would work if we tried to repeat that," he said.

Yet at the same time, he said it was important for Duran Duran to keep enough of their own musical heritage so that their old fans could relate to their new music.

"We wouldn't want to lose them by trying too hard by trying to connect with a new audience," he said.

Whether or not the album clicks with listeners remains to be seen. But judging from the sold-out performances Duran Duran gave at venues last year — where shrieking fans sang along with every word — LeBon says he has "no doubt that we will get the attention when we release our stuff because I know there's a huge, huge demand for (new music)."

And LeBon says the group is closer than ever — even though they still have their disagreements.

"We're like any people who get very close. Sometimes you argue with each other. But the fact is we inspire each other musically," he said. "Nobody else does it for me. It's just very special."

Britney Spears Cancels Tour Due to Knee Injury

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop princess Britney Spears on Tuesday canceled an upcoming North American summer concert tour due to a severe knee injury she suffered while shooting a video for her latest single last week.

News of her tour cancellation came just as another high-profile female solo act, Courtney Love, postponed her summer concert dates as she faced mounting legal problems due to drug possession charges and assault charges in two states.

Spears, 22, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on her left knee in New York last Wednesday, must remain off her feet for six weeks with her knee in a hard brace, followed by at least eight to 12 weeks of rehabilitation, her Jive Records label said in a statement.

Consequently, Spears' 36-city "Onyx Hotel Tour," which had been set kick off June 22 in Hartford, Connecticut, and run through Aug. 15 in Bakersfield, California, has been called off, Jive said, adding she "hopes to revisit those cities in the future."

The tour was being promoted by Clear Channel Entertainment, a unit of Clear Channel Communications .

The singer's knee gave out last Tuesday while she was performing choreography on a late-night video shoot in Manhattan for her latest single, "Outrageous."

A previous knee injury while performing in Illinois forced Spears to cancel some concert dates earlier this year.

Spears shot to superstardom as a teenager with her 1999 debut album "...Baby One More Time." Her latest album, "In the Zone," was released in November.

Jackson Paid $23 Million in 1990s Molest Case -Report

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop star Michael Jackson, who faces a trial on child molestation charges, paid more than $23 million to a boy and his family in the mid-1990s to settle similar accusations, Court TV reported on Tuesday.

Though it has long been reported that the 45-year-old singer paid millions of dollars to settle a civil lawsuit by the boy, Court TV said it had obtained a copy of the legal agreement and was making it public for the first time.

A spokeswoman for Jackson said she was trying to find out if the documents shown on camera by Court TV were "the actual agreement" in that case. She added the release of the information appeared aimed at influencing potential jurors against the entertainer.

"That settlement had a very strict confidentiality agreement that was negotiated by parties," spokeswoman Raymone Bain said. "We are going to abide by that and not comment."

She added: "Whoever released this agreement, whether it is the actual agreement or not, did it deliberately and willfully with the intent to influence potential jurors in the current case, which is outrageous and an act of desperation."

The papers, which were signed by Jackson and his then-attorneys, Johnnie Cochran and Howard Weitzman, in January of 1994, show that Jackson agreed to set up a $15.3 million trust fund for the boy, as well as pay him a seven-figure lump sum.

According to the court documents, Jackson also agreed to pay the boy's parents $1.5 million each and pay $5 million, plus expenses, to their attorney. Court TV said the moonwalking entertainer also had to pay his own lawyers an unspecified amount for their work on the case.

Jackson was indicted in April on a 10-count indictment that charges him with committing lewd acts on a boy under the age of 14 as well as child abduction, extortion and false imprisonment.

He has pleaded innocent and his attorney, Thomas Mesereau, has vowed to vindicate Jackson at trial, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in September.

The Couch Potato Report Online- June 15th, 2004

This week in The Couch Potato Report the second time isn't the charm, but the fourth time can be, and you'll find out about two under seen gems.

It was in 1998 when Saturday Night Live funnyman Adam Sandler teamed up with the ever radiant Drew Barrymore for the first time.

They co-starred in a very funny and heartwarming movie called THE WEDDING SINGER.

The pair worked well together and the movie was a huge hit. In fact, I would even call THE WEDDING SINGER one of the great romantic comedies of the nineties.

This year saw the duo team up once again in 50 FIRST DATES. Unlike their first movie together, the second time is not the charm and I doubt anyone will ever say that 50 FIRST DATES is one of the great romantic comedies of this, or any, decade.

Sandler plays a commitment phobic veterinarian in Hawaii who seemingly dates every woman who visits the Island on vacation.

One day he meets local resident Barrymore in a café.

They fall for each other and Sadler's commitment-phobe days seem to be behind him.

Unfortunately, as the result of a car accident, Barrymore has no short-term memory and she doesn't remeber him at all.

So Sandler has to meet her, woo her and make him fall in love with her every day, hence the title, and the premise.

I'll pause here for a moment to state that I like Adam Sandler's movies. I repeatedly watch, and still enjoy and laugh at BILLY MADISON, HAPPY GILMOUR, BIG DADDY and THE WEDDING SINGER.

And Drew Barrymore?!? Well, I have loved her since she and I were kids and she was in E.T.

She is one of those people who just looks like she is lit up from the inside. She is bright, beautiful and radiant and I enjoy seeing her in movies.

So if I like Sandler and Barrymore, why didn't I like 50 FIRST DATES?

Well, primarily because the movie has too many shifts from comedy to romance. Every genuinely affecting moment with Barrymore is followed, or preceded with a scene featuring her lisping brother, Sandler's idiot best friend or his androgynous co-worker.

At times those characters are funny, but they just seem to belong in a different movie.

50 FIRST DATES isn't a total waste of time as there are a few laughs and there is an abundance of Barrymore. But Sandler just seems out of place in the film and he brings nothing to it.

If you want to see these two firing on all cylinders, then check out THE WEDDING SINGER.

If you want to see a great movie where a man has to make a woman fall in love with him day after day after day, then watch Bill Murray do this premise justice in GROUNDHOG DAY.

If you want to see a mildly enjoyable romantic comedy that isn't really that entertaining, 50 FIRST DATES is a movie for you.

And if you want to see a television show that is hitting it's stride and succeeding no matter what it tries, then go out and get THE SIMPSONS - THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON.

Season Four of THE SIMPSONS is when the show started looking and sounding like the show we know and love today. The first three seasons very funny and enjoyable, but season four contains many of the classic episodes and lines ardcore and casual fans quote to this day.

Some of the classic episodes on this 4-disc set are Mr. Plow, Marge Vs. The Monorail, Kamp Krusty, Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie, A Streetcar Named Marge, I Love Lisa, Last Exit to Springfield, So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show, Whacking Day and Krusty Gets Kancelled

There's also audio commentaries on every one of the episodes from creator Matt Groening and others who work on the show.

THE SIMPSONS - THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON features one great episode after another.

So far this week, I've spoken about two high profile releases. The final two movies I'm going to talk about are low budget films that didn't play in many theatres, and will never get the publicity that 50 FIRST DATES and THE SIMPSONS get.

But they certainly deserve to.

Up first is THE STATION AGENT.

The film revolves around a reserved, somber train enthusiast who inherits a small depot in rural New Jersey. He makes friends, somewhat reluctantly, with a group of eccentric locals.

THE STATION AGENT is at it's best whenever the actors are just playing off each other and speaking the well-written, understated dialogue.

Another reason to recommend this film is due to the amount of information you'll learn about trains.

This isn't a movie for everyone, but if you enjoy gentle, poignant films, then
you'll find THE STATION AGENT to be an unexpected and delightful surprise.

I would also use the words "unexpected" and "delightful" to describe TOUCHING THE VOID, even if I did find the picture a bit too long.

TOUCHING THE VOID is a unique cross between a mountain climbing documentary and a reconstruction of two climbers harrowing trip up, and then down a mountain.

The film gives us the authentic stamp of factual storytelling from the climbers and a unique edge-of-the-seat tension of a dramatic movie.

TOUCHING THE VOID is astonishing at times as a real-life drama is magnificently retold.

50 FIRST DATES, THE SIMPSONS - THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON, THE STATION AGENT and TOUCHING THE VOID are available now at your favourite local video store.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUCH POTATO REPORT

Billy Bob Thornton stars with Bernie Mac and the lovely Lauren Graham in BAD SANTA. In this adult oriented Christmas comedy a young boy redeems two criminals playing Santa and elf in a mall.

SECRET WINDOW is based on a story by Stephen King. In it Johnny Depp plays a writer who is stalked by a stranger while he is stuck at an isolated cabin.

I'll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.

For now, that's this week's COUCH POTATO REPORT.

Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next week on The Couch!

Springsteen car imagery in exhibit

NEWARK, N.J. -- From Thunder Road to Racing in the Street, in pickups and pink Cadillacs, Bruce Springsteen spent the last 30 years riding shotgun with his fans down life's highways, dirt roads and dead ends.

On June 17, the Newark Museum opens its first major exhibition dedicated to the poet laureate of the Garden State Parkway, Springsteen: Troubadour of the Highway.

The show includes more than 60 photographs, videos and other memorabilia that explore "the artist's use of cars and highways as motifs in his music and in related visual imagery," according to the museum.

With elements that include Annie Liebowitz's American flag photos for 1984's Born in the USA cover and copies of a handwritten draft of Springsteen's Prove It All Night, the show is sure to please fans who otherwise might never set foot in Newark.

"We're really hoping that this exhibit introduces a whole new generation of New Jerseyans to the Newark Museum," museum director Mary Sue Sweeney Price said.

But the show is also a serious examination of Springsteen's automotive imagery, placing him in a tradition of American artists who employed the highway as a metaphor for Americans' alternately optimistic, restless and rootless spirit.

The show runs through Aug. 29 in Newark, the final leg of a four-city tour that began in September 2002 at the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis. Springsteen viewed the show there that year during The Rising tour.

Springsteen fan Colleen Sheehy, the Weisman's director of education, put the show together over two years after attending an E Street Band reunion concert in 1999. Sheehy, 50, an American studies scholar with roots in the Minneapolis music scene of the 1980s, wrote the title essay in the show's program, which reads like a fanzine for musicologists.

"In Thunder Road, recorded on his breakthrough 1975 album, Born to Run, the highway is a path to liberation," she wrote. "When Mary's screen door slams at the beginning of the song, the car door opens, giving the lovers an escape from a dead-end town."

By the time of 1995's The Ghost of Tom Joad, Sheehy wrote, "the highway promises nothing. It's illusory, confusing, heartbreaking."

Sheehy said a contemplative Springsteen didn't say much while viewing the show in Minneapolis, but then dedicated a song to her while performing that night. "It was a little bit of an out of body experience," Sheehy said of her time spent with The Boss.

Unique to Newark's leg of Troubadour of the Highway, the museum attempts to connect Springsteen to his artistic forebears represented in its permanent collection.

Highlighted works in the museum's Road Map to Picturing America include artist Frank Stella's eerily incandescent Factories of the Night, a 1929 work that summons the "refinery's glow" cited in the opening line of Springsteen's State Trooper.

That Troubadour of the Highway ends its tour in Springsteen's home state is a lucky accident, said Sheehy. Born in Freehold, N.J., the 54-year-old Springsteen still lives in Monmouth County.

His 1972 debut album, Greetings From Asbury Park, re-created a vintage postcard from the seaside resort where Springsteen has often performed at The Stone Pony.

The city's crumbling grandeur is a physical embodiment of the failed dreams and faded glories of Springsteen's subjects; in his song Something in the Night, Springsteen wrote of driving down Asbury's Kingsley Avenue "just to get a drink."

Amid exhibition photographs by David Gahr, Joel Bernstein, Frank Stefanko and sibling Pamela Springsteen, a text panel describes Springsteen's role as New Jersey's ambassador.

"Springsteen has made the state of New Jersey a richly mythological place," the panel reads, "raising it from a local landscape to a symbolic realm that people around the world recognize as familiar territory."

Just like The Boss himself.

Today's New Tunage!

THE BEASTIE BOYS HAVE RETURNED AND ON THEIR NEW DISC THEY RAP:

Don't expect me to wine and dine ya
I'm from Brooklyn,
You're from Regina

Go HERE and scroll down to the AUDIO ARCHIVE section to ch-ch-ch-check it out!

Okay, the city where Dan lives aside, a lot has changed since the Beastie Boys' last studio album, Hello Nasty, was released in 1998: There is no Grand Royal Records; the trio shut down its eccentric custom label in 2001. Adam "MCA" Yauch's deep, rough growl is now an even deeper, stranger weapon of taunt; he now fires boasts and insults like a hip-hop Tom Waits, in a smoker's-cough harangue scoured free of melody.

And there is no World Trade Center. This may seem like a weird time -- wartime, everywhere you look -- for Yauch, Adam "AdRock" Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond, all on the cusp of forty, to make a record that in its gibes and hyperspeed is the closest they have come to their old-school fight and comedy on 1986's Licensed to Ill. Actually, it is the perfect time. To the 5 Boroughs is an exciting, astonishing balancing act: fast, funny and sobering. "I bring the shit that's beyond bizarre," Horovitz asserts against the quick hop and spears of sampled brass in "Ch-Check It Out." "Like Miss Piggy," he adds, apropos of nothing, to which all three respond in idiot falsetto, "Who moi?" In "Right Right Now Now," the Beasties lament Columbine and call for "more gun controlling" over tense rolls of Muzak harpsichord, then twist the chorus of their biggest hit into a free-speech cheer, retrieving Public Enemy's inversion from 1988: "We're gonna party for the right to fight." The Beasties pour the Pink Champale and Riunite here, but they're not drinking to forget. They turn the dis on "a president we didn't elect" in "It Takes Time to Build": "Is the U.S. gonna keep breaking necks/ Maybe it's time that we impeach Tex."

It's risky business -- odd, at first, to hear social protest in Horovitz's cutting nyah-nyah-nyah or, in "All Lifestyles," Diamond's high, shrill yelp: "Walking down the block, you say, 'Yo, D! When you coming out with the new CD that spreads love in society?'" But To the 5 Boroughs is a full-service gas. The Beasties produced the album themselves, spiking stark, muscular beats with incongruous cool, like the Brazilian rain-forest buzz of the berimbau in "Hey Fuck You." You also get an encyclopedic torrent of cheesy-TV citations, as if the Beasties have spent the last six years sucking up nothing but Nick at Nite. And two decades after turning from hardcore punk to homeboy jollies, the Beasties are still the best rap band in the biz -- three voices swinging like a jazz trio, racing like Bad Brains -- and they don't have big patience for the gold-plated phooey currently passing for gangsta. "I know you're sitting pretty in the Hampty-Hamps/Posing like you're rolling with the camp," Yauch croaks in "Shazam!" That photo of P. Diddy on a jet ski, in his polar-bear beach robe, comes to mind.

More than anything, To the 5 Boroughs is the Beasties' valentine to the city where they, and rap, were born. It is a brash, passionate toast to what we lost on 9/11 (in the cover illustration, the Twin Towers are still standing) and what survives: in memory, on the ground. The raps are packed with local cuisine (Blimpies, Murray's Cheese Shop on Bleecker Street) and nostalgia (Yauch: "Used to ride the D to beat the morning bell at Edward R. Murrow [High School] out on Avenue L"). And in "An Open Letter to NYC," the Beasties celebrate the city "that blends and mends and tests," mixing prayer and pride with sampled shots of 50 Cent, RZA and Nas over the killer riff from the Dead Boys' "Sonic Reducer." It's a dark whirl, but never maudlin: "2 towers down but you're still in the game," Diamond crows, a line that also has everything to do with the state and fate of the nation. The Beasties are New York from head to heel, but they've made To the 5 Boroughs for the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island in all of us.

ALSO OUT TODAY IS THE SECOND SOLO CD FROM PATTI SCIALFA!

Patti Scialfa's 1993 debut, Rumble Doll, defied listeners' expectations so outrageously that it ended up being unjustly ignored. On that record, far from coming on like Mrs. Bruce, Scialfa sounded like Ronnie Spector performing songs written by Sylvia Plath. Among other subjects, Scialfa struggled with her role as the tabloid-lashed other woman in Springsteen's first marriage, torn between the urgency of her love and the hard reality of "that ring around your finger."

Those tough choices are deep in the past on 23rd Street Lullaby, a sweeter, more confident effort. Scialfa is again examining her past, but now from the vantage of a woman who has gotten much of what she wanted and wonders if all of life's intensity is behind her. To answer those questions, she revisits Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, where, just out of college, she got her start as a singer-songwriter. "Now there's a river of faces," she sings. "In the tide of rise and fall/Do they wonder where we've gone?/Do they think of us at all?" The song's title, "You Can't Go Back," provides the unsentimental answer.

With co-producer Steve Jordan (Keith Richards, Jon Spencer), Scialfa assembles a smart group of players, including guitarists Nils Lofgren and Marc Ribot, cellist Jane Scarpantoni and violinist-singer Soozie Tyrell, with Jordan on drums and Springsteen "here and there." The result is sophisticated pop that frames Scialfa as a jaunty, East Coast version of Rickie Lee Jones or Bonnie Raitt. In its cleareyed joyfulness and unpretentious appeal, 23rd Street Lullaby evokes a woman not haunted by her past but enriched by it. "And a light fell from heaven with a promise/That all lost things are someday found," she sings in "State of Grace." Even in a world where nothing comes without a price, it's possible to get everything you paid for, and more.

Oh, there are some other discs coming out today too!

Yes, these are the other new CD releases for Tuesday, June 15, 2004:

ALABAMA TBA Alabama (RCA)
CELINE DION A New Day...Live in Las Vegas (Sony)
FOURPLAY TBA FOURPLAY (Arista Associated Labels)
M PEOPLE & HEATHER SMALL TBA M People & Heather Small (BMG Associated Labels)
PHISH Undermind (Elektra)
SPIRITUALIZED TBA SPIRITUALIZED (BMG)
VARIOUS ARTISTS Planet Pop 6 (BMG Canada)

Reality Show To Yield New INXS Singer

Australian rock act INXS will be the band at the center of television producer Mark Burnett's new reality show, "Rock Star." As previously reported, the latest show from the creator of such hits as "Survivor" and "The Apprentice" will see a new lead singer chosen for the veteran rock act.

"I am a long-time fan of INXS and feel very fortunate that INXS approached us with this idea and have entrusted us with their future," Burnett says in a statement posted today (June 14) on the band's official Web site. "I feel there's room on TV for more than one great music-based show, and I feel that rock music has been totally left out of that mix. 'Rock Star' is the perfect aspirational show and is a great fit with the [Mark Burnett Productions] brand."

Since the death of INXS singer Michael Hutchence in 1997, surviving band members Andrew Farriss, Tim Farriss, Jon Farriss, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers have occasionally performed with fellow Australian Jon Stevens on vocals. That lineup played during the closing ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney and toured North America in 2002 with Simple Minds.

"After Michael died, we wanted to search the world for a new singer but didn't know how we could effectively do that," Tim Farriss says. "By having Mark and everyone at MBP embrace the concept, we've now found a fantastic way to make that happen."

"Rock Star" auditions will be held on five continents. The winner and INXS will record a studio album, the band's first since 1997's "Elegantly Wasted" (Mercury), and then head out on a world tour.

Unlike other music reality shows such as "American Idol" and "Nashville Star," the viewing audience will not be the sole arbiter of the show's outcome. Band members will also assess contestants in tandem with leading entertainment industry specialists.

"Times have changed and television is now a valued medium to reach people all over the world," Andrew Farriss adds. "[Burnett's] record speaks for itself -- he is an amazing producer and we are confident that together we are going to create something very different and very special."

You Will Believe A Man Can Fly...Badly

Another 80's superhero is headed for DVD, but without the great legs. GREATEST AMERICAN HERO scribe Stephen J. Cannell (21 JUMPSTREET, HUNTER) has inked a deal that will have Anchor Bay bringing the first season to DVD later this year, or early 2005.

The show starred William Katt as Ralph Hinckley, a schoolteacher given a special suit by aliens that gave him superpowers. Unfortunately, Ralph loses the manual and spends most of the series crashing into things. Despite the goofy premise, the mixture of drama, comedy, and a great script took the show through 45 episodes counting the pilot.

GREATEST AMERICAN HERO ran for three seasons, from 1981-1983 and co-starred Robert Culp (TURK 182) and TV movie queen Connie Sellecca as Ralph's confidantes.

BATMAN BEGINS

Newsweek magazine has posted an article about a visit to the new Batman movie, staring Christian Bale (REIGN OF FIRE) and directed by Christopher Nolan (MEMENTO). "Batman is an absolutely iconic character, one of the great figures in pop culture, really," says Nolan. "But there has to be a reason for making this film as opposed to just renting Tim Burton's version." Nolan says.

SPIDER-MAN 3

Sam Raimi told Moviehole that he's all in for the next SPIDER-MAN installment but SM3 would be his last one. Raimi says he's definitely doing SPIDER-MAN 3, because he's just as interested in finding out what happens to Peter Parker as everyone else. Says Raimi, "I just really want to take Peter Parker to the next step in his journey. I'm very curious about it myself. What will happen? I have some things that might happen. And I really think that I know the character very well."

PUSHED BACK

The battery trial of Rush founder and guitarist Alex Lifeson and his son delayed three months until Sept. 13. The trial was supposed to start Monday. Defense attorneys told the judge they needed more time to prepare.

Warner Music Settles with Madonna's Maverick

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Warner Music has bought out Madonna's stake in her Maverick Record label as part of a settlement in their lengthy legal dispute over the future of the 12-year-old joint venture, the company said on Monday.

Warner Music said in a statement on Monday it had also purchased the share held by Maverick Chief Operating Officer Ronnie Dashev and signed a new multiyear contract with Maverick A&R chief Guy Oseary.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed but Warner Music said it would have a majority stake in the venture. Maverick will continue to operate as a stand-alone label and would place greater emphasis on signing and developing artists, the statement said.

In March, Maverick filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Warner Music seeking $200 million in damages and an end to the venture which is home to acts like Michelle Branch and Alanis Morissette.

Madonna and her two partners had tried to sell her 60-percent stake in the label to Time Warner for a reported $60 million but talks apparently broke down over the asking price. Industry sources said Warner had ultimately paid Madonna significantly less than $60 million.

The dispute predated last November's $2.6 billion purchase of Warner Music by a group of investors led by Edgar Bronfman Jr.

Warner Music Group Chairman Lyor Cohen said the agreement was "clearly a win-win for both WMG and Maverick."

Oseary called Madonna and Ronnie Dashev "my family. and I thank them not only for having helped build Maverick but also for having defined who I am today."

Madonna releases her own records under a separate recording deal with Warner Bros. Records.

'Shrek 2' Tops 'Nemo' to Become No 1 Animated Film

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Shrek 2," the movie about the big green ogre and his princess bride Fiona, topped last year's "Finding Nemo" to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time in the United States and Canada, DreamWorks said on Monday.

Through Sunday, the computer-animated film had sold $354 million worth of tickets at U.S. and Canadian box offices, according to box office tracking service Exhibitor Relations Inc.

That beats "Nemo," last year's big hit from Pixar Animation Studios Inc. and the Walt Disney Co., which earned $339.8 million on a comparable basis as well as 1994's Disney hit "The Lion King," which for years reigned as the leading animated box office hit with $328.4 million.

"Shrek 2" is now No. 9 on the list of all-time box office hits in North America, ahead of No. 10 "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" ($340 million) and poised to overtake No. 8 "Jurassic Park" (356.7 million).

"Shrek 2" was produced and distributed by privately held DreamWorks SKG.

'Sex and the City' Gets Sanitized for TBS

NEW YORK - When Carrie asked Mr. Big if he'd like to come up to her apartment in the "Sex and the City" finale, his affirmative reply — which contained two extra unprintable syllables — was delivered with a wide grin. When the rerun appears soon on TBS, the excision will be clean and precise. "Absolutely," Big will say.

If you're a longtime "Sex and the City" fan, the cut may appear ruinous, robbing the show of the spunk that made it special — or not. But if you've never seen it before, you'd never notice.

Those little instances will pop up hundreds of times when the Emmy-winning HBO series begins its run on TBS Tuesday. It's a landmark moment in television, the first time a pay cable series has been sold in syndication to a basic cable station and must be sanitized to meet stricter language and content standards.

TBS is promoting "five nights of great sex," and will air two of the series' best episodes each evening through Saturday, starting at 10 p.m. EDT. The network will begin showing all 94 episodes this summer, in order from the first to the last.

It's been a busy stretch for TBS' editors.

In many cases, HBO did the work for them. All along, producers filmed alternate scenes and recorded alternate dialogue, with an eye toward a future syndication sale and because HBO needed a tamer version of the show for some international markets, said Carolyn Strauss, president of HBO original programming.

For instance, during a scene in which Samantha is seen on a swing with a lover, HBO filmed scenes where the swing is visible but not the entangled bodies.

The cast has even helped out in recent months by recording new dialogue to replace swear words, said Steve Koonin, TBS' chief executive. One new TBS term is "sex buddy," to replace a more colorful, widely used phrase.

Mere editing wouldn't always do. TV Guide, which compared some of the original episodes with the TBS versions, said most of Margaret Cho's dialogue was cut out during her guest appearance as a fashion designer.

TV Guide said it showed the TBS episodes to several fans of the show and someone who hadn't seen it before and "all agreed that there's still enough sizzle to keep them satisfied."

Yet critic David Bianculli of the New York Daily News wrote that something is clearly missing.

"The gist of each story line is there, but some of the edgiest observations and funniest jokes are gone, and Kim Cattrall's catty character, Samantha, has had her claws trimmed way back, if not removed entirely," Bianculli wrote.

The only people who can enjoy "Sex" on TBS "are those who don't subscribe to HBO, don't buy or rent the unedited versions on DVD, and won't know any better when they see the diluted versions," he wrote.

Koonin thinks the criticism is not only unfair, but inaccurate. "The only thing I can say is watch," he said.

None of the stories, nothing of what made the show great, was fiddled with, he said.

"It's really easy for people to write about what's taken out of the show," he said. "People are going to like what's in the show, and that's the heart and soul of `Sex and the City.' As the show got older, it was less about nudity than it was the trials and tribulations of women who were getting older."

The shock value in the series was that women were talking so bluntly about sex, not necessarily the words they were saying, Strauss said.

It's hard to know what the people of "Sex and the City" think about the new versions. The show's executive producer, Michael Patrick King, wasn't giving interviews, HBO said.

The stars weren't available, although they've been helping TBS with some promotion.

"I've sort of studiously avoided engaging in that debate," Strauss said. "From the mass of people I've spoken to, people seem pleased by the results. Let the viewers decide."

For HBO, selling "Sex" to TBS is obviously a financial windfall. But the network also hopes it acts as a calling card, letting people who don't have HBO know about the quality of its series, she said.

There's also a potentially large untapped market. Most television viewers have seen, or at least had access to, "Friends" or "Seinfeld," but HBO subscribers are still in the minority. TBS estimates more than 60 million viewers haven't had access to "Sex and the City."

Koonin said he's been surprised that TBS research shows that there's more eagerness to see the reruns among people who are fans of the show, instead of newcomers. He's not sure whether that will change when it gets on the air.

TBS is using the series as the centerpiece for its branding campaign. The two general-interest Turner networks are trying to distinguish themselves stylistically — TBS as the home for comedy, and TNT as a destination for drama.

TBS is both preceding and following its nightly "Sex and the City" reruns with one of its few original series, "Outback Jack," about a "Crocodile Dundee"-style character.

Most of the network fare, though, is reruns of classic comedies. At a time the sitcom format is at a low ebb on the broadcast networks, that might be a shrewd strategy, assuming viewers don't get bored seeing the same old episodes.

Then again, who gets tired of "Sex"?

Schwarzenegger Mocks Image in Film Cameo

LOS ANGELES - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's five-minute cameo as an egocentric, polygamist prince in Disney's "Around the World in 80 Days" has fellow actors applauding his willingness to mock his Hollywood image.

"I think Schwarzenegger don't care in this movie, he make fun of himself," said Jackie Chan, the film's star and executive producer, on the red carpet before the film's premiere Sunday.

Schwarzenegger, who faced allegations during his gubernatorial campaign of having groped women, donned a wig and robes in his role as the indulgent Prince Hapi, who boasts a wife for each day of the week.

"I think it's a little ironic, but I think it has Arnold's sense of humor," said "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" co-star Robert Patrick, who attended the screening, Macy Gray, Rob Schneider and Kathy Bates, who appear in the film, also attended.

"I think he was a very good sport, to throw away his ego and accept to wear this stupid wig and funny bathrobe" said "Around the World" star Cecile De France, whose character ends up in a hot tub with the governor in one scene.

Schwarzenegger, who filmed the part before the campaign, was invited to the premiere, but his office earlier said he would not have a role publicizing the film, which opens nationally Wednesday.

"I think maybe he's got slightly more important stuff about running the state of California," said Steve Coogan, who plays the wacky scientist Phileas Fogg.

'Harry Potter' Keeps Box Office Top Spot

LOS ANGELES - The boy wizard held off an interstellar fugitive, robotic wives and a talking cat to maintain his sway at movie theaters. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" was the top movie for a second weekend, taking in $35.1 million to lift its 10-day total to $158.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"Shrek 2" held up well in its fourth weekend, slipping from second to third place with $24 million but pushing its domestic haul to $354 million. That made it the top-grossing animated movie ever, passing the $339.7 million gross of "Finding Nemo."

The sci-fi saga "The Chronicles of Riddick," with Vin Diesel returning as the escaped killer turned anti-hero from 2000's "Pitch Black," debuted at No. 2 with $24.6 million.

Nicole Kidman's "The Stepford Wives," a black comedy remake of the 1970s thriller about a town where men replace their mates with Barbie doll robots, opened in fourth place with $22.2 million.

"Garfield: The Movie," featuring Bill Murray as mouthpiece for the comic strip fat cat, premiered at No. 5 with $21.7 million.

Revenues for the third "Harry Potter" fell a steep 63 percent from the movie's $93.7 million opening weekend gross. In contrast, "Shrek 2" grosses fell just 33 percent in its second weekend.

In 2002, revenues for "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" fell 52 percent in its second weekend, though that movie opened in November. "Prisoner of Azkaban" was the first "Harry Potter" movie to open in summer, when competition is stronger.

As more classes let out for summer, distributor Warner Bros. is counting on steady weekday business from youngsters to help sustain "Harry Potter," said Dan Fellman, the studio's head of distribution.

"We're in good shape, even though we took a pretty good drop this weekend," Fellman said.

The movie's 10-day total still is almost $10 million ahead of "Chamber of Secrets," which took in $148.4 million in that length of time.

Hollywood's big season continued, with revenues running 14 to 15 percent ahead of last summer, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. The top 12 movies grossed $155.5 million, up 34 percent from the same weekend in 2003.

The new movies offered choices for all audiences, with "Chronicles of Riddick" playing to male action fans, "Stepford Wives" popular with women and "Garfield" grabbing the family crowd.

"This is what summer's all about. There's a variety of movies with pretty much every genre represented, and the audience found the movie they wanted," Dergarabedian said.

In limited release, the Sundance Film Festival favorite "Napoleon Dynamite" opened strongly with $117,148 in six theaters. The comedy features a cast of unknowns in a tale of high school geeks finding their place in the world. It expands gradually to more theaters through late July.

Next weekend brings Steven Spielberg's comedy "The Terminal," starring Tom Hanks as an Eastern European stuck at Kennedy airport after a coup in his homeland invalidates his passport; a new rendition of Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days" with Jackie Chan; and Ben Stiller's sports farce "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story." The highly anticipated "Spider-Man 2" opens June 30.

Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," $35.1 million.
2. "The Chronicles of Riddick," $24.6 million.
3. "Shrek 2," $24 million.
4. "The Stepford Wives," $22.2 million.
5. "Garfield: The Movie," $21.7 million.
6. "The Day After Tomorrow," $14.55 million.
7. "Raising Helen," $3.8 million.
8. "Troy," $3.5 million.
9. "Saved!" $2.55 million.
10. "Mean Girls," $1.5 million.

Film Tunes Are Ready for Their TV Close-Up

NEW YORK (Billboard) - The American Film Institute's upcoming TV special focuses on movie songs.

John Travolta hosts "AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies," airing June 22 on CBS.

The designated tunes were culled from a list of 400 nominees distributed last year to 1,500 members of the film community. It included such obvious choices as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "As Time Goes By," "The Way We Were," and "Stayin' Alive" -- the last of which is from Travolta's great star turn in "Saturday Night Fever."

Three Academy Award winners sung by Jennifer Warnes also made the grade: "It Goes Like It Goes" from "Norma Rae"; "Up Where We Belong," her duet with Joe Cocker from "An Officer and a Gentleman"; and "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," which she sang with Bill Medley, from "Dirty Dancing."

Warnes -- along with Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and Barbra Streisand, among others -- will be interviewed about the songs, which were voted on for their effect within the context of the film, cultural impact and legacy.

Regarding the importance of music, Warnes quotes her mentor Leonard Cohen.

"He said that music is loved because it functions in your daily life," says Warnes, who sang backup in Cohen's band early in her career, then recorded the acclaimed 1987 album of Cohen's songs, "Famous Blue Raincoat."

She inserts her own philosophy on the topic: "My take is that music gets a teenager out of the house because his parents hate it. It helps a young man court, a young couple have a dinner party. It helps us get married.

"I got a letter from a couple who conceived during 'Right Time of the Night.' It helps us grieve. Bluegrass helps a woman clean the house faster! So music is useful to culture if it's used -- and it has to be used in daily life or let go of."

That explains the enduring legacy of her big-movie duet hits. "They're the music of weddings and high school reunions and anniversaries and junior high recitals," she says. "They were used in American culture, and that's why they made the list."

Warnes notes that as a musician, however, she would have voted differently, "not against my own work, but according to structure, form, timelessness and the way the rendition marries the arrangement. But those considerations are purely artistic -- which the average person doesn't give a damn about."

Singing the chorus from "The Way You Look Tonight," she adds: "I care that that's perfect." But she believes that the average person has more prosaic concerns. "When you have to face a traffic jam, does the music get you to work well?"

Warnes' forthcoming DVD audio/video release for AIX Records will include her exploration of the creative process of music making.

Meanwhile, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has its own event celebrating TV music songwriters, composers and choreographers, with the July 9 benefit "Television Night at the Hollywood Bowl II."

The evening will benefit the Television Academy Foundation, which develops telecommunications educational outreach and archival programs, and will include tributes to legendary composer Earle Hagan (the Dick Van Dyke, Andy Griffith and "I Spy" show themes), Stu Phillips ("Battlestar Galactica") and W.C. Snuffy Walden ("The West Wing").

Emmy Award-winning composer Bruce Broughton ("Dallas") will conduct his theme from "JAG," with a medley of TV western themes being another highlight.

'Friends' Star Courteney Cox Has Baby Girl

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former "Friends" star Courteney Cox and her husband, actor David Arquette, became parents early on Sunday, after years of trying, People magazine reported.

Cox, who turns 40 on Tuesday, gave birth to a girl in an unidentified Los Angeles hospital, according to a report on the Web site for People magazine.

The magazine said Cox checked into the hospital on Saturday, a week before the baby's due date and was in labor through the night. The baby has yet to be named, it said.

Cox and Arquette, 32, have discussed their attempts to carry a baby to term, including in vitro fertilizations and Cox's miscarriages.

Cox has just finished the 10th and final season of NBC's popular sitcom, "Friends." The couple are co-producers of a home decorating show, "Mix It Up."

Streep Hailed as 'Life Giving Force' at Tribute

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - By selecting Meryl Streep to receive lifetime achievement award, the American Film Institute turned its 32nd annual fund-raising dinner into a master class in film acting Thursday.

While there were fulsome tributes paid to Streep's virtues as a wife, mother and citizen, the evening, punctuated with film clips illustrating the diverse characters she has played, underscored the range of the actress. She has been nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won two.

"She's had a greater variety of roles than Katharine Hepburn," said Howard Stringer, chair of the AFI board of trustees. "She's used more voices than Peter Sellers or Laurence Olivier, and in 'Angels in America' she crossed the gender divide by playing an 80-year-old rabbi."

Added director Mike Nichols, "For other actors, Meryl is not only a life-giving force for those lucky enough to act with her because it immediately increases one's talent one thousand percent simply to look at her in a scene, but she also defines what is possible for an actor as an artist, as a parent, as a citizen. Meryl creates, has created and will continue to create a series of unique human beings."

For her part, Streep said the outpouring of praise was "really overwhelming." Referring to the woman described by her collaborators, she added, "I really wish I were her -- I really do."

In an attempt to deflect some of the testimonials at the Kodak Theater at Hollywood & Highland, Streep delivered a humorous treatise on the subject of "tribute-itus," which she described, in her down-to-earth manner, as a disease that can lead to a fat head.

Kicking off the long line of celebrity presenters, Jim Carrey, who appears with Streep in the upcoming "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events," observed that unlike almost every other actor, Streep's body of work includes no embarrassing footage -- like TV commercial work or walk-on roles -- since her career began with Fred Zinneman's 1977 film, "Julia," and Michael Cimino's 1978 epic, "The Deer Hunter," for which she received her first Oscar nomination.

"There is no bad film on this woman," he exclaimed. "Where are all the flaws?"

Agreed Robert De Niro, "Meryl, from your very first appearances on screen, you were an incandescent presence, an unearthly talent with sensitivity, charm and above all grace."

Arriving after the conclusion of the Lakers game, Jack Nicholson cut through some of the flowery compliments by saying to Streep, "You are perfect. That's why they are making you a sacred cow. I know how much you like that. (But) I have this to say about that -- Moo!"

Others who rose to pay tribute to Streep included Nora Ephron and Carrie Fisher, Tracy Ullman, Shirley MacLaine, James Woods, Kevin Kline, Clint Eastwood, Goldie Hawn, Claire Danes, Diane Keaton and costume designer Ann Roth.

Hilton Finally Visits 'The Late Show'

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - With the second season of "The Simple Life" about to kick off, Paris Hilton is at last getting around to chatting with David Letterman.

The hotel heiress and star of the FOX series is scheduled to visit Letterman's "Late Show" Monday (June 14).

"They have a lot in common," "Late Show" an executive producer notes of Hilton and Letterman. "She's the heir to the Hilton Hotel fortune, and he's the heir to the Stadium Motor Lodge fortune."

Hilton was originally scheduled to appear on "The Late Show" in November, prior to "The Simple Life's" first-season premiere. However, that interview -- and most of her pre-show publicity -- fell victim to the minor scandal surrounding the now-infamous sex tape of her and then-boyfriend Rick Salomon.

At the time, Letterman joked on the air that her "crisis management" team was doing the wrong thing by keeping Hilton out of public view.

"All I want to say to Paris is you're being led down the wrong path," he said shortly after the interview was cancelled. "You come on this show, by god, we'll make you a hero."

With the sex-tape escapades pretty much faded from view, Hilton and her handlers have no problem now getting the socialite back in front of the cameras, where she spends much of her time anyway.

Morrissey's alleged Bush remark sparks Internet furor

LONDON (AP) — Morrissey, outspoken lead singer of '80s rockers The Smiths, has sparked an Internet storm with reported comments about President George W. Bush.

The Manchester Evening News said Thursday it had received a record number of hits after reporting on its Web site that Morrissey, 45, had interrupted a Dublin concert Saturday with news of former President Reagan's death, adding that he wished Bush had died instead.

Morrissey's record company, Sanctuary Records, could not confirm the remarks.

"We do not have a recording of the gig, but as far as we can tell, Morrissey was just alerting the audience to the fact that Ronald Reagan had died," the newspaper quoted the company as saying. "He then simply followed that up with his comment about George Bush, which was his own opinion. He is no stranger to controversy."

A newspaper spokeswoman said thousands of people, 90% from the United States, had contacted the site to complain. A few expressed support for the remarks.

Formed in Manchester in the early 1980s, The Smiths had a series of British hits and a large cult following around the world, with songs including Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now and Shoplifters of the World Unite.

A longtime proponent of celibacy and vegetarianism who once wrote a song titled Bigmouth Strikes Again, Morrissey drew criticism in the early 1990s when he appeared to flirt with right-wing British nationalism.

He now lives in Los Angeles and is touring Europe for the first time in a decade to promote his latest solo album, You Are the Quarry.

Fall In Love With Jersey Girl

Kevin Smith's Jersey Girl will hit DVD in September.

Unfortunately the film will be less packed than past Smith releases.

In addition to an anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, the disc will include an audio commentary with Kevin Smith and Ben Affleck, deleted scenes, a featurette and a theatrical trailer.

It all arrives on September 14th.

They're Off to Seize the Wizard

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Three films targeting very different audiences are attempting to dethrone the boy wizard from his box office perch this weekend.

But it's unlikely that the eerily perfect wives of Stepford, the anti-hero Richard Riddick or a lasagna-loving animated cat will cast a spell strong enough to drive Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts from the top of the chart.

Last weekend illustrated the pure power of Potter. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," the third installment of J.K. Rowling's book series, generated a record $93.6 million in its debut weekend, the highest opening-weekend gross of the series. But with Universal Pictures' "The Chronicles of Riddick" targeting young males, Paramount Pictures' "The Stepford Wives" making a bid for older women and 20th Century Fox's "Garfield: The Movie" looking to capitalize on the family audience, the box office will have to expand to accommodate all the new titles.

"Riddick" is the second film built around actor Vin Diesel's character of Richard Riddick, following 2000's "Pitch Black," which did a modest $39.2 million and established Diesel as a star. "Riddick" is a testosterone-filled sci-fi adventure that looks to be generating a lot of heat in its demographic. Judi Dench and Thandie Newton co-star in the PG-13 actioner written and directed by David Twohy, who handled the same duties on "Pitch Black."

Tracking appears to be strong, and with the movie bowing in 2,759 locations, industry insiders put "Riddick's" opening in the $25 million-$30 million range. That should be good news for Diesel, whose most recent project, last year's "A Man Apart," fell flat. Although "Riddick" is not in a position to overthrow "Potter," it could find itself in a contest for the second spot with "Shrek 2," which pulled in $37.9 million last weekend. "Shrek 2," which stands in 13th place on the list of all-time domestic grossers, also is on track to surpass "Finding Nemo," in 10th place with $340 million, as the top-grossing animated film.

"The Stepford Wives," co-financed by DreamWorks and starring Nicole Kidman and Matthew Broderick as the out-of-town couple who enter the seemingly idyllic community of Stepford, Conn., is the latest adaptation of the Ira Levin novel that was filmed in 1975. Directed by Frank Oz ("The Score," "Bowfinger"), the film co-stars Christopher Walken, Glenn Close, Faith Hill and Bette Midler. Turmoil is said to have plagued the picture since preproduction, with Joan and John Cusack both dropping out and numerous reports of actor-director infighting on set.

But Kidman's star power might be able to buoy the picture. Her most recent film, "Cold Mountain," opened to $14.5 million in December, and "Stepford" is hoping to draw a much broader audience. Tracking on the film seems to have improved during the past few weeks, but mixed reviews, which often scare away the older female demographic, might put the picture in the $15 million category. The PG-13 "Stepford" will open in 3,057 theaters.

Garfield, the popular feline star of cartoons and his own comic strip, finally gets his first feature film. But it is an open question whether the animated cat will spark the interests of kids in today's marketplace. Bowing in 3,094 locations, the PG-rated computer-animated/live-action feature boasts Bill Murray as the voice of Garfield, while Breckin Meyer and Jennifer Love Hewitt co-star as the human leads. The box office appeal of family-geared films can be difficult to predict, but insiders peg "Garfield's" bow in the $12 million-$15 million range.

In limited release, Fox Searchlight will bow "Napoleon Dynamite" in four locations. The PG-rated comedy, acquired at this year's Sundance Film Festival, centers on the nerdy title character and his antics in a small town in Idaho. Written and directed by Jared Hess in his feature debut, the film, which cost a reported $400,000, scored well with Sundance audiences and could turn into a sleeper hit.

United Artists' high-school comedy "Saved!" will make a bid for the top 10 in its third weekend by expanding to about 500 theaters.

ABC Pulls Jimmy Kimmel Show Over Detroit Remarks

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel has apologized for joking that Detroit Pistons fans would burn down the city if their basketball team beats the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

The comment, made by Kimmel in a promotional spot for his ABC show during the network's Tuesday night halftime telecast, riled Detroit fans and executives at ABC's Detroit affiliate, WXYZ-TV.

After getting wind that the comedian planned more jokes at Detroit's expense for his Wednesday night segment of "Jimmy Kimmel Live," the station decided to carry a broadcast of "The Wayne Brady Show" in its place.

The Walt Disney Co.-owned network followed suit, running a repeat of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" instead of the segment that had been taped for Wednesday.

"We made the decision that we felt was in the best interest of the show," ABC said in a terse statement. Network officials declined further comment, except to say that Kimmel would return to the airwaves as scheduled on Thursday.

Appearing during the halftime presentation for Game 2 of the NBA finals, which the Lakers won 99-91 in overtime, Kimmel said, "I'm glad the Lakers are winning because besides the fact that I'm a Lakers fan, I realize they're gonna burn the city of Detroit down if the Pistons win, and it's not worth it."

Issuing an apology on Wednesday, Kimmel said, "What I said about Pistons fans during halftime last night was a joke, nothing more. If I offended anyone I am sorry. Clearly over the past 10 years, we in L.A. have taken a commanding lead in post-game riots. If the Lakers win, I hope to overturn my own car."

Four years ago, scores of people rampaged through downtown Los Angeles, overturning cars, setting fires and clashing with police, following the Lakers' 2000 NBA championship.

Detroit, too, has had a history of riotous celebrations following victories by its local sports teams, including the 1984 World Series victory by the Detroit Tigers. Local officials also have fought for years against a tradition of Halloween-eve "Devil's Night" arson fires.

Assuming a somewhat more sober tone on Thursday, Kimmel added: "When you're 2,000 miles away from a city you've never lived in, it's hard to understand the sadness people feel from something that happened in their town -- even if it happened many years ago.

"It was never my intention to cause anyone pain. I was trying to make a joke and I'm sorry it resulted in anything other than laughter."

Music Icon Ray Charles Dies in California at Age 73

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Ray Charles, who overcame poverty, blindness and heroin addiction to lay the foundation for soul music and become one of America's most beloved entertainers, died on Thursday at the age of 73 after a long fight with liver disease, his spokesman said.

Charles, hailed as "The Father of Soul" and best known for such hits as "Georgia On My Mind" and "Hit the Road Jack," died at 11:35 a.m. PDT (2:35 p.m. EDT) at his Beverly Hills home, surrounded by family, friends and business associates, according to the singer's longtime publicist Jerry Digney.

"Mr. Charles was conscious and engaged almost to the end, and wanted the world to know that he will miss the chance to entertain his many family and friends, as he had done, up until last summer, for the past 58 years," longtime manager Joe Adams said at a news conference outside the musician's studio.

The legendary entertainer made his last public appearance on April 30, turning up in a motorized wheelchair for a ceremony dedicating his longtime recording studio in Los Angeles as an historic landmark.

Visibly frail, his voice reduced to a whisper, Charles' demeanor then was a far cry from the wildly enthusiastic performer known to millions of fans for more than half a century.

Charles' biographer, David Ritz, said the singer-songwriter had been unable to speak for the past two to three weeks.

Charles was forced to cut short a North American tour last summer due to hip pain, marking the first series of concerts he had missed in more than 50 years. He later underwent hip replacement surgery.

But other ailments were diagnosed, and unspecified complications forced him to scrap plans to resume touring with a performance in New York last month.

Charles triumphed over adversity from a young age. Left blind by glaucoma at the age of 6, he attended a school for the disabled in St. Augustine, Florida, where he learned to read and write music in Braille and play the piano, saxophone, organ, trumpet and clarinet.

In a 2002 interview, Charles credited his mother with pushing him to be independent, despite his blindness.

"She'd make me cut wood, wash clothes and build a fire under the pot. ... People thought that was abusive. My mother had the attitude 'He's got to learn, and just because he's blind doesn't mean he's stupid."'

Quitting school at age 15 after his mother died, Charles moved to Jacksonville, Florida, then on to Seattle to pursue a music career.

Charles came into his own musically in the early 1950s after signing with Atlantic Records, where he recorded the seminal hit "I Got a Woman," popularly credited as the first true soul record ever made.

He went on to collect 13 Grammy Awards during his career, including a lifetime achievement honor in 1987. He played his 10,000th concert last May in Los Angeles and in 2002 celebrated the 40th anniversary of his first hit on the country music charts, "I Can't Stop Loving You."

Charles made his biggest mark in the 1950s by blending the spirituality of gospel music he learned in the black churches of his youth with the sensuality of the blues to pioneer an emotionally raw genre called soul. Soul in turn helped pave the way for such performers as Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke and the birth of rock 'n' roll.

"He is one of the most important artists of the last century," Ahmet Ertegun, who signed Charles to his Atlantic Records label 52 years ago, told Reuters. "The only artist that had a greater influence was Louis Armstrong."

Charles released his latest album, "Thanks for Bringing Love Around," in 2002, including a new version of "What'd I Say," a song he originally released in 1959 that became one of his first hits.

Other hits include the ballad "Georgia On My Mind," which became the official state song of Charles' home state, as well as "Hit the Road Jack," "The Right Time," "Yes, Indeed," "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" and "I Can't Stop Loving You."

While best known for his contributions to soul music, Charles achieved success with pop standards, jazz tunes and country music.

As his health was failing in recent months, Charles had been finishing work on an upcoming CD of duets, titled "Genius Loves Company," with such performers as Elton John, Norah Jones, B.B. King, Diana Krall, Johnny Mathis and Willie Nelson.

It is slated for release at the end of summer.

CBC's NHL ratings among best ever

TORONTO (CP-AP) -- The Stanley Cup final was a bonanza for the CBC and a bust south of the border.

Tampa Bay's 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames in Game 7 drew an average of 4.862 million viewers Monday night, making it the second-highest rated NHL game ever for CBC. Only coverage of Game 7 of the 1994 final between Vancouver and the New York Rangers drew more, with 4.957 million tuning in for the Rangers' 3-2 win.

But those numbers include pre-game and post-game coverage. The game itself Monday drew 5.560 million Canadians, which was up from 5.404 million in 1994.

The entire final averaged 3.735 million viewers -- the highest-rated final round since the ratings were introduced in 1989. Last year's final between Anaheim and New Jersey averaged 1.507 million.

All four rounds of the 2004 playoffs averaged 2.154 million viewers, up 35 per cent from last season's 1.593 million.

The record audience for a sporting event in Canada, with more than 10 million English and French-language CBC viewers, was the Canadian men's gold medal hockey win over the U.S. at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics.

In the U.S., the average rating for the five Stanley Cup final games on ABC were the lowest since the network began broadcasting the final again in 2000.

Monday's game got a 4.2 rating with a 7 share. That's down nine per cent from the 4.6 with an 8 for New Jersey's 3-0 win over Anaheim in Game 7 last year -- the highest-rated NHL game since broadcast networks began carrying the final in 1998.

Still, the rating for Monday's game was well above the five-game average of 2.6 with a 5 share.

The rating is the percentage of all homes with TVs, whether or not they are in use. Share is the percentage of homes with TVs in use. Each rating point represents about 1.08 million households.

The U.S. ratings were anemic throughout the series. The first two games were on ESPN, with Game 1 tying for the lowest-rated Stanley Cup final game on the cable network since 1990.

TWEAKED

The upcoming NBC Friends spinoff Joey undergoing some last-minute tinkering as producers have decided to dump Ashley Scott, the actress who played Matt LeBlanc's neighbor, after she failed to test well with audiences. Her character will get an overhaul and be recast.

Pee-wee's Playhouse finally comes to DVD

Early adopters of DVD may recall, that along with Shawshank Redemption and Back to the Future, Pee-wee's Big Adventure was one of the longest delayed discs in the format's history, but even after it finally arrived there was no word on the beloved Pee-wee's Playhouse television show.

Finally, Image Entertainment will release the show which was just named by TV Guide as on of the top 25 cult shows on television.

The entire series will come out split into two box sets containing audio commentaries with Paul Reubens and other features from the Pee-wee archives.

In addition to the two sets, Pee-wee’s Christmas Special - which included a new fruitcake wing on the playhouse – will be made available.

Suggested retail on the box sets will be $49.95 each. The Christmas Special will be priced at$14.99. All three releases will happen in early 2005!

'Aw, Phooey!' Donald Duck Turns 70!

PARIS - "Aw, phooey!" Donald Duck is 70!
 
The cantankerous and often unlucky Disney legend feted his birthday at Disneyland Paris on Wednesday by dancing on stage under a shower of confetti as hundreds of park revelers sang "Happy Birthday To You."

A parade down the theme park's Main Street marked the occasion, with Mickey and Minnie Mouse leading the way. Daisy Duck and friends trailed behind carrying a giant pink cake bearing 70 candles.

Donald made his acting debut on June 9, 1934, in a Silly Symphony movie titled "The Wise Little Hen." Since then, the lovable yet fussy fowl has appeared in hundreds of films, from the educational "Donald Duck in Mathematics Land" to the 1942 cartoon "Donald Duck Drafted."

Turning entirely incoherent during his frequent feather-flying tantrums, Donald's favorite sayings in calmer times include "Aw, phooey!" and "Oh yeah?"

Donald, who wooed longtime love Daisy during much of his career, usually wears a sailor suit with — inexplicably — no pants. His middle name, revealed in the World War II draft cartoon, is Fountleroy.

His nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie went on to their own show biz career, starring alongside Donald's uncle Scrooge McDuck in the Disney series "DuckTales" that debuted in the late 1980s.

Clarence "Ducky" Nash was Donald's original voice. He was succeeded by Disney artist Tony Anselmo. Moving from the screen to the printed page, Donald debuted in a daily comic strip in 1938.

Donald stars alongside Mickey Mouse in "Mickey's PhilharMagic," a new 3-D attraction at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Disney also released a retrospective DVD last month, titled "Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume 1 (1934-1941)."

For the festivities in Paris on Wednesday, Karl Lagerfeld drew a portrait of the birthday duck sporting the fashion designer's signature glasses and cardigan. T-shirts with the image will be sold as collector's items.

"Oh-la-la, what energy — you're always so young!" yelled the master of ceremonies as the septuagenarian bird waved to the crowd, kissed Daisy and buoyantly danced away.

Parton's 'Always Love You' Tops CMT List

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In the teen movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," one character advises his buddy, "When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV." Country Music Television has come up with its own list of can't-miss love songs, but it doesn't include Zeppelin.

Topping the 100 greatest love songs is Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You," a song she took to No. 1 on the country chart in 1974. The tune got a rebirth 18 years later when Whitney Houston made it a No. 1 pop hit and it was featured in the movie "The Bodyguard."

Parton wasn't immediately available for comment, but in 1998 she told CMT about a woman who stopped her in an airport and thanked her for writing the lyrics.

"The lady's father was dying of cancer, and he had never been able to tell his family how much he loved them," Parton said. "When he heard the song, he went out and bought the cassette and brought each of his children in individually and played the song for them. He said, `These are the words I want you to know are in my heart.'"

Parton called the encounter "one of the proudest moments of my life."

Rounding out the top 12 love songs: Willie Nelson's "You Were Always On My Mind"; Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams"; Randy Travis' "Forever and Ever, Amen"; Conway Twitty's "Hello Darlin'"; Garth Brooks' "Unanswered Prayers"; Lonestar's "Amazed"; Kenny Rogers' "She Believes in Me"; George Strait's "I Cross My Heart"; George Jones and Tammy Wynette's "Golden Ring"; Merle Haggard's "That's The Way Love Goes"; and "When You Say Nothing At All," a hit for Keith Whitley and later Alison Krauss & Union Station.

CMT released the list Wednesday in a concert in which the top 12 were performed.

Parton was scheduled to be there, as were Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Lee Ann Womack, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley with the Del McCoury Band, Sara Evans, Joe Nichols, Michael McDonald, Lonestar, Josh Turner, Julie Roberts, Buddy Jewell and Raul Malo of The Mavericks.

McDonald, a pop and rock singer with a deep, soulful voice, was to perform Nelson's song.

"It's a beautiful song," McDonald said. "It expresses one of those great sentiments. There's no one out there who hasn't experienced that."

Rogers recalled how "She Believes in Me" stood out when he first heard it and how he knew right away that he wanted to record it.

"I thought it was the ultimate musician's song," Rogers said. "In the song it talks about the old guitar in the corner and he's out trying to hustle and make a living for himself. He comes home and when it really gets tough it's nice to know she believes in me."

The two-hour concert will air Sunday on CMT at 8 p.m. and will be preceded by a four-hour documentary about the songs.

The selection process was loose. A team at CMT came up with the list, trying to capture "the full breadth and scope of country music's rich history of love songs — in their many aspects," a spokeswoman said.

Performing someone else's signature song is both an honor and a challenge, said Nichols, who co-hosted the concert with Evans and teamed with Womack for the duet "Golden Ring."

"It's hard not to try to sing like that person, not to do their same mannerisms," Nichols said.

Nichols added that with the possible exception of drinking, there is no more common theme in country music than love.

Love songs resonate with listeners in all genres, McDonald said, because "nothing permeates everything we do more than that. It's kind of what drives us, really. There is so much about it. You can never exhaust the subject."

Doh! - Homer's Catchphrase Tops British Poll

LONDON (Reuters) - Homer Simpson's emphatic exclamation "Doh!" has topped a British poll of favorite TV comedy catchphrases, easily beating an array of home-grown classics.

The bumbling hero of American animated TV series "The Simpsons" -- who often accompanies his trademark saying with a slap to the forehead -- topped Nuts Magazine's poll with 34 percent of the vote.

"Doh" has even found a home in the Oxford English Dictionary, which defines it as:

"Expressing frustration at the realization that things have turned out badly or not as planned or that one has just said or done something foolish. Also implying that another person has said or done something foolish."

The rest of the poll's top 10, published Wednesday, all come from British television hits.

At No. 2 was "Don't Panic!" from 1970s war comedy "Dad's Army," one of Britain's best-loved programs about a group of aging Home Guard soldiers ill-prepared for a feared German attack.

"I wan' that wun' (I want that one)" from Little Britain, a new satire on life in the UK, was third in the poll. "You plonker" from long-running series "Only Fools and Horses" was fourth while "I don't believe it," grumpy Victor Meldrew's favorite saying from "One Foot in the Grave," was No. 5.

The rest of the top ten in the poll of 3,000 men were:

"Proper Bo" from sketch show "Bo Selecta" at six; "Suits You" from the "Fast Show" at seven; "Ah, ha!" from "Alan Partridge" at eight and "Booyakasha!" from "Ali G" at nine.

Rounding out the top 10 was "Loadsamoney!" from "Harry Enfield."

Britney Spears Undergoes Knee Surgery After Injury

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop princess Britney Spears underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in New York on Wednesday after injuring herself during a late-night video shoot, according to her record label.

Spears, 22, had just completed a scene with rap star Snoop Dogg for a video of her latest single, "Outrageous," and was doing choreography under the L Train line on Roosevelt Avenue in Manhattan when her left knee gave out, Jive Records said in a statement.

"She obviously took a wrong step and blew out her knee," a spokeswoman said. "It was an old dance injury."

The mishap occurred at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, and Spears was taken immediately to a local hospital, where doctors performed an MRI scan and found floating cartilage in her knee, Jive said.

The spokeswoman said there was no immediate word on the outcome of the surgery.

A previous knee injury while performing in Illinois forced the singer to cancel some concert dates earlier this year.

HAPPILY NEVER AFTER

December 31 - That's the expiration date oddsmakers are putting on Jennifer Lopez's surprise wedding to singer Marc Anthony.

Lopez and Anthony stunned the world - and, reportedly, their closest friends - by tying the knot on the grounds of her Hollywood estate on Saturday.

Ladbrokes, the British oddsmaker, is betting 3-to-1 that the union is kaput by year's end - and even people who get paid to keep marriages together say this one's in trouble.

"The rebounding - please!" says Catherine Burton, a marriage and family therapist who is working on a book called "Popular Delusions and the Madness of Fame."

"She rebounds very quickly and never gives herself the chance to understand what she's doing. It's an emotional Band-Aid, and you fall into the exact same pattern with the next person."

Burton - who thinks Lopez needs professional help - says she shows all the signs of classic love addiction.

"It's the belief that the right man can fill the loneliness and emptiness they feel," she explains. "The love addict tends to repeat a cycle, based in obsession and fantasy, that this person will fulfill those needs."

Lopez and Anthony have known each other for years - he dueted with her on "No Me Ames," a track from her 1999 album, "On the 6," and it was rumored that they dated briefly and remained friends throughout their earlier marriages.

Lopez has had two, so far. In 1997, she began a 13-month marriage to waiter and aspiring model Ojani Noa, who has since said she went cold on him as her star rose.

In September 2001, she tied the knot with backup dancer Cris Judd - for 10 months.

Unlike her last two husbands, Anthony clearly has his own identity and career - but that fact alone doesn't safeguard their marriage, say observers.

"It's clearly based on impulse and passion, and it's a disaster," Sharyn Wolf, marriage counselor and author of "How to Stay Lovers for Life."

"At the rate she's going, she's going to use up half of Hollywood by 2010."

Anthony has been married twice, too - to the same woman. He married former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres in Las Vegas in 2000, and after a brief separation, the couple, who have two young children, renewed their vows in a lavish ceremony in December 2002.

Wolf believes this union has a "bad karmic future" - after father-of-three Anthony got a quickie divorce, reportedly at Lopez's behest, last week in the Dominican Republic.

"Jennifer loves the high," she says. "But she doesn't love the work. I think the only way she can feel good about herself is if the person she's dating wants to marry her."

Famed divorce lawyer Raoul Felder says people like Lopez - who make similar mistakes over and over - keep him busy. "More power to her," says Felder, a fan. "This is what keeps divorce lawyers in business - this is better than the Magna Carta!"

Lopez and Anthony tied the knot in the backyard of her L.A. estate in front of about 40 guests, most of whom had been told to come over for a summer party.

The third-time bride surprised them all when she walk down the aisle in an off-the-shoulder, cream-color gown by Vera Wang, with a reported $5 million worth of jewelry. Anthony wore a matching cream-color suit. Latin pop star Ricky Martin reportedly performed at the reception.

P. Diddy - who shared a highly publicized two-year relationship with Lopez - took the news in stride.

"If she's in love with somebody and that makes her happy, I'm happy for her," he told "Access Hollywood," adding, "That's my girl for life."

"The one thing I love about Jennifer is she's doing it her way, the Frank Sinatra way," he says. "She's not playing by anybody else's rules, so she's doing what makes her happy and that's the beauty of it."

Cris Judd, meanwhile, said, "I wish her and Marc the best, and hey, if it's true to her heart, then by all means."

E!Online writer Ted Casablancas also had kind words, sort of. He registered gratitude that Lopez got hitched "quickly and expeditiously, so we didn't have to suffer."

He called Lopez "another Liz Taylor," adding, "even Liz says, 'I was misguided - I thought I had to marry every guy instead of just having affairs with them.' I think Lopez just really wants to be married. Maybe Marc's the one - but I'd be stunned."

And if he isn't? Peggy Kennedy, editor-in-chief of Elegant Bride, has some practical advice:

"Next time, skip the white dress and go for color. Maybe go shorter, skip the veil - how many times can you be a virgin? - and be a little more relaxed with the hair. It seems like whenever it's in an upsweep, it's time to get married."

Three Plus Four Equals Two New Seasons of 'Coupling'

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - For those with BBC America on their cable systems, the fourth season of the BBC's saucy romantic comedy "Coupling" just launched on Sunday, June 6, at 9 p.m. ET. For the rest, the third season was released on DVD by BBC Video on June 1.

Star Ben Miles, who plays the womanizing Patrick Maitland, is busy looking for ways to spend his "Coupling" cash.

"I'm just browsing e-Bay," he says, calling in from the U.K., "and thinking I should be doing something more useful."

Last fall, NBC tried to launch its own version of the show -- which charts the interlocking lives and loves of six sex-obsessed thirtysomethings -- which landed with a resounding splat and was quickly yanked from its coveted slot on the network's Thursday-night schedule.

Apparently this hasn't hurt writer Steven Moffat's original version on the BBC.

"It's not so much a monster hit," Miles says. "It's kind of a small beast. It's going from strength to strength. It's strange, but the last time it aired, they repeated all three seasons, and we got more recognition for that than we have over the whole four years it's been on TV.

"It's been a slow burn, 'Coupling,' and everybody knows about it and likes it."

He thinks the failure of the American version may have benefited its predecessor.

"Once people got to hear about the American version not working," Miles says, "some sense of pride in their own product came from somewhere. People started to like it who maybe weren't so sure about it before. But those poor guys -- I saw a documentary on it, and they were just under the screw from day one. It was a high-pressure situation."

The beginning of season four (or series four, as it's called in the U.K.) finds confirmed commitment-phobe Patrick in a serious relationship with confirmed neurotic Sally (Kate Isitt).

"Patrick matures [this year]," Miles says. "He can't get any less mature. His story is, he's struggling with the idea of monogamy. He's struggling with what it's like to be in a relationship with one person.

"And it's with Sally, the maddest of all people, the most insane, insecure, neurotic person you'd ever hope to meet. But she's mad enough to get Patrick, and Patrick is mad enough to get Sally. So, this series is really about Patrick struggling to find the right tools for the job, the right emotional equipment ..."

But, fans might say, according to Patrick's ex-girlfriend Susan (Sarah Alexander) -- who described him to Sally as "a tripod" -- Patrick has all the equipment he requires.

"Yeah, he does," Miles says, "in that department, and he thinks that's all he needs. But Sally keeps pestering him and telling him he needs to talk and tell her what he thinks - you know, your average male blindness. So he's becoming sort of a 20th Century person."

That's good, considering it's the 21st Century.

"Give him a chance!" Miles says. "He's only just started. A few more seasons, he might be in the 21st Century. The show is written really nicely for me and Kate. There are a lot of situations based on that very simple comic line of, this is unfamiliar territory to them. How do people do this -- particularly these two people."

Of course, playing Patrick in earlier seasons as a man about town did allow Miles to live out a male fantasy -- and it appears that has not come to a screeching halt.

"Series four started," he recalls, "our first day of filming, I was driving a brand-new BMW convertible, very quickly, down a runway, in an homage to 'The Prisoner.' They had me speeding up and down this runway all day, and I thought, 'This is one of the reasons I took this job. It's just superb.'

"And then the afternoon was spent at a carwash surrounded by girls dressed either as policewomen or nurses. So it was a better than average day at the office."

Asked if he feels the need to live up to Patrick's example, Miles laughs. "If I did live up to Patrick's social life, I would probably be in bed right now. No, my social life is very different from Patrick's, but it's a delight to be able to dip into that world via the mad scripts of Steven Moffat."

Miles has also learned a little something from his alter ego. "I've learned to be aware when I'm about to engage my mouth without putting my brain in gear. It helps to do both, but Patrick is so good at just opening his mouth and talking stuff that gets him into trouble.

"But maybe it's a bit of what you should to in this so-P.C. world. Patrick is a little bit of a hero to most men in a small way, because he's still flying the flag of ignorance and belligerence -- and enjoying himself."

For the DVD, Miles and his fellow cast members recorded audio commentaries.

"God knows who's going to find it interesting," he says. "It's just us sitting in a booth, looking at ourselves, telling each other how good we think we are. It's a crazy existence.

"Then you forget you're on mike, and it's going out to the world, you have a chat about things, talk about stuff completely unrelated to 'Coupling,' what you're going to have for lunch.

"What people will get from that other than the fact that we're a bunch of self-interested narcissists, I don't know, but it was fun."

For a reunited Van Halen, there's no turning back

Van Halen's implosion, fed by bad blood and a cancer crisis, stalled the career of a band as famous for its internal discord as its rock-metal harmony.

Now Van Halen is back to finish what it started. Friday, singer Sammy Hagar, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen and bassist Michael Anthony will reunite onstage in Greensboro, N.C., first stop on a blockbuster summer tour.

"It's shaping up as one of the top tours of the year," says Ray Waddell of Billboard. "Tickets blew out very quickly. The band had very hard-core fans at their peak, and there's a real thirst to hear those songs again. Plus, there's a strong curiosity factor about Eddie."

Two years ago, fans were losing faith. The band remained idle after firing Gary Cherone, the voice on 1998's poorly received Van Halen III. Eddie was in isolation battling tongue cancer. Hagar and original frontman David Lee Roth, both on the outs with Van Halen and barely civil to each other, launched the gimmicky Sam & Dave tour. A reunion seemed unthinkable.

Then, in mid-2002, Eddie announced he was cancer-free after two years of treatment. Last winter, Hagar initiated casual chats with Alex and Anthony.

"We didn't plan this," Hagar says. "I called Al about a dream I had, strictly personal. It had been seven years, and we just started laughing. He said, 'Let's get Ed on the phone.' Then I'm talking to Ed, who says, 'Come on over; I've got some music I want you to hear.' Next thing I know, we're in the studio."

Alex adds, "It's like an old shoe. It fit. It's what we were born to do."

Spanning three decades, the set list boast three new songs and hits predating Hagar, who no longer balks at taking on Roth's role.

"In the old days, I had a bug up my butt about doing their early hits," Hagar says. "I was more interested in doing what we'd just written. This time, I was the first one to say, 'Let's open with Jump.' It's one of the most important songs in the band's career, and I love singing it now.

"It's a humbling experience the second time around, and I have a new appreciation for the band's history. There's not a better catalog on the planet."

Here's your host, Conan O'Brien

Lion's Gate Entertainment has two DVDs lined up from the archives of Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

The first is last September's "10th Anniversary Special", which will include the primetime program as well as a multitude of bonus features including extra comedy and guest footage, bonus remotes, a behind-the-scenes photo gallery, and some hidden Easter Eggs.

The second is the long awaited "The Best of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog", which is a compilation of Triumph's best "poopings" since his debut in 1997. The hour long main program will be supplemented by over 90 minutes of additional footage, including all of the favorite appearances as well as never-before-seen outtakes and his "I Keed" music video.

Both DVDs will be available on August 10th.

Beatles Said to Be in Online Song Licensing Talks

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Representatives of the Beatles are in discussions with various online music services about licensing their songs for distribution on the Internet, people familiar with the discussions said on Tuesday.

The Beatles have been one of the biggest holdouts in releasing their catalog for sale online, and the lack of such mega-hits as "Let it Be" and "Yesterday" has been cited as a major weakness for fledgling, Web-based music stores.

Negotiators for the Beatles have talked with several companies, with a particular emphasis on Microsoft Corp's MSN, which is expected to open an Internet music store late this summer, people familiar with the talks told Reuters.

"MSN is working very closely with the music industry to build a top-quality music service for consumers, which includes providing a wide selection of music, but has nothing specific to announce at this time," said a Microsoft spokesman.

The discussions by the legendary group were first reported by CNET on Tuesday.

Sources familiar with the matter said the current round of talks is being steered by the Beatles' representatives rather than their record label, EMI Group Plc.

Representatives of the band's two surviving members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, could not be immediately reached for comment.

EMI owns the Beatles' master recordings and would be involved in any final agreement, the sources said. The label has been trying to urge the Beatles for years to grant permission to distribute their songs online.

"We think it would be great if the Beatles decided to make their music available on legitimate music services," said EMI spokeswoman Jeanne Meyer.

One person familiar with the discussions said he was optimistic that some deal could be reached by September.

"This would be a big deal because they have been one of the preeminent major holdouts in terms of licensing their digital rights," said veteran entertainment lawyer Jay Cooper. "In the past year, various major artists are starting to put their toe in the water."

Various services from RealNetworks' Rhapsody to Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes to Roxio Inc.'s Napster would all jump at the chance to distribute The Beatles, who broke up over 30 years ago, analysts said.

"We've always been confident that artists would see digital music as a must-have platform. We're at the infancy stage of what will certainly be a booming business," said Evan Harrison, vice president and general manager of Time Warner Inc.'s AOL Music.

APPLE v. APPLE

Apple Computer, which launched its popular iTunes music store over a year ago, has been embroiled in a legal dispute with the management for the Beatles since September.

The Beatles, who formed similarly named London-based Apple Corps. in 1968 to manage its business interests and act as its music label, have accused the computer maker of violating a 1991 agreement specifying it could use the Apple trademark for computer products only.

The Beatles management have said Apple Computer broke the agreement when it used the logo and trademark to promote its iTunes online music store, the most popular Internet download service in the world.

A London High Court judge in April struck down Apple's request to have the case heard by California courts. The computer maker argued the United States was the proper place for the hearing as this was where the original agreement between the two companies was struck.

The Couch Potato Report - June 8th, 2004

This week in The Couch Potato Report SCTV is on the air...well, it's now on DVD anyway. So is a two time Oscar winner and two Emmy winners.

When it comes to the entertainment industry, Canadians are the best in the world!

Granted, Canadians are the best in the world at many things, but since my specialty is the entertainment industry, so I’m just going to stay within my field of expertise.

In the silent film era no woman experienced the popularity or power of Mary Pickford. She was known as “America’s Sweetheart.” Guess what, Mary Pickford was a Canadian!

In the mid-1960’s the show BONANZA was the number one program on television. Lorne Greene, a Canadian, was the head of the Cartwright clan on that seminal show.

Another 1960’s show that would eventually become even more popular than BONANZA was STAR TREK. Both Captain Kirk and Mr. Scott, the head engineer on that show are from The Great White North!

So is Mike Myers, Dan Aykroyd, Raymond Burr, Jim Carrey, Phil Hartman, Alex Trebeck, Monty Hall, Tommy Chong, Bryan Adams, Rush, Robert Goulet, Matthew Perry, Donald Sutherland and all of The Kids In The Hall, just name a few.

But the definitive example that Canadians are the best in the world can be summed up in four letters: S. C. T. V!

And now, finally, SCTV, the greatest comedy show of all time, is debuting on DVD!

The Canadian cast of SCTV reads like comedic royalty: John Candy, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Martin Short, Rick Moranis, Catherine O’Hara, Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy and Harold Ramis.

Speak any of those names to people who know comedy and you are sure to get a laugh.

SCTV was produced right here in Western Canada and TV Guide recently named SCTV “One of the 50 best television shows of all time."

I’ll do them one better. Plain and simple, SCTV is the best TV Show of all time!

SEINFELD, I LOVE LUCY, THE SIMPSONS, MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS, MAGNUM, P.I., or any other show you could name might deserve honourable mentions, but SCTV was, and is the best TV show ever!

The recently released five-disc box set includes such SCTV benchmarks as "The Great White North" segments; "Play It Again, Bob," starring Rick Moranis as Woody Allen and Dave Thomas as Bob Hope; the ill-fated made-for-SCTV "Polynesiantown" starring Johnny LaRue, who also turns up in “Street Beef.” There is also "The Sammy Maudlin Show", “Money Talks with Brian Johns”, “Mel’s Rock Pile,” with Rockin Mel Slurrip, and many, many more!

Also included are new interviews with the cast, a tribute to the late John Candy, the 1999 SCTV reunion event at the Aspen Comedy Arts Festival, plus commentaries and a 24-page photo booklet.

And I’m happy to report that this is only the first of four planned box sets of SCTV material. The next one is due in September.

Even 18 years after SCTV last aired these episodes continue to prove that Canadians are the best in the world.

This set is the comedy release of the year. Period, end of story!

But maybe you’re not in the mood to laugh. Maybe you’d like to see a serious drama, an Oscar winning serious drama at that.

Well you’re in luck as Clint Eastwood’s MYSTIC RIVER is a very serious drama and it features the Academy Award winning performances of Sean Penn and Tim Robbins.

MYSTIC RIVER is a mystery that revolves around three boyhood friends in working-class Boston. The friends are played as adults by Tim Robbins, Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon, and they are drawn together by a crime from the past and a murder in the present.

It is a great premise, based on a wonderful book by Dennis Lehane, but sorry, MYSTIC RIVER is another one of those films I just didn’t get.

Not at all!

Yet when it was over, I told my friend Chris that critics were going to love it and it would do very well at the Oscars.

They did, and it did.

For the record, Chris didn’t like it either.

MYSTIC RIVER was praised for it’s superior acting, writing, and direction and it was called “…one of the finest films of 2003.”

Sorry, I just didn’t get it.

My advice is to watch it for yourself, then make up your own mind.

Good luck!

The final new release to tell you about this week is ALONG CAME POLLY.

Ben Stiller from ZOOLANDER stars with TV FRIEND Jennifer Aniston.

Stiller basically plays the exact same hapless schmuck romantic types that he’s played in MEET THE PARENTS and several other films. In ALONG CAME POLLY he has to start over when his wife has an affair on their honeymoon.

Then Aniston comes along and comedic situations occur.

If I had been expecting more from ALONG CAME POLLY I probably would of found it to be horrible, predictable and not funny.

But, because my expectations were low, I actually found it very funny.

The laughs come often, there was enough toilet humour to appeal to my immature side, and Stiller and Aniston make a cute couple.

ALONG CAME POLLY isn’t the comedy release of the year, but if you have very low expectations I think you’ll enjoy it.

SCTV, MYSTIC RIVER and ALONG CAME POLLY are available now at your favourite local video store.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUCH POTATO REPORT

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore were so great in THE WEDDING SINGER that they teamed up again for 50 FIRST DATES. Sandler is a man falls in love with a woman with no short-term memory. The second time wasn’t the charm with this otherwise engaging duo.

THE SIMPSONS – THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON is also coming out next week. Season 4 is when the show really began to take off. Some of the episodes on this 4-disc set are “Mr. Plow”, “Marge Vs. The Monorail”, “Kamp Krusty” “Brother from the Same Planet”, “Last Exit to Springfield” and “Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie.” This box set is great from start to finish.

In THE STATION AGENT three unlikely people forge a friendship in their despair.

And two mountain climbing friends face tragedy in the reportedly superb TOUCHING THE VOID.

I’ll have more on those releases, in seven days.

For now, that's this week's COUCH POTATO REPORT.

Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next week on The Couch!

Coming Now On A CD Near You!

Even though none of these discs can hold a candle to the two HUGE releases coming out next week (from The Beastie Boys and Patti Scialfa) I thought I'd list them anyway as not everyone likes what I like.

For the record, I like The BEastie Boys and Patti Sciafa (Mrs. Bruce Springsteen)!

Anyway, here are the new music releases for Tuesday, June 8, 2004:

311 Greatest Hits '93 - '03 (Zomba)
AL STEWART Greatest Hits (Rhino)
ANGIE STONE 8 Ball (J Records)
BAD RELIGION The Empire Strikes First (Epitaph)
BROOKS BUFORD Straight Outta Rehab (Arista)
BUDDY GUY TBA Buddy Guy DVD (Zomba)
COWBOY JUNKIES One Soul Now (Maple Music)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND Live At the Gorge (DVD) (RCA)
ELVIS PRESLEY Sun Recordings (RCA)
MOBB DEEP Americaz Nightmare (Zomba)
R. KELLY TBA R. Kelly (Zomba)
SILVERTIDE Show & Tell (J Records)
THE CALLING Two (RCA)
VARIOUS ARTISTS Punk-O-Rama 9 (Epitaph)
VELVET REVOLVER Contraband (RCA)
WEIRD AL YANKOVIC Best Of (Zomba)
WILCO A Ghost Is Born (Nonesuch/Warner)
YOUSSOU N'DOUR Egypt (Nonesuch/Warner)

Last Tour For Simon & Garfunkel?

On Thursday (June 10), Simon & Garfunkel will kick off the second leg of their Old Friends tour in Albany, N.Y. But according to Paul Simon, this may be the final opportunity for fans to see the famed duo.

"If it was an ongoing act where there was new material being recorded and you were working that into the repertoire, maybe there would be some justification," he said. "But I think this is a good example of the music that we made and I don't really see any powerful reason to do it again, because we did it. It's not a Sherman-esque declaration. It's just how I feel."

The boyhood chums have been famously estranged for years, the classic example of a duo that made sweet music onstage and hit sour notes when the lights went down. Now, however, "my friendship with Artie is back to where it was when we were 12 years old," Simon said. "We're laughing and kidding around all the time. It's a lot of fun." Garfunkel agreed: "We are remarkably like brothers in our musical calling and our senses of humor."

They may be friends again, but that doesn't mean they always see eye to eye. In the course of two interviews, they disagreed on whether Simon & Garfunkel has a recording future, a touring future beyond this summer and whether a change in their show for Europe was politically motivated.

Last fall, during the song "America," a video montage ran on screens behind the two singers, showing images of the nation during the past 40 years. That will be either changed or eliminated when the tour moves to Europe July 14 in Manchester, England.

"It's what an artist does when he feels the name of his country speaks too loudly and too provocatively [that] it pushes the music aside," Garfunkel said, somewhat cryptically. He wouldn't comment further. Simon said it will be altered to be more appropriate to Europeans. "It's not a political statement," he said. "It's a geographic reality."

Seeing the duo isn't a cheap date, with the average ticket price for an S&G show last fall selling for more than $135. "It's a hard subject," Garfunkel said. "It puts me on the defensive. I didn't make the ticket price. I'm involved in it, my profit is related to it. Am I squeezing the American people? Well, if they show up and say we're happy to buy your ticket and come see the show, who am I to say you shouldn't be happy?"

Garfunkel said he's had great fun with the reunion, which he called "an open-ended experience." The idea of new recordings from Simon & Garfunkel is "a very interesting and feasible possibility," he said.

That may be wishful thinking. Although they're preparing a CD and DVD recording of their fall shows at New York's Madison Square Garden, Simon doesn't expect any new music from the duo.

"I think we're about what we were," not what we could be in the future, he said. In the meantime, Simon is halfway through a new solo album, an intriguing partnership with producer Brian Eno. As previously reported, the artist's solo albums will be released in a nine-disc boxed set on June 29 by Warner Bros., and individually in two batches on July 13 and July 27.

Metallica Preps 'Monster' of an EP

NEW YORK (Billboard) - In conjunction with the July 9 opening of the Metallica documentary "Some Kind of Monster," the band will issue an eight-track EP of the same name.

The Elektra package, set for a July 13 release, will feature two versions of the song from which the film takes its moniker: one drawn from the 2003 album "St. Anger" and an edit by producer Bob Rock.

Six live tracks recorded June 11, 2003, in Paris, are also featured: "The Four Horsemen," "Damage, Inc.," "Leper Messiah," "Motorbreath," "Ride the Lightning" and "Hit the Lights." Limited editions of the EP will bundled with a compressed T-shirt in large and extra-large sizes, emblazoned with the film's poster art.

Directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, "Some Kind of Monster" offers an unvarnished behind-the-scenes look at Metallica's recent past, including the departure of longtime bassist Jason Newsted and vocalist James Hetfield's stint in rehab.

Metallica is in the midst of a European tour that ran into a snag Sunday night at the U.K.'s Download Festival, when drummer Lars Ulrich was unable to perform due to an undisclosed medical emergency. According to the group's official Web site, Ulrich was ably replaced during the 11-song set by Slipknot's Joey Jordison, Slayer's Dave Lombardo and Ulrich's own drum tech.

Metallica will shift from Elektra to Warner Bros. Records for its next studio album, which Ulrich told Billboard won't begin taking shape until next year.

Actor David Hasselhoff Arrested for Drunk Driving

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor David Hasselhoff, who played the frequently bare-chested chief lifeguard on the international hit TV series "Baywatch," was arrested over the weekend on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, police officials said on Monday.

A Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman said Hasselhoff was arrested late Saturday evening on a DUI charge in the Encino area. She did not have any details on the circumstances of the arrest.

Hasselhoff entered an alcohol rehabilitation program in the summer of 2002 and admitted in subsequent interviews that he had hit "rock bottom."

A spokeswoman for the 51-year-old actor was not immediately available to comment on his arrest.

"Baywatch" debuted on NBC in 1989 and was canceled after one season. But Hasselhoff and his partners acquired rights to the show and brought it back as a syndicated series in 1991 based on its popularity overseas. The show went off the air in 2001.

The show also made household names of actresses like Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra and Yasmine Bleeth.

Hasselhoff won early fame starring in the 1980s talking car TV series "Knight Rider" and has also enjoyed success as a singer, especially in Germany. He appears in the film comedy "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" due for U.S. release later this month.

'Harry Potter' Box Office Tally Raised

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Harry Potter worked some more box office magic and had Hollywood wondering on Monday if new trends of global debuts and strong sequels were developing at movie houses.

Box office tracker Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. raised the final weekend U.S. and Canadian ticket sales for "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by $1 million to $93.7 million.

The "Potter" opening marks the second straight sequel to get off to a strong start this summer season along with May movie "Shrek 2," following several high-profile disappointments last year like "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle."

Computer-animated "Shrek 2" became the quickest new release to surpass the $300 million mark with a total $314.5 million. It took 18 days to cross that threshold compared to 22 days for "Spider-Man," said DreamWorks distribution chief Jim Tharpe.

But it was the third "Potter," estimated to cost Warner Bros $150 million, that had Hollywood wondering if other of this year's sequels can beat their predecessors -- as did "Potter" -- and how many more movies will get global debuts.

Internationally, the British boy wizard conjured $114 million, including a week of sales in the United Kingdom. It played in 24 overseas markets, overall.

Producer David Heyman attributed its success to several factors including older kids turning up in droves. They grew up reading the books and continue to follow the movies. Teens are a core group that repeats trips to theaters for popular films.

"Our audience base is expanding. We're bringing in the newer audiences and retaining the teenagers," he told Reuters.

Good reviews and the direction from Mexico's Alfonso Cuaron, whose previous hit "Y Tu Mama Tambien" had adult themes, brought in older audiences, too, Heyman said.

NEW TRENDS?

The "Azkaban" start has some Hollywood watchers wondering if it can beat "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" in total box office. Doing so would not be unprecedented, but would be outside normal box office patterns for sequels.

Wall Street analyst Michael Gallant of CIBC World Markets sees a mixed outlook due to the competitive summer season.

Gallant sees "Azkaban" on track to post $875 million in global ticket sales, down from $969 million for "Sorcerer's Stone" but ahead of $866 million for "Chamber of Secrets."

Movie executives say "Shrek 2" and "Potter" are playing well because they earned solid reviews and strong endorsements from friend to friend. "Full Throttle" failed that test.

The experts await "Spider-Man 2" (June 30) and "The Bourne Supremacy" (July 23) to see if the trend holds.

Meanwhile, more summer releases are slated for same-day global debuts as was "Troy," "Van Helsing," and "The Day After Tomorrow" to counteract piracy and use global media coverage.

The experts said certain elements are needed to launch movies worldwide: a big star like Brad Pitt in "Troy," a brand like "Potter" or an issue like global warming in "Tomorrow."

"If you have something that has scale and relevance, you want to take advantage of that opportunity," said Stephen Moore, head of Twentieth Century Fox International. Fox, a unit of News Corp. Ltd., distributed "Day After Tomorrow."

Bookies Offer 3-1 Odds on Quick End to J-Lo Marriage

LONDON (Reuters) - British bookmakers offered odds of 3-1 Monday that singer/actress Jennifer Lopez and her new husband Marc Anthony would divorce by the end of the year.

Lopez, 33, has already been through two marriages that lasted little more than a year. She broke off an A-list celebrity engagement to actor Ben Affleck in January after the couple called off their wedding last September.

Anthony was granted a quickie divorce in the Dominican Republic a week ago from his wife of four years, a former Miss Universe.

Ladbrokes is also offering 10 to one odds that "J-Lo marries more than eight times in her life, beating Elizabeth Taylor," a spokesman said.

Those who never quite accepted that Lopez and Affleck had split for good after one of Hollywood's most tumultuous romances also have a chance to bet.

The bookmakers are offering 14-1 odds that Affleck and Lopez are married by the end of 2004.

Summer movie preview
With apologies to Halle Berry, this summer doesn't look so hot

By DEREK TSE -- Toronto Sun

Picking our No. 1 flick -- Spider-Man 2 -- for our summer movie preview was easy. Sifting through the detritus of the other releases in search of nine other films worthy of a top-10 list was the hard part.

In what looks like the weakest summer crop in a long time, the web-slinging crimefighter stands to be the only safe bet in terms of being a crowd-pleasing, mega-bucks-raking hit. Sure, there are several others that could bust out big, but this will be remembered as the summer of the spider.

And then, as they say, there's Maude.

10. CATWOMAN

Opens July 23

- WHAT: When shy graphic designer Patience (Halle Berry) gets caught up in a corporate scandal, she survives an attempt on her life and is reborn as sexy superheroine Catwoman.

- HOT: Berry is smokin' hot in her feline duds, which pretty much consists of a whip, a leather brassiere and a cat mask.

- COLD: Uh-oh, Internet geek buzz is that this is a steaming pile of kitty litter. Then again, Internet geek buzz proclaimed Chewbacca the person they would most want to meet.

- WE SAY: The last time French director Pitof was allowed near a major Hollywood franchise, the execrable Alien: Resurrection chest-bursted onto the scene. We have a feeling he's coughed up another hairball here.

9. KING ARTHUR

Opens July 7

- WHAT: A straight-ahead retelling of the legend of Camelot, this historical adventure stars Clive Owen as reluctant leader Arthur, who longs only to return to the relative peace and quiet of Rome but comes to realize tumultuous old Britain needs a king. With the help of a tempestuous Guinevere (Keira Knightley), an unmagical Merlin (Stephen Dillane) and his Knights of the Round Table, he sets out to become that king.

- HOT: Knightley is one of Hollywood's hottest ingenues; these days, historical epics are all the rage ...

- COLD: ... sort of. Troy had a big first weekend, but interest dipped significantly afterward. Will audiences go for a medieval tale that doesn't feature sorcery and magic swords? And can director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Replacement Killers) pull this off?

- WE SAY: Anything would be better than the rancid A Knight's Tale, the last medieval epic that tried to appeal to younger audiences. But that's not saying much.

8. THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK

Opens June 11

- WHAT: Musclebound anti-hero Riddick (Vin Diesel) is once again forced to fight on the side of good -- this time, he battles the evil Lord Marshal (played by Pierre Elliot Trudeau himself, Colm Feore), who wants to transform humans into his army of mindless slaves, the Necromongers. Kind of like Trudeau did.

- HOT: Surprisingly, advance word has been mostly positive; judging from the trailers, the effects look impressive indeed.

- COLD: Those who have been anxiously awaiting a sequel to the cult flick Pitch Black, released in 2000, speak up now. Uh, how about now? (Cue sound of crickets chirping.)

- WE SAY: Diesel, who was supposed to be the next great action superstar a couple of years ago (remember all the hype that attended his action dud, XXX?), needs a hit in a big way; while we're not sure Chronicles Of Riddick will do that, it should at least be able to, like its predecessor, generate another cult following.

7. COLLATERAL

Opens Aug. 6

- WHAT: An ordinary Los Angeles cab driver (Jamie Foxx) faces an extraordinary situation when he's co-opted by a cold-blooded hitman (Tom Cruise) to chauffeur him around the city. While he kills people.

- HOT: From capable director Michael Mann, whose other sleek odes to testosterone include Heat and The Insider; Cruise plays way against type as the ruthless assassin, who kills one man by throwing him out of a highrise.

- COLD: Will audiences be able to suspend their disbelief at Cruise playing an evil killer -- with a shock of white hair, no less? We had enough trouble believing he dumped Penelope Cruz!

- WE SAY: We're willing to give the Hollywood pretty boy the benefit of the doubt -- but we still think ex Nicole Kidman will kick his ass with The Stepford Wives.

6. THE VILLAGE

Opens Aug. 6

- WHAT: An isolated 19th-century village braces itself for an attack by the mysterious creatures who dwell in the surrounding woods. But young Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix) is determined to discover these creatures' secret -- even if it means stepping across the forbidden forest boundary.

- HOT: The creepy films of writer-director M. Night Shyamalan are one of Hollywood's surest bets for a good time at the theatre; the strong cast features Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt and Adrien Brody.

- COLD: There's reportedly yet another twist ending -- which makes us wonder whether Shyamalan can ever tell a story without trying to pull the rug out from under our feet ... and whether he can do it without the convoluted climaxes of Signs and Unbreakable.

- WE SAY: Chalk up another spine-tingling crowd-pleaser for Shyamalan -- while we're sure it'll be good, we just hope the end justifies the means.

5. THE TERMINAL

Opens June 18

- WHAT: Eastern European native Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks) gets stuck in New York when civil war breaks out in his homeland. Ordered not to leave the airport, he stays true to his word, living inside the terminal and having all sorts of heartwarming adventures, including finding love with beautiful stewardess Catherine Zeta-Jones. Somebody please pass the barf bags ...

- HOT: From director Steven Spielberg, the best mainstream director working today -- you've gotta go waaay back (1991's Hook) to find his last serious misfire; add Hanks to the bill, and you've got a film discerning adults can flock to.

- COLD: Amid the bombast of the arachnoid heroes, cat-attired vixens, homicidal robots, hordes of Necromongers and chauvinistic '70s anchormen, this romantic, adult-oriented offering could get stuck on the runway.

- WE SAY: There isn't much treacle in this crop of summer flicks, so The Terminal is sure to corner the market on tearjerking, heartwarming fare. Just remember, the exits are here, here and here.

4. I, ROBOT

Opens July 16

- WHAT: Will Smith stars as robophobic detective Del Spooner, who investigates a murder in the year 2035 that apparently has been committed by a robot called Sonny (Alan Tudyk). This is bad news, since it means Sonny has broken the Laws of Robotics, which prevent all emotionless automatons from running amok and taking over the world. See, we knew Al Gore's day would come.

- HOT: This is based loosely on the old Isaac Asimov story, and promises to be a good, old-fashioned, effects-laden popcorn movie; director Alex Proyas has a strong track record for genre films (The Crow, Dark City).

- COLD: The look of the robots is a little underwhelming -- the ones we've seen look like automated crash-test dummies.

- WE SAY: While we weren't blown away by the trailer, we'd still give I, Robot a shot. Another thing going for it: Smith was once the undisputed king of the summer blockbuster, and is itching to reclaim his crown.

3. THE STEPFORD WIVES

Opens June 11

- WHAT: In this remake of the 1975 cult classic, Joanne and Walter Eberhart (Nicole Kidman and Matthew Broderick) relocate to the upscale neighbourhood of Stepford, Conn., where everything seems a little too perfect -- especially the beautiful, blond and robotic housewives who cater to their husbands' every needs.

- HOT: Kidman looks more radiant than ever -- a testament to the wonders that breaking up with Tom Cruise can do for a lady; the fantastical premise makes for potentially great satire.

- COLD: There have been reports of turmoil behind the scenes and talk of reshoots -- never a good sign. And try to avoid the latest TV trailers, which seem to completely give away a major plot point involving Bette Midler's character.

- WE SAY: Domo arigato, Mrs. Roboto. In a summer of dumb and dumber, here's hoping the high-concept Stepford Wives is a step above.

2. ANCHORMAN

Opens July 9

- WHAT: Will Ferrell stars as 1970s news-thingy Ron Burgundy, a mustachioed, sexist pig who just happens to be the leading newscaster of the top-rated Channel 4 News in San Diego. But his polyester-suited world is thrown for a loop when Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) becomes his news team's first female member.

- HOT: Ferrell is making the most consistently funny movies of any comedic actors these days; he's backed up by a terrific supporting cast, which includes The Daily Show's Steve Carrell, Vince Vaughn and Paul Rudd.

- COLD: Anchorman runs the risk of stretching a one-note joke too far.

- WE SAY: News flash: Anchorman is our second-most-anticipated movie of the summer, which says a lot about its competition. Still, Ferrell's riding a hot streak that has no signs of fizzling out anytime soon.

1. SPIDER-MAN 2

Opens June 30

- WHAT: Poor Peter Parker (Toby Maguire): His life is a wreck as he copes with being a costumed superhero and trying to lead a normal life. Not only that, but a freakish new supervillain, Dr. Octopus (Alfred Molina), shows up, apparently in league with Peter's best pal, Harry (James Franco). Can Spidey save the day? Can he win the girl of his dreams, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst)? Can millions of geeks hold back tears of rage when they realize there's no scene featuring Mary Jane kissing Spidey while wearing a wet T-shirt?

- HOT: The whole team from the blockbuster original is back, and they've promised the sequel is a big improvement; from first glimpses, Dr. Octopus actually looks cool and menacing, no mean feat for a villain whose namesake is shared with James Bond super-bimbo Octopussy.

- COLD: The first Spider-Man's lame action sequences were that film's biggest letdown -- hopefully, the past couple of years have taught director Sam Raimi et al their lesson.

- WE SAY: Web us up! The box office won't be so itsy bitsy for this spider, and it looks like it can actually deliver on all the hype.

Van Halen finishes rehearsals, gears up for still-growing tour

With their final dress rehearsal behind them, the members of Van Halen are on the verge of launching a summer tour that continues to grow.

On Thursday (6/3), the group added to its itinerary stops in Louisville, KY; Green Bay, WI; Biloxi, MS; Atlanta; and Cincinnati. Tickets for the Louisville stop hit the box office on Saturday (6/5), while tickets for the Green Bay show go on sale June 12. On-sale dates for the remaining new stops have not been announced.

The run, which is Van Halen's first with singer Sammy Hagar since the mid '90s, kicks off in Greensboro, NC, on June 11, and dates are stacked up into late September. Tickets for all of the shows announced prior to Thursday (6/3) are already on sale.

On Tuesday (6/1), Van Halen held its final dress rehearsal at a closed soundstage in Southern California. Pictures from the event, as well as the setlist and additional details, are posted at the Van Halen News Desk fan website.

Among the songs that the group reportedly performed during the rehearsal were three new tracks that will appear on "The Best of Both Worlds," a two-disc hits compilation due out on July 20. One of the three new cuts, titled "It's About Time," hit radio stations last month, and debuted at No. 10 on trade publication Radio & Records' latest rock chart.

Hagar, who split with Van Halen on bad terms in 1996, told reporters last month that his return to the group doesn't feel like a reunion.

"It's really funny, 'cause a reunion would have maybe been pressure, but, for some reason, the second we got together, it felt like a continuation," he said. "It did not feel like we had to reinvent anything or out-do anything. It just was so there."

Hollywood Reacts to Reagan's Death

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) -- Former President Ronald Reagan, who was also a long-time president of the Screen Actors Guild and made more than 50 films, died Saturday, June 5, at his home in Bel Air, Calif.

Reagan, 93, dropped out of public life about a decade ago, and was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He died of pneumonia at 1 p.m., officials say, and his family was at his side.

His wife, former actress Nancy Reagan, reportedly told CBS news commentator Mike Wallace earlier in the day that "this is it" and the White House was also notified of the former president's possible demise. President Bush is traveling through Europe.

Before his political career, Reagan had a long acting career that earned him a Golden Boot Award for his Western films, a Golden Globe Hollywood Citizenship Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Flowers were already on the star at 6374 Hollywood Boulevard within an hour of his announced death, as was a note from a fan which read, "You were a great actor, too!" and was fixed on the star with chewing gum.

One of Reagan's most popular films was 1951's "Bedtime for Bonzo," a romantic comedy which co-starred a chimpanzee. He was also Notre Dame football star George Gipp (called "The Gipper") in "Knute Rockne, All American" in 1940, giving him the nickname that stuck with him throughout his career.

He served as SAG president twice, from 1947 to 1952, and again from 1959 to 1960 before he went on to be governor of California and then president of the United States. He was president from 1981 to 1989, elected twice to office.

Present SAG President Melissa Gilbert said, "It can be said that Ronald Reagan got his start in politics at Screen Actors Guild. While President Reagan's politics grew conservative over the years and, at times, at odds with the nation's labor movement, there can be no question that he devoted years of his life to advancing the wages, benefits and working conditions of his fellow actors."

His first wife was actress Jane Wyman from 1940 to 1948. He had two children with her, Michael and Maureen. He married Nancy Davis in 1952 and had two children with her, Ron and Patti.

Reagan's last film was 1964's "The Killers," and he also starred in "Cattle Queen of Montana," "Kings Row," Prisoner of War" and "Love is on the Air" his first film in 1937.

Reagan was considered for the lead in "Casablanca," which went to Humphrey Bogart, and maintained a close relationship to the Hollywood community throughout his political career. Actor William Holden was his best man for his wedding to Nancy.

Longtime friend of Reagan's from his Hollywood days, Johnny Grant, who is also the honorary mayor of Hollywood who ordered the bouquet for Reagan's star on the Walk of Fame, said Saturday, "He was a man who loved his country. I don't know of anybody who's done more for this country and the entertainment industry."

Another longtime friend and entertainer, impressionist Rich Little, said, "I think his legacy will be that he was probably the most human of any presidents we've ever had. He was very down to earth, no particular ego, loved to talk show business, just kind of a regular guy with a great sense of humor."

Reagan's body was transported out of the house late Saturday afternoon and will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol before he is buried at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif.

Conspiracy of Four

David Duchovny told Teletext that everyone is on board with a second THE X-FILES movie. "We're all on the same page," Duchovny said. "Gillian Anderson wants to do it, I want to do it, Chris Carter, who would write and produce the film, wants to do it and I believe Fox the studio wants to do it. When you have the four major players in the enterprise wanting to do it, it will happen. It's just a matter of when. I hope it happens within the next year."

Harry Potter repeats box-office magic with $92.6 million US debut

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The boy wizard has worked his biggest box-office spell to date.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban charmed audiences to the tune of $92.65 million US in its debut weekend, the best results yet for the franchise, according to studio estimates released Sunday. It was the third-best three-day opening weekend ever, behind Spider-Man at $114.8 million in 2002 and Shrek 2 at $108 million last month.

"I guess audiences are still crazy about Harry," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., the studio behind the franchise based on J.K Rowling's fantasy series.

Harry Potter bumped off Shrek 2, which had been the No. 1 flick the previous two weekends. Shrek 2 came in second with $37 million, lifting its three-week total to $313.6 million and putting it within striking distance of Finding Nemo, the top grossing animated movie ever at $339.7 million.

The global disaster thriller The Day After Tomorrow, which debuted a strong No. 2 over Memorial Day weekend, fell to third place with $28.15 million, pushing its 10-day total to $128.8 million.

Harry Potter, Shrek 2 and The Day After Tomorrow have turned around what had been an anemic early summer season for Hollywood. Before Shrek 2 opened, early summer revenues were down 25 per cent from last year's. Summer revenues now are running six to seven per cent ahead, while the box office so far this year is up about five per cent over 2003's pace.

Still to come is summer's most anticipated movie, Spider-Man 2 on June 30, with a rush of potential hits to follow, including The Bourne Supremacy, The Manchurian Candidate and Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

"What a difference a few weeks have made," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "This could actually be the perfect summer trajectory. Instead of a big start, stalling in the middle and a weak finish, like we usually have, we could have a weak start, a big middle and a strong finish."

The top 12 movies this weekend took in $180.9 million, up 15.6 per cent from the same weekend last year.

No other big movies opened against Harry Potter as other studios stayed out of the way of a franchise whose first two instalments totalled nearly $600 million domestically.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone launched the series in November 2001 with a $90.3 million debut on its way to a $317.6 million total. A year later, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets opened with $88.4 million, finishing at $262 million.

Prisoner of Azkaban was the franchise's first summer release and was the best-reviewed of the three movies. The movie reunites Daniel Radcliffe as Harry with Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as his allies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as they unravel the mystery of an escaped sorcerer (Gary Oldman) linked to the deaths of Harry's parents.

Alfonso Cuaron, best known for the racy Y Tu Mama Tambien, took over as director from Chris Columbus, who made the first two Harry Potter flicks. Cuaron delivered a tale with a suitably darker tone as Harry and his pals mature and learn more about the sinister forces working against them.

"What's fabulous about the series is, I think, as the actors have aged, so has the audience, and that's created a bond between them," Fellman said. "The other thing is, as the actors have gotten older, they've gotten better, so the performances are the best yet."

Part four, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, now is filming in London, with Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Mona Lisa Smile) directing. The movie is scheduled for release in November 2005.

Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theatres, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, $92.65 million.
2. Shrek 2, $37 million.
3. The Day After Tomorrow, $28.15 million.
4. Raising Helen, $6.7 million.
5. Troy, $5.7 million.
6. Mean Girls, $2.9 million.
7. Soul Plane, $2.85 million.
8. Van Helsing, $2.35 million.
9. Man on Fire, $1 million.
10. Super Size Me, $835,000.

Tony Bounces Back in 'Sopranos' Finale

NEW YORK - The somber fifth-season finale of "The Sopranos" aired Sunday night on HBO. Much of the episode, co-written by "Sopranos" creator David Chase, found crisis-beset Tony Soprano increasingly helpless as his life's work, and his life, unraveled.

Titled "All Due Respect," the finale leaves fans hanging for at least 18 months until the series returns for its last 10 episodes. But for now, surprise! Tony is sitting pretty — with the emphasis on "surprise."

Some of the "highlights" included Tony Blundetto taking a shotgun blast to the head from Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), despite numerous pledges of loyalty to his wayward cousin, and Tony gaining a new lease on life — just in time.

His New Jersey gang seemed close to an uprising over his perceived weak leadership. Then his biggest adversary — New York mob boss Johnny Sack — was busted by the Feds right before Tony's eyes.

He had stuck his neck out too far for his cousin Tony B. (Steve Buscemi), whose grudge execution of a Sack family member brought that gang's wrath crashing down on the Soprano mob.

Tony's men were growing restless at his failure to take care of the problem by serving up his cousin.

"You got some unhappy people out there," consigliere Silvio (Steve Van Zandt) informed Tony.

Meanwhile, Christopher (Michael Imperioli) was mourning the loss of Adriana, whom he had previously conspired with Tony and Silvio to kill after she confessed that she had been forced to serve as an FBI informant.

"She was willing to rat me out because she couldn't do five (doggone) years," Christopher lamented in his usual sniveling style. "I thought she loved me!"

Thus it was in vain that viewers, who never actually saw Adriana felled by Silvio's bullets, had hoped that a plot twist might reveal her still alive.

Almost as remote was the prospect that Tony's like-a-son nephew Christopher might get whacked, a rumor nurtured by Imperioli in a recent interview. Christopher lives to whine another season.

Not so lucky is Tony B., plugged unceremoniously by Tony S. in an extreme gesture to appease Johnny Sack (Vince Curatola).

"Didn't solve a thing," Sack growled when he got the news. He wanted his men to do the honors.

As the hour wound down, Tony, knowing his cousin had to die either quick or slow, seemed near a breakdown. Never had he felt so keenly the loneliness of leadership — or been so willing to express it.

"I've painted myself into a corner here, and I don't see a way out," he told Uncle Junior (Dominic Chianese), himself too addled from Alzheimer's disease to give Tony any counsel.

And he confided to his shrink, Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), "I'm very confused. All my choices were wrong."

A man brought low this season, Tony seemed pathetic even as he scored his last-minute reprieve. In Johnny Sack's snow-covered yard, where he had come to negotiate a peace, their meeting was cut short by an FBI raid. Off Tony bolted, a fat man in an overcoat slipping and puffing across the icy terrain, frantic to escape the agents.

But he needn't have worried. Only Sack's mob was named in the indictment. Not only had the Feds ignored the Soprano family, but also whisked away a major threat to the Sopranos — at taxpayers' expense.

Blessed by this somewhat-too-pat plot resolution, Tony at the fade-out was back in his home with his wife Carmela (Edie Falco), with whom he recently reconciled. That warm domestic scene struck quite a contrast to the fourth-season finale, when, after a pitched battle, Carmela threw Tony out of the house.

So during the coming "Sopranos" dry spell, fans can cling to the finale's parting message — Tony always bounces back! — and take comfort from it.

In Season Six, fate will surely prove otherwise.

'Avenue Q' Wins Tony for Best Musical

NEW YORK - "Avenue Q," a cheeky little musical that uses puppets, four-letter words and catchy, jinglelike tunes, was the upset winner Sunday at the Tonys where history was made as Phylicia Rashad became the first black actress to win for a leading dramatic role.

"I Am My Own Wife," Doug Wright's gender-bending tale of survival, was named best play.

"Avenue Q" also received Tonys for the best book and score in beating out "Wicked," the lavish "Wizard of Oz" prequel for the top musical prize.

"It certainly doesn't suck to be us tonight," said Robyn Goodman, one of the musical's surprised and overjoyed producers, referring to the musical's opening number, "It Sucks to Be Me."

Rashad's acceptance speech was more composed.

"Often I've wondered what does it take for this to happen," said the actress, who received the prize for her portrayal of Lena Younger, the tough-minded matriarch in a revival of "A Raisin in the Sun."

"And now I know. It takes effort and grace ... And in my life that grace has taken numerous forms. The first was the family into which I was born, parents who loved and wanted me, and a mother who fought fearlessly, courageously, consistently so that her children above all else could realize their full potential as human beings."

Jefferson Mays bested much better known competition (Kevin Kline, Christopher Plummer and Frank Langella) to take the top acting prize for his portrayal of a German transvestite — and some 40 other characters — in Wright's "I Am My Own Wife," a role he called "a labor of love."

"Our entire cast just won Tony Awards," joked Wright in accepting the best-play honor.

Hugh Jackman, besides serving as host of awards program, won the actor-musical prize for portraying flamboyant entertainer Peter Allen in "The Boy From Oz."

"Peter, it's an honor to play you and I dedicate this Tony to you," Jackman said in saluting Allen who died of AIDS in 1992.

"Wicked," a lavish, $14 million look at the "Wizard of Oz" witches, was celebrated for its for one of its leading ladies, Idina Menzel, who took the actress-musical prize and for its spectacle, picking up two design prizes for its gargantuan sets (Eugene Lee) and ornate costumes (Susan Hilferty).

A hint of the "Avenue Q" upset came earlier in the evening when the show won for book (Jeff Whitty) and score (Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx).

"When we started writing `Avenue Q,' Jeff (Marx) was an intern and I was a temp," said Lopez. "Our lives kinda sucked so we came up with an idea for a show about people like us whose lives all kinda suck."

"But we're here to tell you as living proof that things get better. L and Carol just gave us the Tony Award," said an exuberant Marx after Carol Channing and LL Cool J gave them the prize.

Just before announcing the award, the Broadway legend and rapper did a duet that had the audience roaring.

"Assassins," Stephen Sondheim's sardonic musical about presidential killers, picked up five Tonys, more than any other show. Its prizes included best musical revival and one for Michael Cerveris, who portrays John Wilkes Booth in the show.

"You don't have to kill somebody to get something like this. You can just pretend to on Broadway," joked Cerveris, winner of the award for featured actor in a musical.

The show also won for direction-musical (Joe Mantello), lighting design (Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer) and orchestrations (Michael Starobin).

Featured acting prizes went to Audra McDonald, her fourth Tony in 10 years, this time for her role as the hardworking wife in the revival of "A Raisin in the Sun," and to Brian F. O'Byrne, who plays a serial killer in "Frozen."

An emotional McDonald said, "The only thing I want ever wanted to do was be on Broadway." She thanked the cast, her family and said, "This belongs to Lorraine Hansberry," the play's author.

Anika Noni Rose won the featured-actress prize for her role as the defiant daughter in "Caroline, or Change."

Jack O'Brien received the director/play award, for Lincoln Center Theater's limited engagement of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," which also won for best play revival.

"I was so convinced, I talked myself out of this by repeating my mantra, `We're a classic and we're closed,'" said O'Brien, who directed last year's Tony-winning musical "Hairspray."

The regional theater award was presented to the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. James M. Nederlander, patriarch of the family which operates nine Broadway theaters, was awarded a lifetime achievement prize.

It was a busy year with 39 productions opening on Broadway during the 2003-2004 season, compared to 36 shows the previous 12 months. Grosses were up, too, from $721 million to $771 million, but so were ticket prices. Attendance reached 11.61 million, an increase from 11.42 million a year ago, but still not as high as the 11.89 million during the season before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

If there was no universally acclaimed, megamusical such as "The Producers" or "Hairspray," there were several high-profile successes. Besides "Wicked," audiences flocked to the revival of "A Raisin in the Sun," with hip-hop mogul Sean Combs the main box-office draw.

The Tony winners in 21 categories were chosen by 735 theater professionals and journalists.

MTV Awards Offer Laughs, Sex and Summer Flicks

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The MTV Movie Awards gave their annual send up to Hollywood summer movies on Saturday in a show filled with sex, jokes, action and even a full moon from rap star Eminem -- all the elements of a good summer movie.

Well, except for the rapper's naked rear end, that is.

MTV's awards come in the middle of Hollywood's summer film season and feature stars of the hottest upcoming titles. Unlike showbiz honors such as the Oscars, MTV offers fans irreverent sketches, stars cutting loose and buckets of golden popcorn for winners for best fight, best villain and best kiss.

The night's top honor, best film, went to "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," also honored for best action sequence for the battle of Gondor.

This year, the best onscreen kiss went to a three-way smooch between Carmen Electra, Owen Wilson and Amy Smart for "Starsky and Hutch." But Electra was the only one on hand to grab her popcorn bucket, so she celebrated with a kiss from rapper Snoop Dogg and -- a second one -- from Paris Hilton.

"It was very sweet and innocent. There was no tongue," she told reporters backstage, then added. "At least I had good breath."

The show's other big moment belonged to Eminem who, singing with group D12, dropped his drawers and mooned the audience.

Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx of upcoming "Collateral," gave out the first award for best female performance in a film, which went to Uma Thurman for "Kill Bill: Vol. 1."

Thurman thanked MTV voters for choosing her "kick butt, take-no-prisoners" character, who exacts revenge on those who plotted to kill her. Thurman was also a winner for best fight, in which she tangled with Chiaki Kuriyama.

Lucy Liu, who played one of the assassins aiming to kill Thurman, won the MTV popcorn bucket for best villain in a film.

DRINKS, DANCES, PLASTIC SUITS

Johnny Depp won best male performer for his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," and he accepted the award with a drink in his hand. Jack Black won for best comedic performance for "School of Rock," and said he would "party hardy" with the voters.

Seann William Scott disco danced his way to the award for best dance sequence in "American Wedding," then thanked "Saturday Night Fever" star John Travolta.

Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler were given the popcorn bucket for best onscreen team. They thanked the entire state of Hawaii where their movie "50 First Dates" was filmed.

Breakthrough female performer went to the show's host, Lindsay Lohan, for "Freaky Friday," and breakthrough male went to Shawn Ashmore for "X2: X-Men United." Breakthrough transatlantic performance went to British actress Martine McCutcheon for "Love Actually."

"I just wanted to come along for the laughs. ... I'll just sit back, relax and have a great time," said a surprised McCutcheon. "I can't wait to go back to London and watch it."

She said she thought it was important to be known in the United States where acting opportunities are abundant.

Fashion, of course, is always big at Hollywood award shows, but clothes at the MTV show range widely from designer gowns like the pink Dior worn by Electra to the jeans and t-shirts Black wore to a clear plastic suit on Marques Houston of upcoming Christmas holiday film, "Fat Albert."

"It's MTV, I had to be different," he said. "No one else has it on, thank God"

The MTV awards show airs on June 10 at 9 p.m. EDT.

J-Lo Reportedly Marries Singer Marc Anthony

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez has married her current boyfriend, salsa singer Marc Anthony, barely five months after breaking her much-publicized engagement to actor Ben Affleck, Us Weekly reported on Saturday.

The magazine said Lopez, 33, married Latin music star Anthony, 34, who was divorced less than a week ago, at her home in Los Angeles on Saturday in front of about 40 guests. Us Weekly said it had pictures of a giant tent assembled on the estate and of guests coming and going among tables covered in white table cloths and flower centerpieces.

"It was a lovely low-key intimate affair for the closest friends and family, " Us reported a friend as saying.

"She didn't hardly tell anyone. Everyone was surprised," another unidentified friend told the magazine.

Representatives for Lopez and Anthony could not immediately be reached for comment.

The reported marriage comes less than a week after Anthony was granted a quickie divorce in the Dominican Republic from his wife of four years, Dayanara Torres, a former Miss Universe.

It would be the third marriage for Lopez, the sultry star whose previous trips down the aisle have both lasted a little over a year.

Tabloid news reports have linked Anthony and Lopez for weeks. They noted that Lopez had recently returned the giant pink diamond engagement ring she was given by Affleck during the stormy "Bennifer" affair that rose to a fever pitch last September when the couple called off their wedding at short notice, citing excessive media intrusion.

Affleck and Lopez officially broke their engagement in January and both have maintained a low profile since then. But by May, Lopez was seen wearing another diamond, reportedly given to her by Anthony.

Brian Linehan, Canadian celebrity interviewer, dies at 58 of lymphatic cancer

TORONTO (CP) - Brian Linehan, the puckish, always-confident TV personality and interviewer of both Canadian and Hollywood stars, is dead.

The snowy-haired Linehan, a native of Hamilton, Ont., died Friday at his home after being diagnosed two years ago with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. He last entered hospital May 2 and had been undergoing what a friend described as a "brutal" round of chemotherapy.

He was 58.

A CBC spokesman said a private funeral is anticipated and that details of a public memorial service will be released at a future date.

Not so Bad Santa

One of last year's biggest hits, the $176-million grossing comedy Elf will at last hit DVD on November 16th. The latest in New Line Home Entertainment's Infinifilm line, this two-disc set will presented in anamorphic widescreen with DTS and Dolby Digital tracks and plenty of extras. Goodies include separate audio commentary tracks with director Jon Favreau and star Will Ferrell, a subtitle Fact Track, no less than nine making-of featurettes (both "All Access Pass" and Inifinifilm-exclusive "Beyond the Movie" varieties), deleted scenes, a soundtrack music cue index, theatrical trailers, and ROM exclusives including a Script Viewer and more to be announced.

She's a Big Girl Now

Only one film this year dared to ask the question: what if Tom Hanks was reincarnated as Jennifer Garner? The answer? She would be 13 Going on 30, which gave the Alias Emmy-winner a modest little sleeper hit this past winter. Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment will release the film on August 3rd, complete with an anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, two audio commentaries with director and actors Garner and Mark Ruffalo, the "Making of 13 Going on 30" and "I Was a Teenage Geek" featurettes, 18 deleted and extended scenes, two music videos, a gag reel, the "80s Outfit Challenge" and "Then And Now" interactive games, and theatrical trailers.

Seeing Green

Universal Studios Home Video will release the box office bomb Envy on August 10th. Directed by Barry Levinson and starring (in his 1,247th film this year) Ben Stiller, the DVD will feature both anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, a Jack Black scene index, still gallery, filmographies and theatrical trailers.

"Shrek 2" Out-Ogres Original

Shrek 2 is a mean green money machine.

As of Thursday, the ogre-iffic sequel has officially raked in $271 million since opening May 19, propelling it past the $267.7 million domestic gross of its predecessor, 2001's Shrek. If the big guy keeps up his pace, DreamWorks is betting the CGI flick will race past the $300 million mark this coming weekend and will ultimately have a shot at passing bitter rival Disney-Pixar's Finding Nemo as the top-grossing 'toon of all time with $340 million.

Already, Shrek 2 owns the records for widest opening weekend, highest grossing opening weekend for an animated film ($108 million), biggest five-day opening ($128.5 million), the all-time single-day ticket sales record ($44.8 million on May 22) and the biggest ever Memorial Day weekend ($95.6 million from last Friday to Monday).

With the dysfunctional fable follow-up ringing up boffo box office, DreamWorks has already given the green-light to not one, but two more sequels, a studio rep has confirmed.

DreamWorks is fast-tracking Shrek 3 and Shrek 4 and is expected to begin talks soon to secure the voice talents of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy to reprise their roles for the follow-ups. Each scored a $5 million payday for Shrek 2, which was a substantial increase over the sum they made for the first Shrek, and they are expected to make even more on a third installment. Antonio Bandreas, who steals many a Shrek 2 scene as Puss-in-Boots, is also going to be invited back for the new sequels.

According to Daily Variety, the studio has tapped the writing duo of Peter Seaman and Jeffrey Price to fracture the next fairy-tale installment. The plot is expected to follow everyone's favorite ogre as he embarks on a new quest and ends up having a run-in with King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Seaman and Price previously wrote the screenplay for Universal's Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas and did some uncredited script doctoring on the studio's Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, which also starred Myers but bombed at the box office.

It's likely that several of Shrek's original scribes (a half-dozen screenwriters helped with the story) will also lend a hand in polishing the new editions. Additionally, DreamWorks has hired writer Jon Zack to act as a creative consultant.

If all goes as planned, expect Shrek 3 to hit theaters sometime around the 2006 holiday season.

Nickelback frontman praises initiative to curb illegal music downloading

TORONTO (CP) - Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger showed up for a fast-food promotion Thursday, hoping to raise awareness about illegal music downloading.

Kroeger spoke at Toronto's Eaton Centre as McDonald's and Sony Music launched a joint worldwide campaign to give out free music downloads through Puretracks with every Big Mac sold.

"I'm the co-owner of a label, and illegal downloading is hurting us there and I'm a producer trying to get new music out there ... it's hurting every single facet of the music industry," Kroeger said in an interview.

Due to confidentiality agreements, officials refused to say how the costs of the promotion are being borne by the parties involved.

Kroeger says he didn't show up at the news conference to sell hamburgers. "I'm here to promote awareness and try to get people to change their mindset. Instead of stealing music, hopefully, they're going to go to more sites like this (Puretracks) and download it."

According to an Ipsos-Reid poll released last month, Canadians appear to be downloading songs less than they have in past years over fears of being slammed by a lawsuit, like those in the United States.

Kroeger says while it's wonderful that people are thinking twice about downloading, their attack of conscience is for the wrong reason.

"Somebody's saying 'geez, I shouldn't go do this because I might get caught' instead of saying 'geez, I shouldn't do this because it's the wrong thing to do."'

But Larry LeBlanc, Canadian bureau chief of Billboard Magazine, says he doesn't believe a promotion like the Big Mac Meal Tracks will have much of an impact on illegal downloading activity because he thinks many people will simply do both. LeBlanc points out not every song in the world is available through Puretracks.

"How many people are going to download just one track? They're going to download more tracks," LeBlanc said Thursday. "So how many hamburgers can these people eat? They're not going to eat 40 hamburgers to get 40 tracks downloaded."

Overall, LeBlanc says a promotion like this is a win-win situation for everybody involved and it will benefit the music industry, the artists and the fast-food chain because it will help bring legal downloading into mainstream culture.

"Eventually what you're going to see is ... probably within a three- to five-year period of time every music retailer will have this kind of service where you walk into stores and have a legal download of some sort. We're moving toward that kind of model," he said.

The McDonald's campaign will be up and running in Canada, the U.S. and Puerto Rico as of June 8 and is expected to run until the end of July. The same campaign will be launched in Britain, Germany and France next month.

Nicole Kidman May Need Padding for 'Producers' Role

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rail-thin, but sexy, Nicole Kidman will need a little help making the transformation to a buxom Swedish secretary for her next role with Matthew Broderick, in the film version of Mel Brooks' stage hit "The Producers."

"Mel says we'll pad her," said Broderick. "I think we should pad her, I guess."

Broderick also stars with Kidman in the updated, dark-comedy version of "Stepford Wives," a film he was promoting on Thursday in advance of its opening next week.

Kidman's slim, fashion-model frame is shown to advantage in her "Stepford Wives" role as Broderick's wife. For "The Producers," she will be play statuesque Swedish secretary Ulla, whose bountiful bosom inspires numerous jokes in the Brooks farce.

Broderick will be reprising his role as meek accountant Leo Bloom in "The Producers," opposite Nathan Lane, who created the stage role of devious Broadway producer Max Bialystock.

"She could look like a Swede. She's psychotically tall, which I think will be good. I think it's a good part for her. I can't wait. I think she'll be great," Broderick said.

Kidman said Broderick helped bring her into the project during their work together on the "Stepford" movie. The new Brooks film is set to begin shooting in February.

Physical augmentation for a film role would not be entirely new for Kidman, who had a prosthetic nose put on her face for the 2002 movie "The Hours." The Australian beauty won an best-actress Oscar for her portrayal of writer Virginia Woolf in that film.

Moore Releases 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Trailer

LOS ANGELES - The trailer for Michael Moore's incendiary new documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" debuts in theaters Friday, but the curious can find it on his Web site right now.

The Academy Award-winning filmmaker's new movie criticizes President Bush's response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, portrays the Iraq war as a conflict that has unnecessarily endangered the American military, and connects the Bush family to Osama bin Laden's.

"Fahrenheit 9/11" recently won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

Before it was ever screened, it attracted controversy when Moore announced the Walt Disney Co. had refused to let its Miramax Films division distribute the movie.

Miramax chiefs Bob and Harvey Weinstein bought the $6 million movie personally and are distributing it through a partnership with Lions Gate Films and IFC Films.

The trailer is now posted on Moore's Web site, www.michaelmoore.com.

"Fahrenheit 9/11" debuts in theaters June 25.

SCTV on DVD set for release

Johnny LaRue, Edith Prickley, Bob and Doug, Guy Cabellero, Bobby Bittman, Lola Heatherton.

Those memorable characters from the now-iconic SCTV comedy shows of the late 1970s and early '80s are coming to DVD, with the first of four boxed sets to be released Tuesday, and the remainder over the next year.

SCTV began as a cheesy little syndicated comedy show in a cheesy little Global TV studio in Toronto. And then in 1981 it got picked up by NBC as a late-night companion to Saturday Night Live. But unlike SNL, the Canadian-based show developed more of a cult following, seen as absolutely brilliant by such future comics as a young Conan O'Brien, while network suits of the day scratched their heads in bewilderment.

But over the years just about anyone who has ever watched television can recall a favourite SCTV sketch, whether it was the widely popular McKenzie Brothers or Count Floyd, or more obscure but inspired pop-culture cross-referencing fare like Polynesiantown, NASA's Mercury III players' version of Murder in the Cathedral or the cast performing a Chekhov play only to be interrupted by Star Trek's Chekov beaming onto the set.

Who could ever forget the multi-layered content of the Merv Griffith Show Special Edition, a perverse combination of Merv Griffin, Andy Griffith and Close Encounters of the Third Kind? Or The Midnight Express Special, featuring Wolfman Jack in a blend of the drug-smuggling movie and the old TV music variety show?

One of the first such sketches was a parody of Casablanca with John Candy and Catherine O'Hara in the Bogart-Bergman roles. But it soon morphed into a Bob Hope-Bing Crosby road movie with a dash of Fantasy Island thrown in (with Candy as the diminutive Tattoo!).

Cast members recall the days when the whole production packed up and moved to Edmonton where they wrote and taped some of their most inspired material. The fact that they were in Alberta kept the suits away and allowed them to be creative.

"No executives could really come up there to keep tabs on us because if they left their chairs in L.A. empty too long someone would take them," says Dave Thomas about the creative freedom they had.

Thomas says NBC became furious at some of the material that got through because they were delivering the episodes at the very last minute with no time for screening. He recalls doing a parody of Al Pacino's Cruising in which he was a butch chef fist-stuffing a turkey that had its legs spread apart with chains. After that one, the network sent a censor to live full-time in Edmonton.

"At first he was very standoffish and dictatorial, then ultimately he became one of the gang. And then he became a co-conspirator with us!"

Joe Flaherty agrees that the location fuelled their creativity because there weren't as many distractions as in a larger city, leaving them more time to write and perform the sketches.

"I still remember talking to someone down there about the show, somebody from NBC, and they were saying `Now what coast is Edmonton on?'"

Executive producer Andrew Alexander also recalls how being in Edmonton meant the cast members did their best work 24/7.

"Yeah, there's no drugs, no managers, no agents, no outside temptations like you have in L.A. and New York."

At the time, there was the perception of a long-running rivalry with Saturday Night Live. While both shows had strong Canadian roots and both dipped into the Second City theatre casts in Chicago and Toronto for talent, it's agreed now that there was a vast difference between the two.

SNL was performed live with a studio audience and limited by the cramped facilities of NBC's famed Studio 8-H in New York. SCTV was taped single-camera-style, like a movie, was able to shoot exteriors and for the most part shied away from timely subject matter, a fortunate decision because most of the DVD material has not been outdated.

"They did have a much more rigorous schedule," concedes Flaherty. "They had to get that show out every week live, and just in doing that you're not going to get a chance to get all the quality stuff in that you want to."

Alexander says it was only in the last 10 years that it became apparent SCTV had found a special place in the annals of TV comedy, right up there with Monty Python. And he attributes that largely to its Canadian sensibility, because its cast members were not only intelligent but steeped in American pop culture by watching it from a distance across the border.

"So there was never any sense of wanting to talk down to the audience," he says, despite frequent pressure from NBC to try and make the humour acceptable to a wider audience.

Each DVD set includes five discs, the first set offering episodes of the 90-minute NBC shows that began in 1981. Earlier half-hour episodes will be released later. Also included are look-back interviews by the cast, a tribute to the late John Candy, the 1999 SCTV reunion event at the Aspen Comedy Arts Festival, plus commentaries and a 24-page photo booklet.

Former child star Brian Bonsall arrested for alleged drunken driving

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Brian Bonsall, the youngest member of the Keaton clan on television's Family Ties, was arrested last week on suspicion of drunken driving.

Bonsall, 22, was arrested early Friday by police who said they saw someone vomit out the passenger side window of his car. Asked how much he had to drink, Bonsall responded, "plenty," then failed a roadside test.

Police said a blood test showed he had "excess alcohol content" but did not disclose the exact amount.

Bonsall, who lives in Boulder, starred as Andy Keaton for three seasons on the NBC sitcom in the late 1980s that helped launch the career of Michael J. Fox. Bonsall later appeared in episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the 1993 film Father Hood.

Bonsall was convicted of drunken driving in 2001 and his licence was suspended, police said.

'Sopranos' to Air Its Season Finale

NEW YORK - Poor Adriana: Scuttling on all fours across dead leaves in a forest until Silvio, Tony Soprano's consigliere, popped her with two shots. That was Adriana's ghastly end on the most recent episode of "The Sopranos," underlining how business is business in a mob family — even for Ade, a terribly reluctant FBI informant whose own fiance, Soprano soldier Christopher Moltisanti, set in motion the hit Tony ordered.

"The Sopranos" airs its fifth-season finale Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT on HBO. Then 10 more episodes in 2005 will close this magnificent saga.

Exactly what awaits Tony, his New Jersey mob and the family at home is known to only one man: series creator David Chase. But mounting evidence ensures that few, if any, of these characters will dodge some measure of damnation. Or deserve to.

Just consider their accelerating moral slide this season.

Early on, Tony (James Gandolfini) welcomed back from prison his cousin Tony Blundetto (Steve Buscemi), who resolved to go straight, but quickly caved. Then, after joining the Soprano mob, he betrayed that cause, too, by settling a grudge against a member of another gang. "Tony B." has now put "Tony S." in the grim position of sacrificing him to appease New York boss Johnny Sack (Vince Curatola).

The season found Tony in turmoil over his separation from wife Carmela (Edie Falco), while their sulky teenage son, A.J. (Robert Iler), sank further into life as a hump. Spoiled daughter Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Discala) became engaged to Finn, a squeaky-clean fellow college student whose health has already been endangered by his ties to her.

And in the most recent episode, Tony made a successful bid to reconcile with Carmela, vowing that "my mid-life crisis problems will no longer intrude on you anymore." Dubbioso. Nonetheless, Carmela has reclaimed her place in his world just in time, it seems, to join him as he swirls down the drain.

Ever since the show's first episode, when he had a panic attack beside his swimming pool, Tony has lived on shaky ground. This season, viewers got new information why.

He's been plagued by guilt since missing the heist that sent Tony B. away for 15 years. And, worse, his absence wasn't from a mugging hours earlier that put him in the hospital, as he always claimed, but, shamefully, because he had a panic attack after an argument with his mother — then collapsed and cut his head.

He is still pained by memories of high school sports, which inspires one of the season's most touching moments: He tries to reason with Alzheimer's-afflicted Uncle Junior (Dominic Chianese), who keeps bringing up Tony's failures as a jock.

"Why does it gotta be something mean? Why can't you repeat something good?" Tony asks. "Don't you love me?"

And he discovers, to his shock, that his cherished childhood dog ended up in the home of his father's mistress and her kid, after his monstrous mother made his father get rid of it.

One measure of the greatness of "The Sopranos" is how Tony's increasingly stark image as a fiend is counterbalanced by these new revelations into what shaped the fiendishness.

From the beginning, Tony has wrestled with his tortured psyche in therapy sessions with Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). But during a memorable episode this year, his psyche was laid bare in a 21-minute dream sequence that, among other startling sights, found Tony in his living room astride the racehorse that last season perished in a fire. From the sofa, Carmela laid down a condition for his moving back home: "You can't have your horse in here."

This season, as usual, "The Sopranos" has been rich with violence and blood, and, even more, with brooding tension. But, as always, it's been funny, too.

Poor Adriana (Drea de Matteo), tormented by her status as a snitch! She fretted herself into a case of irritable bowel syndrome. Sad — but funny.

Meanwhile, not-so-wise-guy Paulie Walnuts (Tony Sirico) was good for an inadvertent howler, such as when he counseled Tony B. against doing business with Koreans: "Word to the wise: Remember Pearl Harbor!"

And maybe the funniest line of all came from serial screw-up Christopher (Michael Imperioli). Summoned by his Uncle Tony for a reaming, he came armed with excuses, but for the wrong offense: "This about the Easter baskets?"

"I don't even know what THAT is," Tony sighed. "And to tell you the truth, I don't want to know."

What is awaiting Tony this Sunday, and beyond, that he doesn't want to know? Viewers, me included, are itching to find out!

Avril Adds Another No. 1 Album

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Following a No. 1 debut in the United Kingdom, Avril Lavigne bowed on top of the U.S. pop albums chart with her sophomore effort "Under My Skin," according to Nielsen SoundScan data issued Wednesday.

The Arista/RCA Records set sold 381,500 copies in the week ended May 30, ending the eight-week reign of Usher's "Confessions," which fell to No. 3 on the Billboard 200, also behind the new Slipknot album.

The Canadian pop maverick promoted the set with a 21-date North American promotional mall tour in March. The album's first single, "Don't Tell Me," is in the top 30 on the Hot 100 singles chart.

Lavigne's 2002 debut, "Let Go," entered the album chart at No. 8 with sales of just 62,000 copies. The set climbed to No. 2 and has since moved 6.1 million copies in the United States and 14 million copies worldwide, according to Arista.

Masked hard rock act Slipknot sold 243,000 copies of its third Roadrunner studio album, "Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses." Its previous set, "Iowa," debuted at No. 3 in 2001 with 255,000 copies; it has sold 855,000 copies to date.

Bounced by Lavigne and Slipknot, Usher's LaFace/Zomba set dropped to No. 3 on an 8% dip to sales of nearly 197,000 copies this week; the album has sold 3.8 million copies to date.

Method Man, who debuted at No. 2 last week with "Tical 0: The Prequel," fell to No. 5 on a 49% drop to 84,000 copies. New Found Glory's "Catalyst" (Drive-Thru) tumbled seven places to No. 10 on a 57% drop to 63,000 copies.

Prince's "Musicology," a copy of which is included with each ticket to his current tour, shot up eight places to No. 16 on a 41% increase to sales of 71,000. This number includes copies fans received during two major Southern California dates for the tracking week ending May 26.

Geffen's soundtrack to the No. 1 movie at the box office, "Shrek 2," rose three places to No. 9 as sales jumped 30% to 70,000 copies.

Filling in the rest of the top 10, Gretchen Wilson held at No. 4 for the second week with her Epic album "Here for the Party," Hoobastank gained one spot to No. 6 with "The Reason" (Island) and D12 dipped 6-7 with "D12 World" (Shady/Interscope).

Lonestar's fifth studio effort "Let's Be Us Again" (BNA) entered the chart at No. 14 slot with 54,000 copies. The Texas act's "I'm Already There" opened at No. 9 with 112,000 copies in 2001, while last year's greatest hits compilation bowed at No. 7 with 86,000 copies. The albums have sold 1.2 million and 947,000 copies to date, respectively.

First season "American Idol" alumna Tamyra Gray entered the chart at No. 23 with her 19 Recordings debut, "The Dreamer." The set, which features collaborations with Babyface, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Scott Storch and Diane Warren, sold 39,000 copies in its first week.

Pop trio Wilson Phillips marked its comeback with a No. 35 debut for "California" (Columbia). Other notable debuts included Julie Roberts' self-titled Mercury set (No. 51), Everlast's "White Trash Beautiful" (Island Def Jam, No. 56) and Selah's "Hiding Places" (Curb, No. 61).

After taking his turn on the "The Oprah Winfrey Show" couch, George Michael's Epic album "Patience" was The Billboard 200's greatest gainer. Following the tradition of recent Winfrey guests Wynonna Judd and Lionel Richie, Michael's set jumped 17 places to No. 12 this week on a 72% sales spike to 62,000 copies.

Overall U.S. album sales were up 9% to 11.5 million, about 11% ahead of the comparable week last year. Sales for the year edged out those of 2003 by 7.7%.

HE'S ON HIS WAY TO JOINING ADRIANA

Here's some advice for Christopher Moltisanti from The New York Post:

* Take a long vacation.

* Don't accept any rides upstate.

* Watch your back.

It's just a hunch to them, but The new York Post has a theory that Christopher is looking more and more like a goner in this weekend's season finale of "The Sopranos."

And just because such predictions usually turn out wrong, that doesn't mean that they're going to shy away from making them.

"Sopranos" fans know not to forgettaboutitt. They like nothing more than to endlessly analyze their favorite show. And no single episode of any series is as highly anticipated as a "Sopranos" season finale.

"The Sopranos" ends its fifth season Sunday night at 9 on HBO. The one-hour episode - No. 65 - is titled "All Due Respect."

Here's the tantalizing description that was posted on HBO.com last week: "Tony's [James Gandolfini] crew circles the wagons as Johnny Sack [Vincent Curatola] turns up the heat; Carmela [Edie Falco] counts her blessings; Christopher [Michael Imperioli] is freaked out by an unexpected visitor; Benny's [Max Casella] connection to the plumbers union comes in handy; A.J. [Robert Iler] demonstrates his business acumen; and Tony ponders whether to execute a 'sacrifice bunt.' "

Decoding HBO's episode synopses is always an iffy proposition. But having said that, here's the case against Christopher:

* Tony has to be questioning the competence of a member of his inner circle whose dearly departed fiancee had been meeting clandestinely with the feds for more than a year, right under her boyfriend's nose.

* When Tony caught Christopher resorting to heroin in order to cope with Adriana's death, he beat him savagely. And if memory serves, Tony was pretty clear last season, when he staged an intervention and packed Christopher off to rehab, about the penalty for Christopher if he resumed his drug habit.

* Christopher's a screw-up. In the latest example, Tony had to step in and place Paulie Walnuts in charge of a cigarette hijacking operation that Christopher apparently botched.

* Christopher's an out-of-control hothead. He's already threatened Tony at least twice this season - once, when he showed up at the Bada Bing brandishing a pistol, and again just in the last episode, when he raved to Adriana that he ought to kill Tony for favoring the other Tony, Tony Blundetto (Steve Buscemi).

And what if Christopher begins to question Tony's decision to murder Adriana? How mad might he get then?

* If Tony is contemplating a "sacrifice bunt," it's doubtful he's thinking about baseball. Does it mean he has to offer someone up to the New York mob? Might he offer his hotheaded, screwup of a nephew, who's not really his nephew anyway?

* And who's the "unexpected visitor" who shows up at Christopher's door? That doesn't sound too promising for Christopher's future.

That's the case so far. And even if Michael Imperioli has made no plans to appear in a network sitcom this fall, it sounds like a pretty safe bet.

William Hung Inspires DVD

"Idol" reject also headed for big screen

William Hung is going to spend much of 2004 stretching his fifteen minutes of fame. Next up for the University of California engineering student turned American Idol reject, whose Inspiration album debuted at Number Thirty-four in April, is the DVD Hangin' With Hung on June 29th.

Hangin' will include new interviews with Hung; the "She Bangs" video and the making of it; the Fuse network special Idol Worship and several other Hung TV appearances; and behind-the-scenes footage from his appearance at Southern California's Wango Tango concert and the Inspiration recording sessions.

"It's more about the life of William Hung," said the twenty-one-year-old Hung, who was in Toronto on Sunday to "sing" "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at the Blue Jays-Rangers game to a mixed reaction from fans.

He also revealed that he will begin work on his second album and will be shooting a movie in August in Hong Kong. When Hung was asked for more information about both projects, his mother signaled to him and he then responded "no comment" and "confidential, sorry."

Pressed about the album, Hung added, "It will include original songs and cover songs. There will be more bands this time. That's all I can tell you."

The new album will be aided by the singing lessons he is currently taking. As to whether Hung currently thinks he's a good singer, he answered, "No comment."

Lisa Loeb CD Reflects Split

"The Way" tells tales of a breakup in the making

For the past year, Lisa Loeb and Dweezil Zappa's relationship has been beamed into living rooms across the country, courtesy of the Food Network's cooking show Dweezil and Lisa. Now, in the wake of their recent breakup, Loeb returns to the subject matter of "Stay (I Missed You)," her chart-topping hit that first introduced her to audiences a decade ago.

Loeb's fourth album, The Way It Really Is, is due August 3rd, and it plays a bit like a novella of a decaying romance. "We just ended a six-year relationship, and it was time to move forward to the next stages," she says. "My past albums are a similar deal: very prophetic, and I don't even know it when it's happening."

The songs, which include "Fools Like Me," "Window Shopping," "Will You Wander," and "Probably," were written over the past couple years and reveal different stages of a pending split. Loeb characterizes them as personal, but not too personal. "I always hated it when writers wore their heart on their sleeve," she says. "Sometimes when people write songs it's painfully honest to the point where it's not cool artistically -- just annoyingly painfully honest. I didn't want to make a record like that, but I definitely tried to open up my own experience into my songs.

"The theme of the entire record is seeing life the way it is and being able to take action based on that," she continues. "Whether you're seeing that you're in love with somebody and wanting to move forward or seeing that the situation isn't right and wanting to move away."

Loeb initially dubbed the album "Half and Half," because of the "jacuzzi to the pool" sonic shifts. "There's everything from quiet folky songs, like Nick Drake, to something like 'Diamonds,' which is very influenced by Jimi Hendrix's 'Manic Depression,' but it probably doesn't sound that way because it was me," says Loeb, laughing. "But the guitar was heavier. And then there's songs that are more bizarre production-wise like 'Window Shopping,' where it goes between something like alternative Eighties music to something like Tom Waits falling out of a closet."

Loeb also just released Catch the Moon, a children's record that found her reuniting with Elizabeth Mitchell -- the two performed as the folk duo Liz and Lisa while students at Brown University. The pair updated children standards such as "Big Rock Candy Mountain" and "La Manitas." "I just had a new niece born so kid's music was in the air and it seemed like a good thing to do," says Loeb. "Like everybody else, I'm always looking for kids music that's not really annoying."

Fresh Cake

Sacramento's Cake will issue a new album titled "Pressure Chief" on Sept. 7, according to the band's official website.

The album, Cake's fifth, is the band's first since 2001's "Comfort Eagle."

Straight to Hell

HELLBOY will hit on DVD on July 20, courtesy of Columbia TriStar. The two-disc special edition will have introductions by director Guillermo del Toro and Selma Blair, a two hour feature, as well as commentaries from del Toro, Blair, creator Mike Mignola, Ron Perlman, Jeffrey Tambor and Rupert Evans. A new feature will also be included that will allow users to stop in certain parts of the movie and compare the screen to a HELLBOY comic book panel.

More Green

A scooper at Dark Horizons says that Jon Zack will write SHREK 3: "Shrek and Fiona are King and Queen now and they hate it so Fiona tries to get friend Arty (aka. King Arthur) to do so but he's still in college. From what he tells me Arthur, Gwenivere and Lancelot are supposed to be portrayed as a couple of jocks and a cheerleader and they have to find the holy grail for some rather odd reason.

Miss Australia Wins Miss Universe Pageant

QUITO, Ecuador - A 20-year-old Australian involved in modeling and dancing won the Miss Universe title Tuesday night in a two-hour pageant watched by television viewers around the world.

Jennifer Hawkins, a 5-foot-11 blonde with blue eyes, was chosen from among 80 beauty queens.

Miss USA Shandi Finnessey of Florissant, Mo., was named first runnerup during the pageant at a convention center of the northern outskirts of Quito, an event that organizers aid drew 7,500 spectators.

Hawkins and Finnessey hugged before the winner was announced. Hawkins then received the crown from outgoing Miss Universe Amelia Vega, of the Dominican Republic, and strolled down the runway to the cheers of the crowd.

Besides her modeling and dancing pursuits, pageant officials said she also choreographs a dance team that tours Australia. Her interests include surfing, camping and watching ballet.

The three other finalists were Miss Puerto Rico Alba Reyes, Miss Paraguay Yanina Gonzalez and Miss Trinidad & Tobago Danielle Jones.

The finalists were announced after 10 semifinalists paraded in swimsuits.

Before the pageant began, singer Gloria Estefan defended the contest from critics who consider such events frivolous.

"A beautiful woman has very great powers to convince, and we have seen many misses who have done a great job," said the Cuban-American singer, who performed at the Miss Universe finals Tuesday night. "The new Miss Universe should do a spectacular job helping the needy."

The panel of judges included Emilio Estefan, actress Bo Derek and supermodel Petra Nemcova.

Kwame Jackson, who was runner-up on the U.S. reality show "The Apprentice," was dropped as a judge at the beauty event. Jackson was disqualified Monday by pageant organizers for greeting beauty queens he bumped into in the lobby of their hotel.

"Just being here makes me feel like a winner and if I get to be one of the finalists, it will be great and I will feel like one of the proudest women in the world," Miss Spain Maria Jesus Ruiz said Monday.

But she did not make the cut.

Ecuadoreans were hoping the two-hour show would showcase the beauty of their country and attract tourists to this small Andean nation.

Ten minutes of the program spotlighted the country's attractions — ranging from the unique flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands to snowcapped volcanoes, highland Indian communities and the lush vegetation of its Amazon jungle.

"Ecuador is going to shine for what it is, an unforgettable place, when you see the videos we have made for the show," said Daisy Fuentes, who hosted the program along with Billy Bush.

Moore's Anti-Bush Film Set for June 25 U.S. Debut

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Film director Michael Moore's anti-Bush documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" will hit U.S. theaters on June 25 after backers Bob and Harvey Weinstein struck distribution deals for the controversial, Cannes festival award-winning film, the parties said on Tuesday.

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. and IFC Films, major players in the arena for independent movies, will release Moore's movie to theaters, and cable television network Showtime will handle the sale of rights for pay-TV.

"Fahrenheit 9/11" caused a firestorm of publicity in May after the Walt Disney Co. refused to allow its Miramax Films unit, which is run by the Weinstein brothers, to release the movie to theaters claiming it was too politically charged.

"Fahrenheit 9/11," which won the coveted Palm d'Or, the top prize at last month's prestigious Cannes film festival, looks at America's reaction to the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

And it attempts to link President Bush and his family to powerful Saudis, including the family of Osama bin Laden.

"I think, for a large segment of the population, it is going to be a must-see film," said Jon Feltheimer, Lions Gate chief executive. "Forget the controversy, if you look at the body of Michael Moore's work. It's really good filmmaking."

IFC Entertainment President Jonathan Sehring echoed much of Feltheimer's sentiment and said his company has a mission of being a place where independent filmmakers can come to get their voices heard by a wide audience.

"This film will cause debate, but that is also what this country is founded on," Sehring said.

MOORE'S VOICE

Moore won the U.S. film industry's top honor, the Oscar, for 2002 documentary "Bowling for Columbine" about gun use, and at the ceremony that is watched by millions of television viewers he launched into a speech against the war in Iraq.

He has said he is no fan of President Bush and wanted "Fahrenheit 9/11" to be released ahead of the November presidential election so that it might influence the outcome.

"Everybody knows who I am and where I stand. Oh no, I'm not trying to pretend I'm being even-handed with Bush," he told Reuters in May when the controversy erupted.

In a statement announcing the distribution deal, Moore seemed to take a swipe at Disney, thanking Lions Gate and IFC for "bringing good family entertainment" to audiences.

Neither the Weinsteins nor Moore were available to comment, a spokesman said.

Last week the Weinsteins cut a deal with Disney to buy back the film rights for the cost of the film, estimated at $6 million.

Sources near the early dealmaking said the Weinsteins were seeking agreements under which they retained ownership of the film and the distribution partners helped fund film prints and marketing then shared in box office receipts.

Both Feltheimer and Sehring declined to comment on the financial details.

The new distribution partners did say that they already had significant interest from theater chains wanting to show the film and who were not shying away from the controversy.

Sehring said they had originally wanted to release "Fahrenheit 9/11" on July 2 in about 500 theaters, but moved it up on the calendar. He said the number of theaters showing it had yet to be determined.

Oscar Winner Julia Roberts Pregnant with Twins

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oscar-winner Julia Roberts is pregnant with twins and is due to give birth early next year, her spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

Roberts, 36, who won an Academy Award in 2001 for best actress in "Erin Brockovich," is married to cameraman Daniel Moder, 35. They wed in July 2002 and have homes in Taos, New Mexico, Venice, California and New York.

People magazine reported Roberts' pregnancy on its Web site on Monday night and spokeswoman Marcy Engelman confirmed the details on Tuesday.

Engelman said twins run in Roberts' family. Her great grandmother and a pair of cousins are twins.

Next week, Roberts will travel to Italy to begin filming "Ocean's 12," the sequel to "Ocean's 11" released in 2000, People magazine reported. Her co-stars include George Clooney, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt.

Lucas Revising First 'Star Wars' Pics?

Rumors are spreading on Star Wars fan sites on the Internet that George Lucas is making numerous changes to his original three films prior to their release as "the Star Wars Trilogy" on DVD on Sept. 21.

According to Video Store magazine the changes include digitally changing the faces of at least two characters to make them gibe with those in the recent films. Steve Sansweet, head of fan relations for LucasFilm, described the set as versions of the films "as George Lucas sees them today."

Some fans have expressed disappointment that the original films, as they were presented theatrically, will not be available on DVD.

Hey Look, It's The Couch Potato Report for June 1st, 2004

This week in The Couch Potato Report Charlize is a monster and two monster TV hits, on different continents, come home.

Beauty. If we don’t have it, we want it.

Even those that are totally happy with themselves have times when they wish they were more beautiful.

I know I do.

But even though you and I might focus on beauty, Hollywood is obsessed with it.

That’s why any beautiful woman who willingly makes herself appear less than beautiful, mortal, or even ugly for a film, is a likely bet to win an Academy Award.

Three recent examples are Hilary Swank’s in 1999 for BOYS DON’T CRY, Nicole Kidman’s 2002 win for THE HOURS and this past February the incredibly beautiful Charlize Theron won the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wournos in MONSTER.

I have been a fan of Theron’s since she first fought Terri Hatcher in 2 DAYS IN THE VALLEY, and I always thought she was very talented, but I never knew she could actually act.

MONSTER roves she can actually act, so good for her!

She completely vanishes into the character of Aileen Wuornos, a real-life serial killer and prostitute who murdered at least seven men in Florida.

MONSTER focuses on Wuornos’ new and emotionally promising relationship with a young woman and combines that promise with the finality of some brutal murders.

The filmmakers do have compassion for Wuornos, due to her less than idillic childhood, but they also make her suffer for her actions.

Theron does a remarkable job becoming Wuornos. It’s a performance comparable to Robert DeNiro’s in RAGING BULL.

Unfortunately, unlike DeNiro, her physical and psychological transformation takes place during a movie that just isn’t very good.

Movie critics have spent a lot of time these past twelve months praising MONSTER, but unlike RAGING BULL, BOYS DON’T CRY and THE HOURS, MONSTER doesn’t stand the test of time.

Whan I say time, I don’t mean forty or fifty years from now, I mean that MONSTER doesn't even stand up for the 109-minute running time of the film.

You will be overwhelmed by the acting of Charlize Theron, but the movie isn’t as good as Theron's performance.

It isn’t even as good as the A&E Biography on Aileen Wuornos.

But if you like seeing films with great performances in them then MONSTER is a safe bet for you this week. If you’re looking for a great film, I’m sorry to say that MONSTER is not it, no matter what the critics have all said.

Due to her performance in MONSTER Charlize Theron has been featured on a lot of magazine covers over the past year.

In the late seventies and early eighties, many of those exact same covers were reserved for John Schneider and Tom Wopat, Bo and Luke Duke, some good ole boys, who were never meaning no harm.

THE DUKES OF HAZARD seemed to have something for everyone. Women could enjoy Bo and Luke, car lovers had The General Lee and anyone who liked short shorts had Daisy Duke.

Mmmmmm….short shorts!

Every week THE DUKES OF HAZARD told stories about a Deep South family of reformed whiskey-makers and their running feud with a greedy impresario and his chief lackey, a buffoonish sheriff.

Now you can enjoy those stories anytime you’d like as THE DUKES OF HAZARD – THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON is now available on DVD.

This three-disc set includes all 13 initial episodes of the series from 1979 and if you are a fan that means something to you.

If you’re not a fan, then the fact that Bo, Luke, Daisy, Uncle Jesse, Boss Hogg, Roscoe P. Coltrane are available on DVD means nothing to you.

I’ll let you decide which one you are on your own.

Some decisions regarding watching or not watching, or now owning or not owning TV series are easy.

This week, in addition to deciding if you should buy THE DUKES OF HAZARD, you also get to decide if you’ll buy COUPLING – THE THIRD SEASON.

I highly recommend the latter.

Oh, and bear in mind that this is the hilarious BBC show COUPLING, and not the atrocious NBC remake that the network tried to shove down our throats last fall.

A few weeks ago I told you how much the BBC series THE OFFICE made me laugh, well THE OFFICE can’t hold a candle to how much I laugh while watching COUPLING.

COUPLING is funny because it has great characters, terrific actors, solid scripts, and that certain something a good comedy has that can’t be explained.

The show may have started off with the same premise of six other friends who spent their time drinking and discussing life, sex, manners, and modern relationships, but the third season of COUPLING puts those comparisons to bed.

FRIENDS, on its best day, was never as funny as COUPLING.

Don’t search for answers or analyze why, just check out COUPLING and enjoy more than a few innocent laughs. Okay, not all of them are innocent.

MONSTER, THE DUKES OF HAZARD: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON and COUPLING – THE THIRD SEASON are available now at your favourite local video store.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUCH POTATO REPORT

Four letters: S. C. T. V!

The greatest comedy show of all time is debuting on DVD!

Oh, and so is Clint Eastwood’s MYSTIC RIVER, featuring the Academy Award winning performances of Sean Penn and Tim Robbins.

ALONG CAME POLLY is also coming out next week. That's the one about a non-risk taker who meets an adventurous woman. Comedians Ben Stiller and "Friend" Jennifer Aniston star, but I'll only briefly mention them as SCTV is coming out on DVD!

How can I be expected to focus on anything else?!? Oh, because it’s part of my job...well, okay! Focus I will!

I’ll have more on SCTV, and some other releases, in seven days.

For now, that's this week's COUCH POTATO REPORT.

Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next week on The Couch!

New Tunage

The list is short, but if you lik the artists on it, the list is meaningful.

So, here are the new music releases for Tuesday, June 1, 2004:

DJ TIESTO Just Be (Nettwerk)
THE CORRS Borrowed Heaven (Atlantic)

Enjoy!

Billboard Sours On Prince's Musicology Sales Experiment

Prince's recent Musicology has quickly become his best-selling album in years, moving more than 632,000 copies in five weeks thanks to a combination of traditional record sales and copies whose purchase price is included with every ticket to his mostly sold-out arena shows.

Other artists looking to follow in the Purple One's footsteps toward inflated album sales had better think twice, however. Both SoundScan, the company that tracks record sales, and music industry trade Billboard are putting their foot down and revising their policy of allowing album sales to be piggybacked with concert tickets.

Discussions about the novel approach to selling records began when Musicology was released April 20. Tickets sold for concerts taking place prior to the release of the album didn't count toward the album's total, since a pre-existing policy dictates that Billboard doesn't recognize albums sold in an "exclusive window," such as Internet presales, but after April 20, all tickets sold for the handful of shows Prince had scheduled in a given week, each with attendance around 10,000, counted toward his album-sales total.

And with around three or four shows scheduled per week through September 9, Musicology doesn't look like it'll be disappearing from the chart anytime soon.

Billboard chart editor Geoff Mayfield claims that 25 percent, or 158,000 copies, of Musicology's total sales were through concert tickets, priced at $75-$85.

While Prince's initiative may seem like a good way to introduce fans of "Purple Rain," "1999" or "Diamonds and Pearls" to his new material, it may put unwanted multiple copies in the hands of his followers. For instance, if a married couple attended a show, they'd come home with two copies in hand. Should they attend multiple shows, even more copies would clutter their CD collection.

And should these Prince fans be completists, they may prefer having the CD packaged in a jewel case with the complete artwork, instead of the cardboard sleeves the concert copies come in — warranting yet another copy brought home.

Protected by a grandfather clause, Musicology will be allowed to continue counting albums sold through concert tickets toward its total, since Mayfield said it would be unfair to "change horses in the middle of the stream," but other artists who may have been eyeing Prince's strategy might be impeded.

The Cure, who were reportedly considering a similar practice for their first album in four years, a self-titled effort due June 29, might have to rethink their tactics, though the British quintet Gomez may be fine to proceed as planned — the difference being that purchasing a copy of Gomez's Split the Difference won't be mandatory. Concertgoers would be given a choice.

"The new policy states that customers 'must be given an option to either add the CD to the ticket purchase or forgo the CD for a reduced ticket-only price,' with the CD price 'comparable to reasonable and customary retail pricing,' " wrote Billboard's Mayfied, announcing the revised rule in the magazine's June 5 edition.

"We're not going to let them sell the album for two bucks," Mayfield clarified. "If someone was trying to pass off an album that sells for $18.98 in stores for a two-buck premium ... No, I don't think so.

"If it's a new artist, and their album sells for five bucks," he added, considering the lower price tags some labels give to emerging artists, often under $10, "then I could see that."

It's not likely that new artists would make such a move, however. Prince was able to do it because he recorded Musicology with his own money before he struck a major-label distribution deal, and he owns the copyright. "This is his puppy," Mayfield said. "It was already produced clean on his credit before he signed with Sony."

So if anyone were to follow in Prince's footsteps, it would be older "heritage artists," such as the Eagles, Jimmy Buffett and Phish. With a massive and loyal fanbase, these artists theoretically do not need the marketing benefits a major label affords, and their shows are routinely well-attended.

While Buffett, for example, moved only 21,000 copies of the recently re-released soundtrack to the 1975 cult flick "Rancho Deluxe," his annual summer treks are among the best attended of the season.

And should Phish, who could easily pack in up to 70,000 fans at a festival show, decide to take a Prince-like approach, they may actually score their first #1 album with the upcoming swan song Undermind.

'Shrek 2' Propels Box Office to Record

LOS ANGELES - "Shrek 2" retained the top spot at the box office with $92.2 million over the long holiday weekend, fending off the global-catastrophe tale "The Day After Tomorrow," which debuted with $86 million, according to studio estimates Monday.

The two movies led Hollywood to a record Memorial Day weekend haul. The top 12 movies alone took in $233.5 million, easily topping the previous best of $202 million for all movies over Memorial Day weekend last year.

If the numbers for "Shrek 2" hold up when final figures are released Tuesday, the movie would have the best Memorial Day weekend gross ever, beating the $90.2 million take for "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" in 1997.

In its second weekend, "Shrek 2" pushed its total to $257 million since opening May 19. The sequel should pass the $267.7 million domestic total for the first "Shrek" by Wednesday or Thursday, said Jim Tharp, head of distribution for DreamWorks, which released both animated hits.

"Shrek 2" will pass $300 million, but Tharp would not predict if it had a shot at beating the $340 million total for "Finding Nemo," the box-office champ among animated movies.

"We think we'll be well over $300 million. We just don't know how far over yet," Tharp said. "Shrek 2" faces stiff competition for the family crowd this coming weekend from the debut of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," Tharp said.

20th Century Fox, the studio behind "The Day After Tomorrow," was happy to come in second to "Shrek 2," said head of distribution Bruce Snyder.

"It's amazing how the marketplace expanded to embrace `Day After Tomorrow' with `Shrek' already taking up so much business," Snyder said.

"The Day After Tomorrow" features Dennis Quaid as a scientist trying to prevent the end of the world when global warming unleashes climatological disaster. The movie's dazzling visual effects including tidal waves flooding Manhattan and a deep freeze in Britain.

"This puts to bed any notion that audiences can't handle doomsday scenarios or end-of-the-world-type films post-Sept. 11," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "People love to see things they could not deal with in real life. They love to see the world annihilated. It's a vicarious thrill."

"Shrek 2" and "The Day After Tomorrow" accounted for 76 percent of revenues among the top 12 movies, choking off business for two other new flicks.

Kate Hudson's comedy "Raising Helen," about a career woman who becomes reluctant ward to her dead sister's three children, debuted at No. 4 with $14 million, coming in behind "Troy," which took third with $15 million.

"Soul Plane," about a funky airline, opened in fifth-place with $7 million.

In limited release, Jena Malone and Mandy Moore's satiric "Saved!", about a teenager at a Christian school ostracized when she becomes pregnant, opened strongly with $440,000 at 20 theaters.

Mario Van Peebles' "Baadasssss!", in which he stars as his father, Melvin, on his quest to make the seminal black-power flick "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song," had a modest debut of $57,929 in 13 theaters.

Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Monday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Tuesday.

1. "Shrek 2," $92.2 million.
2. "The Day After Tomorrow," $86 million.
3. "Troy," $15 million.
4. "Raising Helen," $14 million.
5. "Soul Plane," $7 million.
6. "Mean Girls," $6.3 million.
7. "Van Helsing," $6.2 million.
8. "Man on Fire," $2.4 million.
9. "13 Going on 30," $1.4 million.
10. "Super Size Me," $1.35 million.