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The Reason Isaiah Got Fired 2007-06-15 12:36:00 As most of you already know, Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington has been told he won't be allowed to come back to the hit ABC drama when it returns for Season 4 this Fall. Isaiah got in trouble for a pair of anti-gay slurs that he made against co-star T.R. Knight both on the set and in public.But it looks like Isaiah's comments weren't the sole reason he was fired - although they were the contributing factor. Reportedly, Disney (which owns ABC) is concerned about potential liability they could face should they keep Washington as an employee.Washington, whose initial reaction to the firing was that he was "mad as hell," has composed himself in the past several days, saying now that he is "saddened by the outcome" and claiming he "did everything that the producers and the network asked me to do" during the aftermath of his remarks.Washington's character, Dr. Preston Burke, walked out on his wedding in the season finale, which will serve as the explanation for his exit from the se Read more:Reason
, Fired
Are You Ready For The End? 2007-06-07 09:48:00 This Sunday will mark the end of an era as HBO airs the final episode of perhaps this generation’s best television program: The Sopranos. And unlike most series finales, don’t expect a happy ending for Tony Soprano and his family.Episodes leading up to this one have seen the demise of fan-favorites Christopher Moltisanti and Bobby Bacala, not to mention the gunning down of Silvo Dante (who, last we heard, was not expected to regain consciousness). With Soprano rival Phil Leotardo initiating an all-out war, last week’s bloodbath ended with Tony holed up in a safehouse and his family hiding out as well.So how will show creator David Chase end the saga? Rumors are running rampant that one, or both of Tony’s children may be killed, or perhaps all of Tony’s family will be wiped out. And what of Tony himself? Will he be shot? Commit suicide? Wind up in the Witness Protection Program? Or will none of the above happen, since Chase is known for season-enders that are more reflective i
Charles Nelson Reilly Is _______. 2007-05-30 15:04:00 Comedian CharlesNelsonReilly
, who was best know for his frequent appearances on the TV game show Match Game, died on May 25th due to complications from pneumonia.Reilly was also well-known for his visits to The Tonight Show, as well as the children’s television program Lidsville and his guest starring role in The X-Files episode “Jose Chung’s From Outer Space”.Reilly won the Tony Award in 1962 for his portrayal of Bud Frump in “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying”. More recently, he received rave reviews for his autobiographic stage work in “Save It For The Stage: The Life Of Reilly”.Charles Nelson Reilly was 76 years old.
Happy Birthday! 2007-05-25 11:42:00 Yes, it was 30 years ago today that Star Wars (the "A New Hope" title didn't come until later versions) blazed its way across movie screens throughout the world.Since that day, we've seen one awesome sequel, one okay third chapter, three prequels of questionable entertainment value, and enough toys, books, models, posters, t-shirts and collectibles to fill up the Death Star.A number of events are marking Star Wars' 30th, most notably the release of stamps by the United States Postal Service. There's also a fan gathering this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Additionally, Cinemax and Cinemax HD subscribers will be treated to a marathon of all six films back to back, starting today at 3pm Eastern. To celebrate, DVD Empire would like to hear about the first time YOU saw Star Wars! Post a comment here in the forum and read about other's experiences!Plus, don't forget to check out our Jedi Master contest, where you have the chance to win all six movies on DVD! Hurry...the Read more:Happy
, Birthday
, Happy Birthday
Have An "Old Friend" For Dinner! 2007-05-23 12:57:00 Want to find out how Dr. Hannibal Lecter became the madman that he did?DVD Empire is giving away one copy of the Unrated version of Hannibal Rising, and all you need to do to be entered in the drawing is send an e-mail to the following address:HannibalRising@dvdempire.comTo qualify, please be sure to include your Name, Mailing Address, and a valid e-mail address.Here are the official rules for the contest:NO PURCHASE NECESSARYOne entry per person.Multiple entries or false information will render entries void.Winner must be 18 years or older.All entries must be received by June 19, 2007.Employees of DVD Empire or any sponsor participating in this contest are not eligible to win.DVD Empire is not responsible for lost or late entries.Offer good in the continental United States only, void where prohibited.Prize will be shipped to the address furnished by the winner.There will be no prize substitutions or cash value.Information submitted to DVDEmpire.com will not be transferred or disclosed Read more:Dinner
The Clock Runs Out 2007-05-22 10:20:00 Sometimes saving the world isn't all it's cracked up to be. At least that was the case for Jack Bauer as he (and the audience) went through 24 episodes of sheer agony during Season 6.For the first time, 24 was uneven and unentertaining - either rehashing plot ideas we had seen in previous seasons, or stretching the realm of believability far beyond what even 24 fans could reasonably digest. But last night was 24's chance for redemption. Not so much a chance to save an already lost season, but a chance to at least give fans hope for Season 7. Internet and publication rumors had been making the rounds for weeks that a "long dead" character (the odds-on favorite was Tony Almeida, played by Carlos Bernard) would make an cameo for the last-second cliffhanger.As the clock clicked off its final seconds, however, no such revelation was made. In fact, no cliffhanger at all, as Jack stared off into the sunset on a day that was much more draining for fans than it was for his character. The sho Read more:Clock
Selleck Antes Up For Vegas 2007-05-16 15:14:00 With James Caan exiting his hit NBC series to return to film work, the network had some big shoes to fill. Enter Magnum, P.I. himself.Tom Selleck has agreed to become the new lead on Las Vegas
, and will be playing a billionaire with a secret past who becomes the new owner of the Montecito Casino. Caan will guest-star in the first episode of the new season to bring closure to his character.Selleck continues to have success in other roles, as well. The fourth entry in his popular Jesse Stone series of TV movies airs on CBS on May 22nd.
Spidey Smashes Box Office Record 2007-05-07 12:44:00 The critics gave Spider-Man 3 lukewarm reviews, but that didn’t stop audiences worldwide from going in droves to see the webbed wonder over the past weekend.Spider-Man 3 shattered box office records in every category, starting with a $59 million opening in North America on Friday that set the single day take for any movie in history. Spider-Man 3 also had the biggest domestic opening weekend of all-time, raking in an impressive $148 million. Both the single day and weekend records had previously been held by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.Spider-Man 3 also has pulled in a whopping $227 million overseas, meaning the film already has made $375 million worldwide. It also managed to shatter records for its various IMAX showings around the country, making $4.8 million at 84 sites – breaking the previous record of $3.6 million that was obtained earlier this year by the release of 300.Spidey
should have no trouble swinging into the number one spot again next weekend, as the Read more:Record
, Box Office
Former MPAA Chief Jack Valenti Dies 2007-04-27 07:28:00 Depending on your point of view, Jack Valenti was either the man who restored a sense of decency to the motion picture industry, or the guy who forced censorship onto thousands of movie maker's creations.President of the Motion Picture Association of America from 1966 to 2004, Jack Valenti died yesterday at the age of 85, due to complications from a recent stroke. A former aide in the administration of President Lyndon Johnson, Valenti was part of the motorcade when President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.After serving for President Johnson, Valenti joined the MPAA and was instrumental in the creation of the current ratings system for theatrically released movies. He was also a huge avocate of copyright enforcement, beginning with the creation of the VCR in the early 1980s, which Valenti saw as a license to illegally bootleg movies. He spoke just as strongly against recent Internet and DVD technologies when those came to fruition. Read more:Former
, Chief
FOX Crashes Drive 2007-04-26 14:04:00 After airing only three episodes, FOX has decided to put the breaks on Drive, their heavily-hyped cross-country race show that has gotten dismal ratings so far.Drive has only averaged a 2.3 rating (about 5 million homes) since it premiered on April 15th, and this past Monday's episode scored a terrible 1.5, and even resulted in the hit show 24 (which aired after Drive) to score its lowest ratings ever. Drive is the second FOX failure for star Nathan Fillion. He was also the lead in Firefly, which got pulled from FOX after only 13 episodes. Read more:Crashes
Hugh Spills The Beans 2007-04-26 10:08:00 And you thought getting caught with a transsexual was embarrassing...Hugh Grant’s latest public scandal has him hurling baked beans at a freelance photographer who was trying to snap a few pictures of the actor.But that’s not all, Grant reportedly also kicked the photographer several times and kneed him in the groin. Profanity was also allegedly used by Grant who, after asking the photographer if he had any children, reportedly stated “I hope they f***ing die of cancer.”The incident was serious enough to have Grant arrested by police for suspicion of assault. Grant was released on bail, but is expected to return to face possible charges sometime in May.Grant has yet to publicly comment on the incident. Read more:Beans
3 Is The Magic Number... 2007-04-24 06:41:00 Everything old is new again as the summer movie officially begins on May 4th, with the highly-anticipated release of Spider-Man 3.But Spidey isn't the only familiar franchise returning this summer. Movie-goers will also get to see the third chapters of Shrek, Pirates Of The Caribbean, and Rush Hour, as well as Ocean's Thirteen (the third chapter in the series that began with Ocean's Eleven). Other sequels are on their way as well...including 28 Weeks Later; Hostel 2; Fantastic Four 2; Evan Almighty; Live Free Or Die Hard; and Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix.So if your theater experience seems vaguely familar this summer, you know know why. Read more:Magic
, Number
Christmas Story Director & Son Killed 2007-04-05 08:33:00 Bob Clark, director of A Christmas
Story and the first two Porky's movies was killed on Wednesday when a drunk driver hit him in a head-on collision. Clark's 22-year-old son was also killed in the crash, which happened in Pacific Palisades, California at around 2:30 AM Pacific Time.The driver of the vehicle that hit Clark, along with his female passenger sustained minor injuries. He is being charged with driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter.Bob Clark was 67-years-old. Read more:Director
, Killed
, Christmas Story
Sinbad: He Ain't Dead Yet 2007-03-16 10:38:00 Don't you just love the Internet?After an erroneous post on the Wikipedia site that comedian Sinbad had died of a heart attack, the phone calls and e-mails started to pour in. But Sinbad is alive and well, and somewhat amused by all the attention.“Saturday I rose from the dead and then died again," he told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “It's gonna be more commonplace as the Internet opens up more and more. It's not that strange," Sinbad added when asked about the false reports of his demise.Sadly, Sinbad could not confirm or deny reports that his career was dead.
Stallone In Trouble Down Under 2007-03-13 06:37:00 Actor Sylvester Stallone
is in trouble with the law in Australia, charged with bringing a banned substance into the country.Stallone, 60, was in Australia in February to promote his latest film, Rocky Balboa. When his bags were x-rayed at the airport, authorities found 48 vials of Human Growth Hormone, a substance that is illegal in the land down under.The maximum penalty under law is $110,000 Australian dollars (about $86,000 in U.S. funds) and five years in prison, although given this is his first offense, the court can only actually fine Stallone $22,000 Australian dollars (about $17,000 U.S.) with no jail time if he is found guilty.Stallone has stated "It was just a minor misunderstanding. They were just doing their jobs. I just didn't understand some of the rules here." Read more:Trouble
Richard Jeni Found Dead - Apparent Suicide 2007-03-12 06:13:00 Comedian Richard
Jeni has died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Jeni was discovered alive, but seriously injured, at his home in West Hollywood on Saturday night after police responded to a call from his girlfriend.According to the police, Jeni’s girlfriend stated “My boyfriend shot himself in the face.” Jeni was rushed to a nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.Jeni was a regular guest on The Tonight Show, and had appeared in movies such as The Mask and The Aristocrats.Richard Jeni
was 49-years-old. Read more:Suicide
Oscars: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly 2007-02-28 09:54:00 Well, another Oscar ceremony has come and gone, and instead of providing a more traditional report on the awards, we’d thought we’d pass along these thoughts about Oscar night:The Good:- Martin Scorsese finally wins a Best Director Oscar, and gets the prize for Best Picture of the Year as well, for The Departed.- Happy Feet beats Cars for Best Picture. Neither were memorable, but it’s nice to see the Pixar streak end.- Jennifer Hudson’s well-deserved Best Supporting Actress win for Dreamgirls proves that she’s no fluke, but a genuine new talent.The Bad:- Host Ellen DeGeneres falls flat. She’s unfunny, shows no spontaneity, and makes David Letterman’s Oscar debacle of a few years ago pale in comparison.- Alan Arkin steals the Best Supporting Actor Oscar from Eddie Murphy. Murphy is so mad he leaves the show early. Beverly Hills Cop 4 should have Axel Foley investigating this crime.- Babel wins Best Original Score, despite there being nothing original about it – the music Read more:Oscars
Ray Liotta Busted For D.U.I. 2007-02-19 11:51:00 Actor Ray Liotta
, best known for his role as Henry Hill in the movie GoodFellas, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence this past Saturday night.Liotta was taken into custody after crashing his car into two others in Pacific Palisades, California. He was booked on a misdemeanor D.U.I. charged and released on $15,000 bail.He is scheduled to appear in court in March. Read more:Busted
, Ray Liotta
Anna Nicole Smith Dies 2007-02-08 15:07:00 Anna Nicole Smith
has died after collapsing in her hotel room in Hollywood, Florida.The bizarre passing of Ms. Smith comes only weeks after her 20-year-old son, Daniel, collapsed and died while visiting his mother following the birth of Smith's daughter, Danielynn.Smith rocketed to fame in the early 1990's after she appeared on the March 1992 cover of Playboy magazine. She became one of its most popular models, being named Playmate of the Year in 1993. Smith made news again when she married 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall. After only 14-months of marriage, Marshall died, and Smith found herself in a court battle with his son over his estate.Anna Nicole Smith was 39 years old.
Prison Break Actor In Car Crash; One Dead 2006-12-04 08:02:00 Prison Break
star Lane Garrison was in an SUV that crashed into a tree late Saturday night in Beverly Hills, killing one 17-year-old male passenger.Police are still trying to determine who was driving the vehicle, which is registered to Garrison. Garrison, who is 26, was said to have minor injuries, but was otherwise unharmed. Two 15-year-old girls were also in the SUV, although their conditions have not been released. Several unconfirmed reports have one of the two girls in critical condition.Garrison plays "Tweener" on the FOX series, and also has a role in next year's theatrical release of Shooter. Read more:Prison
, Actor
, Prison Break
, Car Crash
Kidman Is Hollywood's Highest Paid Actress 2006-11-30 12:25:00 Move over Julia Roberts.Nicole Kidman
is now the highest paid actress in Hollywood
, according to The Hollywood Reporter, who releases an annual list of the industry's top moneymakers. Kidman now demands roughly $17 million per picture, with actresses Reese Witherspoon ($15 million) and Rene Zellweger ($15 million) rounding out the top three.While Kidman's last couple movies, Bewitched and The Interpreter, have been anything but box office hits, she does supply the voice of Norma Jean in the current box office champ, Happy Feet. Kidman will also star alongside the current James Bond, Daniel Craig, in next summer's sci-fi epic, The Invasion.
Wesley Snipes Indicted On Tax Fraud 2006-10-17 11:56:00 Actor Wesley
Snipes was indicted today on 8 counts of tax fraud.Allegedly, Snipes failed to file tax returns for six years (between 1999 and 2004), and during years that he did file (1996 and 1997), he fraudulently claimed refunds to the tune of $12 million. The indictment states that Snipes' accountants have a history of filing fraudulent returns.If convicted, Snipes could face up to 16 years in prison.
Mel Gibson Cover-Up? 2006-07-31 08:26:00 In one of the most shockingly bizarre stories to come out of Hollywood this year, Actor/Director Mel Gibson
was arrested for suspicion of DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol) last Friday, July 28th.That, in and of itself wouldn’t be so shocking – since Gibson himself has confessed struggles with addiction in the past. What is shocking is the alleged actions of Gibson during his arrest, and the apparent cover-up of those actions by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.Originally, the reports from the Sheriff’s office were that Mr. Gibson was arrested “without incident”. But over the weekend, a written report from Deputy James Mee surfaced that paints Gibson in a much harsher light. Gibson apparently used a number of racial slurs at the arresting officers, the mildest of which were statements blaming Jews for all the world wars, and asking the arresting officer if he was a Jew. Gibson also reportedly tried to run from the police at one point – bolting towards his ve Read more:Cover
Superman Soars To $21 Million Opening 2006-06-29 15:50:00 The Man of Steel returned yesterday to the tune of about $21 million, making Superman
Returns the 8th biggest Wednesday opening of all-time, just behind last summer's War Of The Worlds. It's also the 29th largest opening ever for a motion picture.The $21 million figure includes sneak peaks of the movie that took place on Tuesday night, as well as the (slightly more expensive) IMAX screenings that are taking place across the country.Superman Returns cost an estimated $260 million to produce, so the jury is still out on just how much the Man of Tomorrow will need to pull in to warrant a sequel.
The Passenger Marks Nicholson's First-Ever Commentary 2006-04-25 15:00:00 Jack Nicholson does his first-ever DVD commentary track on Director Michaelangelo Antonioni's The Passenger
, a 1975 flick that is just now seeing a DVD release.Nicholson has publically stated that the filming of the movie was the biggest adventure he's ever had while shooting a picture.The Passenger stars Nicholson as television reporter David Locke who, while on location in Africa, decides to switch identities with a dead man whom he discovers in the hotel room next to his own.The single-disc release contains the original director's cut of the movie, with about seven minutes of footage that has never been seen before by American audiences. Read more:First
Kane Still Tops On AFI List 2007-06-21 07:00:00 It was 10 years ago that the American Film Institute released their Top 100 American Films list, and last night it was time for an update as AFI released a brand-new list, which took into account the movies that have been released in the past decade.In the end though, the number one film 10 years ago remained the number one film last night: Citizen Kane. The number two and number three films on the list were also the same, although they now have swapped positions, with The Godfather now clocking in second, and Casablanca being bumped down to third.Brand new to the list? A staggering 23 films, which makes you wonder how what was supposed to be the “definitive” top 100 list could change so much in just 10 years time. But AFI voters made room for newcomers Titanic; The Fellowship Of The Ring; The Shawshank Redemption; Saving Private Ryan; The Sixth Sense; Blade Runner; and Toy Story, among others.Of course that meant 23 movies had to get knocked off the list, and among the casualties
He's Back! 2007-06-22 11:16:00 After rumors, script re-writes, and 18 long years, the magic is happening once again.Yesterday marked the first official day of shooting for the fourth Indiana Jones movie, shooting under the working title (which may change) of “Indiana Jones and the City of the Gods”. The storyline has been kept under wraps (amazing in today’s Internet age), but rumors persist that the plot has something to do with Area 51, and that cast member Shia LaBeouf will be playing Indy’s son.Also officially in the cast are John Hurt (who may be playing Henry Jones, Sr., since Sean Connery recently turned down an offer to return), Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone and Jim Broadbent.Indy IV is set for theatrical release on May 22nd, 2008.The full version of the above photo, which was taken by Steven Spielberg himself, can be seen on the official Indiana Jones website. CLICK HERE.
Yippee-Ki-Yay, Mother... 2007-06-27 06:34:00 He's the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time, but nearly 20 years after John McClane roamed barefoot through the floors of the Nakatomi skyscraper in the original film, he's back to save the world again in the aptly titled Live Free Or Die Hard.This time, McClane (Bruce Willis) squares off against an Internet terrorist (played by Deadwood's Timothy Olyphant) who is holding McClane's daughter (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) hostage. During the action, McClane teams up with an internet hacker (Justin Long), who helps him out, since John is an analog cop living in a high-tech world.While a fourth chapter may seem like going to the well one too many times, early reviews of Live Free Or Die Hard have been outstanding, with the New York Times calling it "adrenaline-pumping", and the Chicago Tribune saying it's "a tremendously entertaining, old-fashioned action flick."Live Free Or Die Hard opens in theaters everywhere today.
Ready To Get Lost Again? 2007-02-07 14:28:00 After a long hiatus, Lost returns to ABC tonight with the first of 16 back-to-back weekly episodes that will wrap up Season 3.But the real question is: will anyone still care? The first six episodes of Season 3 shown in the Fall of 2006 got less than stellar reviews from both fans and critics, with the biggest complaint being the show wasn't focusing on the original set of island castaways from Season 1. The only original characters that were being focused on - Jack, Kate and Sawyer - had been captured by the mysterious "Others" and seemed to be part of some strange psychological test, with Jack locked up in an indoor cell, while Kate and Sawyer were in cages of their own outside. To add insult to injury, the only real non-original cast member than fans cared about - Mr. Eko - was killed off when the actor, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, chose to leave the show.As if fans weren't already confused enough, Lost will premiere in a new time slot tonight, at 10pm Eastern instead of its old 9pm Read more:Again
Sunshine Shocker At SAG Awards 2007-01-29 14:47:00 The 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
were a pretty ho-hum affair until the final award of the night was presented.Forest Whitaker as Best Actor? Check.Helen Mirren as Best Actess? Check.Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy in the Best Supporting categories? Check.Yes, the Oscar front-runners were all picking up their umpteenth awards, until the shocker of the evening came.Little Miss Sunshine became the “little movie that could” when it was announced as the winner for Best Ensemble Cast in a Feature Film.Does that mean Sunshine is now a serious Oscar contender? Could be...Crash won the same SAG Award last year and went on to upset Brokeback Mountain for Best Picture at the Oscars. But keep in mind, only actors vote for the SAG Awards, while every Oscar voter is allowed to vote in the Best Picture category.One thing is for sure, however – for the first time in a long time, the Oscar race for Best Picture is wide open, with all five nominees having a legitimate shot at bringing h
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