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Gossip, True Love, He-said-She-said, Splitsville, In Court (143)

So-called Runaway Production (6)

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* Talking Pictures: Heeeeere's Ed *
evalu8.org's John T.D. Keyes remembers Johnny Carson's sidekick. . . [More]

* The Tragically Hip's US Release of World Container *
TTH: "We wanted to remind all of our friends in the United States of America that ‘World Container’ is being released nationally on Tuesday, March 6th." [More]

1,500 guests attend Pirates of Caribbean launch *
Johnny Depp joined about 1,500 guests at Disneyland for the premiere of his new action adventure film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. [More]

24: The end of a very long day *
It's been another heady season on TV's 24. With the final hour about to unfold, The Globe's JOHN DOYLE, SCOTT COLBOURNE, ANDREW GORHAM and ANDREW RYAN predict what happens next [More]

75th Academy Awards® -- Oscar® Results *
Chicago displayed Toronto in Hollywood -- Oscar night results... [More]

A folk-mock star: Eugene Levy never blows A Mighty Wind *
In A Mighty Wind, which opens on Friday, Christopher Guest and his gifted ensemble of improvisational actors, do for -- or to -- Sixties folk music, what they have previously done for amateur theatre in Waiting for Guffman, or dog competitions in Best in Show. [More]

A road show with a difference *
Independent poets, cartoonists and artists are mixing punk rock's do-it-yourself philosophy with avant-garde sensibilities in cross-country tours resembling variety shows, HAL NIEDZVIECKI writes [More]

A socko Québécois invasion *
Québec director Denys Arcand's new film must be considered a serious contender for the Palme d'or, writes LIAM LACEY [More]

A stretch for Chinese dance *
The National Ballet of China is trying to pull out of its 'Swan Lake rut' with a revised version of Raise the Red Lantern. But the audience seems unimpressed, GEOFFREY YORK writes [More]

A TV season with too much reality in the wings *
There was a whole lot of schedule shakeup going on last week. The American networks announced their new fall lineups. The honchos in charge threw out some old stuff and bought some shiny new stuff. Then they told lies about how great the new stuff is going to be. [More]

Actor Owen Wilson may have attempted suicide *
Oscar-nominated film star Owen Wilson -- best known for comedies like Wedding Crashers and Zoolander -- sought time on Monday to "heal in private" after media reports indicated he was hospitalized for a suicide attempt. [More]

Actor-writer Spalding Gray missing *
Actor-writer Spalding Gray, whose quirky monologues about his own hysterical neuroses took him from a cult following in downtown New York to a career in Hollywood movies, has been reported missing by his wife. [More]

Actors, writers fight back *
Television producers, writers and actors yesterday called for an immediate restoration of the $25-million the Liberal government chopped from the Canadian Television Fund in its Feb. 18 budget. [More]

Adam Sandler: Wedding Singer ties the knot *
Adam Sandler married model-actress Jackie Titone in an outdoor ceremony that was attended by celebrity friends and his pet bulldog dressed in a custom tuxedo. [More]

Addicted to opera *
Whether taking adult-ed courses, week-long seminars or European tours to the great meccas, long-time fans and neophytes alike are learning all there is to know about adagios, arias, baritones and bravi, writes SANDRA MARTIN [More]

Adult acting world no child's play *
The historic best-actress Oscar nod for a 13-year-old may inspire more starstruck parents and put the spotlight on new changes in B.C. law, ALEXANDRA GILL writes. [More]

Affleck wins big *
Ben Affleck won $356,400 (U.S.) at a poker tournament that also earned him a seat in next year's World Poker Tour Championship, casino officials said. [More]

Ahoy, Hollywood! *
JONATHAN FOWLIE meets Gordon Laco, a boat captain from Midland, Ont., whose passion for Napoleonic-era ships and expertise in naval history landed him on a film set with Russell Crowe for seven months [More]

Airports of the rich and famous *
Actors, musicians and design gurus are drawn to airports with amenities such as a massage centre, an indoor forest and even an on-site golf course. SIMONA RABINOVITCH tracks down 10 jet setters to talk about their favourites [More]

Alanis uncluttered *
'I literally got rid of everything in my house and started over,' the once-jagged singer tells SIMON HOUPT. With the release of a laid-back new CD, the host of this year's Juno Awards says the challenge now is 'to step up and stand there and not hide' [More]

Alec Baldwin: Life after the magazine covers *
Alec Baldwin talks about what it feels like when change catches up with a celebrity. [More]

Alice Cooper gets Hollywood star *
Alice Cooper showed up in full makeup to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. [More]

All hail 007, King of Scotland *
The CBC is showing a 1961 staged version of Macbeth tonight. REBECCA CALDWELL discovers how the film, starring a then-unknown Sean Connery, got made. [More]

All is forgiven as Cannes welcomes back Hollywood *
Dispelling concerns about tense international relations between Paris and Washington over the Iraq war, Cannes Film Festival organizers promised a full complement of Hollywood movie stars for the event next month. [More]

Alliance action sparks union outcry *
News this week that Halifax production company Salter Street Films was closing shop is another example of the need for federal regulators to protect Canadian television drama, argued a coalition of unions representing actors and film production crews. [More]

Alliance Atlantis chops itself in half *
If you're a big fan of TV shows such as Da Vinci's Inquest or The Eleventh Hour, or you liked the film The Good Thief with Nick Nolte, the news that Alliance Atlantis is taking an axe to its entertainment arm -- apart from the hit show CSI, of course -- probably comes as a nasty shock. [More]

Alliance Atlantis earnings up 23 per cent *
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. -- maker of TV's hit CSI and CSI: Miami series -- said Monday first-quarter earnings rose about 23 per cent. [More]

Alliance Atlantis fires 'Hitler' producer after comments *
In a TV Guide interview, Gernon compares the contemporary United States with Nazi Germany... [More]

Alliance shuts Great North *
Just days after hearing of the closing of Great North Productions -- once Canada's largest documentary producer -- workers are already planning their comebacks. [More]

Amazing what's in store at Documart *
High-school sluts, fag hags and obsessive compulsive teens were just a few of the topics pitched at this year's CTV Canadian Documart. [More]

And the cash cow jumped over the moon *
Warning: I'm going to reveal the ending of every kids' movie that is out now, came out recently or is due soon. It's easy, because it's always the same ending. Everyone gets rich. Filthy, stinking, fish-eyed rich. [More]

André Alexis: A nomad at play in radio land *
Given carte blanche by the CBC to try his hand at writing for radio, author ANDRÉ ALEXIS discovered it's all about voice. [More]

Anger muscles into top spot at the box office *
Anger Management bullied its way to the No. 1 box-office spot, earning a whopping $44.5-million (U.S.) in its debut weekend, according to studio estimates yesterday. [More]

Anita Kunz: Drawing satirical conclusions *
Canadian illustrator Anita Kunz, being honoured with a Library of Congress exhibit, talks to SARAH MILROY about the change in climate artists are facing in the U.S. [More]

Ann Miller dies of lung cancer at 81 *
Ann Miller, the raven-haired, long-legged actress and dancer whose machine-gun taps won her stardom during the golden age of movie musicals, died Thursday of lung cancer. She was 81. [More]

Apple to launch music service *
It's time to buy, mix, and burn, according to Apple Computer Inc. The Silicon Valley company that angered the recording industry with its "Rip. Mix. Burn." ad campaign was expected to launch an on-line music service Monday that promises to make it easier for consumers to pay for music downloaded from the Internet. [More]

Are singles ready to spin again? *
Some in the music industry are betting the DVD single may be the product that restores the '45' to its former glory [More]

Arnold pumps up Leno's ratings *
Arnold Schwarzenegger's announcement that he was running for governor of California drew the second-highest rating of the year for NBC's The Tonight Show, Nielsen Media Research said on Thursday [More]

Arnold Schwarzenegger: A script tailored for a star *
Celebrity alone doesn't account for Arnie's rise. Add in resentment and a split opposition, says political scientist MICHAEL GREEN [More]

Art Carney, 85 *
Art Carney, who played Jackie Gleason's sewer worker pal Ed Norton in the TV classic The Honeymooners and went on to win the 1974 Oscar for best actor in Harry and Tonto, has died at 85. [More]

As It Happens: Who can resist a ringing telephone? *
In the 1960s, a very simple idea was born for a CBC radio show. And the rest is As It Happens history, writes co-host BARBARA BUDD on the phenomenon's 35th anniversary. [More]

Ashley McIsaac: Fiddling with Disaster *
Celtic-punk fiddler Ashley McIsaac, from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, has put his own stamp on traditional Celtic music for almost two decades. Now, in his autobiography, Ashley recounts his climb from Creignish to New York and beyond, and pulls no punches in the story of his subsequent troubles with fame, drugs and the media. [More]

Asia's latest celebrity hotspot *
In the beginning was Angelina. Then came Minnie, Ashley, Jackie, Rupert, Roger and Cliff. [More]

Audiences flock to holiday films, 2006 year-end results up over previous year *
Much to the chagrin of the gloom-and-doom merchants who insist the end of cinema is nigh, Hollywood ticket sales this year are on course to beat 2005 by 5 per cent. [More]

Author sues Steven Spielberg, Nick Park *
We think author hasn't got a (chicken) leg to stand on... [More]

Bands on the run -- to Europe *
There's a good reason Canadian groups make it overseas, and not in the U.S., some say: Europeans have better taste [More]

Battle of the Idols *
Canada's Ryan Malcolm is in London battling the odds, nasty judges, excited schoolgirls -- and other pop-star hopefuls who are all bidding on untold fame and riches. [More]

Battle over movie screeners hits court *
The battle over screeners used to promote movies during award season reached the courts yesterday as representatives from the independent film community accused the major Hollywood studios of engaging in illegal anti-competitive behaviour by restricting the indies' ability to market their films. [More]

BBC to launch on-line archive of shows *
The British Broadcasting Corp. plans to make much of its vast television and radio library, including portions of shows such as Dr. Who and Monty Python's Flying Circus, available for free on the Internet. It's an initiative that the BBC hopes will encourage other public broadcasters to do the same. [More]

Beloved C.S. Lewis series headed for big screen *
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the beloved fantasy novel by C.S. Lewis, will be made into a film in New Zealand, a newspaper reported Friday. [More]

Ben Mulroney: Sorry, girls, the boy is taken *
Once the boxers versus briefs issue was laid to rest, one burning question remained: Is he dating? SARAH HAMPSON's got the goods [More]

Bertolucci snubs U.S. censors *
No compromise on big-studio picture with NC-17 rating. [More]

Between Iraq and a hard place *
Living in a country between Afghanistan and Iraq, the Iranian director Samira Makhmalbaf felt compelled to tell its stories, LIAM LACEY writes [More]

Bin Laden's niece poses for sexy photo in GQ magazine *
Wafah Dufour, the daughter of Osama bin Laden's half brother -- provocatively dressed -- posed for an article of GQ's January edition. [More]

Bob Hope dies at 100 *
Bob Hope, ski-nosed master of the one-liner and favourite comedian of servicemen and presidents alike, has died, less than two months after turning 100. [More]

Bon Mots, not Bon Jovi: Celebrities as good as their word *
LIAM LACEY shows off his collection of pearls that fell from the mouths of stars in 2003. [More]

Boogie nights: Rock and Porn *
A special alchemy exists between the worlds of rock and pornography, as the infamous gain legitimacy and the famous get street credibility. [More]

Bowie had heart surgery, German paper says *
British pop legend David Bowie underwent heart surgery in Germany last month prompting him to cancel his European tour, German daily Hamburger Morgenpost reported yesterday. [More]

Box Office Prophets proudly announces...the 2003 Calvin Awards *
Hollywood seems to think we should pay attention to their "Academy" just because they all happen to work in the industry, but we know better. [More]

Bradbury celebrates 83rd birthday *
Science fiction author Ray Bradbury celebrated his 83rd birthday with this wish... [More]

Breaking the 'loi du silence' *
In France, where most turn a blind eye toward domestic violence, the death of much-beloved actress Marie Trintignant has raised questions about the country's famously libertine attitudes, reports EGLE PROCUTA [More]

Bridget Fonda weds composer Danny Elfman *
Actress Bridget Fonda and composer Danny Elfman were married last weekend, Fonda's publicist said Friday. [More]

Bryan Adams shot by air gun *
Bryan Adams was shot with an air gun as he rode a motorbike through London, the BBC reports [More]

Buffett joins Schwarzenegger team *
Arnold Schwarzenegger has hired Warren Buffett as his senior financial and economic adviser in his bid to replace Gray Davis if the governor loses the recall vote, the Republican actor's campaign announced Wednesday. [More]

California dreaming redux *
The songs of Grandaddy manage to blend the familiar alienation of alternative pop with large doses of sunshine as well, ROBERT EVERETT-GREEN writes [More]

Cameron Diaz tops actress pay list *
Cameron Diaz is the world's highest-paid actress, snatching the title from Julia Roberts, the Guinness Book of Records said on Friday. [More]

Canadian / Pacific Northwest actor charged with rape *
Scott Hamilton Bairstow, a TV and movie actor who grew up in Steinbach, Man., has been charged with having sex with a 12-year-old in 1998. [More]

Canadian content overhaul urged *
The federal government's formula for defining Canadian content in the film and television industries should be overhauled, says a report, which aims to make the broader system more efficient and able to stimulate greater domestic production. [More]

Canadian film inspires tears, applause at Cannes *
Denys Arcand's film about a French-Canadian man whose friends rally around him as he fights cancer won prolonged applause at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday and had many people wiping away tears. [More]

Canadian films still struggling at home, Statscan says *
Canadian films and videos continued to struggle on their home turf, with foreign entertainment grabbing the lion's share of this country's market in fiscal 2000-2001, Statistics Canada said Friday. [More]

Canadian Idol relies heavily on mob psychology *
A while back, when comedian Ron James was introducing CBC-TV's new fall season, he said, "If it wasn't for CBC producing their own product, all the country would be watching half-a-dozen amateurs from Scarborough singing April Wine cover tunes on Canadian Idol." [More]

Canadian TV producers prepare for more bad news *
Producers and broadcasters are girding for more bad news Tuesday as the Canadian Television Fund announces who will be getting what from a $64.5-million fund for drama, variety and comedy shows. [More]

Cannes clips *
Sweet, sensitive Claire Danes from television's So-Called Life fighting deadly killing machines out to destroy humanity? [More]

Cannes: Slow and decidedly sombre *
When this year's lineup of films isn't lulling the crowds to sleep, it's got them pondering some of the darker corners of the human condition, writes LIAM LACEY [More]

Canuck bucks head south for new shows *
For the past while, I've been telling you until I'm blue in the face that Canadian television is in a shocking state of confusion. I know it's hard to tell from the wee picture on my right (your left) but I am actually blue in the face. [More]

Carly Simon reveals who's so vain *
Carly Simon will finally reveal who's so vain to a man with major connections in the media world — should he ever decide to break his vow of secrecy. [More]

Carny World: Hey mark, put down your toonie *
Rarely do people look behind the whirring and clanging colour-saturated booths and notice the 427 trailers parked behind the rides, trailers housing the 300 core carnival workers who have been on the road working the southern United States since January and opened the Canadian tour in Thunder Bay in June. [More]

CBC axes Disclosure after three seasons *
Disclosure, one of CBC Television's highest-profile public-affairs shows, has been cancelled -- a victim of poor ratings. [More]

CBC masks lineup worries with coffee and cake *
The CBC announced its new schedule yesterday. It was a very nice occasion. There was coffee and cake. [More]

CBS chairman defends Jackson interview *
CBS's top executive has complained that the network's news division, embroiled in questions about how 60 Minutes obtained an interview with Michael Jackson, is held to a higher standard than its rivals. [More]

Celebs looking lovely in blood-red *
The hottest thing to be in this fall is not a plaid minikilt -- it's a blood feud. Everybody who's anybody is in some bitter battle or other, and they're all quite the show. [More]

Celine Dion bitter at 'very snob' critics *
World-famous Quebecois singer Celine Dion insists she doesn't care what critics say about her because her albums are so popular and tickets to her Las Vegas concerts are consistently selling out. [More]

Celine Dion: Her full houses will go on *
Even scathing criticism of Celine Dion and her Las Vegas extravaganza can't keep the delirious fans away, a hundred sellout shows later. [More]

Charlie Watts treated for cancer *
Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts is being treated for throat cancer, a spokesman for the band said Saturday. [More]

Charlie's angel hot over shots *
Cameron Diaz is seeking an injunction barring the release of photographs allegedly taken at a private modeling session over a decade ago, before she was a star. [More]

Chatty Ashley has lots to say, but is anyone still willing to listen? *
Ashley MacIsaac, the virtuosic and volatile Cape Breton fiddler who made self-destruction a public endeavour, popped up in Halifax to sign his new autobiography, Fiddling With Disaster, the first and last stop on a one-city book tour. [More]

Child of the fest comes of age *
Noah Cowan, who began his cinematic career at age 15 selling tickets for the Toronto International Film Festival, was crowned the fete's new co-director yesterday. [More]

Cirque draws ire *
Cirque du soleil, the Montreal-based circus company, is being targeted by protesters for firing an acrobat infected with HIV, a move that also has been criticized by figure skater Rudy Galindo and several Olympic athletes. [More]

Cirque's Alegria returning to Toronto this summer *
Cirque du Soleil is bringing its tried-and-true hit production Alegria -- with its trapeze artists, aerialists and contortionists, all accompanied by a world-music aura -- to Toronto's Ontario Place for a limited engagement from Aug. 19 to Sept. 12, according to Cirque's website. [More]

Clapton makes Queen's honours list *
Could the Queen be a rock 'n' roll fan? [More]

Clear as mud: Canadian TV producers despair *
The Canadian television industry is stupid.

Not necessarily the people who make the programs or the shows that end up on our TV screens. What's stupid is the system in which these people work and which provides the money for the programs we supposedly want to see. And because it is stupid. [More]

Clooney: 'Solaris' a Tough Acting Job *
Harder than "The Perfect Storm"? George Clooney said his latest role in Steven Soderbergh's "Solaris" has been his toughest acting job to date. [More]

Cobain wanted to quit Nirvana, interview shows *
Grunge rock icon Kurt Cobain dreamed about leaving his band Nirvana to join wife Courtney Love's group Hole, a music magazine (published a year ago) quoted him saying in an interview months before his 1994 suicide. [More]

Coconut does not fall far from the tree *
Rolling Stone gathers no moss: Stones' Keith Richards hospitalized in New Zealand after falling from tree. [More]

Coldplay star charged *
Chris Martin, the lead singer of pop band Coldplay and boyfriend of Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow, allegedly clashed with a photographer on a popular tourist beach and will appear in an Australian court, newspapers reported Monday. [More]

Colin Farrell is dad to baby boy *
S.W.A.T. star Colin Farrell and model Kim Bordenave are the parents of a baby boy, his publicist said Tuesday. [More]

Coming soon: Conrad Black the movie *
A movie-of-the-week about the life of Conrad Black could be on the CTV schedule as early as 2005, says a network spokesman. [More]

Cost crunch hits movie theatres *
Canadians still love watching a good movie on the big screen, but the country's love affair with the cinema is waning, Statistics Canada says. [More]

Could Harry Potter be Imax's magic brew? *
Movie chain shifts to Hollywood blockbusters on its giant-screen format as recipe for success. [More]

Courtney Love regains custody of daughter *
Singer Courtney Love has regained full custody of her 11-year-old daughter, her lawyer said. Love is celebrating after winning back full custody of her daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. [More]

Courtney Love to produce and star in Lovelace *
Just past the anniversary of her late husband's death, colourful U.S. diva Courtney Love -- emerging from more than a year of legal woes -- has agreed to play legendary porn star Linda Lovelace in an explosive movie comeback. [More]

Craig slate heavy on talk *
Calgary-based Craig Media kicked off its fall schedule yesterday announcing a plethora of high-profile talk shows, big brand sports, Hollywood movies and a new specialty channel, Stampede, which is billed as the "urban cowboy" station. [More]

Critics' Day 2: dumb and dumber on cable *
The original Dance Fever was a kitschy-cool show, ANDREW RYAN writes. But the remake is a mess, despite Merv Griffin's fancy footwork [More]

Crush are kings for a day *
The Newfoundland duo Crush did just that to the competition at the East Coast Music Awards on Sunday, winning all five categories in which they were nominated. [More]

CTF throws funding lifeline to popular programs *
There was good news and bad news in the Canadian TV industry yesterday as the Canadian Television Fund announced the recipients of $64.5-million from its Equity Investment Program. [More]

Cuts loom for TV shows *
The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) is expected to slash the number of programs dramatically that will qualify for subsidies in the 2003-2004 season. [More]

Dark horse takes top prize *
In a surprise twist, Louis Bélanger's Gaz Bar Blues was awarded the jury prize at Montreal's World Film Festival instead of the top-ranking Grand Prize of the Americas, which went to a taut Serbian war drama called The Cordon, by Goran Markovic. [More]

David Bowie has heart surgery *
Musician David Bowie underwent emergency heart surgery after a concert in Germany and is recovering in New York, his spokesman said Thursday. [More]

De Niro expected to recover from cancer *
Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but his publicist said he is in "excellent" condition and is expected to make a full recovery. [More]

Delivering perfect pitch *
With pressure on the likes of Britney Spears and Shania Twain to hit all their notes accurately, singers are piping their voices through hardware that corrects their vocal flaws during concerts [More]

Depp named sexiest man alive *
People magazine has named Johnny Depp the sexiest man alive, saying the actor, known for his "brooding eccentricities," has mellowed since becoming a father. [More]

Director fired from Exorcist prequel *
Director Paul Schrader says he's been fired from work on the upcoming thriller, which is a prequel to the acclaimed 1973 original about a demon-possessed little girl. [More]

Disney to cut jobs despite record box office sales *
It's Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow -- the drunken pirate famously modeled on the Rolling Stones' Richards -- who may have propelled Pirates to the all-time largest opening box-office gross. [More]

Download Wars: Dividing the spoils *
As it seeks ways to sink file-sharing pirates, the music industry might be advised to take a new tack, GUY DIXON writes [More]

Dr. Richard Hu: Nurse, get me a fork *
He's already a dab hand with the scalpel, so why shouldn't Dr. Richard Hu launch his own Calgary cooking show featuring surgeons and shanks? GAYLE MACDONALD pulls up to the table [More]

Drawn into Courtney's tar-pit trap *
This month marks the 10th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's suicide, an occasion that has merited only the mildest of media attention. [More]

DVD movie pirates looking for new treasure in Canada *
Just seconds before the start of the summer's first blockbuster, the Warner Bros. epic Troy, a slide appears on the giant screen of downtown Toronto's Paramount theatre explaining that video recording of the movie is illegal and that any one caught taping it will be prosecuted. [More]

Eastwood film named best of the year *
Mystic River wound its way to the top of the National Board of Review's list of the best films of 2003. [More]

Edinburgh Fringe Festival rises like a phoenix *
The Edinburgh Fringe rose triumphantly from the ashes yesterday to stage what it proudly billed as the world's biggest arts festival. [More]

Elia Kazan, 94 *
Elia Kazan, the Academy Award-winning director of such influential films as On the Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire but whose conduct during the McCarthy era haunted his career, has died. He was 94. [More]

Eminem, 50 Cent lead Billboard awards *
Cent won four awards Friday night at the Billboard R&B Hip Hop Awards, including top artist, while his mentor Eminem took home three honours, including top album. [More]

Engaging viewers is key *
CHUM's new president advises fellow broadcasters to follow Quebec's example on home-grown drama, GAYLE MacDONALD writes [More]

Entertainment caricaturist Al Hirshfeld dies *
Al Hirschfeld, whose graceful, fluid caricatures captured the essence of performers from Charlie Chaplin to Jerry Seinfeld, died Monday, January 20, 2003. He was 99. [More]

Escaping the Phantom's shadow *
After years playing the leads in Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera, Colm Wilkinson is ecstatic to be doing his own thing, MICHAEL POSNER writes. [More]

Every Arnie film has been a manifesto *
Ya, hello und guten tag. I am Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign manager, und I am here to demonstrate that Arnold is more qualified than Peter Ueberroth und Larry Flynt to be fuehrer -- sorry, governor -- of 34-million Californians. [More]

Exhausted and infuriated *
Toronto's Lola Magazine and Vancouver's Blinding Light Cinema were two of Canada's richest cultural voices. Their demise says a lot about cultural burnout [More]

Faith in popcorn: John Bailey departs Famous Players *
At a theatre near you, video arcades and fast food have turned movie-going into a 14-year-old's dream. And a cinephile's nightmare. As the CEO of Famous Players, John S. Bailey was largely responsible for the "megaplexing" of the country's theatres. Toronto's Paramount, Montreal's StarCité and dozens of others were born under his watch in a strategy that helped Famous Players stay in the black while rival chains spilled red ink. Bailey, 56, a 30-year veteran of the movie industry, left the company in February. He will not disclose the circumstances of his departure [More]

Fame or bus *
Canadian comic Carmen Stockton once fled L.A. on a Greyhound. Now she's heading for stardom on public transit [More]

Fifteen minutes can seem an awfully long time *
Earlier this week I sat in a darkened theatre and listened to some shameless shilling from Gene Simmons. [More]

Film critic Roger Ebert undergoes third emergency surgery *
Film critic Roger Ebert, who has battled cancer in recent years, was in serious condition today following an emergency operation to repair complications from an earlier cancer surgery. [More]

Film folks give kudos to the King *
Barely out of the starting block, and Peter Jackson's third -- and final -- The Lord of the Rings adaptation is already the toast of the town. [More]

Finding strength in the sisterhood *
This from my pal C, editor of a fashion magazine, with reference to her Look. [More]

Fish Flushers Learn Life Does Not Imitate 'Nemo' *
Margie Valadez, a dispatcher for RotoRooter, is used to calls from upset customers whose watches, rings or even cell phones were accidentally flushed down the toilet. Lately, though, she's been taking calls from hysterical parents asking if plumbers can rescue fish. [More]

For ABC it's Barr none *
Two days, two cancellations for Roseanne Barr. [More]

For Eminem, the butt stops here *
Eminem's moon has been eclipsed -- is he the butt of jokes? [More]

Fox sues Al Franken for trademark infringement *
Al Franken, the humorist being sued by Fox News Channel for use of the phrase "fair and balanced," said he doesn't mind the legal action. But he does wish it hadn't happened during his vacation. [More]

Frances Bay in life-threatening accident *
Many of you may have read that 83-year-old actress Frances Bay was struck by a car and severely injured as she walked near her home in California recently. But what didn't make the standard American Press version picked up by your local newspaper is that Bay herself was born near Winnipeg (not even reported by the Canadian online news sources) and that she has a fascinating back-story. We at evalu8.org urge you to pray for Frances Bay's recovery... [More]

Frankie Avalon: 'Don't forget, I was a teenage idol' *
As long as the questions are gentle, he pours on the charm, SARAH HAMPSON writes. When they get tough, she finds out what it's like to get the celebrity brush-off [More]

Frasier to end in May *
After some brief talk of keeping the show going for a 12th season next fall, NBC said Monday that its five-time Emmy-winning comedy, Frasier, will call it quits in May. [More]

Frasier: So long to an old friend *
This parting seems particularly sweet sorrow for Kelsey Grammer. He'll soon say farewell to Frasier, his enduring, endearing TV creation, and the sadness shows in his eyes and in his voice. [More]

French author sues Disney *
French children's book author has filed a lawsuit against Disney claiming that the superstar fish Nemo closely resembles his own creation, a smiling, wide-eyed clown fish named Pierrot. [More]

From shock to schlock rocker *
Oh Gene, the tongue, we're getting so tired of it. The least you could do is offend us with something new, SARAH HAMPSON writes. [More]

FTC sues Web sites in Internet scam *
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is suing an Internet operation that allegedly fleeced consumers by using the agency's own national do-not-call registry as bait. [More]

Funding move threatens Red Green, 22 Minutes *
A money squeeze at the Canadian Television Fund means many Canadian TV shows are at risk, JAMES ADAMS and GAYLE MacDONALD report... [More]

Geek no more *
Wondering where your accountant is? He's probably at home with his buddies, the lawyers, teachers and MBAs, who've turned off the TV and turned on to Doom 3 and Ghost Recon [More]

Gemini Awards are so bad they're almost good *
Things change, and then sometimes they don't. The poor old Geminis (hereafter referred to as the POGs) are back. There was an announcement the other day for the final and allegedly most glamorous batch of Gemini Award nominees. The POGs are the awards for English-language television, in case you've forgotten [More]

Genius: What it is ain't exactly clear *
For those of you who were not born into the generation that dare not speak its name more than once or twice a sentence, Garth Hudson was a brilliant member of a brilliant band called the Band. [More]

Gibson film stirs passionate debate *
Critics accuse star of anti-Semitism, while he screens movie for D.C. elite [More]

Gisele MacKenzie, 76 *
Singer-actress Gisele MacKenzie, who had her own CBC radio show before becoming one of early television's biggest stars through her appearances on NBC's Your Hit Parade, has died of colon cancer. She was 76. [More]

Goal is releases 'in the creases' *
CBC Television's strategy to try to grab more eyeballs in 2003-2004 is to stagger the air dates for its new and returning programs, and basically carve its schedule into five distinct parts... [More]

Golden Globes may lack cachet of the Oscars, but the stars glitter just as brightly *
Foxx, Eastwood, Bening, Canada's perennial winner, Howard Shore take home Golden Globes at Academy Award "preview" [More]

Golden Globes will delay 2004 ceremony *
The Golden Globe Awards, often considered a crystal ball for the Oscars, will air a week later than usual next year. [More]

Golden moments at 2006 Golden Globes *
Last night's 63rd annual Golden Globes, the world's second most important movie prize night after the Oscars, were a breakthrough night for small budget, independent films that dealt with once-taboo topics such as homosexuality and transsexualism. [More]

Gonzo with the wind *
A new owner's promise to revive Creem magazine is prompting sceptical guffaws from some of its original writers, including ALAN NIESTER , who here recalls the golden age of a publication that lived and breathed rock 'n' roll [More]

Good, clean summer fun (Cole) *
You know how children want their food the same and are keen on recycling? Hollywood is like that too as it dishes up its kiddie menu over the next few months, STEPHEN COLE finds [More]

Good, clean summer fun (Groen) *
There's no use getting hot and bothered about summer's shallow fare, RICK GROEN explains. Studio bosses are taking a page from Scott and Spenser, in a tradition as old as literature itself. [More]

Gregory Hines, 57 *
Tony Award winner Gregory Hines, the tap-dancing actor who started on Broadway and in movies, including White Nights and Running Scared, has died, his publicist says. He was 57. [More]

Gregory Peck dead at 87 *
Gregory Peck, the lanky, handsome movie star whose long career included such classics as Roman Holiday, Spellbound and his Academy Award winner, To Kill a Mockingbird, has died, a spokesman said Thursday. He was 87. [More]

Group calls for Thunder boycott *
Politically correct win first round of silly protest, but fail to gain a sense of humour. [More]

Gwyneth Paltrow expecting first child *
Gwyneth Paltrow and boyfriend Chris Martin are expecting their first child next summer, her publicist said Wednesday. [More]

Gymnast files complaint against Cirque du Soleil *
An HIV-positive gymnast has filed a complaint accusing Cirque du Soleil of denying him the chance to take part in an acrobatic act in the Las Vegas show. [More]

Hands off this cliché! *
It must be the silly season. In the United States, the Fox News Channel (Rupert Murdoch, prop.) is suing Al Franken, a satirist familiar from the TV show Saturday Night Live, for using the phrase "fair and balanced" on the cover of his new book. [More]

Handwritten Lennon song sold *
John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to Nowhere Man sold for $455,000 (U.S.) at an entertainment memorabilia sale at Christie's auction house. [More]

He walked the line *
The legend of Johnny Cash holds sway in truck stops, alt-rock clubs and even among gospel singers, ROBERT EVERETT-GREEN writes [More]

Hear my song, see my thong *
Say it ain't so, J.Lo. Don't tell us you can't drag your fine self to New York for The MTV Video Music Awards (MuchMusic, CITY-TV, 8 p.m.). Please think about it, J.Lo. Bring Ben, if it's about all that. [More]

Here's looking at you, kids *
Raised by parents who are more likely to rent Chaplin or Hepburn, some of today's kids are spurning Hollywood blockbusters for the classics, REBECCA CALDWELL writes [More]

Hey kids, it's true...video games make you sharper: study *
Action-packed video games may offer more than just entertainment: They may make you sharper, according to a new study. [More]

Hey, kids - it's a retro inferno! *
In the first of a series on the way people entertain themselves around the globe, CAROLINE BYRNE visits a London club where 'responsible adulthood' is many drinks away [More]

His love for children is impeccable *
Michael Jackson 'isn't guilty of anything,' Motown producer Bobby Taylor, who discovered the singer, tells ALEXANDRA GILL. 'This young man used to babysit my kid' [More]

Hitler, Martha: must be sweeps *
Only the desperately cynical would suggest that the U.S. networks planned their May sweeps schedules in clandestine consort with the war effort, but think about it: If new TV movies about Hitler, Martha Stewart and Three's Company don't distract and entertain the American viewing public, what will? [More]

Hockey and music: the score stands at one all *
A centre in Parry Sound, Ont., containing both the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame and an impressive concert hall for playing classical music is the latest in a list of strange compromises in Canadian culture [More]

Hoffman, Witherspoon Win Lead-Acting Oscars *
Reese Witherspoon as country singer June Carter in Walk the Line and Philip Seymour Hoffman as author Truman Capote in Capote won the lead-acting Academy Awards on Sunday. [More]

Holding court in Cannes *
Canadian Charlotte Mickie is in the big leagues of global film distribution. LIAM LACEY finds her hunkered down in a back office, doing deals. [More]

Hollywood legend Gregory Peck dies at 87 *
Invariably playing the hero, he graced both stage and screen for six decades... [More]

Hollywood north at risk *
British Columbia risks losing its competitive edge as a mecca for film and TV production if it doesn't give companies more labour flexibility, a report released Thursday concludes. [More]

Hollywood North(east): So far, rumour spreads faster than SARS *
Gossip and rumour are in high circulation these days in "Hollywood North," but there seems precious little fact about the impact of SARS on Toronto's $3-billion film and TV industry. [More]

Hollywood reeling as 2003 box office sales slump *
This year's movie superheroes are getting licked by last year's. [More]

Hollywood wants pirates' gold *
The Hulk is the latest to turn up first on the Net as Napster-like digital heists threaten movie studios, GAYLE MacDONALD reports [More]

Home Improvement's hidden neighbour dies at 61 *
Actor Earl Hindman, best known for playing a neighbour whose face was forever obscured by a fence on the television show Home Improvement, died of lung cancer Monday. He was 61. [More]

Hopkins presents new film at Venice *
Anthony Hopkins' new film The Human Stain tells the tale of a brilliant man brought down by political correctness, a modern trend that the esteemed actor describes as "a cancer." [More]

Houston doctor -- Dr. Conrad Murray -- gave up practice for Michael Jackson *
Dr. Conrad Murray -- a Houston doctor -- was in Michael Jackson's Southern California home when he collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest. [More]

How do we define what a movie is? *
There were eight commercials before the feature, Bruce Almighty, on Monday. Before the previews, even. There was a grainy minidocumentary about Gatorade; a white-on-white L'Oréal pitch featuring pouty models with sticky hair enacting the seven deadly sins; a half-live, half-animated ad for the Toyota Matrix; a redhead with a put-on-sounding British accent touting Acuvue colour contact lenses; an Axe deodorant spot where gorgeous girls forgive all manner of male transgressions; plus ads for The Toronto Star, Labatt Blue and the DVD for Die Another Day. [More]

How the Eagles became the best-selling band of a generation *
Their greatest hits compilation has managed to become the best-selling album of all time in the United States. [More]

How to keep the laughs coming *
Montreal's annual comedy fest offers speed dating, mind reading and Cosby [More]

I tell ya, I'm lucky. . . I've never had writer's block *
Canada's most prolific, most produced playwright fell into a theatre career by accident, MICHAEL POSNER writes. In fact, Norm Foster was 30 when he saw his first play [More]

Intimate portrait of celebrated jazz musician Linton Garner to air on Nov. 27, 2003 *
Intimate portrait of celebrated jazz musician Linton Garner to air on CBC Television Opening Night on November 27th. [More]

Is that the bell tolling for Big Ben? *
Vancouver's no longer a paparazzi-free zone, ALEXANDRA GILL writes. The National Enquirer has landed [More]

Is the Earth Doomed? *
Scientific study is announced at a time when Hollywood prepares release of the motion picture THE CORE, which depicts a similar scenario [More]

It's a mad, mad, Maddin world *
Is filmmaker Guy Maddin a genius, or just another Prairie eccentric who will never be understood, asks GRAEME SMITH? [More]

J.Lo and Affleck: Delivering the Lo-down on Jenny *
As the superstar lands in the BC interior to shoot her latest film, the local press vows to give Lopez her space -- sort of, ALEXANDRA GILL writes [More]

Jack White charged with assault *
Grammy-nominated White Stripes lead singer Jack White was charged Monday with aggravated assault after a fight with the lead singer of another band at a local music venue. [More]

Jackie Chan revives tourism in Hong Kong *
Hong Kong is turning to action star Jackie Chan to help draw visitors back to the territory after the SARS outbreak. [More]

Jacko's back in town *
Michael Jackson has returned to Indianapolis for a second attempt at giving a court-ordered deposition in a copyright lawsuit. [More]

Jackson Browne Wins Suit But Loses Race With Time *
Is there more to this story? Like bad karma, maybe? Or is it really all about the money? [More]

Jackson moves into new mansion *
The King of Pop's new digs are fit, well, for a king. [More]

Jackson reluctant to talk about boob-oo *
Unlike the last time she appeared on CBS, Janet Jackson was bleeped by censors Monday while talking to David Letterman — for saying “Jesus!” [More]

Jagger gets his ya-yas out for 60th birthday *
The term 60s rock star took on a new meaning as Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger prepared to perform before a crowd of more than 60,000 in the Czech capital, a day after celebrating his 60th birthday in a downtown nightclub. [More]

Jeepers Creepers 2 scares Freddy off *
Jeepers Creepers 2 sunk its claws deep into audiences over the Labour Day weekend, raking in $18.5-million (U.S.) and replacing another horror flick atop the box office ratings. [More]

Jennifer Lopez marries Marc Anthony: Reports *
Jennifer Lopez reportedly married Marc Anthony in a small ceremony at her home on Saturday, less than six months after she ended her high-profile engagement to Ben Affleck. [More]

Jewel cancels tour *
Jewel has cancelled her North American tour due to the death of her bass player, her record company announced Thursday. [More]

Jimi Hendrix bassist Noel Redding dies, age 57 *
Noel Redding, bass player for the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience from its formation in 1966 through its dissolution three years later, has died. He was 57. [More]

Johanna Schneller: What's in a face? *
What's in a face? Studies show that even babies prefer large, symmetrical features. Movies specialize in blowing them up two stories tall, inviting leisurely, detailed scrutiny of a matinee idol's mouth or cheekbones or chin. You could ponder for years which centimetre makes Jeff Bridges face so much more classically handsome than his brother Beau. [More]

John Ketcham Directorial Debut *
Vancouver's own John Ketcham directs I Accuse in production in Moose Jaw in April, 2003. [More]

Johnny Cash in hospital *
Johnny Cash's plans to attend the MTV Video Music Awards were scuttled by his hospitalization for an unspecified stomach ailment. He was in stable condition on Thursday. [More]

Jolie attends British Lara Croft premiere *
Angelina Jolie delighted screaming fans as she arrived in central London for the British premiere of her new film, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. [More]

Judge denies Fox TV's attempt to block book *
A U.S. federal judge denied Fox News Channel's request Friday for an injunction to block humorist Al Franken's new book, whose title mocks the Fox slogan "fair and balanced." [More]

Judge ponders Jackson gag order *
Meanwhile, media clamour for access to sealed documents related to police search of pop star's Neverland estate. [More]

Julia Roberts has twins, People magazine reports *
Actress Julia Roberts gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, early yesterday in a Los Angeles hospital, People magazine reported on its Web site, citing an anonymous source. [More]

Katharine Hepburn dead at 96 *
Exit Katharine Hepburn, aristocrat of the screen, who died yesterday at 96. [More]

Kazaa, iMesh vulnerability termed 'serious' *
Users of file sharing programs such as Kazaa and iMesh are urged to install a security patch after a serious bug was discovered in their underlying network [More]

Keep lid on foreign ownership: Broadcast report *
A two-year study of Canadian broadcasting has called for a vast overhaul of both the industry's public and private wings — but pointed in a starkly different direction than a parallel parliamentary committee recommended just six weeks ago. [More]

Kennedys mum on Arnold *
Few in the family will speak publicly about the political hopes of Republican in their midst [More]

Kidman film leads Golden Globe nominations *
The Civil War epic Cold Mountain collected a leading eight Golden Globe nominations Thursday including best drama, as Hollywood marked the start of its annual trophy-giving season. [More]

King of the airwaves *
It feels very odd grilling Larry King... [More]

Krall honoured in BC *
Diana Krall's dad can't tell a lie and he's so happy he wasn't able to keep her engagement to singer-songwriter Elvis Costello a secret, the jazz star said Friday. [More]

Krall leads Walk of Fame inductees *
Jazz performer Diana Krall, Quebec filmmaker Denys Arcand and hockey star Mario Lemieux were among the 10 names unveiled Tuesday as 2004 inductees into Canada's ever-growing Walk of Fame. [More]

Kurt Cobain's Hometown Adds 'Come As You Are' To Welcome Sign *
Cobain Memorial Committee also planning a park and a youth centre in Aberdeen, WA. [More]

Led it be *
Vintage rockers Led Zeppelin rise again, J.D. CONSIDINE writes, with the release of a live concert album and a video compilation of performances from the seventies [More]

Letter from Cannes *
People often ask me what the Cannes Film Festival is really like and I try to explain to them that, when sex-starved starlets aren't trying to pull you into bathtubs filled with champagne and European royalty of dubious pedigree aren't pressuring you to attend their gaudy little yacht parties, it can be a modest, relaxing spring interlude on the Riviera. [More]

Liam Lacey: Onward to the Oscars *
Merry Os-mas everyone! The movie competition/promotion of the Oscar campaign has become so mixed with the Christmas season that Hollywood and the retail industry really should converge to create a new superholiday, celebrating the best in celluloid pride and seasonal joy. [More]

Lies and the Lying Liars: Judge denies Fox TV's attempt to block book sales *
A U.S. federal judge denied Fox News Channel's request Friday for an injunction to block humorist Al Franken's new book, whose title mocks the Fox slogan "fair and balanced." [More]

Lights, camera, Apocalypse! *
As bombs explode, locusts swarm and seas turn to blood, GAYLE MacDONALD investigates a growing appetite for 'endtimes entertainment' and finds that two brothers running a tiny film company in St. Catharines, Ont., are feeling the Rapture [More]

Lining up for love *
A great deal of the avalanche of romance and lust at Toronto's film festival is not on the screen, GAYLE MacDONALD reports [More]

Lions Gate posts deeper loss *
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. reported a deeper loss in the third quarter as merger costs and higher marketing expenses offset a 25 per cent rise in sales. [More]

Lipstick and sabotage: The blood sport of beauty *
It's not just hairspray and hissyfits behind the scenes at the Miss Universe Canada contest. Someone's got to remember the little people, and the starving kids. [More]

Lisa Marie Presley: Making a name for herself *
For Lisa Marie Presley, songwriting is therapy.

And the lyrics on her debut album, To Whom It May Concern, are as raw, brutally honest and uncensored as the woman herself. Presley's music, like the artist, pulls no punches. [More]

Listen bud, he's got Canadian blood *
Before Tobey Maguire donned tights, your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man was Paul Soles. [More]

Long live Buffy *
The network can kill off the ultimate high-school story of friendship and grrl-power, but CARL WILSON predicts the show's enduring feeling will live on forever in the minds of its fans [More]

Look, up on the Web, it's . . . *
A tiny Canadian company helps out American Express with its latest brand-me-different attempt, Superman and Seinfeld advertising 'webisodes,' writes GAYLE MacDONALD. [More]

Looking for the next Bowling for Columbine? *
Truth, it is said, is stranger than fiction -- and, I would add, frequently more entertaining. Last year, Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine was an uproarious success, while the buzz on films like Spellbound and Winged Migration lasted long after their Toronto International Film Festival screenings, both films becoming box office successes for the genre. [More]

Lord of the Oscars *
Peter Jackson's third film in the hugely successful series won a record-tying 11 Academy Awards; Canada led by Denys Arcand's Barbarian Invasions and composer Howard Shore. [More]

Lost Beatles tape to air during music awards *
This year's American Music Awards will feature stars such as Usher, Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani and Rod Stewart, but the most talked-about moment might come from the Beatles. [More]

Lost in Translation named film of the year *
Lost in Translation, writer-director Sofia Coppola's story of two American insomniacs whose paths cross in Tokyo, has been named the best film of the year by the Toronto Film Critics Association. [More]

Lost strikes Gold *
Scarlett Johansson, call your agent. He thinks he can get you 20 mil for your next picture. [More]

Low points in Cancon *
Waving the white flag for cheesy TV, Celine Dion and navel-gazing Canadian writers [More]

Lucasfilm® to launch new 'Hyperspace' site *
On Tuesday, June 10th, Lucasfilm Ltd.® will launch a major redesign of its popular starwars.com website (www.starwars.com) and unveil a brand-new service called Hyperspace. [More]

Lynn Coady: Rock Nerds *
A male friend of mine watches eighties music videos with an air of wistful resignation. "In the years between 1979 and 1984," he explains, perhaps gesturing to Ric Ocasek by way of visual aid, "there was a small window of opportunity in which it was possible for complete nerds to become rock stars." [More]

Lyric Benson, aspiring actress shot *
A vibrant young actress in the opening stages of a promising career was shot in the face by her ex-boyfriend early Thursday in the doorway of her Chinatown apartment, police said. [More]

Madonna says she's feeling broody again *
Madonna wants to have another child. The 45-year-old singer and pop icon, who has two children, told Britain's Times newspaper she was consulting doctors about having another baby. [More]

Mag on hook for Douglas, Zeta-Jones court costs *
A High Court judge ruled Friday that a celebrity magazine that published unauthorized wedding photos of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones must pay the bulk of the couple's legal costs. [More]

Major networks dominate Geminis *
The usual suspects dominated the list of Gemini nominees in the TV news, documentary and sports categories released yesterday. [More]

Making waves in Cannes *
LIAM LACEY talks to underground folk hero Harvey Pekar and goes on the trail of the film fest's first flap [More]

Martha vs Oprah *
They're the queens of the domestic realm, but more than bad business decisions separate Martha and Oprah. TRALEE PEARCE looks at how two daytime goddesses stack up [More]

Mary Tyler Moore quits Neil Simon play *
Mary Tyler Moore has withdrawn from Rose's Dilemma, the new Neil Simon play, scheduled to open off-Broadway in two weeks. [More]

Matrix and Cannes: Feelin' kind of blue *
LIAM LACEY listens to other hacks thrash out the merits of blue screens in the Matrix sequel and sees a film about the blues [More]

Matrix sequel loads up at the box office *
The sci-fi thriller The Matrix Reloaded sold $93.3-million (USD) worth of tickets in its first weekend of release across North America -- the second-best opening of all time behind Spider-Man, according to studio estimates issued yesterday. [More]

Mauled magician in critical condition *
Roy Horn, one half of the illusionist team Siegfried & Roy, remained hospitalized in critical condition on a ventilator Sunday, two days after one of his tigers mauled him during their nightly show. [More]

Mel Gibson defends The Passion *
Gibson insists his forthcoming film about Jesus Christ will "inspire, not offend" Catholics and Jews. [More]

Mercer wins Ustinov Award at Banff fest *
Political satirist Rick Mercer will be honoured next month at the Banff Television Festival. [More]

Merit found amid video-game mayhem *
Violence aside, researchers argue skills can be gained by playing regularly [More]

Michael Jackson autopsy yields no clues to his death *
Doctors conducted an autopsy on the body of Michael Jackson on Friday but could not immediately determine what killed the "King of Pop," amid reports he had been injected with a narcotic painkiller shortly before collapsing. [More]

Michael Jackson pleads not guilty *
Circus atmosphere prevails as pop star is arraigned on child molestation charges; fans invited back to Neverland. [More]

Michael Jackson throws carnival bash *
Like a real-life Willy Wonka, Michael Jackson has announced plans to open his carnival-style Neverland Ranch estate to 500 guests. [More]

Michael Jackson to be charged this week *
Santa Barbara County prosecutors said they will file charges in the molestation case against Michael Jackson on Thursday or Friday, and they have hired a public-relations firm to handle the expected crush of news media inquiries. [More]

Michael Jackson's finances a mystery *
Michael Jackson, whose albums once generated tens of millions of dollars in sales, would like the world to believe he has a billion dollar fortune at his disposal. [More]

Michael Jackson's ranch searched by police *
Officers conducting a criminal investigation searched Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch on Tuesday. The purpose of the raid was not disclosed. [More]

Michael Jackson: Not as easy as ABC *
Michael Jackson appears in court Friday to battle allegations that he sexually abused a 13-year-old boy. Has his odd behaviour robbed him of the credibility he needs so badly? CHRISTOPHER REED reports. [More]

Michael Moore loves Alberta's nurses *
Canadian Distributor echoes his sentiments by offering free admission to all nurses across Canada, starting Monday, July 16, 2007. [More]

Mick Foley: Wrestling with his muse *
Mick Foley, known as Mankind on the WWE circuit, tells REBECCA CALDWELL that giving birth to his three books was more painful than being brutalized in the ring [More]

Mike Newell to direct new Harry Potter movie *
Mike Newell, the British director of Four Weddings and A Funeral will direct the fourth Harry Potter movie, Warner Bros. Pictures announced on Sunday. Filming will begin on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in April. [More]

Moore may crash Bush's party *
The ever-colourful filmmaker Michael Moore is rumoured to be on the guest list for this year's White House Correspondents dinner -- a development that would surely give his nemesis, George W. Bush, a severe case of heartburn. [More]

More Oscar screeners turn up on Internet *
Two additional movies sent to Oscar voters have surfaced on the Internet, with a screener copy of House of Sand and Fog briefly up for sale on an auction site and Cold Mountain available for downloading, studios said. [More]

Mostly Alt-Rock 101 *
Although the first pop stars to make the transition from concert halls to athletic arenas were true giants, the acts most commonly associated with the term "arena rock" were clearly of a lesser order. [More]

Move on over, Shania *
Albertan Terri Clark -- not Twain -- is the Canadian nominated for Nashville's best female artist this year, and five Canadian country-music awards as well [More]

Movie noise: Turn that fish down *
It's not the death of Bambi's mother that scares kids these days -- it's the noise level of movie soundtracks, which can spike louder than a jackhammer or a live rock show, LUMA MUHTADIE writes [More]

Movies: From June to September: It's the perfect story arc *
Looking at the long, hot summer-movie lineup, I see tentpoles and actioners, remakes and laffers, but what I don't see is an example of the most poignant kind of summer picture -- one about the transformative effects of summer itself. No other time of year is as mythic, and therefore as filmic. [More]

MTV Virtual Performance Movie Award goes to monster Gollum *
You don't have to exist to get an MTV Movie Award. [More]

Murder mysteries win awards in Vancouver *
Vancouver loves its retro murder mysteries. When the 21st annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards were handed out in Vancouver last night, The Fall (Electric Company) and The Cat Who Ate Her Husband (Ruby Slippers) shared the lion's share of awards in the small-theatre category. [More]

Music industry fights piracy on two fronts *
Nearly two years after it sued Napster into submission, the recording industry has discovered it's not enough to try to beat Internet music purveyors whose digital distribution techniques allow copyright violations. It also has to join them. [More]

Music industry to unveil amnesty offer *
The recording industry is expected to announce as early as next week an amnesty program for people who admit they illegally share music files across the Internet, promising not to sue them in exchange for their admission and pledge to delete the songs off their computers [More]

Myers leads pro-Toronto charge *
Comedian's visit to The Tonight Show precedes upcoming late-night appearances by Avril Lavigne, Dan Aykroyd and Jim Carrey [More]

Mystic River receives three SAG nominations *
Mystic River and The Station Agent each collected three Screen Actors Guild nominations on Thursday, including best ensemble cast. [More]

Naomi Campbell appeals to House of Lords *
Model Naomi Campbell went to the tradition-steeped House of Lords on Wednesday to try to win legal privacy rights for Britain's beleaguered celebrities. [More]

Nation of Islam takes role in Jackson's affairs *
Members of the Nation of Islam have begun playing a role in Michael Jackson's affairs, according to the Associated Press, although the controversial group denies having any official part in the pop star's life. [More]

Neil Young missed at Juno ceremony *
Some of Manitoba's most famous musicians were on display with the notable exception of Neil Young, who cancelled after he suffered a brain aneurysm, recently. [More]

Never mind the vinyl -- here's Ryko *
It's been 20 years since the upstart label led the charge of the digital age when it championed the CD, BRAD WHEELER writes. [More]

New Kidman & Paltrow flix at London Film Festival *
Two new films starring Nicole Kidman will be among the highlights of the Orange Film On The Square strand at this year's London Film Festival. [More]

Next season: What's hot and not *
Hardly anybody has seen the pilot episodes for the new American network shows and some haven't even been made yet. Network executives and some ad buyers have seen the pilots but their stamp of approval is no guarantee of quality. The same alleged experts have endorsed dozens of failures. [More]

Nickelback: Give the people what they want *
Nickelback has its critics, but it couldn't care less. Millions of fans love what they do, and the band isn't about to let them down [More]

Nickleback cups runneth over *
A Manitoba woman is collecting bras to toss at Nickelback when they perform here in March. [More]

Nina Simone dead at 70 *
Smoky-toned jazz and blues singer Nina Simone, who was called the High Priestess of Soul for the breadth of her sound and who helped give voice to the American civil-rights movement before she left the United States to escape racism, died yesterday at her home in France. She was 70. [More]

Nirvana song named best of last 25 years *
Here they are now, entertaining us — or at least entertaining VH1, which named Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" the greatest song of the past quarter-century. The Seattle band's groundbreaking grunge anthem is No. 1 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years." [More]

No. 2 Democrat gaining in California *
Lieutenant Governor picks up key support in the state's fragmented recall campaign [More]

Nokia, Kodak click cellphone-photo deal *
Nokia and Eastman Kodak Co. announced an agreement Monday aimed at making it easier for users of the Finnish company's mobile phones to store, print and share digital pictures. [More]

Not just another episode of Murder She Wrote *
Telefilm Canada turns down funding for Nick Orchard's screen adaptation of award-winning murder mystery [More]

Not so easy, is it? Re-enactment of Wright brothers flight fizzles *
One-hundred years after the Wright brothers' first flight, an attempt to re-create the moment failed Wednesday when a replica craft couldn't get off the ground and sputtered into the mud. [More]

Nycfashiongirl takes on recording industry *
Lawyers for a New York woman accused of unlawfully sharing music over the Internet suggested Tuesday the recording industry acted illegally when it investigated her on-line activities and that a search of music files on her computer may have been unconstitutional [More]

Oprah picked for jury duty *
Oprah Winfrey was picked to serve on a jury at Cook County Criminal Court... [More]

Oprah to keep talking for two more seasons *
Talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey has signed up to host her ratings-topping show for another two seasons, her production company said this week. [More]

Osbournes airing all summer long *
School's out, but The Osbournes are back in session. [More]

Osbournes lose a family member *
The Osbournes reality show has lost a member of the family. [More]

Oscar Nominations 2003 (for 2002 films) *
Read all the nominations here, plus quotes from key players... [More]

OSCAR UNWRAPPED (MacDonald) *
The jousting over jewellery, gowns and spa spots is well under way, as Oscar, who was denied maximum glitz last year, gets ready for a blowout party, GAYLE MacDONALD reports from Tinseltown. [More]

Oscar via the sip, shot and chug *
The Academy's taking the high road (yawn), but that doesn't mean the rest of us have to, JOHANNA SCHNELLER writes. [More]

Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman seriously injured in car accident *
Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman has been injured in what was called a "serious car accident" in Mississippi last night. [More]

Oscars saved as Hollywood writers' and Producers Reach 'Tentative Deal' *
Striking writers --who have manned picket lines since October -- could be back to work next week, breathing new hope and life into the 2008 Academy Awards show. [More]

Ottawa may allow sale of pot at pharmacies *
Under pressure from the courts to reform its medical-marijuana policy, Health Canada is considering a Dutch option in which marijuana would be made available to needy patients at the corner pharmacy. [More]

Ozzy leaves intensive care *
Rocker Ozzy Osbourne has been moved out of intensive care as he recovers from the crash of an all-terrain vehicle two weeks ago, his family said Tuesday. [More]

Ozzy Osbourne breathing on his own *
Musician Ozzy Osbourne is making good progress after his quad bike accident and is now able to breathe on his own, hospital officials said Monday. [More]

Ozzy Osbourne cancels British tour *
Ozzy Osbourne cancels British tour; aging rocker says he needs time to recover from motor-bike accident. [More]

Ozzy Osbourne cracks up *
Ozzy Osbourne was seriously injured Monday in an accident on the grounds of his estate in England and had emergency surgery, a spokeswoman said. [More]

Pact brings peace to the Seinfeld cast *
Resolution of a bitter conflict over royalties clears the way for the release of a DVD collection. [More]

Paltrow, Fiennes to perform 'Romeo and Juliet' scene *
Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes are to perform the famous balcony scene from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet before Prince Charles at a royal performance Monday. [More]

Paltrow, Martin wedding confirmed *
Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin are married, the Santa Barbara County clerk-recorder's office said. [More]

Paris Hilton Late Show...no-show *
Socialite Paris Hilton, star of an upcoming Fox reality series and an inadvertent Internet icon, is pulling out of her announced November 26 interview on David Letterman's Late Show. [More]

Penn suit to go forward *
A judge refused to dismiss key portions of a $10-million (US) lawsuit that Sean Penn filed, accusing a producer of reneging on a contract for the defunct movie Why Men Shouldn’t Marry. [More]

Pirates fastest movie to earn $300-million *
And Lady in the Water -- an adult fairy tale from Warner Bros. that took in $18.2-million -- was the weakest debut for writer-director M. Night Shyamalan in a string of wide releases since 1999 that included the blockbusters The Sixth Sense and Signs. [More]

Pirates tops box office for 3rd weekend *
Pirates passed the 300-million-dollar gross mark this weekend on its 16th day in theatres to become the first film in box office history to pass the milestone so quickly. [More]

Polanski wins 'video' suit against Vanity Fair *
Filmmaker Roman Polanski on Friday won his libel suit against Vanity Fair magazine over an article that accused him of propositioning a woman while on the way to the funeral of his murdered wife, Sharon Tate. [More]

Police may change security for next Jackson hearing *
Authorities in Santa Barbara County are considering security changes for Michael Jackson's next court date after hundreds of fans surged into the street last week to watch the pop star dance on top of his sport utility vehicle after his arraignment. [More]

Press conference rigged, producers say *
The producers of the heartwarming Anne of Green Gables TV shows alleged in court yesterday that author Lucy Maud Montgomery's heirs deliberately set out to torpedo a public offering by Sullivan Entertainment four years ago. [More]

Prime Minister Gross, I presume? *
Perhaps Canada's most famous Mountie, the actor is now shooting a political drama with Ottawa as his backdrop and Leslie Hope as his love interest. [More]

Prince's Trust concert rocks London *
Shania Twain, Beyonce Knowles, Craig David and David Gray were among a host of singers who took to the stage in London's Hyde Park for an open-air concert to raise money for disadvantaged children. [More]

Publicizing Lizzie (Grubman): Confidence meets commonness *
Lizzie Grubman's notoriety has made her a hero among a certain set, writes SIMON HOUPT. Now she's selling the secrets to success [More]

Radar: Not another 'celebrity kiss-ass magazine' *
Talk magazine survivor Maer Roshan launches Radar, SIMON HOUPT reports: "It's amazing what a guy can accomplish when he drops Tina Brown's name." [More]

Ragged standup needs clear focus *
Edmonton performer Sheldon Elter begins his one-man show Metis Mutt with a series of ghastly jokes about Indians, one-liners mocking drunken, unemployed welfare bums. [More]

Rappers can't shake the booty *
The bling-bling of fabulous riches and more fabulous babes is supposed to be passé. Look again [More]

Ratings up 17 per cent for Oscars *
They slew beasts, toppled tyrants and destroyed a ring of ultimate evil, becoming lords of the Academy Awards for their troubles. [More]

Real-life toxic drama hits TV's 90210 school *
Brockovich's firm files class-action suits on behalf of sick Beverly Hills students. [More]

Record industry to target uploaders *
Large-scale file swappers may face litigation, but downloading for personal use not CRIA's main concern. [More]

Report urges tighter, simpler CanCon rules *
Canadian content regulations in television and film are "inadequate" and require substantial changes, says a report commissioned by the Heritage Department. [More]

Ring riches devoured by Tyson *
Document reveals spending of ex-champ, including $300,000 in limousine rides [More]

Robert Stack, 84 *
Robert Stack, whose granite-eyed stare and menacing baritone spelled trouble for fictional criminals in TV’s The Untouchables and real ones in Unsolved Mysteries, died at his home. He was 84. [More]

Rodney Dangerfield in coma *
Rodney Dangerfield has been in a coma for a couple of weeks after undergoing heart surgery, but has begun to show some awareness, his wife said Monday. [More]

Roger Ebert diagnosed with cancer again *
Famed film critic Roger Ebert is undergoing cancer surgery for the fourth time. [More]

Roger Ebert to undergo cancer treatment *
Film critic Roger Ebert has a cancerous tumour in his salivary gland and will receive radiation treatment, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on Wednesday. [More]

Roll over Beethoven: The VSO is adding video *
Screens will show close-ups of conductor and soloists, ALEXANDRA GILL writes [More]

Ruling the world without a martini *
The legendary stage actress has battled more than her share of demons, writes SARAH HAMPSON. Still, at 77, it's as if she's in an arm wrestle with life [More]

Russian drama tops at Venice Film Festival *
An intense Russian father-and-son drama, The Return, won the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion for best picture Saturday, though first-time director Andrey Zvyagintsev remained shaken by the death of the 15-year-old star of the movie. [More]

Ryan Adams: B or no B, that is the question *
The parallels between Ryan and Bryan Adams are eerie and impossible to ignore, BRAD WHEELER writes. [More]

Salter Street Films to close *
As Salter Streets Films Ltd. co-founder Paul Donovan says, he's in "an incredibly good mood" as the small Halifax production company prepares to close it doors only a few months after winning an Academy Award. [More]

Salter Street gets shuttered *
Salter Street Films, the small Oscar-winning Halifax-based production company behind This Hour Has 22 Minutes, will be shut down permanently early next year. [More]

Salter Street Productions: The day the boss yelled 'Cut!' *
Pondering the demise of his Salter Street Productions, Michael Donovan says, 'I feel deeply upset and sad.' [More]

SARS Escape: Truth to tell *
It's hardly an escape from reality, but the Hot Docs film festival does offer Toronto a 10-day respite from its own problems [More]

SARS hasn't scared most stars -- yet *
Major artists are still honouring their commitments to Toronto audiences, but there's no question the SARS outbreak and World Health Organization advisories are starting to affect the city's arts and culture scene. [More]

Schwarzenegger films could trigger FCC equal time rule *
Arnold Schwarzenegger's foray into California's gubernatorial recall election poses a dilemma for broadcasters who might be tempted to show his films during the race: Doing so would allow rival candidates to demand equal time. [More]

Schwarzenegger skips California recall debate *
Arnold Schwarzenegger was a no-show at the initial debate of California's recall election yesterday, and delivered what was billed as his first major campaign speech, getting pelted with an egg as he waded through a crowd at a college campus. [More]

Seminal moments on the festival circuit *
From Newport and Monterey to Woodstock and Lollapalooza, JAMES ADAMS offers a guide to the past 50 years... [More]

Shaw Festival: Stars rise to the occasion *
The Shaw Festival is enjoying a rich season in its Court House Theatre, where traditionally the company programs its more risky work. Widowers' Houses and Diana of Dobson's only fall into that category because the scripts are lesser known; both plays turned out to be bracing social comedies. [More]

Shhh! It's conspiracy talk radio *
Some blame the Internet, but aliens could be behind it. MICHAEL POSNER reports on why talk shows about government plots, space invasions and other things that go bump in the night are booming on radio [More]

Shiloh and her proud parents *
Here's a look at Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt. [More]

Shrek 3 tops weekend box office with $122 million *
After ruling the box office for two weekends, Sony's Spider-Man 3 slipped to second place with $28.5 million, raising its domestic total to $281.9 million. [More]

Shy 'Bennifer' sacrifices altar *
Even Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are sick of hearing about their wedding [More]

Simon and Garfunkel reunite *
Dusting the cobwebs off their friendship, the folk-rock duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel announced on Tuesday they were reuniting for a concert tour of North America this fall. [More]

Simpsons humans want more d'oh *
— Homer and the rest of The Simpsons are holding out for more “d'oh.” [More]

Singer's son spars with CBC over documentary *
Simon Collins threatens to sue over the way he is portrayed in a film about children of stars [More]

Six Feet Under lands on top *
Six Feet Under was six feet tall at this year's Emmy Award nominations. [More]

Sorkin a casualty of prime-time ratings warfare *
News of the departure of Aaron Sorkin from The West Wing got a lot of attention last week, mainly because the show really matters to media people. The coverage tended to concentrate on declining ratings and rumours of budget problems, and the speculation was that these were the main reasons for Sorkin's decision to quit. [More]

Sorkin leaving The West Wing *
Saying it’s time to take on new challenges, Aaron Sorkin has announced he is leaving NBC’s The West Wing, the Emmy-winning White House drama he created four years ago. [More]

Sounds familiar: Record companies lure customers *
Record companies are re-releasing recent CDs with 'bonus' material in hopes of drawing customers back into stores [More]

Spellbound: Sleeper spells success for offbeat doc ****
Financed on credit cards, Spellbound has taken a surreal journey to box-office hit [More]

Spielberg Film Gets Widows' Endorsement *
Steven Spielberg's controversial new movie, Munich, about the 1972 Olympic massacre and its aftermath, got an unlikely endorsement Wednesday -- the widows of two of the 11 slain Israeli athletes said the film neither dishonoured their husbands' memories nor tarnished their country's image. [More]

Spreading his Angel wings: Patrick Wilson *
With a Golden Globe nod for his performance in the acclaimed HBO movie Angels in America and currently filming Phantom of the Opera, Patrick Wilson seems set to soar. [More]

Star Wars Breaks Box-Office Records *
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith became the year's first movie blockbuster while setting some historic benchmarks, as it rode a record-breaking debut on Thursday to the biggest number ever for a four-day opening, $158.5 million. [More]

Star Wars doubles Rings at box office *
Moviegoers flocked to the dark side in droves, giving the final installment of George Lucas' Star Wars tale a record-breaking midnight run. [More]

Star Wars saga to debut on DVD *
The original three Star Wars films — among the most anticipated on DVD — will be released in the digital format Sept. 21 in North America, LucasFilm Ltd. and 20th Century Fox announced Tuesday. International release dates were to be revealed later. [More]

Star-crazed editor abducted by Enquirer *
Bonnie Fuller, the Canadian-born editor who took Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and US Weekly to new sex-charged depths (and sales heights) during brief turns in the editor's chair of each magazine, is moving to a place it will be tough to take more down-market. [More]

Starring (body) parts *
Everyone, it seems, wants Nicole Kidman's cute nose. ALEXANDRA GILL talks to a Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon-to-the-stars who has created the Hot Looks list so it's easier to choose the best body parts to emulate [More]

Stars and SARS: the fallout continues *
Toronto is a safe place to visit, the World Health Organization decided last week, but some celebrities, it seems, haven't heard the word. Moreover, the SARS panic appears to be confusing their knowledge of geography. [More]

Stars sparkle as Heart pumps up the buzz *
Music that makes you want to make love or cry is putting this Montreal-based indie band on the map [More]

Stones benefit gathers steam -- but slowly *
Organizers who are trying to bring the Rolling Stones to Toronto to help remove the stain of SARS from the city's image say they need to raise $2-million in private sponsorship over the weekend for the concert to go ahead. [More]

Stones deal rocks for Best Buy *
A controversial sweetheart deal between Best Buy/Future Shop and the Rolling Stones appears to have reaped huge rewards for both Britain's oldest hitmakers and the North American retail electronics and appliance giant. [More]

Strikes, security and SARS cast a shadow over Cannes *
In what looks like a low-wattage year, the biggest buzz is over a Lars von Trier film starring Nicole Kidman, LIAM LACEY writes [More]

Stripper sues Enquirer over Affleck sex allegations *
A Vancouver stripper sued the National Enquirer on Friday, saying the tabloid libelled and slandered her in an article that states she had a sexual liaison with actor Ben Affleck. [More]

Take my family . . . please *
Britain's docu-reality hit Wife Swap is like National Geographic meets The Osbournes. Of course, it's coming to North America [More]

Taking over the family business *
She carries one of the most famous names in filmmaking, but it's Sofia Coppola's own talent that illuminates her second feature film (and brought Bill Murray onboard). [More]

Talking Pictures: Hope Sprang Eternal *
Ski-jump nose. The writer who coined that image should go down in the history of American journalism alongside the New York deskman who dreamed up the timeless tabloid headline Headless Body Found in Topless Bar. [More]

Telefilm move irks union *
A move by Telefilm Canada to hire Hollywood's famous Creative Artists Agency to find material for Canadian movies is encountering vociferous opposition from organizations representing Canadian talent. [More]

Television: Pitch-and-spin business is getting out of hand *
It's May, which means it's summer. Not according to the Gregorian calendar we in the West use, but according to Hollywood money men on the West Coast, who recently adjusted their accounting practices to now include the whole of May in their summer box-office tallying. [More]

The (your name) Festival Hall *
If you have a spare $30-million -- and preferably more -- then the Toronto International Film Festival wants to speak with you. [More]

The Fuller effect and the perils of tabloid-ization *
Ooh, the celebrities are not keen on Bonnie Fuller, not keen at all. "She is the devil," Gwyneth Paltrow told me in London on July 16, while wearing frayed jeans, a white eyelet shirt unbuttoned here and there, and modish sport shoes. [More]

The furor over Hitler *
Critics circled from the start. A producer was fired for making controversial comments. And the lead actor fretted about getting into character. But now a miniseries about history's epic villain is finally ready to air, GAYLE MacDONALD writes [More]

The Golden Age of Grotesque & The high priest of the gloominati *** 1/2
These are trying times for the ogres of entertainment. Ozzy's gone domestic on prime-time TV, Eminem's been French-kissed by Hollywood, and Marilyn Manson emerged from Michael Moore's documentary Bowling for Columbine looking like the last sane man in America. [More]

The Gospel's second coming *
In the last six months, Canada's foray into the filmic Jesus sweepstakes The Gospel of John has earned nowhere near the filthy lucre that its more controversial U.S. "counterpart," The Passion of the Christ , has garnered in only six weeks. [More]

The Ides of March are upon us! (a personal reminiscence) *
This date -- and Julius Caesar's untimely demise -- are forever linked to one singer-comedienne, Carol Robinson. [More]

The look of love *
Jazz star Diana Krall and singer-songwriter Elvis Costello are engaged to be married, Krall’s father has told the Victoria Times Colonist. [More]

The lord of the score *
Composer Howard Shore tells GUY DIXON about his 3½-year musical immersion in Middle-Earth, before heading to Montreal for tonight's North American premiere of his Lord of the Rings symphony. [More]

The Matrix: Holy Trinity *
"I have absolutely no problem being thought of as an action chick," Carrie-Anne Moss confesses, "because, quite frankly, very few women have ever done that." [More]

The Me GenerAsian *
Justin Lin's controversial film Better Luck Tomorrow shatters the cliché of high-achieving, model-minority Asian youth... [More]

The Passion: Who's directing whom? *
The profit-makers in Hollywood and missionaries looking for converts have an equal interest in Mel Gibson's film The Passion, says Christian journalist LORNA DUECK. [More]

The projected vanities of Roseanne *
Barr's struggle between nasty and nice may hook audiences, CATHERINE DAWSON MARCH writes [More]

The rebirth of Napster? *
...it could mean something good for digital music fans, provided Roxio plays its cards right. [More]

The star-recycling machine *
Former sitcom leads, ex-pop idols, maybe even a former movie star's sister or brother, you'll find them in the next touring musical coming to your city, KAMAL AL-SOLAYLEE writes [More]

The Stills are going places *
The Montreal band is just one year old, but has already made a mark in New York and London, cut a stunning debut album and wound up on Rolling Stone's list of artists to watch in 2003 [More]

The Zen of Jane Curtin *
The comedian's goals are simple: to live in her beloved Connecticut, to work on projects she deeply cares about, and most importantly, to keep on having fun... [More]

Theatre weekends in Vancouver *
The Westin Grand, Vancouver has three exciting Theatre Weekend Packages for Springtime getaways that will have you feeling like Broadway... [More]

This debut has 22 minutes *
The Worldwide Short Film Festival includes works by Illeana Douglas, Chad Lowe and Will & Grace's Eric McCormack, who parlayed his entry into a feature-length contract with Disney, writes KAMAL AL-SOLAYLEE [More]

This kid stays in the picture *
Cara Pifko was singing on television at age 7. Two decades and a bevy of credits later, she's at the centre of a new CBC series, MICHAEL POSNER writes. [More]

Thousands greet Kidman in Sydney *
Thousands of cheering fans lined a Sydney street Wednesday night to greet Nicole Kidman at the Australian premiere of her latest movie, Cold Mountain, which could land her another Oscar. [More]

tick, tick...BOOM! *
The producers of tick, tick...BOOM!, a new musical by Jonathan Larson, the 1996 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner for Rent, announced that Christian Campbell, Wilson Cruz, and Nicole Snelson are set to star in the national tour of the off-Broadway musical. The production, directed by Scott Schwartz with script consultation by the 2001 Pulitzer Prize winning playwright David Auburn, will be brought by Broadway in Dallas Contemporary Series, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at The Majestic Theatre for its North America opening in Dallas, January 7-12, 2003. [More]

Tickled Pink to be here *
Canadian actress Daniela Saioni switches horses, but not in mid-stream. [More]

Tired of talkers at the movies? Revenge is sweet *
The date approaches for my annual rant about people who talk during movies. But even if the great weight of journalistic tradition did not impose this obligation, the idiots who, with increasing regularity, sit behind me, make it necessary that I speak out. It's my lot in life. Some are born to complain, some achieve it, and some have complaint thrust upon them every time they go to a movie. [More]

Tom Sizemore jailed *
Actor Tom Sizemore was sentenced on Monday to six months in jail and three years probation for abusing his ex-girlfriend, former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss. [More]

Tony Award-winning actor Alan Bates dies at 69 *
Alan Bates, a Tony Award-winning actor who first gained fame on the London stage and then starred in a string of successful 1960s movies including Zorba the Greek, has died, his agent said Sunday. He was 69. [More]

Toronto's rough cuts *
SARS, a stronger dollar and uncertainty over government funding are causing havoc in the $3-billion film-and-TV industry of Canada's largest city, GAYLE MacDONALD writes (though some Canadian cities are faring better). [More]

Tough times ahead for producers, survey says *
A new survey on film and television activity in Canada forecast yesterday that independent producers, already a struggling lot, will have an even tougher go in the years ahead. [More]

Tourism economy feels pinch as trips cancelled *
Hollywood star Catherine O'Hara decided to take a pass. And so did the thousands of cancer researchers who decided against coming to Toronto for their annual convention. [More]

Trailer Park Boys *
The Trailer Park Boys are going to America. [More]

Trouble in the centrefold *
With Penthouse on its deathbed and Playboy possibly giving up nudity, the male rite of passage that was the dirty glossy magazine may not outlive Hugh Hefner. MICHAEL VALPY finds out what happened [More]

Try finding a greeting card for this occasion *
It says here (and I'm not making this up), that this is National Masturbation Month -- the observance of which is not entirely clear to me. [More]

Tuning up to play an anti-Bush song *
Musicians are banding together for concerts aimed against George W. [More]

TV SARStock was just not about the music *
I'm still steamed about the TV coverage of the big SARStock jamboree on Wednesday. I daresay I'm not the only one. [More]

Two Texas CBS affiliates won't air Hitler series *
The CBS affiliate in Corpus Christi, TX, has opted not to air a miniseries dramatizing the young life of Adolf Hitler. Dale Remy, general manager of KZTV Channel 10, said he was concerned that the film could give harmful ideas to white supremacists and disturbed young people. [More]

Vancouver company inks lucrative deal *
A local production company has inked a deal that will see five feature films shot in British Columbia with high-profile stars like Samuel L. Jackson. [More]

Vancouver Radio: Everybody wang chung tonight *
Once derided, '80s music is now the 'new oldies,' a hit format on dials across the country [More]

Vancouver sex play fails to excite *
Sadly, as is too often the case when amateurs take their first fumbling stabs at genital pleasuring, a controversial live-sex performance in Vancouver on Thursday turned out to be rather anticlimactic. [More]

Vancouver-area theatres bought by Maritimers *
The Nova Scotia–based Empire Theatres bought five BC movie houses on August 22 as part of a 27-theatre acquisition across Canada. [More]

Vanessa Olivarez -- A leading role to dye for *
She appeared on American Idol in pink and purple locks, and until recently worked at a beauty salon. So for Vanessa Olivarez, landing a starring role in the Toronto production of Hairspray was, well, a logical extension, MICHAEL POSNER writes. [More]

Victoria Festival of Wine, Music & Food set for 2003 *
The Victoria Festival of Wine, Music & Food is confirmed for February 20 to 23, 2003. Tickets now on sale. [More]

Visas hold up Cubans en route to Grammys *
Lu-u-C-e-e! You got some 'splainin' to do! The United States said yesterday it might not be able to give visas to Cuban musicians in time for them to attend today's Latin Grammy Awards in Miami because they sent in their applications too late. [More]

Walsh sets her sights on fight for vision care *
Comedian Mary Walsh's brush with blindness came as suddenly as one of her characters about to ambush a politician. [More]

Wanted: Canucks in the buff (NOT a hockey story!) *
Lots of guys are willing to drop their trousers for a shot at stardom, reports REBECCA CALDWELL [More]

War of the Worlds earns $21-million on opening day *
Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise's sci-fi thriller War of the Worlds raked in about $21.3-million (U.S.) at the domestic box office on its opening day, according to studio estimates released Thursday. [More]

Warren Buffett's California dreamin' *
It's tempting to ridicule the affair as U.S. culture flipping out on itself. [More]

Warren Zevon, 56 *
Warren Zevon, who wrote and sang the rock hit Werewolves of London and was among the wittiest and most original of a broad circle of singer-songwriters to emerge from Los Angeles in the 1970s, died Sunday. He was 56. [More]

What would we talk about? Oldham says of the Stones *
Why has the musical maverick who discovered the Rolling Stones succumbed to the siren song of Vancouver? ALEXANDRA GILL tells all [More]

Who is this year's most powerful celebrity? *
Much as it pains us to share this info. . . [More]

Why so timid on TV drama? *
Broadcasting is a privilege, not a right: If you want to launch a newspaper tomorrow, you can pretty much go ahead. Print your news on paper and sell it if you can. If you sell some advertising, good for you. Nobody is going to stop you. If you want to launch a TV channel, it isn't so easy... [More]

Will the roving Magnetic North become a fixture? *
Does Canada need a national theatre festival? For the organizers of Magnetic North, the new festival that opened in Ottawa last week, the answer is obviously a yes, and a showcase of current Canadian theatre as well as a host of panels and talks has been duly mounted. For the rest of us, the answer will have to wait not merely until the festival closes next weekend but until next year and the year after that as the annual event, which will move from city to city across the country, does or doesn't establish itself as a cultural necessity. [More]

Winnipeg: the country's coolest hot zone *
Sometimes -- and I daresay I'm not alone in this -- the stark fact of my own ignorance will descend upon me, queasily coupled with the realization that somebody thought it a good idea to give me a column in a national newspaper. Every once in a while the situation clicks into bitter, vivid perspective: I know exactly jack about precisely squat when it comes to the artistic hot zones of this vast frontier. [More]

Winona's Judge gives actress thumbs up *
Winona Ryder was commended by a judge Monday for abiding by the rules of her probation in a shoplifting case. [More]

Winslet and Mendes 'overjoyed' at son's birth *
Oscar-nominated Titanic star Kate Winslet has become a mother for the second time with the birth of a son just before Christmas, her publicist says. [More]

With Michael Jackson barely gone, web scams flourish *
Web-users are warned to be vigilent and that web scammers are seeking to take advantage of the deaths of Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. [More]

Woody Allen's film opens Venice festival *
Allen has a past in Venice: the 67-year-old filmmaker got married here, he's filmed in the canal city and he's won awards here. But he has never made an appearance at the world's longest-running film fest. [More]

Worthy life lessons from the small screen *
Some folks say you can't learn anything from TV and their argument rightfully steps up in the summer, when networks just give up trying. [More]

X2: The Iceman speaketh *
He's the nice-guy mutant in love in X2, but Shawn Ashmore really wants to try his hand at playing the evil rebel [More]

You can't always touch who you want *
When the violinists aboard the Titanic struck up Autumn as the great ship sank, this was a particularly moving example of the persistence of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable tragedy. [More]

You haven't seen the last of Spider-Man *
Spider-Man 3 made the biggest opening day debut ever in the history of film on Friday, grossing about 382 million dollars worldwide. [More]

You're cute, kid. Now make me laugh *
The New Faces segment of the Just for Laughs festival gives rookie comics a whopping 420 seconds to prove their mettle before a sea of hardnosed scouts, MICHAEL POSNER writes [More]

Zeta-Jones adds baby girl to Douglas dynasty *
It's a girl for Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas. [More]

ZZ Top: Switzerland Goes Texas *
ZZ Top in Montreux, Switzerland (photo) [More]

Secondary Sites:
*Bulletproof Monk: Confucian homilies, logic-proof plot **
In a plot so preposterous it could only have emerged from the underground comic world, Bulletproof Monk raises the philosophical question: If a butterfly flaps its wings in the mountains of Tibet, can it cause a raucous martial-arts movie to be shot in Canada? [More]

2 Fast 2 Furious races into lead at box office *
The street-racing sequel 2 Fast 2 Furious won the pole position at the North American box office, taking in an estimated $52.1-million (USD) in its opening weekend. [More]

A case of the pot calling the kettle black *
Just when you think things might settle back into the normal level of bitterness and confusion in the Canadian television racket, things get even more interesting. [More]

A giant leap for martial-arts films *
These films don't get no respect, RAY CONLOGUE writes. But a new retrospective could help change that [More]

A Mighty Wind: Anatomy of the folkie ****
A comic ensemble's sendup of the three-part harmony subculture offers a feast of superbly nuanced performances [More]

A thriller on call waiting: Movie preview, commentary from The Globe *
Joel Schumacher's Phone Booth was to enter theatres last fall. Then a real-life sniper crisis in Maryland made the movie a little too close to the headlines... [More]

A timely example of why we must have the CBC *
Tonight, the CBC is doing one of those things that it inevitably does and that Canadians expect it to do. It's not just journalism. It's an act of creating context and it connects Canada to far-flung parts of the world. [More]

ABC lands first interview with hoax patsy, Jessica Lynch *
ABC News' Diane Sawyer was chosen Monday for the first television news interview with alleged prisoner of war Jessica Lynch. [More]

Actor Buddy Ebsen dies at 95 *
Buddy Ebsen, the loose-limbed dancer turned Hollywood actor who achieved stardom and riches in the television series The Beverly Hillbillies and Barnaby Jones, has died, a hospital official said Monday. He was 95. [More]

Actors scramble to join NRA's hit list *
Hollywood heavyweights urged to get on U.S. gun lobby's boycott list [More]

Alex & Emma (Lacey review) ** 1/2
What if there were a movie about a desperate writer struggling with an overdue project, whose fictional characters are thinly disguised versions of real people he knows? I think I'd call it Adaptation and rent it from my local video store. [More]

An American Father Ted? Ah, go on *
My official reaction was, "It will never work." My unofficial reaction was "Feck, arse, drink!" [More]

Angelina Jolie looking beyond acting *
Thanks to her new film, Beyond Borders, Angelina Jolie's off-screen activities are once again overshadowing her acting. [More]

Angels underperforms at box office *
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle snatched the weekend box office halo from reigning champion The Hulk, but the feisty action comedy sequel failed to match the performance of its predecessor. [More]

Anger fights off the competition *
Anger Management kept its grip on the No. 1 spot at the North American box office for a second weekend... [More]

Animation festival gets funding reprieve *
The Ottawa International Animation Festival has gotten a reprieve from its possible demise after Telefilm Canada decided to reinstate its annual funding for at least for one more year. [More]

Aniston tops most perfect legs list *
Jennifer Aniston has the most perfect legs in Hollywood -- according to a scientific study. [More]

Anne made producer rich: family *
Sullivan, lawyer for Montgomery heirs spar in court over evidence in suit. [More]

Arnie a running man *
Arnold Schwarzenegger ended the suspense Wednesday and said he would run in California's recall election, awarding Republicans his marquee value in their campaign to oust Governor Gray Davis. [More]

At the festival Schmooze, look for the guy in black *
Andrew Ryan demystifies the real motivation for the Toronto International Film Festival -- the schmooze factor. [More]

Austin Willis, 86 *
Austin Willis, a veteran actor who starred in two popular Canadian television shows in the 1960s and '70s, has died at the age of 86. [More]

Baby Bob's back and so are the nightmares *
The bad dreams are back, doctor. I can't stop having nightmares about Baby Bob (CBS, CH, 8 p.m.). [More]

Back from the grave to bore us to death *
The second-scariest thing about Freddy vs. Jason, the gross-out horror movie that pits sinew-skinned, claw-handed Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street series against hockey-masked, sword-swinging Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th series, is that it has been No. 1 at the North American box office for two weeks in a row, grossing about $50- million (U.S.). [More]

Bard: A broadly charming bauble on the beach *** 1/2
Vancouver's Bard on the Beach has chosen Shakespeare's shortest and (arguably) first play to open its 14th season. The Comedy of Errors, with its two pairs of twins and flurries of mistaken identities, is a charming, twinkling bauble, and the director's imprint, indelible. [More]

BBC exposé says rescue of U.S. Army private faked *
The morale-boosting, too-good-to-be-true rescue of Pte. Jessica Lynch by U.S. special forces is put under close scrutiny by the BBC documentary War Spin: The Truth About Jessica, airing Sunday night on CBC Newsworld's Passionate Eye. [More]

BCMPA Ratings *
BCMPA rates the movies . . . [More]

Beatles' company sues over trademark *
The Beatles want to take another bite out of Apple Computer Inc. [More]

Ben has time to see this now *
Wondering why J.Lo postponed yesterday's nuptials? Maybe she caught a performance of Matt & Ben at P.S. 122 in the East Village and realized her honey is a fraud. For those who already know Ben Affleck is a lunky airhead who needs help with spelling, the news won't come as a shock. But Jen has been busy getting to the bottom of things, like lap dances and such. [More]

Best Buy sees benefit in dual banners *
Wes Skitch, an executive at Future Shop, was nervous when Best Buy, the U.S. electronics giant, announced 2½ years ago that it was coming to Canada. [More]

Birds' flight of fancy fades fast *
A revival of The Birds is inevitably a confrontation for the contemporary theatre with some very distant place: Written in 414 BC, Aristophanes's play is one of the oldest surviving examples of comedy. [More]

Blake's lawyer seeks special hearing *
Actor Robert Blake's defence lawyer wants to convene a special pretrial session to question a witness who said she heard Christian Brando, son of actor Marlon Brando, tell two stuntmen Blake's wife should be shot. [More]

Blue Car (Lacey review) ***
Blue Car (Lacey review) [More]

Bob Hope buried *
Entertainer Bob Hope was buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery under overcast skies on Wednesday following a private dawn funeral mass attended by about 100 family members and close friends. [More]

Bob Hope turns 100 *
Bob Hope might need another century to be thanked by all the veterans who cherish the wisecracker's performances for U.S. troops. [More]

Bob Hope: Comedy's trouper *
He started out with 'songs, patter and eccentric dancing.' After a life of telling jokes, MICHAEL POSNER writes, he has died at 100, hailed as 'probably the greatest American entertainer of the 20th century' [More]

Bonnie gets the Star treatment *
Vanity Fair has pushed the envelope of cattiness with its latest profile of Canadian-born celebrity magazine editor Bonnie Fuller. [More]

Bono says he'll be a 'pain' about Africa *
Funny, articulate rock star praises Canada's international presence. [More]

Box Office: Carrey proves divine *
The new Jim Carrey movie Bruce Almighty bounced The Matrix Reloaded from the top spot at the North American holiday box office, setting a new record for a non-sequel comedy. [More]

Boxing film production in Toronto takes a punch *
The U.S. Congress is taking a punch at the Toronto production of Cinderella Man, a Ron Howard film starring Russell Crowe as former American heavyweight boxing champion James Braddock. [More]

Brats on the brink *
Outrageous one-upmanship earns filmmaking duo a brash new CBC reality series that could become Canada's Jackass [More]

Buddy Hackett, 78 *
Buddy Hackett, the squat, round, rubbery-faced funnyman who appeared for more than 50 years as a top act in nightclubs, Broadway shows, on television and in such movies as The Music Man, The Love Bug and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, has died, his son confirmed Monday night. [More]

Bushman dies after taste of movie-star glamour *
N!xau, the diminutive bushman catapulted from the remote sandswept reaches of the Kalahari Desert to international stardom in the film The Gods Must Be Crazy, has died, police officials said Saturday. [More]

Can the canapés, we want local films *
Forget Cannes. Forget Toronto. Let us now praise not-so-famous film festivals. Let's celebrate the smaller, regional festivals that crop up because audiences subjected to a steady diet of blockbusters want to see movies that reflect their own experience. Those low-budget festivals happen in small cities because emerging filmmakers are desperate for an audience. [More]

Canada cool to Hollywood madam *
Another Hollywood celebrity has cancelled a planned visit to Toronto, but this time it has nothing to do with fear of the SARS outbreak. [More]

Canada Day's bizarre lineup *
It's Canada Day, up Canada way, and what do we have to celebrate? Well, gay marriage and more lenient pot-possession laws, I suppose. Not going to war, perhaps. Surviving SARS is another one. Never mind -- we can just have a party for the heck of it. [More]

Canada vies to extend hospitality to 'runaways' *
Shiny new rivals for Hollywood's billions have appeared on the scene as the studios scout out even cheaper locations. [More]

Canada's national music chart -- Thursday, July 3, 2003 *
Thursday, July 3, 2003 [More]

Canadian research could turbo-charge Net *
When University of Toronto professor Ted Sargent looked into the heart of a laser, he saw something remarkable; the potential to significantly increase the speed of worldwide communications. [More]

Canadian stars shine in Walk of Fame ceremonies *
Lorne Michaels, Linda Evangelista, Mike Myers, Shania Twain among those honoured [More]

Canadian television: A new era of cheapness that's sure to Alienate *
I have seen the future of Canadian television and it's called Alienated. It is also certain to alienate a lot of people. [More]

Carlyle's talent saves Hitler series *
It is Robert Carlyle's performance that saves Hitler: The Rise of Evil (Sunday, CBS, CH, 9 p.m.) from being an awful TV miniseries. [More]

Carrie Snodgrass, 57 *
Actress Carrie Snodgress, whose career included an Oscar nomination for "Diary of a Mad Housewife" and roles in "Pale Rider," "The Fury" and "Wild Things," has died. [More]

CBC announces kids fall lineup *
Alien Blobheads who emerge from a toilet and farm characters on Tractor Tom are among the newcomers on CBC kids' shows this fall. [More]

CBC considering a changing of the guard at Hockey Night *
When Hockey Night In Canada conducts its annual review, a big issue will be the disappointing work of announcer Bob Cole and analyst Harry Neale in the playoffs. [More]

Centre to be built for Toronto film festival *
The fear of SARS among film types here has subsided much like a fever, which means the Toronto International Film Festival is expected to remain healthy and more popular than ever, festival promoters say. [More]

Chan fights to revive Hong Kong tourism *
Action film hero Jackie Chan is starring in a television advertisement that will be broadcast in 30 cities around the world in a bid to revive Hong Kong's battered tourism industry after the SARS outbreak, officials said Saturday. [More]

Channel arrives to help fill void of men's TV *
As everybody knows, there is a terrible shortage of things for men to watch on TV. [More]

Chantal Kreviazuk: Stuck in a groove *
Way back in 1996, when Winnipeg's Chantal Kreviazuk burst onto the pop-music scene with her impressive Under These Rocks and Stones debut, it seemed as if superstardom was a slam dunk, a given. [More]

Charles Bronson, 81 *
Charles Bronson, the Pennsylvania coal miner who drifted into films as a villain and became a hard-faced action star, notably in the popular Death Wish vengeance movies, has died. He was 81. [More]

Charlie's Angels throttles Hulk *
The angels have lost a little of their kick but they can still pulverize the opposition, even if he is big and green. [More]

Cinar co-founder dead *
Former children's animation mogul Micheline Charest died Wednesday afternoon, a month after selling her shares in the scandal-plagued Cinar company that she founded with her husband. [More]

CNN's sturdy little hoot owl meets scary Jerry *
Today is Labour Day, which is why we're not working, if that makes any sense. To me, it's a day of queasy, wrenching recall -- memories of going back to school and, scarier still, The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. [More]

Coldplay calls for fair trade *
British rock group Coldplay is campaigning to give poor countries better access to global trade, but don't expect their activism to show up in their music anytime soon. "It's very hard to find things that rhyme with North American Free Trade Agreement," said lead singer Chris Martin in Cancun on Tuesday. [More]

Comment: Ritter's death impacts network *
The death of actor John Ritter creates a void in ABC's primetime lineup. Ritter's untimely passing yesterday has effectively derailed the production of 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, a sitcom anchoring ABC's Tuesday-night comedy lineup... [More]

Complete Unknown: Trailing the elusive Dylan *
Griffin Ondaatje and Craig Proctor have made a documentary on the myth of Bob Dylan in which Dylan barely appears -- which is fitting, given the subject matter, BRAD WHEELER writes [More]

Confidence & Steal: A con, but no payoff ***
There's a story that when someone asked famous thief Willie Sutton why he robbed banks, he answered: "Because that's where the money is." Similar logic appears to be behind Hollywood's ongoing fascination with caper films. [More]

Copenhagen gets ready for film festival *
The Golden Palm may wave in France, but Danish film lovers will bestow Golden Swans to winners of its first international film festival, organizers said Tuesday [More]

Dar Heatherington meets Marshall McLuhan *
Our topic today is exhibitionism. Television encourages it here, there and everywhere. [More]

Davis challenges Schwarzenegger to debate *
Governor Gray Davis challenged Arnold Schwarzenegger to a debate “right here, right now,” accusing the actor Friday of distorting his record. The Schwarzenegger campaign declined. [More]

Doctor Earle's diagnosis *
Singer Steve Earle, no stranger to rehab himself, has a few prescriptions for an ailing America, ROBERT EVERETT-GREEN writes [More]

Down With Love -- Love, postmodern style (Conlogue) ***
The dialogue is often witty, while the fruit-coloured hotel rooms and flouncing pink gowns -- not to mention Ban the Bomb protesters, bookstore windows full of Profiles in Courage, streetsful of lovingly deployed vintage cars and the wide-eyed optimistic thrill of space exploration -- testify to a goodly amount of genuine affection for the era. [More]

DVD rentals tops for first time *
Movie renters turned to DVD first and VHS cassettes second last week, marking the first time disc rentals have outpaced tapes in the U.S. market, the Video Software Association said. [More]

Eminem's ex pleads not guilty *
The former wife of Grammy-winning rapper Eminem pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a drug charge and two driving violations. [More]

Ewan McGregor: How to spot a family man *
Famous for playing a junkie, today Ewan McGregor's addicted to work and being a dad, SIMON HOUPT writes. [More]

Fats linked to breast cancer *
Those derived from animals, not plants, raise the risk of disease, new study finds [More]

Fighting the SARS effect? Try a Woodstock *
Ontario's Ministry of Tourism is betting $5.2-million that some of the biggest names in Canadian rock music can dispel the SARS-seeded clouds of gloom hovering over Toronto. [More]

Film critics honour their favourites *
The final instalment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy claimed best picture and best director honours at the Critics' Choice Awards, while Mystic River star Sean Penn was named best actor and Charlize Theron took the best actress honour as a serial killer in Monster [More]

Filmmaker Spike Lee and Viacom settle lawsuit *
Filmmaker Spike Lee and Viacom have settled a lawsuit Lee filed to keep the media giant from calling its TNN cable television network "Spike TV." [More]

Films: An autumn of hope *
Could it be true? Decent movies in theatres between the uninspiring summer and the traditional Christmas flurry of Oscar contenders? With new offerings from the likes of Weir, Tarantino, Campion and the Coens, LIAM LACEY writes, the fall is looking good [More]

Finding Nemo sinks competition *
The deep-sea adventure Finding Nemo hooked the top spot at the box office Sunday with an estimated $70.6-million (U.S.) opening weekend... [More]

First-time novelist in his literary prime **** 1/2
SANDRA MARTIN talks to Mark Haddon, whose compelling debut novel narrated by an autistic teen looks set to be filmed by the Harry Potter team [More]

Freddy vs. Jason slays box office *
The horror team of Freddy vs. Jason had a killer weekend as the showdown between the bad guys of the Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street franchises opened with $36.4-million (U.S.). [More]

Fringe drifts more toward mainstream *
After completing successful runs in Montreal and Ottawa, the cross-country rolling carnival of theatre known as the Fringe Festival opens in Toronto today for its 15th presentation of short new works ranging from diamonds in the rough to very rough indeed. [More]

From dude to deity *
Keanu Reeves, advanced being.
Five years ago, those words strung together would have elicited derisive laughter. Before then, the closest the Toronto-bred actor came to representing a state of bliss was the ignorant kind associated with his perfectly embodied teenage doofuses from the Bill & Ted and Parenthood movies. [More]

Get him while he's hot *
Ryan Malcolm captivated viewers of TV's Canadian Idol talent-show extravaganza. But the question now is whether he himself will remain captive in Idol-related recording contracts and publicity commitments or whether his career will be given room to grow. [More]

Global's fall lineup heavy on U.S. fare *
Global Television has added a slew of big-name, U.S. programs to its fall schedule, and promises to deliver lots of skin, celebrity and brotherly love. [More]

Globe commentary: A director's gamble pays off *
Remaking an old caper flick wasn't Neil Jordan's idea, LIAM LACEY writes, but it all came together once he found the right language and the right actor. [More]

Governor Arnie sworn in *
The Austrian-born action hero who unseated Governor Gray Davis in a bizarre recall election last month took his oath of office as California's 38th governor on Monday. [More]

Gregory Peck: The screen image was never far from the man *
He displayed as a person the same qualities of basic goodness that epitomized his roles, RICK GROEN writes [More]

Guitar enthusiast developed nylon strings *
Rose Augustine, a guitar enthusiast who helped develop the first nylon guitar strings and ran a thriving business selling them, died April 21. She was 93. [More]

Guitars for stars *
It's a long way from a car assembly line in Oshawa, Ont, to the farm in Nova Scotia where George Rizsanyi makes instruments for the likes of Keith Richards and James Taylor, SHAWNA RICHER writes. [More]

Harper's experimentation succeeds *
Can there be such a thing as being too eclectic? Listening to the collected works of 33-year old Californian singer/guitarist Ben Harper, one might almost think so. [More]

Harrelson: 'I make films for subcultures' *
From his childhood boycott of processed cheese slices to his new film documenting Woody Harrelson's crusade for organic living, Ron Mann has always been the master of the marginal, SARAH HAMPSON writes [More]

Harry Potter books found in field *
The publisher of the Harry Potter books said Tuesday it feared copies of J.K. Rowling’s latest — as yet unpublished — novel had been stolen after a newspaper reported that two of the books were found in a field. [More]

Hayden Christensen: Darth star *
Hayden Christensen bulks up in Sydney to play a 'non-wimpy' intergalactic villain and misses Toronto, GAYLE MacDONALD finds [More]

Heeere's Tom: The gross-out king is back *
The extreme Tom Green is planning to emulate such great talk-show hosts of the past as Johnny Carson [More]

Hepburn made the misfit into a star *
Katharine Hepburn, who died last Sunday at age 96, was it for me, I-T. Weekday afternoons in front of the Million Dollar Movie, she was mine -- my role model, my mentor, my substitute mother. It was the 1970s; my own (single) mother was at work. Through Kate's on-screen careers, I plotted the ways I would be, too -- glamorous lawyer, glamorous journalist, gritty frontier woman, queen. [More]

Herbie Mann, 73 *
Herbie Mann, the versatile jazz flutist who combined a variety of musical styles and deeply influenced trends such as world music and fusion, has died. He was 73. [More]

Hey Nostradamus: The massacre motif ***
Douglas Coupland's new novel draws on the memory of the tragic shooting at Columbine High School. And he's not alone. Other novelists and filmmakers are daring to go there too, CAROL TOLLER writes [More]

House of Sand and Fog and Oscar? *
Director Vadim Perelman's moving and star-studded first feature, adapted from the acclaimed novel by Andre Dubus III, has the look -- and buzz -- of a winner. [More]

How Shelagh got her groove back *
The veteran broadcaster used a very public break from her radio career to rediscover her private self. That introspective voice will join her when she returns to the airwaves this week, SARAH HAMPSON writes [More]

Huffington pulls out of California race *
Independent candidate Arianna Huffington dropped out of the California recall race Tuesday, saying it was her best hope of preventing Arnold Schwarzenegger from becoming governor. [More]

Hume Cronyn, 91 *
Canadian-born Hume Cronyn, a veteran stage and screen actor who charmed audiences with his portrayals of irascible old men and frequently paired with his wife, Jessica Tandy, has died of cancer. He was 91. [More]

I think it has a double life, Toronto *
Gay marriage, legal pot, strip clubs -- we've finally got Hollywood's attention [More]

I'll pass on the Girl Power *
Something strange happened to me last week. I went to see, in a row, The Hulk, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde, and 28 Days Later. [More]

If by Chance -- Getting hitched: A cautionary tale ** 1/2
The wedding flick, that familiar romantic comedy subgenre, is handed to the boys this summer as Hollywood delivers American Wedding (third in the American Pie series with Jason Biggs and Eugene Levy) and The In-Laws (Albert Brooks versus Michael Douglas). Down the aisle first, however, is If by Chance (Casomai), winner of the Ecumenical Jury Prize at last year's Montreal World Film Festival and a one-trick pony you could call the Italian Four Weddings and a Funeral. [More]

Inside the head of a film critic *
It's not an easy job, what with bossy volunteers and existing all day on coffee and gum. The good part is all the nice, interesting people you meet along the way, LIAM LACEY says [More]

Is the Canada Council's largesse good art? *
You can become so inured to bad news in the arts --- shrinking budgets, aging audiences, battered endowment funds -- that when a piece of good news comes along, it can be difficult to grasp. [More]

Is this the saviour of Canadian TV? *
Last Thursday was one of those days on my beat. From beginning to end, it illustrated what a mess we're in. [More]

It's a boy! No wait, it's a girl! *
The wife of former Beatle Paul McCartney, Heather Mills, has given birth to the couple's first child, a baby girl, they announced yesterday in London. [More]

It's hard to watch Monica and not think of cigars *
Tonight, our old and cherished friend Monica Lewinsky returns to the airwaves. This is news that will surprise nobody. In fact, the only surprise is that it hasn't happened sooner... [More]

Jackson calls charges 'a big lie' *
Michael Jackson proclaimed his innocence directly to his fans yesterday, using a personal website that called the child-molestation allegations against him "a big lie." [More]

Jackson launches Web site proclaiming innocence *
Pop star Michael Jackson, addressing his fans directly via a new website, says the child molestation allegations made against him are "predicated on a big lie" and that he will be exonerated in court. [More]

Jacob Two-Two meets his cartoon debut *
Richler's celebrated book comes to animated small-screen life in a new YTV series to air tomorrow morning [More]

Jane Fonda targets 'ignorant' Americans *
The star came out at a Vancouver lecture sticking it to Americans and lauding Canadians for compassion, ALEXANDRA GILL says [More]

Jazz: Some lesser lights who shine brightly *
Six little-known Canadian jazz outfits that are worth a listen this festival season [More]

JLo sues former manager *
Jennifer Lopez has filed a petition with California's labour commission that accuses her former representative, Benny Medina, of not having a valid talent agent's licence while managing her career. Lopez fired Medina in June after five years of service. [More]

Johnny Cash, 71 *
Johnny Cash, a towering figure in American music spanning country, rock and folk and known worldwide as The Man in Black, has died, according to hospital officials in Nashville, Tenn. He was 71. [More]

Johnny Depp: Shiver me timbers! *
Johnny Depp is a notorious Hollywood bad boy. Jerry Bruckheimer is a take-no-prisoners producer. So what brought them together to make a family-friendly, swashbuckling tale? [More]

Johnny Rotten to appear in reality TV show *
Johnny Rotten – the icon of angry punk music who once revelled in being “an antichrist” and compared Britain to a fascist regime – has agreed to appear in the reality show “I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!” [More]

Jon Stewart's pre-Oscar host biography *
Jon Stewart's career profile before he hosted the 2006 Oscars. [More]

Judge seals photos of Cameron Diaz *
Photographs of Cameron Diaz taken at a private modelling session about a decade ago, before she was a star, were ordered sealed by a judge. [More]

Katharine Hepburn dies at 96, nominated for 12 Oscars *
Katharine Hepburn, an icon of feminist strength and spirit who brought a chiselled beauty and patrician bearing to such films as The Philadelphia Story and The African Queen, died Sunday, her executor and town authorities said. She was 96. [More]

Kid Notorious: Yoda turns on the charm, Hollywood-style *
Long in the tooth and short of ideas, producer Robert Evans lives out his teen fantasies in the animated series Kid Notorious, ANDREW RYAN writes [More]

Kidman the new face of Chanel No. 5 *
One fashion icon is partnering with another: Nicole Kidman is the new face of Chanel. The French luxury house introduced the perfume in 1921. [More]

Klein gets pie for breakfast *
The menu called for pancakes. But Alberta Premier Klein got pie for breakfast at Calgary Stampede event. [More]

Lawsuit threat not slowing file sharing *
Despite the threat of lawsuits from the recording industry, music fans across the country continued to swap songs illegally over the Internet, many taking precautions to remain below the radar. [More]

Lawyer calls for Jackson's children to be taken away *
A lawyer who has tangled with Michael Jackson called Friday for child-welfare authorities to temporarily remove the pop star's three children from his custody because of new child-molestation allegations. [More]

Leafs' GM search begins *
Pat Quinn finally relented, Ken Dryden was shifted further away, Bill Watters was shown the door and Richard Peddie continued to spread his wings at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. [More]

Let's forget Demi and Snoop Dogg tonight *
There's a wonderful program airing tonight, which celebrates David Attenborough, a man who has used television to contribute enormously to the culture. [More]

Linda Groen named head of CBC Radio current affairs *
Linda Groen, former executive producer of The Sunday Edition, has been named the new head of current affairs for CBC Radio. [More]

Los Morenos in Concert at the Massey Theatre *
Los Morenos has played to enthusiastic acclaim at numerous venues and festivals, most notable The Calgary and Edmonton Folk Festivals. Friday, February 7, 2003. [More]

Losing the playboy of the western world *
Charlie Sheen is sitting there, looking pensive. That's not how the world expects Charlie Sheen to look. He's supposed to be one of the wild men of Hollywood. He's universally notorious as one of the great playboys of the western world. [More]

Lynn Coady: If only this trash would take me out *
To be a fan of good television is to live in a perpetual state of anxiety. It's like dating the latest in a thrilling yet doomed series of superlative lovers. Someone new and intoxicating -- endlessly hot, endlessly fascinating. Yet the whole time you're with him, all you can think is, "Oh no, it's so good." You've been burned one time too many. [More]

Macho, macho mags *
For years, U.S. men's magazines have served up a testosterone-packed diet of fast cars, cool gadgets, sophomoric humour and barely clad babes, ALEXANDRA GILL writes. Canadian men could only watch with envy. Until now... [More]

Magic moment: the sequel (Ryan Smyth) *
Ryan Smyth plays -- and sings -- with all his heart, and now he has a world championship to crow about, ALLAN MAKI writes [More]

Major developments on SARS *
A team of Canadian politicians and health officials left for Geneva yesterday evening, optimistic that the World Health Organization will rescind its travel advisory on Toronto after being presented with evidence that the city is safe. [More]

Making scene all in day's work for busy actress *
Count on Chloe Sevigny to show up all over town, ALEXANDRA GILL discovers [More]

Mamma Mia! To spend summer in Vancouver *
The Toronto production of Mamma Mia! is going to spend the summer at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, Mirvish Productions announced yesterday. [More]

Marketers jumping on Games bandwagon *
It seems that jumping on the marketing bandwagon will be a demonstration sport for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. [More]

Martha's launching a new magazine *
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. will begin regular publication of Everyday Food, a recipe magazine, with the September issue, following a six-month test run. [More]

Maybe it's time we saw Al-Jazeera for ourselves *
There is a possibility that we could have Al-Jazeera available on cable in Canada next year, and that possibility is causing a hell of an argument. [More]

Media snakes eat their own tails *
Who reads profiles of people in magazines? Who buys Vanity Fair and People? Who wants to read gossip about the personal lives of people they don't know? What kind of short-attention-span, superficial ninny wants to read about what's in a newscaster's closet rather than about ideas and events? [More]

Mel Gibson says Christian faith inspired new movie *
Mel Gibson says he attended Mass every morning while shooting his new movie, The Passion, because "we had to be squeaky clean just working on this." [More]

Michael Moore sued over anti-gun movie, Bowling for Columbine *
James Nichols, the brother of Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols, says he was tricked into appearing in the anti-gun documentary Bowling for Columbine, according to a federal lawsuit filed against filmmaker Michael Moore. [More]

Microsoft launches TV software platform *
Microsoft Corp. on Monday plans to unveil new software to help cable television companies develop digital TV programming and services. [More]

Minor League effort: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen **
Shouldn't filching a whole team of superheroes and setting them loose to fight a megavillain be more fun than this? [More]

Montreal film fest absent its A-list status *
The upcoming 27th annual instalment of Montreal's World Film Festival could be its most interesting yet -- but less for what's on its screens than the circumstances under which it will be occurring. [More]

Motion Picture Association of America Movie Ratings *
Movie ratings from the MPAA [More]

Music labels lash out at file-swappers *
The embattled music industry disclosed aggressive plans Wednesday for an unprecedented escalation in its fight against Internet piracy, threatening to sue hundreds of individual computer users who illegally share music files on-line. [More]

Music swappers in decline *
Use of several Internet file-sharing services declined by several thousand people the week after the music industry threatened to sue on-line music swappers, an Internet tracking firm said Monday. [More]

Mutants rule at box office *
...last weekend. We'll see how they do on a (Canadian) holiday weekend against the Matrix sequel! [More]

Neil Young moves to Greendale *
Neil Young's fictional town of Greendale is home to 20,000 people, about the same number that filled the Air Canada Centre last Monday to hear him sing and tell stories about a place where old rural habits smack into the new media culture. [More]

Neil Young, cinéaste *
The musician's most recent foray into the movies may annoy some old fans, but as JAMES ADAMS writes, the songwriter has the heart of a filmmaker [More]

New Altman film to premiere in Toronto *
Robert Altman's new film, , will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. [More]

New Pornogrpahers: 'Melodian' basks in summer praise *
The New Pornographers' latest album is getting rave reviews as a surf-and-sun soundtrack, but the band's founder bristles at the word 'bubblegum' [More]

New use for eBay: Welcome to 'short-attention-span theatre' *
Artists are finding a strange sort of new gallery for their work in the on-line auction site . . . [More]

Nicole Kidman wins libel suit *
Oscar-winning actor Nicole Kidman accepted a public apology and undisclosed damages on Thursday to settle a libel suit against a newspaper that suggested she had an adulterous affair with actor Jude Law. [More]

Nicole Kidman: 'It's a burnout business' *
Nicole Kidman is already planning the end of her acting career, writes LIAM LACEY [More]

No joking, Hope simply loved the game *
Golfers want to break 100 and live to the same age, still active in the game. Bob Hope, who died on Sunday at his home in Toluca Lake, Calif., did both. [More]

Not just one singular sensation -- DVD commentary from The Globe *
New DVD musicals put the dazzle in the razzle dazzle, WARREN CLEMENTS writes [More]

OFF-SCREEN: TORONTO NO BAROMETER OF OSCAR SUCCESS *
Neve Campbell's dancing gets soft treatment in Robert Altman's The Company, while Jane Campion proves that when it comes to sex scenes, she's hands-on [More]

On your mark, TV ad buyers *
It's time to place bets on which shows might be hits, writes GAYLE MacDONALD, noting there's roughly $2.9-billion at stake [More]

One third of all CDs sold are pirated *
Production of pirated recordings of music increased by 14 per cent last year and now account for a third of all CDs sold around the globe, an industry group reported Thursday. [More]

Opera, in the key of jazz *
The talents of musician D.D. Jackson and poet/playwright George Elliott Clarke were married to create the jazz opera Québécité, MARK MILLER writes [More]

Oprah picks classic to restart book club *
Oprah Winfrey was sitting under an oak tree in California last summer, reading John Steinbeck's East of Eden and loving it, when she realized that just telling a few friends about it wouldn't do. [More]

Out of Stratford: The climb to star status *
The Stratford Festival cultivates its talent carefully. MICHAEL POSNER scouts out Graham Abbey, David Snelgrove and especially Jonathan Goad [More]

Out of the blue, you've got rabbis and orgasms *
A friend told me a joke the other day, and I think it's such a good one I've told it to a dozen or more people in the past week. But don't worry. This isn't the best place to tell it. It requires a presentation that is slightly more demonstrative than what I can muster, here on the printed page. And quite possibly, a well-told joke is a little more noise and activity than you'd like to have to deal with, out there, waiting for the coffee to drip. [More]

Owning Malowny: Crime, Canadian style ****
A new movie about a gambling-obsessed banker who embezzled millions portrays Canada with unusual realism: Even the cops say please, RAY CONLOGUE writes [More]

Penny Singleton, 95 *
Penny Singleton, who brought the comic strip character Blondie to life in a popular series of films and was the voice of the mother on The Jetsons, has died. She was 95. [More]

Peter Sollett: A cinematic midwife *
'I try to put the film into the hands of the people up on the screen as much as possible,' Peter Sollett tells LIAM LACEY [More]

Phil Spector charged with murder *
Record producer Phil Spector was charged Thursday with murder in the shooting death of a woman at his home last February. [More]

Piecing it all together *
Wiebke von Carolsfeld immigrated from Germany intent on becoming a book editor. But with limited English, she found film better suited to her story-crafting talents. Now she's emerged from the editor's suite to direct her first feature... [More]

Pirate plunder tops one billion *
Second Pirates of the Caribbean is only the third film in history to reach this level. [More]

Play it Again Sam (We Mean Leonard): Park Theatre to Re-open *
The Park Theatre on Cambie Street in Vancouver, BC will re-open on May 24 with a number of films and events that focus on the community. To start the opening events on May 24 there will be two FREE screenings of the ever-popular film Casablanca. [More]

Police brace for Mickstock *
There are many rules for the fans on day Stones will create their own city [More]

Police conclude Spector shot actress *
Police investigating the death of actress Lana Clarkson say they have concluded that legendary record producer Phil Spector was responsible for her shooting. They have submitted their findings to prosecutors. [More]

Police confirm warrant out for Michael Jackson *
The Santa Barbara police said Wednesday they have issued an arrest warrant for pop star Michael Jackson on multiple charges of child molestation. [More]

Polish Brothers: A polished work *
With a reputation for originality, the Polish brothers have attracted Nick Nolte and James Woods to their latest film -- despite a minuscule budget [More]

Pop stars add flash to fashion benefit *
London's glitzy Fashion Week might be over but there's one more event that die-hard fashionistas won't want to miss: Fashion Rocks. Taking place Oct. 15 at Royal Albert Hall, the event will unite leading fashion houses with some of the biggest names in pop music. [More]

Pop-laced fest hits sublime and ridiculous *
The second half of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal for 2003 is effectively the pop half. Norah Jones, Elvis Costello and Ben Harper have been the big news in recent days. Cesaria Evora is currently in town and Gino Vannelli will close out the 11-day event tomorrow. [More]

Potter magic for Amazon.ca *
Pottermania has struck at an opportune time for Amazon.ca. [More]

Private radio broadcasters score big hit *
FM stations seen driving robust profits [More]

Profit seeds growth of empire for Whole Foods *
I was sitting next to a prominent Torontonian at a Canadian Club luncheon last week that featured Margaret Atwood talking about her new novel Oryx and Crake, when conversation turned to real estate. [More]

Queer Power: Makeover or takeover? *
On TV's newest reality shows, straight men are flirting with gays, and gay men are telling straight guys how to dress for success. Is this as radical as it sounds, asks KAMAL AL-SOLAYLEE - or a belated nod to the power of queers to shape straight culture? [More]

Quirky Fox jumps over the rival networks *
Derided for some of its cheesy shows, the upstart Fox's willingness to gamble on the offbeat has paid off, JOHN DOYLE writes [More]

Re-igniting the old Allman fire *
It took the latest version of the southern rock band a while, but finally, a blaze of former glory [More]

Ready for Woodstockade? *
Despite comparisons to Woodstock, a concert that will enclose hundreds of thousands of people in a compound at high temperatures could be a volatile thing [More]

Recording industry sues StreamCast *
The recording industry is suing the company behind the Morpheus music file-sharing service, alleging it illegally copied thousands of copyright songs as part of a venture to broadcast music over the Internet. [More]

Report on Business magazine grabs three awards *
The Globe and Mail's Report on Business magazine took three honours at the 26th annual Canadian National Magazine Awards held Friday at Toronto's swanky Carlu lounge. [More]

Robert Wagner sues Sony Pictures *
Robert Wagner is suing Sony Pictures Entertainment for half the profits from the Charlie's Angels movies, saying he played a role in the development deal for the 1970s TV show that inspired them. [More]

Rock antisongs and antirock songs *
In the 1963 Jean-Luc Godard film Les Carabiniers, a pair of buffoons named Ulysses and Michelangelo get a letter from the King enticing them to go to war, promising they can steal treasures, massacre the innocent and eat free in restaurants. Off they go, promising to bring home bikinis for their women, Venus and Cleopatra. After the slaughter, they bring back only postcards. [More]

Rolling Stones? I'm not writing about them *
I felt that it might be a good idea for me to write a column about something other than the Rolling Stones this week. That's because, as I sit here, I can already feel the rumble of media hype increasing in volume to what will no doubt become a deafening roar by the day after tomorrow. [More]

Rome pays tribute to Shakespeare *
William Shakespeare set nearly half his works in Italy. Now Rome is honouring the playwright by building a faithful replica of England's 16th-century Globe Theatre, where his most famous plays were performed. [More]

Roseanne feels the hot flashes of TV *
The once-ubiquitous star is back, and this time she's being nice. Or trying to, at least [More]

Rufus goes ahead *
Rufus Wainwright talks to ROBERT EVERETT-GREEN about how drug binges, dragon-slaying and opera all intersect on his latest offering, Want One [More]

Sarah McLachlan: Songstress as yummy mummy *
Sarah McLachlan went away 5 years ago to begin a family. ALEXANDRA GILL finds she's back, refreshed but no less committed to music. [More]

SARS coverage fuels fear instead of calming it *
The way the SARS crisis has played out on TV has been bizarre to watch. The upshot is that these are the plague years in Toronto. I keep expecting to turn on CNN and find some excitable reporter informing an international audience that in Toronto there are body-laden carts being dragged through the streets by dyspeptic city employees who call out, "Bring out your dead! Bring out your dead!" [More]

Schwarzenegger thinks of running for governor *
Arnold Schwarzenegger won't terminate rumours of a run for governor while promoting his latest movie, joking that: "You haven't seen special effects like this since the California state budget." [More]

Schwarzenegger: Refusing to act his age *
He may be getting on, but Arnold Schwarzenegger -- after some serious training -- still fits into his T2 leathers [More]

Seattle Jewish Film Festival offerings *
[More]

She's been done wrong -- and survived *
Ditto is dancing barefoot on broken glass. And I don't mean metaphorically. [More]

Shelter from the swarm *
Galen Weston Jr. is creating a brand-new hot spot where Toronto's most fabulously interesting people can hobnob away from the irksome masses, writes GAYLE MacDONALD [More]

Sick of sleaze, viewers turn to sitcoms, dramas *
If I've got the story straight, this For Love or Money (NBC, CTV, 9 p.m.) thing has gotten totally out of hand. [More]

Sideshow: Harry the Hat goes home *
Voodoo dolls, spell kits, gris-gris bags -- this is what most folks recognize as New Orleans-style magic. But that was before Harry the Hat set up shop in the French Quarter with a very different bag of tricks. [More]

Singer Robert Palmer dies at 54 *
Rock singer Robert Palmer, known for his sharp suits and hits including “Addicted to Love,” died Friday in Paris of a heart attack, his manager said. He was 54. [More]

Singin' the PBS blues *
The earnest broadcaster has always been unwittingly entertaining on the critics' tour, ANDREW RYAN writes. But now Martin Scorsese has climbed on the bandwagon [More]

Six Feet Under, The West Wing lead Emmy pack *
Everybody in Hollywood got up very early yesterday morning -- the 2003 prime-time Emmy nominations were announced at exactly 5:38 a.m. local time. It turned out that it really wasn't worth the effort, unless you were counting the number of Canadian actors and productions nominated. [More]

Six Feet Under, The West Wing lead Emmy pack *
Everybody in Hollywood got up very early yesterday morning -- the 2003 prime-time Emmy nominations were announced at exactly 5:38 a.m. local time. It turned out that it really wasn't worth the effort, unless you were counting the number of Canadian actors and productions nominated. [More]

So many parties, so little frock *
The most perfect dress ever. Was that so much to ask for? Was I being completely hysterical, flinging my tearful half-naked self around the private dressing room at Holt's as my personal shopper, Christina, looked on with mounting alarm? Of course I was! But there was good reason -- the opening-night film-festival gala party was starting in 45 minutes, and I still didn't have anything to wear. [More]

So much to see, so little time *
It's an embarrassment of riches, writes WARREN CLEMENTS , everything from classic weepies to full TV series [More]

Some finances revealed in Green Gables suit *
Sullivan Entertainment revealed some of its finances in court yesterday to dispel allegations that the company was withholding money from the heirs of Anne of Green Gables author Lucy Maud Montgomery. [More]

Sony to release handheld game player *
After winning the battle for the living room, Sony now wants your pockets. [More]

Spector denies killing actress *
Record producer Phil Spector denies that he killed an actress found dead at his mansion, telling Esquire magazine she "kissed the gun" before shooting herself. [More]

Spoilers: Guess what happens next? *
Spoilers just can't wait for the movie or TV show. They want to know how the plot unfolds now, even if it wrecks it for others. [More]

Stan Lee: Captain Comics *
Like his heroes and villains, Stan Lee has taken some blows. But at 81, the man who helped create the Marvel universe is still going strong, ALEXANDRA GILL finds. [More]

Star-studded concert gives Toronto a boost *
Music seemed to be just what the doctor ordered for Torontonians frustrated at a disease that accidentally found its way to Canada's largest city and made citizens out to be pariahs. [More]

Star-studded shot in the arm *
Two squads of A-list Canadian musicians tried to put a bit of rah-rah back in the Toronto scene on Saturday, after weeks of simmering paranoia about severe acute respiratory syndrome and other perils. [More]

Stepford Wives Bake Sale event *
Paramount Pictures Canada, Cupcakes and The Fountainhead Pub will team up to present a fundraiser to benefit the Vancouver Pride Society and to celebrate the upcoming release of "The Stepford Wives," opening in theatres June 11th. [More]

Steve Martin to play Inspector Clouseau *
Steve Martin, whose film roles have ranged from The Jerk to Father of the Bride, is now stepping up to play bumbling Inspector Clouseau in an MGM remake of The Pink Panther. [More]

Stones concert set to roll *
This time, it's really official. After weeks of mounting rumour and anticipation, the Rolling Stones have confirmed plans to play an outdoor concert at Toronto's Downsview Park on July 30... [More]

Study challenges video-gamer stereotype *
Roughly two-thirds of college students play video games, but the image of a nerdy guy who spends all day in a dimly lit room blowing up computer-generated bad guys is off base, according to a new study. [More]

Summer TV takes you to the limits *
Like an old fellow settling into a chaise lounge, CBC gears down noticeably in the long, hot summer and always has. It's for the better. [More]

Summertime, and the channel surfing is fluffy *
If you live in this neck of the woods you'll understand why it took until last weekend for the change of season to become evident to me. Although I've been writing about the May sweeps for weeks, it hasn't felt like we're on the cusp of summer. Summer seemed to happening somewhere else. [More]

Surviving the summer movie *
You don't want to sink into the icy cool of a movie theatre in July, just to be bombarded with things that blow up and 100-decibel sound? Read on... [More]

Swimming Pool (Groen review) *** 1/2
It takes quite a bushel to hide the light of Charlotte Rampling, one of the screen's hugely intelligent beauties. Yet, early on in Swimming Pool, she dims her wattage remarkably, chiselling out a very specific portrait of the artist as an old maid. [More]

Take my country . . . please! *
His barefaced lies and poker-faced bravado have made Comical Ali a pop-culture hit [More]

Tarragon holds sway *
In the most one-sided Dora Mavor Moore Awards ceremony in recent memory, Toronto's Tarragon Theatre walked away with 13 of 18 prizes last night in the general theatre division. [More]

Television programs saved by funding flip-flop *
Twenty-six Canadian television shows and movies have been brought back from the edge of extinction thanks to a $12.5-million federal refund to the Canadian Television Fund. [More]

Terminator 3 sets a record for Schwarzenegger *
Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to the No. 1 slot at the North American box office this weekend as his long-awaited sci-fi thriller Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines led the field, according to studio estimates yesterday. [More]

The Dancer Upstairs (Lacey review) ** 1/2
The directorial debut of actor John Malkovich, The Dancer Upstairs is a political thriller, adapted by Nicholas Shakespeare from his own 1995 novel. [More]

The Forbes list, 2006 *
The complete list . . . [More]

The gospel according to Woody *
'My god is nature,' says actor, vegan and committed eco-activist Woody Harrelson, whose message of organic living is on full display in the documentary Go Further [More]

The Hulk (Groen review) ***
When a director of great talent takes on an artifact of comic book culture, something usually has to give. Sometimes, it's the artifact, which gets changed for the better — witness Tim Burton's work in the original Batman. Sometimes, it's the director, who gets put through the wringer — remember Robert Altman's struggles with Popeye. But in the strange case of Ang Lee versus The Hulk, the verdict isn't nearly as clear — hell, it's downright murky. [More]

The Hulk is all the rage *
With his new movie, Ang Lee flexes his filmmaking muscle, unleashing the glowering green comic-book giant within [More]

The Lizzie McGuire Movie * 1/2
Director and cast are out of their depth and the script lacks imagination [More]

The Rime of the Beleaguered Columnist *
As my lines of communication with the outside world fall away, one by one, the problem I face is trying to decide whether this is a good thing. It's possible that complete ignorance of everything that happens beyond the confines of my own body is a healthy alternative to subscribing to cable television, reading Toro and listening to drive-home radio shows. You never know. [More]

The Safety of Objects: Lessons from suburbia (Conlogue review) ***
For admirers of A.M. Homes's acerbic short stories about suburban America, The Safety of Objects (based on her book of the same title) will be a mixed ex­perience. Much of what is singular in her writing — bitter humour, glimpses of ugly sentiments in nice people — is still present. [More]

The shark pond of kids' animation *
SIMON HOUPT talks to DreamWorks' co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg about Sinbad, the rivalry with Disney and the importance of friends in Hollywood [More]

The sound of even half-baked ingenuity *
The music business is always shouting that it's in danger of going extinct. I've decided I'm all for it. Any industry that responds to a technology shift by going to war against its own customers deserves what it gets. [More]

The stunted logic that comes from a diet of cream pies and a million pounds of beef *
Some desk-clearing before taking a little-deserved break: Notice how this has become the Summer of Stunts. [More]

The Sunday-morning say-nothing spin *
I read in the paper the other day that Paul Martin was going on the offensive. I said to myself, "I know what that means -- he's going on TV. [More]

The Suspect vanishes *
The screenplay was finished. The cast — including veteran actors Donald Sutherland, Wendy Crewson and William Hurt — had been signed. Even the movie poster was completed. [More]

The Time Traveler's Wife: A first novel anointed by Brad and Jennifer ****
Talk about winning the literary lottery. The film rights to visual artist Audrey Niffenegger's first novel were snapped up by Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston -- before publication, REBECCA CALDWELL writes. [More]

The Vancouver International Comedy Festival 2003 *
The 17th annual Vancouver International Comedy Festival takes place on and around Granville Island, Vancouver, BC, July 24th through August 4th, 2003. [More]

The wages of SARS for stars *
Eleven acts and an agent to reap big bucks at next week's concert, JAMES ADAMS says, but no money planned for SARS relief [More]

The War: Rooney has no regrets *
Andy Rooney, who covered the Second World War and was one of television's few voices to strongly oppose the war in Iraq, says he's chastened by what happened but doesn't regret his 60 Minutes commentaries. [More]

These are a few of my favourite things *
I was at the Orbit Room in Toronto the other night. I guess you could say it's my favourite bar. [More]

This show biz is only really fun for the skeptics *
There's a lot of show biz on TV this weekend. That doesn't mean that there's a lot of fun to be had unless you're one of those people who is awed by celebrities and inside information about movies and TV. But to truly enjoy the menu this weekend, you have to begin with a skeptical, satiric attitude. Fortunately, things kick off with a tailor-made satire about TV itself. [More]

This will make your tail wag *
It was just a matter of time before the madcap reality trend extended to the animal kingdom -- and hardly a surprise Fox thought of it first. [More]

Tom Green: the new Carson? *
Tom Green is back behind a desk, and he's wearing a suit, doing TV talk-show shtick with a sidekick and a musical accompanist. All that seems to be missing from the pat format is Ed McMahon's chortle. [More]

Tommy Chong jailed for selling drug accessories *
Tommy Chong, who played one half of the dope-smoking duo in the Cheech and Chong movies, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and fined $20,000 (U.S.) yesterday for selling bongs and other drug paraphernalia over the Internet. Hey, man, Doug's not here, man. [More]

Toronto film fest unveils lineup *
Barring a rain of frogs or a plague of locusts, the 28th annual Toronto International Film Festival is "good to go," Michelle Maheu, managing director of the Festival Group, declared on Tuesday. [More]

Toronto to host World Stupidity Awards *
As is appropriate for a "lapsed" Torontonian and longtime Vancouverite...I bite my tongue...(AG) [More]

Trash PCs of repeat music pirates, senator urges *
Illegally download copyright music from the Internet once, or even twice, and you get a warning. Do it a third time, and your computer gets destroyed. [More]

Tribute captures legend's many moods *
It was 50 years ago this past May 16 that Django Reinhardt died in Fontainebleau, France, at the age of 43. The Belgian-born gypsy musician left a small body of compositions, a growing personal legend and an influentially extravagant manner of playing guitar -- more than enough, all told, for the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal to devote its major concert in the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier of Place des Arts on Monday night to his memory. [More]

TV that dares to go beyond cops and robbers *
The HBO series The Wire (TMN, MovieCentral, 10 p.m.) is easily the best show on television. Put simply, it's a masterpiece of storytelling, drama, humour and social observation. [More]

Unholy rock 'n' rollers *
BRAD WHEELER talks to Kings of Leon, four shaggy young Bible belters who left the church and went straight to the garage, to make the devil's music [More]

Vancouver Critics Salute Quebec Film *
The members of the Vancouver Film Critics Circle have named Denys Arcand’s Les Invasions Barbares (The Barbarian Invasions) the Best Canadian Film of 2003. [More]

Vancouver's Raif Mair fired *
Rafe Mair, the best-known radio broadcaster in British Columbia and perhaps all of Canada, has been fired by host station CKNW, amid controversy over off-air blue language by Mr. Mair. [More]

Vardalos hit with 2nd suit *
A disgruntled boutique production company in Los Angeles has slapped Winnipegger Nia Vardalos with a lawsuit that seeks a sweeter slice of her Big Fat Greek Wedding wealth. [More]

WAR: P.S.: It's not over *
Documentarian Shelley Saywell likes to start the camera rolling when the news organizations pack up -- and the real stories begin... [More]

Watts starting to turn up the amps *
Jet-lagged Naomi Watts can barely hold her head up. But GUY DIXON finds she's holding up under the pressure of her new A-list movie star status [More]

We're all with stupid *
Several new books and a hit documentary are offering a fresh idea of stupidity, as a force, not a failing. Why are so many smart people suddenly examining the dumb, asks TRALEE PEARCE -- is it the Bush Zeitgeist? [More]

Welcome to popsouljazzblooza 2003 *
To grab the star names that draw audiences in, summer festivals are mixing musical genres with abandon, writes BRAD WHEELER [More]

Western culture vultures spy eastern meat *
I want to start out by saying that this column was intended to be a celebration of western Canadian -- particularly West Coast -- magazines. It was geared, therefore, toward assiduous avoidance of all things Toronto. [More]

Why I like wireless writing *
Printed paper, as we know, is outdated. Text will be read on screens from now on. Film too is passé: It costs too much and the cameras are too heavy. Digital video is the way to go. [More]

Why parables, curses and wisecracks speak to me *
I know: You want to talk music, and you hate it when rock crits wallow around in their childhoods and their drug habits and never get to the blasted point about the blasted band. [More]

Wicks: Cartoonist's drawings focus of court battle *
Eleven years ago, Richard Harnett was helping his brother move into a new house when he stumbled across thousands of drawings jammed into garbage bags. [More]

Will reality TV leave romance in the dust? *
Today's topic is reality TV and its peculiar evolution as a genre. [More]

Wonderland: A scumbag of the highest order (Adams interview) *
Actor Eric Bogosian reaches new lows in his interpretation of brutal drug lord Eddie Nash, who roars around in bikini briefs, but who cares 'what you . . . look like,' he tells JAMES ADAMS [More]

Yoko Ono, Coppola defend Sook-Yin Lee *
The CBC is expected to decide today whether Sook-Yin Lee, host of Radio One's Definitely Not the Opera, will be able to bare all and star in an art-house film by acclaimed U.S. director John Cameron Mitchell. [More]

You can count on Canadian Idol results *
When American Idol wrapped up in May, conspiracy theorists had a lot of material to work with. First there was the bizarre miscount separating winner Ruben Studdard from runner-up Clay Aiken. [More]