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Chris Brown’s Alleged Assault Charges Could Cost Him His Endorsement Deals
No. Not Chris Brown.
He's been the squeaky clean pop R&B poster boy since he hit the scene in 2005 with his #1 debut single "Run It."
He is not Michael Jackson, but he surely lit a fire under Usher's behind.
He has not publicly feuded with another artist.
He's been dating his female counterpart Rihanna.
He even had a Doublemint commercial.
He is 19-years-old.
There are a half a dozen upcoming teen male pop R&B singers signed to major labels who wish they could achieve his success.
But if the allegations are true that Brown assaulted a woman, his career will be in jeopardy.
According to the reports from the most reputable news sources, Brown turned himself in to authorities Sunday evening in connection with a charge of making a criminal threat. After being interviewed by police, he was released on a $50,000 bond.
Brown is being accused of assaulting a woman Sunday early morning and fleeing the scene, leaving her in a car in the Hancock Park section of Los Angeles. As a result of the issue, Brown canceled his performance at Sunday's 51st Grammy Awards where he was nominated for two trophies, best pop collaboration for his song "No Air" with Jordin Sparks and best male R&B performance for his ballad "Take You Down."
It is unclear whether or not his girlfriend pop star Rihanna was the victim, however, insiders are speculating that it was the "Umbrella" singer who made the 911 call to police, complaining of being attacked.
Rihanna also withdrew from her scheduled performance from the Grammys.
The couple was last seen together Saturday night when they attended the annual pre-Grammy party hosted by music veteran Clive Davis. Reports indicate that they were happy.
On Sunday a spokesperson for Rihanna told People magazine that the singer was well, but did not confirm whether she was involved in the altercation.
I hate to speculate on matters like this until all of the facts have been revealed. But I do want to consider what the ramifications might be for Chris Brown if he is found guilty of hitting a woman.
Aside from potentially serving jail time, Chris could face a backlash from his fans and the companies that endorse him.
Wrigley said Monday that it will be suspending its Chris Brown ad campaign for Doublement gum. In a statement the company said it would delay any advertising or related marketing until the situation is resolved, AP reported. Wrigley added that Brown should be "afforded the same due process as any citizen."
Advertisers and sponsors are quick to disassociate themselves from artists with controversial histories. Ludacris lost an endorsement deal with Pepsi in 2002 when The O'Reilly Factor host Bill O'Reilly attacked the soft drink giant for supporting an artist whom O'Reilly described to have socially irresponsible lyrics. And last year, Verizon pulled the plug on its sponsorship of Gwen Stefani's tour after opening act Akon was seen on a web clip dirty dancing with an underage girl at one of his club dates.
Just last week, we saw the consequences Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps faced when photos surfaced of the 23-year-old swimmer smoking marijuana via a bong pipe.
This could potentially affect Chris' invitation to other award shows and might even prompt fans to not support his upcoming concerts.
Respected hip-hop historian and journalist Dave "Davey D" Cook said that Brown losing endorsement deals is hardly the key issue. He wants to know how the community will be affected by having role models in Brown and Rihanna entangled in a widely publicized domestic matter. "The music industry, they'll circle the wagons and protect him," Cook said via email. "They'll spin the story and even go out after the victim which is happening now with Rihanna, who is catching heat from people accusing her of snitching."
Cook adds that he would like to see both Brown and Rihanna get help, but he believes that the music business will first put emphasis on keeping Brown's career afloat. "Chris Brown is a hot commodity making money in a crumbling industry that celebrates abusive culture, i.e. pimping," Cook said. "He'll be protected and held up to high esteem just like Ike Turner, Dr. Dre and Big Pun and numerous other artists and entertainers accused of domestic violence."
Many of Chris and Rihanna's fans are already forming opinions about the allegations.
After the news reports were released, fans expressed their opinions on social networking sites.
I've read many status updates on Facebook that conveyed anger towards Chris Brown.
On Rihanna's MySpace page, some users left her encouraging words, telling her that they are praying for her, that she will be okay, and to do what's best.
Ironically, few harshly condemn Brown. Some even take his side, citing rumors that Rihanna may have provoked a fight between the couple.
The comments on Brown's MySpace page clearly support the artist. One reminded him that he is innocent until proven guilty, while another told him not to worry because everyone makes mistakes.
We will see how the reaction develops as more of the story comes to light.
Brown is scheduled to go to court on March 5.
The 51st Grammys: Hours To Go Before We Sleep!
We have to admit that, compared to recent years, the 51st edition of the Grammy Awards ceremonies did carry a bit of suspense. For instance, Would Lil Wayne be the first rapper to win Album of the Year, and if so, would his pants stay up? If they won Song of the Year for "Viva La Vida," would Coldplay get coldcocked onstage by Joe Satriani, the guitarist whose instrumental "If I Could Fly" surely seemed to have been stolen lock, stock, and riff by Chris Martin and crew? Would ultra-pregnant M.I.A., appearing on her actual due date, become the first Grammy nominee to drop a baby right in the middle of a performance? And what on earth happened between Chris Brown and Rihanna, both of whom were no-shows on the telecast owing to a late Saturday night post-party altercation that apparently left Rihanna injured and Brown arrested on battery charges? Well, over the course of a three-and-a-half-hour program in which a grand total of 10 (!) awards were actually given out (believe it or not, the rest of the 110 total Grammys up for grabs were all doled out, as has been the practice for some time now, in a hurried pre-telecast ceremony on the floor of L.A.'s Staples Center), we did get answers to the first three of those four questions: respectively, no, no and no.
Lil Wayne won Best Rap Album, but not Album of the Year, which, as per the Recording Academy's usual conservative bent, went to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss's Americana album Raising Sand. Coldplay won Song of the Year without anyone yelling, "Thief!" And M.I.A., wearing a sort of maternity leotard thing, made it through her part on "Swagga Like Us" without going into labor--though for any of us who actually made it through the whole darned show, labor was indeed the operative word.
As for the Chris Brown/Rihanna flareup, we'll probably need to wait for the police blotter sometime tomorrow to find out about that one.Still, the 51st Grammy Awards show did overall have its share of moments to remember. And to that end, here's our own top 10: Yahoo!'s 2009 Grammy telecast "And The Winner Is" awards:The "Rising To The Occasion" Award goes to Jennifer Hudson, for surpassing her dramatic rendition of the national anthem at last week's Super Bowl with a riveting (and decidedly non-lip-synched) performance of her uplifting "You Pulled Me Through."The "Stooping To The Occasion" Award goes to Thom Yorke and Radiohead, whose whiny rendition of "15 Step" was so bad-vibed that you kind of wished they'd have just left the stage and allowed the USC Trojan Marching Band accompanying them to do the song by themselves. The "Haven't We Seen This Picture Before?" Award goes to Whitney Houston, who looked and sounded as out-of-it as a presenter in 2009 as she did as a performer in 2000, when they had to remind her that her song was over and she kind of needed to leave the stage so the show could continue.The "I Wonder What They're Thinking Right Now?" Award goes to Dean Martin's son and daughter, who after hearing Queen Latifah salute their late dad's Lifetime Achievement nod, then heard her introduce Kanye West, T.I., Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z as the "Rap Pack." Somewhere, Frank Sinatra is spinning in his grave. The "Best Date Placement" Award goes to Paul McCartney, for using his upfront aisle-seat pull to show off new gal pal Nancy Shevell. Oh, Heather...
The "I Went To The Grammys And A Boston Red Sox Game Broke Out" Award goes to Neil Diamond, for his pluperfectly cheesy rendition of the Fenway Park 8th-inning staple "Sweet Caroline." And how 'bout those eyebrows? The "Works Well With Fruit" Award goes to Katy Perry, for making the kitchiest most out of her performance of "I Kissed A Girl," complete with an entrance out of a giant peeled banana (insert your favorite Freud joke here) and a trash 'n' vaudeville outfit that, were she alive today, Carmen Miranda would kill for.The "Was This In The Script?" Award goes to presenter Samuel L. Jackson, who actually began his intro of T.I. and Justin Timberlake with the following salutation: "People of Earth!" Somewhere, Ed Wood is smiling.The "Was This In The Script II?" Award goes to presenter Craig Ferguson, who announced that he was up for a Best Sex Tape Award: "It's me vs. Screech." Even Paris Hilton blushed at that one.And, finally, the "All Kidding Aside" Award goes to NARAS chief Neil Portnow, for noting the organization's commitment to improving health care, saving music education in schools, and protecting musician's intellectual rights. And yes, past Grammy Award winner Barack Obama, a cabinet position of Secretary of the Arts is a pretty good idea. Just ask Quincy Jones.
Lil Wayne won Best Rap Album, but not Album of the Year, which, as per the Recording Academy's usual conservative bent, went to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss's Americana album Raising Sand. Coldplay won Song of the Year without anyone yelling, "Thief!" And M.I.A., wearing a sort of maternity leotard thing, made it through her part on "Swagga Like Us" without going into labor--though for any of us who actually made it through the whole darned show, labor was indeed the operative word.
As for the Chris Brown/Rihanna flareup, we'll probably need to wait for the police blotter sometime tomorrow to find out about that one.Still, the 51st Grammy Awards show did overall have its share of moments to remember. And to that end, here's our own top 10: Yahoo!'s 2009 Grammy telecast "And The Winner Is" awards:The "Rising To The Occasion" Award goes to Jennifer Hudson, for surpassing her dramatic rendition of the national anthem at last week's Super Bowl with a riveting (and decidedly non-lip-synched) performance of her uplifting "You Pulled Me Through."The "Stooping To The Occasion" Award goes to Thom Yorke and Radiohead, whose whiny rendition of "15 Step" was so bad-vibed that you kind of wished they'd have just left the stage and allowed the USC Trojan Marching Band accompanying them to do the song by themselves. The "Haven't We Seen This Picture Before?" Award goes to Whitney Houston, who looked and sounded as out-of-it as a presenter in 2009 as she did as a performer in 2000, when they had to remind her that her song was over and she kind of needed to leave the stage so the show could continue.The "I Wonder What They're Thinking Right Now?" Award goes to Dean Martin's son and daughter, who after hearing Queen Latifah salute their late dad's Lifetime Achievement nod, then heard her introduce Kanye West, T.I., Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z as the "Rap Pack." Somewhere, Frank Sinatra is spinning in his grave. The "Best Date Placement" Award goes to Paul McCartney, for using his upfront aisle-seat pull to show off new gal pal Nancy Shevell. Oh, Heather...
The "I Went To The Grammys And A Boston Red Sox Game Broke Out" Award goes to Neil Diamond, for his pluperfectly cheesy rendition of the Fenway Park 8th-inning staple "Sweet Caroline." And how 'bout those eyebrows? The "Works Well With Fruit" Award goes to Katy Perry, for making the kitchiest most out of her performance of "I Kissed A Girl," complete with an entrance out of a giant peeled banana (insert your favorite Freud joke here) and a trash 'n' vaudeville outfit that, were she alive today, Carmen Miranda would kill for.The "Was This In The Script?" Award goes to presenter Samuel L. Jackson, who actually began his intro of T.I. and Justin Timberlake with the following salutation: "People of Earth!" Somewhere, Ed Wood is smiling.The "Was This In The Script II?" Award goes to presenter Craig Ferguson, who announced that he was up for a Best Sex Tape Award: "It's me vs. Screech." Even Paris Hilton blushed at that one.And, finally, the "All Kidding Aside" Award goes to NARAS chief Neil Portnow, for noting the organization's commitment to improving health care, saving music education in schools, and protecting musician's intellectual rights. And yes, past Grammy Award winner Barack Obama, a cabinet position of Secretary of the Arts is a pretty good idea. Just ask Quincy Jones.
Beefs And Cramps
Posted Thu Feb 5, 2009 5:33pm PST by in That's Really Week
This was a fast and furious week indeed. Etta was furious with Beyonce, Bruce was furious with Ticketmaster, the entire Asian-American population was furious with Miley, and Cramps fans were furious with the Grim Reaper for taking away the band's frontman, Lux Interior, way too soon.
First, let's talk about one of the most unlikely celebrity feuds in all of music, the one that exploded this week between legendary jazz singer Etta James and the woman who played Etta in Cadillac Records, Beyonce. Now, we're not sure if Etta was displeased with Beyonce's portrayal of her in that film, but we are sure that she was unhappy with Beyonce's performance of the classic Etta song "At Last" at Barack Obama's inauguration last month. Etta made her displeasure abundantly clear last Wednesday, when--before performing "At Last" at Seattle's Paramount Theater--she launched into a shocking anti-Beyonce tirade.
"You know that woman he had singing for him, singing my song, she's going to get her a** whipped," Etta declared, before she then verbally attacked President Obama himself, referring to him as "your president...the one with the big ears," and adding, "He's not my president." Etta also said she "could not stand" Beyonce.
Whoa. "At Last" is right. At last, we have reported the oddest feud in all of R&B. 50 Cent and Rick Ross--sure, we expect that sort of beef. But Beyonce and Etta James? We didn't see that one coming.
Another angry celebrity in the news this week was Bruce Springsteen. Sure, he was in a fabulous mood last Sunday, performing feelgood anthems like "Glory Days" and "Working On A Dream" for trillions of people at the Super Bowl (and at Barack's Lincoln Memorial inauguration concert a couple weeks before that). And his Working On A Dream album debuted on the Billboard chart at number one, too. But by Wednesday, the Boss was very cross. The target of Bruce's wrath was Ticketmaster, after sales for his upcoming concerts at Meadowlands in his home state of New Jersey were thwarted by an error message on the TM website. Apparently when some fans tried to buy Bruce tickets, they instead received an ad for Ticketmaster subsidiary TicketsNow, offering tickets at hugely inflated prices. Bruce was not happy, and he blasted Ticketmaster and TicketsNow in a message on his official website. Ticketmaster CEO Irving Azoff did quickly issue an apology to Bruce and his frustrated fans, claiming it was a technical glitch, but New Jersey U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell still asked the Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department to investigate possible conflicts of interest between Ticketmaster and TicketsNow. The New Jersey attorney general's office is also investigating whether Ticketmaster violated any consumer fraud or scalping laws.
So Ticketmaster may have (inadvertently or not) infuriated thousands of Bruce buffs, but tween star Miley Cyrus managed to infuriate the entire Asian race this week, when photos of her and her underwear-model boyfriend Justin Gaston--in which they were supposedly rudely ridiculing Asians by making goofy slant-eyed faces--popped up online. Various advocacy groups, including the Organization Of Chinese Americans, demanded an apology...but when Miley finally responded to the post-photo fallout, she didn't seem really all that apologetic at all. Instead, Miley went on the defensive, claiming she was not being racist whatsoever and that the pics were taken out of context and misunderstood.
Hmmm. We wonder if the Asian-American community will add this transgression to their list of seven things they hate about Miley...
But Joaquin remains undeterred, still plans to pursue his hip-hop dream, and insists this is all legit.
"There's not a hoax," Joaquin told the press. "Might I be ridiculous? Might my career in music be laughable? Yeah, that's possible, but that's certainly not my intention."
Joaquin--whose transition from acting to music is being covered in a documentary (or maybe a mockumentary, depending on whether or not you believe Joaquin's story) shot by Casey Affleck, Ben's younger brother--also claimed that many of the clubbers who witnessed his Vegas performance firsthand were impressed by what they saw. "My experience afterward was I had a lot of dudes come up and say, 'We really respect you for doing it, putting yourself out there, and going with it.' Because I think true hip-hop heads know that it's hard, it's going to be a hard transition, and people are going to be lining up just to make fun of me."
And on that sad note, thus concludes another week in music news. Come back next Friday for more headspinning headlines (including plenty of Grammy reportage), and until then--goodnight, and good music.
David Cook hass an 'American Idol' flashback at the AMA
It wasn't the first time that David Cook had been back to L.A.'s Nokia Theatre since he won season 7 of American Idol there last spring. But performing at the American Music Awards pre-show on Sunday still brought out the jitters. "I actually get panic attacks whenever I'm in a five-mile radius of this place," he told EW.com following his two-song set in the courtyard, a stone's throw away from the Idol finale showdown stage. "It's home to one of the most nerve-wracking moments in my life." In the months since, Cook has performed at the Staples Center across the street, as part of the Idol summer tour, but Sunday's visit for the AMAs stirred up memories nonetheless. "I'm presenting, so I do have to walk on that stage. We'll see how it goes. If I have a freak-out or something, it'll make for good TV, I suppose."
In fact, for Cook and his fellow Idol finalist, David Archuleta, the competition continues, in a way. EW.com also bumped into the season 7 runner-up, getting his take on their current close race in record stores. (Archuleta's first week tally of 183,000 is already in and sales numbers for Cook's debut are due out on Wednesday.) Archuleta, for one, said he's content with his album's performance. "I'm quite comfortable with second place," he quipped. "Right behind Taylor Swift is not a bad place to be."
Blond Beauty: Christina Aguilera's AMA Glamor
Christina Aguilera was glamorous as she walked the red carpet, arriving at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles last Sunday evening. She was beautiful in a beaded gown, her hair and makeup flawless. She certainly rocked her new mom curves and fans went nuts!
More pics after the jump!
Christina performed some of her greatest hits, including Beautiful, Genie In A Bottle and Dirrty.
In Pictures: Hollywood's Most Overexposed Celebrities
No. 1: Paris Hilton
Overexposed Score: 65%*
Life has been anything but simple for one of the world's most notorious celebutantes. After spending a brief period behind bars, the elder Hilton sister is back on the Los Angeles nightclub circuit. Up next: the Simple Life star is searching for a new best friend on--what else--a reality TV show.
*Source: E-Poll Market Research, which provides over 46 "appeal" rankings for nearly 4,500 celebrities. For perspective, most celebrities are described as "overexposed" by between 3% and 7% by those polled during the peak of their careers.
The Year's Most Valuable Celebrity Faces
Be it her humanitarian efforts or her ever-expanding brood, Jolie has little trouble garnering interest--and, for that matter, landing covers। In fact, she graced nearly 30 in the past year, ranking second behind Britney Spears in the cover category. She also places second in cover sales, this time behind another Spears: Britney's teenage sister, new mother Jamie Lynn.
Aniston has once again proved highly appealing, this time landing second on our list (she topped it last year). In fact, with the exception of Heath Ledger, whose life was cut tragically short earlier this year, Aniston is the most-liked cover model of the year. And thanks to her ever-tumultuous love life, the former Friends star had eight covers all to herself during the year period.
It was Ledger's mysterious and all-too-early death that made him front-cover news--something he hadn't been prior to his passing. And while male cover subjects traditionally sell fewer copies than female ones, due to their lack of relatability for the heavily female reader base (other cover subjects Brad Pitt and Matthew McConaughey didn't make the cut), the idea of a talent like Ledger dying so young left readers grasping for answers--and buying magazines in search of them.
Though she was hardly a tabloid staple before announcing her pregnancy, a then 16-year-old Spears captivated the nation with her news। Her five covers landed her first in the cover sales category. Unfortunately, the Nickelodeon star lagged in the likability category, where she placed an unimpressive 16th.
The pint-sized party-girl-turned-protective-mom has proved her prowess at the newsstand। Richie lands third in the cover sales category, behind Jamie Lynn Spears and Angelina Jolie. But much like the younger Spears sister, her low likability score drags her down.
While she's hardly the fan favorite Jennifer Aniston is--in fact, the pop-star-turned-country-crooner ranks 14th in the likability category--Simpson ranked fourth in cover sales, thanks to the her tumultuous relationship with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo।
No. 7: Suri क्रुइसे
The adorable tot may not have much to say, but she's a master at selling magazines। At just 2-and-a-half years old, Cruise has snagged adoring fans and interested readers. In fact, she outperforms even her parents, A-listers Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, on the newsstand.
Though Shiloh has her kiddie rival Suri beat when it comes to likability, Brangelina's biological offspring was outranked in both her number of covers and cover sales।
The Hills vixen may be lacking fans--the only cover subject less likable than Montag is Britney Spears--but she can push magazines। Her four solo covers landed her at No. 6 in the cover sales category.
Like Ledger, Wilson covers--focused on his reported suicide attempt--benefited from their tragic news angle. Similarly working in his favor: fan adoration. The comedic actor placed third in likability.
Alicia Keys/Jack White Duet Surfaces, and Keys Wants to Keep Rocking
It seems that even her Majesty's Secret Service can't keep music from illicitly appearing on the interwebs. Jack White and Alicia Keys' James Bond theme has finally leaked in its entirely. Listen to it here -- and (possibly) marvel at how well Jack White's bluesy screech and rough guitars meld with Alicia Keys' so-smooth vocals on the first-ever Bond duet.
Despite Keys' presence as the Bassey-style Bond Girl singer, this one definitely sounds more like a White Stripes track than anything off of As I Am.
But Keys is sticking to her campaign of collaborating with the rocker.
"I would love to rock with him on my next album," she told Rolling Stone.
According to magazine, White wrote their duet after swapping ideas with Keys over the phone. The lyrics, he says, borrow from themes in the upcoming movie, which is all about mistrust and paranoia. As the chorus goes: "Someone that you think you can trust is just another way to die."
In real life, though, White and Keys have a bit more faith in each other. Both musicians have gone on record in the past to say that they're members of the mutual admiration society.
"I like that she sneaks odd-sounding things into pop music that shouldn't be there," White said of Keys. As for her opinion of White, she says: "I love Jack and the White Stripes, the rawness of their style. 'Seven Nation Army' obviously is crazy. And 'Icky Thump' - the intro to that is off the chain."
Britney Spears opened the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday Night. The pop singer appeared nervous and awkward. She won all three nominations.
The career of Britney Spears might have a bounce back. She was originally not going to attend the MTV Video Music Awards. However, she showed up and swept the awards by winning all three of her nominations.Her career has been overshadowed in recent years by a variety of personal woes, many of them happening less than a year ago.
Spears took home the awards for video of the year, best pop video and best female video, all for the tune "Piece of Me."
"I'm in shock right now," Spears said after accepting her third award.
The acceptance speeches were brief. However, she gave multiple thanks to God, her family and her fans.
Spears opened the ceremony with only four sentences. She also covered up her face with the microphone.
"Thank you so much. Thank you for all the love. I'm here tonight to celebrate a very important birthday, the 25th anniversary of the VMAs. This is the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards and it starts right now."
That was about it for the opener.
One other upset about the awards was the lack of 25th anniversary performers. If this was to be an anniversary ceremony, they forgot to invite them.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are the latest celebrities to donate money to help fight Prop 8. The California Proposition 8 would eliminate same-sex marriage. The ban proposal will enter the November ballot.
Brad Pitt said he will not marry Angelina Jolie until the right extends to everyone. He has donated $100,000 to fight Proposition 8 which would put a ban on same-sex marriage. Pitt and Jolie are the latest celebrities to be added to the tally.
By: Rob Adams
Sep 18, 2008 15:54 PM GMT
Brad Pitt once said he vows not to marry Angelina Jolie until everyone has the right to marriage. The actor has donated $100,000 to help fight California's Proposition 8.
Proposition 8 will allow voters to eliminate the rights of gay couples to marry. It will enter the ballot in November,
In May, the California Supreme Court struck down a ban on same-sex marriage. However, state voters now must decide in November, whether to abolish those new rights.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are the latest celebrities to fight against Proposition 8.
Proposition 8 opponents have raised over $11 million so far in contributions. Prop 8 supporters have raided nearly $17 million.
Anniversary Of Harry Potter Debut Celebrated In SoHo
It's been a decade since a young wizard named Harry Potter put his spell on the hearts and imaginations of millions of fans across the world.
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the first book in the series, turned 10 years old Tuesday, and to celebrate, fans read it aloud cover-to-cover in SoHo.
The mainly-adult crowd was lined up for hours outside Scholastic headquarters, waiting for the chance to read a passage from the first of J.K. Rowling's seven books about Harry and his friends and their education in wizardry at the Hogwarts School.
The book has sold more than 100 million copies. Five movies based on the books have followed, and more are on the way.
The first to read was series co-editor Arthur Levine.
"It starts with just an author I love and a book that I love," he said. "And here it has reached the largest potential audience it could possibly reach," he said.
For many, reading from "The Sorcerer's Stone" brought back fond memories of their first taste of Potter mania.
"I still remember the first time I read it," said fan Ariel Birdoff. "At the end of that first chapter, I was just hooked."
"The first book, I think for everyone, is always the one," said fan Jill Pantozzi. "It started it all."
While Harry Potter fans hold a special place in their heart for the first book in the series, it's not necessarily their favorite one.
"My personal favorite characters aren't even in book one, so I think that the other books are definitely better," said fan Wendy Hockstein. "I think that seven is if not the best, one of the best."
In pictures: Harry Potter book 7 goes on sale!
This little boy had to wait for his dad to buy his copy of Deathly Hallows in Beijing, China। 
In Jakarta, Indonesia, this girl found a spot away from all the crowds to get stuck into Harry's latest adventure।
In Germany a special reading event, called Mugglefest, was put on by the members of the German Harry Potter fan club.
The book went on sale at the same moment all around the world. In Tel Aviv in Israel people bought it at 2am.
High Court dismisses case of Harry Potter vs. Hari Puttar
The Delhi High Court Monday dismissed a plea by Hollywood studio Warner Bros against Mirchi Movies' forthcoming film 'Hari Puttar - A Comedy of Terrors' for alleged copyright violation.Justice Reva Khetrapal dismissed the plea stating that Warner Bros could have brought the case three years ago and said that people could easily distinguish Hari Puttar from Harry Potter.The judge found that there was no 'commonality' between the names. He allowed the producer of the Bollywood film to release it as per schedule."Consumers who had read Harry Potter books written by J.K. Rowling were sufficiently educated to know that Hari Puttar was different," the judge said in her 26-page interim order."The defendants (Warner Bros) have painstakingly trudged a considerable distance in the production of the film, which is now complete and at the stage of release... Their belated attempts to trip up the defendants at the finishing line is a course which, in my opinion, is diametrically opposed to the cardinal principle," the judge said in the order.Warner Bros filed the case against the movie saying the title 'Hari Puttar...' is similar to 'Harry Potter', Warner's franchise of Rowling's book series, and therefore an infringement of its intellectual property rights.The court decision means the Indian film can be released in India Sep 26.Mirchi Movies contended that 'Hari Puttar...' is an Indian name, meaning god's son in Hindi and Punjabi.'Hari Puttar...', about a lonely kid's adventure, was earlier slated for release Sep 19 but was deferred due to the legal tangles.Hari Puttar tells the story of a 10-year-old boy who moves to England with his family and becomes involved in a plan to save the world.Directed by Lucky Kohli and Rajesh Bajaj, the film stars Sarika, Jackie Shroff, Zain Khan, Swini Khara, Saurabh Shukla, Vijay Raaj and Lilette Dubey.
The Magic Continues With the Release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" in Paperback on July 7, 2009
Fans of Harry Potter are keeping the magic alive online and in bookstores, schools, libraries and homes all across the country with fans re-reading the series and new fans starting at the beginning। There are anniversaries to celebrate, a new charity book in December from J.K. Rowling and now -- the announcement from Scholastic that the paperback edition of J.K. Rowling's bestselling and final Harry Potter novel, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," (ISBN 0-545-13970-8; price $14.99), will be released on July 7, 2009. With an initial print run of 2 million copies, this will bring the total number of the seven Harry Potter books in print to over 143 million in the U.S. alone. The paperback edition follows the record-breaking release of the hardcover edition which hit stores at 12:01 on July 21, 2007 and has sold 14 million copies since then, making it the fastest selling book in publishing history.
"We have another big year planned for Harry," said Ellie Berger, President of Trade, Scholastic. "As we look toward the tenth anniversary of the U.S. publication of J.K. Rowling's first Harry Potter novel, we are thrilled to continue to bring Harry Potter to fans of all ages in new and exciting ways."
As previously announced, Scholastic is releasing two Harry Potter books this fall:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" -- On September 23, 2008, in honor of the tenth anniversary of the publication of J.K. Rowling's debut novel, Scholastic will publish a special anniversary edition. Including an exclusive drawing of Snape drawn by J.K. Rowling and a description in her own words, the book also features new jacket artwork and a four-color frontispiece by Mary GrandPré. To celebrate the day, Scholastic is inviting fans of all ages to come to its headquarters in New York City to be part of "Harry Potter Cover to Cover Day," an all-day read-a-thon starting at 8:00 a.m. Fans who can't be in New York can view the all-day read-a-thon through a live webcast at The Tales of Beedle the Bard" -- On December 4, 2008, the Children's High Level Group, the English charity, co-founded by J.K. Rowling and Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, MEP, to protect and promote children's rights and make life better for vulnerable young people, will publish "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" in cooperation with Scholastic, Bloomsbury and Amazon. One of these tales -- The Tale of the Three Brothers -- is recounted in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." The remaining four stories are revealed for the very first time in "The Tales of Beedle the Bard."
Scholastic Corporation is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site,
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt on the Move to Germany
The Hollywood couple and their six children left the country on Tuesday, landing at Berlin's Tempelhof airport. Reports state the family will be staying Germany for about 90 days in a villa south of the capital city. Pitt is due to begin filming the new Quentin Tarantino film Inglorious Bastards there next month. The 30,000 square-foot Palais Parkschloss on Wannsee Lake boasts a private helicopter landing pad, a dock and a full security system equipped with a staff of 14 bodyguards. Jolie and Pitt--who signed a long-term lease on the French estate--have yet to confirm if they have purchased or rented the property. |
Celine has suggested that Charice Pempengco do a duet with her
It was announced during the Oprah Winfrey show last September 9th, and Cha-watchers have been anticipating the Celine concert with a renewed interest.
In the Oprah Winfrey show, Celine has suggested that Charice do a duet with her, “Because You Loved Me” and dedicate it to her mother, who has been a pillar of support for the youngster since she started joining singing contests since she was yea’ high up until now, when her talent is being discovered and appreciated.
and what a tribute it was! Here’s an excerpt on the introduction made by Celine:
“You know, usually I do not talk but tonight there is something very special that I would like to speak to you about. A few weeks ago I received a call from my dear friend Oprah (audience shouts) who actually told me about an incredible young singer (applause), whom she discovered a while back. If you watched Oprah last week, you know all about her. This young lady’s name is Charice. (applause) She’s 16 years old and she’s from the Philippines. Let me tell you, she has a voice that can literally blow the roof of Madison Square Garden. And she just might. But the real story is how Charice and her mom’s terrifying experience, and had to leave violent father, to start life of their own. Charice vowed to save her mom from a life of desparation and despair. You know, through prayers, dreams and God-given Talent, incredible voice, Charice entered and won every singing contest in her native country. And eventually noticed by such influential people, you know, like Oprah. And Oprah took her under her wings and David Foster joined her.
You know I had a chance to see Charice perform one of my songs on Oprah last week. I have a little bit of difficulty talking right now because I met Charice and i got so emotional. And so I’m searching, looking for words, trying to control my emotions.
I invited her tonight to sing with me, where are you sweetheart?
Charice and her mom were seated in the audience (section 147), she stood and walked to the stage, where Celine was waiting. Dressed in a deep-purple empire-waisted cocktail dress, with shirred bodice and cap sleeves accented with a lime green ribbon, and her hair parted on the left, held in place by a barrette, she was a picture of young innocence. Celine met and hugged her the moment she got onstage, and they held hands towards the center. Charice’s voice could barely be heard while Celine was talking to her, saying she was nervous.
Celine said these inspiring words, to help allay her nervousness:
First of all let me tell you, you look spectacular, you look so beautiful… People understand that you are nervous, let me tell you, talent you have it; you strength we’re not even going to talk about it because you have. Now I have to tell you that the family, we will talk because you have to. One time, my manager, my husband, told me, coz when I started to sing, I was 12 years old. So 12 and 16 it’s the same (eliciting a laugh from the audience). He told I know you are nervous, don’t be you’re scared. You love to sing, when you go up there you’ll be nervous. But I’ll give you an image you’ll think about, think that all these people in front of you are your brothers. They cannot wait to hear you sing.
So I think you want to dedicate the song to your mother, so we’re gonna sing Because You Loved Me for your Mother.
Someone in the audience started chanting “Go Charice!” before they started singing. The audience reacted to almost every word that Celine said. Mom Racquel was shown on the screen in the middle of the song.
Celine was a gracious host, allowing Charice to be in her element and shine throughout the whole song. The emotion that is inspired when these two sang, is so intense, I can’t see the keyboard in front of me. The audience themselves were already standing halfway through the song, and gave a thunderous and very looong round of applause after they finished the song.
And don’t forget, this performance will be shown on Oprah on the 19th, so set your TIVOs on, or join us on the Friday night watch, to catch the first airing of Oprah।
60th Annual Primetime Emmy Winners
HOLLYWOOD - See which of your favorite shows got love from Emmy voters--and which didn't.
Best Comedy:
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock WINNER!
Two and a Half Men
Best Drama:
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men WINNER!
Best Actress, Comedy:
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock WINNER!
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Best Actor, Comedy:
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock WINNER!
Steve Carell, The Office
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
Best Supporting Actress, Comedy:
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Jean Smart, Samantha Who? WINNER!
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
Best Supporting Actor, Comedy:
Jeremy Piven, Entourage WINNER!
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Rainn Wilson, The Office
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Best Actress, Drama:
Glenn Close, Damages WINNER!
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Best Actor, Drama:
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad WINNER!
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
James Spader, Boston Legal
Best Supporting Actress, Drama:
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment WINNER!
Best Supporting Actor, Drama:
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Ted Danson, Damages
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages WINNER!
Michael Emerson, Lost
John Slattery, Mad Men
The Emmy Awards
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HBO After Party
On Emmy night the only place filled with more glittery winged statuettes than the trophy room is HBO’s annual after party. (Read Story)
Backstage Photos
Catch all the action backstage with the winners, including Tina Fey, Jeremy Piven and more! (View Gallery)
Emmys Recap
Check out the highlights, lowlights and random observations from the telecast of the 60th Annual Primetime Emmys... (Read Story)
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Arriving at the Emmys with Heidi Klum, America Ferrara, Tina Fey and many more! (View gallery)
Our Emmy Predictions
Hollywood.com's Brian Marder takes a stab at guessing the winners, something that's always tough to predict. (Read story)
Emmy Nominees Sound Off
And the Emmy goes to...Hollywood.com talks with TV's tops about what it's like to be honored by the academy. (Read story)
Pick Your Own Emmy Winners
Vote in our poll and see how close you get to choosing the winner's Sunday night! (Vote Now)
60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners
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