September 13, 2005

Becoming a mother is exciting. "Safe, home, happy, thrilled to death," said Marc Liepis, a spokesman for Tina Fey as the "Saturday Night Live" comedian-writer has just given birth to her first child, a daughter, with husband Jeff Richmond.

Named Alice Richmond, the baby born on Saturday in New York, weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces. Thus, Fey will surely take a brief maternity leave from "Saturday Night Live," which premieres its 31st season Oct. 1.

Pop star Britney Spears has caused many to speculate that she's given birth four weeks early when she was taken to St John's clinic in Santa Monica September 11. Shortly thereafter, many media reported that Spears has had her baby, though her publicist disputed the rumors, saying "Britney Spears has not given birth."

Still according to the rumors sparked, husband Kevin Federline, mother Lynne and brother Jamie Lynn also were with her for the emergency delivery. The pregnant singer herself denied reports she has given birth to her first child prematurely. Her UK publicist David Frossman said: "Britney Spears has not given birth. She's not even in hospital. The baby is due some time in the next month."

"Siberia" that's a cool name labeled to an album. The U.K. rock act Echo & The Bunnymen's new release is set to marry the street in the United States on September 20, before then the group will begin a North American tour in Washington D.C. on November 18.

The 11-track set, released via Cooking Vinyl USA, consisting songs like "Stormy Weather," "Parthenon Drive" and "Sideways Eight." As for the video for "Stormy Weather," it can be viewed at http://www.bunnymen.com.

British superstar Sting along with Richard Carpenter of The Carpenter helped out on the newest offering from the Russian pop duo, t.A.T.u. The two collaborated for t.A.T.u's sophomore album, "Dangerous and Moving," which comes out in the United States via Interscope Oct. 11.

In the 12-track set Sting played bass on "Friend or Foe," while Carpenter arranged and conducted the string parts for "Gomenasai." The album's first single, "All About Us," hits dance clubs this month and will be sent to Top 40 radio in October. Meanwhile, the "All the Things She Said" hit-makers are celebrating the birth of a new member of their extended family, in which singer Julia Volkova recently had a baby with her girlfriend.

Rock star Korn has inked a deal with Virgin Records that covers a recording deal and a partnership with parent company EMI Music for touring, music publishing, merchandising and sponsorship. Per EMI, the deal is modeled on its arrangement with U.K. notable singer Robbie Williams, in which both parties benefit from the revenue generated by non-album activities.

Korn's as-yet-untitled Virgin debut is expected before the end of the year. The new album will be the follow-up to the band 2003's "Take a Look in the Mirror," and will also be their first since guitarist Brian "Head" Welch departed in February to follow God.

The King of Pop is back and has shown his power. Yes, Michael Jackson still has the power with him that he urges pop superstar Mariah Carey, rappers Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z, James Brown and other top artists to perform on a charity single for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. As his spokeswoman Raymone Bain said Monday, Jacko has recruited those and will team up with other musicians, like Lenny Kravitz; rappers Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott; R&B crooners Ciara, Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, Yolanda Adams, R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige, and 1970s soul icons the O'Jays.

"Mr. Jackson is continuing to reach out to artists who would like to work with him on this project, which he humbly hopes will make a tremendous difference to all individuals who have been affected by this tragedy," so Bain explained. Concerning the project, Jackson will return to the United States to record the song, tentatively titled "From the Bottom of My Heart," which all proceeds will be donated to hurricane victims.

"Napoleon Dynamite" star Jon Heder is about to play the lead role in a new comedy titled "Mama's Boy." The comedy is about an arrogant pseudo-intellectual whose ideal home life is thrown into peril when his mother falls in love with a self-help guru.

Tim Hamilton will make his directorial debut in this film, while Hank Nelken wrote the script. Filming on "Mama's Boy" is due to begin in February 2006 as Warner Independent Pictures are looking forward to have the film in cinemas in the US by February 2006, with a UK date follows soon after.

"Crash," a tale of disparate, disconnected Los Angeles residents whose paths cross over a 36-hour period, has been awarded the Top Prize of the Deauville Film Festival, held Sunday at the Normandy resort. The Paul Haggis direction stars the like of Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser, Matt Dillon, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe and Jennifer Esposito.

The Deauville Film Festival actually is European showcase for mainly American movies, which's been started since September 2. In addition to "Crash," "Keane" by Lodge Kerrigan and "On the Outs" by Lori Silverbush and Michael Skolnik have both shared the Jury Prize.

Moviegoers and film industry may feel lost or, on the other way around, feel glad as Chinese action star Jackie Chan said Monday he expects to stop starring in action films in five years, but will remain busy by producing and directing. The star was in Malaysia to promote "The Myth," while confirming he wanted to produce action films, make small-budget movies and documentaries and help train young directors and stunt actors.

"I don't think I'll retire," he said. "Maybe from the screen, but (not) behind the screen." Further Chan said he will return with a kung fu project to be shot late next year or early 2007, probably with the makers of the "Rush Hour" action-comedy series, which has marked his biggest international success so far.

Oscar means everything that Academy Award winners, Charlize Theron and Gwyneth Paltrow, both willingly portrayed unglamorous roles at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday, promoting the type of issue-oriented dramas traditionally loved by Oscar voters. As for Theron, she starred in Niki Caro direction, titled "North Country." It is based on the story of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States.

Played a single mother who rallies women workers to rise above the abuse they face at a local mining company, Theron co-starred with Frances McDormand, Sissy Spacek, and Woody Harrelson. Whereas, Paltrow stars in "Proof," based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Auburn. She portrays a young woman who is struggling with the fine line between genius and madness and has to wrestle with the possibility that she might inherit the madness of her mentally ill father, a brilliant mathematician. Paltrow has, for the screen performance, reunited with director John Madden.

She is widely popular as an actress and her many films have helped her to reach fame, popularity and wealth as well. Though, just like any other people, she is only a human who still can feel with her inner self.

She's Angelina Jolie, the actress who has a very deep concern about hunger and disease, especially that happens to children. As an attempt to awaken people's awareness on that matters, Jolie has handed over home video footage she shot during a recent trip to Africa to be aired by MTV next week.

Former Beatle, Paul McCartney releases his 13th solo album, "Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard," today as he prepares to launch his latest U.S. tour, which brings him to Glendale Arena on Nov. 23. The album, consisting of 13 songs, is McCartney's first since 2001's "Driving Rain," for which he's teamed up with producer Nigel Godrich, known for his work with Radiohead, Beck Hansen and Travis.

In addition to the CD's 13 official songs, there is also a "hidden track" appears at the end of the disc. Overall, Time magazine has declared "Chaos and Creation" to be McCartney's first album that matters since The Beatles broke up 35 years ago.

In Touch magazine has held a poll on celebrity fashion offenders, and as the result comes out, the name of actress-turned-punk rocker Juliette Lewis appears on top of the poll. Just bellow her is Bjork, Stacy Ferguson, and Serena Williams, all of whom comes in a row at No. 2 to No. 4. At No. 5 is Paula Abdul, who soon followed by Samaire Armstrong at 6th and Regina King at 7th. Rounding out the Top 10 are Janet Jackson at No. 8, Tara Reid at No. 9, and Felicity Huffman at No. 10.

Director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio are teaming up for a film about the life of former US President Theodore Roosevelt. The movie, titled "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt," is the adaptation of Edmund Morris's Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same title.

The San Juan direction will chronicle the life of Roosevelt as he progressed from a New York politician to commander of the Rough Riders, the First US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, and on to the White House in 1901. Nicholas Meyer is writing the script, while Scorsese will direct and DiCaprio will star in the title role.

ABC's "Desperate Housewives" star, Teri Hatcher, is the new spokeswoman for Clairol's Nice 'n Easy hair color. The actress, who has had a spot of gray since she was 25, will star in both print and TV ads for the at-home product.

"In all my career, in my ups and downs, I've never had a beauty campaign. This was meaningful that at almost 41 years old, I could be getting my first beauty campaign. It made me feel really great," said Hatcher about her new project.

Hollywood actor Matt Damon is engaged to girlfriend, Luciana Barroso, Us Weekly has reported. A publicist for the star confirmed the magazine that after dating for two years, Damon popped the question "shortly before Labor Day."

However, the couple hasn't set a wedding date, US Weekly said. The marriage would be the first for Damon, and the second for Barroso who has had a daughter, Alexa, from a previous relationship.

DreamWorks Pictures will in the near future out a new film. It's titled "The Kite Runner," an adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's best-selling novel that William Horberg is producing with Marc Forster to direct and David Benioff wrote the screenplay.

"The Kite Runner" follows a man who returns to his native Afghanistan, which is under Taliban rule, to right a long-standing wrong and rescue the son of a childhood friend. The book, which the film based on, was Hosseini's debut novel and published by Riverhead Press in spring 2003 to glowing reviews and has remained on the New York Times paperback fiction best-seller list since September 2004.