February 22, 2007

Fully aware that its recent production of "Dreamgirls" may have confused the public in connection with Motown Records, DreamWorks Pictures has put full-page advertisements on Wednesday, February 21, stating that the movie was indeed a work of fiction while apologizing for any confusion with the label.

"'Dreamgirls' is a work of fiction. It is also an homage to Motown," the ads claimed. "For any confusion that has resulted from our fictional work, we apologize to Mr. Gordy and all of the incredible people who were part of that great legacy. It is vital that the public understand that the real Motown story has yet to be told."

Both have made their way in Hollywood and now are vying to be the best in Mexican film industry.

Yes, "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Cronicas" have just been announced by the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences to be the leading contenders at the 49th annual Ariel Awards, Mexico's equivalent to Academy Awards.

Another trouble has come towards Brandy. The singer has been hit by a second lawsuit over a December freeway crash.

The new lawsuit, filed Feb. 8 in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of victim Awatef Aboudihaj's parents, Aboudihaj Ahmed and Labridi Zohra, claimed the singer had recklessly caused the Dec. 30 crash on the San Diego Freeway that killed Awatef.

All apparently ends well for the 20th Century Fox regarding the "Borat" versus the two college guys case. Los Angeles Judge Joseph Biderman has finally granted its request to scuttle the fraud lawsuit placed by Christopher Rotunda and Justin Seay who alleged that they were tricked to make racist and sexist comments in the flick.

Fox's attorney, Louis Petrich, previously filed a motion Wednesday, February 14 claiming that the movie at the center of the lawsuit brought against the company and actor Sacha Baron Cohen obviously falls within the state's definition of speech regarding matters of public concern and so, asked the legal suit to be dismissed in turn.

Kate Walsh, the actress who plays the role of sexy neonatal surgeon Dr. Addison Montgomery-Shepherd in ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," is about to leave the series as the network has decided to pursue a "Grey's" spin-off with Dr. Addison as the lead character.

Concerning the new project, "Grey's" creator Shonda Rhimes is still working on it but has yet decided on a title. Rhimes, in fact, revealed on the idea to write a special two-hour episode to serve as the pilot, which is about to debut later in May. Meanwhile, ABC has no comment on that matter.

This just in. American hit TV series "American Idol" has reportedly scheduled the multi-talented Jennifer Lopez to perform on their April 11th show. Report on that matter was first brought to public by Access Hollywood who claimed to have learned on that encounter from reliable sources.

If only the report proven true, J.Lo will then follow in the footsteps of Prince, Mary J. Blige and Shakira, who have all taken to the 'American Idol' stage. Greater than that, Access Hollywood has also learned that Gwen Stefani is slated to perform on "Idol" on March 28th.

Picking up more members in "The Mist" cast lineup, Dimension Films has added both Marcia Gay Harden and Toby Jones to the horror project, which has already included Thomas Jane, Laurie Holden, and Andre Braugher in the list.

An adaptation of Stephen King's novella of the same title, the flick concerns a group of people who gather up in a local supermarket after a thick unnatural mist spreads across the town and unleashes numerous murderous critters. Production is currently underway to meet a November 21 release.

The American ABC network came up Wednesday Feb 21st with the names of celebrities who will compete on the fourth season of "Dancing with the Stars." Among the group of celebrities mentioned are Heather Mills, the estranged wife of Paul McCartney, world female boxing champion Laila Ali, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, and country music star Billy Ray Cyrus just to name a few.

Also in the line-up will be former NSYNC boy band member Joey Fatone, Olympic speed-skater Apolo Anton Ohno, former basketball star Clyde Drexler, TV-radio host Leeza Gibbons and Vincent Pastore, who appeared on "The Sopranos." As of the cast for the upcoming season of "Dancing," which premieres on March 19, was announced on ABC's "Good Morning America" program.

Another big-budget sci-fi remake is on the move, this time at the 20th Century Fox. The studio has confirmed through FirstShowing.net that it is about to develop "The Day the Earth Stood Still", a new version of its 1951 movie of the same title directed by Robert Wise.

No words yet about cast, crew, and production schedule, but Fox has claimed that the picture will be released on May 9 next year, 4 months and 23 days earlier than the original's release date fifty-six years ago.

Notwithstanding with all the bad publication, Kevin Federline does know how to be the right man in the right time and place. The man, who is the father of Britney Spears' two children Sean Preston and Jayden James, hit hard right to the target. The failed rapper is about to go to court Thursday Feb 22nd, reportedly for an emergency hearing regarding custody of his two sons with Spears.

K-Fed and his lawyers are scheduled to appear in court within hours, early morning on Thursday. It is believed Kevin will be going to court to re-negotiate the custody agreement he reached with Spears, which had been extended from January and will come to an end next week.

Making a great match for Penelope Cruz, Woody Allen has smoothly included Javier Bardem in to star opposite the actress in his untitled Spanish flick, which is planned to be made after the completion of his third London movie, "Cassandra's Dream."

Written and directed by Allen, the picture has already had both his sister Letty Aronson and Jaume Roures onboard to serve as the producers. While not much is known of the film's plot, as is often the case with Allen's movies, filming is expected to start this summer in Barcelona under Mediapro and Gravier Productions banner.

New rumors surface by the hour that Pete Wentz, Fall Out Boy frontman, is dating Rumer Willis, the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore.

Wentz and Rumer were both seen hooked up at Hollywood's Shag nightclub at the weekend, with "Rumer looked like she was having a great time with Pete," a spywitness told The Sun. "He's a good looking boy and they sat together in the VIP area while their pals danced."

Horror fans, wait for something interesting coming from the hands of Mike De Luca. Variety has reported that the renowned producer is teaming up with Phoenix Pictures to develop a thriller horror feature entitled "Already Dead", an adaptation of Charlie Huston's 2005 vampire novel which is the first of a five-book series that the producers are eyeing as a potential franchise.

No production schedule set yet for the flick, but it is confirmed that "Con Air" scribe Scott Rosenberg will pen the screenplay with De Luca producing through his Mike De Luca Productions. The pair recently joined forces to make an untitled project for Sony Pictures that follows a former thief as he returns to action aboard the Orient Express.

Norah Jones reclaims her position on the Billboard Hot 200. The singer returns to the top spot of the US album charts Wednesday Feb 21st, with her album "Not Too Late" sold another 211,000 copies for the week ended Sunday Feb 18th. "Not Too Late" is Jones' third album, a follow up to her second LP, "Feels Like Home" which was released in 2004 to high sales.

Following close behind at the 2nd spot on the chart is the late Gerald Levert's posthumous release "In My Songs" moves 165,000 copies. The "Grammy Nominees 2007" compilation, in the meantime, rises four places to No. 3 with 131,000 copies, while Corinne Bailey Rae's self-titled debut bounces five places to No. 4 with 120,000. Fall Out Boy's "Infinity on High", who was last week's chart topper, falls to No. 5 with 119,000.

What the hell Britney Spears is thinking? I guess she has lost her mind. The pop singer provoked another frenzy when she on Wednesday Feb 21st abruptly checked out of a rehabilitation facility, just hours after checking in. That was the second time in a week that she had fled a treatment center within 24 hours.

On the incident, the television news magazine "The Insider" initially reported that Spears called a car service, walked out of the Promises Residential Treatment Centers in Malibu, Calif., and left the facility early Wednesday morning despite the short of the usual 45-day stay. Rumors on the street say the troubled singer couldn't handle rehab and went home.

The "Desperate Housewives" star Marcia Cross and her husband Tom Mahoney happily welcomed the arrival of their first child Tuesday February 20th. The actress gave birth to fraternal twin girls, named Eden and Savannah, in Los Angeles.

Confirming the arrival of the babies, a representative for Cross said, "Mother and babies are all doing well."