May 12, 2007

It's still two years later before it can greet the moviegoers in theaters yet protests have already been addressed to Walt Disney Feature Animation's "The Frog Princess", which marks the studio's return to the traditional 2D version.

According to Disney watcher Jim Hill, the rage directed to the flick was for its alleged racial and ethnic insensitivities that were detected in its original announcement of the film. Most debated about was its title, which might be regarded as a slur on the French, as well as the name of the main character, Maddy, that reportedly was sounded too much like Mammy.

British new sensation Mika will write a song for Irish band Westlife. The exquisite and unique sound that Mika has written in his debut album "Life in Cartoon Motion" is hoped to bring freshness in Westlife's new album.

"Mika has given pop a good kick start again in the fun department and turned around many opinions that the scene had perhaps gone a little stale," a source told Daily Star. "Westlife have been around for nine years now and want to freshen up their sound so Mika is exactly the man to do that."

Well, it's still quite a long way there before moviegoers can see "The Dark Knight" march toward the big screen, but Warner Bros. Pictures apparently has begun its first step in establishing a medium between the project and its fans.

Yes, the company has just launched a teaser page for the highly-anticipated flick on the net, which can be accessed here . Nothing submitted yet except for a picture of the Batman signal in the middle of it.

Bobby Brown is broke and thus trying to cash in no matter how and what. The singer sues ex-wife Whitney Houston, seeking spousal support and changes to the custody arrangement for their daughter Bobbi Kristina.

In the court documents filed in Orange County, Calif., Brown claims financial and emotional problems prevented him from filing a response to Houston's divorce petition, saying "After Whitney and I separated, I had nowhere to go and very little money to live on. I was, for all intents and purposes, homeless."

Sugarland is enjoying the full speed of their career as singer Jennifer Nettles announced that the duo is currently in process of another record. Apparently, they are used to writing materials in a short length of time.

"We started writing and it's much nicer this time," Nettles said. "We're enjoying the ride. Basically, we wrote the last record in about two weeks over the course of three months. We were really under the gun, time-wise. So to have a little bit more time is really a gift."

Angelina Jolie has been tapped to be the new face of Japanese cosmetic giant Shiseido.

Jolie will promote Shiseido's powder eye color and liquid eye color in Japan. The ads, shot by Camilla Akrans at Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles on April 20th, will start airing in September 2007 and will appear in a magazines and billboards by March next year.

Talking about her upcoming big screen projects to Cinematical, Mena Suvari has revealed to the site that she will next star in "The Garden of Eden", a drama feature based on Ernest Hemingway's novel of the same title published posthumously in 1986.

Directed by English filmmaker John Irvin, the picture is set in Spain and presents a story about an American writer and his wife who both fall in love with a beautiful young woman named Marita, a character Suvari is presumably poised to play.

Country diva Trisha Yearwood left her label of 16 years for an indie label. She switches from MCA Nashville to Big Machine Records to record her upcoming album.

Big Machine, which is the same label that wraps Taylor Swift, Jimmy Wayne and Jack Ingram, has Scott Borchetta as the president and CEO. Scott indeed has been working with Yearwood throughout her stay in MCA. He will assist her again in the upcoming album which is slated for early 2008 release and will be accompanied during the process by Yearwood's long time producer, Garth Fundis.

After catapulting singers, seeking songwriters and launching charity program, reality show American Idol is now searching for "The Next Great American Band". Produced by Fox, the show will tour around America to conduct an audition for eligible bands.

The show is still reaching its early stages and a name for the program is still under work. Its official website has revealed that after the audition, the bands that come from "groups of all ages, styles and genres" will compete for ten semifinalist slots.

With the absence of James Iha in the reunion and bassist D'arcy Wretzky's static response, The Smashing Pumpkins have to find other way to fill in the gap. Two names have allegedly been revealed to become the band's new members.

Ginger Reyes, a bassist from all girl punk band Halo Friendlies, has been reported joining the band along with The Lassie Foundation's ex guitarist Jeff Schroeder. The Smashing Pumpkins' publicist Mitch Schneider however said that there has been no official recruitment for the two and that they are still considering some 'things'.

David Beckham is lending his profile for a new campaign besides those he did for Adidas, Gillette and Police sunglasses among others. The soccer god has become the face of mosquito nets, putting his name to an anti malaria campaign supplying the potentially life-saving nets to Africa.

Beckham is having his figure featured in a commercial screened in the US for MalariaNoMore.org urging viewers to pledge $10, the cost of one net, towards the cause. The black and white advertisement shows the hunk practicing his trademark curling free-kicks.

Celebrating their latest CGI animated comedy "Ratatouille", which will grace theaters June 29 this year, Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios are bringing up what called as "The Big Cheese Tour" to cities across the States for public to participate and know more about the flick, President of Buena Vista Pictures Marketing Jim Gallagher announced Friday, May 11.

"'Ratatouille' is the one truly original comedy this summer and we are very excited to let families all over the country get a unique and up close flavor for the film's humor, exciting Parisian backdrop and its wonderful characters through the 'Big Cheese Tour' experience," Gallagher remarked.

The other Spice Girl is looking her way up back to stardom. Geri Halliwell is the latest being lined up for her own chat show.

The Ginger Spice is gearing up to film a pilot, which will be made by independent firm Talkback Thames, who also produce "The Apprentice" and "X Factor." If it goes down well with the bosses it will be considered for a peak-time weekday slot.

Embracing his Italian roots, Nicolas Cage is poised to take the lead in action drama "The Untouchables: Capone Rising", which will reunite him with director Brian De Palma after "Snake Eyes", MTV has revealed.

A prequel to the 1987 classic "The Untouchables", the project will see Cage play a younger version of the titular character, Al Capone, whose early dealings with Irish cop Jim Malone becomes the center of its story. Capone, known as the leader of criminal gang Chicago Outfit, was notorious for enabling the illegal traffic of alcoholic beverages during the time of their prohibition in the 1920s and 1930s.

While a picture is worth a thousand words, the smile of America Ferrera is worth million of dollars. The "Ugly Betty" actress has just had her smile insured for $10 million by New Aquafresh White Trays through Lloyd's of London policy Thursday May 10th during a New York charity awareness event.

Ferrera is teaming up with Aquafresh White Trays, a teeth whitening product manufacturer, to help raise money for Smiles for Success, a charity that helps women going from welfare to the workforce who cannot afford the cost of dental care.

Beyonce Knowles has been tapped to be the face of Giorgio Armani's new perfume, Emporio Armani Diamonds.

The actress-singer is about to lend her looks and vocal talents to a TV advertising campaign, singing "an old American song" in the commercials, after being handpicked by the revered Italian designer.

At last the curtain veiling the identity of "Fame" director is rolled up. Filmjerk has informed that MGM has given the position to "She's the Man" helmer Andy Fickman, who recently finished production on Disney's family comedy "The Game Plan."

A remake to the 1980 musical flick directed by Alan Parker, pic will be made using around $25 million budget and set up at Lakeshore Entertainment for a summer 2008 release. Serving as producer is Mark Canton, whose latest producing work of "300" has turned up to be one of the early blockbuster films for this year.

Rebecca Romijn and Rebecca Gayheart are the next to share same sex kiss and embrace. The two actresses are set to do the scene on the upcoming episode of hit sitcom "Ugly Betty."

Claiming to have no problems smooching Gayheart, Romijn said, "The smooch wasn't nearly as bad as the embrace we had to endure afterwards. For some reason they needed this long embrace to happen and neither of us could keep it together."

It's a baby boy for Jaime Pressly and fiance Eric Cubiche.

The Emmy-nominated star of NBC's "My Name Is Earl" gave birth to her son, Dezi James, Friday May 11th at 7:31 a.m. in Los Angeles and weighed 6 lbs. 4 oz.

This just in. Sheryl Crow has just adopted a baby boy.

The singer-songwriter, who underwent breast cancer surgery in February 2006, announced Friday May 11th she has adopted a 2-week-old baby boy.