March 18, 2008

The music video for "Never Never Land", a new joint from R'nB singer Lyfe Jennings has been premiered on BET. The song is the second single from Jennings' forthcoming album "Lyfe Change" that is due April 29 via Columbia Records.

"Never Never Land" has been preceded with the track "Cops Up" that was released late last year. The video itself portrayed Jennings recalling the past four years of his life that was started with violent lifestyle involving club fights. His girlfriend, however, never backs out on him throughout the years and in the end of the clip there is a quote from him that is read: "Family, it never goes out of style".

Kristin Davis is the latest celebrity to be ensnared in a sex tape scandal. The "Sex and the City" actress sparked media frenzy Monday, March 17 as "leaked" photos from a sex tape allegedly starring her performing oral sex on an unidentified man were spread across the Internet.

Rumors began circulating that day on a sex tape featuring Davis being shopped around. It was reported that the owner planned to release photos of Davis slowly to build suspense. Others claimed that it was all a publicity stunt for the upcoming "Sex and the City" movie.

The star of the hit drama comedy television series "Ugly Betty" America Ferrera has been tapped to lend her voice for animation film "How to Train Your Dragon". According to Variety, the 23-year-old actress has been cast along with Gerard Butler, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel and Christopher Mintz-Plasse for the DreamWorks' project.

The co-star of Alexis Bledel in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" will be giving voice to the character known as Astrid, the girl who helps the leading character in taming dragon. Meanwhile her co-stars, Baruchel, Hill, Mintz-Plasse and Butler, will each voice Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, a bully, Snotlout, big but dumb Viking, Fishlegs, and Hiccup's father, Stoick the Vast. In the adventure fantasy film, she will also work with director Peter Hastings.

A full trailer of the romantic comedy musical "Mamma Mia!" will be making its debut screening on Tuesday, March 18. According to ComingSoon, Universal Pictures have announced that the sneak peak to the Phyllida Lloyd-directed movie has been set to air on ABC during the second night of "Dancing With the Stars" two-night season premiere which is broadcast from 9:00 P.M. EDT to 10:30 P.M. EDT.

The reports of the exclusive broadcast to the trailer came months after the released of the domestic and international teaser trailers, which hit the web back on December 14, 2007. Earlier, the teasers have been claimed to be the trailers of the film starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth. However, following the announcement of the trailer release date, it turns out that the two video footages were merely teasers.

Elton John will keep it nice and square when he goes out there to perform for president hopeful, Hillary Clinton. The British singer will raise money for her presidential campaign through a "one night only" gig at New York's Radio City Music Hall on April 9.

"I'm not a politician, but I believe in the work that Hillary Clinton does," Elton said. This would be his first solo appearance in 8 years following his October 2000 performance without his band at Madison Square Garden. Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, March 18, ranging from $125 to $2,300. For those who donate more than $10,000, they will get a chance to meet Elton, Hillary and her husband Bill Clinton in a private session.

George Clooney is quick to deny the reports that he's been asked by fellow movie star Nicole Kidman to be the godfather of her not-yet-born baby. The movie hunk as well has shot down rumors that he's been approached by the producers of "ER" to make a reprising role for the series final season.

It was reported last week that Kidman has been planning to have her baby baptized in the Catholic Church and thinking Clooney as the ideal godfather for the baby. Star Magazine was the first to report that encounter, quoted a source as saying, "Nicole asked George to be her baby's godfather, and he has agreed."

As winners of the 19th Annual Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards have been announced on Monday, March 17, it was revealed that the adventure drama fantasy film "Stardust" has nailed one of the top prizes given out. On the special event held at New York's Marriott Marquis, the Paramount Pictures' film has shown its dominance over the other two contenders "Across the Universe" and "The Jane Austen Book Club".

The film featuring Claire Danes, Charlie Cox and Sienna Miller has brought home Outstanding Film in the category of wide release. Aside from the Matthew Vaughn-directed film, another movie receiving the Outstanding Film kudo was the 2006 Israeli gay love story feature film "The Bubble" which nailed the award for the category of limited release. "Bubble" beat out "Itty Bitty Titty Committee", "Nina's Heavenly Delights", "Dirty Laundry" and "Whole New Thing".

Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, MTV Networks president Brian Graden and CBS soap opera "As The World Turns" were among the big winners at the 19th annual Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards Monday, March 17. Twenty-six of GLAAD's 40 awards were presented at New York's Marriott Marquis and ABC's "Boston Legal" was just the other winner in the TV categories.

"As The World Turns", which includes a gay romantic story line, won the award for the category of Outstanding Daily Drama, besting its heavy contender ABC's "All My Children". "Boston Legal", elsewhere, brought home the Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series without a regular LGBT character) GLAAD Award, thanks to its "Do Tell".

The indie drama film starring pop singer Mariah Carey "Tennessee" reportedly will be heading to 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. According to the official site of the "The Emancipation of Mimi" hitmaker, the film helmed by Aaron Woodley will be making its world premiere at the film festival on April 26.

The Lee Daniels-produced film has been announced to be joining the list of the festival's Discovery Section on Thursday, March 13 by the organizers of the festival founded by Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro. "Tennessee" is listed on the category among 29 other films and it will have its world premiere with 17 other world premiering films.

MtvU's Campus Invasion Music Festival have announced the string of musicians to grace their line-up this year. The star-studded bill is made up of various genres of music which boast among others like Wyclef Jean, Flo Rida, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Bravery, Lloyd and Simple Plan.

This year the festival will begin their annual event at University of Maryland in College Park on May 2 and continue at two other places, namely Philadelphia's Penn's Landing (May 3) and Boston's University of Massachusetts (May 4). The line-up that also includes Cobra Starship, The Spill Canvas and All Time Low will give all-day entertainment at each campus.

Evangeline Lilly has signed a deal with Coty Prestige to become the new face of its fragrance, called Cool Water Woman. The "Lost" star thus will appear in print and TV ads, which are expected to roll-out this July.

Of her decision to work with the fragrance, Lilly said "[Cool Water Woman] definitely represents the juxtaposition between purity and sensuality, and there's that sort of fresh newness." She went on adding, "On top of it, there's strength that's underneath it all, that is where sensuality comes from-versus just pure sexiness."

The Raconteurs will pack and deliver their sophomore album "Consolers of the Lonely" to be released as soon as next week. On such fast and sudden announcement, the rock band fronted by Jack White explained that they are going against the four-month delay that record labels usually request before putting the set in stores for promotional events.

"We wanted to explore the idea of releasing an album everywhere at once and THEN marketing and promoting it thereafter," the band explained. "The Raconteurs would rather this release not be defined by its first week sales, pre-release promotion or by someone defining it FOR YOU before you get to hear it."

Following the unique red band teaser trailer of "Tropic Thunder" that has been outed online in early March, DreamWorks Pictures have revealed the official first trailer of the comedy movie from comic actor Ben Stiller. The high definition video footage took about two and a half minutes of previewing and gives out more idea about the comedic side of the film if compared to the relatively short teaser.

The trailer opens up with action scenes where three American choppers were involved in a war and the soldiers were struggling to survive from the war. The tension from the war scene was quickly toned down as it was revealed that the fallen soldiers were actors shooting for a big budgeted Vietnam war film. Then, the trailer continues with the introduction of each actor involved in the film with funny notes describing the background of the characters.

High Court Justice Hugh Bennett has on Monday, March 17 issued a ruling in a London courtroom, awarded Heather Mills 24.3 million pound sterling or nearly $50 million in the final ruling in her divorce battle with Sir Paul McCartney. The amount of money was a fifth of what she had sought from the former Beatle's 400 million pound sterling fortune.

According to a summary of the ruling, Mills was seeking almost $250 million divorce settlement, while McCartney had offered to pay her a staggering $31.6 million, including her own assets, which the court assessed at $15.6 million. As for Mills' nearly $50 million settlement, it said to include a lump sum of $33 million, plus the assets she currently holds.

At least 12 people have been arrested during a Webbie-headlining concert in Galveston, Texas on Sunday, March 16. Multiple fights have occurred during the event dubbed Spring Break Party Beach Bash that was hosted by Houston radio station Party 93.3 fm and featured other performers like Lil Keke & Lil Wil, 2 Pistols and Colby O'Donnis.

According to a press release, there were four officers on duty but several brawls broke out on the streets, leaving them very short-handed. The Galveston police department tried to restore order after performances from the artists for four straight hours with the help of more Galveston's on-duty officers.

The co-star of Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy Orlando Bloom has been reported to be pulling out from his involvement in new drama movie "An Education". According to Hollywood Reporter, the 31-year-old English hunk has chosen to quit from the film produced by BBC Films because of the filming schedule clash.

The withdrawal of the Legolas depicter in "Lord of the Rings" trilogy has been announced by the film's producers on Monday, March 17. Further, the former lover of actress Kate Bosworth has been immediately replaced by Dominic Cooper, the actor of British's dramedy film "The History Boys", because the film directed by Lone Scherfig has started shooting on Monday.

Following the indie release of their latest album "Ghosts I - IV", Nine Inch Nails are also taking new approaches for its promotional campaign. The band fronted by Trent Reznor are asking fans to contribute videos for the tracks in the instrumental album.

In a collaboration with YouTube, Reznor announced that fans can enter the competition which winning video will air on the video-sharing site. Reznor and his team will personally select the winning clip. "The concept is for you to take whatever tracks you feel inspired by from Ghosts... and create what you feel should accompany them visually," Reznor announced.

In another dose of bad news from Hollywood entertainment scene, it's been reported that "The Punisher" star Thomas Jane was busted early Monday morning, March 17 in Central California on DUI charges. The actor's arrest has been confirmed by a spokesperson for California Highway Patrol.

Jane was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 5 in Kern County, Calif., just north of the city of Buttonwillow, at 2:43 A.M. on Monday. He failed several field sobriety tests, including a breathalyzer, TMZ, the first outlet to report his arrest, has claimed. Worse, the authorities said Jane was also driving with a suspended license.

Soulja Boy has teamed up with a fellow teen rapper who is on the verge of making her debut album available in stores. The 17 year-old rapper is getting the support from Lil Mama, 18, in a tour dubbed "21 and Under Tour".

The tour will start April 11 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and will be stretched up to May 11 in Atlanta. Soulja is still touring in support of his debut album "SouljaBoytellem.com" while Lil Mama is promoting her upcoming debut album "VYP: Voice of the Young People". They will also be accompanied by rapper V.I.C..

David Beckham turns into action hero in a new TV advert for soft drink Pepsi. The soccer star is teaming up with some other world's biggest football stars for the multimillion-pound sterling advertisement which is meant to promote a new social networking Website "pepsi.youniverse.com" that allows users to set up their own profile, features a behind-the-scenes video of the making of the ad, with commentary from all the footballers.

Beckham is featured in the ad as a dead ringer for Indiana Jones and later trades in the hat and jacket for a beach scene in the so-called "Nowhere" where he hands out bottles of Pepsi to his dream team mates. He and the likes of Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho, Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi, and Frank Lampard are all featured in the ad kicking the ball around a series of exotic locations, from China to the moon. The dream team then end up on a remote beach called "Nowhere."

Chaos happened at Lil Wayne's concert in London where at one point bottles were sent flying to the stage. The rapper was serving a night at Stratford Rex and playing an electric guitar that accompanied his rendition of "Party Like a Rock Star" when two guys started becoming violent towards each other and prompted more troubles to the packed concert.

A blogger at MoveTheCrowd happened to attend the gig and recounted the situation. While girls and some female members of Wayne's entourage quickly headed down towards the artist exit, Wayne still attempted to mend the situation by keep on performing. Bodyguards removed one culprit off the stage but an unknown person from the audience then threw a bottle near Wayne, making the rapper stop on track.

Ashlee Simpson has let out a release date for her often-delayed album, "Bittersweet World". The third album from the pop singer will be in stores on April 22 with the first single to be "Little Miss Obsessive" featuring Tom Higgenson, Billboard.com reported.

Although the Timbaland-produced song "Out of My Head (Ay Ya Ya)" was released prior to "Obsessive", the latter is said to be the official first single from the Geffen album. "Outta" found a hard time on the chart but doing moderate on its digital download with 177,000 hits according to Nielsen SoundScan. "Obsessive" itself is nowhere found on the Billboard chart up to the news hour.

Is having a full plate on her agenda today, Lindsay Lohan has been forced to clear her calendar so that she could visit her ailing grandfather who's battling cancer. The star's paternal grandfather is losing a battle with cancer, E! News has reported.

Lindsay was in California when his father Michael Lohan called her to break the bad news over the weekend. The call occurred just hours after the family rushed the elder Lohan to the hospital.

Going against media claim that Madonna's marriage to hubby Guy Ritchie is on the rocks, a representative for the singer has confirmed that the couple are not heading for splitsville. Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, issued a statement Monday, March 17, quashed suggestions that the couple's marriage may be ending.

"I am delighted to confirm that Mr. and Mrs. Guy Ritchie remain happily married," Rosenberg said in a statement. "Though they were in different countries recently-Madonna in the U.S. doing promotion for her upcoming album, Hard Candy, and Guy finishing up post-production on his new film, RocknRolla, as well as completing a Nike commercial and working on several scripts in England-the family are joyfully back together at home in London. All is well and wonderful in the Ritchie household."