January 10, 2009

As "Inkheart" is nearing its U.S. release on January 23, two new clips from the adventure fantasy movie has been put forward. One entitled "Our Way In" comes from IGN, while the other is let out by MySpace. The "Our Way In" clip focuses on Brendan Fraser's character Mo trying to make his way in with two other men, and the MySpace clip shows him having a meal with Helen Mirren's.

A timeless adventure tale of imagination, "Inkheart" centers its story on 12-year-old Meggie Folchart, a daughter of a gifted man named Mo. When Mo's ability to bring characters from books to life by reading the books aloud causes him to be kidnapped by a fable book's villain, it is left to Meggie to save him, putting her in a magical adventure that she has only read about in books.

During an interview, Ciara talks about her new single "Never Ever" which has Young Jeezy lending his vocals to the hook. Saying that the track deals with the confusion of love, she states to MTV, "I'm singing about [when] you go through the confusion of love."

"And, basically, I say, 'If that boy don't love you by now, he'll never ever love you.' And sometimes we wait around and we go through so many different things," Ciara reveals further. "And if that person is not showing you the affection you need and not giving you the right love, then you got to let it go. I talk about the confusion of love - being confused about staying or leaving or letting go."

FOX apparently have not given up on "'Til Death". The comedy series that struggled with the rating when it premiered its third season in September 2008, has been given a green light from the network to 22 more episodes for the fourth season.

It is not clear yet though whether the third season that stops airing only a month after its season premiere will be continued or not, especially knowing that FOX's midseason schedule has been packed with the new season of "American Idol", and new series such as "Dollhouse" and "Lie to Me". Supposedly there should be 15 more episodes to complete the third season and bring the show to a total of 80 episodes.

The official international trailer of "Franklyn" has come out courtesy of IGN. The video footage sets its focus on three strangers living in the parallel worlds of contemporary London and the futuristic metropolis of Meanwhile City. Though not giving much of the storyline, the trailer shares closer look at some of the major characters, including those played by Ryan Phillippe and Eva Green.

"Franklyn" is a split narrative set simultaneously in contemporary London and in a future metropolis ruled by religious fervor. It tells the intertwining story of four lost souls; Preest, a masked vigilante detective looking for his nemesis on the streets of Meanwhile City; Emilia, an art student whose suicidal art projects become increasingly deadly; Esser, a broken man in search for his out-of-control son amongst the rough streets of London's homeless; and Milo, a heartbroken thirty-something man desperately trying to find a way back to the purity of first love.

Movie beauty Cameron Diaz and her model boyfriend Paul Sculfor reportedly have been thinking to get married. The two, who have been living in her Los Angeles home for some time, "are having a wonderful time and don't want to spoil it by pushing things, but they have used the m-word occasionally," a source claims when referring to the pair's marriage plan.

"They're playing house in a serious way - both openly admit marriage scares them but they are very much in love and the subject has come up," the source continues. "They have plans for another round of family meetings in the near future and the betting is that a proposal is imminent. This relationship is something very special and they are both taking it very seriously indeed."

A music video aimed to support Snoop Dogg's song entitled "Staxxx in My Jeans" has made its way out. Spoofing the glamorous life of young Hollywood celebrities with lots of cash in their pockets, it has his "Rook and the Father Hood Family", comprising of his daughter Cori and his son Cordell, making cameo appearances.

Snoop Dogg includes "Staxxx in My Jeans", which is produced by Rick Ross, in his ninth major studio record "Ego Trippin'". He has released the effort since March 2008 and added song "Walk Away" as iTunes pre-order bonus track and another track "Nobody Better" as Australian extra single in addition to 21 other songs.

Amidst the dispute between the creator and producer Lionsgate regarding the extension of contract, "Mad Men" has been stretched to have its third season. The AMC -broadcast drama about '60s advertising executives, will roll its camera in a few weeks to come and premiere its new season in Summer, Variety reported.

Creator slash executive producer Matthew Weiner's contract wound down at the end of second season and no new deal has been reached regarding the third season. However, AMC president, Charlie Collier said that he is positive that a deal will be sealed between the company and Wiener. "As long as we get the writers' room up and running over the next few months, we're fine (for a summer launch)," Collier said.

MySpace's Trailer Park has exclusively premiered a brand new clip of "Adventureland". Less than a minute long, the clip lets out the scene where Lisa P played by Margarita Levieva is coming back to the amusement park. Unaware of who Lisa P is, Jesse Eisenberg's James Brennan asks Martin Starr's Joel who shows him Lisa P and explains of her perfect form.

Following the story of James Brennan while working at a local amusement park, "Adventureland" is set in the summer of 1987. Recently graduated from college and expecting to embark on his dream tour to Europe, Brennan learns a hard truth when his parents reveal that they cannot pay for the trip. When he lands a job at local amusement park, he thinks that the period will be his worst summer ever. But, it turns into quite an adventure as he discovers love in the most unlikely place with his co-worker.

The Penguins of Madagascar prove to be charmers after all. In a co-production with DreamWorks Animation SKG, Nickelodeon have decided to pursue additional episodes for the CG animated series for a total of 52 episodes. As many as 26 episodes are piled on top of the first half which will all be premiered on March 28 right after Nickelodeon's 22nd Annual Kids' Choice Awards at 9.30 P.M. ET/PT.

"Our partnership with DreamWorks Animation has yielded a true gem in The Penguins of Madagascar," said Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group. "We're excited to be bringing these characters to our audience with the same level of excellence they have come to expect from the hit Madagascar feature films."

Honoring the excellence in production design, the Art Directors Guild announced its nominees for the 2008 Excellence in Production Design Awards on Friday, January 9. Among those in the awards' shortlist are Gus Van Sant's gay icon biopic "Milk", Christopher Nolan's superhero film "The Dark Knight" and Danny Boyle's rag-to-riches drama "Slumdog Millionaire".

"Milk" received the nod for the period film category. It will be up against "Changeling", "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", "Doubt" and "Frost/Nixon". "Dark Knight", on the other hand, is on the run for best production design for a fantasy film alongside "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", "Iron Man", "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and "Wall-E".

Katy Perry has spoken out about her collaborator wish list and revealed that John Legend is among those she eyes to make a duet with. Beside John, the "I Kissed a Girl" singer also names Scottish singer/songwriter Calvin Harris as another guy she wants to team up with.

"I really admire John Legend," Katy said in a statement. "He's fantastic. I've bought all his records. Even this year I've just become a big fan, I would love to make some music with him or Calvin Harris, who is in the U.K. as well."

After announcing their contenders for motion pictures, Directors Guild of America reveal those in the TV world. Taking double dose at the nominations list are "Mad Men" and "30 Rock" among others.

In the drama series category, "Mad Men" earns two through Alan Taylor for episode "The Mountain King" and Matthew Wiener for episode "Mediations in an Emergency." Others ready to compete for the title are Jack Bender for "Lost" episode "The Constant", Paris Barclay for "In Treatment" episode "Alex- Week Eight" and Dan Attias for "The Wire" episode "Transisitons".

Having a full plate on his acting agenda, Leonardo DiCaprio adds one more duty into his resume as he has been tapped as TAG Heuer Global Ambassador. "Leonardo perfectly embodies this call-to-action with his exceptional talent, extraordinary mental strength and unfettered commitment to social and environmental issues," a TAG Heuer spokesperson explains on the reason behind the actor's recruitment.

Leo, concerning his newly attached status, is due to promote the brand's Carrera Day-Date watch. His ad campaigns for the set will be made public starting this spring.

Fox Searchlight Pictures have released the brand new trailer of "Miss March" via Yahoo! Movies. Chronicling Eugene Bell's road trip in winning back his high school sweetheart, the trailer starts off with a background story of how Eugene falls in coma for four years.

Finally waking up after being hit by his best friend Tucker Cleigh, Eugene finds out that his girl has since become a centerfold in one of the world's most famous men's magazines. Unable to forget her, he then decides to go on a road trip to the Playboy's mansion headquarter with Tucker in order to meet her once again. The trip is filled with many raunchy experiences as well as misadventures, like the time the two of them are being attacked by a group of firefighters.

Lil' Kim opens up about what she has in mind for her upcoming studio album, saying that the record will carry "a whole new style". She tells MTV, "I'm getting ready to come with a whole new flavor, a whole new style."

"And I don't care what nobody says, I'm not gonna let anyone pigeonhole me. This is what it is. I'm coming with it," Lil' Kim explains further. "I got to hang in there with the fellas. The only way to hang in there with the fellas is to be able to do what the fellas do. And with Lil Wayne singing and rapping, T-Pain singing and rapping, and everybody singing and rapping, somebody got to represent for my laaaaaaadies."

Co-stars Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall, who play brother and sister on Showtime's "Dexter", have eloped. The actor's representative, Craig Bankey, tells The Associated Press that the pair exchanged vows in an outdoor private ceremony in Big Sur, California on New Year's Eve. At their wedding, Carpenter's grandfather's wedding band was attached to her bouquet of white roses, according to reports.

Carpenter, 29, and Hall, 37, who have been dating quietly for a year-and-a-half, opted for a secret nuptials that they didn't even invite friends and family members. However, "family and loved ones shared in a celebratory toast to the couple," Bankey claims.

"Smallville" brings out a sneak peek to its "Legion" episode that will air on The CW on January 15. A clip takes the scene of Clark's dilemma when Chloe is inhabited by Brainiac. Chloe, as the possessed, reveals the plan of destroying the world and that "Doomsday" is sent to Earth to destroy "the other Kryptonian" in the form of Davis.

Another released footage is a director's cut of the episode where The Legion, which refers to the three superheroes coming from the future in aid of Clark, is battling the possessed Chloe. They then discover Brainiac's modus operandi and how he's planning to rule the world.

Sony Pictures Entertainment have laid bare a six-minute preview footage of their upcoming "Angels & Demons" at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, and IGN have jotted down the detailed description of the footage shown. The clip starts off with a series of fast, intercut scenes through which Ewan McGregor's Carlo Ventresca can be seen addressing an audience of clergymen in Vatican City, stating that Vatican is being attacked by an old enemy.

The shot then moves to the scene where the body of a dead cardinal is found by Ventresca and other priests, forcing Ventresca to instruct for the search for Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon. The next scene finds Landon swimming laps in a pool while a representative from the Vatican approaches him. When the rep's remark that The Vatican has urgent business with Langdon is met with his disbelieve, he then shows Langdon an ambigram of the word "Illuminati" engraved on the body of the dead cardinal.

Movie stars Evan Rachel Wood and Jason Segel have sparked rumors that they are dating after they were seen getting cozy at the Critics' Choice Awards afterparty at the Viceroy hotel on Thursday night, January 8. "Evan was quite cozy all night with Jason Segel," a source tells Celebuzz of the supposed lovers. "They talked closely. Jason kept admiring tattoos on her neck."

Meanwhile, another onlooker informs E! Online to have witnessed the pair while they were "outside by themselves the whole time, chain smoking and flirting." Wood and Segel reportedly left the party together at around 9:30 P.M.

ESPN have asked Lil Wayne and Wyclef Jean to help them kicking off Super Bowl "Big Weekend" event. While Jean will be performing for ESPN The Magazine's NEXT party on January 30 at 9 P.M. with DJ Samantha Ronson, Wayne is going to present live reports from the event's red carpet.

In addition to Jean and Wayne's recruitment, Sean Kingston has also been signed up by ESPN for a live appearance the following day. Alongside the University of South Florida Marching Band and local Tampa reggae act Impulse, he will be singing at a free gig dubbed "The NEXT Day Tailgate".

The CW have released a bunch of clips for "Family Remains", the next episode of "Supernatural". The first clip which is on a boy receiving a ball from an unknown creature in the dark, is similar to the one that was released in their January 2009 promo, but the other two are new.

Sam and Dean investigate a farm house that seems to be haunted by a woman in the walls. A family moves in to the house but when they are encouraged to move out, they refuse until they find out the real horror that the house is keeping. The episode will air January 15.

It's a baby boy for Gael Garcia Bernal and his actress girlfriend Dolores Fonzi. The newborn baby, the first for the celebrity couple, was born in Madrid on Thursday, January 8.

A representative for Bernal confirms the report to US Weekly. No other details of the infant, including his name, have been disclosed though.

A glimmer of hope for "Watchmen" release has been lit up. In the latest update report related to the dispute between 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros., it has been said that on Friday, January 9, the attorneys for rival studios have told U.S. District Judge Gary Allen Feess that the settlement talks were in progress and thus, asked him to postpone the hearing for further discussions over the weekend.

Deeming the settlement discussions as "productive", Fox representative Lou Karasik told Feess that the delay would be "very, very helpful". New court documents revealed that both studios have conducted the settlement talks since last weekend, with concessions being made on both sides. Following the delay request, Feess agreed to push back the hearing to Monday, January 12. Still, he insisted that the trial date over the blocking of the film's March release is still set for January 20.

Several clips for "Gossip Girl" 2.15 titled "Gone With the Will", have been released via E! Online. The clips give a sneak peek to the January 12 episode where Bart's will is read following his death.

First clip has been published earlier, and three other follow. The second clip is on Serena asking Vanessa whether she knows anything about what Dan is hiding from her while the third clip recounts on the effort Jack makes to win the heart of his nephew, Chuck. Dan calls his father Rufus about keeping a secret from Serena and Blair's entourage overheard it in the fourth and last clip.

A brand new single, performed by The-Dream teaming up with Mariah Carey, has arrived. Titled "My Love", the LOS Da Maestro-produced song is expected to be included in his second studio album "Love vs. Money".

The-Dream himself is scheduled to drop "Love vs. Money" in the U.S. on February 17. Beside collaborating with Mariah Carey, he will also join forces with Lil Jon in another track called "Let Me See the Booty".

R 'n' B singer-songwriter and actress Jill Scott is pregnant. She shared the good news to reporters at the Television Critics Association conference in Los Angeles on Friday, January 9, during when she was due to promote her new HBO series "The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency."

"The first trimester I spent in Botswana," Jill said recalling the time she first discovered her pregnancy just before leaving for the nation where she filmed the TV series. "That was one of the biggest challenges of my life. First trimester! You're sick every morning. It was seven hours time difference, the heat, the bugs, the 14 hour days."

Flo Rida's upcoming sophomore studio effort titled "R.O.O.T.S." has reportedly gotten its release date. An acronym for "Routes of Overcoming the Struggle", the effort will be released on April 7 under Poe Boy/Atlantic Records, according to Billboard.

The first single from the record, "Right Round", has hit the web earlier and now has been available to stream on Flo Rida's MySpace page and official website. Containing a sample from Dead or Alive's 1985 single "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)", the track is said to appear in the LP as its lead single.

Patrick Swayze has been hospitalized with pneumonia, it has been revealed at a press event for the Television Critics Association in Los Angeles on Friday, January 9. The actor, who is battling stage 4 of pancreatic cancer, initially was scheduled to appear at the event to discuss his upcoming drama "The Beast."

On behalf of Swayze, Abbe Raven, who is the president of A&E, the distribution company of "The Beast," issued a statement during the press event, confirming "Patrick has asked that I tell you that he has checked himself into the hospital this morning for observation after coming down with pneumonia." No words were given on the name of the hospital where the star was treated and on his latest condition.

While it still isn't clear which evil characters will be set against Spider-Man in "Spider-Man 4", the name of supervillain Morbius has come up to the surface. In the latest issue of Empire Magazine, director Sam Raimi hinted on his choice of the superhero's nemesis, saying, "I like it in the Marvel comics when Spider-Man fights Morbius."

Explaining why he would love to see the antagonist character in the interview with the magazine, the 49-year-old filmmaker confessed that he thought Morbius is "really cool" since the character created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane is a Nobel Prize-winning biochemist who attempted to cure himself of a rare blood disease and instead transformed himself into supervillain with a vampire-like powers. "He's really cool. A vampire! I like that combination of superhero plus supernatural," so he claimed.