January 16, 2009

Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman branches out to the directing realm by signing to helm "Jack Goes Boating". The title is an adaptation of an Off Broadway play by Bob Glaudini that ran at Hoffman and John Ortiz's LAByrinth Theater Co. in Gotham back in 2007.

Along with his directing debut, Hoffman will also be seen in front of the camera, starring opposite two of the stage version actors, Ortiz and Daphne Rubin-Vega. The production will be tackled by Overture Films that signed a deal with Hoffman's production house Cooper's Town last summer.

"Walk the Line" star Joaquin Phoenix will hit recording room to work on his debut studio effort. In doing so, he will team up with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs to help him producing new materials for the upcoming album.

Joaquin is scheduled to make his first public performance Friday, January 16 at a club in Las Vegas. His appearance at the venue will officially kick off a shoot for a documentary about his singing career, which is directed by Casey Affleck.

Welsh singer Charlotte Church and rugby player Gavin Henson will get married this summer, according to the Daily Mail. The report comes just days after she gave birth to their second child, son Dexter Lloyd Henson, on Wednesday, January 11.

"Gavin had promised her they'd get married after the new baby was born," a source tells the Daily Mail. "So far the couple have avoided the issue of marriage because it will involve such a big wedding and so much organization and they've always been too busy to get it together."

Initially set for March release, Alexandra Burke's debut studio effort has reportedly been pushed back and will not be available in stores until November. To The Sun, a source reveals the delay happens because Simon Cowell's Syco label wants to "polish her skills, like they did with Leona [Lewis]."

"Syco were planning a quick release - possibly as early as March in time for Mothers' Day. But they have reconsidered and will now go for the autumn - probably November," the source says. "They want to wait to find the right songs and let her polish her skills, like they did with Leona. She can then launch it on a live X Factor show."

CBS drama "Jericho" may not survive the TV world but it may get some luck in its big screen version. Executive producer for the series Jon Turteltaub spoke to iF Magazine, saying that a feature film is en route and that the original cast will be involved.

"We're developing a feature for Jericho," Turteltaub said while promoting his horror series 'Harper's Island'. "It would not require you to have seen the TV show, but it get into life after an event like this on a national scale. It would be the bigger, full on American version of what's going on beyond the town in Jericho."

Star magazine breaks the report that John Mayer might be proposing to Jennifer Aniston on her 40th birthday on February 11. Greater than that, he is said to have designed a custom-made ring to be given to the actress to mark their engagement.

"Money's no object for John. He didn't want to buy something that anyone else had, so he sketched it and is having it custom-made," a source shares to Star. Moreover, it is also claimed that John is planning to make his proposal to Jenn special, but it hasn't been disclosed on how he would pop the question.

Being a superfan of "Beverly Hills, 90210", Diablo Cody gets to appear in its spin-off "90210". The screenwriter for "Juno" and "United States of Tara" will begin filming later this month although her role is not yet known by public or by herself.

"They have not told me anything yet," Cody said. "And to be completely honest, I'm dying to know." On how she secured the deal, Cody confessed, "I've raved about 90210 in Entertainment Weekly a number of times because I'm completely obsessed about the show in both reincarnations, old and new. They called and asked me if I wanted to be on 90210 and I'm like, 'I don't care if you want me to be in a bear suit. I'll do anything on 90210.'"

During an interview with Dream Up Magazine, Tokio Hotel's frontman Bill Kaulitz opens up about the band's upcoming third studio album, which is expected to arrive in stores next spring. "It was a very intense and creative period but at the same time, it offered a much needed break for the band," so he begins.

"There are a lot of new influences that until now, have not been heard in the sound of Tokio Hotel," Bill explains further. "Even so, we've kept the same crew. Our new album will probably surprise a lot of people and I hope the fans will love it."

The cast of "Inkheart" walk on the red carpet for the New York City premiere of the action fantasy movie on Thursday, January 15. Spotted among the movie's stars are Brendan Fraser, Eliza Bennett, Andy Serkis and Paul Bettany, the latest who is accompanied by his actress wife Jennifer Connelly.

Also standing up to promote the movie and do some interviews with the press are the movie's director Iain Softley, producer slash author of the adapted book, Cornelia Funke, President and COO of Warner Bros. Entertainment Alan Horn, singer/songwriter Peter Cincotti and actress Sienna Guillory.

Talking about Valentine's Day, which is four weeks to come, Taylor Lautner tells Popstar! Magazine that on that day he usually buys roses to be given to people who are close to him. "Roses for mom, roses for everybody! I'm a rosy kind of guy!" he says.

Besides, he also likes "to do cards." About that he claims, "I rarely go out and buy cards from a store. I hand-make them. They're not superfantastic, but I'll hand-make them and I get a little artsy and burn the edges and stuff and make it look cool!"

Decisions are crucial matter in the next "Private Practice". Episode 2.13 of the drama series, will put the doctors and the patients in the positions that they have to make a choice in order to save a life or to determine one's future.

A baby who is about to be given up for adoption is having difficulties in breathing and the patient's family must decide quickly. Meanwhile, Violet must do a similar task of her own after finding out that she is pregnant but has no guts to tell either Pete or Sheldon because she is not sure of who the baby daddy is.

Disney star Selena Gomez shares on SayNow that she plans to release her debut studio album in July. Thanking all producers who have helped her, she admits to have fun during the recording sessions for the yet-to-be-titled LP.

Previously, Selena Gomez stated she was in search for passionate boys for her band. "I'm looking for someone who's very passionate about music and can show me that they can rock out. I like having people with me to lean on and write with and have fun with," so she claimed.

Despite all the messy acrimony behind it, "Watchmen" gets to keep its original release date on March 6. A settlement that was proposed by both 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. earlier this month reaches an agreement point which is not elaborated further other than the announcement that there would be no delay on the U.S. theatrical release.

In a joint statement on Thursday, January 15, the studios said, "Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox have resolved their dispute regarding the rights to the upcoming motion picture Watchmen in a confidential settlement. Warner Bros. acknowledges that Fox acted in good faith in bringing its claims, which were asserted prior to the start of principal photography."

Rumor on Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's marriage is on the rocks keeps rolling and gets worse as it has been claimed that they are "living almost completely separate lives". Life and Style, which is the first to report that matter, cites the pair's neighbor as claiming, "I don't see them around much. But when I do, it's usually one or the other. Rarely do I spot them together."

Further details about that matter are provided on the magazine's latest issue which already hits the newsstands. Meanwhile, neither of the celebrity couple has denied or confirmed the report.

It was announced on Wednesday, January 14 that country music singer Faith Hill has been booked to perform at Super Bowl XLIII. She has been confirmed to sing "America the Beautiful" on February 1 before the football game kicked off.

Besides, Bruce Springsteen has also been revealed as one of the musical guests at halftime to be held at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. He will be performing at the show along with The E Street Band.

Catapulted to international stardom for playing the role of Edward Cullen in hit vampire drama flick "Twilight", Robert Pattinson takes the top spot on MTV's list of Male Pop MVPs in 2009. The list, which has several Hollywood popular names that the network expects big things from for this year, also includes the likes of Zac Efron and Chris Brown among others.

"After making millions of girls want to have a vampire love affair in 'Twilight,' English heartthrob Robert Pattinson will reprise his role as Edward Cullen in this year's 'New Moon'", MTV writes about Pattinson. "But he also hopes to wow audiences as the young surrealist painter Salvador Dali in the film 'Little Ashes,' which chronicles the early life of the brilliant artist and explores his romantic relationship with poet Federico Garcia Lorca, played by Javier Beltran."

A ring is out and a proposal may be imminent. Through the preview of "Grey's Anatomy" January 22 episode, it is seen that Derek plans to give a diamond ring to Meredith. Also in "Stairway to Heaven", Izzie slaps her deceased boyfriend, Denny, and Sloan is in pain.

The episode will also continue the dilemma faced by the doctors when they have a patient who is a serial killer. While Bailey grows desperate as her young patient's condition becomes more and more dire, the convict tells her that he is ready to donate his organ to the boy. They have a match and Meredith try to grant the death row patient's wish to die before execution. Meanwhile, an injury leaves Sloan in a compromising position in the OR and Cristina awkwardly avoids Owen.

"Like It", a new single performed by Rihanna, has been revealed. It is reportedly produced by The Royal Court, trio Hip-Hop producers who previously helped Ashlee Simpson making her 2007 song "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)".

"Like It" is rumored to be one of the new materials recorded for Rihanna's next studio album. While no words are available to address the proposed idea, report claims that her fourth studio effort will be released under the title of "Dark Angels".

TNT have been generous to give an over-two-minutes sneak peek to their new episode of "Leverage". This time the team aid a couple who has lost their loved one to a contamination by a fertilizer company, Genogrow Industries.

A young girl is dead after an amount of toxic is found in her chest and the doctors suspect that it is a contamination of the water. Fertilizer company who is supposed to take responsibility to this has a CEO who will go to any lengths to protect his company's interests. The team then decides to sneak into the building to provide evidence to the court.

A sneak peek into Jonas Brothers' music video promoting their track "Tonight" has arrived. Starting with a banging sound of drums, it shows the band's fans running to seemingly to be an indoor arena where the band are supposed to make a live appearance.

The video footage then continues with a capture of Kevin Jonas playing golf on-stage. It also features all the Jonas boys running through parking lot escaping from fans' chase. Beside focusing on the band's members, it also captures Taylor Swift making an on-stage appearance.

A movie poster plus the official trailer of "Hannah Montana: The Movie" have arrived. Providing another sneak peek on top of the previously-released clip, the trailer gives more on the story plot and what brings Hannah Montana back to her hometown of Tennessee. It also presents the cameo made by supermodel Tyra Banks.

Miley Stewart's popularity as Hannah Montana is getting out of control, and so is her attitude. As a measure to tame his daughter, Robby Stewart brings her back to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tennessee where she discovers what's really important.

"Jackass" actor Johnny Knoxville was on Thursday morning, January 15 briefly detained at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for bringing a fake grenade. He was about to board an American Airlines flight for Miami when security screeners noticed the prohibited item inside his luggage.

However, after a careful investigation bomb squad determined the grenade "lacked a firing pin or explosive," the Associated Press reported. And so, Knoxville was freed and allowed to board his plane.

A rather milder and young viewers-friendly trailer has been released for "Crank: High Voltage". While the Restricted Teaser that was outed earlier this month displays gory scenes, profane language and partial nudity, this just-released trailer tells more on the plot and the challenges that the main character has to face in order to get his heart back.

Hitman Chev Chelios launches himself on an electrifying chase through Los Angeles in pursuit of the Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart. His goal is to replace it with a battery-powered ticker inside him that requires regular jolts of electricity to keep working.

A new material from Justin Timberlake, entitled "Bigger Than the World", has made its way to the Internet. The track is reportedly produced by Timbaland. However, there is no word on whether it will become one of the new songs to be listed in his next album or not.

Beside "Bigger Than the World", other singles from Justin Timberlake have also hit the web. One of the songs is called "Follow My Lead" and features Esmee Denters, while the other is titled "If I", the duet track between him and T.I..

Expanding her influence from music business to the shopping aisles, Leona Lewis is teaming up with top German beauty brand LR to release her self-titled 'ethical' scent. A strict vegetation, she ensures the fragrance will not be tested on animals and will likely target an organic audience.

"Leona has had a lot of approaches about launching her own perfume, but she wanted to make totally sure she would be working with an ethical company," a source says. "She has had a big hand in helping to create the fragrance and the design of the bottle and now she can't wait to see it in the shops."

Evan gets his life changed 180 degrees through the imaginary world of his seven years old daughter in the first trailer of "Imagine That". A movie coming from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies, "Imagine That" is the latest comedy from Eddie Murphy.

Evan is a successful financial executive who has more time for his blackberry than his seven-year-old daughter. When he has a crisis of confidence and his career starts going down the drain, however, he finds the solution to all his problems in his daughter's imaginary world.

New CGI animation "Planet 51" has received a trailer premiere. A story in the twist of human fear, the TriStar production puts the people on Earth as the aliens for the inhabitants of Planet 51.

The planet which is "far far away" is a place where "life is simple, children are carefree and everything is pleasant" but one day, a stranger from another planet comes by and the paranoia starts. Captain Charles "Chuck" Baker arrives from Earth in his spaceship thinking that he is the first to land in the planet, but the already-existing inhabitants of Planet 51 fear that he will do an invasion. Befriending a young resident, the astronaut has to avoid capture in order to recover his spaceship and return home.

Following previous announcement saying that they will perform new single at this year's BRIT Awards, U2 come out, this time bringing official cover art and tracklisting for their forthcoming twelfth studio album "No Line on the Horizon". In getting the artwork done, this band work with Japanese artist and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto.

Furthermore, tracklisting for the effort reveals eleven new songs, all written and composed by U2 themselves, with lyrics by Bono and The Edge. "Magnificent", "Moment of Surrender" and "Breathe" are among those listed in their new LP.

Amanda Bynes and baseball player Doug Reinhardt are no longer a couple as the actress has dumped him, US Weekly exclusively reports. "She ended it. She had had enough," a source close to the actress testifies.

"Her friends didn't trust him. Everyone thought he was using her for celebrity," the source reveals further to US Weekly. "He was not good, and she was over it. It was definitely her who ended it."

NBC have started overlooking the future of their shows, giving a renewal for some and giving a question mark for the non potential ones. Golden Globe winning series "30 Rock" is unquestionably one of those going to the 'yes' tray along with "The Office" and reality show "The Biggest Loser". All three shows have been showing a growth in ratings in fall and mid seasons.

Meanwhile, uncertainty revolves around "Lipstick Jungle", "Kath & Kim" as well as "Knight Rider". They are not as lucky as "Heroes", which despite its declining rate, is said to have a "very secure" future. "We have a great relationship with (creator) Tim Kring," new primetime entertainment president Angela Bromstad said. "... What's important is we never lose sight of being responsible in production."

"The Office" star Jenna Fischer tells the February 2009 issue of Self magazine making a tasty Crock-Pot meal gives her and boyfriend, writer Lee Kirk, more time to have sex. Adopting a few healthy lifestyle changes, suggested by the magazine's editors, she also reveals how jogging for 20 minutes a day, cleaning out her closet, and getting eight hours of sleep have changed her life.

Explaining on how cooking can improve her and Lee's sex life, Jenna explains, "I prepared everything the night before, threw it in the Crock-Pot in the morning, set it on low and came home to dinner. My boyfriend adored it." She goes on stating, "We had more time to spend together that evening. Since we didn't have to cook, it left time for hanky-panky!"

A music video in accompaniment of Rise Against's single "Audience of One" has been brought forward. Making its way out on January 15 on MySpace Music, it was directed by Brett Simon and shot in Los Angeles. It features the band performing in a miniature world on the White House lawn.

"Audience of One" is one of the tracks included in Rise Against's fifth major studio album "Appeal to Reason". The song has been played at some of the biggest radio stations in U.S. with the official add date still two weeks away.