November 03, 2011

The actor who played Violet Beauregarde's dad in 1971's "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" has died on Wednesday, November 2. Leonard Stone passed away at the age of 87 after a bout of cancer, his representative confirmed to TMZ.

Stone was one of the last surviving parents from the classic movie. Roy Kinnear who played Veronica Salt's father died 17 years after the movie was premiered. Ursula Reit who played August Gloop's mom died in 1998 while Nora Denney who played Mike Teevee died in 2005.

At a press conference held for the 23rd Bond movie, actor Daniel Craig confirmed that he would be back as the titular character. At the same time, it was announced that the title is indeed "Skyfall" as suggested last month by newly registered domains related to Sony.

Shooting for the movie will start on Monday, November 7 around Whitehall, London, Scotland, Istanbul and China with the same budget as the last film. Producer Michael G. Wilson denied that Sony has subtracted $100 million from its budget, saying "We're in the same budget range as the last film. We haven't had to change anything in the script. In fact, we keep adding things - everything is going to be just as it was."

Ryan Seacrest is set to make a producing debut in a big screen movie. The "American Idol" host has planned a romantic comedy project, in which he will serve as the producer along with Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Seacrest will produce the project through his Ryan Seacrest Productions banner in association with Universal Pictures. The untitled Ryan Seacrest/Reese Witherspoon Project has already tapped "Grey's Anatomy" scribe Krista Vernoff to serve as the screenwriter.

Haley Reinhart and Casey Abrams, who earlier this year wowed the audience of "American Idol" season 10 with their duet "Moanin' ", have just reunited for a jazzy Christmas tune. Covering yuletide classic "Baby It's Cold Outside", they serenade each other by cooing sweet lyrics.

The brand new song is going to be made available for download on November 21, just in time for the holiday. While waiting for the digital release, fans can take a peek at what to expect from the song by listening to its snippet which is obtained from EW.

Kim Kardashian's marriage is over, but the coverage of her wedding frenzy still graces the small screen. After holding emergency meetings following the reality star's divorce announcement, E! Entertainment decided to still broadcast a rerun of her two-part wedding special.

An encore of "Kim's Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event" was initially scheduled to air on Tuesday, November 1 and Wednesday, November 2. After Kim announced she filed for divorce from Kris Humphries, the network moved up the first part of the TV special to Monday, October 31.

Stanley Tucci is one step closer to be Emily Blunt's brother-in-law. Us Weekly reported that the 50-year-old actor, who portrays Caesar Flickerman in "The Hunger Games", has reportedly got engaged to Felicity, the sister of "The Adjustment Bureau" actress.

A source said that Stanley, whose first wife lost her battle with cancer in April 2009, is "very happy" with Felicity, who works at a London literary agency. "It hasn't been easy for him getting into a new relationship," the source added, "but Felicity is a lovely person and very warm and comforting."

Joel Edgerton has been offered two lead roles in Warner Bros. Pictures' potential high-profile film projects. The actor, who plays opposite Mary Elizabeth Winstead in thriller film "The Thing", has been eyed to take on the main character in both "300: Battle of Artemisia" as well as "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.".

New York Magazine's Vulture has reported that Edgerton is in talks to star as Themistocles in the "300" prequel. The character is described as a fabled archon and general who led the Greeks to victory against the invading Persians in 480 BC. The project will be directed by Noam Murro and written by "Man of Steel" helmer Zack Snyder.

One of the songs from Amy Winehouse's upcoming posthumous album "Lioness: Hidden Treasures" has been unleashed. Titled "Like Smoke", the soulful ballad features "Nasty" rapper Nas and comes from the production hand of top-notch music maker Salaam Remi.

"I never wanted you to be my man/ I just need your company/ Don't wanna get dependent on your time," the British jazz singer opens the never-before-heard song. Halfway through, Nas takes it over by spitting, "I be out in London, Camden, hunting for the answers why the God take away the homie."

Sarah Jessica Parker is turning head with her choice of headpiece. The Carrie Bradshaw of "Sex and the City" came to the Crown Oaks Club ladies luncheon at Crown Palladium in Melbourne, Australia wearing a dramatic sculptured black hat by Philip Treacy, the same designer who created Princess Beatrice's royal wedding hat.

Philip revealed that he spent more than 200 hours on the headpiece the Daily Mail describes as a "satellite dish". Having designed another hat for the 46-year-old actress' November 3 appearance at the annual Crown Oaks Day horse racing event, he gushed, "Fashion is about suspense and surprise, so tomorrow she is going to surprise everyone as well. She's the ultimate fashion icon."

"The Hunger Games" has been dubbed as the next potential big franchise after the "Twilight Saga". Both share similar romance and fantasy genre and are adapted from best-selling novel series. However, "Hunger Games" lead actress Jennifer Lawrence insisted that it is too early to speculate if her highly anticipated film will be as successful as the Kristen Stewart-starring film series.

Commenting on the comparison people made between "Hunger Games" and the "Twilight Saga", the Katniss Everdeen of Suzanne Collins' novel adaptation told Vanity Fair, "I try not to think too much about it." She added, " 'Hunger Games' is not 'Twilight', and while I hear the comparisons, it's really premature to say that it will be the same phenomenon."

Gearing up to the new year, The CW has unveiled its 2012 midseason schedule. Debuting this fall, the third season of "The Vampire Diaries" and the first season of "The Secret Circle" will return on Thursday, January 5 after taking a hiatus this upcoming December.

A day later, the second season of "Nikita" and the seventh season of "Supernatural" will be back with new original episodes. "Gossip Girl" will resume airing its new episodes from season 5 on Monday, January 16, while "Hart of Dixie" will return a week later on January 23.

Wale recently voiced his concern over Rick Ross' health issue, which he believed stemmed from lack of rest. To help Maybach Music boss ease the burden he's carrying for leading such a big label like Maybach Music, the "Cillin' " rapper said he is ready to work harder along with his labermates.

"We carry the flag for Maybach as well. Maybach is a big label. We have a lot of talented artists," he talked to MTV RapFix Live. "It's on us to step up now. Let's make more music, doper music. Let's work harder, so Rozay doesn't have to work as hard."

After 20 months in remission from Hodgkin's lymphoma, Ethan Zohn is once again battling cancer. In a new interview with PEOPLE, the former "Survivor" winner announced that doctors told him on September 14 his cancer has returned and he is currently undergoing a new "smart" form of chemotherapy, SGN-35.

Of the returning cancer, the 37-year-old said, "It's localized in my lung area. But it's good that it's not all over my body." He went on to share that he began with the treatment that only targets the cancerous cells on October 18. Keeping a positive mind, he was quick to point out, "I won't lose my hair again."

A red band trailer for "21 Jump Street" has made its way out onto the web. The brand new promo video for the action comedy film features multiple hilarious R-rated scenes and show Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum's chemistry as two potty-mouthed buddies, Schmidt and Jenko, who go undercover as high school students.

In the action comedy based on Johnny Depp's 1980s TV series, Schmidt and Jenko are more than ready to leave their adolescent problems behind. Joining the police force and the secret Jump Street unit, they use their youthful appearances to go undercover in a local high school.

After wrapping up its two Halloween-themed episodes, "American Horror Story" will return next week with Vivien's baby as one of the highlights. She goes to the doctor to check her pregnancy, but the doctor seems to have an info she is reluctant to share to Vivien.

Vivien additionally feels that another woman is scared after looking the ultrasound of her baby. The woman doubts if the baby is innocent or even human, but Constance thinks otherwise as she says, "We need that baby. We need another... sweet child around here."

As a teaser for upcoming "Glee" christmas album, a cover of classic yuletide "Let It Snow" makes its round online. The re-recorded version features two regular cast of the hit TV series, Darren Criss who plays Blaine, and Chris Colfer who portrays Kurt.

In the holiday effort, Darren also joins forces with Lea Michele (Rachel) in "Extraordinary Merry Christmas". Chris, meanwhile, joins star-studded cover of "Do They Know It's Christmas" which lines up the whole members of McKinley High's New Directions kids.

Saying Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Derek Hough are not a fan of each other apparently puts their feuds mildly. A source close to their ABC show "Dancing with the Stars" recently spilled to Us Weekly that the two professional ballroom dancers in fact "hate each other".

"The professional dance community is really small. The dancers have known one another their entire lives," the insider explained in the mag's new issue, which will hit newsstands across the U.S. on Friday, November 4. "Now that the group is famous, it's added a whole other level of rivalry and competitiveness."

"True Blood" has found Eric Northman's sister in British actress Lucy Griffiths. The 25-year-old beauty, who is best known for her role as Maid Marian on BBC's series "Robin Hood", will join the HBO hit show in season 5 as a series regular.

Like Alexander Skarsgard's Eric, Griffiths' vampire character Nora was also created by Godric. She is working as a double agent within the Vampire Authority and described as beautiful, intelligent, intimidating and a very good liar. She loves Eric deeply, but has dedicated her life to a higher purpose.

While preparing for his next studio album and a new Young Money compilation, Lil Wayne continues to land a guest spot in other artists' works. Most recently, he lent his vocals in Robin Thicke's "Pretty Lil' Heart" and Shanell's "So Good".

"Love is in the air, I pray to god I do not suffer," Weezy opens "Pretty Lil' Heart" by half singing and half rapping. "She say she love me, I'm convinced/ don't need a rocker scientist to see that you and i are meant/ I meant to tell you, you the reason i smile more."

Simon Cowell could not help taking over his fellow mentor's duty when watching a contestant's talent is not optimally exposed on "The X Factor (US)". On the Top 12 performance show, the show's creator proudly stated that he gave an advice to Stacy Francis from Nicole Scherzinger's 'Over 30s' group on her song choice that night.

"Some of the best singers in the world are what I call church singers, like Aretha Franklin, that's what I mean, what's wrong with that?" Simon explained as he advised Stacy to go gospel with her rendition of Patty Griffin's "Up to the Mountain" that closed the Wednesday, November 2 episode.

The first photo of Justin Bieber's alleged baby boy has been published. Gracing the newest cover of Star Magazine, it gives a look at sleeping Tristyn Anthony Markhouse Yeater and his mother, 20-year-old Mariah Yeater who recently filed a paternity lawsuit against the pop sensation.

Yeater filed the lawsuit against Bieber on October 31. In the court papers, she claimed to have sex with the "Baby" hitmaker in a bathroom at Los Angeles' Staples Center after his sold-out concert on October 25, 2010. She noted, "When I later realized I was pregnant with Justin Bieber's baby, I tried to contact him through his representatives but no one ever called me back."

Matt Cardle has just debuted a music video in support of his latest single called "Starlight". The British singer, who won "The X Factor" in 2010, rocks out with a bunch of friends on the rooftop while the lights and fire illuminate the sky.

"It's a banging tune," 28-year-old Matt said of the single which he co-wrote with Ash Howes, Richard Stannard and Seton Daunt. "We wanted to open up with something that was edgy, something that was strong. Something that wasn't 'X Factor'."

"Wrath of the Titans" is yet to open in U.S. theaters, but already Warner Bros. Pictures has planned a third film for the "Clash of the Titans" franchise. The story will continue the adventures of Perseus, played by Sam Worthington.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dan Mazeau and David Leslie Johnson, who wrote the script for "Wrath", have been attached to pen the screenplay for "Clash of the Titans 3". Producers Basil Iwanyk and Polly Johnsen will also return for the third film.

Kim Kardashian continues to defend her decision to divorce husband of 72 days, Kris Humphries. In her first TV interview since pulling the plug on her short-lived marriage, the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star opened up to the hosts of an Australian morning show that she has to follow her heart.

During an appearance on "Sunrise", the 31-year-old was asked whether she fought to save her marriage. In a response to the question, she said, "I think when you know so deep in your heart that you just have to listen to your intuition and follow your heart, there's no right or wrong thing to do, so I really believe that."

Justin Bieber took up a challenge to do a freestyle during a recent interview in L.A.'s Power 10, and he impressed the DJ. Visiting the radio station to promote his album "Under the Mistletoe", the popstar threw his lines right on the spot over the soulful music of Jay-Z and Kanye West's collaborative single "Otis".

"Damn, damn, JB where the hell you been/ Yeah I got a new necklace, diamonds," he opened it. "Two big-face Roleys, no I ain't lyin'/ Makin' Mama so proud that she cryin'/ Yeah you say I'm crazy, guess that makes two/ But I never knew that dreams really come true/ Started playin' drums when I was two/ Now I kick it in Japan, Kung Fu."

ABC and MTV have each set a premiere date for one of their hit reality shows. The former schedules the sixteenth season of "The Bachelor" for a Monday, January 2, 2012 premiere, while the latter network plans to debut the fifth season of "Jersey Shore" on Thursday, January 5, 2012.

The new installment of dating show "Bachelor" will star Ben Flajnik as the eligible bachelor looking for the woman of his dreams. The vineyard owner from Sonoma, CA. previously got rejected by Ashley Hebert in the finale of "The Bachelorette" season 7.

Around three months after Bubba Smith was found dead at his home on Sunlight Place in Baldwin Hills, the Los Angeles County coroner's office shed light on the cause of his death. On Wednesday, November 2, it was revealed that the former NFL player-turned-actor died from taking too many diet pills.

Spokesman Ed Winter said in a statement that Bubba suffered from acute intoxication of the drug along with other conditions. According to his autopsy reports, the former defensive lineman had high levels of the weight-loss drug Phentermine in his system. He also had heart disease, an enlarged heart and up to 75 percent blockage of some blood vessels, as well as hypertension.

A full trailer for "Underworld: Awakening" has hit the web. Courtesy of Yahoo! Movies, the two-and-a-half-minute promo video brings Kate Beckinsale's Selene back in action to declare a war against humans. In it, Selene is also seen trying to protect Eve, played by India Eisley. Eve herself is the first and only hybrid child and the key answer for Selene to win her war.

"Underworld 4" brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans. It follows Selene as she finds herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species. The vampire warrioress must fight the humans to ensure the survival of her Vampire clan.

CBS has won another round in Janet Jackson's infamous wardrobe malfunction case. On Wednesday, November 2, a divided 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was wrong to fine the network $550,000 for the singer's exposed breast during the halftime Super Bowl performance in 2004.

In the three-judge panel's words, FCC improperly imposed a penalty on CBS for violating a previously unannounced policy. "An agency may not apply a policy to penalize conduct that occurred before the policy was announced," Circuit Judge Marjorie Rendell wrote.

Coldplay land at No.1 on Billboard Hot 200 with their latest effort "Mylo Xyloto" which pulls in 447,000 copies in its opening week. The British band fronted by Chris Martin win the race to the penthouse of the weekly rundown against Kelly Clarkson. The former "American Idol" winner debuts at No. 2 with her newly-released album "Stronger" (163,000).

Talking about the stiff competition this week, Kelly once commented to MTV News, "...People were like, 'Oh my God, are you kidding? Coldplay is going to kill you!' I don't care if they kill me. .. It's more like, how many people are going to buy their album, and then my album is right there, 'cause it's out too." She added, "I always think competition is healthy."

Lady GaGa takes her fight against bullying to a new level. On Wednesday, November 2, the 25-year-old pop star announced that she is launching the Born This Way Foundation with the aim to empower youth and address issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development.

In a statement, the "You and I" singer called the foundation "a passion project" that she will direct with her mother, Cynthia Germanotta. On its goal, she explained, "Together we hope to establish a standard of Bravery and Kindness, as well as a community worldwide that protects and nurtures others in the face of bullying and abandonment."

In a court session taking place on Wednesday, November 2, Lindsay Lohan has been told to surrender by November 9 and begin serving 30 days without eligibility for house arrest or early release. Judge Stephanie Sautner laid the sentence after the actress violated her probation.

During the hearing, Lohan admitted to violating her probation and waived her right to a formal hearing. Sautner then set a schedule, month by month, of how much community service and psychotherapy she must complete by the end of March 2012. She has over 300 days left from previous cases and could end up serving that much time if she does not follow all of the court's instructions.

Both Demi Lovato and Wilmer Valderrama may have denied that they are an item, but a recent photo showed otherwise. A day after attending a Halloween party on Monday, October 31 night together, they were seen kissing outside his house.

The rumor that they are lovebirds dated back in November 2010 after Demi split from Joe Jonas. Wilmer was very supportive when Demi went to rehab for "emotional and physical" issues. However, his representative denied the romance, saying at that time, "It is false."

Four outperforming other popular TV shows, "The X Factor (US)" is given a second season order. "I am absolutely thrilled with the news," judge Simon Cowell said in the press release. "I have loved making the show and I want to thank FOX, our sponsors and most importantly, the fans for supporting THE X FACTOR."

Cowell had first expected it to average 20 million viewers, but the premiere episode only attracted 12.5 million viewers, posting a 4.4 rating in 18-49 demo. However, FOX's reality chief Mike Darnell said, "We lived with the reality that there is an enormous interest in every show during premiere week, and honestly, we're just relieved this morning. Other than crazy expectations, this is a very good premiere."

After starring in a number of blockbusters, Megan Fox is pushing her limit to star in a Broadway play. Her debut, the 10th "24 Hour Plays", would premiere on November 14 at American Airlines Theater in New York City.

"24 Hour Plays" is a fundraiser project involving 24 screen actors such as Gabourey Sidibe, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Tracy Morgan and Julia Stiles. There will also be six writers, six directors, two musical guests and a production staff producing six plays. The team will get together on November 13 to begin creating their plays and perform the plays in front of audience the next day.

"The Voice" judge Cee-Lo is booking more and more performances. The Gnarls Barkley musician will take part at Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on Thursday, November 24, performing on top of National Hockey League's float.

The float's surface will be made of synthetic ice and a 12-foot tall turkey will serve as a giant hockey goal. Hockey greats, which are not mentioned yet, will appear on top of the float along with Cee-Lo. The inaugural NHL Thanksgiving game then takes place on Friday and will be aired on NBC.