December 28, 2012

As the year of 2012 is inching closer to pull down its final curtain, AceShowbiz takes readers a stroll down the memory lane of the past twelve months. In the glitz and blitz of Hollywood, there's no shortage of topics from welcoming a new addition to the family, and enjoying a massive success after a long hard work to mourning the death of a beloved one.

The first quarter highlights the much-anticipated arrival of Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z's baby girl that soon became talk of the town, the untimely death of music icon Whitney Houston that stunned music and movie worlds, and the huge success of British boyband One Direction to make a chart record on Billboard Hot 200.

Summit Entertainment has given away an extended look at supernatural romcom "Warm Bodies". The footage, which presents the first four minute of the film, takes people inside the mind of Nicholas Hoult's R. "What am I doing? I'm so pale. I should get out more. I should eat better. My posture's terrible. I should stand up straigther," so the zombie talks to himself.

As he wanders around an airport which has become home for many other dead walkers, R explains their pasts and shares his thought on what caused the apocalypse. He also reveals his worry that someday he will turn into the vicious Boneys, and introduces his best friend M.

The U.S. will be welcoming 2013 with a bang as most major cities will be ringing in the New Year with a host of electronic dance music performances, with a selection of powerhouse DJs headlining the new year parties. Some of the key cities that will feature EDM's cream of the crop are New York City, Las Vegas, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Skrillex will lead the new year celebration in Detroit, doing a "Dog Blood" collaboration with Boys Noize, while Dutch music producer and DJ Afrojack hosts the NYC festivities along with Armin van Buuren, Dada Life, Moby, RJD2 and Pretty Lights. Over in Miami, Kaskade, Calvin Harris, DJ Tiesto and Steve Angello will party until the NYC ball drops.

English film director and auteur Danny Boyle, who brought Award-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire", has given a sneak peek at his new thriller movie, "Trance". The images, which make their way out via USA Today, give first look at Rosario Dawson as the movie heroine Elizabeth, James McAvoy as Simon, and Vincent Cassel as Franck.

"Trance", which marks Boyle's first movie that has a female hero, is all about an art heist gone wrong. Dawson plays the hypnotherapist, Elizabeth, who desperately tries to bring back the memory of art gallery auctioneer Simon. Simon suffers from amnesia after getting a huge blow on his head and forgets where the priceless painting of Goya's "Witches in the Air" is stored.

Nick Stahl found himself in trouble when visiting a porn store in Hollywood recently. The John Connor of "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" was taken into police custody by LAPD undercover vice officers on suspicion of lewd act.

TMZ reports Nick was found watching porno and touching himself in a private booth when the cops did a routine inspection in the adult store around 6 P.M. He was booked and released a few hours later. On his way out, he told awaiting paparazzi that it's just a "misunderstanding."

Slowly but sure, plans to resurrect "One Life to Live" are shaping up. Latest report says the show has found a new executive producer in Jennifer Pepperman for the online revival, which is being worked on by Prospect Park.

Pepperman is no stranger to "OLTL". She served as a coordinating producer on the soap opera from 1998 to 2000, before taking the role as an associate director in 2010. Her other credits include directing episodes of "As the World Turns" and serving as a production coordinator on "Guiding Light".

After the electronic dance music team-up of Redfoo and SkyBlu, together known as LMFAO, announced in September this year that their tandem is going on a temporary hiatus, Redfoo immediately returns to the scene to embark on his own solo career with his new single "Bring Out the Bottles". As can be expected, the track sounds quite similar to the classic LMFAO tunes the duo dished out, such as their Hot 100 hit single "Sexy and I Know It" and their biggest hit to-date "Party Rock Anthem".

Redfoo's trademark afro and electro-pop beat can be experienced once again by LMFAO fans. Son of music mogul and Motown founder Berry Gordy, Redfoo sings about partying with girls in his new track, reminiscent of his party-rocking ways with his old partner-in-crime, SkyBlu.

It seems that Bethenny Frankel's husband still hopes for reconciliation. Jason Hoppy was recently spotted in New York still wearing his wedding band despite his separation from the former star of "The Real Housewives of New York City".

Keeping himself warm in jeans, a coat and scarf to brave the chilly weather, Jason sat alone in a cafe in East Village Thursday, December 27. The businessman flashed no smile as he talked on his cell phone while holding a glass of drink on the table.

A big-screen adaptation of Mark Twain's classic book "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is coming in 2013. Giving a preview to the film, a trailer has been shared by director Jo Kastner himself.

Staying true to the novels, it centers on the titular characters as they embark on thrilling adventures. Set in 1845, the drama film will see how Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn bond as they hold on to their hopes, find love and experience their dreams turn into nightmares in their journey.

Since being snubbed by NBC in favor of Jay Leno to replace Johnny Carson in "Tonight Show" slot, David Letterman makes no secret of his bitterness toward his rival. In a new interview on "Oprah's Next Chapter" that will air January 6, the 65-year-old host said their feud was more complicated than just a job rivalry.

"We were always friends before all of this happened," he said. "He has a way...he's an unusual fellow. I've never met anyone quite like Jay. And I will say - and I'm happy to say - that I think he is the funniest guy I've ever known. Just flat out, if you go to see him do his nightclub act, just the funniest, the smartest, a wonderful observationist and very appealing as a comic."

The Vancouver Film Critics Circle has just announced the nominees for its 13th annual awards to be held on January 7, 2013 in Vancouver, Canada. Leading the nominations is Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln", which gets 5 nods from the VFCC, including Best Picture, Best Director for Spielberg, and Best Actor nomination for its lead, Academy Award-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis.

The fourth nomination for "Lincoln" comes by way of another acting commendation, the Best Supporting Actor nod for Tommy Lee Jones. Lastly, Tony Kushner gets a Best Screenplay nomination for writing the drama about the 16th U.S. president.

Earlier this month, FOX had announced that "American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips was part of the line-up of artists who would perform onstage during their 90-minute "New Year's Eve Live!" special to be broadcast direct from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. However, apparently due to conflicts in his schedule, FOX confirms that he will no longer be part of the TV special, and will be replaced by the recently-crowned "The X Factor (US)" grand winner, Tate Stevens.

Both artists are winners of highly-rating TV reality singing competition shows. Phillips won season 11 of "American Idol" this year, while 37-year-old country crooner Stevens just, last December 18, won season 2 of the US edition of "The X Factor". Once a road worker before joining "The X Factor", Stevens was mentored by songwriter and record producer L.A. Reid en route to winning the $5 million recording deal with Sony Music.

Shakira, 35, is a first-time mom to a baby boy. The arrival of the bundle of joy was confirmed by her 25-year-old boyfriend, center back of FC Barcelona Gerard Pique, on Twitter and Facebook Thursday night, December 27.

"Ya ha nacido nuestro hijo! Estamos muy felices! Gracias a todos por vuestros mensajes!" the proud baby daddy tweeted in Spanish. The English translation is "Our son [is] already born! We are very happy! Thank you all for your messages!"

Behind-the-scenes footage of "Teen Wolf" season 3 has landed online to tide fans over the summer premiere. "Welcome to Season 3 of 'Teen Wolf,' first day of filming! Merry Christmas," lead actor Tyler Posey opens the video.

In it, Posey, Dylan O'Brien, Tyler Hoechlin and more cast members are featured on the set during the first day of filming the new chapter. They are mostly seen shooting the scenes in vet's office and in the school, with Miss California 2007 Meagan Tandy showing off her skill with a stick in locker room.

It's Suri's first holiday season since her parents divorced, and Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise made sure she feels loved. The former couple apparently has worked out a win-win solution so that their little girl could spend the holiday with both of them.

"Suri spent Christmas day with her mother and her family in Ohio," a source close to the mother tells PEOPLE. "It was a wonderful day." Another insider reveals the 6-year-old girl has now reunited with her father and her adopted siblings, Bella, 20, & Connor, 17.

T.I.'s "Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head" debuts at no. 2 in the Billboard Hot 200 chart with 179,000 records sold. It, however, is not enough to take the hip-hop star to the top spot, as Taylor Swift's "Red" album still holds on to no. 1 with an indomitable 276,000 units in sales.

"Trouble Man" is T.I.'s eighth album that makes it to the Billboard 200 charts, following his "No Mercy" album's no. 4 debut back in 2010. Despite his strong debut, he becomes the third of 3 male artists to end up as runner-up to the 23-year-old country music superstar.

Shortly after story about love triangle between Kevin Federline, Britney Spears and his brother Christopher was picked up by various media outlets following a lawsuit purportedly filed by Chris, it's revealed that the whole thing is made up. The legal papers were filed by an unrelated felon named Jonathan Lee Riches.

The Smoking Gun reported the culprit was a serial litigator who has filed an array of frivolous lawsuits involving public figures like Justin Bieber and Brad Pitt. The 35-year-old also recently posed as the uncle of Adam Lanza, the gunman in Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. He was taken back to jail for probation violations.

Katie Holmes will end her latest Broadway gig earlier than it was expected. Producers announce that her play "Dead Accounts" will close on Sunday, January 6, seven weeks ahead of its original schedule which was February 24.

"I am extremely proud of this production and the cast," producer Jeffrey Finn says in a statement. "Theresa Rebeck and Jack O'Brien have created an inspiring and hilarious new play and we are all sad to see 'Dead Accounts' end on Broadway. I look forward to working with this remarkably talented cast and creative team again very soon."

"Mockingbird Lane" is officially dead on NBC. Following months of speculations that the network passes on the project, writer Bryan Fuller confirmed it on Thursday, December 27 as posting on his Twitter page, "I tweet with a heavy heart. NBC not moving forward with #MockingbirdLane. From producers and cast, thank you all for enthusiasm and support."

Set to serve as a reboot to 1960s' "The Munsters", the fantasy comedy had Jerry O'Connell, Portia de Rossi, Eddie Izzard and Mason Cook in its cast ensemble. The production faced a setback earlier this year due to casting issue before the principal photography finally took place in summer.

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" made headlines as it crossed the $500 million benchmark for worldwide ticket sales. The joint announcement by New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures pointed out that the first part of film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 novel had earned an estimated $179.7 million domestically and $344 million internationally for a global total of $523.7 million.

"An Unexpected Journey" also broke a record when it premiered in Australia December 26. The Peter Jackson-directed fantasy film posted the biggest Boxing Day opening of all time Down Under.

Taylor Swift's camp didn't seem to see Jacob Kulke, who's caught red handed attempting to break into her home in Nashville, Tennessee, as a threat. They have talked to his lawyer Sean McKinney on Thursday, December 27 and agreed not to press charges.

Sean said Jacob meant no harm and was under impression that it was OK to go onto the property because there wasn't "No Trespassing" sign. The lawyer also claimed his client was tricked by someone into believing that he's communicating with the singer via a social media.

The hard-hittin' rhymes between Philadelphia rappers Meek Mill and Cassidy continue to heat up as they release their own versions of diss songs for each other. After Cassidy dropped his "Me, Myself & iPhone" on Saturday, Mill fires back with the new track "Repo", which he released on Wednesday, December 26.

The two emcees, who have been locked in this word war for a few days now, kept throwing their ire at each other via their powerful raps and messages. The "Dreams and Nightmares" artist went to his Twitter and wrote the taunting message, "The funeral starts at 9:30 PM tonight, final viewing tonight," as he premiered "Repo" online.

"Game of Thrones" and "Dexter" once again prove that they are highly anticipated by fans, though not in the way that shows' bosses expect. The two series are the most pirated TV show of 2012, according to TorrentFreak.

As many as 4.28 million people watched an episode of HBO's "Game of Thrones". It surpassed an estimated 4.2 million viewers which watched the episode on the premium cable channel the night it aired.

Brandy now can truly say, "The boy is mine." Her close friend and her representative confirm to various media outlets that the "Boy Is Mine" hitmaker is engaged to marry her boyfriend, music executive Ryan Press, a year after they went public with their romance.

The engagement news broke out on December 26 when the "Cinderella" actress posted a cryptic message on her Instagram. She posted a picture of a red rose petal with lyrics of her song "How High" written on it. "Like a rib, I'm one within you. We're unbreakable, inseparable," it read.

Former teen heartthrob Rider Strong is engaged to girlfriend Alexandra Barreto. The star of "Boy Meets World" popped the question to Barreto on Wednesday, December 26 with a "handmade gold ring he created himself," his publicist confirmed.

The actor, who played Shawn Hunter on the '90s series, met Barreto, an actress, when he was working on the short-lived 2006 series "Pepper Dennis". According to E! Online, the couple also worked together on a campaign video for Barack Obama in the 2008 election.

St. Louis soul singer Fontanella Bass passed away on Wednesday, December 26 around 9:45 P.M. at the age of 72. Her daughter Neuka Mitchell confirmed that Bass suffered from a heart attack three weeks ago and died of its complications at a St. Louis hospice.

"She was an outgoing person," Mitchell said of her mother. "She had a very big personality. Any room she entered she just lit the room up, whether she was on stage or just going out to eat." She is survived by four children. Her husband Lester Bowie died in 1999.

Kevin Federline's brother Christopher made a bizarre claim that Britney Spears' eldest son Sean Preston is his son. Christopher has launched a legal action against Britney who allegedly threatened to reveal the secret to public.

Christopher is seeking a restraining order against Britney, calling her a "maniac" who stole his credit card and spent thousands of dollars on Archie and Betty Boop comics as well as Mad magazines. He also claimed that Britney tried to blackmail him when he confronted her with the theft. She was even said mocking the size of his manhood.

The latest baby in the Followill clan was born on Wednesday, December 26 at 4:01 P.M. in Nashville. Kings of Leon's drummer Nathan Followill and his wife, singer Jessie Baylin, welcomed a baby girl named Violet Marlowe Followill who weighed 7 lbs. and 13 ounces at time of birth. "Mom, Dad and baby are doing well and are so in love!" a rep for the band told People.

This is the first child for Nathan and Jessie who got married in 2009. They announced the pregnancy in June with him tweeting, "I can proudly announce that me & the lovely @JessieBaylin are expecting our first child I'm beyond excited/anxious. Life is beautiful."

It looks like Simon Cowell is planning a whole new formation of "The X Factor (US)" judge panel. It has just been reported that Britney Spears will be sacked from her position as one of the judges after only one season.

"Britney will get the boot," an insider told Us Weekly, adding "Producers wanted her for the long haul, but it isn't working." Cowell initially wanted a "crazy Britney, but he got boring Britney." Producers said Spears has not earned her $15 million contract. "They paid all that for her to say 'amazing' and offer half-claps," another source said.