AIDS
The US must regain the passion it once had for tackling the AIDS epidemic, otherwise infection rates could start climbing again, the U.S. AIDS prevention chief said. U.S. AIDS cases and HIV infections have remained fairly stable since 1998 at about 10,000 new infections every three months. However, that overall stability may mask reported increases in HIV infections among heterosexuals, said Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, deputy director of the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Flood!
With flood warnings out and more rain looming, Gov. Rick Perry said that he expected losses from the deadly flooding across Texas to be near $1 billion. ``Once all these floodwaters recede, we'll see the impact,'' Perry said after touring a flood-damaged home in downtown San Antonio. ``It's going to be substantial. This is another major, major blow to the state of Texas.''More than 30 inches of rain have fallen in the past week, sending streams and rivers pouring out of their banks from the Hill Country surrounding San Antonio to rural west Texas.
Shooting In California
Hesham Mohamed Hadayet opened fire on a Los Angeles airport. After he killed 2 people and wounded another 2, security shot him. The man's name has just been released, other facts are that he is of Egyptian desent and his birthday was on July fourth. It is believed it was an isolated attack. ''At this point it's too early to rule out anything," said Matt McGlaughlin, an FBI spokesman.
Mariah's father dies
Mariah Carey's father, Alfred Roy Carey, died on July 4th. Mariah's parents divorced when Mariah was 3, but in the past years Mariah has become very close with her father. Carey, the #1 selling female artist of all time, flew back to the island of Capri to finish recording her new album based out of Island Def Jam records.
Batman Meets Superman
Warner Bros. has had difficulty in recent years getting new ''Batman'' and ''Superman'' pictures off the ground, but that hasn't stopped the studio from greenlighting a movie that would feature both superheroes. In the works is ''Batman vs. Superman,'' which already has a screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker (''Seven'') and a director in Wolfgang Petersen (''The Perfect Storm,'' ''Air Force One''). No stars have been cast yet, though the studio expects to do so within the next month, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Joey On Broadway!
You may have a hard time imagining 'N Sync's Joey Fatone as a starving artist, but that's what he'll play when he makes his Broadway debut next month in ''Rent,'' the New York Times reports. He'll play the lead role of Mark, the struggling video artist and narrator of Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical, which has been a hit for six years on Broadway and in touring productions around the world. ''It's just a cutting edge kind of thing,'' the boy band singer told the Times, although he says he also considered auditioning for the rather less cutting-edge Disney musical ''Beauty and the Beast."
Martha Stewert in living on the edge.
At issue is Stewart's sale of ImClone Systems stock a day before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejected the company's experimental cancer drug and the stock slid. She is close friends with Sam Waksal, the CEO of ImClone, who was arrested two weeks ago on charges of insider trading. Stewart has repeatedly maintained her innocence, saying that she had an agreement with her broker to sell her 3,928 shares if the stock price fell below $60 per share, according to Reuters. When she appeared, and was questioned, on the Early Show she said, " I would rather talk about salad."
R. Kelly's Mess
R&B superstar R. Kelly was taken into custody by Chicago police officers on June 7 to face child-pornography charges stemming from a videotape that authorities claim shows the singer having sex with an underage girl. Chicago police investigators told Kelly of his rights, handcuffed him, and drove him to a local police station to be booked. R Kelly was indicted June 5 in Chicago on 21 child-pornography charges for allegedly producing and disseminating child pornography and soliciting a minor to participate in sex acts on tape or film. Kelly, 35, has denied that he is the man on the videotape that the police have. If the singer is found guilty of the Class 1 felony, he could receive a prison term of up to 15 years and a fine of up to $100,000.
Nick to go Solo
Nick Carter, from the world famous group, Backstreet Boys, will be taking a short leave to persue a solo career. The album will be out late in 2002, and will be released by Jive records. 'Right now I've been in the studio, and I've got, like, over 30 songs recorded, and they are thinking about a single in a couple of months, and the album later on this year --maybe late September.''
Fat Joe In Jail
Rapper Fat Joe cooperatively turned himself in to New York police on Wednesday afternoon, the New York Daily News reports. The 31-year-old Joe (real name: Joseph Cartagena) was charged with assault for allegedly punching a man and breaking his jaw during a wee-hours brawl at a Manhattan nightspot in May.
AIDS On the Street
The newest ''Sesame Street'' Muppet will be brought to you by the letters H, I, and V. Variety reports that, in September, a Muppet infected with the AIDS virus will debut on ''Takalani Sesame,'' the version of ''Sesame Street'' that airs in South Africa, where an estimated one in nine people is infected with HIV. No name or color has been chosen.
Week of July 14 2002
Disney World's Epcot Closed
The Epcot Theme park located in Disney World Orlando had a transformer blow on July 16, 2002 at 3:00 AM. Because no one was there to see it, the park opened on the 17th at normal time. However, within a few hours the Epcot parked was closed. Wild Writings is in location here in Orlando so we will have more news to follow.
Michelle Branch - New Album!
The Spirit Room star told launch.com "Yes, I'm going into the studio August 1st to start a new record," she revealed. "I was going to go on tour but it just didn't feel right. The last record that I had, The Spirit Room, I wrote a lot of the songs when I was 14, 15, 16, and I'm now 19, so I feel like my new songs have jumped leaps and bounds over the old record. So instead of touring, I decided that I was going to make a new record, and I'm very, very thrilled about it."
Janet's new Video!
Janet Jackson and Beenie Man just shot their new video in
California's Zuma Beach. "Feel it boy" is said to be very seductive! View the sneak peak pictures to the right.
Lance to lift off!
After many months of waiting, Lance Bass received the okay from the Russain Space Center just a few days ago. Lance's physical testing and numerous training sessions all went smoothly. He could be taking off as early as this fall.
Will Smith in a new movie
Still riding the success of 'Men In Black II' word has come out that Smith is in talks to star in the remake of 'A Star Is Born.' Smith is considering the project that will be directed by Joel Schumacher. Smith is also hoping that Jennifer Lopez or Alicia Keys will come along for the ride. In an interview with tvguide.com, Smith said: "Jennifer loves the concept and Alicia really liked it too." Smith says he will only consider doing the movie if the remake will be done different, saying: "I'm trying to figure out a way to make it different, to make it special. But it has to be right." The original film, which was made in 1937 was about a starry-eyed farm girl who wants to break into the movies.
Mariah in Capri - New Album!
Mariah Carey has spent weeks relaxing, but now it's time for her to go back to work. The lendary diva is currently recording in Capri, an island off the coast of Italy. She has new songs such as "Distant Lover," "Next Time," and "Reach for the Stars." Mariah is signed with Island Def Jam and will be starting her own music label. Wild Writings has a picture of Mariah taken last week.
July 22 2002
Melanie C vs. Virgin records
Mel C is now fed up with Virgin records over her body. Her label has apparently told her to lose weight for the promotion of her new album. Mel disagrees and the feud may actually push the album called "Here It Comes Again," back from its scheduled September release date. A source told the Sun newspaper, "Mel has told them she wants to be real to herself and thinks the fact that she is not skinny should not impact on her sales."
American Idol: 2003
Fox is close to signing a deal for American Idol: 2003. There will be some changes to the show, according to the report. The audition process is likely to last longer, as on the British version of the series, before jumping to the episodes featuring competition among the finalists. That would mean more withering disses from Simon Cowell, who is a coproducer of the show as well as a judge -- but perhaps no more melees among Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul. It's not clear whether the other two judges, or loser-consoling hosts Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman, would return.
Anyone see a movie this weekend?
Most people right now are saying no. Oddly enough, this past weekend [July 19 - 21] was one of the lowest movie weekends of the year. Although Stewert Little, K-19: The Widowmaker," and Eight Legged Freaks all debuted this weekend, the #1 movie brought in only 15 million. [To see the top films, visit movies.]
P.Diddy In Trouble Again
According to published reports, Universal-MCA Music Publishing has filed a $4 million suit in Manhattan Supreme Court on behalf of songwriters Todd Gaither, Kelly Price, and Jeremy Graham, claiming that they've never received royalties from songs they wrote on the five-year-old album, which sold 5 million copies. The three of them are credited, separately or together, as songwriters on half a dozen tunes on the album, including ''Missing You,'' which is credited to Gaither, along with Combs and, of course, Sting, since the music and lyrics are based on the Police's ''Every Breath You Take.'' Price also sang on the album. The suit alleges that Combs and Bad Boy Records engaged in ''fraudulent activities'' in their accounting practices in order to claim that no royalties are due to the songwriters. ''This lawsuit has no merit whatsoever,'' Combs' spokeswoman responded in a statement. P.Diddy's We Invented the Remix is out now. Click here to view our review of it.
Mystikal in Jail
The hit rapper turned himself in on charges of aggravated rape and extortion and was released on $250,000 bond, the Associated Press reports. Also turning themselves in were the rapper's associates, Leland Ellis and Vercy Carter. (They were not released.) The three were accused of raping a woman Mystikal said had kited a check from him. Neither Mystikal nor Jive Records, his label, have commented on the charges.
Osbourne News!
Sharon Osbourne said on July 3 that she has been diagnosed with cancer, but was expected to fully recover after she undergoes surgery on Wednesday, July 3. However, just a few days ago she released a statement that the cancer spread through her liver. MTV will record the surgery and air it in a few months. On the good side of things, Ozzy is to be a grandad for the first time - his 'secret daughter' Jessica is expecting a child. The British-born former Black Sabbath hitmaker has made headlines again thanks to his top-rated MTV fly-on-the-wall show. Ozzy and Sharon also have a daughter Aimee together, who doesn't appear in the show, but few fans realize Osbourne has two older children, Jessica, 30, and 27-year-old Louis, with his first wife Thelma. And Jessica is now pregnant and expecting her first child with her partner Ben.
Popcorn and Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit could be coming to a theatre near you. Fred Durst and friends are considering broadcasting some of their shows to movie theatres by satellite. The Firm has said that Limp Bizkit as well as Staind could use the satellite relays to try to reach as many fans as possible not only for shows, but for record launches as well. The hit band Korn has already successfully relayed a live show. In June they played New York's Hammerstein Ballroom, but, the gig was caught by thousands more all over the U.S. The show was broadcast to 37 mostly sold out theatres.
July 23, 2002 - Happy Birthday Monica Lewinsky
Christina takes control!
Christina Aguilera is in the studio working on a new album due out later this year. She says that she has come a long way from her first album. "No hype, no gloss," Christina says about her new album. Stripped was going to be the title, but Christina feared people would misunderstand the meaning. [Where would she get a crazy idea like that?] The album is said to be very personal and 'completely about christina.' Wild Writings has a photo of Christina from the new RollingStone.
Elvis comeback?
RCA records is planning on releasing Elvis' number 1 hits on a CD due out later this year. Currently, RCA hired producers and DJs to mix Elvis' old hits to become new anthems. RCA says that they hope the CD will be as popular as the Beetles #1 collection. Elvis in the #2 best selling artist in music, with 18 #1 singles. Mariah Carey is #3 with 16 #1 singles, and the Beetles take #1 with 20 #1 singles
Whitney Speaks Out!
With Whitney Houston's new album coming out September 17, she has already started promotion for her new single, "Watcha Looking at?" Whitney said "This song has attitude. It's just my way of telling some people to mind their business and leave some of us alone. You know, people like Mariah Carey and I have had to accept some harsh remarks that are untrue and, uh, you know, they hurt." Later when asked about their comebacks, she said "Lord knows this is my year. I'm telling you something here. I'm back on top and I'm making the rules this time. I ain't gonna be pushed around anymore. Mariah and I invented this and we're both not condescending to those counterfeits. Haha! You know who I'm talking about." [Could she be taking about J.Lo? We all know Mariah and Whitney don't like J.Lo too much] Babyface has said Whitney is singing her heart out her new album, Believe. [Quote taken from careydaway.com]
MTV's VMAs!
MTV has released all the nods of the August 29 show. The Video Music Awards will be hosted by Jimmy Fallen, and performers already include Pink and Eminem. The choices for video of the year are: Eminem "Without Me" / *NSYNC "Gone" /Linkin Park "In The End" / P.O.D. "Alive" / White Stripes "Fell In Love With A Girl" / Nas "One Mic." MTV's Video Music Awards bring in huge ratings, but this year it was pushed up due to a September 11 remembrance day.
Jackson disses rappers.
Samuel L. Jackson costarred with rapper Eve on the upcoming film ''XXX,'' but don't think he was too happy about it. In fact, he tells the Sacramento Bee, he so resents acting alongside rappers that he won't even read scripts for movies where rappers are being considered for lead roles. ''To take people from the music world and give them the same kind of credibility and weight that you give me, Morgan Freeman, Laurence Fishburne, Forest Whitaker -- that's like an aberration to me; you just can't do that,'' he says. ''It's not my job to lend credibility to so-and-so rapper who's just coming into the business.'' [EW]
Downey Off the Hook
''I'm going out on a limb for you.'' So said a California judge, according to published reports, who ruled Friday that Robert Downey Jr. had fulfilled the terms of his probation and dismissed the charges against him stemming from his cocaine-possession arrest in November 2000 at a Palm Springs hotel. This despite the concern of the Riverside County prosecutor, who argued for an additional six months of probation for the recovering addict. [EW]
Batman vs. Superman
As we have reported before, Batman vs. Superman will make the big screen! On July 8, after years of shuffling two of its biggest franchises through a development purgatory more dire than anything the Joker or Lex Luthor could conjure, Warner Bros. announced that Petersen (''The Perfect Storm'') had been tapped to direct the behemoth team-up. Details of the screenplay (by ''Seven'' writer Andrew Kevin Walker) are under tight security. Petersen shared a few tidbits as he gears up to begin shooting next February for a summer 2004 release: ''Batman vs. Superman'' won't dwell on the heroes' origins. Instead, the titular titans cross paths (and figurative swords) over a case involving both Metropolis and Gotham. ''It's a superhero film, so of course at the end they join forces.''
Love Update
A bit of news in the love lifes of four celebrities: Jennifer Love Hewitt [new album in September] and John Mayor [New album out now] are dating, and have been seen out in public. Justin Timberlake [Solo gig in the works] and Janet Jackson [New song out now, "Feel it Boy."] were seen making out in public. It's a hot and steamy July!
July 24, 2002
Happy Birthday to J.Lo. Her new perfume, 'Glow' is out now.
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Britney Spears debut movie Crossroads is out now on DVD and VHS. The DVD has over 3 hours of extra features, including interviews, kareoke, deleted scenes, music videos, making of the movie, footage from the Hollywood premiere, and a photo gallery! If you wanna see all this, go check it out!
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WildWritings.com has exclusive pictures of Britney Spears! These were taken by Mark Lidell, who's a photographer that's worked with Britney for many years. The pictures are from various recent photoshoots (In Style, Teen People, Jane magazine, tour book, etc). Check our out Gallery for them.
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Whoever wins ''American Idol'' on Sept. 4 will get to prove his or her musical aptitude in the marketplace right away. Judge and series coproducer Simon Cowell tells Variety that the winner will have a single in stores within three weeks from September 4. How can Cowell get the song out so quickly? He'll record it in advance, with all three of the ultimate finalists recording their own versions, just in case. He describes the song as a power ballad much like Whitney Houston's ''One Moment in Time.'' The ''Idol'' winner, whose first prize is a $1 million recording contract, will have a full CD in stores by Christmas, Cowell says. Don't feel bad, though, if your favorite contestant doesn't win. The runner-up will also get to record a single, and a compilation album featuring all 10 finalists is due in October.
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Ja Rule fans who wish they could have seen more of the rapper in his supporting role in ''The Fast and the Furious'' may get their wish in the sequel. According to the Hollywood Reporter, he's in talks to reprise his role as street racer Edwin, but with more screen time, when ''F&F 2'' begins filming this fall in Miami. A bigger role for the rumble-voiced rapper could help make up for the absence of the similarly gruff-voiced Vin Diesel, who bowed out of the project. In the sequel, Paul Walker returns and goes undercover with Tyrese to bring down a drug trafficker. ''Shaft'''s John Singleton, who directed Tyrese in ''Baby Boy,'' will direct ''F&F 2.'' Ja Rule, who next appears on screen opposite Steven Seagal in this winter's ''Half Past Dead,'' apparently feels his film career is hot enough to quit music altogether. ''I'm going to retire after two more albums,'' he said at a press conference at the BET Awards in May. But at the same event, he cited Michael Jordan as an inspiration, so his talk of retirement may be no more credible than the basketball legend's.[EW]
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Conan O'Brain will host the 2002 Emmys! The gig is a mark of NBC's increased support for O'Brien, whose contracts NBC renewed for only 13 weeks at a time during his early days as David Letterman's replacement. But the Emmy show will coincide with the start of O'Brien's 10th season, as well as the beginning of NBC's deal to give him additional exposure by licensing reruns of the previous evening's ''Late Night'' to Comedy Central. O'Brian earns $8 Million a year for his hit late night television show.
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Ashanti has penned some tracks for the up and coming album by the legendary Mariah Carey. The singer is currently working on a new album in Caprii, but took some time off when her father passed away on July 4.
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Plans for Making the Band 2 are in the works, and the biggest difference this time around is that Lou Pearlman will not be involved. Instead, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs will be overseeing the competition, which will air on MTV starting in October. "This show will be a wild ride. No tricks or gimmicks, just P. Diddy reality," Diddy said in a statement. "I have been creating stars since I was 19, and this show will give insight into what it takes to be at the top. I'm excited to be working with MTV and doing what I love to do create and nurture new talent." P.Diddy's "We invented the Remix" is in stores now.
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Justin Timberlake's debut solo project is not only one of the most anticipated albums of the year, but it is one of the most well guarded. The 'NSYNC star has been in and out of recording studios all year, yet neither his record label nor his management will say anything about the record. Still, the music industry is buzzing and details are trickling out. Most are coming from collaborators and there appear to be many. As we reported before, it is said Justin is dating Janet Jackson. [MTV]
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Britney in depression? Ok, for the last few days rumors have been floating that Britney fell down on stage while performng a song on her current tour, has been in depression over breaking up with Justin Timberlake, and torn that her mother and father are getting divorced. Wild Writings is a no rumor site - strickly news. We report this because although it has been all over the media, Britney has not said anything about these topics.
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Jennifer Love Hewitt and John Mayor are dating and have been seen in public. To get a pic of the lovebirds, visit the gallery.
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Celine Dion's new album, A New Day Has Come, might sound great in your CD player. However, don't put it into your cd-rom drive! It has been reported that the CD will crash your computer due to glitches in the CD,
July 25, 2002
Happy Birthday Matt LeBlanc! The Friends star will finish the show next season. The 6 stars will make a collective $72 million.
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Celebrities on Reality Television!
If you saw those recent Lipton Sizzle & Stir commercials, which featured hodgepodge groups of celebrities (George Hamilton, Little Richard, Sally Jessy Raphael, Pat Morita) pretending to be a bickering family cooking dinner, and you thought they looked like scenes from a potentially hilarious sitcom, you're not alone. Inspired by those ads, the WB has made a deal for six episodes of a reality series that will force such a group of eight famous folks to live together under one roof. In a reference to the MTV show that does the same thing with young unknowns, the show will be called ''The Surreal World.'' Producers say they hope to get a multigenerational group of familiar faces to live together for two weeks in a house in Southern California's San Fernando Valley. While they can come and go as they please, they'll be required to interact with each other and do household chores. (Think ''The Osbournes'' more than ''Big Brother.'') ''Our intent is to make you feel like you're really watching a sitcom,'' producer Mark Cronin of Mindless Entertainment tells Variety. ''We're going to create a surreal family environment, and the fun will be [the celebrities] trying to deal with everyday life with each other -- sharing bathrooms and cooking dinner for each other,'' he tells the Hollywood Reporter.[EW]
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Pam Anderson in Serious Health Problem
Appearing Tuesday on ''Larry King Live,'' the former ''Baywatch'' and ''V.I.P.'' star told King she plans to take a year off to fight hepatitis C, the incurable disease she claims she got by sharing a tattoo needle with ex-husband Tommy Lee.
''I'm thinking of doing it in December,'' she said of her treatment, which will involve a regimen of Interferon and other drugs. ''It's going to be a year of basically having the flu. Your hair falls out. It's a little kind of chemotherapy kind of, throwing up.'' She added, ''I want to do it for my kids, because I don't want to die, basically.'' Anderson suggested she may also put on hold her plans to wed Kid Rock. ''I could say right now we're in the trenches. We're just working on things,'' she said of their relationship. ''We love each other very much. But it's a difficult life, a difficult life. And I want what's best for my kids. And he has a son.'' She said that she's still wary of commitment because of her soured marriage to Lee, who had denied sharing a tattoo needle with Anderson or being infected with hepatitis C. ''I'm still scared to death,'' she said of her post-Lee feelings about relationships. ''And I need to resolve a lot of issues with that, I think, before I can really move on and have another serious commitment.'' Anderson will still be taking on projects that don't require her to appear on camera, like her column for Jane magazine (which debuts in this month's issue) or her voice work for the upcoming TNN cartoon ''Stripperella.'' Besides, she said, she never wanted to be an actress. ''And I still don't. And I'm not an actress. I don't think I am an actress.'' What is she, then? ''I think I've created a brand and a business.'' [EW]
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Beyonce Knowles suffers from slight Exhaustion
Beyonce has revealed that she may be pulling out of her next movie, because she's suffering from exhaustion. The Destiny's Child star, who's latest movie venture, 'Austin Powers in Goldmember' opens across the country this Friday, believes she could be on the verge of a breakdown because of her exhaustive schedule. Knowles was to begin filming the romantic comedy 'The Fighting Temptations,' starring Cuba Gooding Jr., next month, but now that could be delayed. Knowles told The Sun in the UK: "I am so tired. Sometimes I sleep in my make-up because I don't want to spend time having it done the next day. I have to make a decision about the film. I don't want a breakdown and that's possible."
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Lance in space
Reuters reports *NSYNC star Lance Bass has signed an initial deal to join a Russian mission to the International Space Station in October despite US worries that the star is ill-prepared for the flight, officials said. "Lance Bass has signed a preliminary contract, he is officially a candidate," a spokesman for Russia's Rosaviakosmos said on Tuesday. "Whether he actually flies or not is a question that will be decided in the near future."
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Fans stalk Mr. Fatone Sr.
Douglas Quan of the Orlando Sentinel spoke with Joey Fatone's father Joey Sr. about the constant foot traffic that arrives at his door seeking his *NSYNC star son. "They come with maps and ask, 'Where does he live?'" Fatone Sr. explained. Amongst his encounters have been a 16-year-old girl once introduced herself by saying, "I'm your future daughter-in-law." Another girl offered to do the family's laundry. Father Fatone's reaction? "I just smile and laugh it off."
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Mandy's Movie
From MTV to movie screens, singing starlet MANDY MOORE is working hard on a new flick called 'How to Deal,' co-starring ALLISON JANNEY and TRENT FORD ('Gosford Park'). ET sat down with Mandy for the real deal about her on-camera smooch and her newly shortened brunette locks! Mandy's first movie, "A Walk to Remember" is out on DVD now.
July 26, 2002 Happy Birthday Kate Beckinsale, Sandra Bullock, Kevin Spacey, and Mick Jagger!
Austin Powers Mania!
Do I make you randy? C'on, Do I? Austin Powers Mania is here! Look out for a movie review on the movies page sometime tomorrow! Just a few nights ago, Destiny's Child star, Beyonce, was at the premiere and the after party of Austin Powers In Goldmember. Wild Writings has some exclusive pics! View them below or in our gallery.
Alica Keys brings back pop
At the tender age of only 21 and after just one record, Ms Alicia Keys has revolutionized the way the world defines pop music. "I feel really blessed right now", Keys says coyly when confronted about her current post as music's salvation. When Songs in A Minor was released a year back, it was a confident, grandiose slap in the airbrushed face of pre-fab pop. Just as the world was losing all faith in pop, along came a girl who was doing nothing you were supposed to do and everything that everyone else wasn't. Perfect.
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J.Lo Divorced
In what was all but a foregone conclusion, Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Reuters reports. The singer/actress, who turned 32 on Wednesday, cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for ending her marriage to dancer/choreographer Cris Judd, to whom she was married for just 10 months, and from whom she was separated for two months.
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Nick Carter Clean
Nick Carter's criminal record is now officially clean! His lawyer announced Thursday that prosecutors in Florida's Hillsborough County have dropped all charges against the boy-band singer relating to his January arrest after a wee-hours melee at a Tampa nightclub. ''I am glad to have this behind me,'' Carter said in a statement. As we have reported before, Nick is currently working on his solo album.
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Raymond gets Kicked?
''Everybody Loves Raymond'' may be a top-10 hit show as well as a critical hit that picked up 11 Emmy nominations last week, but it can't go on forever. So says series creator Phil Rosenthal, who tells Variety that the upcoming seventh season may be the show's last. Referring to CBS chief Les Moonves, Rosenthal says, ''I love Les, and they've been incredibly supportive. But when it's over, it's over. You don't want to get repetitive, and I've never seen a show get better after seven seasons.'' Variety notes that CBS' contracts with ''Raymond'''s producers and with star Ray Romano expire next May, and while CBS will surely want the show to continue, Rosenthal says he and Romano will have to decide this winter whether they want to keep going.
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Brad in the 'Fountain'
Brad Pitt's ''The Fountain'' has been shut off and turned on many times over the past year, but it's now definitely flowing, according to trade reports. The $70 million sci-fi epic, cowritten by Darren Aronofsky (''Pi,'' ''Requiem for a Dream''), was first shelved last year because of costar Cate Blanchett's pregnancy, then because of Warner Bros. qualms over the ballooning budget, not to mention director Aronofsky's inexperience with a project of this scope (''Requiem'' cost just $4.5 million.) But with the studio having greenlit Wolfgang Petersen's ''Batman vs. Superman,'' Warner Bros. has put Aronofsky's ''Batman: Year One'' on the back burner and given ''Fountain'' the go-ahead. [EW]
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DMB tops charts!
The now explosive band topped music charts this week with 'Busted Stuff" - beating out Nellyville. DMB is currently touring and will be in CT July 26. To see the top albums in the country, or to view our "Busted Stuff" review, visit music.
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Pink Pics
Check out the gallery for great Pink pics from the Good Morning America Concert Series!
July 27, 2002
Happy Birthday Alex Rodriguez and Triple H
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Shakira Loves Pepsi!
Colombian singer Shakira will be featured in a national Pepsi television ad titled "Sound Check," which will feature her original rendition of the Pepsi song, "The Joy Of Pepsi." The performance-style spot opens with Shakira rehearsing for an upcoming concert when she suddenly finds herself rescuing an overzealous young fan from the grips of security guards. This is the second consecutive year that Shakira will be featured in Pepsi advertising. The new commercial, which was taped in both English and Spanish, will begin airing in August. The singer will also be featured in radio and print ads, as well as on in-store merchandising materials.
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J.Lo Moves On
Jennifer Lopez is 'gonna be alright,' after her break-up with husband Cris Judd. She's gone public with new squeeze Ben Affleck. Ben reportedly escorted JLo to a quiet lunch in New York yesterday for her 32nd birthday only to lead her into a surprise party with friends and family. After introducing Ben her folks, the new couple 'kissed, cuddled and made goo-goo eyes' at each other all day. Affleck then gave Lopez a yellow and white diamonds Harry Winston bracelet. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck met while shooting Gigli earlier this year. The comedic character piece should be out next May. In the meantime, the two will likely be teaming up again on Kevin Smith's 'Jersey Girl'.
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Britney Flashes the Finger
Currently, Britney Spears is touring in Mexico. Camaras have been following her since she got there, and obviously she was so upset, she flashed the finger. Spears explained the incident, but didn't apologize for the obsecene gesture she made to a camera when she arrived in Mexico, where she's having 2 concerts this weekend. When no one expected questions about her attitude, a reporter asked her why she showed her middle finger when asked to wave to the camera. Her "hello" got her a lot of harsh criticism among reporters. Britney said the reporters were "following the car in a dangerous way", and that flipping them off was her only reaction to what was going on. "I'm human before anything, I get annoyed too. And the photographers could have caused an accident, so I was kinda risking my life."
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'The Osbournes' Sued
Is the already much-copied ''The Osbournes'' a copycat show itself? It is according to a suit filed yesterday by producer Gary Binkow, who claims he pitched the idea of ''a real-life docu-sitcom'' about the metal clan to TV execs and to the Osbourne family three years ago. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Binkow filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday against Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, seeking unspecified damages for breach of contract and fraud. According to the Reporter, Binkow discussed his show idea with the Osbournes and Miramax TV back in 1999 and 2000. ''In developing the show, [the Osbournes] misappropriated plaintiff's idea and concept without his knowledge and consent and without compensating [Binkow],'' the filing says. Binkow, who's producing the upcoming film ''Neverland,'' starring Johnny Depp as ''Peter Pan'' author James Barrie, also filed what he says is his original proposal for the show, which he says he registered with the Writers Guild of America in 2000. That document pitches a series that ''will showcase the trials and tribulations of real-life rock star Ozzy Osbourne'' and says that ''the audience shouldn't really know if the show is scripted or not.'' MTV, which airs the series but is not named as a defendant, did not comment on the suit. Sharon Osbourne's spokeswoman, Lisa Vega, told the Reporter that Binkow was not the creator of ''The Osbournes.'' [EW]
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Liza Minnelli's reality show
Life truly is a cabaret, old chum, for Liza Minnelli. Or so it will appear when she and new husband David Gest host ''Liza and David,'' their newly announced VH1 reality series, which will consist of dinner parties thrown at the couple's Manhattan penthouse, with celebrity guests dining, drinking, and offering supposedly impromptu music performances in the Gests' living room. At a Los Angeles press conference yesterday announcing the show, Gest and Minnelli made a point of saying the series will not be like ''The Osbournes,'' the hit on VH1's sister channel MTV that started the whole celebrities-at-home reality trend. Filming won't take place 24/7, and certain rooms of the house will be definitely off-limits to cameras, Minnelli said. ''I was brought up a certain way... and I won't let anyone in the bedroom or in the bathroom, or things like that,'' she said. ''You have to have some privacy."
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John Entwistle died from cocaine
The heart attack that killed John Entwistle in a Las Vegas hotel room last month was brought on by the Who bassist's cocaine use, the Clark County, Nev., coroner told the Associated Press. Coroner Ron Flud ruled the 57-year-old's death on June 27, one day before the band's reunion tour was to kick off, was an accident and not an overdose. The Who's new CD is out now.
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Man of Mystery: Vin Diesel?
There are things Vin Diesel doesn't want you to know about Vin Diesel. His real name, for one (that would be Mark Vincent). His ethnic background, for another (half African-American, half Italian-American, or so we hear). If it were up to him, you probably wouldn't be reading his age right now (35). Even his hair is shrouded in mystery: He keeps his head shaved so smooth that not even his stylist knows for sure how much Diesel actually has. But there is one thing about Vin Diesel that Vin Diesel has never been shy about sharing -- even when nobody is listening. ''I've always been certain that I was going to be a movie star,'' he says, his voice such a deep, low rumble it's a wonder it doesn't set off car alarms. ''Even as a kid I knew it. People keep asking if I've changed since becoming a celebrity. But I haven't changed because I've always thought I was a celebrity. It was the rest of the world that hadn't figured it out.'' His new movie, 'XXX' is out August 9.
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July 28, 2002
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Austin Powers 4
"Austin Powers in Goldmember" seemingly closes the book on the Austin Powers saga, and at the same time, New Line has been claiming that the film is the last in the series. But some comments to Mike Myers at iTV suggest that he'd be open to a fourth one. "I would love to do more, Jay and I were apprehensive about doing a 3rd, then we felt that we had a good idea, we had a great time doing it, the response has been awesome, we've loved this whole experience. I think now we would love to do a 4th one, I don't have an idea yet so if I come up with an idea - then yeahI had so much fun."
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Kylie Minogue Banned
Malaysia, which practices strict censorship of sex and violence, has banned the video of a concert by Australian pop sensation Kylie Minogue, officials said on Friday. The Film Censorship Board gave no clear reasons for its decision against Minogue's "Live in Sydney" video, which was banned along with 194 other video titles. Videos of top U.S. television serials such as "Ally McBeal" and "Friends" were also on the blacklist, although both shows are aired regularly on satellite channels. Board chairman Shaari Mohd Noor said the censors were only adhering to existing guidelines that prohibited distribution of videos containing "bad morals." "We imposed the ban after viewing thousands of titles over the last five months," he told Reuters. The government strictly vets television and cinema in Malaysia and movies are rated to guide filmgoers on the suitability of the content. Kissing scenes are sometimes cut and swearing is usually erased from the audio track. Malaysia's flourishing video piracy market, however, ensures that sexually explicit content, as well as banned movies, are easily available on the streets.
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Eminem likes Shakira
Mr. Eminem said in an interview at a radio station in San Diego, California that he actually respects Shakira, He said that Shakira is not the type of pop artist who is fake, that he respects Shakira for writing her own songs, and producing her own albums. Also, he said that Shakira is the type of artist who can make experiment with any musical style, just like him.
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LL Cool J & Britney
In an interview where LL Cool J eventually hung up on Las Vegas Weekly writer Aarn Archer, the gutsy writer asked the married LL if he'd "nail Britney Spears if you had the chance." LL responded, "No, I don't need to nail Britney. That's kind of perverted, man. She can keep that, I got a wife I can nail all the time. Are you a pervert?"
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New Enrique tour dates
Heres Enrique's new tour dates. We suggest you buy them at Ticketmaster.com
Aug. 3: Los Angeles (Dodger Stadium) Sept. 3: Montreal (Molson Centre)
Sept. 6: Washington, D.C. (MCI Center) Sept. 7: Mansfield, Mass. (Tweeter Center)
Sept. 8: Hartford, Conn. (ctnow.com Meadows Music) Sept. 10: Columbus, Ohio (Polaris Amphitheatre)
Sept. 12: Chicago (United Center) Sept. 15: Clarkston, Mich. (DTE Energy Music Theatre)
Sept. 16: Toronto (Air Canada Centre) Sept. 20: Charlotte, N.C. (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)
Sept. 21: Raleigh, N.C. (Alltel Pavilion @ Walnut Creek) Sept. 24: Miami (American Airlines Arena)
Sept. 27: New York (Madison Square Garden) Oct. 2: El Paso, Texas (UTEP Don Haskins Center)
Oct. 16: Albuquerque, N.M. (Tingley Coliseum) Oct. 18: Phoenix (Cricket Pavilion)
Oct. 19: Las Vegas (MGM Grand Garden Arena) Oct. 20: San Jose, Calif. (Compaq Center)
Oct. 22: Los Angeles (Staples Center) Oct. 23: San Diego (Sports Arena)
Oct. 25: Denver (Pepsi Center) Oct. 26: Salt Lake City (Delta Center)
July 30, 2002
Happy Birthday Tom Green, Vivica A. Fox, Lisa Kudrow. and Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Britney would work with Shakira
Earlier this week, Britney Spears held a conference in Mexico. A reporter asked who was her favorite artist, and what artist she would like to work with. She answered that she loves Shakira and she would work with her!
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Ozzy puts Ozzfest on hold
Ozzfest will have to do without its namesake for three weeks. Ozzy Osbourne will be taking that time off from the annual summer metal tour that bears his name in order to be with his wife and manager, Sharon, as she begins chemotherapy in Los Angeles, he announced Friday. He played his last show in Atlanta on Sunday and will rejoin the tour on Aug. 22 in Denver. The band System of a Down will take over as headliners during Ozzy's absence, he said in a statement. ''This has been one of the hardest decisions I've had to make, and I'm hoping that my fans will understand,'' the rocker said. ''Ozzfest must continue with or without me since it's Sharon's baby. I want to thank all the bands on Ozzfest and my crew for all their love and support, especially System of a Down.'' Sharon Osbourne was diagnosed with colon cancer only four weeks ago. Surgeons removed a section of her colon on July 3, and Ozzy postponed the opening two dates of Ozzfest to be with her. Later, however, doctors found that the cancer had spread and that she would need three months of chemotherapy, which she was scheduled to start on Monday. She has said she would allow MTV producers to film her treatment for the family's hit show, ''The Osbournes,'' and now, Ozzy will be on camera for part of that treatment as well. [EW]
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Britney talks about cancelled show
Concert organizers OCESA said in a statement on Monday that Sunday night's thunderstorm and lightning posed a significant enough safety concern to call off the show after less than five songs. OCESA also announced in its statement that beginning Thursday fans, who paid anywhere from $14 to $190 for tickets to Sunday night's show, could get a full refund. In the organizers' statement, Spears said she was sorry the show was canceled. "The Mexican fans are some of the best in the world. However, for the security of my company and the audience, as well as for the show's quality, I had to suspend my performance," she said.
XTRA XTRA: Here's a lil bit of info - While Britney was in Mexico, she went on a small shopping spree. The angel picture to the right is something Britney bought. They are interesting to say the least.
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July 29, 2002
Happy Birthday Peter Jennings, Elizabeth Dole, and Martina McBride!
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Incubus On Nelly
Mike Einziger, from Incubus, said "I love Nelly's voice. It has this sexy, jazzy rasp to it. There's a level of confidence [in her performances] that allows her personality to shine through. She's always so colorful, both in her looks and her performance. It's a great thing to see this little girl light up a big stage" about Nelly Furtado in a recent interview.
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Britney's Show Interrupted
After performing the 4 opening songs of the concert, the show had to be cancelled due to heavy rain. Foro Sol is an open venue, so there's no way the show can be carried on if it's raining. Spears left the stage after saying "I'm sorry Mexico". A spokesperson will announce tomorrow if either the concert will be rescheduled or everyone will get refunds for their tickets.
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Uncle Cracker won't kiss Willa
Not many men would turn down an opportunity to kiss Willa Ford. Leave it to the unconventional Uncle Kracker, however, to prefer keeping his lips to himself to swapping spit with the lovely pop singer.No, Kracker hasn't pledged his allegiance to the "He-Man Woman Haters' Club" or anything drastic. Ford plays Kracker's love interest in the video for his new single, "In a Little While," from his forthcoming album, No Stranger to Shame, due August 27. Besides being labelmates, the two are friends, and the modest and shy Kracker felt more comfortable acting all romantic with someone he knew rather than a complete stranger."They wanted me to be all lovey-dovey with somebody maybe smooching or holding hands or something like that and I'm like, 'I don't want to do that,' " Kracker said. "But me and Willa are friends, and I figured as long as I had somebody that I knew [to do it with, it wouldn't be so bad.]"Because I get awkward when it comes to stuff like that," he admitted. "I thought that we could bring the same chemistry without having to hold hands or kiss, just by being good friends. You know, we could give the same idea probably. She's a cool chick." [MTV]
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Ja Rule to be arrested in Jamaica
According to the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN), the communication network of the Jamaica Police Force, the rapper will be served with summons to appear in court to answer to charges of using profanity during his performance at Reggae Sumfest 2001. The rapper along with Snoop Dogg and dancehall performers Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Merciless, Elephant Man and Alozade, were among a slate of performers who used profanity and expletives during their performance at last year's staging of the reggae festival. Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and Alozade have already appeared in court to answer to the charges, however, the police claim they are yet to serve summons to Merciless, Beenie Man and others who were involved in the embarrassing incident, which spurned blaring headlines in local and international media.
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Lil Kim won't sell Sex
Lil' Kim tells BBC that her next album won't dwell on sexual themes. "I'm not just gonna do the sexual thing just because that's what everybody wants me to do," she said. "A whole album of sexual things--to me that's not gonna help me win all way 'round because I don't think one person is made up of one thing. So, I'm an entertainer, I'm versatile, and I'm creative enough to be able to do a bunch of different kinds of music."
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Destiny's Child Dilemma
A "Dilemma" on the radio charts has forced the Destiny's Child camp to do some rescheduling.
Kelly Rowland's solo album, originally expected in early 2002, has been bumped up to September 24 due to the success of her recent Nelly collaboration, according to Destiny's Child manager Mathew Knowles.
"Dilemma" was not scheduled to be the second single from Nellyville, but radio station programmers fell for the track and began playing it anyway. The song was the greatest gainer on the latest Billboard Hot 100, jumping from #27 to #8. The dilemma for Knowles was that his daughter Beyoncé's album was planned for an early October release, and he had planned to stagger the girls' solo projects. So despite having her own single currently climbing the charts, the Neptunes-produced "Work It Out," Beyoncé's Dangerously in Love has been pushed back to December, her father said. Beyoncé's single is already available along with her "Hey Goldmember," an homage to Shirley Bassey's 1965 James Bond song, "Goldfinger" on the soundtrack to "Austin Powers in Goldmember". Beyoncé also stars in the movie. Mathew Knowles would not reveal any details on Rowland's still-untitled project, though in the past Rowland has said it will be "alternative R&B." Meanwhile, the third member of Destiny's Child and the first artist on Mathew Knowles' Music World Music label, Michelle Williams, just topped the Billboard gospel albums chart with her recently released Heart to Yours.
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Goldmember is Gold
Breaking numerous box office records, ''Austin Powers in Goldmember'' earned an unbelievable $71.5 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates. That figure makes it the best comedy opening ever (beating ''Rush Hour 2'') and the best July opening ever (beating ''Planet of the Apes''). Add to that figure the $3.5 million ''AP3'' earned in Thursday night previews, and you have a colossal $75 million debut. Over the Friday-to-Sunday period, only four movies in history have opened better: ''Spider-Man,'' ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,'' ''Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones,'' and ''The Lost World: Jurassic Park.'' Obviously, the ''Austin Powers'' franchise, whose last film, ''The Spy Who Shagged Me,'' premiered with $57.4 million, just keeps getting bigger and bigger. ''Goldmember'' should have no problem topping the $200 million mark, especially with its A- grade from CinemaScore audiences. [EW]
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