News entertainment 2008-08-15 Andanh.com

Christian Bale will not face assault charges Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:27:00 -0400
Batman star Christian Bale will not face charges relating to an alleged assault last month on his mother and sister, prosecutors said Thursday, suggesting their decision was based in part on the family members' wishes.

Next 'Harry Potter' flick moves to summer Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:24:00 -0400
Warner Bros. says it's bumping "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" from its planned November release into next summer.

Rage Against the Machine to perform in Denver during convention Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:50:00 -0400
Rage Against the Machine will perform at an anti-war music festival during the Democratic National Convention, at a venue about three miles away.

'Top Model' to feature transgender contestant from Maryland Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:20:41 -0400

Report: Jennifer Aniston, John Mayer have split Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Actress Jennifer Aniston and singer John Mayer have reportedly broken up, according to People magazine's Web site.

'40-Year-Old Virgin' actor pleads not guilty Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0400
An actor who appeared in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" pleaded not guilty Wednesday to attempted murder in the stabbing of his girlfriend.

Cast members returning for 30th 'Dallas' reunion Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:30:00 -0400
J.R., Bobby, Sue Ellen and other members of the Ewing clan are getting back together for a "Dallas" reunion party.

Paris Hilton sued over lack of film promotion Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Paris Hilton didn't do enough pledging for a 2006 sorority comedy, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.

Accused Cusack stalker competent for trial Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
A judge says a woman accused of stalking John Cusack is competent to stand trial, but cannot represent herself.

Tori Spelling not expected to return to '90210' Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Despite her announced participation, Tori Spelling , star of the original Beverly Hills 90210 and daughter of its producer, Aaron Spelling , isn't expected back on the CW spin-off 90210 .

'Tropic Thunder' is a battle of wit Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Ben Stiller's 'Tropic Thunder' lampoons Hollywood, but ultimately fights a losing battle

Tropic Thunder opens with an avalanche of freestyle riffs on action and comedy franchises, segues into a sarcastic blitzkrieg against the excesses of Vietnam movies, and ends up a barbed tribute to the fraternity of actors. (B)

Don't box Billy Bob Thornton in Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Thornton heads to Ottobar midweek not as an actor, but as a musician

Thornton heads to Ottobar midweek not as an actor, but as a musician

Now, it seems, a kiss isn't so sweet for Katy Perry Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Katy Perry never smooches a girl in her video; perhaps fantasy, like the economy, is too risky

Y ou know what bothers me about Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" - now officially the song of the summer, after spending five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard 's Hot 100? Not the auto-erotic tease of the lyrics, which keeps Perry inside her head rather than beneath the waistband of some lovely's Victoria's Secret finery. Not her groaning vocal delivery, which is kind of sexy, built around a neo-burlesque bump of a track and the luscious word hook "cherry ChapStick."

Boomer's on the Hill: uninviting outside, snazzy inside Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
S o many brand-new bars look "meh" on the outside.

Velvet-voiced Anita Baker could try jazzing it up Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
A nita Baker has never really been a jazz singer. But she could be; she certainly has the chops. Over the years, the Ohio-born, Detroit-raised singer-songwriter has performed at jazz festivals around the world. On her six studio albums, all of which have at least sold gold, Baker has flirted with jazz. But in her 25 years as a recording artist, she has yet to take the plunge into the genre. What a shame.

Rich sounds of cello Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Wendy Warner, a student of famed cellist Rostropovich, now instructs others

M stislav Rostropovich, the late, idolized cellist, summed up the talent of his student Wendy Warner as "a gift from God."

Meet the Band: David Andrew Smith Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Hometown Ellicott City

CD Check Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
New on CD

RANDY NEWMAN Harps and Angels (Nonesuch) Randy Newman has been one of this country's finest songwriters for nearly five decades. The 64-year-old Californian taps into his substantial faculty for prickly social satire on his first collection of new tunes in nine years. A savvy storyteller with an acid-tipped language, Newman packages yarns in a voice that is the sonic equivalent of an Emmett Kelly clown face, naturally hangdog while subtly playful as he reminisces about life's rough patches on "Potholes." Folksy yet cerebral, he's deadpan as he snipes at the moneyed elite on the clarinet-lined Dixieland lilt of "Easy Street." Less outraged than analytical on the country-style rumination "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country," he offsets his suggestion that modern America is the end of an empire with amusing asides but never weakens the impact of those darker contemplations.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to open New York annex Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:37:00 -0400
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is going on the road to New York -- the city that spawned hip-hop and gave Bob Dylan and the Ramones their start.

Jonas Brothers' album gets it just right Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
What the Jonas Brothers accomplish on A Little Bit Longer, is nearly impossible: Tweaking their songs enough to sound like pop-rock adults without losing the signature style that won them Disney-loving fans in the first place.

Crowds to blame for BSO's split personality Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Differing tastes at Meyerhoff, Strathmore

Back in the day, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's summer season at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall steered a fairly straight classical course. Sometimes, there were substantive chamber music programs as appetizers before the orchestral concerts.

Dining for $25 or less: Burritos En Fuego Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The formula here is very simple - quick and wholesome Mexican food, assembled from freshly prepared ingredients.

'All Shook Up' for the season Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Summer Garden closes schedule with Elvis homage

Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre completes its season with the third in a fresh trio of less-familiar musicals with music from the 1940s to 1960s: All Shook Up , which celebrates the music of Elvis Presley and offers light, fun fare for a summer evening.

Fine arts calendar Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Calendar listings

Fine Art Museums American Visionary Art Museum 800 Key Highway / 410-244-1900 . Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays.

Absorbing acting in tragic 'Rabbit Hole' Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
One of the worst things about any big trouble is the way it isolates us at the precise moment we're most in need of comfort.

Photo finish Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
As Polaroid's instant films and cameras go the way of the darkroom, enthusiasm for them isn't fading

T he subtle chirps of digital cameras may now be the norm when it comes to photography, but there are still a devoted few who champion the click-whirr of a Polaroid camera.

Trashy Women make their own treasures Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Group of 8 transform common refuse into works of art

When most people finish using products like laundry detergent containers, tin cans, pie tins and greeting cards, they throw them in the garbage or in a recycling bin.

Edwards' mistress was basis for '80s book character Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
An old Jay McInerney novel featuring a party girl based on John Edwards ' future mistress, Rielle Hunter , is getting a fresh printing from its publisher.

Liz Smith: Author Lamar Waldron reveals crush on Marilyn Monroe Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
I really enjoyed your article on Marilyn Monroe in Parade ," serious author Lamar Waldron writes to me. "Had such a crush on Marilyn when I was seven years old. Clearly remember being devastated when she died; it ruined my young plans to grow up and marry her."

Green Gables' Anne is 100 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Events scheduled to celebrate milestone

Prince Edward Island, Canada, is having a 100th birthday party this year for a freckled redhead with pigtails who first appeared in 1908.

Books in Brief: Local Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
There's no one right way to write a life story. You can arrange it in chapters or as a series of vignettes. You can present it with or without illustrations. You can approach it from the outside looking in, as found in most biographies. Or you can tell it from an interior perspective, as in most memoirs. But whatever you decide, you must make the people, who are the subjects, come alive. To do that, you must provide a sense of place. In the case of these three books, that place is, to a large or small extent, Baltimore.

Faster, higher, full of action Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
NBC puts the focus where it belongs, on the competition

T rying to type this week's sports media notes with chlorine-soaked red eyes from watching too much swimming from Beijing:

Baltimore TV soaks up the Phelps-Hoff splash Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The hometown crowd is watching Michael Phelps and his unprecedented Olympics success in near-record numbers, making Baltimore the highest-rated TV market for this year's Games and helping WBAL, Channel 11, absolutely trounce the prime-time competition since Friday night's opening ceremonies.

Comcast, MGM to launch action movie VOD channel Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:26:00 -0400
Comcast Corp. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. said Tuesday they are teaming up to introduce a video-on-demand channel featuring action movies and TV shows.

20th-anniversary 'Madden NFL' is better than ever Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:20:00 -0400
When Electronic Arts announced the retired Brett Favre as its 20th anniversary cover boy, it looked like the notorious "Madden" curse -- which had mangled the careers of Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb and Shaun Alexander -- was finally broken.

'Project Runway': Welcome to the 'Jungle' Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:39:23 -0500

I apologize for not recapping last week's show. However, I finally got a DVR, so recording will (hopefully) go a bit smoother!

As fans know, Korto won the last challenge. That means she can either keep her model or switch things up. She keeps Katarina. Alex is out and wishes the designers luck. Host Heidi Klum then tells them that their challenge will be to design for a high-powered and glamorous professional woman.

Blayne doesn't want her to be Hillary Clinton; he says he'd never win with a neon pants suit. Hillary? High-powered? Yes. Glamorous? Not so much.

'ANTM': transgender contestant from Maryland Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:31:59 -0500

It appears Tyra Banks is pulling out all the stops this year to attract viewers to America's Next Top Model. That means for the first time in 11 cycles of the show, there will be a transgender contestant among the finalists. AND, she's from Maryland!

Her name is Isis, and she hails from Prince George's County. I have often wondered how the show would deal with this if it ever became an issue. Obviously, Tyra and company feel that beauty is beauty, regardless of gender.

In other Top Model news, I'm sure you've all heard this old piece of gossip: Cycle 9 villain/contestant Bianca Golden was involved in a fight with Hairspray star Nikki Blonsky in Turks and Caicos Islands. Blonsky's father was finally released from jail this week.

'Big Brother 10': friend vs. friend vs. onions Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:21:11 -0500

Patrick Gutierrez watched BB 10, and here's his recap:

With Keesha and Libra on the block, it's friend vs. friend going into the veto competition. Keesha seemed more upset that April's key was pulled out first than the fact that she was nominated. Libra promised not to campaign against Keesha while Michelle reassured Keesha that Libra is her target.

April, Memphis and Jerry were selected to play in the veto competition. While April's alliance seemed to be on board with getting Libra out, Jerry secretly wanted Dan out. He went up to Michelle's room and confided in her his belief that Dan is America's Player.

With the tension level still high, Dan and Memphis tried to lighten things up a bit by storming into Libra's bedroom while the girls were asleep and giving them a pillow-whacking.

'The Mole': Mark wins, and Craig is the Mole Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:05:44 -0500

(Editor's note: Sorry for the delay. My workload got in the way of delivering John-John's recap!)

Twelve contestants, 10 weeks and I'm none the wiser. I'm still scratching my head over last night's season finale of The Mole.

Jon Kelley began the show saying that the winner would receive $420,000. Jon said it has been 12 weeks since Mark, Nicole, and Craig took the final test. He also announced that the entire cast has gathered to learn the identity of the Mole.

Jon then showed a series of clips that made each of the remaining contestants appear Mole-like. After more clips featuring eliminated contestants, Jon is ready to crown the winner -- Mark. He went into a speech about how much the cash will help his family. (Blah, blah, blah.)

Next, Jon revealed the Mole. To the surprise of many contestants, it was Craig!

Clips of Nicole's finest moments were then shown. During the recap the audience learned that Nicole beat her rival Paul by four seconds. (Paul, who was on to Craig from the beginning, said it was a dagger to the heart to know that he only lost to Nicole by four seconds.)

'Big Brother 10': Libra and Keesha on the block Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:39:58 -0500

Patrick Gutierrez fills us in on BB10:

Jessie's surprise eviction sent the house into an uproar. First there was silence immediately after the eviction ceremony as everyone tried to come to grips with what had happened. People just paced back and forth in the kitchen, not saying a word. Dan was especially quiet as he, on behalf of America, had cast the deciding vote that sent Jessie packing.

April was livid, as was Jerry. Keesha and Libra were the opposite. You could feel the tension in the house and knew it was only a matter of time before things came to a head. That moment occurred shortly after the HOH competition, which Michelle had won.

'The Mole': anticipating the Mole's identity Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:27:56 -0500

I'm so sick of two-part season finales!!! I wanted to know the identity of the Mole so badly last week, yet here I am today no closer to an answer than I was in the beginning of the season. Each of the remaining competitors is equally shady and deserving of the Mole label.

Nicole is the most obvious choice. She's been so over-the-top in her antics that she has to be on everyone's radar. Craig has been hampered with physical obstacles all season because of his weight, but he's in the finals (very suspicious). And then there's Mark. He behaved so strangely when host Jon Kelley was burning all of the diaries; it appeared to be an act.

Let's face it: I don't have the slightest clue. Do you? I'm interested to hearing your opinions before tonight's conclusion!

Chinese Dir