• John Travolta and Kelly Preston thanked fans for their support after the tragic death of their teenage son Jett, who passed away on Friday while the family was vacationing in the Bahamas.
• Hollywood had a prosperous 2008 (despite the cratering economy), scoring an estimated $9.63 billion in revenue, up $1 billion from '07. Not surprisingly, Warner Bros. was the past year's studio champ thanks to The Dark Knight... and in spite of Speed Racer.
• Speaking of the Caped Crusader, Pat Hingle, who played Commissioner Gordon in the Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher Batman films, has sadly passed away at the age of 84. Hingle's career spanned six decades, covering everything from Gunsmoke to Talladega Nights.
• Marley & Me took the top spot at the box office again this weekend with $24 million. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button came in under Bedtime Stories in third place, giving Jennifer Aniston bragging rights over her ex Brad Pitt for at least another week.
• The trailer for the upcoming animated movie Monsters Vs. Aliens will be the first 3D ad to air during the Super Bowl, and perhaps the first of its kind on broadcast television. Just be sure to remove your 3D glasses after the spot airs to prevent any piping hot nacho cheese-related injuries.
• Awards season is officially in full swing, with the National Society of Film Critics choosing the animated documentary Waltz with Bashir as their best film of 2008. Wall-E tied for second place with Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky, while Sean Penn was selected best actor for Milk. In a surprising move, the Society selected Happy-Go-Lucky's Eddie Marsan over the late Heath Ledger in the supporting actor category. Could this be the beginning of an Oscar groundswell for Happy-Go-Lucky?
• Relativity Media has purchased Rogue Pictures from Universal, nabbing a slate of mostly horror films. First up is David S. Goyer's The Unborn, that new movie with the creepy backwards-walking demon kid.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
BIZ
Universal Pictures Sells Rogue Pictures for $150 Million
from NYT > Movies
The sale of Rogue Pictures, a maker and distributor of
lower-cost films, to Relativity Media signifies further reordering in
Another Financial Setback For Weinstein
from Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily by Nikki Finke
Back in 2007, Harvey Weinstein was
boasting about Genius Products, the Santa Monica-based
Film News: Ticket sales for year hit $9.63 billion -- The
record-breaking 2008 domestic box office proves 
SAG STRIKE?
SAG official defends call for strike
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Doug Allen, national executive
director of the Screen Actors Guild, says a call for a strike authorization
from members of the
SUNDANCE
Sales for Sundance Film Festival under way
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
AWARDS
Best Picture Race Gets Animated; Sean Penn Milks Another Win
An animated film won the latest pre-Oscar prize. But it
wasn't WALL-E. Waltz with Bashir, filmmaker Ari Folman's stylish documentary
about the 1982 Israeli invasion of
For Your Consideration, Academy
from NYT > Movies
The New York Times's film critics offer their own
nominations for the year's best.
MOVIES
Weekend Box Office: January 2-4, 2009
from Box Office Mojo - Current Box Office Results
Marley and Me tops the box office with an estimated $24.1 million
'Monsters vs. Aliens' gets 3D Super Bowl promo
from USATODAY.com Life - Top Stories
Talk about a monster of a promotion. Some 150 million 3D
glasses will be given away for Super Bowl viewers to watch a 90-second ...
TELEVISION
Mesnick in love with his 'Bachelor' pick
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
from Hollywood Reporter by By James Hibberd
Some of the most intriguing new time-period face-offs on the
midseason schedule, along with predictions on which show will emerge as more
popular with viewers.
'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Private Practice' are adrift
from L.A. Times - TV News
The once-formidable show struggles with implausible plots
and diminishing characters.
Television: She's Really Shy, but That's a Secret
from NYT > Television
Kristen Wiig has emerged as a comic standout on
"Saturday Night Live," using oversize, wacky-yet-true characters to
build an audience.
'SNL' Newbies Ride the Learning Curve
from NYT > Television
Inevitably there's an adjustment for any newcomer to the
late-night television institution.
Regis and Kelly to Debut Updated Look Monday
from People.com Latest News by Lauren Charlip
The popular chat show will unveil a new set, opening and
theme music
CBS holds strong in year-end ratings
from Variety.com
TV News: Cable gains ground from broadcast networks -- When it comes to momentum heading into the new year, the Eye has it -- and it's pretty much alone.
MUSIC
Bon Jovi to sing at NYC Hillary Clinton fundraiser
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
Country museum to keep key artifacts
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
Prince to release three albums in 2009
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
Twin sister duo among Eurovision hopefuls
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
from Variety.com
Music News: Band to hit the road for first time in five years -- It looks like the old Dead are gettin' on.
ETC...
Travolta, Preston heartbroken over son
Actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston said Sunday they are
"heartbroken" over last week's death of their teenage son.
Tara Reid Ready for a 'New Beginning'
from People.com Latest News by Jennifer Garcia
The actress's family is doing "everything they can to
help
Rutherford of 'Gossip' splits from husband
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Pregnant actress Kelly
Rutherford, who appears on the hit U.S. TV series "Gossip Girl," is
divorcing her husband, Daniel Giersch, documents show.
Many Broadway shows facing final curtain
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
Future Of Hollywood's Fave Book Store?
from Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily by Nikki Finke
In 1975, Glenn Goldman opened the Sunset Strip's famed Book Soup. On Friday, he put it up for sale.
