• Pixar's Up scored the top spot at the box office weekend with an estimated $68.2 million, beating Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian ($25.5m) and Drag Me to Hell ($16.6m).
• Halle Berry is in talks to star in The Surrogate, a thriller set to be directed by Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct).
• Famed comic strip cat Heathcliff could be headed to the big screen thanks to Magic Lantern Entertainment and FitzRoy Media. You might know Heathcliff as that other fat, mischievous tabby cat.
• Twilight dominated the MTV Movie Awards where the trailer for New Moon debuted. Like they were going to give the popcorn statuette to The Reader.
• Clips from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince debuted on the MTV Movie Awards. Is it us, or are movie titles too long these days?
• Natalie Portman has joined the cast of David Gordon Green's medieval fantasy comedy Your Highness. The director behind Pineapple Express is staying in his comfort zone with this tale (starring Danny McBride and James Franco) of a pot-smoking prince who fights dragons. The title is the most obvious stoner pun since Half Baked.BIZ
Live Nation Cuts Service Fees In Major Summer Ticket Promotion
from Billboard News - All by Ray Waddell, Nashville
Live Nation will eliminate service fees on more than five million lawn tickets and hundreds of concerts for its amphitheaters in a one-day promotion June 3.
With Hollywood Sold, Imax Aims to Woo Wall St.
from NYT > Movies by By BROOKS BARNES
A sharper focus on bringing huge-screen movies to the multiplex and not just the museum is beginning to pay off.
NBC Universal, Hallmark deal in cards
from Variety.com
Exclusives: Pact expands relationship between duo -- "The Office," "30 Rock" and "Battlestar Galactica" are coming soon to a greeting card near you.
WGA issues upbeat report to members
from Variety.com
Labor Issues: Patric Verrone talks strike, 'Osbournes' -- Writers Guild of America West president Patric Verrone has issued an upbeat assessment of the guild's organizing efforts, citing gains in cable and new media.
Agency takeover stirs Hollywood fears
Peter Bart: Issues arise from WMA-Endeavor merger -- It was Pablo Picasso who famously said, "I like to live like a poor man -- but with lots of money.
AWARDS
Complete List: MTV Movie Awards Winners 2009
from Access Hollywood - Movies
Who won? Who lost? A complete list of all the big winners at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards!
Seating Dramz at the MTV Movie Awards
from E! Online - Movie News
It's supposed to be the young and fun awards show, but tonight's MTV Movie
Awards seems to be the same old clash of bloated Hollywood egos--at least
judging by the preshow seating.
'Bruno' gets cheeky with Eminem live on MTV
from Hollywood Reporter by Reuters
Vampire movie "Twilight" took the honors at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday, but it was an unscripted stunt involving "Borat" actor Sacha Baron Cohen and singer Eminem that stole the live show.
MOVIES
Weekend Box Office: May 29-31, 2009
from Box Office Mojo - Current Box Office Results
Up tops the box office with an estimated $68.2 million
'Up'
Lifts Pixar to Tenth Smash
from Box Office Mojo - Top Stories by by Brandon Gray
Up ascended to the top of the weekend with an estimated $68.2 million, extending Pixar's blockbuster streak, while Drag Me to Hell countered with a more modest start...
Weekend Estimates: "Cooker," "Departures" Solid; Holdovers
Continue To Bloom
from indieWIRE News
While "Up" was grossing a near-Pixar record of $68.2 million ("Finding Nemo" and "The Incredibles" each grossed around $70), the specialty market showed some decent strength with the openings for "Pressure Cooker" and "Departures," and the bevy of strong holdovers that is "Easy Virtue," "The Brothers Bloom," "Summer Hours," and "Every Little Step."
Woody Allen casts replacement for Kidman
from Reuters: Entertainment News
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Lucy Punch is the next Nicole Kidman -- in the new Woody Allen film, that is.
'Harry Potter': New clip released
from EW.com: Movies
By Mandi Bierly Debuted on MTV Movie Awards, it shows the first time Dumbledore met Tom Riddle (a.k.a. a young Lord Voldemort)
When Nobody Wanted to Reboot 'Star Trek'
from The Wrap RSS by Sharon Waxman
By Michael Speier
As "Star Trek" becomes the first 2009 film to cross the $200 million
mark at the domestic box office, it's worth remembering that just a few
years ago, nobody wanted anything to do with the franchise.
Video:
'Land Of The Lost' Premiere
from Access Hollywood - Movies
"Land of the Lost" stars Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Anna Friel and writer Chris Henchy hit the red carpet at Grauman's Chinese Theater where they all chat about how fun it was to work together. Plus, Will chats about his new line of sunscreen.
'New Moon' trailer shows Lautner become werewolf
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Twilight" fans hungry for a sneak peek at the next installment are getting a good one: The wolf....
Michael Shannon nabs role in rock biopic 'The Runaways'
from Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider by Nicole Sperling
Michael Shannon, best known for his Academy Award-nominated performance in last year's Revolutionary Road, will next star as infamous record producer/manager Kim Fowley in The Runaways, starring Kristen Stewart as rocker Joan Jett.
Transformers 2 Clip: Sam and Mikaela Hide From The Decepticons
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com)
Paramount Pictures premiered a new clip from Michael Bay's Transformers:
Revenge of the Fallen during tonight's MTV Movie Awards.
Universal in tune with Mattel monster
Film News: Studio acquires untitled property for musical pic
-- Universal Pictures has made a big-bucks deal to acquire an untitled Mattel
toy property for a live-action musical film to be produced by Craig Zadan and
Neil Meron.
Duncan Jones to take on 'The Deep'
from Hollywood Reporter by By Stuart Kemp
Duncan Jones will direct "Escape From The Deep," from a script penned by Brit author, journalist and scriptwriter Alex Kershaw based on the non-fiction tome of the same name, backers said Monday.
Halle Berry in talks for 'Surrogate'
from Hollywood Reporter by By Borys Kit
Halle Berry is in talks to star in "The Surrogate" for 20th Century Fox.
Sherlock Holmes -- action hero? Comic bumbler?
Two new films based on the detective are in the works. One pairs Robert Downey Jr. with Jude Law as Watson, the other pairs Sacha Baron and Will Ferrell.
Film: 'Lost' and Found: The Krofft Vision
from NYT > Movies by By DAVE ITZKOFF
A look at "Land of the Lost" and other creations of Sid and Marty Krofft.
TELEVISION
NBC Accused of Violating Pool Rules In Prince Harry Interview
from mediabistro.com: TVNewserExclusive: TVNewser has learned NBC's morning show competitors are considering how to deal with what one senior network executive calls "a total violation of the rules of a pool."
O'Brien's Night 1: 'A Swirly Cone of Some Nerves'
from NYT > Television by By BILL CARTER
After 16 years making a name with his distinctive brand of intellectually silly comedy on NBC's "Late Night" show, Conan O'Brien ascends to the seat behind late night's desk of destiny.
A Revolution in Prime Time, but Will It Work?
from NYT > Television by By BILL CARTER and BRIAN STELTER
A talk show costs a lot less than a scripted drama. If Jay Leno is only a modest success in the 10 p.m. slot, that could persuade other networks to change their strategies.
Why 'Reliable' Shows Work for CBS
from Advertising Age - MediaWorks by bsteinberg@adage.com (Brian Steinberg)
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Over at CBS, offbeat is off the schedule. In the past few years, CBS has used upfront week to unveil something a little off-kilter, experimental or quirky. Next season, however, is very reassuring -- and it's all very deliberate, part of a must-win formula that ad buyers and Wall Street analysts attribute not only to the network's entertainment executives but also to CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves.
Susan Boyle Hospitalized After 'Talent' Loss
from Billboard News - All
Internet singing star Susan Boyle has been admitted to a private clinic after being beaten into second place in the final of the popular "Britain's Got Talent" television contest, media reported.
Middle of the Road and Back of the Pack for CNN in Prime
from mediabistro.com: TVNewser
Politico's Michael Calderone gets ahead of Monday's May ratings release with an
in-depth
story on CNN's prime time ratings woes.
Late Night Shuffle and "Planning Battles" Inside ABC?
from mediabistro.com: TVNewser
Today's New York Times story about the changes coming to late night
TV includes a line about "planning battles inside ABC."
Octuplets' mom signs TV show deal
Nadya Suleman, who gave birth to octuplets in January, will star in a reality television series about her family, a TV executive said.
Washington women wary of 'Real Housewives'
from Hollywood Reporter by Associated Press
Which five wealthy, connected, ambitious, opinionated, party-going, power-brokering women will become the country's newest "Real Housewives"?
Stephen Colbert, 'arch conservative'
from L.A. Times - TV News
The comic actor-writer's character is a man of the right,
and the comic-actor loves playing him.
Amy Poehler, 'Parks and Recreation'
from L.A. Times - TV News
'Parks and Recreation' is an 'Office' mate in many ways, but
it's forging its own trail.
'Samantha Who's' Jean Smart on a roll
from L.A. Times - TV News
The three-time Emmy winner relishes her wry turn as
Christina Applegate's mother.
from Los Angeles Times - Celebrity News
Well, according to Lo Boswort
Bulgaria 'Survivor' contestant dies while filming
Police say the 53-year-old Noncho Vodenicharov died Saturday despite efforts by a Filipino and a Bulgarian doctor to save him.
'I'm a Celebrity' drops oddballs into jungle
from MSNBC.com: Reality TV
Patti Blagojevich, Sanjaya Malakar, and Spencer Pratt and new bride Heidi
Montag are among new cast of the NBC reality show.
MUSIC
Dave Matthews Band, "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux
King"
from Billboard News - All
Dave Matthews Band, "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King"
U.S. tour dates for Kiss left up to fans
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky., May 31 (UPI) -- Fans of the rock band Kiss will be in
charge of deciding which U.S. cities the longtime rockers will visit during
their worldwide tour, a fan site says.
To this financier, Michael Jackson is an undervalued asset
Others have tried to revive the onetime pop star's
performing career. Tom Barrack is convinced he's the 'caretaker' to do it.
His 'Archives: Vol. 1, 1963-1972' sets a new standard for
career retrospectives over 10 Blu-ray discs, 10 DVDs or eight CDs.
from Billboard News - All
Kris Allen, "No Boundaries"
ETC...
Neeson gets bulk of Richardson's estate
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
NEW YORK, May 31 (UPI) -- British actress Natasha Richardson, fatally injured
in a skiing accident in Canada, has left her husband, actor Liam Neeson, most
of her estate, records show.
Jennifer Hudson is pregnant: Report
from EW.com: Movies
By Chad Schlegel
Chicago Tribune: Oscar winner was guest of honor at a baby shower held over the
weekend, according to a family friend who attended
