Entertaining Posts: 03/28/11

Monday, March 28, 2011

Justin Bieber headed for rehab: opinion poll

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Oprah dodges $100 million suit over fattest president

By Eriq Gardner

Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:39pm EDT

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - A federal judge in Pennsylvania has tossed out an author's $100 million lawsuit against Oprah Winfrey for violating the copyright in the political booklet, "How America Elects Her Presidents."

Charles Harris claimed in a lawsuit that in 2008, as Winfrey began supporting Barack Obama's presidential campaign, Harris sent 10 copies of his booklet to "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in hopes of gaining publicity. He followed up with several inquiries. Harris got no response, but according to the complaint, on the February 16, 2009 show, Winfrey allegedly read aloud exact questions that were included in the book. Harris wanted more than $100 million for alleged copyright infringement.

Winfrey filed a motion to dismiss, seeking sanctions for a frivolous lawsuit, saying that had the plaintiff obtained a public transcript of the show in question, he would have realized that the talk show host didn't read Harris' "exact same questions" aloud with the arguable exception of one: "Which one of our presidents weighed the most?"

During the episode, titled "Oprah's Search For The Smartest and Most Talented Kids," she brought children on set, including one six-year-old named Graham who she said was a "first grade whiz kid who knows more about American presidents than most adults."

Oprah and Graham joshed about various presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama, before the talk show queen queried the kid about the heaviest president. Graham correctly answered it was William Howard Taft at 327 pounds.

Winfrey's motion to dismiss the lawsuit said Harris' lawyers should have known that facts about American presidents are not copyrightable. A compilation of facts based on the selection and arrangement can be copyrightable, but Winfrey pointed out that Harris didn't register his work as a compilation, and it lacked originality, among other things.

U.S. District Court Judge Jan DuBois agreed that Harris' work is "not original," and that Winfrey's use of the Fat Taft fact, even if she did learn it from Harris' book, was not an infringement.

The judge, however, determined that the plaintiff's claims were made with reasonable good faith under the circumstance, and declined to award sanctions.

Daniel Radcliffe charms critics in Broadway musical

By Christine Kearney

NEW YORK | Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:41pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Actor Daniel Radcliffe received a warm response from critics in reviews posted Monday for his Broadway musical debut, if not for his musical prowess, for his enthusiasm and eager manner evident on stage.

The 21 year-old British "Harry Potter" star chose a revival of the 1962 Pulitzer-Prize winning show "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" to make his musical Broadway debut in the central role of the fresh-faced but ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch climbing the corporate ladder.

The New York Times said "while Mr. Radcliffe is clearly not to the musical manner born, I would give him, oh, a 6 out of 10" who "hits his choreographic marks, speaks his lines quickly and distinctly (with a convincing American accent) and often sings on key."

The review continued "and because you so feel the effort and eagerness with which Mr. Radcliffe responds to that voice, you truly want him to succeed, just as you hope a favorite athlete or hip-hop artist will avoid elimination on "Dancing with the Stars."

Radcliffe made his Broadway debut as a psycho stable boy in the 2008 play, "Equus," but "How to Succeed," which runs at two and half hours, is his first Broadway musical and sees him hoisted into the air in a somersault sequence with the chorus.

"Daniel Radcliffe is so adorable in his Broadway musical debut, you just want to pinch his cheeks," said the New York Post, noting his "endearing amount of dedication and enthusiasm."

The Hollywood Reporter said while Radcliffe "doesn't quite pop as a musical theater performer, the 'Harry Potter' star does a capable job of singing and dancing in the revival."

USA Today said "it was fun to watch an actor, particularly a famous one, rise to an obvious challenge" and worked in "conscientious harmony" with his cast members.

Others were more critical of Radcliffe, who has had many obvious "Harry Potter" fans already flocking to see previews.

The Washington Post said while he was "winningly game and diligent," he was "out of his league" and the latest of many Hollywood stars to be miscast on Broadway, which looks to capitalize on big names to boost ticket sales.

(Reporting by Christine Kearney, editing by Bob Tourtellotte)