Vegas police defend Hiltons quick release from jail AP

LAS VEGAS Las Vegas police are defending Paris Hiltons quick release from jail after her Aug. 27 arrest on suspicion of cocaine possession, saying they wanted to avoid disruptions in the jails operations.

Hilton was out of the jail in about three hours, roughly half the average time it takes to process people facing the same charge through the Clark County Detention Center, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Chief Jim Dixon, who runs the jail, acknowledged Hilton was pushed through the booking process to get her into a separate room and out of the jail as soon as possible.

He noted a crowd of about 100 people gathered outside the Wynn Las Vegas resort to snap photos and shoot video of Hilton while her boyfriend, Cy Waits, was pulled over and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

"Yeah, she was treated differently so I dont have a disruption of my process here at the county jail," Dixon told the Review-Journal. "When you bring somebody in like that, everybody comes over and tries to look at them. Id have officers attempting to keep inmates away from her. Id have disruptions."

Because of overcrowding, Hilton presented a major problem for jailers, Dixon added.

"She was moved along out of the general area and put in isolation where nobody can actually get to her. ... As soon as her release on her own recognizance was pushed through, she was kicked out," he said.

Jessica Murray of Bobs Bail Bonds said she was bothered by Hiltons rapid release. Murray, whose clients are mostly "working girls" arrested for nonviolent soliciting or trespassing, said the average booking time on those charges is four to 12 hours, followed by another four to 12 hours until release.

"I could understand putting her in a separate room. But I dont understand putting her above everyone else," Murray said. "If youre alleged to commit a crime, you get treated like everybody else."

But Tony Collins of 911 Bail Bonds said he understood why Hilton was treated differently.

"If she had gotten out in 30 minutes, that would have been special treatment," he said.

Hilton, 29, was charged with one felony count of cocaine possession after authorities say she opened a purse in front of a police lieutenant and a small baggie of cocaine fell out. Hilton claims neither the purse nor the cocaine was hers.

Shes scheduled to appear before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure on Oct. 27.

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Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com

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Official defends Hiltons quick release from jail AP

LAS VEGAS Las Vegas police are defending the quick release of Paris Hilton from jail after her Aug. 27 arrest on suspicion of cocaine possession, saying they wanted to avoid disruptions in the jails operations.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Monday that Hilton was out of the jail in about three hours, roughly half the average time it takes to process people facing the same charge through the Clark County Detention Center.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Deputy Chief Jim Dixon, who runs the jail, acknowledges Hilton was pushed through the booking process in order to get her into a separate room and out of the jail as soon as possible.

He says celebrities such as Hilton draw attention from other inmates, and his officers would have had to try to keep inmates away from her.

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Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com

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Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon raises $58.9 million AP

LAS VEGAS Despite the struggling economy, officials with the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon say contributions and pledges from this years Labor Day event totaled $58.9 million.

While the amount was down from $60.5 million last year and a record $65 million in 2008, Lewis said he was pleased with the support to advance the research and service programs of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

"Im heartened by the unique ability of Americans to help others in need, when they themselves are likely struggling financially," said Lewis, national chairman of the Tucson, Ariz.-based MDA.

The 45th annual telethon originated for the fifth consecutive year from the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas and reached some 40 million viewers through 170 television stations.

Dozens of performers joined the 21 1/2-hour event, including Barry Manilow, Michael Feinstein, Maureen McGovern, Charo, Carrot Top and Norm Crosby.

Telethon co-hosts included Jann Carl, Alison Sweeney and Nancy ODell.

"I think it $58.9 million is a huge amount for a tough economy," Carl told The Associated Press. "This is what brings tears to our eyes. It shows the heart of America. Were terribly humbled and so grateful."

For the first time, a child � MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Abbey Umali, 11, of Redlands, Calif. � opened the telethon Sunday afternoon. She performed two songs, including "Ordinary Miracle," which drew a rousing audience response.

Lewis said the funds will allow the MDA to continue funding worldwide research to find treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy and related diseases.

"People see the progress MDA is making for children and adults living with muscle diseases," he said. "Im truly grateful for their caring enough to brighten the future for my kids."

Lewis, 84, ended the telethon with the traditional singing of his signature song, "Youll Never Walk Alone."

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Clooney outdraws "Machete" at holiday box office

LOS ANGELES | Mon Sep 6, 2010 12:45pm EDT

LOS ANGELES Reuters - In the battle of the box office assassins, A-lister George Clooney barely mustered more firepower with his new chart-topper "The American" than the relatively unknown star of "Machete," as the summer moviegoing season wrapped feebly during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

"The American," in which Clooney plays a laconic gunslinger holed up in a picturesque Italian village, earned $16.4 million across the United States and Canada during the four days beginning September 3, distributor Focus Features said on Monday.

"Machete," a violent fantasy starring character actor Danny Trejo as a Mexican hitman with a penchant for sharp objects, came in at No. 2 with $14.0 million, said 20th Century Fox.

Both studios said they were happy with the openings, which exceeded modest expectations, even if the movies are not destined for box office greatness. Clooneys movies, for example, usually end up in the $30 million to $40 million range, and Focus doubted the new one would buck that trend.

The top 10 boasted one other newcomer, the optimistically titled Drew Barrymore romantic comedy "Going the Distance," which stalled at the outset. It came in at No. 5 with a disappointing $8.6 million, said Warner Bros. Pictures.

Both "Machete" and "Going the Distance" opened on Friday, while "The American" got a two-day head start and has earned $19.5 million to date.

Last weekends champion, the Sony Pictures heist thriller "Takers," slipped to No. 3 with $13.5 million; its 11-day haul rose to $40 million.

Sales for the top-12 films fell to their lowest level in almost a year, a fitting coda to a summer lineup whose weak performance was obscured by the 3D boom.

While sales from the first weekend in May through Monday are projected to break last years record, the increase comes solely from higher ticket prices. The number of tickets sold -- a better gauge of Hollywoods health -- hit its lowest level since 1997.

Tracking firm Hollywood.com Box-Office predicted summer attendance would come in at 552 million tickets sold, a 2.6 percent drop from last year, and the lowest since 1997 when 540 million were sold. It forecast summer receipts of $4.35 billion, up 2.4 percent from last summers record levels. Final tallies will be released on Tuesday.

Movies released in 3D, such as "Toy Story 3," "Cats & Dogs," "Despicable Me," and "The Last Airbender," allowed movie theaters to charge an average premium of $3 per ticket. In some markets, this pushed the ticket price to almost $20. The average ticket price for all movies was $7.88, according to Hollywood.com Box-Office.

Sales are expected to remain weak for the next few weeks as the studios dump their under-performers so that they can focus on prestige pictures catering to awards voters and on holiday-season crowd-pleasers.

Focus Features is a unit of General Electric Co. 20th Century Fox is a unit of News Corp. Sony Pictures is a unit of Sony Corp. Warner Bros. Pictures is a unit of Time Warner Inc.

Reporting by Dean Goodman; editing by Mohammad Zargham

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Hitman Clooneys American wins weekend with $16M AP

LOS ANGELES George Clooneys hitman tale "The American" has captured the top spot at the box office with a $16.4 million debut over the long Labor Day weekend.

Since opening Wednesday, the Focus Features release has taken in $19.5 million.

The 20th Century Fox revenge romp "Machete" and Sonys heist thriller "Takers" were in a duel for second-place.

"Machete" led with $14 million from Friday to Monday. "Takers" followed with $13.5 million, though the two movies were close enough that rankings could change once final numbers are released Tuesday.

"Takers," which had been the No. 1 movie the previous weekend, raised its 10-day total to $40 million.

The weekends other new wide release, Drew Barrymores romance "Going the Distance" from Warner Bros., opened at No. 5 with $8.6 million.

It was a typically quiet Labor Day period for Hollywood, a transition weekend as summer blockbuster season ends and young audiences prepare for the start of the school year.

Hollywood closed its busiest season with record revenue of $4.35 billion, about $100 million more than the previous high set last summer, according to Hollywood.com, which tracks box office. Yet because of higher ticket prices, movie attendance slipped to about 552 million, the lowest since summer 2005, said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian.

"This is a perfectly unspectacular end to a perfectly unspectacular summer," Dergarabedian said. "If you look at how low the attendance figure dropped, thats the audience telling Hollywood this crop of movies was good, but not good enough to get us out in huge numbers."

"The American" stars Clooney as a hitman who finds unlikely friendship and romance while trying to lay low in Italy before doing one last job.

"Machete" features a cast including Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Steven Seagal and Lindsay Lohan in a bloody tale of a former Mexican federal cop Danny Trejo taking on crooks, dirty politicians and thugs by the score.

"Going the Distance" stars Barrymore and Justin Long as a couple trying to maintain a coast-to-coast long-distance relationship.

With Clooneys appeal to adult audiences, "The American" dominated older crowds, while "Machete" was a hit with Hispanics, who accounted for 60 percent of the movies viewers.

"The whole marketing campaign was thrust at the Latino audience, and they have clearly responded and embraced the movie," said Chris Aronson, head of distribution for 20th Century Fox. "I would go so far as to say Danny Trejo is the first Latino superhero."

With $3.9 million over the long weekend, Universals animated hit "Despicable Me" raised its haul to $241.3 million, surpassing the $238.4 million take of DreamWorks Animations "Shrek Forever After," which failed to catch the same box-office fire as the franchises earlier installments.

Summers top hit, Disneys animated blockbuster "Toy Story 3," pulled in $2.7 million to lift its total to $408.8 million, second only to "Shrek 2" at $436 million on the domestic chart for animated features.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Monday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Tuesday.

1. "The American," $16.4 million.

2. "Machete," $14 million.

3. "Takers," $13.5 million.

4. "The Last Exorcism," $8.8 million.

5. "Going the Distance," $8.6 million.

6. "The Expendables," $8.5 million.

7. "The Other Guys," $6.7 million.

8. "Eat Pray Love," $6.3 million.

9. "Inception," $5.9 million.

10. "Nanny McPhee Returns," $4.7 million.

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Online:

http://www.hollywood.com/boxoffice

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Universal Pictures and Focus Features are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.; Sony Pictures, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount and Paramount Vantage are divisions of Viacom Inc.; Disneys parent is The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is a division of The Walt Disney Co.; 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Fox Atomic are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a consortium of Providence Equity Partners, Texas Pacific Group, Sony Corp., Comcast Corp., DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and Quadrangle Group; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC Films is owned by Rainbow Media Holdings, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corp.; Rogue Pictures is owned by Relativity Media LLC; Overture Films is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corp.

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