Entertaining Posts

Monday, March 28, 2011

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)

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Reese Witherspoon marries Hollywood agent Jim Toth

LOS ANGELES | Sun Mar 27, 2011 2:02pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon and her talent agent fiance Jim Toth tied the knot over the weekend in Southern California, her spokeswoman told celebrity magazine People.

The 35-year-old actress, who scored box office hits with her "Legally Blonde" movies, and Toth, 40, were married on Saturday at her ranch in Ojai, California, northwest of Los Angeles.

People.com said several Hollywood stars attended, including Sean Penn and Scarlett Johansson, as well as Robert Downey, Jr., Tobey Maguire and Renee Zellweger. Witherspoon's two children with her first husband, Ryan Phillippe, also were there.

Witherspoon, who won the best actress Academy Award playing country singer June Carter in "Walk the Line," and Toth became engaged in December.

(Reporting by Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Malawi charity workers sue Madonna over payments

LILONGWE | Sun Mar 27, 2011 1:24pm EDT

LILONGWE (Reuters) - Eight workers at Madonna's Malawi charity are suing the pop star for unfair dismissal and non-payment of their benefits, their lawyer said on Sunday.

The board of the charity, Raising Malawi, was sacked after abandoning plans to build a state of the art girls' school just outside the capital Lilongwe due to mismanagement, the New York Times newspaper reported on Saturday.

Madonna, who has adopted two children from Malawi, lent $11 million to the organization and is now on the board.

The workers' lawyer, Mzondi Chirambo, said Madonna had 14 days to respond to their concerns.

"Their employment was terminated by the trustees of Raising Malawi Academy for Girls ostensibly following the change of plan not to build the school as planned," Chirambo said.

"My clients are also being forced to sign a discriminatory termination agreement before they are paid their benefits."

Chirambo said one of the workers he represented was the chief executive of the school, some taught Jewish Kabbalah mysticism while the others were connected to the school project.

The papers were filed with the Industrial Court, which handles labor disputes.

Madonna's U.S. representative was not immediately available for comment.

The New York Times said the plan to build the school had collapsed after $3.8 million was spent with little to show for it. Its executive director left in October amid criticism of his management style and cost overruns. (Reporting by Mabvuto Banda; editing by Elizabeth Piper)

Britney is back, but can she compete with Gaga?

By Mike Collett-White

LONDON | Sun Mar 27, 2011 1:40pm EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - As Britney Spears prepares to launch her seventh studio album "Femme Fatale" on Tuesday, the pop star faces keen competition from Lady Gaga, Katie Perry and Rihanna, who reign atop Billboard's Hot 100 singles ranking.

Her younger rivals' dominance this week may be coincidental -- indeed, Spears also topped the ranking recently with "Hold It Against Me." -- but the chart is a reminder of how crowded the pop diva market has become since Spears rose to fame as a teenager.

There is little doubt her fans will ensure brisk sales -- Spears has sold nearly 70 million albums, according to label Jive Record -- and her music is making headlines again instead of personal meltdowns, a custody battle and rehab stints.

Spears kicked off a string of promotions for the album on Friday with a performance at a Las Vegas nightclub. On Sunday in San Francisco she will record a sold-out mini-concert to be aired on ABC's "Good Morning America" TV show on Tuesday.

Yet after more than 10 years in the music business, Spears, now 29, may have to do more to remain relevant in the era of Gaga, critics say.

"As far as novelty goes, her natural demographic now has an icon as quirky and characterful as Lady Gaga to fascinate and fuss over," said Andy Gill of Britain's Independent newspaper.

"Gaga's music, let's be frank, is not that much better than, or even different to, that on 'Femme Fatale', but she knows the lingering appeal of playing dress up," he added in a two-out-of-five star review of Spears' record.

Adrian Thrills of the Daily Mail added: "The one-time gymslip diva has had to contend with the emergence of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna -- a brash new wave of female performers who have made their mark while seemingly exercising far more creative control."

REVIEWS RANGE WIDELY

Reviews of "Femme Fatale" have been mixed.

Among the most positive was Rolling Stone Magazine, which awarded the album four stars. "Femme Fatale may be Britney's best album," wrote Jody Rosen, describing it as "a party record packed with sex and sadness."

Hitmaking producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin were responsible for seven of the 12 tracks, while the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am was behind "Big Fat Bass" and Sweden's Bloodshy worked on "How I Roll" and "Trip To Your Heart."

Critics singled out "Hold It Against Me", with its dubstep influence, and "Inside Out," as well as "Till the World Ends," which Spin magazine called Spears' "first truly synapse-sizzling single since (2004's) 'Toxic.'"

While there was broad agreement that the electro-pop, ballad-light record would be a dance floor hit, critics felt Spears was in danger of disappearing as a voice and personality.

Alexis Petridis of Britain's Guardian newspaper awarded the album three stars, giving much credit to the producers for creating music that was "genuinely exciting."