Entertaining Posts

Friday, November 4, 2011

Jury to return for more Jackson trial deliberation

LOS ANGELES | Fri Nov 4, 2011 8:03pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The jury in the trial of the doctor accused of involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 death of pop star Michael Jackson ended its first day of deliberation on Friday with no verdict being announced.

The jury of seven men and five women will return on Monday for more discussion on the guilt or innocence of Dr. Conrad Murray after hearing six weeks of testimony in the trial, according to the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Murray, 58, who was hired to care for Jackson as he prepared for a series of planned comeback concerts in 2009, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter, or gross negligence, in his care of the singer.

Murray, who did not testify at the trial, could face up to four years in prison if convicted.

Jackson was found lifeless at his Los Angeles mansion on June 25, 2009, at age 50. He was later ruled to have died from an overdose of sedatives and propofol, which is normally used in surgery.

Murray admitted giving Jackson a dose of propofol to help him sleep but his lawyers argued at trial that the "Thriller" singer caused his own death by taking an extra, fatal dose of the drug, along with a handful of sedatives, without Murray's knowledge.

Prosecutors say Murray is guilty of gross negligence for administering the powerful drug in a home setting, failing to monitor Jackson, delaying calling emergency services and omitting to tell medical personnel he gave the singer propofol.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Vicki Allen)

Lady Gaga gets TV Thanksgiving night special

NEW YORK | Fri Nov 4, 2011 2:20pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - So, will she wear a turkey-and-stuffing dress?

Lady Gaga is coming for Thanksgiving, via a 90-minute, prime time television special on ABC on November 24 which she will direct herself, the network said on Friday.

"A Very Gaga Thanksgiving" will feature Gaga performing eight songs for friends and family, as well an interview with Katie Couric.

Performances will include a duet of "The Lady is a Tramp" with Tony Bennett, as well as her newest single, "Marry the Night." And what holiday special would be complete without "White Christmas"?

"We all know Lady Gaga is a phenomenon," said Couric. "This is a chance to see more of who she is beneath the wild costumes and staged musical numbers," hinting that the singer known for her over-the-top theatricality might eschew outfits like the famous meat dress she wore at the Video Music Awards.

Celebrity chef Art Smith will stop by to help Gaga, 25, prepare a Thanksgiving feast of deep-fried turkey and waffles for her guests, ABC said.

The pop music phenomenon will also open up about her relationships with family and friends, share stories from her past and reflect on what her life is like now living in the white hot spotlight of fame, ABC said.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud; editing by Jill Serjeant)

Belfast braced for Bieber-mania at MTV awards

By Mike Collett-White

LONDON | Fri Nov 4, 2011 11:18am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Teen stars Justin Bieber and girlfriend Selena Gomez perform at the MTV Europe Music Awards on Sunday in Belfast, guaranteeing plenty of screaming fans and close media attention to what they say and do.

Canadian heartthrob Bieber hit the headlines this week after a young woman alleged that the chart-topper had fathered her child when he was 16. He appeared on the U.S. Today show on Friday and denied the claims.

"I'd just like to say basically that none of those allegations are true," said Bieber, now 17. "I know that I'm going to be a target, but I'm never going to be a victim."

Gomez, who is hosting the event and performing her new single, has had problems of her own recently.

On Thursday an Illinois man pleaded not guilty to stalking the American actress best known for her role in Disney television show "Wizards of Waverly Place," but was ordered to stay away from her for three years.

Thomas Brodnicki told a psychiatrist that he travelled to Los Angeles to see the star and had conversations with God about killing her, according to court documents.

In Belfast, the celebrity couple are expected to be joined by Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga at what is billed as one of the biggest nights in music outside the United States.

Northern Irish rockers Snow Patrol, whose 2006 album "Eyes Open" sold over five million copies worldwide, also make an appearance as do the surviving members of Queen, who will pick up the Global Icon accolade.

U.S. DOMINATION

The annual awards tend to be dominated by U.S. acts even though they are held in Europe each year and are mostly decided by fans from the region.

Gomez said regional differences mattered less in the internet age.

"I think that it's not necessarily about America dominating anything," she told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"I think music is worldwide. Wherever people come from, whether they are from America or not, I think it's all definitely about creating great music.

"So I'm glad that a lot of European artists will also be attending."

Last year it was the flamboyant Gaga who dominated the MTV EMAs, picking up prizes for best female, best pop act and best song for "Bad Romance."

Due to prior commitments the 25-year-old New Yorker could not make the MTV event held in Madrid, but she is in the lineup on Sunday at the Belfast Odyssey Arena and also leads the nominations with six.

In four categories -- best song ("Born This Way"), best pop and live act and best female artist -- she is up against compatriot and rival chart-topping diva Katy Perry.

Lady Gaga's other two nominations are best video (Born This Way) and biggest fans, a new category introduced this year.

Bruno Mars joins Perry with four nominations -- best new, best male, best "push" act and best song for "Grenade."

Adele, Britain's best-selling chart sensation, is shortlisted three times -- best female act and best song and best video for "Rolling in the Deep."

Bieber competes for best pop, best male and biggest fans, while Thirty Seconds to Mars is up for best alternative, best world stage and biggest fans.

Bieber, who launched his new album "Under the Mistletoe" this week, has already been named the inaugural winner of the MTV Voices award in recognition of his charity work.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Jury to get Michael Jackson doctor manslaughter case Friday

By Alex Dobuzinskis

LOS ANGELES | Thu Nov 3, 2011 8:18pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Los Angeles jury will start deliberating the fate of Michael Jackson's doctor on Friday after a six-week manslaughter trial stemming from the 2009 death of the self-styled king of pop.

In closing arguments prosecutors said Jackson "paid with his life" for the criminal negligence of Dr Conrad Murray. Defense lawyers said Murray was being held responsible for Jackson's own actions.

"For a crime to be proved, the prosecution has to show that Dr Murray actually killed Michael Jackson," defense attorney Ed Chernoff told the jury on Thursday.

"They want you to convict Dr Murray for the actions of Michael Jackson," Chernoff said. "If it were anybody else but Michael Jackson, would this doctor be here today?"

Chernoff asked the jury to forget that the victim was a pop star.

"If you are going to hold Dr Murray responsible, don't do it because it's Michael Jackson. This is not a reality show. This is reality."

Murray, who was hired to care for Jackson as he prepared for a series of planned comeback concerts, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. He did not testify at the trial and could face up to four years in prison if convicted.

Jackson was found lifeless at his Los Angeles mansion on June 25, 2009, age 50. He was later ruled to have died from an overdose of propofol, which is normally used in surgery, and sedatives.

The defense argued at trial the singer was dependent on propofol. Desperate to sleep, he likely gave himself a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic, as well as swallowing a handful of sedatives, without Murray's knowledge, defense lawyers argued.

Prosecutor David Walgren slammed that theory in his closing argument, calling the scenario presented at trial by a key defense expert "junk science" and "garbage science."

MURRAY 'MADE MISTAKES'

Walgren said Murray abandoned Jackson on the morning he died, delayed calling 911 and deceived medical personnel on his use of propofol in a bedroom setting.

Murray violated the trust between doctor and patient "and for that Michael Jackson paid with his life," Walgren said.

"The evidence in this case is abundantly clear -- that Conrad Murray acted with criminal negligence, that Conrad Murray caused the death of Michael Jackson, that Conrad Murray left Prince, Paris and Blanket without a father," the prosecutor said, referring to the singer's three young children.

Chernoff said the defense was not disputing negligence on Murray's part. "We would not dispute Dr Murray never made mistakes," he said on Thursday.

But he maintained that Murray's actions did not amount to criminal negligence and were not the direct cause of Jackson's death.

Trial judge Michael Pastor told jurors on Thursday they could convict Murray even if Jackson may have contributed to his own death, if they believed the physician failed to use reasonable care to prevent that outcome.

Pastor said the jury could find Murray not guilty if it believed his actions on the day of Jackson's death were accidental.

Walgren reminded the jury that phone records showed Murray was busy with personal matters for some 40 minutes after the physician said he gave the singer a small dose of propofol toward the end of a sleepless night.

Chernoff said, however, that Murray could have been by Jackson's bedside while on the phone, or near the singer's side and keeping an eye on him, before he realized he had stopped breathing.

Walgren said Murray had abandoned the singer that morning. "Conrad Murray gave him propofol and abandoned him. Conrad Murray is criminally liable. Justice demands a guilty verdict," he said.

(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Xavier Briand)

Drew Barrymore tops list of Hollywood's overpaid

NEW YORK | Thu Nov 3, 2011 5:17pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Some might argue that all stars are overpaid, but Drew Barrymore and Eddie Murphy are in a league of their own, according to a survey conducted by Forbes.com and published on Thursday.

Top stars can make tens of millions of dollars on a single film, and the payout can be justified when a movie like "Pirates of the Caribbean" brings in several hundred million at box offices. But when their movies bomb, that's another story.

Barrymore saw her 2010 romantic comedy "Going the Distance" earn just $17.8 million in ticket sales. Her 2009 movies "Everybody's Fine" and "Whip It" fared worse.

Forbes.com said the actress returns just 40 cents for every dollar movie studios spend for her participation. By contrast Murphy's films returned $2.70 for each dollar he was paid.

Compared to Barrymore, "Murphy is a financial superstar," wrote Forbes.com's Dorothy Pomerantz who compiled the list.

But "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984) star Murphy has struggled in recent years, too, with bombs like "Imagine That" and "Meet Dave." He might take solace in his promising new film "Tower Heist" and upcoming gig hosting the Oscars, Forbes said.

The magazine compiled the list from Hollywood's 40 top-earning actors, and based it on each star's compensation on his or her last three films and the operating income on those films. From that, Forbes.com derived a return-on-investment.

Oscar winners were not immune from the dubious distinction of most-overpaid, either.

Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman, Denzel Washington and Reese Witherspoon all made the top 10, Witherspoon large owed her spot to her starring role in the James L. Brooks disaster "How Do You Know," which Forbes said cost an estimated $120 million to produce but brought in only $50 million worldwide.

At least Will Ferrell can take consolation in not being first this time around, after owning the top spot for two years running. This year, he placed third.

The full list can be found here

(Reporting by Chris Michaud; editing by Bob Tourtellotte)