Pee-wee Herman's big comeback
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The star may be Pee-wee, but his new live stage show is absolutely huge. "The Pee-wee Herman Show," opening next month in downtown Los Angeles at Club Nokia theater, cost millions to mount. It boasts 11 actors, 20 puppets and marks the show's first production since 1982.
AP review: Effects wow but story limps in `Avatar'
When a film brashly asserts that it will change moviemaking forever, one feels the urge to either take its "king of the world" arrogance down a notch or hail it as the masterpiece it claims to be. But — and forgive us if this sounds too much like the dialogue in President Obama's war room — what if there's a third option?
Legal case debates classiness of Flynt family smut
LOS ANGELES (AP) — When it comes to peddling porn, Larry Flynt wants you to know his videos of people having sex are a cut above other smut on the rack. So when a pair of nephews Flynt personally groomed for the porn business decided to launch their own company last year and use the family name, the creator of "Barely Legal," "Busty Beauties" and "Daddy Gets Lucky" wasted no time suing the upstarts for trademark infringement.
Stars turn out to honor producer Weintraub in LA
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — The A-list dinner party drew top performers and singing legends. George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bruce Willis, Larry David, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie gathered around Jerry Weintraub's table at the posh UNICEF Ball in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel ballroom Thursday night to honor the legendary producer's philanthropic work. Clooney presented Weintraub with the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award, named after the late singer-actor.
Anna Nicole Smith's doctors, boyfriend in court
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anna Nicole Smith's two doctors and her lawyer-boyfriend face arraignment on drug charges Friday, accused of illegally providing the late Playboy model with sedatives and opiates. Attorneys in the case said the trial may not happen until next summer but numerous motions will have to be resolved before then.
'N Sync's 'No Strings' decade's most popular album
NEW YORK (AP) — The top album of the decade came from an act that's not even around anymore — 'N Sync. Billboard magazine says the boy band led by Justin Timberlake had the decade's best-selling album with "No Strings Attached," which sold more than 10 million copies.
Judge: Jon Gosselin must stop unofficial events
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — A Maryland judge ruled Thursday that Jon Gosselin must stop making media appearances and endorsements the TLC network claim violate his contract — like a Las Vegas pool party with bikini-clad women the celebrity dad recently hosted . Montgomery County Circuit Judge Michael D. Mason granted TLC a preliminary injunction, pending the outcome of an April 19 trial.
ABC appoints Stephanopoulos to be 'GMA' host
NEW YORK (AP) — ABC's selection of George Stephanopoulos to replace Diane Sawyer on "Good Morning America" signals a desire by the network to toughen up the morning show during tough times. The appointment of Stephanopoulos, the network's chief Washington and political correspondent, was announced Thursday. He'll begin on the second-place morning show on Monday, paired with current co-anchor Robin Roberts. Sawyer is becoming the "World News" anchor as Charles Gibson retires.
Thomas Hoving, ex-director of NYC Met Museum, dies
NEW YORK (AP) — Former Metropolitan Art Museum director Thomas Hoving has died at his home in New York City. Nancy Hoving says her husband died Thursday of cancer. He was 78.
Billboard names Taylor, Kanye among year's best
NEW YORK (AP) — They gave us the most memorable music moment of 2009, so it's only fitting that Kanye West and Taylor Swift have been named the king and queen of the charts. Billboard magazine named Swift the top female artist, while West was declared top male artist. But Swift trumps West overall. She was the top artist of the year, with Beyonce coming in second and Lady Gaga third.
