Swiss ready Polanski's chalet for house arrest
GSTAAD, Switzerland (AP) — Security experts on Saturday started preparing Roman Polanski's Alpine chalet for the movie director's house arrest while Swiss authorities consider whether to extradite him to the United States. A Hummer bearing the sign in French "DR Securite Services" was parked outside the empty three-story building Saturday morning, while three men and a woman took photographs of the property and spent about an hour inside.
'Pulp Fiction' writer taken off jail furlough
VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — "Pulp Fiction" co-screenwriter Roger Avary has been removed from a prison work furlough program and locked up, authorities say. Avary was sentenced in September to a year in jail and five years probation for causing a drunken driving car crash that killed a passenger and injured Avary's wife. News reports say he has been serving his time in a work furlough program.
R&B star Chris Brown to be interviewed on '20/20'
NEW YORK (AP) — ABC says Chris Brown will appear on its "20/20" newsmagazine Dec. 11. In what's billed as an in-depth interview, the singer will discuss his assault of ex-girlfriend and recording superstar Rihanna in February. He is on probation for the beating.
Katey Sagal: Happy as the mom on 'Sons of Anarchy'
NEW YORK (AP) — Season two of the FX drama "Sons of Anarchy" is primed to end with bloody payback. It's likely to be pretty. The Sons, a fierce and fiercely close-knit motorcycle club, are set to wreak havoc on enemy forces that have cut into their outlaw livelihood and horned in on their turf (the curiously named town of Charming, Calif.).
Dinner crashers shook hands with President Obama
WASHINGTON (AP) — This time, the picture is the story. After the Secret Service insisted that President Barack Obama was never endangered by a security breach that allowed a couple to crash his first state dinner, the White House has released a photo showing that not only did the pair get close to Obama, they actually shook hands and talked to him.
Arabian Horse Foundation begins Swayze scholarship
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — The Arabian Horse Foundation has established a scholarship in honor of the late actor Patrick Swayze and his wife. Swayze and wife Lisa Neimi owned Arabian horses and competed in shows for several years. The foundation is the charitable arm of the Denver-based Arabian Horse Association.
'Avatar' video game to expand film's alien world
LOS ANGELES (AP) — James Cameron was thinking beyond the big screen when he created the alien world of Pandora. The "Titanic" director worked in tandem with video game developer Ubisoft Montreal on the game based on his upcoming sci-fi epic "Avatar." Opening Dec. 18, the film stars Sam Worthington as a paralyzed human soldier who takes on the form of an exotic blue-skinned alien species called Na'vi on their home world Pandora, a remote paradise teaming with freaky flora and fauna.
Al Alberts, founding member of The Four Aces, dies
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Al Alberts, a founding member of the singing group, The Four Aces, and a longtime TV talent show host in Philadelphia, has died. He was 87. Chris Alberts says his father died Friday at home in Arcadia, Fla. He says the apparent cause of death was complications from kidney failure.
Pinetop Perkins' 80-year career still going
CLARKSDALE, Miss. (AP) — Noisy crowds in smoky bars don't bother 96-year-old bluesman Pinetop Perkins. It's all part of his job. Most nights, after he snuffs out his menthol cigarette, Perkins slides onto the piano bench in some club and eases into a wail about hard times and treacherous women.
Air Force captain wins new car on 'Jay Leno Show'
NEW YORK (AP) — An audience member at "The Jay Leno Show" is especially grateful this Thanksgiving. He won a new car. Air Force Capt. Tung Ngo (TUNG' noh) was in the audience filled with men and women of the U.S. military when Leno called his name during Thursday's special holiday program. It was taped at NBC studios in Burbank, Calif., just hours before airtime.
