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TELEVISION

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ENTERTAINMENT: READ THE LATEST REVIEWS,  RELEASES, FILMS, CDs, GOSSIPS AND NEWS

TEN MOST WATCHED AMERICAN TV SHOW HOSTS

 

 

 

 

 

  Photos from L to R: #1. Opra Winfrey. #2. David Letterman. #3. Jay Leno.

Not difficult to guess. And as predicted, according to a poll by the International News Agency,  the 10 most watched  American TV show hosts are in no particular order: 1- Jay Leno, (Audience. Age: Between 20 and 56. Gender: 65% men. 35% women). 2-David Letterman, (Audience. Age: Between 20 and 55. Gender: 60% men. 40% women). 3-Oprah Winfrey, (Audience. Age: Between 25 and 60. Gender: 97% women. 3% men).  4-Larry King, (Audience. Age: Between 30 and 75. Gender: 60% men. 40% women). 5-Lou Dobbs,  (Audience. Age: Between 32 and 70. Gender: 70% men. 30% women).  6-Robert Osborne,  (Audience. Age: Between 32 and 75. Gender: 56% men. 44% women). 7-Howard Stern, (Audience. Age: Between 18 and 47. Gender: 91% men. 9% women). 8-Paula Zahn,  (Audience. Age: Between 35 and 65. Gender: 73% women. 27% men). 9-Bill O'Reily, (Audience. Age: Between 32 and 65. Gender: 74% men. 26% women). 10-Donald Trump's whatever, Apprentice, et al, ad infinitum... (Audience. Age: Between 21 and 40. Gender: 79% men. 21% women). Error margin: Between 2% and 5 %. Number of people who participated in the polls: 25,000 in all the United States, except Alaska.

Photos from L to R: #1. Paula Zahn. #2. Donald Trump. #3. Lou Dobbs. #4. Robert Osborne. #5. Larry King.

Sex and the City's Nixon is in the House

Photo: Cynthia Nixon.

NEW YORK- Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon will make a guest appearance on an upcoming episode of the Fox medical drama House. The episode is slated to air in December, the network said Friday. Nixon will play a "sharp-witted patient who suffers from a mysterious seizure and goes toe-to-toe" with Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), while he and his team try to discover the source of her ailment. Last season, the 39-year-old actress played a soccer mom who suffers a stroke and is rushed to the emergency room in an episode on NBC's ER. Nixon played Miranda Hobbes on Sex and the City. She won an Emmy for her role on the HBO show. House is on a break as Fox covers the Major League Baseball playoffs, but will return in early November.

FINE TUNING: Watching an IMAX film on a TV screen may seem like a fool's errand, no matter how big your set is.

Photo: Chris Noth and Jennifer Sciole.

In one of the more audacious experiments of the new TV season, Criminal Intent has been swapping back and forth between lead characters each week. By bringing in Chris Noth at the outset of the season familiar to original Law & Order viewers as no-nonsense tough guy Det. Mike Logan, and alternating stories between Noth and D'Onofrio Criminal Intent has managed to breathe new life into what was always the toughest sell of the Law & Order spin-offs. In tonight's outing, Logan and his partner Carolyn Barek (Annabella Sciorra, familiar to followers of The Sopranos as one of Tony Soprano's more ill-fated goomahs) investigate a Park Avenue plastic surgeon implicated in the death of a medical student in Guatemala. Criminal Intent is not one of those tedious howdunits, along the lines of CSI and its countless imitators, but rather a whydunit. Co-creator, senior producer and head writer Rene Balcer, a Montreal native who studied at McGill and worked for a time as a reporter on the now-defunct Montreal Star before turning to producing TV scripts for a living, has always been more interested in the psychological underpinnings of fictional crimes. In Balcer's hands, D'Onofrio's Det. Robert Goren became a kind of alter ego to the traditional TV police detective, a shambling bear of a man who immerses himself in the criminal mind and emerges with the answer in the end: part Lurch, part Lt. Columbo. It was fun watching D'Onofrio for a time, but his wildly over-the-top, just-watch-me performances began to take their toll, in front of and behind the camera. Noth's Mike Logan takes the more direct approach: He's all about busting heads and getting into constant trouble with his bosses. Law & Order: Criminal Intent has always been my favourite of the various Law & Order incarnations, and that includes the original.

Carolyn Barek (Annabella Sciorra)Photo: Annabella Sciorra, familiar to followers of The Sopranos.

(I still say the original Law & Order was at its best during the Michael Moriarty/Chris Noth years). Balcer has an eye for behaviour and an ear for the way people think and talk you don't often see on U.S. television it's a Montreal thing and the stories are often dense and layered, even when you know from the outset who did it. Criminal Intent is worth seeing. Avoiding it just because it has Law & Order in the title strikes me as, dare I say it, depraved indifference. CTV, NBC. Trust Homer Simpson to get into an altercation with the Easter Bunny which is exactly what he does in tonight's Simpsons outing, Last of the Red Hat Mamas.

Photo: Robert Downey, Jr.

Homer gets into it with the bonbon bunny at Mayor Quimby's annual egg hunt, and Marge ends up being shunned by her society friends as a result. Lonely, Marge joins a women's group called The Cheery Red Tomatoes and agrees to help with their upcoming charity drive: robbing Mr. Burns of his prized Faberge egg collection. And if one of the voices you hear sounds suspiciously like Lily Tomlin, that's because it is. Tomlin recorded her guest-voice appearance earlier this year. Global, Fox. Robert Downey Jr. appears in Family Guy at least, his voice does and if you think that sounds like a match made in heaven, why, you might be right! The episode revolves around Peter Griffin's sudden effort to lose weight. There's a reason, you see, why Baby Stewie keeps referring to him as ``Fat Man,'' as in, ``I underestimated you, Fat Man!'' That's a hell of a thing for a baby to be calling his own father but, hey, if the shoe fits ... Global, Fox. Viewers looking for a change of pace from Sunday familiars like The Simpsons, Desperate Housewives Carlos gets religion! and Grey's Anatomy may be interested in the IMAX film Wolves, which airs tonight on the Outdoor Life Network. Watching an IMAX film on a TV screen may seem like a fool's errand, no matter how big your set is, but it's actually fascinating to see, and not just because IMAX films are made with a visual language all their own. The big-screen films are stately paced and immaculately filmed, and Wolves is no exception. The serene vistas of jagged mountain peaks and snowbound valleys create a serene, almost surreal effect, and everything about the film's imagery is calculated and carefully studied.- By A. Stachaan.

CNN revamps prime time to make way for rising star

Photo: Aaron Brown, squeezed out.

CNN has squeezed out anchor Aaron Brown to create a new vehicle for one of its rising stars, Anderson Cooper. Cooper, 38, is a hot personality since his on-the-scene coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its effects on New Orleans. In a memorable exchange four days after the storm, he cut off Senator Mary Landrieu's lavish praise of various politicos to remind her that he'd been seeing dead bodies floating in the streets and that wasn't what Americans expected of their leaders in a crisis. Brown, 56, was once considered a star at CNN. He was thrust into a major role shortly after he joined the network in 2001 because of his heartfelt anchoring following the Sept. 11 attacks. His 10 p.m. newscast had a following of fans who liked his cerebral approach and quirky commentaries. But CNN's new president Jon Klein was not a fan and was seeking a vehicle to give Cooper more exposure. For the past month, Brown and Cooper had been paired in a two-hour newscast, NewsNight.

Photo: Anderson Cooper, the rising star of CNN.

Network executives had concluded the chemistry wasn't working and had been looking to rejig the prime-time period, sources said. Cooper takes over as sole anchor of the 10 p.m. slot in a two-hour show to be called Anderson Cooper 360. This is the same name as his former 7 p.m. show, which he hosted for two years. CNN is building its new schedule around Cooper and around its hottest show, Situation Room, Klein said. "He's got a refreshing way of being the anti-anchor," Klein said of Cooper. "He's not quote-unquote reporting at you. He's just being himself. He's asking the questions you would like answered. He's getting involved the way you might. You feel that he's a regular person that you can trust talking to you. He brings such a passion to the storytelling that's infectious." The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer is taking over the 7 p.m. time slot vacated by Anderson. Situation Room also runs 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and then The Border is Falling, The Border is Falling, with Lou Dobbs, is on for one hour at 6 p.m. Kyra Phillips's show, Live From, has been extended an hour and will run from 1 p.m to 4 p.m. The announcement was made in a week when Brown was off the air. He has not been available for comment. Klein said the agreement for Brown to step down was "mutually" decided because there was no room for him to take a meaningful role, according to Associated Press.

 

WHO IS AARON BROWN? With more than 25 years of journalism experience to draw from, Aaron Brown is a lead anchor during breaking news and special events as well as anchor of NewsNight With Aaron Brown, CNN's flagship, evening newscast. Brown also serves as host of CNN Presents, CNN's documentary series. Brown is based in the network's New York bureau. Less than an hour after the first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, Brown began covering the unparalleled event from a rooftop in New York City. His continuing live coverage from several points in New York City, including Ground Zero, provided CNN audiences with constant updates and insight as the crisis turned into a search-and-rescue mission then evolved into a war on terrorism. Since then, he has covered numerous news events for CNN, including the ongoing war on terrorism, Election 2002, the D.C.-area sniper and the aftermath of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. During 2003's war in Iraq, Brown anchored from the network's headquarters in Atlanta, providing viewers with the latest information from frontlines' reports as well as from Central Command in Doha, Qatar, and Washington, D.C. In 2004, Brown served as co-anchor during the network's "America Votes 2004" election coverage. In May, Brown traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan, where he secured an exclusive interview with President Pervez Musharraf. In December of that year, Brown traveled to Indonesia to cover the disaster and aftermath of the tsunami that took more than 155,000 lives in South Asia. Previously, Brown was the anchor of ABC's World News Tonight Saturday and reported for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, Nightline and other ABC news broadcasts. He was the founding anchor of ABC's World News Now. Brown played a lead role in covering many news stories, including the British return of Hong Kong to the Chinese government, the Columbine High School shootings, the trial of O.J. Simpson and Nelson Mandela's historic election as president of South Africa. He also reported on the restoration of Jean-Bertrand Aristide to the head of Haiti's government, the death of Princess Diana, the trial of Susan Smith in Union, S.C., and the California earthquake in 1994. Additionally, Brown spent a year reporting and covering the tobacco industry. As an essayist for ABC News, Brown covered subjects ranging from the impeachment of President Bill Clinton to the life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Before joining ABC News, Brown anchored the evening newscast for KIRO-TV in Seattle. Before that, he spent 10 years at Seattle's KING-TV as a reporter and anchor. Brown has garnered a number of awards including three Emmy awards, a duPont-Columbia Award, a New York Film Festival World Medal and several Sigma Delta Chi awards for political, general and sports news reporting as well as in the category of Outstanding Documentary. Brown is a native of Hopkins, Minn., and began his broadcasting career as a radio talk show host in Minneapolis and later in Los Angeles.

WHO IS ANDERSON COOPER? Anderson Cooper anchors Anderson Cooper 360°, an unconventional, wide-ranging news program airing on CNN/U.S. weekdays. Cooper, who joined CNN in December 2001, served as CNN's weekend anchor before moving to the 7 p.m. hour in March 2003 following the war in Iraq. Since joining CNN, Cooper has anchored major breaking news stories. He traveled to Sri Lanka to cover the tsunami and was in Baghdad for the Iraqi elections. Cooper also anchored much of CNN's live coverage of the funeral of Pope John Paul II in the Vatican City. For "America Votes 2004," he moderated a Democratic presidential candidates forum the network sponsored with Rock the Vote. Before joining CNN, Cooper was an ABC News correspondent and host of the network's reality program, The Mole. Cooper anchored ABC's live, interactive news and interview program, World News Now, as well as providing reports for World News Tonight, 20/20 and 20/20 Downtown. Previously, he was a New York-based correspondent for ABC News, reporting primarily for World News Saturday/Sunday. Cooper joined ABC from Channel One News, where he served as chief international correspondent. During that time, he reported and produced stories from Bosnia, Iran, Israel, Russia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa and Vietnam. He also reported national stories that were broadcast over the Channel One News school television network and seen in more than 12,000 classrooms nationwide. Cooper has won several awards for his work, including a National Headliners Award for his tsunami coverage, an Emmy Award for his contribution to ABC's coverage of Princess Diana's funeral; a Silver Plaque from the Chicago International Film Festival for his report from Sarajevo on the Bosnian civil war; a Bronze Telly for his coverage of famine in Somalia; a Bronze Award from the National Educational Film and Video Festival for a report on political Islam; and a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Journalism for his 20/20 Downtown report on high school athlete Corey Johnson. Cooper graduated from Yale University in 1989 with a bachelor of arts degree in political science. He also studied Vietnamese at the University of Hanoi. Cooper is based in New York City.

 
Week of Oct. 17-23 (Season rank in brackets)
 
1. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 28.5 million (1)
 
2. Desperate Housewives, ABC, 25.2 million (2)
 
3. Lost, ABC, 21.4 million (3)
 
4. Without a Trace, CBS, 19.8 million (4)
 
5. Grey's Anatomy, ABC, 18.0 million (5)
 
6. CSI: Miami, CBS, 17.9 million (5)
 
7. Survivor: Guatemala, CBS, 17.8 million (7)
 
8. NCIS, CBS, 17.7 million (9)
 
9. World Series Game 2, Fox, 17.2 million (-)
 
10. Commander in Chief, ABC, 16.3 million (8)

SOURCE: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH. Updated: Oct. 25, 2005

 

 
2004-2005 Season
1. American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 27.4 million
 
2. CSI, CBS, 26.3 million
 
3. American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 26.0 million
 
4. Desperate Housewives, ABC, 23.4 million
 
5. Survivor: Palau, CBS, 20.9 million
 
6. Survivor: Vanuatu, CBS, 19.6 million
 
7. CSI: Miami, CBS, 18.9 million
 
8. Without a Trace, CBS, 18.8 million
 
9. Grey's Anatomy, ABC, 18.0 million
 
10. Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS, 16.9 million

SOURCE: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH. Final update: June 9, 2005

Fire Your Boss & Work From Home

THE MEDIA BIG NAMES GAME     

THOSE BIG SHOT TV ANCHORS: HOW GOOD AND HOW BAD ARE THEY!?

Keep on flipping and changing stations. You are not going to miss a thing!                                                            By Maximillien de Lafayette, Syndicated Columnist

Photos from L to R: #1. Mr. Larry King. A perfect gentleman and seasoned talk how host. #2. Dr. Monica Crowley host of The Monica Crowley Show; one of America's most intelligent and respected news personalities. A real national gem!

 

American media is a contemplative product. A blend of autocratic ideology and individualistic comprehension of events. American journalists including an avalanche of TV commentators and talk show hosts seem to know everything. Yes sir, they talk about every imaginable topic. Mr. Bill O'Reilly, (honest and sharp!) for instance, at ease and with permissive critical approach nightly argues about an astonishing variety of delicate subjects, topics and themes, ranging from questioning the loyalty of President Bush's former senior advisors to same-sex marriage, and from global ecology to immigration and naturalization services, and from questioning the validity and honesty of a ruling by a judge in the State of Florida to salty or sweet water on Mars. The two guys and "lovely" Juliet Hudy  of the FoxNews morning show “FOX AND FRIENDS” have answers to all your questions. Certainly, they are entertaining and easy to follow but, their conquest and analysis of world affairs, Spanish political dynamics, President Chirac's political ideology, Bin Laden's underwear, Michael Jackson lipstick and astrophysics-outer-of-space latest technologies are a little bit "too much" for the trio.

On the American tube, the host and the commentator become the news. They are the show! They know everything and they talk about everything. Nevertheless, we rush to our TV sets to watch them and amuse ourselves. They dissect news when they occur and invent them when the world events ponds become stagnant. However, they are colorful, animated, agitated and easy to like or disregard. Watching the American tube is a rare experience at many levels. The alert viewer must begin to wonder whether he or she is listening to world events or simply watching the anchor or newscaster. In that context, the host and the commentator become the news. They are the show! Consequently, commenting on news and delicate political issues become irrelevant, for the American radio and TV program hosts will inject into the veins of the debate and analysis their  very personal conviction, subjective opinions, crafty visions and silly jokes. However, a very small number of political analysts and contributors of the American media excel in their analysis and "projected" interpretation of facts, suppositions, points of views and unnecessary eloquent prologues and monologues. Few of them invite you to think and allow you to understand "what's really is going on". Among the most alert, informed and credible media commentators, analysts and talk shows hosts are Ms. Greta Van Susteren, Ms. Anne Coulter, Ms. Laura Ingraham, Ms. Monica Crowley, Ms. Candy Crowley, Mr. Bill Schneider, Mr. Chris Matthews,  Ms. Catherine Crier, Ms. Deborah Norville, Ms. Judy Woodruff, Ms. Judy Woodruff, Mr. Larry King, Mr. Charlie Rose, Mr. Aaron Brown, Mr. Geraldo Rivera, Mr. Jeff Greenfield, and Mr. Bill Schneider. Take those names out, and the American news and TV entertainment factory becomes "Toys R US".

HOT TICKETS

   

IF YOU KNOW THEIR NAMES, THEN THEY ARE REALLY HOT!!

Let's illustrate a case: Every time, Ms Greta van Susteren asks her guest a question, particularly on legal matters and socio-political issues, the correct answers were already provided in her polite and eloquent silence. For, we know that Ms. van Susteren already knew the answers, being a lawyer herself. However, she allows her guests to give their opinions without interrupting them. The French call this "Le Beau Geste". Ms. Monica Crowley is blessed with a brilliant analytical mind, a high level of education and a captivating persona. Those qualities are a rare commodity in the world of American media. Dr. Crowley is currently hosting  a very successful radio show in New York "THE MONICA CROWLEY SHOW" and millions of viewers and watchers are benefiting from her impressive experience and wisdom. But, she does not have a show on national television. None of the TV networks in the United States offered this bright young lady a deal on the wheel!  Occasionally, she "sits in" for some anchors and hosts at FoxNews. How do you explain this phenomenon?

Photo: Dr. Monica Crowley, one of America's brightest political analysts and commentators. She is the author of the book "NIXON IN WINTER", an international bestseller. This book is one of the most informative and "intelligent" book even written about President Nixon, his times and own world.

Another brilliant mind is Anne Coulter. She is the author of several authoritative and informative books on politics. Occasionally she appears on national television. So far, Ms. Coulter does not have her own TV show. Brilliant minds are kept in storage. Silly big mouth hash-hash anchors and hosts grab the spotlights. And they are doing fine. They don't need to be intelligently analytical, well-informed, highly educated with a broad vision of world affairs. What they have and need to do is to be either aggressive, talkative, agitators or silly. Silliness is like hot bread. You eat it when it is hot. You eat it when it is cold. It depends on how much and how bad you need that loaf of bread. Almost 87% of the American tube viewers tuned unconsciously to their TV sets. And 82% of American TV watchers flip their remote control every 4 minutes. Since, there is no continuity and logical synthesis in the commentaries of the anchors and show hosts, changing programs and constantly flipping stations would not affect the quality nor the importance of "chronologically following" the news and listening to the commentaries. So, keep on flipping and changing stations. You are not going to miss a thing!

Photo: Jeff Greenfield: means depth and integrity.

Probably, the most interesting and intelligent figures of the American TV cable networks are Judge Andrew Napolitano, Monica Crowley and Jeff Greenfield. Unfortunately, they are rare birds. Their commentaries are well presented, their analyses are well founded and their "persona" enjoys credibility. They never steal the show. Once again, one primordial question arises: "Why Judge Napolitano is kept in the dark?" He just appears on the screen when another talk show host is "required to do so" or badly needs a legal advice. A "Judge Napolitano Show" would and could be a great asset and a great "BOOM" to FoxNews. Helas! Nobody is paying attention. The viewers are glued to their sets. Do not let them think. Bring the popcorn and Kentucky fried chicken boxes, sit and enjoy the show. Don't think. Just eat! TV programs are not meant to be cultural, educational and informative in the United States. Unless, you are watching Public Television, A&E, The Learning Channel, The Discovery Channel and the History Channel. TV programs in America are "entertainment".  For now, we are 50% lucky, as long as the cable networks keep on bringing Bill Schneider, Jeff Greenfield, Catherine Crier, Judge Napolitano, Deborah Norville, Chris Matthews, Gretta Van Susteren and Monica Crowley.

MONICA CROWLEY IS ALWAYS NO.1

In 2003, World Art Celebrities Journal http://www.worldartcelebritiesjournal.com conducted survey on the most popular faces of the American media. Monica Crowley came first. In 2004, The International Herald Daily News http://www.internationalheralddailynews.org  in Paris and London did the same thing. And Crowley scored again. She topped the list. This year INA conducted an international poll on the prettiest and brightest women in the American media. Here are the results: The five brightest women are Monica Crowley, Diane Sawyer, Christianne Amampour, Paula Zhan and Catherine Crier and Nancy Grace,  both in five place. The prettiest are Monica Crowley, Deborah Norville and  Paula Zahn in third place.

Photos from L to R: #1. Monica Crowley. #2. Diane Sawyer. #3. Deborah Norville. Gorgeous women of the American media.

 

 

TV CELEBRITY OF THE WEEK

LAURA SAVINI: DIVA OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes! Public television can make you a "beloved star". Do people watch public television? You bet, if PT stations networks have personalities like Laura Savini and Charlie Rose. We know who Charlie Rose is, but Laura who? Hold your horses. Laura Savini is a knockout, brilliant, sharp, extremely well respected and above all, she is stunning. But who in heavens is Laura Savini? We asked this question to 15 of our reporters and senior writers. Twelve of them knew who she was. We asked 300 of our readers if they knew anything about Savini, heard of her, and if they did, what did they think of her. Great! To our great astonishment and delight, 210 heard of Savini and 179 of them watch her regularly on her public television network. So, public television is well and kicking. Although, many of our readers who are regular viewers of PT admitted that they get extremely annoyed by the monotonous and continuous appeals and begging of public television announcers and hosts for donations and contributions, the majority of those whom we have surveyed, admitted that they love to see the face of Savini on the small screen. To some viewers, Savini is the prettiest face they have seen on public television networks. To others, Savini is sharp, straight to the point, an effective fund raiser and an "Italian Stallion". WOW! So we decided to check her out. Laura Savini is the VP of marketing and communications for WLIW21 New York Public Television. She controls and manages the whole marketing, communications, fundraising, outreach, graphics and instructional television departments of the station. The whole 9 yards, from concept to realization.

 

Laura SaviniPhoto: Laura Savini.

Yes, sir, Savini managed to  raise $6 million for her station. And astonishingly, she does it every year. Watching this woman is a pure delight. No doubt, we watched her last week, and yesterday when she appeared on an Italian food segment of a show. Savini was there helping an Italian chef cooking his Spaghetti A La Carbonara. She was a darling, event though, she missed one or twice, grabbing the spaghetti with her fork. No problem, she got it with her fingers and of course with grace and a big smile. To many, Savini is a celebrity. A hot hot celebrity and  a familiar face, for she  hosts the station's on-air fundraising campaigns and ever week, she  interviews new talents on her program, "Metro Guide." This program is extremely informative and entertaining. A large segment  of "Metro Guide" is ethnic, and that is good for Savi. Because it helped her in creating a super duper, quality ethnic programming, with strong and intelligent  emphasis on Italian-American community and vital topics. After all, Savini is  the past president of the National Organization of Italian American Women, and currently, she serves on the Advisory Board of the Italian American Museum. Fascinating woman, de facto. So we decided to learn more about this most unusual woman. Files and Internet data, as well as literature on Savini provided us with the following: "In March 2002 she hosted the acclaimed national PBS special "The Best of Sarah Brightman: Classics" from Europe with Ms. Brightman. In June 2002 she spent two weeks in Italy co-hosting a new series on wine. That month she also interviewed Irish tenor Ronan Tynan in Dublin for PBS.

 

Photo: Laura Savini with Apostolos Kaklamanis,  President of the Hellenic Parliament.
 

Never one to slow down, in September she was in Guadalajara on a Mariachi project for PBS, then on to San Francisco to interview Tony Bennett under the Golden Gate Bridge. In April 2001 she was one of only seven American women invited to participate in Global Forum: Women and Power, held by the Women's Federation for World Peace, as a guest of Taiwan's Vice President Annette Lu.

Photo: Laura Savini addressing the audience after receiving the Artemis Award at the Benaki Museum.

The goal of the conference was to provide inspiring examples to empower the next generation of women in an on-going effort to promote gender equality that transcends national borders. A cum laude graduate of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Ms. Savini has extensive experience in marketing communications having worked with Manhattan agencies Dan Klores and Associates, Fleishman-Hillard, and Pezzano + Company/Dorf & Stanton. Her client list has included Hershey USA, Lever Brothers, Ralston Purina, Pictionary, The Hit Factory and many others."

Laura Savini  has been honored wad infinitum. To name a few:

  • May 1999 by the National Association of Italian American Women with their Rising Star Award.

  • May 2000 by The Sons of Italy.

  • 2001 Recipient of the ll Leone di San Marco Award from The Italian Heritage and Culture

  • Committee of The Bronx and Westchester.

  • October 2001 as the Grand Marshall of the Westchester County Columbus Day Parade.

  • Grand Marshall in the White Plains Sons of Italy Columbus Day Parade.

  • October 2002 as the Grand Marshall of the Long Island Columbus Day Parade.

  • She was named Women of the Year by the Italian Charities of America, Inc., October 2002.

  • Her hometown of Massapequa has added her to its Hall of Fame in 2002, an honor of which she is very proud.

  • Fieri New York honored Ms. Savini in April 2003.

Ms. Savini has served on the community advisory boards of Telicare, the television station of the diocese of Rockville Centre, and Help for the Poor.

Photo: From left to right, Claudio Angelini, Antonio Bandini, Italy Consul General, Justice of the Supreme Court Dominic Massaro and Laura Savini. From the GEI Gala Dinner to Franco Fattini,  Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Council of the European Union, was the guest of honor September 25, 2003, at the GEI Gala Dinner at The Pierre Hotel in New York. The gathering attracted hundreds of GEI members and their guests who were treated to a sumptuous dinner accompanied by a range of fine Italian wines. The guests were entertained by pianist Cristiana Pegoraro who played a selection of arias from Italian opera

THE MAGIC OF LAURA SAVINI

I watched Laura Savini co-hosting a show/program on Italy, and particularly on Cicily. A fundraising program. She was magnificent. Her radiating smile, eloquence, savoire faire, human warmth, magnetizing charisma and perfect mastery of "suggestion" and mass communication define the magic of this woman. I do not know if she does research a priori the product she is trying to sell us but, one thing is sure: SHE WILL CONVINCE YOU TO DONATE IN A HEART BEAT AND SHE WILL SEDUCE THE HELL OUT OF YOU. She is perfect in what she does. Savini is a diva. A lovely human being sincerely committed to public television programming and the promotion of ethnic culture and heritage. This woman is a national treasure. By Maximillien de Lafayette.

Tyra Banks weighs 350 lbs. - for a day

Photo: Heidi Klum, left, dances with talk show host and model Tyra Banks on a recent show.

LOS ANGELES, California- Tyra Banks has gone undercover as a 350-pound woman. Banks wore the fat suit to experience what it's like to be obese. "It seemed like the last form of open discrimination that's OK, and I decided to put on a 350-pound suit myself and live that life for a day and see what happens," the 31-year-old former supermodel told AP Radio in a recent interview. "And it was one of the most heartbreaking days of my life." Banks said she was shocked at the reaction. "I started walking down the street and within 10 seconds, a trio of people looked at me, snickered, looked me right in my eye and started pointing and laughing in my face," the talk-show host said. "And I had no idea it was that blatant." The segment will air Monday on The Tyra Banks Show. Banks, who had a sonogram on her show in September to prove that her breasts are real, is also planning a Nov. 18 segment on pursuing "a beautiful booty." She will reveal her own "dimpled butt" and receive endermologie treatment on the set.

A check with your coffee

 

Fine tuning: Naked Archeologist, Vegas

The Naked Archeologist. VisionTV

Photo: Lara Flynn Boyle joins the cast of Las Vegas in a show that also features a performance by the Pussycat Dolls on Monday night. (NBC.com)

On a Thanksgiving night when Major League Baseball playoffs continue to throw a curveball into regularly scheduled programs and the pagan U.S. networks are trotting out the usual murder and mayhem -- tonight, on CSI Miami, Horatio solves a prison murder! -- now might be a good time to belly up to The Naked Archeologist, if you haven't done so already. The Naked Archeologist is a Discovery-style weekly program that follows irrepressible Toronto filmmaker and amateur archeologist Simcha Jacobovici on a pilgrimage to the Middle East to expose Biblical history. More Jamie Oliver than Indiana Jones -- hence the "Naked" part -- Jacobovici is larger-than-life, figuratively and literally. He sticks his shaggy head into caves, kicks up dust at archeological digs and gets in the face of innumerable on-site experts in his quest to uncover the truth behind historical myths and legends. He's loud. He's aggressive. He laughs constantly. He's unafraid to ask pointed questions of learned professors, academics and other assorted pointy heads with letters after their names. Some of them appear to be pained by the intrusion, but that doesn't dissuade him: He barrels on, determined to get to the truth. He pretends to be dumb but in truth he's anything but. He says he's an amateur but it's obvious from a single viewing that he could teach the pros a thing or two. His zeal is contagious. A colleague finds him irritating, but I don't agree. The I Am Canadian guy is irritating. Ben Mulroney is irritating. Andrew Younghusband is irritating. The Naked Archeologist is more endearing -- though, personally, I'd prefer it if he kept his clothes on. Which, thankfully, he does, most of the time. In tonight's outing, Fame & Forgery, Jacobovici finds out why the Israel Antiquities Authority limits access to certain artifacts, and uncovers the truth behind one of archeology's most infamous scams: the fabrication of an entire culture, complete with artifacts that made their way into some of the world's most prestigious museums. He's a mythmaker and myth buster all in one, and he's a blast to watch. 

 

Prison Break (repeat; check listings in your area). Global and/or Fox

Prison Break has defied expectations since its debut little more than a month ago. Most new series that start with a bang, fizzle by the second or third episode, but Prison Break, if anything, has ratcheted up the tension even more with each succeeding week. Tonight, in back-to-back repeats from last month -- thanks to baseball playoffs, new episodes won't return until Oct. 24 -- Stacy Keach's prison warden finds himself at the centre of a blackmail scheme and an unanticipated prison riot threatens to derail Michael Scofield's (Wentworth Miller) carefully laid escape plans. The first episode is slowly paced, by Prison Break's standards -- Prison Break has to be the most urgent, cliffhanger-driven rollercoaster ride this side of 24 -- but features much of the irony-laden dialogue the series has become known for, including a scene in which Sarah Wayne Callies's prison doctor tells a death-row inmate (Dominic Purcell), "letting the state know that you're healthy enough to execute is not why I went to medical school." The second episode, directed with pressure-cooker precision by Australian feature-film director Robert Mandel -- he also directed the pilot episode of The X-Files and has several episodes of Lost on his resume -- devolves into a full-blown prison riot, and features much of the same wry humour. In one disarming moment, for example, Michael Scofield's cellmate, "T-Bag," tells him, "Either I'm through that hole with you, or I'm gonna sing like Johnny Cash." Like 24 before it, Prison Break doesn't quite hold up on second viewing. Even a Prison Break repeat is preferable to some of the night's first-run options, though. 

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Into the West. CBC, 8 p.m.

This lumbering, Old West-themed, filmed-in-Alberta miniseries, which re-imagines Wagon Train through the prism of Dances with Wolves, reaches the end of the trail in tonight's two-hour conclusion. The finale culminates in the massacre of Plains Indians at Wounded Knee on New Year's Day, 1891, and the carnage is not easy to watch. The saga ends with the prophet Loved by the Buffalo (Joseph M. Marshall III) returning to the Wheeler homestead, his prophetic vision now complete, where he links arms with Margaret Light Shines (Irene Bedard) and their adoptive family, before riding off into the proverbial sunset. I found Into the West to be obvious and leaden-handed, but there are those who disagree: The average customer review on Amazon.com's DVD site is four of a five possible stars, and the postings feature such positive remarks as, "finally, history as it really happened!" and, "moved me to tears." Myself, I'm more with the reviewer who wrote, "an OK epic," but that's just me. Whether you decide to watch is entirely up to you. 

Las Vegas. CH and NBC, 9 p.m. 

Watching Las Vegas isn't a gamble, really. Unlike the real thing, what you see is what you get. The Pussycat Dolls and professional poker player Annie Duke appear as themselves in tonight's episode, as regulars Danny (Josh Duhamel) and Penny (Rachel Leigh Cook) heat up their romance. Jillian (Cheryl Ladd) sprains her ankle and talks Ed (James Caan) into walking the family dog at a local dog show. Meanwhile, back at the casino, Monica (Lara Flynn Boyle) is trapped in the shower and calls on Mike (James Lesure) to rescue her. No, it's not a comedy. You may laugh, though. Go ahead -- feel free. It's Las Vegas. It's not meant to be taken seriously.

 

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Paris Hilton, Nicole RichieParis Hilton & Nicole Richie Start Up Simple Life

Photo: Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie.

Former best friends Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie begin filming the fourth season of The Simple Life on Tuesday. They don't have a network for their show and they're not speaking to each other, but that's not stopping Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie from filming another season of The Simple Life. The win-win part for the former best friends: Even if no network picks up their show (which is being produced by 20th Century Fox Television), Paris and Nicole are guaranteed money because their options were renewed earlier this year. The hotel heiress is optimistic that viewers will get to see the fourth season: "All of them are fighting over it," she says of the networks "vying" for their show.

“What A Wonderful Place” to be Opening Night film at The 21st Annual Israel Film Festival

DAVID LINDE, JAMES SCHAMUS OF FOCUS FEATURES; AMOS GITAI ADDED AS HONOREES ON OPENING NIGHT DECEMBER 1, 2005

Photo: James Schamus.

California- Focus Features Co-Presidents David Linde and James Schamus and Israeli Filmmaker Amos Gitai will be honored at the Opening Night Gala of the 21st Annual Israel Film Festival, it was announced today by Festival Chairman Meyer Gottlieb, COO of Samuel Goldwyn Films.  The festival’s opening night film is “What A Wonderful Place,” written and directed by Eyal Chalfon.  The movie is Israel’s foreign language film entry for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ Oscars. Manager/Producer/Best-Selling Author Bernie Brillstein will also be honored that evening, with Jerry Weintraub introducing Mr. Brillstein. The festival, the largest showcase of Israeli films in the U.S. and one of the oldest film festivals in California, will run from December 1-15, 2005 with the Opening Night Gala to be held at Grauman's Chinese Theater.  The Opening Night film, “What a Wonderful Place,” directed by Eyal Halfon, centers on an ex-cop and family man whose career was ruined by compulsive gambling.  He is forced to work off his gambling debt providing muscle, aiding illegal immigrants forced into prostitution and collecting money for a heartless, cruel racketeer.  His conscience is reawakened by a desperate Russian woman he befriends.  The film evokes sympathy for foreign workers assimilating into Israeli society.All other films in the Festival will screen at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 (corber of Sunset and Crescent Heights), Laemmle’s Town Center 5 (17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino) and Laemmle Fallbrook 7 in West Hills.  Opening night tickets are $100.  To purchase tickets and for further information on all screenings and events, cal 1-877-966-5566 or go to www.israelfilmfestival.com. A complete list of the over 40 titles to be screened at  including features, documentaries, television dramas and selected student films, will be announced shortly.

Photo: Amos Gitai.

David Linde and James Schamus are Co-Presidents of Focus Features, a motion picture production, financing, and worldwide distribution company committed to bringing moviegoers the most original stories from the world's most innovative filmmakers. The duo formed Focus in May 2002.  Mr. Linde is one of the specialized film world's most experienced executives, with his expertise coming from his informed perspectives on both the domestic and international film businesses as well as his longstanding relationships with a host of filmmakers. Mr. Linde has executive-produced such notable films as Happiness; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Y Tu Mamá También; and several award-winning nonfiction features. An integral contributor to the American independent film business for over a decade, Mr. Schamus has the unique distinction of being an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and producer who is also a film executive. Mr. Schamus has had a long collaboration as writer and producer with Ang Lee on nine feature films, with the director's Brokeback Mountain, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, due for release worldwide through Focus Features this winter. Brokeback Mountain, which Mr. Schamus produced, recently won the Golden Lion Award for Best Picture at the Venice International Film Festival.  Focus' top-grossing film to date is Lost in Translation, which grossed over $100 million worldwide and won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The company's most-honored release to date is The Pianist, which won 3 Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Actor.  Focus' other celebrated releases have included two more Academy Award winners, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Motorcycle Diaries; Far from Heaven; Swimming Pool; and 21 Grams. Current and upcoming Focus Features releases, in addition to Brokeback Mountain, include Fernando Meirelles' The Constant Gardener, starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz; Jim Jarmusch's Broken Flowers (winner of the Grand Prix at the 2005 Cannes International Film Festival), starring Bill Murray; Harold Ramis' The Ice Harvest, starring John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, and Connie Nielsen; and Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley.

 

Amos Gitai is known worldwide as Israel's most acclaimed director. Four of his films have been nominated for major prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, with Kippur winning an honor at the 2000 Festival. He has been nominated six times for awards at the Venice Film Festival, winning the Cinema for Peace Award in 2004 for Promised Land and the UNESCO Award in 2002 for September 11. His latest film, Free Zone, earned the Best Actress Prize for Hana Laszlo at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, as well as a nomination for the Golden Palm. Free Zone, which also stars Natalie Portman, will be released in the United States on December 16, 2005.  "David and James have helped bring to the screen some of the most innovative, powerful and provocative films of the past decade, while Amos is widely hailed as Israel's premier filmmaker. All three men have helped shape the face of modern cinema, and we are proud that they will be part of a festival that helps bring the voice of Israeli film to American audiences" said Gottlieb. Over the past 21 years, the Israel Film Festival has welcomed to the United States hundreds of premieres and helped to bring Israel's finest film talents to American audiences. Prior honorees of the festival include Arnon Milchen, Michael Barker, Tom Bernard, Adam Greenberg, Sidney Lumet, Milos Forman, Larry King, Laura Ziskin, Elie Wiesel, Michael Fuchs, Tom Rothman, Mike Medavoy, Norman Jewison, Gale Anne Hurd and Penny Marshall. Under the skillful supervision of Founder/Director Meir Fenigstein, the Israel Film Festival and its parent company, The IsraFest Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, has showcased more than 550 of the best of Israel's growing film and television industry for the past 21 years. Introducing Israeli life and culture to American audiences through the powerful medium of film and providing a comprehensive intercultural exchange. Through the years, more than 700,000 filmgoers in Los Angeles, New York and Miami have experienced the best of Israeli cinema. All films in the Festival other than the opening night gala film will screen at Laemmle's Sunset 5 and Laemmle's Town Center in Encino. For sponsorship and for further information on all screenings and events, call 1-877-966-5566 or visit www.israelfilmfestival.com <http://www.israelfilmfestival.com/>  Following the Los Angeles festival, the 21st Israel Film Festival continues in New York from February 23-March 9 and in Miami from March 26-29, 2006. 

Jackson witness returns to court

 

Janet Arvizo, whose son's accusations of child abuse against Michael Jackson were rejected by a jury, has appeared in court on welfare fraud charges.. Superior Court Judge David Horwitz insisted she appear in the LA court after she initially sent her lawyer to deal with a case postponement. She is charged of perjury by illegally claiming $18,782 (£10,562) in payments between November 2001 and March 2003. Her lawyer agreed to a postponement to the case until 19 December. Prosecutors say her welfare claims were fraudulent because she allegedly failed to disclose she had received a $150,000 (£84,000) settlement of a legal case against a department store chain. Mrs Arvizo, 37, did not speak during the hearing on Friday and she declined to speak to reporters outside the court. At the trial of US pop singer Jackson, which ended in June, she invoked Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination on the welfare fraud issue and did not testify about it.

Isabelle Huppert takes New York by storm

Isabelle Huppert, courtesy MoMAPhoto: Isabelle Huppert is respected for not shying from challenging roles.

New York- The 52-year-old French film star has just made her New York stage debut in a play written by the late British playwright, Sarah Kane. 4.48 Psychosis is a harrowing meditation on mental illness and suicide - a virtual monologue delivered in French with minimal supertitles. "When desperation visits," the character says, "I shall hang myself to the sound of my lover's breathing." But audiences here in the United States adored her stark rendition. "It's not the Folies-Bergere," Huppert had observed. But perhaps what these theatregoers loved was the sheer proximity to her. New York, it seems, is in the grip of all things Huppert at the moment. As well as her theatrical debut, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is running a major retrospective of her films; she has made more than 70 in three decades. This selection celebrates her work with filmmakers great and good, from Jean Luc Godard to the French master of mystery, Claude Chabrol, as well as the American auteur Otto Preminger. And if that is not enough, this weekend, an exhibition entitled La Femme Aux Portraits will open at MoMA's sister museum, PS 1 Contemporary Arts Center in Queens. It features portraits from legendary photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Helmut Newton and Robert Frank. The images run the gamut from freckled teenager to tragic beauty. But what does all of this adoration mean to Isabelle Huppert? What does it mean to be feted like this, tagged as legendary, an icon? "I think these are just words," she says. "I think it's an exterior perception, but if it becomes your perception of yourself, then you are in bad shape, I would say." Huppert has earned this stateside status through her body of work, not necessarily by showbiz outings on the red carpet. "She is not a star in the traditional western or Hollywood sense of being a celebrity," says Laurence Kardish, the MoMA curator who put together the Huppert retrospective. "She is a star by virtue of her passion. A Hollywood celebrity might choose roles that enhance their image, but Isabelle Huppert chooses roles that make her vulnerable."

 

 

Isabelle by Peter Lindbergh, courtesy MoMAPhoto: Isabelle Huppert has long been revered in her native France.

Tour de force: Huppert has played many women who are seemingly quite placid but who quietly burn with hidden desire. Her latest film, Gabrielle, is another tour de force which just premiered at the New York Film Festival. It is a period drama based on a Joseph Conrad story that explores the collapse of an upper class marriage; the relationship deteriorates rapidly when Gabrielle decides to leave her proud husband. But she returns on the very same day to excavate her loveless marriage. Huppert sees the role as a cousin to Madame Bovary, perhaps the quintessential anti-romantic heroine which she played in 1991. "These women go very far in trying to seek a certain truth about themselves and their desires," she says. More recently, Huppert won the best actress award at Cannes for her role in the disturbing 2001 film, The Piano Teacher, in which she plays a woman with hidden sado-masochistic desires. In each case, it is alarming to see how she transforms silent despair into something so charged and potentially violent.

 

Huppert in Coup de foudre (Entre nous, 1983), courtesy MoMAPhoto: Isabelle Huppert has been making movies for more than 30 years.

"Horrifyingly honest': So what makes her want to act? "I just expect to forget, to have pleasure. It's a very personal and private experience. But I don't think I learn," she says. "I would say on the one hand I know who I am, and on the other hand, whatever I don't know about myself I don't think I will find out from acting." In the United States, Huppert is known primarily for her film work, but her stage debut is a reminder to American audiences that she comes from a background in theatre; she trained at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art in Paris. Her performance in 4.48 Psychosis has revealed yet another side to this actress - and even the tabloids could not resist chipping in. Although some critics here were not thrilled by this chilly French production, most seem to agree that Huppert delivered a pitch perfect performance - "horrifyingly honest" said one. "It's more like breathing for me to act," says Huppert, a few hours before one of the sold-out performances which are part of a season-long Act French Festival. "It's not difficult; it's not a big effort. But it's a big effort for me to pursue what I want to do, so that's the effort. When I act, it's just a relief. It's just a respiration." -Damian Foler

 

HOTEL & SPA SAINT-JAMES & ALBANYbR. Forfait Soirée Spa - France

Cure Incluse,  Ile de France
Paris

L’hôtel possède 195 chambres dont 52 standards, 67 supérieures, 65 junior suites et 11 suites, réparties sur 5 corps de bâtiments, ordonnées autour d’un jardin et de cours intérieures. Les suites, en duplex, peuvent accueillir des réunions en petit comité (jusqu’à 12 participants).Tons ocres et fruités, mobilier merisier de style Louis Philippe accentuent l’atmosphère conviviale, chaleureuse et moderne, qui règne dans l’Hôtel.

Ancienne demeure des Ducs de Noailles, construit en 1672, l’Hôtel bénéficie d’un passé riche en événements. Il a vu célébrer le mariage du Marquis de La Fayette avec la fille du Duc de Noailles le 11 avril 1774, ainsi que sa rencontre avec la Reine Marie Antoinette, le 15 février 1779.

Situé rue de Rivoli, face au jardin des Tuileries, à deux pas des Champs Elysées et de la Concorde. Environné de hauts lieux culturels : Musées du Louvre et d’Orsay, Opéra Garnier, Comédie Française, il se trouve au cœur du quartier de la Mode : voisin de la boutique « Colette » rue Saint Honoré, proche de la Place Vendôme et de la rue de la Paix.

 

ROBERT OSBORNE: MAN OF THE YEAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long time ago, in my first year at the law graduate school, a haunting passion with insatiable appetite devoured my thoughts and feelings. And  because of that haunting passion, quite often, I asked myself if studying law instead of cinema  was  really what I wanted it to do. You guessed it. My "first love" was the silver screen. Not, because I was fascinated by the stars but, because I was taken by the mesmerizing talents of cinematographers, the genius of the directors of photography, the light engineers, the set designers, the visions of films directors, the depth of  challenging and engaging dialogues, and of course, the  musical scores composers. I did not care much for actors and actresses whom I consider -with a very few exception of remarkable human beings like Audrey Hepburn, June Allyson, Edward J. Robinson, Peter Ustinov, Ernest Borgnine, etc.,) to be vain, very show-off, extremely lucky with few merits, pretentious and greedy...Read full article

 

Madonna kicks things off at MTV Europe

 

 

 

 

The Foo Fighters perform during the MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony Thursday, at the Atlantic Pavillion in Lisbon, Portugal.

LISBON, Portugal -- British cartoon band Gorillaz took home the Best Group award at the 12th MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Lisbon, Portugal on Thursday. The band, the brainchild of Blur's front man Damon Albarn, was running up against Coldplay, Green Day, Black Eyed Peas and U2. They were up for four additional awards but won no more. "Best group and we don't even exist," said the band. Earlier the band had staged the world's first 3D hologram performance to their award nominated song Feel Good Inc. British band Coldplay took the award for Best Song. This top accolade was given to the band by singer Alison Goldfrapp. "Thanks, this means a lot to us," said the band's front man Chris Martin.  "In two weeks time we will be back in this building to perform again so we hope to see you then," he said.  U.S. band Green Day collected two awards, one for Best Album for American Idiot and another for Best Rock band. "We've been a band for a while now. Thanks very much," they said. They were up against 50 Cent, Coldplay, Gwen Stefani and U2 for Best Album. Green Day later also received the award for Best Rock from soccer players Luis Figo and Nuno Gomes. "This is for kick-ass rock 'n' roll music forever," they added. The show kicked off with a performance by Madonna, who gave a first-ever live TV rendition of her new single Hung Up, taken from her upcoming album Confessions on a Dancefloor. Madonna would later return to hand the Free Your Mind award to Sir Bob Geldof for work done to fight poverty in Africa through his Live Aid concerts. The 47-year-old songstress showed up on stage clad in a purple bodice, leather jacket, knee high boots and sunglasses, surrounded by a group of dancers. The ceremony was hosted by Borat Sagdyev, a spoof Kazakh television presenter and an alter ego of British comedian Sacha Baron-Cohen. Baron-Cohen, known for his daring and risqué sketches, had already presented the EMAs as his best known character, Ali G, in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2001. Best Female award went to Colombian bombshell Shakira. The singer said she was very surprised to receive the accolade. "I can't believe this," Shakira said. "I didn't expect it so I don't have a speech," she added, thanking fans in perfect Brazilian Portuguese. A black clad Robbie Williams took the award for Best Male shortly after singing his latest single, Tripping. The British singer dedicated the award and the song to his mother. Williams was also nominated for the Best Pop award. The Best New Act accolade went to fellow Briton James Blunt. The singer/songwriter, who did not attend the ceremony, was running against hip hopster Akon, rockers Kaiser Chiefs, Canadian balladeer Daniel Powter and teen hip-hop sensation Rihanna. The Black Eyed Peas took the award for Best Pop. They received the accolade from the hands of British girl band Sugababes. "We'd like to thank all our fans in Europe for all their support," the Black Eyed Peas said. Fellow U.S. Rapper Snoop Dogg then took home the award for Best Hip Hop. Before, U.S. hip hop girl collective Pussycat Dolls had crowds jumping up and down to the sound of their chart topping hit Don'Cha. Additional performers included the Black Eyed Peas who played their most recent hit Humps, System of a Down, Shakira and the U.S. rockers Foo Fighters. The foursome, fronted by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, sang D.O.A from their album In Your Honor. Presenter Borat interrupted their performance to ask the way to the bathroom, sparking laughter from the packed pavilion. Other awards were given to rock band System of a Down for Best Alternative act, to U.S. R&B performer Alicia Keys for Best R&B and Best Video for the British band The Chemical Brothers for Galvanise. The red carpet pre-show kicked off with a performance by R&B singer John Legend who played a medley of his hits Ordinary People and Number One. Legend returned for a rendition of his newest single Cloud Nine. Presenters at the ceremony included actress Brittany Murphy, British girl band Sugababes, British R&B singer Craig David and actor Jared Leto, among others. MTV's annual European awards are held in a different city every. The prizes are voted by fans in Europe. Organizers estimated that 10,000 watched the show on site. Some 1 billion people were watching the televised broadcast. Joannah Mateus

Dynasty actor Lloyd Bochner dies at 81

SANTA MONICA, California- Actor Lloyd Bochner, best known for his roles as Cecil Colby on TV's Dynasty and in the classic To Serve Man episode of The Twilight Zone, has died. He was 81. Bochner died of cancer at his Santa Monica home on Oct. 29, family members said Tuesday. Bochner's career in television and film spanned more than five decades. He was a character actor who "almost always played a suave, handsome, wealthy villain," said his son, Paul Bochner. Lloyd Bochner began his career on the radio in his native Toronto when he was 11. He went on to perform on stage and screen. He started working in New York in 1951and moved to Los Angeles in 1960 to co-star in the television series, Hong Kong. In 1963, Bochner starred as a government cryptographer in The Twilight Zone episode To Serve Man, which TV Guide ranks No. 11 in its 100 Greatest TV Episodes of All Time. He also appeared in such films as The Detective and Tony Rome, both with Frank Sinatra, and The Night Walker with Barbara Stanwyck. Other films included The Man in the Glass Booth, Point Blank and Naked Gun 33 1/3. His television work included appearances in Columbo, Mission: Impossible, McCloud, Wild, Wild West, Battlestar Galactica and Designing Women. In 1998 he co-founded the Committee to End Violence to address the impact of violence in TV and movies on popular culture. Bochner was also active in the Association of Canadian Radio and Television Artists. In addition to his son Paul, of Valley Cottage, N.Y., Bochner is survived by his wife, Ruth Bochner of Santa Monica, son Hart Bochner of Los Angeles and a daughter, Johanna Courtleigh of Portland, Ore. A memorial service was scheduled for Nov. 10 at the Leo Baeck Temple in West Los Angeles.

C4 depicts Blair's lost rock past

Tony Blair's rock star past is to be depicted in a mock documentary as part of Channel 4's winter line-up.

Chris Brassington

Christian Brassington plays the future prime minister.

Tony Blair Rock Star depicts the future PM as a fame-seeking student, played by Christian Brassington, who dreams of making it big in the music world. This winter also sees the return of 80s comedy show, The Comic Strip Presents. Rik Mayall, Peter Richardson and Nigel Planer will be reunited for the one-off programme, which will also feature Doon Mackichan and Robert Bathurst. Other comedy shows airing this winter include The IT Crowd, a new sitcom from Father Ted's Graham Linehan, and the second series of Green Wing. Hit US drama Desperate Housewives will also return for a second series. Other returning programmes include topical quiz show Eight Out of Ten Cats and reality show Rock School, while Shameless begins its third series with a feature-length special. Among the station's drama offerings this winter will be Karim's Story, which examines the Bradford riots of 2001 from the perspective of a group of young Asian men. US imports include My Name is Earl, a sitcom starring Jason Lee as a petty crook who wins the lottery, and Invasion, about a family that finds itself at the heart of an alien takeover. In The Root of All Evil, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins will accuse the religious establishment of preying on people's desire to believe in a greater being. Gay Muslims, meanwhile, explores the prejudice homosexual Muslims face in their own communities. The channel will also present a series of programmes about the ageing population. And it announced that All in the Game, a drama about corruption in Premiership football starring Ray Winstone, will begin filming in January 2006.

Madonna to headline MTV ceremony

Pop star Madonna is to headline the MTV Europe Music Awards in Portugal on Thursday night.

Madonna

Photo: Abba's Gimme Gimme Gimme is sampled on Madonna's Hung Up

The 47-year-old singer will perform Hung Up, from her disco-inspired album Confessions on a Dancefloor. "It is so hot for us to have Madonna," said Brent Hansen of MTV Networks, adding that a performance by Gorillaz was another highlight of the show. Gorillaz and Coldplay are leading the nominees with places in five categories each, including best group.

Gwen Stefani at MTV Europe Music Awards 2004

Photo: Gwen Stefani is the leading US nominee

Rock acts: Singer-songwriter James Blunt has three nominations, as do Irish rock veterans U2. Robbie Williams, who recently released his album Intensive Care, will also perform at the ceremony in Lisbon, along with Coldplay, hip-hop stars the Black Eyed Peas and punk-pop icons Green Day. Gorillaz - the cartoon band created by Blur's Damon Albarn - will use hologram-style technology to beam three-dimensional performing cartoon characters on stage. Mr Hansen added: "We have a very strong line-up this year and we've been able to bring in a much wider variety of rock acts than we've been able to do in the recent past. "The market has been dominated by R'n'B and hip hop in the last few years. "For us, this show states each year our belief in live performance and our ability to do something different from other people." Gwen Stefani has four nominations for best female, best pop act, best album for Love, Angel, Music, Baby, and best video for What You Waiting For? As well as best group, Coldplay are in the running for the for best rock act, best song for Speed Of Sound, best album for X&Y, and best UK and Ireland act.

Gorillaz add best song, best video for Feel Good Inc, best pop act, and best UK and Ireland act to their nod for best group. U2 are also up for best group, best rock act, and best album for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Hip-hop artist 50 Cent has nominations for best male, best hip-hop act and best album for The Massacre and US rockers Green Day earned nominations in the best group, best rock and best album for their chart-topping latest album American Idiot. For the first time, the awards will include a category for best African act, with 2 Face, Kaysha, Kleptomaniax, 02 and Zamajobe in the running. The ceremony, to be held at the Portuguese capital's Atlantic Pavilion, will be hosted by Ali G creator Sacha Baron Cohen playing his Kazakhstani alter ego Borat Sagdiyev.

 

1000 female nominees

A group of a thousand women have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Many of them are women from across the globe who've been working in their communities - sometimes at great personal risk. Just twelve women have won the coveted prize - the first a century ago in 1905. The last two winners were women ... so what are the chances of a hat trick?

Goldie HawnImage: Goldie Hawn


 

 

 

Photo: Goldie Hawn.

Goldie Hawn won an Oscar at the young age of 23 and has made a career of the role of ditzy blonde.  Now nearing 60, she has published her memoirs exploring the experiences, good and bad, that have shaped her.   She is now writing a book, a sort of memoirs  about the anger, abuse and desperation of her early years and how they led her to joy and spiritual faith. Another expected book to make a big buzz is the new memoirs of Lauren Bacall.  This magnificent actress and stage diva defined a new kind of sex appeal with her angular looks, vulnerability and wisecracks. At twenty they married and she became half of one of the world's most celebrated couples. At twenty-four she was a mother, at twenty-five an actress on the wane and at thirty-two she was a widow.  Sixty years later she's still making films, and headlines.

Lauren Bacall

 

 

 

Photo: Lauren Bacall.

In her new book, Bacall  tells us a lot about stardom then and now, and her life with and without Bogie. Lauren Bacall was catapulted into stardom in 1944 starring opposite Humphrey Bogart in To Have and Have Not.

 

Nude Janet video circulates on the 'net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Janet Jackson.

NEW YORK-Janet Jackson has been exposed -- and this time, Justin Timberlake is nowhere to be seen. A video clip showing Jackson sunbathing naked has been circulating on the Internet and was still playing on some websites Thursday. The 40-second paparazzi video was shot from bushes near the singer's home. Jackson's publicist didn't immediately return a call from The Associated Press on Thursday for comment. Her lawyers were reportedly attempting to have the video taken off the web. On one site, a freeze-frame was still up Thursday, but the video link had been taken down -- replaced with the message "removed because lawsuits aren't really my thing." The exact source of the video and when it was shot was unclear. Photos taken at the same time popped up online last year. Jackson found herself in the middle of controversy last year when Timberlake revealed her right breast -- the now infamous "wardrobe malfunction" -- at the end of their set during the halftime show of the Super Bowl. Last week, her former brother-in-law, Young DeBarge, accused her of having a "secret" child -- a daughter, Renee, now 18 -- with ex-husband James DeBarge. The 39-year-old singer issued a statement Wednesday saying: "I do not have a child and all allegations saying so are false." Jackson's brother Tito defended her in an interview that was to air Thursday night on syndicated TV entertainment show Extra. "I do not have a nephew or niece or whatever it is that's being said right now," he said. "I'm pretty sure it bothered her a little bit, but she's going to go on and be strong like Janet always is.... She'll be OK."

 

Uma Thurman on being suddenly single.

The script for Prime proved irresistible and she got to play opposite Meryl Streep

Uma Thurman sweeps into the room making sounds like a duck. Then after she's done with the quacks, she makes like the Roadrunner with a series of beeps. "I'll just do this intermittently whenever we lose energy," she tells reporters impishly as she settles her lanky figure behind a table. Actually, she's delivering more than enough energy on her own. She's also communicating her intelligence and wit. After all, this is a star who can be funny about her size 11 footwear and once famously described herself this way: "Tall, sandy blond, with sort of blue eyes, skinny in places, fat in others. An average gal." Furthermore, once she dispenses with the quackery, she's also providing a lot of honesty this morning -- considering that the new romantic comedy she's here to talk about offers some real-life parallels. In Prime, which opens Oct. 28, the 35-year-old Thurman plays a 37-year-old photography producer who's desperately trying to pick up the pieces after a divorce. This leads her into a relationship with a 23-year-old artist (Bryan Greenberg) who unfortunately happens to be the son of Thurman's therapist (Meryl Streep.) Thurman isn't involved in a May-December romance herself, but she can certainly identify with a character who suddenly finds herself single -- given that her six-year marriage to actor Ethan Hawke had a messy and highly public ending last year. "I understand obviously -- my life being the road-kill public knowledge that it is," she grins. "You know -- barely scraping bodies off the sidewalk. "I understood exactly what this character was going through. I know what it's like to wake up a decade later and be single again and alone again and thinking that you had a plan and the plan gets derailed. A lot of people in America know what that feels like, too. "I thought this was a really unsarcastic, uncynical, pretty sensitive rendering of a strong, decent but vulnerable human being in that position, and I liked it a lot." She wasn't the producers' first choice. Sandra Bullock was set to do it and then changed her mind. When the filmmakers discovered that Thurman was available, they turned to her and sent her writer-director Ben Younger's screenplay.  She was hesitant. "I got the call and I said: 'What's wrong with this piece of material? Sandy's a smart girl.' So I skeptically picked it up ... and I read it and I was surprised. I was moved by it. It wasn't a typical American romantic comedy -- not that I don't like those: I actually do -- but it was totally much more sensitive and subtle and rich and lifelike. It was kind of like just what the doctor ordered. When I finished the script, I thought: okay, this is a total yes for me." A further enticement was Meryl Streep "who is my hero of all time." Prime is arriving only weeks after Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher set a real-life example by getting married and making it onto the front cover of People magazine. Thurman knows that a good section of society is still uncomfortable about such pairings; in fact she pleads guilty herself. "When I was younger, I thought it was grotesquely comic for all these older guys to hit on me." she admits. Then after the laughter subsides, she adds: "I know! WHAT was I thinking?" But then Thurman turns more serious, suggesting that most humans must "battle our larger selves and our smaller selves -- as individuals and as a culture" and must learn not to be judgmental.- Jamie Porman.

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GLORIA LORING: HER LIFE, BOOKS, MUSIC AND STARDOM.

READ THE ARTICLE AND EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

She did it all with class, beauty, intelligence, style, talent, unique creativity, guts  and warmth. And she excelled in everything she accomplished. Grande Dame Loring is a published author, a national speaker, a world-class actress, an international celebrity, a star of the American cinema and television, a leading figure of the American theater and concert halls, a singer, a composer, a lyricist, a songwriter, a producer,  a certified yoga teacher, a member of Who's Who in America and The World Who's Who of Women and a  humanitarian.  This woman is almost 99.99% perfect. This is the kind of people who create and shape the greatness of a nation. This is the vintage of noble souls, warm hearts  and bright minds who  make the sun rise and  shine over the hills, the prairies and the faces of people we love...And this is the kind of human beings who  at every dawn, make the wild roses bloom in the valley and on the landscape of the human psyche.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RALPH LAUREN