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Entertainment Industry News - AP

Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian is shown leaving the Royal Federal Building in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008, after testifying in the Anthony Pellicano trial. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Man removed from Hollywood wiretap jury

Thu Aug 28, 4:13 PM ET

LOS ANGELES - A juror was removed Thursday in the federal wiretapping trial of Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano and a high-profile attorney, forcing deliberations to restart a day after the panel got the case.

  • Actors, advertisers extend commercials contract Wed Aug 27, 7:38 PM ET

    LOS ANGELES - Two actors unions and the U.S. advertising industry said Monday they agreed to extend a contract covering commercials on TV, radio, the Internet and other new media by six months through March.

  • `The Closer' is No. 1 on cable for Aug 18-24 Wed Aug 27, 2:25 PM ET

    Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Aug 18-24. Day and start time (EDT) are in parentheses:

  • List of top 20 prime-time shows in Nielsen ratings Tue Aug 26, 7:07 PM ET

    Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen Media Research for Aug. 18-24. Listings include the week's ranking, with viewership for the week and season-to-date rankings in parentheses. An "X" in parentheses denotes a one-time-only presentation.

  • NBC's Olympics coverage logs one final ratings win Tue Aug 26, 7:06 PM ET

    NEW YORK - It was seven more golden days for NBC last week, radiant with Olympics coverage that brought the sort of ratings victory a network dreams of.

  • US director-actor Ben Stiller at the premiere of his movie "Tropic Thunder." "Tropic Thunder" topped the North American box office for the second weekend in a row, industry figures showed Monday.(AFP/Getty Images/File)
    'Thunder' pulls in $16.3M, holds off 'House Bunny' Mon Aug 25, 5:25 PM ET

    LOS ANGELES - The action comedy "Tropic Thunder" clung to the top spot again at the weekend box office with $16.3 million, while the campus romp "The House Bunny" debuted in second place with $14.5 million.

  • NBC giddy at conclusion of successful Olympics Sun Aug 24, 8:18 PM ET

    NEW YORK - NBC says the Beijing Olympics proved so captivating that millions of Americans now need to catch up on some sleep.

  • Members of the rock-band The Doors Ray Manzarek, left, and Robby Krieger pose for photographers during a press conference in Mexico City, in this Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007 file photo. The end is near for a bitter legal dispute between the three surviving members of The Doors now that the California Supreme Court has refused to take up their case on Aug. 13, 2008. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger are on the hook for more than $5 million after they were found by lower courts to have improperly invoked The Doors' name and images during a 2003 concert tour. After the high court declined to hear their appeal they'll have to pay up to drummer John Densmore, the parents of the deceased lead singer Jim Morrison and the parents of Morrison's deceased wife, Pamela Courson, who died in 1974. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, FILE)
    Legal dispute among The Doors nears end Fri Aug 22, 5:52 AM ET

    SAN FRANCISCO - The end is near for a bitter legal dispute between the three surviving members of The Doors now that the California Supreme Court has refused to take up their case.

  • Billionaire investor Warren Buffett speaks during a news conference ahead of the screening of a movie called 'I.O.U.S.A.,' in Omaha, Neb., Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008. The documentary movie about debt focuses on the looming federal and personal debt crises facing the United States. Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway investment company, Peter Peterson, chairman of the Blackstone Group, and Dave Walker, former U.S. comptroller general will participate in a panel following the screening. The film film will be shown in about 350 theaters nationwide.(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
    Billionaires say US debts need attention Thu Aug 21, 11:22 PM ET

    OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two billionaires used the screening of a documentary in theaters across the United States on Thursday to urge the country to come to grips with its staggering debt load.

  • In this May 27, 2008 file photo, Jerry Seinfeld attends the premiere of 'Sex and the City' at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, that Seinfeld will be a key pitchman in a planned $300 million fall ad campaign for the software giant. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
    Seinfeld to be pitchman for Microsoft Thu Aug 21, 5:01 PM ET

    NEW YORK - Junior Mints, Yoo-hoo, Drake's Coffee Cakes, puffy shirts: These are all things Jerry Seinfeld has endorsed — at least in his alter ego on his classic sitcom. Now, add Microsoft software.

  • In this June 7, 2006 file photo, a model plays tennis with Nintendo Co.'s new family video-game console Wii by swinging its controller as a tennis racket during a press conference in Tokyo. Nintendo's hit Wii console with its wandlike remote controller has been targeted in patent infringement complaints by a U.S. technology company. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)
    US company sues Nintendo in Wii wand patent suit Thu Aug 21, 2:52 AM ET

    TOKYO - Nintendo's hit Wii console with its wandlike remote controller has been targeted in patent infringement complaints by a U.S. technology company.

  • In this file photograph released by MGA Entertainment Feb. 10, 2006, are 'Feelin' Pretty' Bratz dolls to be shown at the American International Toy Fair in New York. Grown men argued over dolls for six hours Wednesday Aug. 20, 2008 as they wrapped up a federal trial pitting the maker of the pouty-lipped Bratz dolls against the house of Barbie — a lawsuit that could cost upstart MGA Entertainment Inc. up to $2 billion. (AP Photo/MGA Entertainment, FILE)
    House of Barbie seeks nearly $2B in Bratz fight Thu Aug 21, 1:52 AM ET

    RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Grown men argued over dolls for six hours as they wrapped up a federal trial pitting the maker of the pouty-lipped Bratz dolls against the house of Barbie — a lawsuit that could cost upstart MGA Entertainment Inc. up to $2 billion.

  • In this July 5, 2007 file photo, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, speaks at a forum on renewing American manufacturing in Cleveland. Tubbs Jones, 58, suffered a brain hemorrhage and was in critical condition with limited brain function, a doctor said Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)
    Media incorrectly reported congresswoman's death Wed Aug 20, 11:33 PM ET

    Several major news organizations, including The Associated Press, prematurely reported the death Wednesday of U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio, who had suffered a brain hemorrhage while driving in suburban Cleveland.

  • In this Aug. 11, 2008 file photo, The Jonas Brothers, from left, Nick, Joe and Kevin pose backstage after co-hosting MTV's 'Total Request Live' in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
    Jonas Brothers notch third-biggest debut of 2008 Wed Aug 20, 5:05 PM ET

    NEW YORK - Not only have the Jonas Brothers notched the year's third-biggest debut album, they've managed the rare feat of having two albums in the top 10 at the same time.

  • Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. speaks at a town hall meeting, Monday, Aug. 18, 2008, at Rio Grande High School in Albuquerque, N.M. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
    Obama book falls victim to booksellers' rivalry Tue Aug 19, 1:35 AM ET

    NEW YORK - A new book about Sen. Barack Obama has intensified a rivalry between two powerful competitors: Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Amazon.com.

  • United States' Michael Phelps celebrates winning the gold in the men's 100-meter butterfly final during the swimming competitions in the National Aquatics Center at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
    NBC's likely hit its peak with Phelps leaving Sat Aug 16, 6:55 PM ET

    NEW YORK - Can't Michael Phelps stay? Please?

  • In this Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007 picture, members of the group 30 Seconds to Mars pose as they arrive for a party during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. From left are Matt Wachter, Tomo Milicevic, Shannon Leto, and Jared Leto. On Friday, Aug. 15, 2008, Virgin Records sued the group for $30 million, saying they have failed to deliver three albums. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
    Virgin Records sues Jared Leto's band for $30M Fri Aug 15, 9:09 PM ET

    LOS ANGELES - Hardcore fans of 30 Seconds to Mars aren't the only ones who want more of the band's music. Virgin Records has sued the group for $30 million, saying it has failed to deliver.

  • Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo out at WFAN Fri Aug 15, 4:24 AM ET

    NEW YORK - Chris Russo has left WFAN-AM, breaking up the sports talk giant's "Mike and the Mad Dog" show two weeks short of its 19th anniversary.

  • Protesters dressed as Tinker Bell and Minnie Mouse wait to be taken away after being arrested by police officers during a demonstration against Disney's treatment of hotel workers outside of Disney Land in Anaheim, Calif., on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Carlos Delgado)
    32 picketers arrested outside Disneyland Fri Aug 15, 12:57 AM ET

    ANAHEIM, Calif. - Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbell and other fictional fixtures of modern-day childhood were handcuffed, frisked and loaded into police vans Thursday at the culmination of a labor protest that brought a touch of reality to the Happiest Place on Earth.

  • In this Feb. 19, 2008 file photo, producer Paula Wagner arrives at the 10th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. Tom Cruise's producing partner Paula Wagner said Wednesday Aug. 13, 2008, she will leave her job as chief executive of United Artists to produce projects independently. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, file)
    Paula Wagner leaving UA as chief executive Wed Aug 13, 11:37 PM ET

    LOS ANGELES - Tom Cruise's producing partner Paula Wagner said Wednesday she will leave her job as chief executive of United Artists to produce projects independently.