Broadcast TV rights for Oscar-nominated “Precious” have been acquired by the gestating Oprah Winfrey Network from Lionsgate, for air after the pay television window expires in summer 2012.
“‘Precious’ is the perfect film for OWN,” said Christina Norman, CEO of the cabler, which is scheduled to launch in 2011. “It’s a powerful film of self-discovery and empowerment, and I know it will resonate deeply with our audience.” Read more »
(CNN) — Retired basketball icon Michael Jordan bought a majority share of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, officials said Saturday.
Jordan, who was already a minority owner of the team, headed a group that bought a majority share of the team from businessman Robert Johnson, Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson said he has signed a “definitive agreement” to sell majority interest of Bobcats Sports and Entertainment to Michael Jordan and MJ Basketball Holdings, LLC. The deal is subject to NBA approval. Details on the purchase price were not available.
Jordan has overseen the team’s basketball operations in recent years. He won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls.
Johnson, who founded BET and sold it to Viacom for $3 billion in 2001, announced that he had been looking for someone to buy earlier this year.
His fortune was depleted by an expensive divorce, but in a 2009 interview with CNN, Johnson estimated his net worth was still $1.1 billion.
Johnson’s resume is full of firsts: BET was the first African-American owned company traded on the NYSE. He was the first African-American billionaire in the United States. And, in 2002, he became the first African-American majority owner of a professional sports franchise.
Source: CNN
Las Vegas star, Airamis, and west coast legend, Knoc-turn’al, hooked up and delivered a scorching new urban banger titled “I’m on the Hunt.” While in Brickhouse studios in Las Vegas, engineered by the great Tony Mack, the two instantly connected when this instrumental came on and created an ode to all the sexy females in the club.
TMZ has just obtained a copy of the full L.A. County Coroner’s report in the death of Michael Jackson — which until now was under seal. The conclusion is clear … Propofol killed the singer.
According to the report, the manner of death is homicide and the conclusion is based on the following 4 items:
1. Circumstances indicate the Propofol and the benzodiazepines were administered by another.
2. Propofol was administered in a non-hospital setting without any appropriate medical indication.
3. The standard of care for administering Propofol was not met. Recommended equipment for patient monitoring, precision dosing and resuscitation was not present.
4. The circumstances do not support self-administration of Propofol.
The Coroner’s report was under wraps until the criminal complaint was filed and it will be a centerpiece in the prosecution of Dr. Conrad Murray on charges of involuntary manslaughter.
UPDATE: In the Coroner’s report, the scene at Jackson’s house is described in detail, and the bedroom sounds like a hospital. There was a chair next to the bed — “reportedly the decedent’s doctor sat here.” Also there — a green oxygen tank, prescription meds, medical supplies, a box of catheters, disposable needles and alcohol pads. Also found — near the foot of the bed … a closed bottle of urine.
As we first reported, authorities found 11 bottles of Propofol in the house — 3 100 ml vials and 8 20 ml vials.
Also, there was talk about Jackson’s hair and reports he was bald. In fact, the Coroner’s report says, “The decedent’s head hair is sparse and is connected to a wig.”
UPDATE: As for what drugs were found in Michael Jackson’s house … authorities found Diazepam (for anxiety) prescribed by Dr. Murray, Lorazepam (for anxiety) prescribed by Dr. Murray and Temazepam (for insomnia) prescribed by Dr. Murray. Authorities also found Clonazepam (for panic disorders) prescribed by Dr. Allan Metzger, Trazodone (an anti-depressant) prescribed by Dr. Metzger. And they found Tizanidine (a muscle relaxer) prescribed to Omar Arnold (a Jackson alias) prescribed by Dr. Arnold Klein. There was also an empty vial of Propofol injectable emulsion and an empty glass vial of a Flumazenil injection (which reverses effects of sedation) and a broken syringe.
As we first reported, authorities found 11 vials of Propofol … 3 100 ml vials and 8 20 ml vials. None of the bottles had prescription directions, patient or doctor names.
They also found liquid Midazolam (anti-anxiety), Lorazepam liquid (injectable) and 14 capsules of ephedrine (for narcolepsy and depression), caffeine aspirin, Zanaflex (a muscle relaxer) and Prednisone (for skin conditions). There was also Azithromycin (an antibiotic), prescribed by Dwight James/Cherilyn Lee and the patient name was Kathlyn Hursey.
UPDATE: An anesthesiologist who consulted with the Coroner said there are “NO reports of its use (Propofol) for insomnia relief, to my knowledge. The only reports of its use in homes are cases of fatal abuse.”
SOURCE: TMZ
MIAMI – The New Orleans Saints turned the Super Bowl’s postgame celebration into something out of the French Quarter.
From the trophy podium on the field, Drew Brees blew kisses and caught confetti raining down as Dr. John and Professor Longhair blared from the stadium speakers. Sean Payton hung over the railing clapping and shouting down to the crowd as if he were rolling on a Mardi Gras float, then waved a newspaper with the banner headline “WORLD CHAMPS.”
Who are the champions? The New Orleans Saints, dat’s who. Read more »
(CNN) — For 16 years, Loretta Zilinger loathed Dean Cage for what she believed he did to her when she was 15 years old.
Dressed in her immaculate Catholic school uniform, she was on her way to class in October 1994. She heard footsteps coming up behind her. By then, it was too late.
Grammy award winning US singer Taylor Swift thrilled 13,000 predominantly female fans during the Sydney leg of her Fearless tour at the Acer Arena on Saturday night.
The 20-year-old faced criticism after her performance at the recent Grammys ceremony in Los Angeles, which was panned by critics and described by one as “caterwauling”.
But it appeared that all was forgiven as the enthusiastic Sydney crowd screamed, applauded and sang along with their idol to her pop-infused country hits like You Belong With Me, Fifteen and Love Story.
The Nashville-based country sweetheart, who claimed four Read more »
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Los Angeles prosecutors on Monday plan to file a criminal case in the death of Michael Jackson that is expected to include a charge of involuntary manslaughter against the singer’s doctor.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office said on Friday details of its case would be released on Monday, and gave no further details.
But sources close to the case said Dr. Conrad Murray, Read more »
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Robin Williams has fired blanks in his lawsuit against an independent producer over an alleged $6 million (3.8 million pound) deal to star in “Cop Out” (formerly titled “A Couple of Dicks”).
Williams’ loan-out company Fiat Risus sued Gold Circle Films in October 2008 in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming the actor was hired to star in the action-comedy before Gold Circle put the movie on ice. Williams said he had a “pay-or-play” deal, meaning he would be paid even if the movie did not get made.
Warner Bros. made the film with Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan and will release it February 26. Read more »
James Cameron’s Avatar has sailed past his blockbuster Titanic to become number one on the all-time US domestic box-office chart.
Avatar climbed to $US601.1 million ($A678.29 million) domestically on Tuesday, putting it a fraction ahead of the $US600.8 million ($A677.95 million) haul for Titanic.
With more than $2 billion worldwide, Cameron’s sci-fi sensation shattered the global box-office record of $US1.84 billion ($A2.08 billion) held by Titanic last week.
Avatar still has plenty of box-office life left. It passed $US600 million ($A677.05 million) domestically on its 47th day of release.
Back in 1998, Titanic was at barely half that amount – $US311 million ($A350.94 million) – after its 47th day in theatres.
Factoring in today’s higher admission prices, Titanic still has sold more tickets than Avatar.
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Time Warner Inc reported stronger quarterly profit and slightly higher revenue courtesy of hit movies like “Sherlock Holmes” and “The Hangover,” and it became the second major media company in as many days to raise its dividend.
Time Warner, slimmed down since spinning off both Time Warner Cable and AOL last year, posted fourth-quarter net income of $627 million, or 53 cents a share, reversing a year-earlier net loss of $16 billion, or $13.41 a share, that included a host of impairment charges. Read more »
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Orlando Bloom will play the lead in “The Good Doctor,” an indie drama for which Michael Pena, Troy Garity, Courtney Ford, Taraji P. Henson, Rob Morrow and J.K. Simmons are in negotiations to co-star.
Bloom also is one of the producers of the Lance Daly-directed picture. The script by John Enbom (“Veronica Mars”), described as a Hitchcockian thriller, centres on a frustrated doctor trying to impress his superiors and colleagues. When an 18-year-old patient, admitted for a kidney infection, provides him with the esteem he so craves, the doctor tampers with her treatment to keep her at the hospital with him. Read more »
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