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Director GEORGE LUCAS yesterday (04OCT06) announced a cartoon STAR WARS television series called CLONE WARS is likely to screen next year (07) although the movie actors will not voice their animated counterparts.
Lucas confirmed the show will follow on from the events in the Emmy-winning Clone Wars that aired between 2003 and 2005.
However, the new series will have 3-D computer graphics and will see the Republic fighting a civil war against separatists led by COUNT DOOKU.
Lucas said, "It’s a fun place to go. It basically has all the main characters."

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Film-makers working on upcoming sequel LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD have angered aviation officials in Los Angeles by proposing to shut down sections of the 105 Freeway and Imperial Highway around the city’s airport this autumn (06).
Bosses at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) fear the closures for the BRUCE WILLIS movie would severely disrupt traffic, and therefore air passengers’ journeys to the airport - as well as costing cargo carriers thousands of dollars.
Studio 20th Century Fox has asked Film LA for permission to shut down the roads on various days later this month (OCT06) and next month (NOV06).
SAMSON MENGISTU - in charge of the city agency that runs the LAX area - wrote to the president of Film LA, STEVE MacDONALD, on 2 October.
In an extract printed in today’s (05OCT06) Los Angeles Times, Mengistu wrote, "The studio’s proposal to close both directions of Imperial Highway from Nash Street to Aviation Boulevard would have significant impacts on LAX passengers, workers and air cargo businesses operating on the airport adjacent to Imperial Highway." 20th Century Fox claims it will do everything to minimise disruption.

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ALEC BALDWIN is in great shape thanks to his brother BILLY’s advice that he take up yoga.
The star decided to give yoga a try after learning that everyone around him was already doing it.
He explains, "All my friends are yoga people, my brother Billy was heavy into yoga - it helped him.
"So I took yoga this summer. I took what I call "middle-aged-white-guy yoga." They have some Indian name for that, I don’t know what it is.
"I find that yoga instructors have become the new nanny’s - the woman you leave your wife for - your yoga instructor.
"I’ll see a friend of mine who’s taking yoga and I’ll say, ‘How’s yoga going?’ "And he’ll say, ‘Oh, it’s great and you should see the a** on this woman I’m taking yoga from.’ It’s really what it’s all about!"

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NICOLE RICHIE and BRODY JENNER have ended their three month relationship, according to Richie’s spokesperson - and the TV star insists they were "never really together".
The couple have known each other since they were toddlers, but only started dating in August (06).
Richie’s representative confirmed the split to American publication People, saying, "Nicole and Brody are no longer dating, but remain friends." The pair began seeing each other just weeks after Jenner, 23, ended his 18 month relationship with LAGUNA BEACH star KRISTIN CAVALLARI and months after RICHIE, 25, broke up with ADAM ‘DJ AM’ GOLDSTEIN. A source close to Richie claims Jenner’s interest in being in the spotlight was an issue, saying, "Brody likes to go out and doesn’t mind being photographed, but Nicole prefers to stay out of the press." On Wednesday (04OCT06), Richie posted a message on her MySpace.com website saying, "I know there are rumours regarding my ‘break-up’ with Brody Jenner. "The truth is, we were never really together. We hung out, and he’s a nice guy, but my heart was never in it. Anything further is just a cry for publicity."

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LATEST: Reality star ANNA NICOLE SMITH decided to hold a "commitment ceremony" with lawyer and confidant HOWARD K STERN in order to bring a bit of happiness into her life after being devastated by the death of her son.
Smith and Stern exchanged vows 28 September (06) on a boat off the coast of the Bahamas’ Paradise Island, just weeks after Smith’s 20-year-old son DANIEL died in her hospital room.
Stern announced that he was the father of Smith’s new baby daughter on LARRY KING LIVE on 26 September (06), despite claims by Los Angeles photographer LARRY BIRKHEAD that he is the father.
The couple, along with Smith’s three-week-old daughter, slipped aboard the catamaran Margaritaville where they were joined by a Baptist minister and close friends.
At around 3pm, Stern, dressed in a black dress suit and white shirt, and Smith, holding a bouquet of red roses, exchanged vows and Bible verses - as well as temporary rings, because the real rings weren’t ready in time for the ceremony.
According to Smith’s Nassau attorney MICHAEL SCOTT, "They needed a little adrenaline boost because things have been so hectic and devastating in their life recently. "This was the first time I had seen Anna come out of her grief for a moment." Guests toasted the couple with champagne and apple cider, before indulging in Kentucky Fried Chicken, which was delivered by boat to the wedding party.
According to DYNASTY star JOHN JAMES, who was a guest at the ceremony, "It was fun and Anna was smiling. Howard and Anna were both crying and kissing and holding hands.
"It was kind of sad and happy at the same time."

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Oscar-winner HALLE BERRY has signed on to star in CLASS ACT - the true-life tale of a teacher from Nevada who ran for Congress after being challenged by her pupils.
The MONSTER’S BALL star will play TIERNEY CAHILL, a teacher from Reno, Nevada, who agreed to run on the condition her students would help her run her campaign.
Filmmakers made the unusual move of casting Berry in the part of Cahill, who is a white woman.
A source close to the film said when actresses where being considered, they felt it was important to find the right actress to play the role, rather than the right white actress.
Filming is expected to start next summer (07).

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Rocker LITTLE RICHARD endured so much pain in his leg during the shooting of US TV show CELEBRITY DUETS he sometimes had to be carried to his seat.
The 73-year-old was one of three judges on the show - which was won by THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR star ALFONSO RIBIERO last Friday (29SEP06) - has a jewel-encrusted cane to help him move around.
His spokeswoman GLORIA BOYCE says, "Over the years he has developed trouble with his legs - one of them actually has pins in it.
"Now it’s the other one that creates a lot of pain. The problem is the sciatic nerve. Within the next couple of months, Richard is scheduled to have laser surgery on that leg. Hopefully, after the procedure he will be pain free." A source tells US publication National Enquirer, "His nerve endings are so inflamed, he cries out in pain. Richard is constantly battling pain, but he won’t let it beat him.
"He shot Celebrity Duets in the afternoon, then he went straight home to bed.
But he’s back there the next day to shoot another show."

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OASIS rocker NOEL GALLAGHER will play a one-off acoustic fundraising concert for British charity Mencap in November (06).
The WONDERWALL star joins a host of bands performing at London’s Union Chapel next month. Gallagher plays on 26 November.
Other acts playing the so-called Little Noise Sessions raising money for the learning disability charity include THE KOOKS and LILY ALLEN.

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Stage veterans BEN VEREEN, BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL, FELICIA P FIELDS and PETER GALLAGHER will team up with country stars JOE NICHOLS, PHIL VASSAR and NASHVILLE STAR’s CHRIS YOUNG for the second annual Broadway Meets Country benefit.
The concert will be held 30 October (06) in Nashville, Tennessee.
The benefit, co-hosted by JANE KRAKOWSKI and BARBARA MANDRELL, raises funds for the Actors’ Fund of America and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

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Pop superstar MICHAEL JACKSON has dismissed reports his parents JOE and KATHERINE JACKSON could be evicted from their Los Angeles home.
Sources claim the Jackson parents are facing foreclosure on their home in Encino, California, and that they’ve asked their son RANDY to appeal to Michael for financial help.
But Randy reportedly now wants the $3 million (£1.67 million) he lent Michael during his child molestation trial last year (05), from which he was acquitted.
An insider tells US publication National Enquirer, "Randy claims that he was the only one who kept Michael afloat, by handling his finances as Michael was desperately fighting to keep himself out of jail on child abuse charges." But Michael’s publicist RAYMONE BAIN has rubbished the eviction stories as "absolutely untrue" and that he isn’t "aware" of any claim by Randy against Michael.

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Former BLINK 182 drummer TRAVIS BARKER broke his arm while shooting a video for his new band +44 on Wednesday (04OCT06).
Barker was in Europe filming the video clip for the title track WHEN YOUR HEART STOPS BEATING when the accident occurred.
The injury was exacerbated after the band played seven shows during their European promo tour.
His record label said in a statement late Wednesday night, "Per doctors orders, Travis is to remain off his right arm for eight weeks." Meanwhile, Barker’s estranged wife, former beauty queen SHANNA MOAKLER, was involved in a scuffle with PARIS HILTON at a Hollywood nightclub the same night.
Barker filed for divorce in August (06) from Moakler and was videotaped with Hilton the following month (SEP06) snuggling together at a night club.
Hilton and Moakler had previously been friends until the couple separated and Paris hooked up with Barker. Both women have filed police reports alleging battery over the incident.

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MOONGLOWS singer PRENTISS BARNES was killed in a car accident in Mississippi on Saturday (30SEP06). He was 81.
Barnes, who performed hits including BLUE VELVET with the Moonglows in the 1950s and 1960s, died in the accident on Mississippi 48, east of Magnolia.
He was born in Magnolia in 1925, before later moving to Cleveland, Ohio where he joined the Moonglows.
After the band folded in the mid-1960s, Barnes was left handicapped in a 1969 car accident in San Antonio, Texas.
He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2000.

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LATEST: Guitar band THE NOISETTES have apologised to PETE DOHERTY - after ranting at the singer for stumbling on stage minutes before they were due to play.
Bassist DAN SMITH accused the BABYSHAMBLES frontman of trying to sabotage their show last Sunday (01OCT06), insisting Doherty’s appearance overshadowed his band, who are currently supporting Babyshambles on tour.
But Smith has since backtracked on his angry outburst.
He says, "I’m sorry. I don’t mean any ill will to Pete and the rest of Babyshambles. I don’t really know Pete and I’m sure he didn’t really mean any harm.
"Those guys have been really nice to us for the whole tour. Ah, f**k, it’s over, tomorrow is another day."

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LATEST: SIR PAUL McCARTNEY’s fashion designer daughter STELLA used her new incarnation as a MR MEN and LITTLE MISS as the inspiration for invites to her spring-summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show in London today (05OCT06).
The former Chloe designer has teamed up with Mr Men creator ROGER HARGREAVES’ son ADAM to write LITTLE MISS STELLA.
Only 1,000 copies of the book were produced, which features Stella’s namesake helping LITTLE MISS NOBODY become ’somebody’ with the help of her fashion creations And she couldn’t resist adapting the cute designs to promote her runway shows.
She says, "I always like the idea of the invitation that you can keep. I’ve always liked the idea of you giving them to your kids or to your grandkids."

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Late artist ANDY WARHOL’s film CHELSEA GIRLS has been voted into the top 100 most influential films.
The three-and-a-half hour epic is rumoured to be the inspiration behind today’s relentless reality TV genre. The 1967 movie was shot on location in eight rooms of New York’s notorious Chelsea Hotel, featuring Warhol’s glamorous entourage conducting their daily lives for the camera.
Other films featuring in the list are THE BEATLES’ 1964 A HARD DAY’S NIGHT, cult Seventies porn film DEEP THROAT and 1902 classic LE VOYAGE DANS LA LUNE by pioneering film-maker GEORGES MELIES.
Radio Times film editor ANDREW COLLINS says, "This is not a list of the greatest movies ever made.
"This is a chronological journey pinpointing those films that changed the course of the industry, for better or worse."

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Actor JAMES McAVOY was mortified when his family once came to watch him onstage - because they were greeted by the sight of his dangling penis.
The young actor had to strip off for a scene in the show, but although he has no problems going nude, he suddenly lost his nerve when he spotted his sister in the audience. McAvoy says, "On stage there’s nowhere to hide, you’re completely vulnerable. When you’re completely vulnerable, it can’t get any worse, can it?" "I had to be naked for 10 minutes for this play and I noticed, ‘oh, that’s my sister. She’s head level with my c**k, oh no.’"

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LATEST: MADONNA paid a visit to 50 children in an orphanage in Malawi today (05OCT06), after dismissing speculation she is set to adopt a child.
The HUNG UP superstar, fresh from completing her world tour, insists she is in the country to set up a care centre for up to 4,000 orphans - and is seeking advice from those she hopes to help.
Madonna’s publicist LIZ ROSENBERG said yesterday, after dismissing the adoption reports, "She’s kind of adopting an entire country of children"

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Veteran British actor TOM BELL, who was best known for his Bafta-nominated performance in drama series PRIME SUSPECT, has died aged 73. He died in hospital following a short illness, according to the actor’s agent.
Bell appeared opposite DAME HELEN MIRREN in the first three series of Prime Suspect, and returns in the forthcoming seventh series.
His other film roles included portraying gangster JACK ‘THE HAT’ McVITIE in the 1990 film THE KRAYS.

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