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THE WEST WING actor RICHARD SCHIFF has blasted stage musicals, insisting audiences should watch serious plays instead. SCHIFF, who played TOBY ZIEGLER in the hit show, will make his London West End debut next year (07) with his one man drama UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL - and has promised to "work in some choreography" to attract a bigger audience. Plays are under threat in the West End due to rising costs, declining ticket sales and the influx of big-budget musicals, but Schiff cites current hit FROST/NIXON as proof people should give theatre a chance. He says, "It’s tragic if people would rather see the 403rd version of CATS instead of that. People who would rather see a frickin’ musical are out of their minds."

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Budget drug-addiction drama HALF NELSON was a triple winner at this year’s (06) Gotham Awards, scooping prizes for Best Feature, Breakthrough Director and Breakthrough Actor.
Despite stiff competition from big studio-financed films including THE DEPARTED and MARIE ANTOINETTE, the $1 million (£510,000) movie dominated the New York ceremony last night (29NOV06) honouring independent film-making.
Host DAVID CROSS slammed the inclusion of its big-budget rivals, insisting, "We’re here to celebrate the films that show you don’t need a big studio, films with an untested director and cast - films like The Departed. How that got greenlit I have no idea." Despite the scathing comments, the $25 million (£12.8 million) BRAD PITT-starring BABEL won the Best Ensemble Cast award, and its star RINKO KIKUCHI shared the Breakthrough Actor award with SHAREEKA EPPS of Half Nelson.
Oscar-short listed IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS took home the Best Documentary prize.

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LATEST: Bollywood star SANJAY DUTT has pleaded with an Indian judge to show compassion when sentencing him for possessing illegal weapons.
The LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI actor was convicted on Tuesday (28NOV06) after being implicated in a series of bomb blasts in Mumbai that killed 257 people in 1993.
Despite being cleared of conspiracy charges, Dutt could still face up to 10 years behind bars.
Earlier today (30NOV06), he urged a Mumbai court to show compassion in sentencing for keeping a clean bail record. He also requested to go abroad on a charity expedition for a cancer trust started by his late father.
Public prosecutor UJJWAL NIKAM says, "He pleaded before the court that he had not violated any condition, nor committed any crime during the bail period.
"He said therefore he should be shown leniency." The court, which is due to begin sentencing next month (DEC06), made no comment on Dutt’s plea but demanded he surrender by 19 December (06).
Dutt has already served more than a year in prison during investigations.

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Hollywood star CHRISTIAN SLATER is grateful his divorce from TV producer RYAN HADDON has been resolved amicably, and insists he is happy in every possible way.
The couple, who have a son JADEN, seven, and a daughter ELIANA, five, together, parted company in January last year (05) citing irreconcilable differences.
The TRUE ROMANCE actor wed Haddon on Valentine’s Day (14FEB) in 2000 and their divorce was finalised this week (begs27NOV06).
Slater says, "It’s not really a celebratory thing but I am grateful that it has been resolved in the way that it has, and I have an extraordinarily amicable relationship.
"I’m really great right now, I have nothing to resolve. I want for nothing, I’m pretty happy in every possible way."

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Big screen SPIDER-MAN TOBEY MAGUIRE is considering hanging up his Spandex suit for good after appearing in his third superhero movie next year (07).
The actor, who became a first time dad earlier this month (11NOV06), is keen to spend more time with his daughter RUBY and confesses it would be a good time to retire from the hit franchise.
He says, "This might be a good place to stop - I am not tied contractually to any more Spider-Man movies.
"I am not completely closed to the idea of another one if it made sense but I would say the odds were in favour of this being the last one." Last month (OCT06) Maguire’s co-star and onscreen love interest KIRSTEN DUNST hinted she’s keen to ditch the movies too and take up art instead.
She said, "I’m not the type of actress who does movie after movie."

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Country singer BUDDY JEWELL has cancelled his upcoming American tour after breaking his wrist in a fall.
The NASHVILLE STAR reality TV winner fell from a ladder while hanging Christmas lights at his Tennessee home on 19 November (06).
He had an operation last week (22NOV06) to insert a metal plate and three screws to help his left wrist heal correctly.
Jewell’s 20-date Great American Country Christmas Tour was due to run from today (30NOV06) until 21 December (06).

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Rockers THE KILLERS have axed a Dublin, Ireland gig tonight (30NOV06) to give frontman BRANDON FLOWERS a chance to recover from bronchitis.
The WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG hitmakers were due to perform at the capital’s Point Theatre to bring their hit European tour to an end.
Concert commitments in the US next month (DEC06) mean they’ll be unable to reschedule but the group insist they had no choice but to cancel the gig after seeking advice from doctors.
A statement from the group reads, "We’ve had to make the terrible decision to cancel tonight’s show in Dublin since we’ve fallen foul to the dreaded ‘flu bug. Brandon has bronchitis and is unable to sing. We’re devastated to have to disappoint so many people, but it’s simply impossible for us to go ahead with the gig.
"We’re so sorry, Dublin. We’ll find a way to make it up to you, we promise!" The Killers are due to return to Ireland in February (07) on their arena tour.

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Opera singer LUCIANO PAVAROTTI will make his first public appearance since undergoing cancer surgery this summer (06) at an Italian music festival next week (begs06DEC06).
The 71-year-old will accept the Donizetti Prize at the Bergamo Musical Festival on Wednesday as he battles to overcome pancreatic cancer.
Organiser RAFFAELLA VALSECCHI says, "His health has improved, aside from some problems walking. He uses a small cane." Pavarotti was preparing to leave New York City in July (06) to resume a farewell tour when doctors discovered a malignant pancreatic mass.
He is currently recovering and has cancelled his remaining 2006 concerts.

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Rapper SNOOP DOGG is suing his former record label for unpaid royalties.
The hip-hop star - real name CALVIN BROADUS - filed his complaint against Priority Records in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming he’s owed more than $2 million (£1.02 million) in back payments for hit albums including PAID THA COST TO BE DA BOSS, THA LAST MEAL and DA GAME IS TO BE SOLD, NOT TO BE TOLD.
According to AllHipHop.com, Broadus singled out record giant EMI for cheating artists out of their wages after buying a 50 per cent stake in Priority Records in 1996, and the remainder two years later (98).
The label has subsequently stopped running as an independently managed company, with operations merged into EMI’s major US subsidiary, Capitol Records.
Broadus fumes in his lawsuit, "Apparently, since EMI has taken over the running of Priority from (founder) BRYAN TURNER, the once somewhat artist-friendly label has decided to make up for a downturn in the industry by failing to honour the contracts made with its hip-hop artists while Turner was at the helm." The rapper quit the label in 2002.

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LATEST: AXL ROSE has apologised after insulting support act THE EAGLES OF DEATH METAL on stage on Friday (24NOV06) and urged the cult rockers to return to the GUNS N’ ROSES American tour - only to be turned down.
Rose ridiculed The Eagles Of Death Metal in Cleveland, Ohio - calling them "the pigeons of s**t metal" - and frontman JESSE HUGHES immediately walked out on the lucrative tour .
The NOVEMBER RAIN frontman’s unprovoked attack shocked his bandmates and resulted in a string of arguments, prompting Rose to have a change of heart but Hughes was in no mood to reconcile.
He says, "By the end of the night that guy (Rose) had caused a giant uproar.
It was like a total mutiny on the part of his band and everyone.
"I could hear screaming in the dressing room, ‘Those are our friends and you’ve insulted our friends.’ "Then at four in the morning our tour manager gets a phone call which essentially amounted to, ‘Axl’s thought about it, he thought you guys were a band getting shoved on his tour from the label. He’s really sorry and you’re more than welcome to finish the tour.’ "When my manager told me that, I just said, ‘You can tell that motherf**ker to go and f**k himself because I will never go through that again.’"

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According to reports, the singer will celebrate the start of 2007 by hosting a lavish bash at the Pure nightclub, which is located inside Caesars Palace hotel and casino.
Las Vegas has been the location for many of Britney’s infamous moments.
It was in Sin City that the ‘Toxic’ singer married childhood sweetheart Jason Alexander, a union that lasted just 55 hours.
She also famously performed a live TV special from the MGM Grand hotel.
The pop superstar has also been flaunting her newly acquired single status with new best friend Paris Hilton in Las Vegas, with the pair being seen partying on several occasions over the last few weeks.
Britney, 24, filed for divorce from estranged husband Kevin Federline earlier this month citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.
Meanwhile, Alexander has admitted he wasn’t surprised that Britney’s marriage to Kevin imploded.
He said: "It has always been a matter of time. Their relationship had been going downhill for a while but nothing changed or got better. They had problems which they tried to sort out but obviously they couldn’t sort them out."

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The singer, the former husband of Jessica Simpson, has become a part-owner of Washington team the Tacoma Rainiers.
Nick, who is a Cincinnati Reds fan, said: "Sports for me, other than what I do for a living, is truly my passion, and baseball has always been something that is a part of my life." The 33-year-old plans to play an active role in the ownership of the team both on and off the pitch.
He says his interest in owning a baseball team began when the Cincinnati Reds were sold. When he failed to buy a share in his home team, he set his sights on another club.
Nick, who wore a Rainiers’ shirt as he was unveiled as the new part-owner yesterday (29.11.06), will be involved in developing events including concerts and autograph signing sessions.
He now owns a one-third share of the baseball franchise.
The Rainiers are the Seattle Mariners’ Class AAA club in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). This system allows the Major League side to develop Rainiers’ players to be available to play for the Mariners on demand.
The PCL operates in the West and Midwest of the US. The Rainiers play at AAA level, which the highest level below the American Major League.

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The British jazz singer wore a blue top, drainpipe jeans and stilettos for her performance at The Forum, in London’s Kentish Town region, for the AOL Music Live! Winter Warmer show.
Throughout her set Winehouse - who has admitted to struggling with alcoholism and eating disorders - appeared to be struggling to keep her trousers on and kept pulling them up.
One reveller said: "She looked really unhealthy and pale and was quite sweaty. I couldn’t believe how thin she looked.
"As for her performance she seemed to be slurring her words and stumbling on her heels." In contrast, girl group the Sugababes looked stunning as they belted out a selection of their hits including ‘Push the Button’, ‘Red Dress’ and new single ‘Easy’.
The event was hosted by Sir Bob Geldof’s party-loving daughter Peaches who seemingly came straight to the event from school, still dressed in her uniform.
The 17-year-old part-time DJ wore a glamorous yellow dress to open the show and came out holding a foam hand and a banana she had stolen from boyband McFly, who also performed along with newcomers Just Jack and MIKA.

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The ‘Click’ star has stayed in hotels all around the world but found the room service in the Danish capital to be the most satisfactory - because of the stunning staff.
He told Britain’s Loaded magazine: "Copenhagen has the prettiest girls. All I will say is go to Copenhagen and order room service. When I was there, we’d keep ringing back and ordering more room service, then we’d call them back and say, ‘Hey, you forgot the cream!’ It seemed each time an even more gorgeous girl would walk in.
"Copenhagen has the most beautiful, tall girls." Despite his love of Danish girls, Hasselhoff recently confessed he is on the look out for an intelligent English girlfriend.
The former ‘Baywatch’ actor wants to put his recent divorce from Pamela Bach, his wife of 16 years, behind him and find a "career-orientated chick" from the UK.
He said: "I want to find myself a beautiful English girlfriend. But I don’t want some dumb blonde. I’d like a woman who is really intelligent. A chick who is career-orientated.’"

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The ‘Alfie’ actor - who stars opposite the actress in new romantic comedy ‘The Holiday’ - says his attractive co-star constantly brightened up his days on set.
He gushed: "Having Cameron around is like having the sun on set every day." The 33-year-old star - who recently split for good from on/off lover Sienna Miller - also claims working with Cameron made him a better actor.
He said: "She understands that kind of film so well. I learned a great deal just by watching her." Cameron, 34, has been in a relationship with pop singer Justin Timberlake, 25, for around four years.
Despite their long-term commitment, the ‘Something About Mary’ actress recently announced the couple will never marry.
She told US chat show host Ellen DeGeneres: "I’m a commitment-phobe. I don’t want to do it. We’re kind of like married anyway."

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Hollywood party girl LINDSAY LOHAN is receiving alcohol counselling in a bid to stay sober, according to US reports.
The MEAN GIRLS star was recently snapped sporting an Alcoholics Anonymous badge, and sources claim she’s visited a group therapy session with the organisation in Los Angeles yesterday morning (29NOV06).
A friend tells PageSix, "She has attended several meetings and has hopefully decided to turn her life around - this time for good. She is out of control." A representative for Lohan has declined comment.
The actress has recently been partying with newly single BRITNEY SPEARS and socialite PARIS HILTON.
She came under fire from Hollywood executives and co-stars earlier this year (06) for the effect her sociable lifestyle has on her professionalism on set.

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SIR PAUL McCARTNEY is still seething after taking JOHN LENNON’s widow YOKO ONO’s advice - because it cost him millions of pounds.
The music legend was keen to buy back the copyright of the original BEATLES songs for the relatively cheap price of £12.5 million ($24 million) in the eighties. But Ono warned him against the purchase, insisting the deal wasn’t worth anything.
Pop star MICHAEL JACKSON seized on the opportunity and bought the rights for £28 million ($55 million). They are now worth in excess of £500 million ($975 million) and part-owned by Sony.
Beatles producer SIR GEORGE MARTIN says, "Paul spoke to Yoko saying, ‘Shall we buy it back between John and myself?’ "But she said it wasn’t worth it.
"At present, the copyright is worth something approaching one billion dollars." "Paul’s always had a chip on his shoulder about that."

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DUSTIN HOFFMAN still can’t bear to be away from his wife, insisting they are "lovebirds" even after 30 years of marriage.
The GRADUATE star attended a night out with friends whilst LISA GOTTSGEN was abroad on business, but he couldn’t enjoy the temporary bachelor life - and pined for his wife’s return.
Hoffman says, "I went to a TONY BENNETT concert in New York recently - my wife was away in France. Through a couple of ballads my stomach was aching because all I wanted was to be dancing with her.
"We’ve been together about 30 years and the scary part is, it feels like we’ve been together just a week. And that’s absolutely serious. We are lovebirds."

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