PR-Inside.com Entertainment News

British funnyman RICKY GERVAIS has praised GEORGE MICHAEL’s willingness to poke fun at his recent sex scandals.
The Careless Whisper singer makes a cameo in a forthcoming Christmas episode of the comedian’s TV programme Extras, in which he is seen cruising a park for gay sex.
Gervais, 46, tells Heat magazine, "What we get him to do is incredible - so close to the truth - but he was willing to do that.
"But that’s why George Michael has survived - because when he’s caught cruising (London park) Hampstead Heath, he doesn’t curl into a ball and flog himself, he goes on (U.K. chatshow) Richard & Judy and says, ‘Yeah, I did it, what’s the problem?’" Michael admitted to visiting notorious gay sex haunt Hampstead Heath in search of sexual partners after he was photographed there with van driver Norman Kirtland last year (06).

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Singer/actress KELLY OSBOURNE is desperate to win an all-singing, all-dancing dream role in wacky musical THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW - following her critically-lauded turn in West End, London show CHICAGO. The 23-year-old daughter of rocker Ozzy played Mamma Morton to rave reviews in London earlier this year (Oct07).
Now she is keen to expand her repertoire by taking part in a production of the sex-filled sci-fi classic as giggly Columbia, the girlfriend of delivery boy Eddie played by singer Meat Loaf in the 1975 cult movie.
She says, "I only know her as Meat Loaf’s hapless girlfriend, but it would be my dream role. It’s not on anywhere at the moment, sadly, but when it is, I’m telling you: the part will be mine."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

A London stage adaptation of MADONNA movie DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN is closing just one month into its run following disastrous ticket sales.
The West End show, which features a number of songs by American rock band Blondie, has been blasted by critics since its recent world premiere (Nov07) and now faces an early closure next month (15Dec07).
Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry even wrote new song Moment Of Truth especially for the musical - in the hope that the production would eventually reach Broadway, New York.
But in a statement released on Friday (30Nov07), producers confirmed the show’s demise: "Despite fantastic performances and enthusiastic audiences, the ticket sales have not been sufficient and we have had to make the difficult decision to close the show.
"The producers wish to thank the talented cast, creative team and company for all their hard work and dedication to this production."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Actress EVA LONGORIA collected a Bambi Award inscribed with her married name, EVA PARKER, at a ceremony in Germany on Thursday (29Nov07).
The star - who recently wed American footballer Tony Parker - represented her fellow Desperate Housewives castmates as the show was awarded the gong for International TV Series at the 59th annual Bambi Awards in Dusseldorf.
She told reporters at the event, "I am totally amazed and blown away every time I get outside of America how popular Desperate Housewives is. For me to be here to accept this award and be in Germany and in an international community, it’s an honour for me." Italian actress Sophia Loren was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Bambi for the third time, after winning the prize in both 1961 and 1964.
Hollywood star Tom Cruise won the Courage award for his role in controversial movie Valkyrie - with wife Katie Holmes impressing on the red carpet with a striking new haircut.
Rockers Bon Jovi was named Best Music Act.
Former German boxing world champion Henry Maske picked up the Comeback Bambi and German actor Armin Mueller-Stahl won an award for Best National Actor Bambi.
A special jury award went to the German two-part TV series A Single Tablet, and the German women’s soccer team and Queen Rania of Jordania were also honoured.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Hollywood newcomer DAKOTA BLUE RICHARDS suffered from crippling bouts of homesickness on the set of her new film THE GOLDEN COMPASS.
The 13-year-old actress - who beat off competition from more than 10,000 other hopefuls to secure a place alongside Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig in the $180 million (£90 million) movie - missed school and her friends back home in Sussex, England, terribly during filming - despite the fact it was shot in the U.K.
She says, "Being the only child for long periods can get lonely. Also, it’s harder to engage with the school work because you never know how long you’re going to be away from filming - half an hour or three hours - so you don’t know how far to go. "One minute you’re screaming and fighting with someone, while the next you’re doing maths. It’s very confusing."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

British actress KELLY BROOK has pulled out of TV talent show STRICTLY COME DANCING following the tragic death of her father.
The 28-year-old Three star - fiancee of Hollywood actor Billy Zane - had vowed to continue rehearsals for this Saturday’s (01Dec07) live show in his memory, but has since told producers she finds it "too difficult" to continue.
Brook’s father, Kenneth, 57, died on Monday (26Nov07) following a long battle with cancer.
A spokeswoman for the BBC show says, "Kelly has been a fantastic part of the programme and will be sorely missed by everyone on the show." She added that the programme’s participants "would also like to express their deepest sympathy to Kelly and her family at this difficult time". Former model/TV presenter Brook and professional dance partner Brendan Cole had been among the favourites to win the show, which has its grand final on 22 December (07).

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

LATEST: Striking Hollywood writers have rejected a new contract offer from producers, three weeks into a dispute over royalty payments.
Executives offered writers an extra $130 million (£65 million) over three years, but the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has described it as a "massive rollback". It argued that studios should adopt its counter-offer instead. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said its offer included payments for work shown online, the key sticking points in the talks.
It said the deal would deliver "more than $130 million in additional compensation above and beyond the more than $1.3 billion (£650 million) writers already receive each year".
But the WGA said the proposal did not deal fully with its concerns and made a counter-offer costing a projected $151 million (£75.5 million) over three years.
Writers have been on strike since 5 November (07), disrupting films and television programmes in the U.S. including hit shows Heroes, Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. Negotiations will re-commence on Tuesday (04Dec07).

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

LATEST: Wrestling star HULK HOGAN has contested his estranged wife LINDA BOLLEA’s divorce demands for a share of the family’s multi-million dollar Florida properties plus alimony and child support.
Linda Bollea had demanded marital assets to be divided including the couple’s Belleair mansion and their Clearwater Beach home, both in Pinellas County, Florida, after filing for divorce last week (25Nov07). The properties are reported to have a combined value of around $10 million (£5 million). The 48-year-old also sought an unspecified amount for alimony and child support for their 17-year-old son Nick.
But the sports-star-turned actor has submitted a staunch counter petition contesting his wife’s claims.
In Hogan’s most recent filing, he says his wife is capable of supporting herself and their son. He also said Nick is old enough to decide who he wants to live with, reports TMZ.com.
Bollea submitted legal documents in Florida’s Pinellas County Court seeking a permanent separation from her 54-year-old husband - real name is Terry Bollea after their 23-year marriage broke down.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

British rocker PETE TOWNSHEND has no regrets about sacrificing his career with THE WHO to raise a family.
The guitarist would have written another studio album with the band if he hadn’t taken time to concentrate on his children, but is convinced he made the right choice. He says, "When someone might rue the fact that there were years when I could have written an extra Who album, I get out my family photo album and my kids’ excellent school reports and I smile." (LR/WNBTI/CG) WENN - FOURTH - HOLLYWOOD, SHOWBIZ & PEOPLE NEWS - 30 NOVEMBER 2007

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

R&B star ESTELLE prefers the dating scene in the U.S. because American men are more attractive than their British counterparts.
The English singer has been on a promotional tour in North America and is sure that she will have better luck finding a man there.
She says, "I love the dating scene. The men are so hot and they just love the British accent."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

MANIC STREET PREACHERS are celebrating the holidays by giving fans a free Christmas single. The rockers have made the track Ghost Of Christmas available for fans to download for free on their website. Bassist Nicky Wire writes on the band’s website, "To celebrate this season of goodwill we will be giving away our Christmas single. So to anyone who has bought our records, seen our gigs, read our reviews, joined our website or given us awards thank you for a special year. "The song is old school Christmas, for us it’s actual fun. Hope you enjoy the song and the tour."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

British singer SIMON LE BON met his wife in an unusual way - he picked her out for a one-night-stand.
The Duran Duran frontman met model Yasmin in 1984 and planned for their relationship to be a quick fling - but ended up marrying her a year later.
He says, "I didn’t think I was going to get married. I was just up for a quick shag. It turned into something else.
"The fact that it has lasted just proves that I had the right approach. But honestly, I never thought I’d be up for more than the one night with her." The couple has three daughters, Amber, 18, Saffron, 16, and Tallulah, 13.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Rockers INTERPOL are constantly at war with each other - and don’t even consider themselves friends.
Since forming in 1998, the band’s clashing personalities have caused them frequent bust-ups - and drummer Sam Fogarino insists that to this day, the four-piece still don’t get along.
Bassist Carlos Dengler adds, "We’re still not friends. The lifestyle doesn’t really permit you to get intimate.
"I’ve spent the past five years running around the world with three other guys I feel I barely know as I haven’t had the time to get to know them because we’ve been so busy."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

RADIOHEAD and PRINCE will both miss out on Brit Award nominations in London next year (08) because of their unconventional album release methods.
Artists must have had a top 75 U.K. single or album during the past 16 months before they can be considered for the prestigious awards - but Radiohead album In Rainbows was only released for download on the band’s website, which does not report sales to chart compilers, and Prince’s album Planet Earth was given away free in a British newspaper, making it ineligible for inclusion in the U.K. charts.
In other circumstances, the Scottish rockers would have been in the running for the Best British Group and Best British Album shortlists, and Prince could have been up for Best International Male Solo artist and Best International Album.
The prestigious British awards ceremony will be hosted live by Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne from Earls Court, London next February (20Feb07).

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

LATEST: Actress ELLEN BARKIN has branded her ex-husband RON PERELMAN’s lawsuit against her "a cynical abuse of the legal system".
The Revlon cosmetics boss launched legal action against Barkin and her brother George on Wednesday (28Nov07), claiming they stole money from a production company he financed.
But Michelle Benson, Barkin’s spokeswoman, has issued a statement, calling Perelman’s lawsuit "frivolous" and "without merit." Perelman alleges the Barkins formed Applehead II to compete with Applehead I - which he had formed with them - and then stole money from the original company to pay for their new one.
He also claims she used his money to pay for a lawsuit she filed against him, and pay George Barkin a $250,000 (£125,000)-a-year salary.
He is seeking unspecified compensatory damages, punitive damages and the return of misappropriated assets.
Perelman and Barkin, 54, divorced in 2006.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Hollywood couple TOM CRUISE and KATIE HOLMES has asked celebrity shoe mogul CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN to design a pair of shoes for their daughter SURI.
The fashion designer is custom-making a pair of booties for the tot after taking a mould of her feet.
A source tells OK! magazine, "She’ll be the youngest client."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

CASEY AFFLECK is shocked the media has dubbed his role in new movie THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES his "debut" - because he has been working in movies for the last decade.
The 32-year-old is surprised by the sudden attention the Western drama has brought him, because he has been appearing on the big screen for the past ten years - while older brother Ben’s acting career and personal life made international headlines.
He says, "You slog away for years on end then, suddenly, everyone goes, ‘Wow, where’d you come from? Out of the blue. Amazing!’ And you go ‘Out of the blue? I’ve been f**king doing ten auditions a week.’ "I just haven’t done many interviews, partly by choice, partly because no one’s been that interested."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Actor CHRISTIAN BALE struggled to prepare for his role in new movie RESCUE DAWN - because he was only allowed to eat one meal a day.
The Batman Begins star shed a massive 49 pounds (22.2 kilograms) to play a prisoner of war - and was so hungry he often binged on several meals at once.
He says, "I chose not to go to eat with anybody because the second I saw or smelled food, I was like a wolf. "But there was a couple of times when I got too hungry and ate five meals in one go. Obviously my stomach wasn’t prepared for that so I felt terrible afterwards." The 33-year-old is known for the extreme measures he goes through to get into character - in 2004 he went on a crash diet to lose 60 pounds (27.2 kilograms) to convincingly play an insomniac for The Machinist.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)