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Oscar winner ANJELICA HUSTON is hoping a recent headline-grabbing chimpanzee tragedy in Connecticut will make people think twice before taking on an ape as a pet.
The chimp, called Travis, was beaten and stabbed by his owner before being shot to death by police after he grievously wounded her friend during a rampage earlier this month (Feb09).
And Huston, who narrated PETA’s recent expose on great apes forced into the entertainment industry, is confident the tragedy will serve as a reminder that chimpanzees don’t make great pets.
In a statement, released to PETA.org, the actress writes, "I sincerely hope that this tragedy will make people realize that great apes should never be kept as pets or exploited for films, television, or advertising.
"Their lives are miserable from the day that they are taken from their mothers… until they are cast off to roadside zoos or meet a violent end, as Travis did in this tragic case." Ironically, Travis was an entertainment ape - he appeared in TV commercials, including one - for clothing chain Old Navy - with Morgan Fairchild.
Huston adds, "Although I was sick when I heard about this most recent incident, I wasn’t surprised."

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AMY WINEHOUSE’s estranged husband BLAKE FIELDER-CIVIL has been released from a U.K. jail after serving time for breaking the terms of his probation.
Fielder-Civil was sentenced to 27 months behind bars last July (08) after he was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and perverting the course of justice. The charges relate to a 2007 assault on a pub landlord.
He was granted an early release deal in November (08) - on the condition he underwent regular drug testing - but was sent back to jail in December (08) after failing to stay clean.
Fielder-Civil walked free from Edmunds Hill Prison in Suffolk, south east England, on Wednesday (25Feb09) morning, when he was greeted by his mother, Georgette.
He filed for divorce from Winehouse in January (09).

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Rap superstar 50 CENT is working on bringing popular video game SAINTS ROW to the big-screen.
The In Da Club hitmaker has forged a successful acting career and launched his own movie production company earlier this year (09).
He is such a big fan of the violent game, he wants to turn it into a film - and he’s getting help from executives at THQ - the firm behind his own successful game, 50 Cent: Blood In The Sand.
He says, "With my relationship with THQ, they’ll actually see me develop Saints Row into an actual screenplay and into a film project. I’m optioning the rights for that right now." Saints Row is set in the fictional U.S. city of Stilwater which is plagued by urban violence between four rival gangs.

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

PAULA ABDUL is celebrating the success of an operation that has ended her long battle with back pain.
For more than a decade, the American Idol judge has suffered from a syndrome that causes her constant chronic pain.
She underwent a string of unsuccessful operations and procedures until an experiment with a new doctor last summer (08) brought her blessed relief.
She tells OK! magazine, "For the first time in 12 years, I am pain free. I had my 15th surgery to correct my back and neck problems last August and it worked. Finally! I had a new doctor who tried a new procedure and because of that I’m a new woman. I may have to have one more surgery in the spring but after all this, I can handle it." And she promises fans will see a new calm and relaxed Paula Abdul, now she’s thrown away the pain pills she was forced to pop.
The 46-year-old adds, "Not only am I pain free, but I am pain-medication free. I weaned myself off everything I’d been taking."

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PAULA ABDUL has hit out at producers of U.S. reality TV show AMERICAN IDOL - insisting the recent addition of fourth judge KARA DIOGUARDI "doesn’t work".
DioGuardi joined Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson on the judging panel last month (Jan09) for the eighth season of the hit series.
The addition of another female judge fuelled rumours of a feud, which Abdul denied - revealing she and DioGuardi are actually old pals.
But she insists four judges is too many - citing the failed attempt to add New York radio DJ Angie Martinez to the panel during season two.
Abdul tells American magazine OK!, "Kara and I have known each other for years and we get along great. But we tried four judges before and it doesn’t work.
"It takes up so much time for each of us to give our opinion that it slows down the pace of the show." But DioGuardi may not be the one to leave at the end of season eight - Abdul hints this could be her last stint on the show, adding, "It is the last season of my contract, and I have so many other things I want to do."

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MICHAEL JACKSON and DIANA ROSS’ movie musical THE WIZ is heading back to Broadway this summer (09).
The story - an African-American take on The Wizard of Oz - started out as a musical on the New York stage in 1975, before Sidney Lumet took it to the big screen in 1978 starring Jackson, Ross and Richard Pryor.
It’s now heading back to its roots and will run at Manhattan’s City Center from 12 June to 3 July (09). No actors have been cast.

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

BRITNEY SPEARS will be sawn in half during a magical stage routine as part of her upcoming CIRCUS comeback tour.
The pop superstar has been busy working on a multitude of tricks with illusionist Ed Alonzo to make sure her forthcoming world tour is one to remember.
The top TV magician tells People.com, "There are three giant (circus) rings with unbelievable things hanging in the air and flying around.
"She’s incorporated into major illusions. She’ll do dissection, where she’s sawed in half, and transposition, where she’s in one place and ends up in another place. She’s doing all the classic elements of magic." And Alonzo insists Spears is in the best shape possible to pull off the stunts.
He adds, "She looks really incredible. She’s really toned. Her stomach looks fantastic. This is the Britney Spears people remember from the past. Even stronger and better."

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SPOILER ALERT: GEORGE CLOONEY’s E.R. character DR. DOUG ROSS will return to the show as the father of twin girls.
The movie star and his TV partner Julianna Margulies will feature in E.R.’s finale, which will air in America on 2 April (09).
And the pair will be married with twins.
Margulies, who will return as Nurse Carol Hathaway, tells America’s TV Guide magazine she never thought she’d be back on the show which made her a star.
She explains, "I said from the beginning I would come back if George came back. But I was pretty sure George wasn’t going to come back.
"It felt as though a lifetime had happened since then… (but) nothing had happened since then… Half the crew is still there, God bless them. We were all family. It was like coming home." But she and Clooney insisted their return to the medical drama be kept under wraps - because neither wanted to be part of a big publicity campaign.
Margulies adds, "We wanted it quiet because neither George nor I wanted to sit on talk shows getting people to watch the final episode of E.R… It’s the last thing George needs. Of course the day we get there, I could see a long lens outside the Warner Bros. gate, taking pictures of us walking to the set. Nothing’s sacred anymore." But she’s glad she made the decision to return: "I worked with George for two days and we had an amazing time."

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

British rockers BLUR are to play their first reunion show on Wednesday (25Feb09) - as special surprise guests at the NME Awards.
The Britpop pioneers sparked a ticket frenzy when they announced in December (08) they were reforming for a huge concert in London’s Hyde Park in July (09) and a slot at the prestigious Glastonbury festival.
And WENN can reveal the Parklife hitmakers’ first public performance will be at London’s Brixton Academy for the rock magazine’s awards ceremony on Wednesday night - with a rendition of their popular album track This Is A Low.
A source at the awards says, "This has been kept a closely-guarded secret amongst the organisers. Hardly anyone knew Blur were lined up to play, and everyone at the venue got a real shock when Damon Albarn and the rest of the band showed up for a run-through this afternoon.
"During the soundcheck they played This Is A Low and everyone was dumbstruck - it was like going back in time."

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Child star FREDDIE HIGHMORE has signed up to star in a new superhero movie with a twist.
The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory actor, 16, will play a teenager who uses a fictional comic book hero to help him escape his battle with leukaemia.
Death of a Superhero, based on Anthony McCarten’s best-selling novel, is due to begin shooting in New Zealand later this year (09).

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

Reality TV star LAUREN CONRAD will quit THE HILLS after filming wraps on the upcoming fifth season.
The MTV show focuses on Conrad and her friends as they go about their daily lives in Hollywood.
However, Conrad admits she is keen to move on from the programme that has made her a star - and will make the next season her last.
She tells Seventeen magazine, "My biggest thing with the show was that I wanted to walk away from it while it’s still a great thing.
"I always want to remember it that way. I gave MTV a deadline and said, ‘This is as long as I can do it and stay sane.’"

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Movie tough guy VINNIE JONES faces an April Fools Day (01Apr09) he won’t be smiling about - he’s due in court to face assault charges.
After four delays, the Snatch star’s attorneys met South Dakota prosecutors in court on Wednesday (25Feb09) for a hearing, and a plea date was set for 1 April (09).
Jones has been charged with three counts of assault following a bloody fight in a Sioux Falls bar, which left him with 48 stitches in his face.
The former soccer star was not in court in Minnehaha County, South Dakota for the hearing.
Justin Barrera, Jones’ fighting foe in the brawl, was arrested on drug charges earlier this month (Feb09).
Barrera reportedly smashed a glass in Jones’ face.

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Pop star LILY ALLEN is still in regular contact with ex-boyfriend ED SIMMONS - despite their emotionally difficult past.
The Fear singer fell pregnant in late 2007 with the Chemical Brothers star’s baby - but suffered a miscarriage in January 2008.
The couple split shortly after the tragedy.
But Allen insists she is still on friendly terms with Simmons, even though their shared experiences evoke painful memories.
She tells Q magazine, "We still speak two times a week, he texts me all the time, making sure I’m alright.
"We never were not friends, it just became… difficult. Because there was so much pain associated with everything that happened, for me I just needed to get away, you know?"

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LINDSAY LOHAN has risked fuelling rumours she has an eating disorder - by posing for a series of topless shots which show off her bony frame.
The Mean Girls star peeled off for an arty photoshoot with celebrity snapper/fashion designer Hedi Slimane, using her hair and arms to shield her breasts from the camera.
But the black and white shots reveal Lohan’s painfully thin torso - and in some pictures, her shoulders and hip bones are noticeably protruding.
The star’s parents recently expressed concern at her plummeting weight, and several magazines have speculated she is possibly suffering from an eating disorder.
Lohan, 22, recently denied the claims, putting her weightloss down to "working a lot, stress… and lack of sleep when I travel".

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

Welsh rockers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE have scrapped a festival appearance in their homeland due to recording commitments.
The band have cancelled their headlining slot at rock festival Hammerfest, due to be held in North Wales in April (09), due to conflicting schedules, according to the group’s official website.
The Scream Aim Fire stars state the festival’s organisers have promised fans full refunds for tickets already purchased.
However, the band have organised an appearance at another music event - they will take part in Sonisphere at Knebworth, south-east England, in August (09) alongside rock giants Metallica and Linkin Park.

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Singer CHARLOTTE CHURCH’s rugby star boyfriend GAVIN HENSON has apologised for his involvement in a disturbance at a Welsh pub.
The sports star was questioned by police after he allegedly angered patrons at the Queen’s Vault pub in Cardiff, Wales by "jumping up on the pool table and taking people’s (pool) cues off them".
Welsh ace Henson was celebrating a recent win against England’s rugby team with fellow players Lee Byrne, Mike Phillips and Andy Powell when authorities were alerted to his "particularly rowdy" behaviour earlier this month (15Feb09).
Phillips apologised to other revellers for Henson’s behaviour and Henson was escorted out of the pub - where he was confronted by police, who reprimanded the men.
The matter was passed on to the Welsh Rugby Union for investigation - and now Henson has apologised for his loud antics.
A statement on the Union’s website reads, "Henson, in particular, wants to ensure that his apology reaches any member of the public he offended."

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AUBREY O’DAY would consider reuniting with her former DANITY KANE bandmates - insisting she would "never say no" to working with the now disbanded group again.
The quintet, put together by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs for his reality TV series Making The Band, fell apart in January (09) after the shock departures of singers Aubrey O’Day, D. Woods and Shannon Bex from the group last year (08).
Remaining members Dawn Richard and Aundrea Fimbres claimed they would try to "pick up the pieces" of the group, but Richard later admitted she found herself with no choice but to write music for other artists after her own music career was put on ice.
But despite the messy demise of the Damage hitmakers, and the fact she was fired by Combs, O’Day insists she has fond memories of her days as a member of Danity Kane - and would seriously consider a return in the future.
She tells MTV.com, "Danity Kane was a wonderful group, and like all things, nothing is forever. We had a great run and we were very successful.
"I have so much respect for that situation, if there was ever interest in me coming back …and making music with the girls, I would never say no to something like that."

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

EMINEM’s representatives have denied the rapper is involved in a battle with his record label Universal over digital download royalties - insisting he is "not party" to the lawsuit.
The Without Me hitmaker, real name Marshall Mathers, reportedly sued Universal bosses via his F.B.T. Productions company in 2007, challenging how much he is entitled to when the label sells his music to third-party distributors, like Apple’s iTunes downloading website.
The royalties suit went to trial on Tuesday (24Feb09), almost two years after it was first filed in a California Court.
The move could set a precedent for the music industry as hundreds of millions of dollars is potentially at stake for other artists whose songs have been made available for the service.
However, Mather’s spokesperson has dismissed reports of the rapper’s involvement in the suit, telling SOHH.com: "Eminem is not a party to this lawsuit." In fact, F.B.T Productions is a company the star worked alongside in the early days of his career, according to the website.
Representatives for Universal have denied the allegations filed against them. In a statement, they say: "The claims made by F.B.T Productions are completely baseless as a matter of fact and meritless as a matter of law, and we look forward to presenting our side in court."

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