PR-Inside.com Entertainment News

AEROSMITH star BRAD WHITFORD is relieved frontman STEVEN TYLER decided to rejoin the group - because plans to continue with a different singer wou ldn’t "have worked".
Tyler stunned his bandmates last year (09) when he decided to take a tw o-year hiatus and walked away from the group.
The musicians immediately embarked on a mission to find a new singer to allow the band to continue touring, but Tyler’s manager threatened to su e if he was replaced, and after a series of crisis talks the group announ ced plans for a summer tour with their original frontman.
Bassist Whitford admits the auditions they held to find an alternative vocalist weren’t very successful, because most of their preferred candida tes didn’t want the job - and he’s convinced the band would have failed i f they had attempted to continue without Tyler.
He tells BackstageAxxess.com, "We were just asking around with some pe ople who we thought might be interested. Some people thought that they’d be interested. Not a whole lot of people really wanted to do it. I don’t know if it ever would have worked. It wouldn’t have been Aerosmith. We kn ew that.
"Everyone was so friggin’ shocked about it. It was like… well, what d o you want us to do? We want to play. We’re musicians, you know? That’s a ll that it really amounted to. Maybe it wasn’t just going to work." (LR/W

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

Stars including GILLIAN ANDERSON, JULIE CHRISTIE and MACKENZIE CROOK gath ered in London last weekend (17-18Apr10) for an evening of poetry and pro se to raise money for charity.
The show, which included readings and performances, was organised in ai d of human rights group Survival International, and saw the stars take to the West End stage after just two hours of rehearsals.
The X-Files actress Anderson admits she was happy to take part after sh e was approached by theatre actor Mark Rylance, who put together the star -studded event.
She says, "You can’t really say no to him, because he’s so brilliant. I t was after I said ‘yes’ that I looked into the organisation - and I was glad I did because they are extraordinary." British actor Colin Firth had been due to take part, but was forced to pull out after he was stranded in Italy following the volcanic eruption i n Iceland which grounded flights across Europe.

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

British actor RICHARD E. GRANT has kept a diary of his life for the past 43 years - ever since he witnessed his mother cheating on his dad.
The Withnail & I star was a 10-year-old boy growing up in Swaziland, Af rica, when he caught his mum in a clinch with his father’s best friend du ring a car journey.
Grant was so traumatised he jotted down his thoughts in a notebook - sp arking a lifelong obsession with recording his daily experiences.
He tells Britain’s Live magazine, "My mother (was) in flagrante with my father’s best friend on the front seat (of the car). Being 10 years old and assuming it must be my fault for having woken up and seen what I shou ldn’t have seen, I had no idea what to do other than to clamp my eyes tig ht shut and hope I wasn’t ‘found out’.
"No one to tell. No one to talk to. No one to share with… This was th e moment at which I began keeping a diary and making sure it was hidden b eyond hiding! Looking back I can see that for me this episode was the exa ct moment when my childhood view of the world ended and my split view of the adult world began. Writing a diary was the only way I could think of to keep things in perspective and sane. And it has pretty much served thi s purpose ever since." And Grant still insists on writing down his thoughts at the end of each day: "It’s been the best way I know of keeping grounded when finding mys elf having Valentine’s Day dinner with Sandra Bernhard at Madonna’s house , sitting opposite an impossibly fragile Michael Jackson for a late suppe r at Blenheim Palace… Writing a daily diary keeps it within a reality I can get my head around."

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

THE WIRE star IDRIS ELBA cheated death as a schoolboy - when a bully lock ed him in a shed and set it on fire.
The actor was targeted by another boy who would frequently steal his bi cycle when he was growing up in Hackney, east London.
Eventually he decided to stand up to his tormentor - but the teenager t rapped him in a wooden outhouse and torched it.
Elba tells Britain’s Live magazine, "The longest five minutes of my lif e were spent locked in a shed that was on fire. It all started because th ere was one boy in Hackney who used to steal my Raleigh Burner (bike) eve ry morning and return it later all bashed up.
"One day I decided enough was enough, so I refused to hand my bike over to him. He snatched it and rode off into the estate. I ran after him and found him in this shed. He set some paper alight and locked me in there.
There were flames everywhere, but I was more frightened of what my mum a nd dad were going to say when I came home covered in soot. That’s when I decided I wasn’t going to stand for any more bullying."

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

ANCHORMAN director ADAM MCKAY has blamed financial constraints for stalli ng work on a sequel - even though the lead actors offered to slash their fee for the follow-up.
Rumours of an Anchorman 2 have been rife in recent months, with Will Fe rrell confirming talks had begun to resurrect his comedy newsreader chara cter Ron Burgundy in a sequel to his hit 2004 movie.
Ferrell disappointed fans last month (Mar10) by revealing the plans had been shelved because the other actors, including Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and Christina Applegate, are too busy to commit to the film.
Director McKay reveals there is still hope for a sequel - but only if m ovie bosses at Hollywood studio Paramount agree to fund it.
He tells MTV.com, "We had an idea and we contacted Steve and Paul and C hristina and checked in with everyone and they were all game for it. The stage we’re at now is talking to Paramount and trying to get the money to do it. It’s a tricky movie because everyone went and did really well aft er it, so everyone’s prices went up and everyone’s time got a little more valuable.
"But at the same time, graciously, Steve and Paul and everyone agreed t o cut their price to come and do it, which you don’t see very often in Ho llywood - and cut their price substantially. But even with that, it’s jus t a budgetary thing with Paramount in terms of how much they’ll give us t o make it."

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

SARAH JESSICA PARKER is open to expanding her family with MATTHEW BRODERI CK - despite the criticism they received for using a surrogate to have tw ins.
The Sex and the City star is mum to seven-year-old son James Wilkie, bu t she turned to a surrogate mother after struggling to conceive another c hild.
The couple welcomed twin daughters Marion and Tabitha last summer (09) and Parker felt she was unfairly judged for using a non-traditional metho d to expand her family - but she refuses to let her critics keep her from considering more kids.
She tells Britain’s Closer magazine, "I don’t know if we’re finished ha ving children. I know that we’re lucky that we could afford that particul ar option, but we encouraged each other to explore all options. I suppose the only courage it takes is to not listen to people who find it objecti onable. And there are those."

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

STEVE CARELL and TINA FEY’s new movie DATE NIGHT has wooed British cinema -goers and shot to the top of the U.K. box office chart.
The romantic comedy, which tells the story of a married couple who emba rk on an unexpected adventure during a date night, took $1.8 million (=C2 =A31.2 million) in ticket sales over the weekend (24-25Apr10).
Action remake Clash of the Titans scored second place with =C2=A31.5 mi llion (=C2=A3980,000) and family movie How To Train Your Dragon was third with $1.2 (=C2=A3820,000).
Last week’s (beg19Apr10) number one, Dear John, was displaced from the top slot and fell to number four, ahead of Kick-Ass at five. (LR/WNWCCB/Z

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

Director JAMES CAMERON is urging teenagers in America to train in science and technology - because his blockbuster AVATAR wouldn’t have been made without the help of a young, talented team of "innovators".
The sci-fi epic incorporated experimental filming techniques and 3D tec hnology to combine computer-generated effects with live action shots - an d the movie went on to become the highest-grossing picture of all time.
Cameron has credited his enthusiastic young workers with pushing movie technology forwards - and he is encouraging America’s youth to pursue the ir dreams by focusing on education.
In a speech at the U.S. finals of the Microsoft Imagine Cup, which sees students present ideas that use technology to fight global problems, he says, "(Science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are where this country has to continue to lead. We can’t fall behind in that area. We ne ed engineers, we need innovators."

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

SCARLETT JOHANSSON is keeping her "fingers crossed" moviegoers like her r ole in IRON MAN 2 - because she is desperate to star in her own BLACK WID OW spin-off.
The blonde beauty takes on a villainous role in the upcoming superhero sequel opposite Robert Downey, Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, playing Russian s py Natasha Romanoff - who doubles as the Black Widow.
And although movie bosses currently have no plans to expand her charact er with a follow-up, Johansson is hoping public demand will see her reviv e her role for a second time.
She tells Access Hollywood, "These movies are very fan driven so if the fans like my interpretation of the character, I would be happy to don th e cat suit again and, you know, carry the torch. But there is no plan for anything like that. I know that Marvel is very behind this character so I’m keeping my fingers crossed."

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

JACKIE CHAN was the star of a charity concert on Monday (26Apr10) which r aised $4.8 million (=C2=A33.1 million) for victims of the recent earthqua ke in China.
More than 100 celebrities from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan took to the stage at the event in Hong Kong, including Donnie Yen, Leon Lai and actor Andy Lau.
Chan also appeared in a video which was screened at the Artistes 414 Fu ndraising Campaign concert, showing him working with victims of the quake which struck Qinghai province earlier this month (Apr10), killing more t han 2,200 people.
Talking about the disaster onstage, Lau told the crowd, "The quake area is located in a plateau. It’s 10 times worse than we thought. And the wi nter will come soon. It is urgent to take action."

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

Swedish royal PRINCESS MADELEINE has cancelled her wedding after a Norweg ian student went public with claims of an affair with her fiance.
The country’s royal family was rocked earlier this month (Apr10) when 2 1-year-old Tora Uppstrom Berg alleged she enjoyed an intimate encounter w ith lawyer Jonas Bergstrom, who was due to wed the 27-year-old daughter o f King Carl XVI Gustaf.
Berg sold her story to a Swedish magazine, claiming she slept with Berg strom, 31, during a holiday at a Swedish ski resort in February last year (09), six months before his engagement to the princess was announced.
A statement from the royal family has now confirmed the engagement has been called off, and the couple has separated.
It reads, "After having thought it through thoroughly, the Princess Mad eleine (sic) and Mr. Jonas Bergstrom have made the decision to go their s eparate ways. (They have asked for) peace and quiet in this difficult sit uation. The extreme coverage by the press is not making this situation an y easier for them."

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

Puberty is taking its toll on JUSTIN BIEBER’s live shows - the Canadian p op sensation is struggling to sing for fans because his voice is breaking ..
The 16 year old, who was offered a record deal after posting videoed pe rformances on YouTube.com, admits he often fails to hit the high notes du ring his concerts.
He says, "It cracks. Like every teenage boy, I’m dealing with it and I have the best vocal coach in the world. Some of the notes I hit on (hit t rack) Baby I can’t hit anymore. We have to lower the key when I sing live .."

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

Hip-hop stars EVE, XZIBIT and BUN B are revving their engines as they pre pare to drive across the world in the Gumball 3000 rally.
The rappers will join The Wire star Idris Elba and professional skatebo arder Tony Hawk in the annual event, which sees 120 cars travel across co ntinents.
The eight-day tour will kick off on 1 May (10) in London, before travel ling to the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden.
The group will then move to North America, visiting Boston, Massachuset ts; Canada and New York City, reports AllHipHop.com.

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

JOHN MAYER is preparing to shut down his Twitter.com account - because he ’s convinced the social networking site has made him a target for "haters ".
The singer has attracted more than three million ‘followers’ with his c andid posts, and has hit the headlines for a string of controversial ‘twe ets’ published on his page.
But Mayer admits his passion for Twitter is waning - and he wants to de vote his free time to more productive activities.
He says, "Within the last couple weeks, every night I think about cance lling my Twitter account… I just think Twitter, as a form of communicat ion, I think it’s over to be honest with you.
"It (was) really sort of flawed from the beginning. I can’t tell you ho w many times I meet people or I’m having dinner with people who write stu ff and they get upset they have haters now, like, ‘Why do I want to inven t more reasons to have haters?’ I might as well spend that time making a sandwich or building a model ship or something…
"My challenge going forward is to basically disregard the need, the obs essive need for external validation." In February (10), Mayer took to Twitter to apologise for using the ‘N’ word in a Playboy magazine interview. That same month, he confessed his f ear that his love of social networking had cost him a romance with notori ously private actress Jennifer Aniston.
Mayer follows stars including Miley Cyrus and Chris Brown who have dele ted their Twitter blogs.

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

Incarcerated rapper DMX is launching a lawsuit from behind bars - he’s ta king legal action over lost royalty payments.
The hip-hop star is currently serving a six-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of probation violation, and he is using his t ime in jail to sue bosses at an entertainment company over allegations th ey pocketed his payments.
Lawyers representing DMX - real name Earl Simmons - filed papers at Man hattan Supreme Court in New York on Monday (26Apr10) accusing executives at Rich Kid Entertainment of taking 100 per cent of his revenue from a co ntract signed 10 years ago, when they were allegedly only supposed to rec eive a 10 per cent cut, according to the New York Daily News.
The documents state, "DMX has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and has had No. 1 singles and albums on the Billboard charts, which in turn have generated a great amount of revenue for Defendants, but has left (DM X) with nothing." The lawsuit also alleges the rapper wasn’t aware of the "fraudulent act s" until last year (09) - because he was busy dealing with his various le gal troubles, including a 2009 jail stint on charges of drug possession, animal cruelty and theft.
The suit adds, "From 2000 through 2008, Simmons was in and out of jail and changed representatives numerous times."

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

MICHAEL JACKSON’s mum KATHERINE is asking relatives to leave her Californ ia mansion - because she’s struggling to look after all her grandchildren ..
The family matriarch, who is in charge of raising the late King of Pop’ s three kids, has requested that former daughter-in-law Alejandra Genevie ve Oaziaza and her children leave the San Fernando Valley property next w eek (begs03May10).
Oaziaza, who has two sons by ex-husband Jermaine Jackson and another tw o kids with Randy Jackson, has been asked to move into a nearby condo own ed by the family estate, reports TMZ.com.
Katherine, 79, was allegedly struggling to keep up with her seven grand kids. She was granted custody of Prince Michael, Paris and Prince Michael II, aka Blanket, after the Thriller icon died last June (09). (PAW/WNWCZ

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

Stars including JAMIE FOXX, USHER and SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS were on hand to celebrate the return of T.I. at a lavish party in Los Angeles - following the rapper’s recent release from prison.
The hip-hop star was jailed last year (09) on charges of weapons posses sion.
He was transferred to a halfway house near his home in Atlanta, Georgia in December (09), and was granted a supervised release last month (Mar10 ), which kept him at home with a curfew.
The 23-day order came to an end last week (beg19Apr10) and he threw a s tar-studded party in L.A. to celebrate.
Usher and Combs turned out for the bast at hip venue Guys and Dolls on Sunday night (25Apr10), along with Lil’ Kim and rapper Rick Ross, while F oxx delighted the crowd by taking the stage with T.I. to perform their ne w track Winner.
The Oscar-winner addressed the rapper in front of the the star-studded audience, telling his pal, "The past is the past - what we have is the fu ture, and your future is bright, my friend." T.I. took the opportunity to make a dedication to another incarcerated rapper - Lil Wayne, who is serving a year-long jail term on gun possessio n charges.
He said, "(This is a) humbling experience. I’m so happy to be with all of you tonight. And I cannot thank you enough for being here. There are s till people in the hip-hop community that need our support. So I ask ever ybody to please raise your glasses for Lil Wayne." T.I. also performed Hello Good Morning with Combs, before finishing the show with his track I’m Back, according to the New York Daily News. (LR/

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

Officials in New Zealand have stepped up security ahead of JUSTIN BIEBER’ s visit this week (beg26Apr10) - following chaotic scenes in Australia wh ich led to the cancellation of the star’s show in Sydney.
The teen sensation scrapped his only Australian gig after thousands of young fans camped overnight at Sydney Harbour to see their idol perform. The frenzied crowd began to surge, prompting police to cancel the event a fter "more than 100 teens" became "distressed", according to officials.
The 16 year old will arrive in New Zealand on Wednesday (28Apr10) to pe rform a free concert at the Strathallan School in Papakura - and police a re making plans to step up security and keep his arrival secret in a bid to prevent a repeat of the scenes in Australia.
A spokesperson for Auckland Airport tells the New Zealand Herald newspa per, "We are meeting with police and other airport security tomorrow morn ing to discuss the issue." The news comes after officials at another school in the country denied rumours Bieber is planning to perform a secret show there this week. Rumo urs of a Bieber concert spread among pupils at Diocesan School for Girls in Epsom, but Principal Heather McRae has made a statement to insist the story is not true.

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