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STAR WARS fans are set for a truly out-of-this-world experience - produce rs are re-working the sci-fi franchise in 3D.
The hit space films are set to receive the Avatar treatment for theatri cal re-release from 2012, and effects technicians are already promising t he newly-revamped versions will be "fantastic".
The first of the six movies to be converted into hi-tech 3D will be Sta r Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, but bosses are adamant they will no t rush to complete the project.
Visual effects supervisor John Knoll says, "Getting good results on a s tereo conversion is a matter of taking the time and getting it right. It takes a critical and artistic eye along with an incredible attention to d etail to be successful. It is not something that you can rush if you want to expect good results.
"For Star Wars we will take our time, applying everything we know both aesthetically and technically to bring audiences a fantastic new Star War s experience."

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HOWARD STERN has become the latest victim of the bedbug outbreak in New Y ork City - the DJ’s office has become infested.
The city has been blighted by the parasitic insects for months, with th e epidemic forcing the closure of movie theatres, shops and offices as bo sses battle the bugs.
Now shock jock Stern has been hit by the bedbugs - the office where he broadcasts his famous Sirius XM Radio show had to be fumigated over the w eekend (25-26Sep10), while specially-trained sniffer dogs also found the pests in the star’s limousine.
Stern has confirmed his workspace is now "100 per cent bedbug-free" but he still can’t take his mind off the pesky parasites.
He says, "Supposedly we’re 100 per cent bedbug-free. The only place in New York City that probably is 100 per cent bedbug-free… (But) I’m scra tching every minute… You know how paranoid I am about bedbugs. I just w ish our contract (with this office space) was done and we could get out o f here."

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NAOMI CAMPBELL is convinced the young catwalk stars of today are missing out because they will never experience the "friendship" and "camaraderie" which existed between supermodels in the 1990s.
The British beauty shot to fame 20 years ago alongside other stars incl uding Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington.
The exclusive group coined the phrase ’supermodels’ and Campbell is con vinced they shared "something" special during their heyday which will nev er be repeated in today’s cut-throat world of fashion.
She tells Interview magazine, "We were very supportive of one another, my group of girls, and I don’t think that happens so much nowadays… We would all have our rooms next to one another - it was like a dorm on tour .. Even if we were always in fittings until one or two o’clock in the morn ing, we didn’t care, because we felt like we were part of something…" And Campbell admits she will never forget the kindness shown to her by fellow models Turlington and Evangelista when she was struggling to land jobs.
She adds, "There were certain designers who hadn’t used models of colou r in their shows, and Christy and Linda said to them, ‘If you don’t take Naomi, then you don’t get us.’ My friends and comrades stuck up for me - and that doesn’t happen in fashion. I will never forget that. I don’t for get what people do. No matter how many years go by, I always remember." (

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Gay rights campaigners have applauded the TV bosses behind hit shows incl uding TRUE BLOOD and GLEE for bringing more homosexual characters to the small screen.
A report by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has f ound the number of gay, lesbian or bisexual characters appearing on TV in the U.S. has risen over the last year.
The study claims homosexual characters now make up 3.9 per cent of all those seen on U.S. TV.
Hit vampire show True Blood, which stars bisexual Anna Paquin and has f eatured six gay characters, was singled out for praise, along with musica l show Glee and Modern Family.
GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios says, "The increase in lesbian, gay and bisexual characters on primetime television not only reflects the shift in American culture toward greater awareness and understanding of our com munity but also a new industry standard that a growing number of creators and networks are adopting.
"The recent critical and commercial success of shows like Modern Family and Glee clearly indicate that mainstream audiences embrace gay characte rs and want to see well-crafted stories about our lives."

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A group of actors in New Zealand including LORD OF THE RINGS star KARL UR BAN is urging movie bosses to end the ongoing stand-off over THE HOBBIT b y holding talks with union representatives.
Hollywood bosses had planned to film The Lord of the Rings prequel in t he country, but the shoot has been thrown into jeopardy after local union s instigated a boycott over the alleged "unfair treatment" of performers.
Union reps claim studio bosses refused to sign an agreement to uphold t he rights of the actors, and other organisations in Britain, the U.S. and Canada have all backed the walk out.
Studio executives have since announced they are considering scouting fo r a new location to avoid any trouble.
A group of 200 actors met in Auckland, New Zealand on Tuesday night (28 Sep10) to discuss the crisis and the three-hour session concluded that Ho llywood bosses should consider holding talks with union officials to end the dispute amicably.
NZ Actors Equity president Jennifer Ward-Lealand says, "As a result of tonight’s meeting, (NZ) Actors Equity members have overwhelmingly resolve d that its delegation meet the producers of The Hobbit to hold negotiatio ns in good faith, taking in the terms and conditions for performers worki ng on the production."

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TWISTED SISTER frontman DEE SNIDER has sparked rumours he’s heading to Br oadway to join the cast of hit musical ROCK OF AGES after attending rehea rsals for a "top secret" project.
The rocker took to his Twitter.com page this week (beg27Sep10) to talk about his exciting new job, but left fans guessing by refusing to divulge any details.
In a series of posts, he wrote, "Yikes! Deep in top secret rehearsals 4 (sic) new project… So busy, no time to Tweet. (One) of the most diffic ult things I’ve ever done!… Long day of rehearsals! Remembering lines, stage blocking and choreography is kicking my a**! I can do it!" The secret project is rumoured to be a temporary role in New York show Rock Of Ages, with Broadwayworld.com reporting the singer has signed up f or a 10-week run. The musical features classic tracks from the 1980s, inc luding the hits of Bon Jovi, Poison, Journey and Snider’s own band Twiste d Sister.

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SEX AND THE CITY star CHRIS NOTH showed off his vocal talents at a New Yo rk restaurant recently by launching into an impromptu sing-along session with ROLLING STONES legend RONNIE WOOD.
The odd couple strolled into the Big Apple’s posh Da Marino eaterie to enjoy a meal, but stunned diners when they took residence at the piano an d started an unplanned performance.
While Wood demonstrated his talent as a pianist, Noth blasted out a med ley of 1970s classics, including several Rolling Stones hits for star pat rons including Mary-Kate Olsen, according to New York Post gossip column Page Six.

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LIZA MINNELLI poked fun at herself at the VIP launch of her latest album - by making a mockery of her flattering airbrushed image on the record’s cover.
The Cabaret legend performed an intimate gig to promote the release of her disc, Confessions, in New York on Monday (27Sep10).
But the star was far from vain while showing off the photograph which g races the album’s sleeve - she admitted to her guests that the snap was d igitally enhanced.
Minnelli told the crowd, "Have you ever seen so much retouching? But I look swell. Sometimes I even fool myself into thinking that I really look like that!"

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Doting dad RUSSELL CROWE snubbed an offer to appear on Australia’s THE X FACTOR - so he can continue his road trip with his sons.
The Gladiator star headed into Australia’s Outback with his two childre n - Charlie, six, and four year old Tennyson - earlier this month (Sep10) to get back to nature with his boys.
On Wednesday (29Sep10), Irish singer Ronan Keating - currently working as a judge on the Australian version of Simon Cowell’s singing competitio n - took to his Twitter.com page to invite Crowe onto the show.
But the actor, who is a big fan of the programme, turned down the offer so he can continue his family holiday.
Keating wrote, "Hi Russell hope ya get this Tweet. I would love for ya to come to X factor on Sunday and support my 2 artists." Crowe replied, "Hello mate… Firstly, really like who you are on the s how. Your maturity/sense of adventure/love of music (is) very clear. Can’ t make Sunday. School holidays, I’ve got two little boys and we are havin g adventures in the bush." But the Boyzone star refused to take the snub personally, Tweeting back : "Thanx (sic) for all you have said in support of my acts. Hope all (is) well, enjoy (the) break with the kids."

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JUSTIN BIEBER is set for a surprise Christmas hit - he’s launching his ow n range of toys and dolls.
The teen star has teamed up with merchandising company Bravado to relea se a line of lifelike singing figurines, which show off his famous floppy hair style and taste for casual clothes.
Some of the dolls come with a musical instrument and a microphone and p lay 30 second clips of Bieber’s hit tracks Baby and One Less Lonely Girl.
The kids’ range, which also includes teddy bears in Bieber shirts, will be sold in Toys R Us from 4 December (10).

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JOE JONAS has fuelled rumours he is dating TWILIGHT beauty ASHLEY GREENE after they were snapped walking arm-in-arm through Beverly Hills, Califor nia.
The pair prompted speculation of a romance after they were spotted enjo ying a meal together in London over the summer (Jul10).
And the Jonas Brothers star did little to dampen gossip about his relat ionship with the actress when they were seen embracing as they walked to his younger brother Frankie’s 10th birthday party on Tuesday (28Sep10).
Greene is the latest young star to be linked to the singer - he has pre viously dated Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato.

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BRITNEY SPEARS has thanked producers of hit TV show GLEE and hailed their "amazing" Britney-themed episode after it aired in the U.S. on Tuesday ( 28Sep10).
The singing superstar tuned into the Fox channel to watch the show, in which she had a brief cameo role, and kept fans up-to-date with her opini on of the programme on Twitter.com.
In a series of posts, she praised the Glee cast and their versions of h er hit songs Toxic, …Baby One More Time, and Stronger, before thanking producers for their efforts.
Spears wrote, "Getting ready to watch GLEE! I’ll be Tweeting along with the episode… Awww Heather Morris is sooo cute! Brittany S Pearce. Ha! She was so fun to work with and was really sweet in person. John Stamos i s still hot! He looks the same as he did on Full House…
"Watching …Baby One More Time brings back so many memories! Feels lik e yesterday… I love this version of Stronger. Artie did a great job. Th e Glee version of Toxic is amazing! I loved it! Thank you guys SO much fo r making this happen!"

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M.I.A. fears she is the victim of a Big Apple curse after rain put a New York City gig in jeopardy for the second time this year (10).
The Paper Planes hitmaker was forced to axe her set at the Hard NYC eve nt on Governors Island in July (10) when a huge thunderstorm broke out, s parking fears she could be electrocuted.
She returned to New York on Monday (27Sep10) for a gig at the city’s Te rminal 5 venue - but she was forced to abandon her sound check when the p ower failed and an emergency back-up generator blew a fuse.
The British rapper finally managed to play her planned set - but is now concerned her gigs in New York are jinxed.
In a post on Twitter.com before her Terminal 5 performance, she wrote, "Sup wit (what’s up with) NYC + me, Edison Power sayz the building can sh ort circuit in the rain! Power cut at venue/no soundcheck/ genorator (sic ) just blew 2nd comin in… On the bus waiting for city to tell me the st atus of their power!" After engineers fixed the problem, the star excitedly added: "MIA comin back wit powa powa." M.I.A. also confirmed a free show in New York for ticketholders for the axed Hard NYC show will be held at the Brooklyn Bowl on 6 October (10).

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Two men convicted of killing Lebanese pop star SUZANNE TAMIM have been ha nded long prison sentences six months after officials in Egypt overturned the guilty verdicts and ordered a retrial.
Former Egyptian politician Hisham Talaat Moustafa was accused of hiring retired police officer Mohsen al-Sukkari to assassinate Tamim at her lux ury apartment in Dubai in 2008.
The pair was sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of the murder, but in March (10) officials at an Egyptian appeals court over turned the convictions and ordered a new hearing.
The retrial ended this week (beg27Sep10) with a judge reinstating the m urder convictions, but the men were handed jail time instead of the death sentence.
Moustafa was sentenced to 15 years behind bars, while al-Sukkari was gi ven life, reports Britain’s Daily Telegraph.
Moustafa’s legal representatives say they are planning to "definitely a ppeal."

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JAWS actor RICHARD DREYFUSS has been handed a prestigious New York award for his work to promote civics lessons in America’s schools.
The Oscar-winner launched The Dreyfuss Initiative last year (09) to imp rove U.S. citizens’ understanding of civic education and encourage teache rs to tackle the classes.
And on Tuesday (28Sep10) he was presented with the Big Apple’s 2010 Emp ire State Archives and History Award for his work by the city’s Archives Partnership Trust. (MJ/WNWA/LR) ————————————————————————-

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JULIANNE MOORE played the role of patient mum last week (ends24Sep10) to line up alongside hundreds of teenage girls so her daughter could meet SE LENA GOMEZ.
The Disney sensation launched her new clothing range Dream Out Loud at a Kmart store in New York City on Thursday (23Sep10) and drew a huge crow d to the meet-and-greet at Manhattan’s Penn Plaza.
And among those queueing was Oscar-nominated actress Moore - who chaper oned her thrilled daughter Liv to the event.
A source tells New York Post gossip column Page Six, "It was really swe et. Julianne and her daughter patiently waited to meet Selena. Liv was re ally excited."

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KATHERINE HEIGL ensures her home is noisy at night - in a bizarre bid to help her daughter sleep.
The Knocked Up star was brought up with a vacuum cleaner whirring in th e background to make her drift off, and she admits she keeps the TV volum e high to help her two-year-old tot Naleigh feel comfortable at bedtime.
She says, "We’re really big on white noise. Her room is just above wher e we watch TV downstairs or whatever, and (we) make a lot of noise. I’m a big believer in that.
"My mom actually taught that to me. She used to leave the vacuum runnin g in the baby’s room. It really works. We also have this thing that makes all kinds of sounds."

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Actress BRIDGET MOYNAHAN has struck up a new Hollywood romance after repo rtedly finding love with director MCG.
The I, Robot star has previously dated screenwriter Scott Rosenberg and has a three-year-old son with footballer Tom Brady, born after they spli t and he had become involved with his now-wife Gisele Bundchen.
Moynahan sparked rumours of a new romance when she accompanied the Char lie’s Angels director to a charity tennis tournament in California recent ly and is now said to be in a relationship with the moviemaker.
A source tells America’s Life & Style magazine, "Bridget and McG have b een dating for a few months. She’s filming the show Blue Bloods in NYC, a nd he’s based in LA, but they fly back and forth. They’re very happy." (L

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