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Motown music mogul BERRY GORDY is planning to invest $100 million (£62.5 million) into a musical based on his life.
A source tells the New York Post Gordy will also waive the rights to the Motown back catalogue, which he owns, for the ambitious production.
The insider says, "Berry’s been wanting to do this for a long time. He’s got the money and investors lined up, he’s trying to involve Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson. This is his chance to set the record straight."

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Author PHILIP ROTH has won the 2011 Man Booker International Prize amid a storm of literary controversy.
Panel judge and fellow author Carmen Callil quit the Booker Prize committee upon learning Roth was the pick for this year’s $97,000 (£60,600) cash prize on Wednesday night (18May11).
She told Britain’s Guardian newspaper, "I don’t rate him (Roth) as a writer at all. I made it clear that I wouldn’t have put him on the longlist of nominees), so I was amazed when he stayed there.
"He goes on and on and on about the same subject in almost every single book. It’s as though he’s sitting on your face and you can’t breathe." Head judge Rick Gekoski tells the New York Times, "I am very regretful that she would go public in this way because I think it’s disrespectful to the winner." Roth will be feted at a formal dinner in London on 28 June (11).
The writer is no stranger to scandal - he previously stirred controversy with his 1969 novel Portnoy’s Complaint, which drew criticism for its sexually explicit monologue.
His body of work includes American Pastoral (1997) and The Human Stain (2000), which was turned into a movie starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman.

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Former THE O.C. star RACHEL BILSON is heading back to TV as a doctor in a new drama series.
The Jumper actress returned to the small screen last year (10) for a guest part in hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother, but she has now signed up for a more permanent role in upcoming show Hart of Dixie, about a New Yorker practising medicine in a small Southern town.
It is Bilson’s first big TV project since The O.C. came to an end in 2007.
The show will premiere on America’s CW network later this year (11).

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Indian movie star RAJINIKANTH is in intensive care after he was hospitalised with breathing difficulties.
The Tamil film icon was taken ill on the first day of shooting new movie Rana in Chennai, India last month (Apr11).
Doctors discovered he had been suffering from "intestinal problems" and treated his ailment with dialysis and drained excess fluids, but his health deteriorated further and he was admitted to the intensive care unit at Sri Ramachandra hospital on Thursday (19May11).
However, Rajinikanth, 61, is making a good recovery.
A medical official says, "He is responding well and we are happy with the parameters before and after the procedures in (the) intensive care unit. We strongly hope that he can return to a private room in a couple of days."

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Actor BRADLEY COOPER tested the levels of decency during filming for THE HANGOVER sequel in Bangkok, Thailand when he caught a ping-pong ball popped from a performance artist’s vagina in his mouth.
Cooper, his castmates and director Todd Phillips visited a local hotspot, where girls impressed guests with odd talents - and the actors were stunned with one performer in particular.
He says, "This one gal was able to eject ping-pong balls at high velocities with amazing accuracy." Cooper decided to join in the fun and asked Phillips to take a photo of him with his mouth open, pretending to catch one of the balls - and the performance artist’s aim was true.
He adds, "(It went) right in my mouth… (There are) Handi Wipes coming out from everywhere, (co-star) Ed Helms is throwing up… It was memorable."

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British singer/rapper PLAN B was crowned king of the 2011 Ivor Novello Awards after picking up three top honours, including Songwriter of the Year, at the prizegiving ceremony on Thursday (19May11).
The London-born star - real name Ben Ballance-Drew - took home the most coveted gong at the prestigious event, and also scooped Best Album for The Defamation of Strickland Banks and Performing Right Society (PRS) Most Performed Work for his hit, She Said.
Other big winners included Muse, who were awarded the International Achievement honour, veteran musician Steve Winwood, for Outstanding Song Collection, and rapper Dizzee Rascal, who won the Inspiration Award.
Rock band Villagers landed the prize for Best Song Musically And Lyrically for Becoming A Jackal, hip-hop star Tinie Tempah received the Best Contemporary Song honour for Pass Out, and former Free singer Paul Rodgers was given the award for Most Outstanding Contribution to British Music.
Speaking at the ceremony, Drew admitted the Ivor Novellos are especially important because they’re about creativity, insisting, "It’s about the real talent, not about how many records I’ve sold." The remaining winners at the ceremony were: Special International Award - Stephen Sondheim Classical Music Award - Michael Nyman Best Television Soundtrack - Dan Jones for Any Human Heart Best Original Film Score - John Powell for How To Train Your Dragon Best Original Video Game Score - Napoleon: Total War
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Controversial rocker TED NUGENT has confessed he is "repulsed" by the idea of two men having sex - but insists he’s not homophobic and wouldn’t mind if his son was gay.
The singer has been outspoken about his thoughts on same-sex relationships, but in a candid chat with CNN host Piers Morgan, he claimed a person’s sexual orientation doesn’t bother him.
He tells the Brit, "If you’re gay, have a nice day. I couldn’t give a rats a**." But when the newsman asked him if he’s homophobic and would mind if his son was gay, the musician replied, "Not at all. Ultimately all of that stuff is inconsequential.
"I’m repulsed at the concept of man-on-man sex, I think it’s against nature. I think it’s strange as hell, but if that’s what you are I love ya… I’m not going to judge another’s morals. I say live and let live. I have friends that are gay."

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Actor/rocker JACK BLACK has used his vocal skills to raise money for charity after taking part in a celebrity karaoke fundraiser.
The School Of Rock star headlined UNICEF’s Playlist for A-List event, which benefits the Schools for Africa by allowing guests to bid for an opportunity to sing alongside celebrities in a live duet.
Black wowed the audience with a rendition of Black Sabbath’s eponymous track, while host, actor Bill Bellamy, sang Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing.
Other stars to take part included Ne-Yo, model Brooklyn Decker, James Denton and Ryan Bingham.

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Rocker and activist TED NUGENT has spoken passionately about gun possession in the U.S., insisting it is his right to bear arms because pistols "equal less crime".
The outspoken musician is an avid gun fan and is open about his ownership of firearms.
And Nugent is adamant guns have a place in American society because statistics allegedly prove crime rates are lower in areas where residents are armed.
Speaking to CNN host Piers Morgan, he rants, "Anybody that wants to disarm me can drop dead. Anybody that wants to make me unarmed and helpless, people that want to literally create the proven places where more innocents are killed called gun-free zones, we’re going to beat you. We’re going to vote you out of office or suck on my machine gun." But when Morgan told him that 80 people across America die each day from a gunshot wound, Nugent argued back, "…78 of those 80 are let out of their cages by corrupt judges and prosecutors who know the recidivism is out of control, know that they’ll commit the crimes again, and they let them walk through plea bargaining, early release, and programs. Kiss my a**. Where you have the most armed citizens in America, you have the lowest violent crime rate. Where you have the worst gun control, you have the highest crime rate… More guns equals less crime. Period."

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STONE SOUR drummer ROY MAYORGA is making a speedy recovery following his stroke last week (end15May11) - his wife has released a picture of the rocker in hospital, insisting he’s going to "be OK".
The musician was performing in the band’s home town of Des Moines, Iowa when he suffered a minor stroke and was admitted to a medical facility.
The group released a statement on its website, informing fans Mayorga "is expected to make a 100% recovery" - and now it appears he is well on his way to overcoming his health problems.
The star’s wife Cazzie posted a picture of him on her Facebook.com page, showing him making a rock sign with intravenous drips attached to his hands, alongside the words, "Roy in hospital he’s gonna be ok thanks guy’s (sic)." The band has cancelled the rest of its U.S. tour while Mayorga recovers.

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JOE PERRY has questioned his bandmate STEVEN TYLER’s announcement AEROSMITH will perform on the season finale of AMERICAN IDOL, insisting it’s "not logistically possible".
Perry fell out with Tyler after he announced plans to take an indefinite hiatus from the band in late 2009. The group reunited last year (10) but their friendship hit the rocks again after Tyler took up his post on Idol, alongside Jennifer Lopez.
Tyler insists they have since made amends and are working on new music together - and earlier this month (May11) revealed he plans to get Aerosmith to perform on the final episode of the reality show, saying, "We’re playing the last show of the season. When I came on board, of course they were talking about, ‘Are you going to sing with the contestants?’ I said, ‘I’ll do a song, sure,’ but it was always my intention, always, to get Aerosmith on the show." But now Perry has refuted his bandmate’s claims in a series of posts on his Facebook.com page, revealing he’d be happy to perform - but not yet.
He writes, "(We’re) not playing ‘Idol’ ’cause we were never asked by producers. (Guitarist) Brad (Whitford) has (a) gig that night with Experience Hendrix. It’s not logistically possible. Aerosmith’s looking forward to playing ‘American Idol’ next season when our new CD is out and we can prepare a kick-a** show if they ask us.
"Really looking forward to recording with Aerosmith this July (and) August to finish our long-awaited CD… There is no peace pipe to smoke because I have no problem with anything Steven is doing."

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Slain terrorist mastermind OSAMA BIN LADEN is set for the ultimate indignity - he will become the subject of a new porn parody.
The former Al-Qaeda leader was shot dead by CIA marksmen during a raid on his compound in Pakistan earlier this month (May11) and now filmmakers at Hustler Video are set to lampoon bin Laden’s life in This Ain’t Bin Laden XXX.
After the feared terrorist was killed, operatives found a collection of porn magazines at his home.
A spokesman for Hustler Video jokes, "We’re pretty sure from what we’ve heard that bin Laden was a big fan of Hustler. He was looking at porn, now porn is looking at him. See, it all comes full circle." The DVD will hit stores this summer (11).

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British comedian and author STEPHEN FRY has been added to the cast of the LORD OF THE RINGS prequel THE HOBBIT, which is currently shooting in New Zealand.
Director/producer Peter Jackson broke the latest casting news via his Facebook.com page on Wednesday (18May11).
Fry will play The Master of Laketown in the film.
The film’s cast features fellow Brits Sir Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom and Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins.

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Veteran actor ROBERT WAGNER has launched a scathing attack on a famed food critic who slated one of his favourite restaurants in Paris, France.
The TV star was shocked when British writer A.A. Gill, who works for the U.K.’s The Sunday Times, gave a negative review of Chez L’Ami Louis in the French capital and compared one dish to "an accident involving rat babies in a nuclear reactor".
Gill also griped, "It is, all things considered, entre nous, the worst restaurant in the world." But Wagner has now taken aim at the critic, slamming the unsavoury review in a letter to Vanity Fair magazine.
The actor writes, "Is Gill telling the thousands of diners who love it that only he knows what is good? Not only is he wrong, but one feels that Gill’s labial, proctologic, colonic, urinary and suppository references apply solely to himself rather than to one of the best restaurants anywhere."

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Designer RALPH LAUREN’s daughter DYLAN has been left floored by the gown her father has designed for her wedding next month (Jun11).
The fashion icon insisted on creating the perfect dress for his only daughter but he admits it wasn’t an easy job.
During a rare family interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the designer says, "I had to do something that was better than ever before. It’s the only daughter I have… I wanted to give her something that she’d really treasure… and I wanted it to feel fantastic.
"It was clear what she should look like… I went through a few drawings. Nothing was perfect… (My wife) Ricky looked at the first drawing and she said, ‘Ralph, that’s not Dylan.’" But his daughter, candy store boss Dylan, loves the finished product: "I may not take off the dress after the wedding. I told my fiance I’ll sleep in it, I might wear it the next day; it’s really beautiful." And her summer wedding won’t be the only nuptials in the Lauren family in 2011 - eldest son David will wed at the family’s Colorado ranch in September (11).

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Director WOODY ALLEN was surprised to learn RACHEL MCADAMS and MICHAEL SHEEN became a couple after co-starring in his new movie MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, insisting he "didn’t see it coming".
The Notebook beauty has been romantically linked to British actor Sheen since last summer (10) and they finally went public with their relationship at the Cannes Film Festival in France last week (11May11), when they walked the red carpet together at the movie’s premiere.
But Allen admits he was completely unaware of the chemistry between the pair during the shoot, unlike the sparks which flew between his Vicky Cristina Barcelona stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.
He tells People.com, "I could notice it a little with Penelope and Javier. They were kind of chummy. But I didn’t see it coming here… and they did not ask my permission!"

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Supermodel NIKI TAYLOR is to become a mother for the fourth time.
The 36-year-old beauty already has 16-year-old twin boys, Hunter and Jake, from a previous marriage.
Taylor also has a two-year-old daughter with her husband, racing car driver Burney Lamar - and now the pair is set to welcome another new addition to its family.
The beauty announced the news on Twitter.com by posting the message, "Guess what’s in this photo?" before posting a link to an image showing her holding an ultrasound scan.
Taylor then added a photo of her kissing Lamar alongside the words, "YES!! We are expecting our fourth child! So happy and blessed!"

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Boxing legend SIR HENRY COOPER was laid to rest on Wednesday (18May11), with sporting greats including SIR BOBBY CHARLTON and KEVIN KEEGAN turning out to pay their last respects.
The British fighting legend and charity advocate passed away at his son’s home in Surrey, England after a short battle with ill health, two days before his 77th birthday earlier this month (May11).
Following his death, boxing icon Muhammad Ali gave a moving tribute to his one-time adversary, saying, "Henry always had a smile for me; a warm and embracing smile. It was always a pleasure being in Henry’s company." Soccer heroes Charlton and Keegan were joined by fellow sports stars Sir Trevor Brooking and Barry McGuigan and beloved British TV personalities Bruce Forsyth, Sir Terry Wogan and Russ Abbott at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Kent, England to bid farewell to the fighter.
Cooper’s coffin arrived at the church draped in a Union Jack flag, with a red wreath in the shape of a boxing glove and his nickname, ‘Our ‘Enry’, was spelt out in white chrysanthemums.

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