September 29th, 2009
07:10 PM ET
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Hollywood elite to Swiss: free Polanski now

Roman Polanski's got friends in high places.  Whether they can really burnish his image is another matter.

Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, David Lynch and Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton are among the showbiz luminaries who have signed a petition demanding Polanski's release. 

The famed director was picked up in Zurich, Switzerland on Saturday and faces possible extradition to the U.S. on a child sex case that dates back to 1977.

I can see some value in having Scorsese and Swinton in your corner, but Woody Allen?  He faced a sex scandal of his own involving the adopted daughter of his former partner, Mia Farrow.

Actor/writer Buck Henry and director John Landis  also signed the petition.  Landis was charged (and later acquitted) of involuntary manslaughter years ago in the deaths of two child actors on the set of the movie, "Twilight Zone".

As for Henry, fans of  "Saturday Night Live's" early years will recall he played a recurring character on the show, a cheesy pedophile named Uncle Roy who was always trying to get two girls (played by Gilda Radner and Lorraine Newman) to pose for Polaroid shots.

Do you think these are good candidates to speak out on Polanski's behalf?

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Filed under: Celebrities • Martin Scorsese • Roman Polanski • Woody Allen
September 29th, 2009
04:30 PM ET
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True Blood EXCLUSIVE: Part Two!

Hi Marquee Blog readers–ready for part two of my True Blood HBO Emmy After Party Special? Well here you go—an exclusive tidbit about the new season from Stephen Moyer.

Stephen Moyer

When I asked Stephen about working with Anna Paquin, his real life fiancée, he told me how much he loves getting to spend all of that extra time with her, but warned that it might not last for long.

 “I love working with Anna–I don’t think we will be working together this season only because it’s very hard to make Bill and Sookie the couple just be Bill and Sookie the couple. Nobody wants to watch that forever–every single drama you’ve ever watched has that thing where now you’ve watched and now let’s put him over there and see how he works with her and how she works with him…so we’ll see!”

Uh-oh, sounds like there may be some trouble in Bill and Sookie paradise next season! What do you guys think? Do you agree with Stephen? Would you like to see Bill and Sookie paired with other people next season?

I can’t wait to read what you think!

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Filed under: Stephen Moyer • True Blood
September 29th, 2009
02:03 PM ET
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DJ AM died of 'accidental overdose'

This just in to the Showbiz Tonight newsroom:

The New York Medical Examiner confirms that DJ AM, aka Adam Goldstein died from an accidental overdose. They told us that he suffered "Acute intoxication due to the combined effects of Cocaine, Oxycodone, Vicodin, Ativan, Klonopin, Xanax, Benadryl and Levamisole (drug used to cut cocaine)."

DJ AM, 36, was found dead in his New York City apartment on August 28th.  He died almost a year after surviving a plane crash that killed four other people. DJ AM and Travis Barker, former drummer for Blink- 182, were the only survivors.

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Filed under: DJ AM
September 29th, 2009
11:28 AM ET
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Your pop culture cheat sheet

Here's what's happening in the world of entertainment today:

  • Variety reports that presales for "Michael Jackson: This Is It," the upcoming documentary, are breaking records. The movie, set for release on October 27, accounted for 80 percent of all online ticket sales within the first 24 hours that tickets were made available, and it's selling out in several countries around the world.
  • The new fall season appears to be a success so far, according to The Hollywood Reporter, especially with new series. So far, "The Jay Leno Show," "The Cleveland Show," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Cougar Town," "Modern Family," and "FlashForward" are all doing better than last year's #1 new show at this point.
  • When "Saturday Night Live's" Darrell Hammond appeared on "SNL Weekend Update Thursday" two weeks ago, there was confusion as to whether the cast member, most famous for playing Bill Clinton and Sean Connery, was still on the show (after what appeared to be his final episode back in May). New York Times may have cleared it up, hearing from a source that he is no longer a regular but may occasionally appear as needed. Hammond, who was not in the show's opening credits this past week, was on the show longer than any other cast member in history.
  • Leonardo DiCaprio is set to star in "The Deep Blue Goodbye," based on the mystery novel of the same name, according to The Hollywood Reporter. DiCaprio's character will be a "beach bum," who runs into danger while attempting to recover property for clients in Florida.
  • The Hollywood Reporter asks, "For a million dollars, can you unspool a roll of toilet paper with your body in 60 seconds?" NBC's upcoming new game show "Perfect 10," will have challenges similar to that, involving household chores.
  • On DVD today: “Monsters vs. Aliens” starring the voice of Reese Witherspoon, “The Wizard of Oz: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray” for the 70th anniversary, “Away We Go,” starring John Krasinski, Christian Slater in “Lies and Illusions,” the animated direct-to-DVD “Superman/Batman: Public Enemies,” “How I Met Your Mother: The Legendary Season Four,” “The Unit: The Final Season” and “Life on Mars: The Complete Series.”
Filed under: Pop culture cheat sheet
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