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February 9th, 2010
06:56 PM ET
Tom Cruise gears up for another 'Mission'Fans of superspy Ethan Hunt and the IMF, mark your calendars for Memorial Day weekend, 2011: Tom Cruise is gearing up for "Mission: Impossible IV." Paramount announced today that J.J. Abrams, who directed and co-wrote "M:I III," and Cruise will produce the film, have collaborated on the story, and are searching for a director. Obviously, Paramount has faith that Abrams can revive a flagging franchise: his reboot of "Star Trek" last year brought in $385 million in worldwide box office, four Oscar nominations, and generally good reviews. Not that the "M:I" films are failing – the first three combined for $1.4 billion worldwide, though "M:I III," back in 2006, had the biggest budget and the lowest grosses of the trio. No word yet whether Ving Rhames will return as Ethan's longtime pal and cohort (and my favorite character in the series), smooth computer expert Luther Stickell.
February 9th, 2010
06:26 PM ET
Bonnaroo announces 2010 lineup testing captions In recent years, Bonnaroo - the Manchester, Tennessee, music, arts and let-it-all-hang-out festival - has welcomed Bruce Springsteen, Phish, Al Green, the White Stripes, Of Montreal, Kings of Leon, the Police, Metallica, Aimee Mann and B.B. King ... just to name a (very) few. This year, the lineup will include Weezer, Jeff Beck, OK Go, John Fogerty, Norah Jones and the Flaming Lips - some veterans of the festival, others playing it for the first time. Bonnaroo has been releasing its artist roster in dribs and drabs through Twitter, MySpace and its own Web page, with some artists confirming their participation independently. But as Rolling Stone observes, the slow release has allowed some artists - and non-artists, for that matter - who aren't playing the festival at all to tweet that they are performing. The full lineup will be released Tuesday night. Tickets for the festival, set for June 10-13, are now on sale. Update, 10:30 p.m. ET: Other acts playing this year's festival include the Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, the Dead Weather, Jimmy Cliff, the Avett Brothers, Tori Amos, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, GWAR, the Melvins and They Might Be Giants, according to Bonnaroo's official site.
February 9th, 2010
06:26 PM ET
Ellen on Simon: 'He's a smart guy'
 testing captions Ellen DeGeneres downplayed reports that she has beef with fellow “Idol” judge Simon Cowell. The newest judge on the block spoke with the show’s host, Ryan Seacrest, Tuesday morning on his radio show and had nice words about the notoriously critical Brit. "I think he's a funny guy and I think he's a smart guy," she said before going on to joke that “I like Simon. I like him on Wednesdays I think. I can’t remember which day I like him.”
February 9th, 2010
03:19 PM ET
Lou Gossett Jr.: A class act testing captions Lou Gossett Jr. announced today he's in the early stages of prostate cancer. It gave me pause, because I had a chance to spend some time with him this past November. Gossett was a guest at the taping of the CNN Heroes show at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Our unit in Los Angeles helped squire celebrities from their limos to their seats; we were essentially Hollywood herders. Because we are immersed in the world of celebrity, it's not often we are starstruck. It's a business, a job. A couple of weeks before the show, I received a call on my cell: a Beverly Hills area code, and a number I didn't recognize. I generally do not give out my cell phone number, so I was curious.
February 9th, 2010
02:16 PM ET
Lil Wayne sentencing will take place March 2 due to dental work
Rapper Lil Wayne was scheduled to be sentenced to a year-long prison term Tuesday, but the court session has been adjourned until March 2 due to dental work. The updates below are from CNN's Andrea Mineo, reporting from the courtroom. 2:42 p.m.: When asked about the adjournment, Lil Wayne's attorney, Stacey Richman, said she thinks the judge "made the proper health decision for Mr. Carter." 2:33 p.m.: When asked how Wayne is holding up, Richman told CNN that Wayne is "a strong man" with a "strong mind." 2:21 p.m.: The judge presiding over the case said, "Last adjournment are we clear?" Wayne must be ready on March 2 at 2:15 p.m. The adjournment is due to dental work he is having in Florida.
February 9th, 2010
01:25 PM ET
Ashton Kutcher, Gabourey Sidibe join Leno for last show
A few weeks after Conan O'Brien bid a star-studded farewell to the "Tonight Show" - complete with a performance from Neil Young - Jay Leno's time has also come. Not to leave the network, mind you, just to close the curtain on NBC's failed prime-time experiment, "The Jay Leno Show," tonight at 10 p.m. It's kind of like deja vu, but instead of handing off the mic to another comedian, Leno's going right back to where he started. "Leno" will soon be just a memory. |
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