Sympatico stories.

Adam Levine says Randy Jackson is irresponsible

Filed under: Music, Pop, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 12:57 pm on February 3, 2012

February 3, 2012

Rumblings and tumblings between two top TV talent competitions continue as The Voice coach Adam Levine calls American Idol judge Randy Jackson “irresponsible.”

Levine reportedly took issue with Jackson calling NBC’s The Voice a show for “second chance people” that takes the left-over contestants from Fox’s Idol and X Factor.

Jackson provocatively stated at an Idol TCA panel last month that “The winner of The Voice, I will remind you, was an artist who had a deal at Capitol Records for several years, a failed contract,” referring to Voice victor Javier Colon.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Levine responded to the accusation during a recent visit to the Ellen DeGeneres show, while sitting alongside fellow coaches Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton.

“Shame on Randy Jackson for saying that,” Levine said. “Because he, out of anybody, should know that if you’re in this business you need second, third, fourth and fifth chances. So we love and embrace that being part of the show.”

Softening the blow slightly, he added “You know, God bless Randy. He was a working musician for a long time and had a lot of success, and then the show Idol kind of blew him out of the water. And he is a household name now. It was an irresponsible thing to say that.”

Something Jackson recently said to THR may shed some light on why he lashed out. He admits that Idol’s success isn’t what it used to be, a reality he blames at least in part on the saturation of their brand of programming.

(Photo by PR Photos)

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Lana Del Rey not bankrolled by daddy

Filed under: Music, Pop, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 11:42 am on

February 3, 2o12

Lana Del Rey’s career was not bankrolled by a rich father, says the owner of her former label Five Points Records,

Five Points’ David Nichtern tells MTV that reports daddy funded the pop singer’s foray into the music biz are false.

“There’s a lot of misinformation that I’ve read that’s dead wrong,” Nichtern says. “For example, her father never had anything to do financially with supporting her creativity. I don’t know if he was lending her money to live off of, but at least when she was with us, not a penny. I don’t know if he’s rich or not; I met him and he seemed like a pretty ordinary guy. But that whole thing that she was backed by her millionaire dad is a bunch of crap, basically.”

Other falsehoods, says Nichtern, include reports that the album Del Rey recorded with Five Points was made on a budget of $10,000.

“It was way more,” he says. “It was an all-in budget of $50,000. And we also gave her a significant advance. So I don’t know why … I’m not sure who’s saying what about anything; it seems like people are grabbing at loose facts, but nobody is verifying with anybody.”

It was recently announced that said album, recorded in 2010 and titled Lana Del Ray, a.k.a. Lizzy Grant, will get a re-release later this year. Whether the subtle change in the spelling of her stage name will be amended for the re-release is yet to be told.

Nichtern says the record, which was pulled from iTunes two months after its digital release, was shelved at Del Rey’s demand.

He explains, “[She] and her new manager came in and said ‘We want to get this off the market. We’re going for a completely new deal. We’ll buy you out of the deal.’ So we made a separation agreement.”

(Image: Five Point Records)

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The Help stars moving on to big things

Filed under: Entertainment, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 11:23 am on

February 3, 2o12

Two of the Oscar-nominated stars of The Help are suddenly finding themselves in high demand in Hollywood.

Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer may play “the help” in The Help, but the Academy Awards nominations that have come their way are now helping them to scoop up major new roles.

Industry trade magazine Variety reports that Viola Davis, nominated for Best Actress for her performance as Aibileen Clark, has just signed on for two big roles. Davis will join the casts of both the upcoming sci-fi blockbuster Ender’s Game and the drama Beautiful Creatures.

Davis will play a psychologist in Game, joining a star-studded line-up that includes Harrison Ford, Hugo’s Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin and Ben Kingsley in the adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s famous novel.

In Creatures, an adaptation of a novel co-written by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia about two teens struggling to understand a curse, Davis will assume a leading role, playing a librarian who helps to uncover the truth.

Meanwhile, Octavia Spencer, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Minny Jackson in The Help, has just signed on to star in the sci-fi flick Snow Piercer.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Spencer will join Captain America’s Chris Evans in the picture, which will be directed by The Host’s Bong Joon-Ho.

Set in a future Ice Age, Snow Piercer tells the tale of the last remaining group of humans, trapped aboard a train that circles the frozen globe. Spencer will play a passenger aboard the train who joins a revolutionary movement to challenge the powers that be.

Spencer will begin shooting Snow Piercer just as soon as she wraps the new, untitled Diablo Cody movie which is scheduled to start shooting in March.

(Photo by PR Photos)

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Nicki Minaj used to be Queen of England

Filed under: Music, Pop, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 11:04 am on

February 3, 2012

Nicki Minaj says she was “probably” the Queen of England in a past life.

The hip-hop superstar tells Wonderland Magazine that she knows for a fact that she was English in a former life, claiming “I was born in London in my past life, no one can tell me different.”

The eccentric star imagines a past that includes trading rags for riches and extending a helpful hand to her followers, who Minaj habitually calls her “Barbies.”

“I probably was like a queen in London, I was probably the people’s queen that fought for lives,” the rapper says. “And I probably started off as a maid and then was just, like, really revolutionary and moved all my [Barbies] into the big queen mansion.”

The star also reveals that there are real and substantial differences between her real self and her colourful stage persona.

“Oh they’re definitely two completely different people,” Minaj admits. “Obviously what I would wear at home is not what I would wear up on stage and I think, when I’m at home it’s a way more introspective character and I think the person people see on stage is anything but, I watch a lot of Judge Judy. And I watch a lot of Forensic Files.

“And I cook – I cook spaghetti really, really good; I cook macaroni and cheese really, really good; I cook chicken really, really good.”

Fans can look forward to seeing Minaj take the stage with the Material Girl as Nicki joins Madonna for the Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday.

(Photo by PR Photos)

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George Michael’s impressive recovery

Filed under: Music, Pop, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 10:50 am on

February 3, 2012

Doctors are impressed with George Michael’s recovery after a nearly fatal battle with pneumonia last year. And, fortunately, he no longer looks like the “Bride of Chucky.”

The former Wham frontman was hospitalized in Vienna, Austria, last November, and spent four weeks in care before returning to the U.K. for the holidays.

He’s now recuperating on vacation and has taken to Twitter to inform followers about his progress.

“People, I’m excited….just finishing a ballad that I think is going to make you think my eighties self has been re-born ! Which I suppose it has in a way :) Even my tracheostomy scar is healing nicely in the sun, was looking a bit Bride of Chucky for a while,” he wrote.

“Spoke to doctors before I came away and they told me my recovery is way quicker than can usually be expected so I’m happy as Larry.”

Michael also told fans earlier this week that he’s hoping to make up the tour dates he had to cancel because of the illness.

“Realistically I can’t see my vocal cords being being ready till the summer,” he tweeted, “But then I have to think about people losing out if they are on their summer hols. So September seems the most likely. Sorry about that everyone. Rest assured I will use the time wisely… As in… working on improving the show, mixing the live tracks, finishing brand new tracks!”

(Photo by PR Photos)

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Adam Lambert to tour with Queen

Filed under: Music, Rock, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 10:32 am on

February 3, 2012

Adam Lambert will be touring with Queen as the new lead singer for the classic rock legends.

So says the former American Idol star according to the British tabloid Daily Star.

MTV reports that Lambert first performed with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor on Idol back in 2009. Ever since, rumours have swirled that the boys in the band think Lambert has exactly what it takes to fill in for the late great Freddie Mercury.

Now the Daily Star claims plans have finally been made for Lambert to perform with the surviving members of Queen for a number of shows, including one at Knebworth in England, when the band famously played its final show with Mercury in 1986.

“The intention is to pay tribute to Freddie and the band by singing some f—ing great songs,” Lambert reportedly told the tab. “It’s to keep the music alive for the fans and give it an energy that Freddie would have been proud of.”

Lambert says plans to tour with the band began to solidify following his performance with Queen at last November’s MTV Europe Music Awards.

“After the EMAs, I heard faint little slithers of a backlash from people saying: ‘You can’t replace Freddie Mercury.’ But I already knew that,” he says. “There’s no intention in my mind of replacing Freddie. That’s impossible. The way I’m choosing to view it is that it’s a great honour and one I’m in no way going to shirk … Being asked to front Queen is the best thing that can possibly happen.”

Lambert’s new solo album Trespassing, is set to drop March 20.

(Photo by PR Photos)

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Short Circuit remake planned?

Filed under: Entertainment, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 10:22 am on

February 3, 2012

Rumours that Hollywood may be planning a remake of the beloved 1980s comedy Short Circuit appear to be on the mark.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dimension Films is hoping to turn the 1986 Steve Guttenberg comedy about a sentient, wise-cracking robot into an all new series of blockbusters.

“Dimension has had great success with the Spy Kids family series which grossed over $500 million worldwide,” says Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Co., which rules Dimension. “We are looking for Short Circuit to be our next family franchise.”

To reboot the robot, Dimension has hired screenwriter Matt Lieberman to update the script and brought Tim Hill, director of Hop and Alvin and the Chipmunks, on board to oversee the action.

The original Short Circuit, also starring ‘80s icon Ally Sheedy, was a hit with kids who were entranced by the talking robot Johnny 5, created by Blade Runner and Tron designer Syd Mead.

Word is production on the flick is expected to kick into high-gear soon so that Johnny-5 can roll into theatres in time for the summer of 2013.

(Photo by PR Photos)

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Insidious 2 on the way

Filed under: Entertainment, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 9:29 am on

February 3, 2012

It appears James Wan, the director behind the Saw movies, now has a new horror franchise on his hands.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Wan’s 2011 horror hit Insidious is getting a sequel, after terrifying audiences last summer.

Wan, who directed the original Saw as well as Insidious, is in talks to return for the follow-up, as is Leigh Whannell, screenwriter of the original.

Starring Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne, the first Insidious grossed almost $100 million despite a measly budget of only $1.5 million. With Byrne’s sudden success as one of the stars of both Bridesmaids and X-Men: First Class, it’s unclear just yet whether she’ll return for the follow up or if the new flick will feature an all new cast of characters.

Insidious told the story of a suburban couple whose young child falls into a coma and somehow becomes a spooky conduit for ghosts of all sorts. The film was praised for finding its scares with suspense rather than gore.

Shooting on Insidious 2 is set to begin later this year.

(Photo by PR Photos)

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The Artist star in French ad flap

Filed under: Entertainment, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 8:56 am on

February 3, 2012

Jean Dujardin, star of the acclaimed and Oscar-nominated film The Artist, has suddenly found himself at the centre of a controversy in his native France.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dujardin is front and centre in a series of sexually provocative posters for his new comedy Les Infidèles (The Players). The posters have provoked complaints and now the ARPP, France’s “advertising watchdog,” has ordered the billboards taken down.

The ads show Dujardin and co-writer, director and star Gilles Lellouche in a series of poses with female body parts that some might argue are degrading to women.

“We already feel that this campaign is against the rules,” says ARPP head Stephane Martin. “Even if it relates to the subject of the film, a comedy about adultery.”

Some members of the French media have already begun speculating that the controversy could affect Dujardin’s Oscar chances. The star has been nominated for Best Actor at this year’s Academy Awards for his performance in The Artist.

“All that’s missing is Jean Dujardin being deprived of his Oscar because on this side of the Atlantic, he’s trampled the politically correct America,” wrote French newspaper Le Point.

The Players hits French theatres on February 29.

(Image by Mars Distribution)

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Machete lawsuit claims filmmakers stole concept

Filed under: Entertainment, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 8:40 am on

February 3, 2012

Did the directors of the pulpy B-movie Machete steal the idea for their film?

That’s the charge leveled by writer/actress Yvonne Delarosa, who has filed a suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis stole the concept for the film from her.

Celebrity gossip site TMZ reports that Delarosa claims Maniquis asked for her input when he was first putting together the story for Machete, about a one man Mexican wrecking crew who seeks violent justice while wielding his, well, machete.

Delarosa says she shared all sorts of ideas with Maniquis about characters and situations for the screenplay with the full expectation she would be credited and compensated.

Starring Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro and Michelle Rodriguez, Machete was released in 2010. Delarosa says many of her ideas made it to the big screen – but the compensation she was promised never materialized.

The actress is now seeking unspecified damages, but has yet to identify exactly what elements of the story were hers.

Rodriguez and Maniquis – who has long worked for Rodriguez as a film editor – have so far refused to comment on the case.

Rodriguez’s most recent film, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World was released last year.

(Photo by PR Photos)

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