Discovery Channel real life hostage drama

The Discovery Channel is dealing with a real crime scene at its headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. Earlier today suspected gunman, Radical Environmentalist, James J. Lee, reportedly took three hostages at the network’s building. The standoff ended when Lee was apparently shot and killed by SWAT snipers and the hostages freed.

Previously, Lee reportedly shopped a reality TV project to Discovery, according to The Wrap.  Also, the site has quite a bit of background on Lee and his bizarre brand of social activism.

This evening, the Discovery Channel corporate office released the following statement about the hostage drama:

David Leavy, Discovery Communications Executive Vice President Global Communications and Corporate Affairs stated:

“First and foremost, Discovery Communications wants to express how relieved and grateful we are that all employees and the children from the Discovery Kids Place daycare center are safe. Employees in Silver Spring demonstrated courage, compassion and cooperation throughout the situation, which aided law enforcement efforts — for which we are thankful and proud.

In coordination with Montgomery County, Md., Police, an evacuation procedure was executed for all persons in the building. The evacuation procedures were handled with professionalism and with safety as Discovery’s primary concern. Discovery thanks the Montgomery County Police and Fire & Rescue and other state and federal safety personnel whose quick thinking and fast action ensured the safety of the employees and children in the building as well as the Silver Spring, Md., community.

The events of today showed the strong heart of the Discovery family.”

The statement was released through PR Newswire.

“Takers” beat the competition at the Box Office

The bank robbery thriller “Takers” has surprised many with its take at the domestic Box Office. “Takers” debuted as the number one film in the country last weekend with a haul of $20.5 million, beating close rival “The Last Exorcism” by a couple of hundred thousand dollars or so.

“Takers” proved its weekend victory was not fluke by holding onto the lead on Monday and Tuesday. “Takers” is about a group of skilled bank robbers who bump up against a tough detective and his partner during a final heist. Matt Dillion, Hayden Christensen, Pop Singer Rihanna’s ex-boyfriend, Chris Brown, and Rapper, T.I., are  in the ensemble cast.

Despite a number of bad reviews, “The Last Exorcism,” managed to find an audience. The new horror mockumentary, scared up $20.3 million, to finish in second place. The movie is about a disillusioned minister who agrees to the exorcism of a farmer’s daughter and a documentary crew goes along to film it all. Patrick Fabian, Iris Bahr and Louis Herthum star.

The action flick, “The Expendables” came in third with $9.5 million, bringing its three week total to around $82 million. Rounding out the top five,  romance drama, “Eat Pray Love” with $6.8 million and the buddy-cop comedy, “The Other Guys” with $6.2 million.

Photo: People.com/Frazer Harrison/Getty--"Desperate Housewives" Actress Eva Longoria Parker on the 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards red carpet

Actress Eva Longoria Parker joined the star parade on the red carpet for the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony at the Nokia Theater in Downtown Los Angeles this evening.  The “Desperate Housewives” star gets my vote for being very glam in a Robert Rodriquez gown and one of the best dressed celebs on the red carpet.

People magazine website has more photos of the star parade as well as a report on the night’s big winners including “Modern Family” Best Comedy series and Jim Parson, Best Actor in a comedy series for “The Big Bang Theory.”

Actress Lindsay Lohan gets another break

Today a Beverly Hills judge ordered Actress Lindsay Lohan to do 67-days of supervised probation at home. Lohan was released from in-patient treatment at UCLA yesterday afternoon. This is the newest twist in Lohan latest troubles with the law, which include a 90-day jail sentence and 90-day rehab stint for a probation violation. Lohan served only a fraction of that time in both places. Details on The Wrap.  

Actress wins guest appearance on daytime TV soap

Photo: PRNewsFoto/ Procter and Gamble/ George Desota -- Aspiring Actress Jennifer Jean wins guest appearance on "As The World Turns"

 Jennifer Jean’s star is rising. The actress is the new “Brighten Bay Idol,” after winning an online talent search sponsored by Cheer/Procter & Gamble.  The contest kicked off last January with a call for audition tapes from talented thespians  on the Brighten Bay website.

Jean, a California native and former school teacher, has appeared in TV commercials, an independent film, numerous improv and sketch shows, according to a PR Newswire press release. 

Jean appears as Nurse Greta in the August 30th episode of the long running soap. It’s her first big break: “Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that my favorite detergent brand, Cheer, would help catapult my acting career,” said Jean in the press release. “But starring in one of the final episodes of ‘As the World Turns’ is definitely going to be a turning point for me. I’m so grateful to all of the voters who chose my audition tape and can’t thank Cheer and ‘Brighten Bay Idol’ enough!”

 ”We were all blown away by Jennifer’s performance and are excited to help develop her acting career,” said Tara Murphy, Cheer brand manager.

Last December, CBS canceled “As The World Turns.”  So after 54 years and 13, 858 episodes,  the final installment of the daytime soap opera airs on September 17, 2010.

 ”The Expendables” still beating the competition at the Box Office

“The Expendables,” still packing them in at movie theaters this week. . The Sylvester Stallone project won the box office shoot-out for the second week in a row with a take of  $17 million.  The action flick continued to out pace the competition on Monday and and Tuesday picking up  an additional $4 million or so, to bring it’s 11-day domestic total to $69.3 million.

In second the new vampire movies spoof, “Vampires Suck,” with $12.2 million. Jenn Proske and Matt Lanter star in the horror comedy about a teenaged girl who falls for a mysterious guy at school who happens to be a vampire.

Julia Robert’s “Eat, Pray, Love”  landed in third with $12 million,. Fourth went to the new urban comedy, “Lottery Ticket,” which picked up $10.6 million  weekend. Bow Wow and Ice Cube star in this film about a young man living in the projects who wins a lottery and has to safe guard  his winning ticket from predators over a holiday weekend.

Rounding out the top five, the comedy action film, “The Other Guys” with $10 million.

Madonna sued over “Material Girl”  clothing line

Entertainer, Madonna, has launched a “Material Girl” clothing line with daughter, Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon. Oops!  L.A. Triumph, claims it’s been selling clothes under that label since around 1997 and at some of the same high-ended retailers involved in the new Madonna deal.

This week, the California company sued Madonna. More details in a story on The Los Angeles Times website.

Dr. Laura’s controversial farewell

In the wake of a controversy over her use of the N-word on the air, Conservative Radio Talk Show Host, Dr. Laura Schlessinger,  announced she would pull the plug on her program at the end of the year. Dr. Laura made the surprise announcement on CNN’s “Larry King Live.”

Dr. Laura says she’s taking the drastic step because she wants  her  ”… First Amendment rights back.” Not everyone is buying that reasoning — here’s a good post about it all on The Wrap. Dr. Laura’s radio program can be heard locally on KFWB News Talk 980. 

Oh, click here for Dr. Laura’s blog where she talks about the controversy, her apology, and the support she’s getting from Sarah Palin.

Betty White’s new two-book deal

UPDATED:  Sunday,  August 22, 2010                                                                                                                                                       

 Actress Betty White has another Emmy to add to her collection. White won number  seven last night for best guest actress in a comedy series for her hosting of a “Saturday Night Live” episode, back in the spring.

That award winner was announced during the creative arts section of the 62 Annual  Primetime Emmy Awards, at the Nokia Theater in Downtown Los Angeles.  The winners in some of the major Emmy categories will be announced on a broadcast next Sunday, August 29, 2010, on NBC. 

Actress Betty White is 88-years-old and has a career that’s on the upswing. The Emmy Award-winning actress has gained new fans with her appearance in a hit Super Bowl TV commercial back in February, then in May as a guest host on NBC-TV’s, “Saturday Night Live,” and now she has a role on cable network TV Land’s popular series, “Hot in Cleveland.”  This week it was disclosed White has sealed a two-book deal with G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

The first book, “Listen Up,” will be about life lessons learned during White’s many years in Hollywood. It’s due out in hardcover next spring. By the way, she has been nominated for 20 Emmy Awards and has won six — including two for her role in the 1970s ”The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and one for starring in the hit 1980s series, “The Golden Girls.”

The second book, “The Zoo and I: Betty and Her Friends” will showcase stories and photographs of White and her friends at the Los Angeles Zoo – scheduled to hit the market in 2012.

In a PR Newswire press release, White said she’s enjoying the new challenge: “Much as I love what I do for a living in show business, I love writing even more – so I am thrilled to be working on not only one new book but two of them.”  White is the author of five other books.

President Obama raises $1 million & snarls traffic in Southland  

It happens almost every time a U.S. President visits the Southland. The bad traffic situation gets worse. That’s what occurred today, when President Barack Obama dropped in for one of those high-ticket priced Hollywood -type fundraisers.

Obama reportedly raised $1 million dollars for the Democrats and the ire of some Southlanders over the traffic problems caused by his visit. Nice report and photo on the Los Angeles Times website.

“The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”

Photo: PR NewsFoto/Columbia Pictures/Merrick Morton -- Actress Rooney Mara

 Actress Rooney Mara has won one of the most sought after roles in Hollywood. Columbia Pictures announced today that Mara has been selected to star in the film version of  Stieg Larsson’s mystery blockbuster, “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” and the other two adaptations in The Millennium Trilogy. David Fincher will direct.

Since being published in the U.S., “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” has sold over 5 million copies. The Millennium Trilogy has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, according to a PR Newswire press release.

 All three books, including “The Girl Who Played With Fire” and “THe Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest” currently are at the top of the New York Times Best Sellers List.  The  Millennium Triology is considered a literary phenomenon.

Photo: PR NewFoto/Columbia Pictures/Merrick Morton -- Actor Daniel Craig

Also, Actor Daniel Craig is set to star in “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.” Deadline.com has more on the casting and the upcoming productions.

Sylvester Stallone king of the Box Office

Actor and Filmmaker, Sylvester Stallone, is hot again. Stallone co-wrote, directed, and starred in the number one film in country right now, “The Expendables.” The action flick about a group of mercenaries out to take down a South American dictator, debuted over the weekend with a winning $34.8 million.  The cast includes Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren, and Jet Li as well.

“Eat Pray Love,” the move version of Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir about her adventures traveling the world, opened in second place with $23 million. Julia Roberts stars, but that was not enough for this chick flick to win the race to number one.

The action-comedy, “The Other Guys” grabbed third with  $17.4 million, the sci-fi thriller, “Inception” earned $11.4 million for fourth and rounding out the top five, the new action-comedy, “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World ” with $10.6 million. Based on a graphic novel, “Scott Pilgrim”  is about a 20-something musician who’s life chances dramatically when he falls for a mysterious woman. Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead star.

Jamie Foxx’s new production deal

Actor Jamie Foxx has hooked-up a new production deal with Writer/Producer/Director, Deon Taylor. No Brainer Films reportedly will be scouting for films and TV projects under $10 million. Details over on Deadline.com

Lady Gaga & her fans invade Staples Center

Photo:Kirk McKay/Los Angeles Times -- Two of the many fans who dressed in Lady Gaga-style for the singer's concert at Staples Center in L.A., August 11, 2010

Pop sensation, Lady Gaga, wraps up a two-concert gig at Staples Center tonight. Some of the fans at last night’s concert showed up in Gaga-inspired outfits. More photos and a review of Gaga’s Monster Ball show on the Los Angeles Times website.

Billy Idol still rocking

A flash from the past, 80s Rocker Billy Idol, can still put on quite a performance. Last night Idol took to the stage for two shows at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula. Inland SoCal Music Blogger, Vanessa Franko, was there and posted a review on her AudioFile blog today. Franko’s got Idol concert photos, too. Also, Idol is set to rock that same venue again at a sold-out concert tomorrow.

“Show Me the Polyester”

If you look great in polyester and dig rock singer/songwriter, Jackson Browne, here’s a contest for you. Browne is touring the U.S. right now with musician David Lindley. Apparently, Browne and Lindley are sporting flashy polyester shirts on stage during their performances this summer.

The duo is encouraging fans to show-off their best eye-catching polyester shirts in a photo contest going on at the “Show Me the Polyester” website, according to a PR Newswire press release. Fans have until August 25 to upload photos of themselves wearing  polyester shirts to the site. One winner will get a travel package to New York City and two-front row seats for the duo’s Beacon Theatre concert on September 14, 2010.

The latest release from  Browne and Lindley is “Love is Strange,” a 2-CD set of a tour they did in Spain back in 2006.

Profits soar for Disney, the other big studios, and the networks

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G — Disney Studios in Burbank

The money is rolling in for Disney, which this afternoon reported third quarter profits leaped 40%. Disney is not the only entertainment giant enjoying a good year. Despite the bad economy, other studios and the networks are doing well, too. Nikki Finke over at Deadline.com asks why so many folks in the entertain biz are out of work with this kind of upbeat financial picture in Hollywood? Check out Finke’s post here.

“The Other Guys” shoot to the top of the Box Office 

The action-comedy, “The Other Guys,” won the weekend domestic Box Office and is continuing to rake in the dough at theaters.  “The Other Guys” debuted with $35.5 million to become the number one film in the country. On Monday, the teaming of Will  Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as wantabe- hero  New York City detectives earned nearly $5 million more at theaters. 

After three weeks at in the top spot, the dreamscape sci-fi flick, “Inception,” dropped to second collecting $18.5 million– bringing its four-week domestic total to around $227 million. The new dance movie, “Step Up 3D” boogied into third place with $15.8 million. Adam Sevani and Alyson Stoner star in this third installment of the Step Up trilogy, where the battle of the dance moves to the college arena. 

Rounding out the top five, the spy thriller “Salt” with $10.9 million and the comedy, “Dinner for Schmucks” with $10.3 million.