Michael Buble recently received a cassette tape of his first performance ever, but it didn't bring back pleasant memories."I was absolutely terrible. I didn't know how to get in and out of the song," the 34-year-old said embarrassingly of a performance when he was 16. "At that point I didn't understand the form of a song. So wrong, so terrible."But even though he went through an His first three CDs have gone gold, platinum and triple-platinum, and his newest one, "Crazy Love," debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart last week new album, which finds the Canadian-born singer covering songs by Van Morrison, Ron Sexsmith and the........... more
Jennifer Garner says "the world deserves better" than to see her naked.The 'Invention of Lying' actress has vowed never to bare all for a movie role because she doesn't believe anyone would want to see it.She said: "I will not be taking it all off! Zero percent. No, thank you. The world deserves better. Not interested."The actress' co-star in the movie, British funnyman Ricky Gervais, agreed with her view - unless he can draft in a stunt double.He told MTV: "OK, well then, it's equal. It's joint equal at, 'No way! Absolutely no way!'"There's no chance of me doing it. Unless I had a stunt one."One person Ricky wouldn't have as his body double is Jennifer's 'Ghost of Girlfriends Past' co-star Matthew McConaughey, who is famed for his toned physique.
Barry Manilow is in a festive mood. With Manilow set to end a five-year run at the Las Vegas Hilton on December 30, Sony Music said the 66-year-old singer has re-signed his recording deal with its Arista Records label and will be releasing two new albums in the coming months. He will be releasing his third Christmas album, "In The Swing of Christmas" on October 13 featuring contemporary and traditional yuletide songs including "Silver Bells," "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."He will record his second new album, "The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time," in collaboration with Arista founder Clive Davis, who is now chief creative officer at Sony Music. This is set for release in January in time for Valentine's Day.Davis has collaborated with Manilow on several of his recordings since they first worked together on "Mandy," Manilow's debut No. 1 single and the artist signed to Arista.Manilow's contract with Arista was not renewed in 2000 when Davis was also ousted from the label following a power struggle. But when Davis returned to Arista in 2005, he re-signed Manilow."Barry and I have a mission to bring to a new generation the great songs that are the soundtrack of our lives. This album does just that and Barry is sounding better than ever," Davis said in a statement.
Beyonce has postponed a planned concert in Malaysia after the nation's opposition Islamist party raised concerns about her performance, citing moral issues, concert organizers said.Foreign acts often draw protests by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), whose youth wing forced Beyonce to cancel her 2007 concert in the mainly Muslim nation of 27 million people.Malaysian entertainment company Marctensia said in a statement on its website that the Beyonce "I am ..." concert, planned for October 25 as part of her world tour, would be postponed to a date yet to be announced."The postponement is solely (the) decision of the artist and has nothing to do with other external reasons," the concert organizers said in the statement.No further reason was given. Marctensia said a new date for the concert would be announced "shortly" and a statement from Beyonce's management would be released later this week.The youth wing of PAS sought last year to prevent Canadian singer Avril Lavigne from performing in Malaysia.Malaysia's image as a moderate Muslim country was hit when a woman caught drinking beer recently was sentenced to be caned.
According to Variety, Fox is developing a project inspired by the work of "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan that will star Wilmer Valderrama.Valderrama would play the character based on Millan, who has built a lucrative empire based on his skills as a professional dog trainer."Hung" co-executive producer Emily Kapnek will write and executive produce the half-hour comedy. Barry Josephson is also executive producing. Twentieth Century Fox TV is the studio behind the project.The That '70s show star will play a character based on 'dog whisperer' Cesar Millan in the forthcoming Fox series, reports Daily Variety.Millan has won over TV audiences with his own series The Dog Whisperer since 2004. The trainer gained international acclaim after Winfrey featured him on her talk show in 2005.
Wyclef Jean has signed with Timberland to become its newest “Earthkeeper Hero.” The musician/singer and the outdoor footwear and apparel company have partnered on a U.S. campaign to promote environmental and humanitarian efforts in Haiti.Wyclef and Timberland have created “Yéle Haiti boots” made from recycled and organic materials, which will be available in late November. Yéle Haiti, a grassroots organization Jean started in 2005 to fund reforestation efforts in Haiti, will receive a $2 donation for every pair sold.The two also collaborated on “Tree” T-shirts designed by art students from the FOSAJ Art School in Haiti. For each shirt sold, $1 will go to Yéle Haiti. Eco-conscious concert T-shirts will be for sale at Wyclef shows during his upcoming tour, which supports the Wyclef Jean”album slated to drop in March 2010. A percentage of the proceeds from the concert shirts will also be donated.“Wyclef is a real-life Earthkeeper who shares our purpose and passion,” said Timberland president and CEO Jeff Swartz, in a statement. “Between his fans and our customers, you can expect to see big things from this collaboration.” Timberland currently has seven Earthkeepers including the founders of Project Dirt and swimmer Christopher Swain.Timberland will promote the Earthkeeper program through Twitter, MySpace, Facebook and other social media channels. These efforts will direct users to Earthkeeper.com where users can download exclusive Wyclef songs, enter contests and donate. Visitors to Imeem.com will be able to purchase and download playlists that Wyclef has created, with all proceeds going to Yéle Hati. Wyclef will participate in several Earthkeeper “Dig It” tree plantings in communities, and will make other promotional appearances.
Wishful Drinking, actress-writer Carrie Fisher's darkly comic autobiographical one-woman show about her adventures in Hollywood — and her experiences with substance abuse and mental illness — opens at Broadway's Studio 54 on Oct. 4 after previews from Sept. 22.According to the producers, "In Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher recounts the true and intoxicating tale of her life as a Hollywood legend, told with the same wry wit she poured into bestsellers like 'Postcards from the Edge.' The daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher became a cultural icon when she starred as Princess Leia in the first 'Star Wars' trilogy at 19 years old. Forever changed, Carrie's life did not stay picture perfect. Fisher is the life of the party in this uproarious and sobering look at her Hollywood hangover."Wishful Drinking premiered in November 2006 at the Geffen Playhouse and enjoyed an extended engagement there through January 2007. Following that premiere, the show played a number of not-for-profit theatre organizations around the country including director Taccone's Berkeley Repertory Theatre (February 2008 and July 2009), Arena Stage (September 2008), Huntington Theatre Company (October 2008) and Seattle Repertory Theatre (April 2009).
Harry Potter star Emma Watson was left "quite shaken" after students from rival U.S. university Harvard stalked her during a recent football match.The actress, who attends Brown University, Rhode Island, was at a game between the two schools on Saturday, but security guards had to surround her to protect her from harassment.Harvard's student magazine The Voice targeted Watson and posted a blog on its website stating supporters would try to draw as much attention to her as possible.During the match, students from the Harvard Voice wrote a series of posts on Twitter.com, including: "In enemy territory. Lookin for a certain witch," and, "Watson Found. I repeat Watson Found."The magazine also posted a photo of the star and branded the stalking campaign a "success", according to New York gossip column PageSix. But after a series of complaints, the editor of The Voice attached a note to the picture saying, "There seems to be much ado about nothing over this photo and liveblog. Understand that these live tweets were made to be intentionally outrageous and overblown."There was no comment from Watson's representative as Wenn went to press.
According to several online reports, Cruz and her boyfriend, fellow Spanish actor Javier Bardem, are engaged. Cruz's rep had no comment and Bardem's rep said, "I really don't know, but would not be able to say anything even if I did."A source tells the magazine the Oscar-winning lovebirds are headed to the altar but are trying to keep their engagement "very private and quiet." A friend of the couple also told New York's Daily News that they're both telling pals they will get married.The marriage would be the first for Cruz, 35, and Bardem, 40, who first met in 1992 on the Spanish film Jamón, Jamón. They started dating in 2007 while filming Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which earned Cruz a supporting actress Oscar earlier this year. Bardem won a supporting actor Oscar last year for No Country for Old Men.
British actress Keira Knightley is set to move from the big screen to the boards of London’s West End — she has landed a role in a play! Knightley, a film actress known for roles in Atonement and Bend It Like Beckham, will play an ambitious American film star in the play, which is being given a modern-day setting.The 24-year-old was nominated for an Oscar for playing Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice.She'll star opposite Damian Lewis, known for his turn in Band of Brothers, who takes the role of Alceste, a disillusioned British playwright who vows to reject society until he falls for her.Molière's original play is a comedy of manners set in the 17th century, with a series of characters taken in by a shallow and conceited young woman. British playwright Martin Crimp is adapting the work, which also stars Tara Fitzgerald, who starred in TV series Waking the Dead.The play opens at the Comedy Theatre in London Dec. 17 and runs until March 13.Knightley is said to be “terrified but excited” about the play and has been taking voice and singing lessons to prepare for the role.
