Reuters
Friday, December 29, 2006; 8:19 PM
Julia Roberts pregnant with third child
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts, who gave birth to twins two years ago, is expecting her third child, her publicist told People magazine on Friday. Roberts, 39, is due this summer, spokeswoman Marcy Engelman said on the magazine's Web site (www.people.com). News of the movie star's pregnancy first surfaced in the New York Post on Friday.
Networks face quandary over Saddam execution
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - As the world awaited word of Saddam Hussein's fate, U.S. television news executives faced a quandary over whether to break a taboo against airing footage of executions should video of his hanging become available. As of Friday evening, two major broadcast networks -- ABC and NBC -- as well as cable news outlets CNN and Fox News Channel -- said they would wait to see what images of Saddam's execution, if any, surface before deciding whether and how to use them.
Former boxer Tyson arrested on DUI, cocaine charges
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (Reuters) - Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was arrested in Arizona on Friday and charged with driving under the influence of drugs and possession of cocaine, police said. Tyson was arrested in Scottsdale, 10 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona, after his black BMW nearly collided with a sheriff's vehicle, according to court documents.
Ford didn't make his career, actor Chase says
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. comic actor Chevy Chase, who portrayed Gerald Ford as a klutz on the 1975-76 "Saturday Night Live" television shows, says he does not enjoy the renewed attention the ex-president's death brought him. "I'm just a guy who made some fun of Gerald Ford in 1976 and I prefer to be left alone, really," the 63-year-old comedian told Reuters this week from a Colorado ski resort where he had been skiing with his daughter.
"Pirates" helps push '06 box office tally up
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Box office slump? What box office slump? The theatrical box office might be under siege, but it fought back and actually gained some ground in 2006. As the box office year, which will conclude with the New Year's holiday weekend, winds to an end, the total national tally is headed toward an estimated $9.42 billion, which would represent an increase of nearly 5% compared with 2005's $8.99 billion.
Tarot cards, tea leaves mostly flop in Hollywood
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - As 2006 winds down, the media are often tempted to offer predictions for the coming year. The temptation should be resisted. Sure, it's possible to extrapolate from trends. Heading into 2006, with budget-conscious studios reining in talent deals, it was possible to predict that Paramount Pictures and Tom Cruise would probably end up in a tough negotiation to renew his lucrative production pact. It even was possible to speculate that they might part ways.
Rod Stewart, Liverpool's Gerrard win UK honors
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth bestowed awards on Saturday on singer Rod Stewart, soccer star Steven Gerrard and her own granddaughter -- world equestrian champion Zara Phillips. The queen also granted medals to filmmaker Peter Greenaway, actors Hugh Laurie and Penelope Keith and authors Alexander McCall Smith and Colin Thubron in her New Year's honors list.
Placido Domingo backs NY Met's opera at cinema push
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Placido Domingo says he has a dream. He's in Vienna at 2 a.m. and his yearning to see the performance taking place at the Metropolitan Opera in New York is instantly fulfilled by switching on a television. The renowned Spanish tenor's dream may not be far from reality in the digital age.
Music world lost Rawls, Pickett, others in 2006
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Following is a list of some leading lights in the music world who were silenced in 2006. LOU RAWLS
U2 may change musical direction on next album
NEW YORK (Billboard) - With its monster-selling Vertigo world tour complete, U2 may be ready to rock less, according to frontman Bono "Our band has certainly reached the end of where we've been at for the last couple of albums," the newly dubbed honorary knight said during a BBC Radio interview earlier this week. "I want to see what else we can do with it, take it to the next level; I think that's what we've got to do."