US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary

The Who to perform at SuperBowl: report

NEW YORK (Billboard) - The Who will perform at Superbowl XLIV, marking the British band's first performance in North America since 2008. According to a report on SI.com, the Sports Illustrated website, the veteran band will take the stage during the halftime show of the 2010 National Football League championship game, scheduled for February 7 in Miami.

"Idol" champ Allen's CD reflects life on the road

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "American Idol" champion Kris Allen, who once traveled the world on church missionary trips, took an equally wayfaring approach to record his new album, working in studios across the United States. "Name a big city and I probably recorded a song there," Allen told Reuters ahead of the self-titled "Kris Allen" release on November 17.

"2012" set to explode at box office

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The end of the world starts Friday. Sony's apocalyptic actioner "2012," toting a $200 million production cost and hefty marketing expenses, is opening in 105 global territories simultaneous with its domestic debut.

John King to replace CNN's departing Lou Dobbs

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - CNN reporter John King will replace controversial departing host Lou Dobbs in a new weeknight political program on the 24-hour cable news network, CNN said on Thursday. The appointment of King, currently the chief national political correspondent and host of Sunday political show "State of the Union," follows the abrupt resignation one day earlier of Dobbs before the end of his contract in 2011.

Jackson's "This Is It" passes $200 million worldwide

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Jackson's concert movie "This Is It" has taken more than $200 million at box offices worldwide in the first two weeks of release, the studio behind the movie said on Thursday. Sony Pictures Entertainment said the movie had grossed $61 million in North America and more than $140 million internationally. Japan ($27.2 million) and the UK ($14.3 million) were particularly strong markets.

Taylor Swift boosts ratings for country awards

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Taylor Swift's clean sweep of the Country Music Assn. Awards helped the broadcast reach its biggest audience in four years, according to preliminary figures released on Thursday. The three-hour show averaged 16.8 million viewers for ABC on Wednesday, up from 15.9 million last year. It marks the highest score since 2005, when 17.7 million people tuned in to the CBS broadcast.

Documentary group unveils film award nominees

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The International Documentary Association on Thursday unveiled nominees for its widely-watched awards, putting its spotlight on non-fiction films that might also compete for Oscars early next year. The key category of distinguished documentary achievement finds five nominees ranging from a film about four people competing in a television talent show in Afghanistan, "Afghan Star" to the story of a pair of faded rockers hoping for one last grasp at stardom, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil."

Next "Saw" horror movie will be in 3-D

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - There's still some life in the "Saw" horror franchise, despite the disappointing performance of the latest installment. Indie Hollywood studio Lionsgate said on Thursday it was moving ahead with "Saw 7," which will be in 3-D.

Clicker launches a TV Guide for the Internet

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Clicker.com launched a TV Guide for Internet television on Thursday, designed to provide a new way to find everything from old Seinfeld episodes to cooking shows. "What is TV Guide for the next generation going to look like?" asked Chief Executive Jim Lanzone. His aim is for a comprehensive Internet guide that makes it easy to find programs, save them, click to them and get reminders.

Owl City, Rihanna shine on U.S. singles chart

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Electronica artist Owl City reclaimed the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on Thursday, while Rihanna earned her 12th career top 10 as "Russian Roulette" soared up the rankings. Owl City, a.k.a. 23-year-old Adam Young, rose one place to the top with "Fireflies", a week after losing his crown to Jason DeRulo's "Whatcha Say." DeRulo slipped to No. 3. In between, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind" rose one to No. 2.