US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary

Michael Jackson family says concert plans too much for him

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Jackson's father said the King of Pop was not ready to perform 50 shows in London, in a TV interview that aired the day the singer was scheduled to start his long-awaited comeback. Joe Jackson told ABC News that his son told him that he only agreed to perform 10 shows in London, but that the concert promoter booked more shows to bring the total to 50.

Lady GaGa charts third No. 1 on Mainstream Top 40

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Lady GaGa has become the third recording artist in the 16-year history of the Mainstream Top 40 airplay chart to collect three No. 1 songs from a debut album. "LoveGame" (Interscope) rose from No. 2 to the top spot, marking Lady GaGa's third No. 1, after "Just Dance" (two weeks) and "Poker Face" (five weeks). The three songs appear on her top five Billboard 200 album, "The Fame." The set has sold 1.16 million copies to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Idol champ Sparks at peace with "Battlefield"

DETROIT (Billboard) - The recording of Jordin Sparks' sophomore album, "Battlefield," was much more peaceable than its title might imply. In fact, the season six "American Idol" champ says the set, due out July 21, was a far less chaotic undertaking than her platinum 2007 debut. "With the first album, right after we got off the 'American Idol' tour ... they were like, 'OK, they want your music NOW and you have to record it,'" Sparks says. "I literally think I recorded the album in a little over 20 days ... This time I got to take my time, and if I recorded a song and didn't like it, I was able to say, 'OK, don't like this one' or let it grow with me a little bit."

Indie distributor Oscilloscope greets "Messenger"

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Oscilloscope is hearing the message. The upstart film distributor headed by Adam Yauch, of the Beastie Boys, has picked up North American rights to Oren Moverman's directorial debut, "The Messenger," which premiered this year at the Sundance Film Festival.

"Bruno" tailored in UK for younger crowd

LONDON (Hollywood Reporter) - Universal Pictures U.K. is releasing a re-edited version of Sacha Baron Cohen's "Bruno" to secure a "15" certificate, rather than the more restrictive "18" rating, in an effort to boost audience turnout. It's the first time that two versions of one film will have been released at the same time in the United Kingdom. The "15" version -- which is limited to viewers 15 and older -- is 110 seconds shorter than the original "18" film and was submitted to the British Board of Film Classification only on Monday.

The gods have spoken: Portman tapped for "Thor"

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Natalie Portman has been cast as the female lead in "Thor," Marvel Studios' adaptation of its comic book featuring the Norse god of thunder. Kenneth Branagh is directing. Portman will play Jane Foster, who in early comic-book lore was a nurse who became Thor's first love. The studio said the character will be updated for the feature adaptation, with Foster a doctor-scientist type.

Fans gather in London where Jackson was to perform

LONDON (Reuters) - Hundreds of Michael Jackson fans gathered outside London's O2 Arena on Monday to pay their respects to the entertainer on the day he was to have opened a run of 50 concerts at the venue. Jackson died on June 25, just weeks ahead of his eagerly awaited comeback following years of living as a virtual recluse.

"Ephemeres" makes lasting impression

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - The idea of life passing you by takes on a whole new context in "Les Ephemeres," the transcendent new theater piece that opened the Lincoln Center Festival. Created collectively by Le Theater du Soleil and staged by its founder, acclaimed film and theater director Ariane Mnouchkine ("Moliere"), this marathon production makes even the banalities of existence seem theatrically compelling.

Close pal to issue Farrah Fawcett book next month

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A close friend of late "Charlie's Angels" star Farrah Fawcett will publish her personal diaries about the actress' three-year struggle with cancer next month. "My Journey with Farrah: A Story of Life, Love and Friendship," by Alana Stewart, will come out on August 11 -- less than two months after Fawcett succumbed to anal cancer on June 25. The book is thought to be the first insider's look at Fawcett's illness.

Actress Maura Tierney to have breast tumor surgery

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former "ER" star Maura Tierney said on Monday she would undergo surgery to remove a breast tumor, and that doctors had assured her that her condition was "very treatable." The diagnosis has forced NBC to delay production of her new ensemble family drama "Parenthood," which was scheduled to premiere in the fall.