December 29, 2003 |
THE SHOVED ONE?
In his exclusive interview with CBS's 60 Minutes Sunday night, Michael Jackson alleged that authorities "manhandled" him when he was arrested last month on child molestation charges, leading to a dislocated shoulder and bruised wrists (or was that smeared ketchup?) Jacko also told Ed Bradley that he was locked in a stinky restroom for 45 minutes while in custody. Santa Barbara DA Thomas Sneddon, while not denying that the department's lavatory is in dire need of a Wizard air freshener, insists the singer was treated fairly. Speaking of things that smell, remember that Jackson special that CBS abruptly yanked last month after the molestation charges surfaced? Well, the network has had a change of heart: Michael Jackson Number Ones will air this Friday at 8 pm/ET. |
GOOD TIDINGS
All Hollywood wanted for Christmas was a good weekend at the box office — and man, did Santa deliver. The top 12 films — led by Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King — grossed $168.6 million from Friday to Sunday, a record high for a Christmas weekend. The third and final Rings chapter earned another $51.2 million, bringing its two-week total $224 million. The Steve Martin comedy Cheaper by the Dozen opened in second place with a strong $28.2 million, followed by the Nicole Kidman-Jude Law Civil War epic Cold Mountain (No. 3 with $14.5 million), Something's Gotta Give (No.4 with $14.2 million) and Paycheck (No.5 with $13.9 million). Moviegoers,meanwhile, gave Peter Pan the hook. The live-action update opened at No.7 with $11.4 million. |
AS THE WORLD TANKS
All Fox wanted for Christmas was decent tune-in for World Idol — and man, did Santa disappoint. The two-hour performance edition attracted a paltry 6.5 million viewers in the U.S. Thursday night. The results show airs Thursday at 9 pm/ET. |
TAKING SIDES
Let this serve as a warning to consumers: A federal judge says Bob Guiney is free to promote his debut CD 3 Sides, denying an attempt by Bachelor execs to stop Estella's ex from marketing the album. Earlier this month, the show's producers sued Guiney for breaching an exclusivity clause in his contract. Since its November debut, 3 Sides has sold 50,000 units — or one copy for every girl Guiney kissed in the last month. |
REMEMBERED
British actor Alan Bates, whose film roles included The Entertainer, Zorba the Greek and Gosford Park, died Saturday night in a London hospital of cancer. He was 69. Bates — who first made a name for himself on the London stage — earned a 2002 Tony Award for the Broadway revival of Fortune's Fool. |
IT'S A BOY!
Titanic actress Kate Winslet and her director-hubby Sam Mendes (American Beauty) are the proud parents of a baby boy. Joe Mendes was born Dec. 22 in New York. Winslet has a 3-year-old daughter from her previous marriage to British filmmaker Jim Threapleton. |
SHORT CUTS
In a deal worth $30 million, the WB and USA Network will share exclusive TV rights to the hit holiday flick Elf beginning in 2007... A revival of La Cage aux Folles is headed to Broadway next season... MSNBC has body-slammed Jesse Ventura's America, canceling the wrestler-turned-politician's new talk show due to high production costs... James Garner's temporary gig on ABC's 8 Simple Rules... has turned permanent. |
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