"Dark Knight" soars at People's Choice Awards

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Batman movie "The Dark Knight" soared away with five People's Choice Awards on Wednesday including favorite movie and on-screen pairing for stars Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger to kick off Hollywood's annual awards season.

What if Sundance isn't about the sales anymore?

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - One of the most promising indie films this winter features several stars and already has buyers circling. It sounds like a top Sundance Film Festival hopeful, except for one thing -- it isn't going to Sundance.

Beyonce, Tyler Perry dominate NAACP Image nominations

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singers Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson, along with the cast of TV comedy "Tyler Perry's House of Payne", were among top nominees for the NAACP Image Awards, the oldest U.S. civil rights organization said on Wednesday.

"24" off to strong start after dud season

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Considering the jump-the-shark pronouncements that accompanied Season 6 of "24" two years ago, the clamor for the return of Fox's real-time thriller has been notably muted.

Hollywood writers nominate best film scripts

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hollywood screenwriters on Wednesday named nominees for 2008's best film scripts with a few surprises among the movies vying for honors ahead of the industry's highest awards -- the Oscars in February.

"Scrubs" makes itself comfortable at new ABC home

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The second half of the broadcast season got under way this week marked by the premieres of several new and returning shows, including the ABC debut of "Scrubs."

MSNBC's Chris Matthews won't run for Senate

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - After months of will-he or won't-he speculation, MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews has opted not to run for the U.S. Senate in his native Pennsylvania.

Shooting movie takes stab at Taiwan ex-president

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A film about the election-eve gun attack on Taiwan's recently indicted ex-president Chen Shui-bian will debut on the island this week, where it is expected to reignite debate about the controversial 2004 shooting.

Howie Mandel yuks it up in hidden-camera show

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Howie Mandel tosses his hat into the hidden-camera arena with "Howie Do It," a reasonably entertaining piece of whimsy. The show premieres on NBC on Friday, and simultaneously in Canada on Global Television.

Same werewolf will stalk "Twilight" sequel

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - The werewolf will not morph.

British talent up for Bafta prize

Three young British actors are named on the shortlist for Bafta's 2009 Rising Star award, recognising up and coming talent.

Dark Knight named People's Choice

The Dark Knight flies away with top honours at the People's Choice Awards, taking all five prizes it was nominated for.

Lautner signs for Twilight sequel

Teenage star Taylor Lautner will hold onto his role as mysterious Jacob Black in the sequel to horror hit Twilight, New Moon.

Lily Allen explains 'drugs' song

The star moves to clarify Everyone's At It - a song set to appear on her forthcoming second album.

Commercial chart ditches CD sales

Commercial radio's Hit40UK chart will be based solely on digital downloads from this weekend, its producers announce.

Coens nominated for writing prize

Film-makers Ethan and Joel Coen make the shortlist for the Writers Guild of America awards for Burn After Reading.

Woman guilty of harassing TV star

A 66-year-old woman from Norfolk is found guilty of harassing television star Martin Shaw.

Fry and Evans join Ross return

Stephen Fry and Lee Evans will be among the guests when Jonathan Ross's TV chat show returns following his suspension.

Swayze 'may live only two years'

Actor Patrick Swayze, who has pancreatic cancer, admits in a US TV interview he may survive only two years.

US national gallery gets iconic Obama image

An iconic portrait of Barack Obama will become part of the permanent collection at the US National Portrait Gallery.

UK gets a slice of French culture

Dance inspired by the movements of a conductor and a new staging of Dante's writings will form part of a major Franco-British performing arts season, Paris Calling.

Mr Darcy portrait up for auction

A portrait of actor Colin Firth as Mr Darcy is to go under the hammer at a London auction later this month.

Plans for British City of Culture

The government is considering whether high profile cultural events should be held outside London on a regular basis.

Oh yes she did! Why the fairy godmother missed her own panto

American actress Stefanie Powers misses her pantomime performance in Southampton when she is held up over a work permit mix-up.

Tributes paid to Stooges member

Iggy Pop and the Stooges pay tribute to guitarist Ron Asheton who was found dead at his home on Tuesday.

Norwegian Beatles podcast pulled

A Norwegian broadcaster cancels plans to put the Beatles' entire back catalogue on a series of free podcasts.

Downloads boost single sales

The UK singles market grew by 33% in 2008 thanks to a growth in download sales, the BPI says.

Manager's take on Zep rumours

Jimmy Page's manager Peter Mensch opens up on possible tour and album plans for Led Zeppelin minus Robert Plant.

Bashir movie on Bafta shortlist

Animated documentary Waltz with Bashir is among the five titles up for Bafta's 2008 foreign film award.

Private memorial set for Travolta's son in Fla. (AP)

AP - John Travolta and family were expected to host a private memorial service Thursday for their son, 16-year-old Jett Travolta, at their gated-community home in central Florida.

Trump rounds up celebs for new `Apprentice' season (AP)

AP - Early last October, NBC unveiled the 16-member cast of "Celebrity Apprentice" to reporters. Everyone on hand at the locked-down news conference swore to keep the participants' identities a secret until NBC said "go."

Help! No More Free Beatles Podcasts (E! Online)

E! Online - Norwegian would if they could.

A Shining Dark Knight for the People (E! Online)

E! Online - Was there any doubt that fans would remember 2008 as the year of the Caped Crusader and his gnarliest nemesis yet?

Jennifer Hudson Gets Some Image Love (E! Online)

E! Online - Professionally, at least, things in Jennifer Hudson's world are looking up.

Private memorial set for Travolta's son in Fla. (AP)

AP - John Travolta and family were expected to host a private memorial service Thursday for their son, 16-year-old Jett Travolta, at their gated-community home in central Florida.

Help! No More Free Beatles Podcasts (E! Online)

E! Online - Norwegian would if they could.

Trump rounds up celebs for new `Apprentice' season (AP)

AP - Early last October, NBC unveiled the 16-member cast of "Celebrity Apprentice" to reporters. Everyone on hand at the locked-down news conference swore to keep the participants' identities a secret until NBC said "go."

Viacom renews Brad Grey's contract at Paramount (Reuters)

Reuters - Viacom Inc renewed the contract of Paramount Pictures' Chief Executive, Brad Grey, for a period of five years, a person close to the company said on Thursday.

Dustin Hoffman, Still Crazy

The gifted actor has made success on the screen seem easy. It's hard to believe such a brilliant performer had a hard time breaking into the movies in the first place.John Blackstone has a Sunday Profile:

'Tis The Season: New CDs

The trouble with buying CDs as Christmas gifts is, you don't know what the music fan already has. MTV's Bill Flanagan suggests some that haven't gotten the attention they deserve:

Jennifer Aniston: "It's My Time"

"I'm starting to live; it's good," she told Harry Smith on The Early Show. The star also discussed working with Owen Wilson in their new movie, "Marley and Me."

"Star Trek"'s Nurse Chapel Dead At 76

Majel Barrett Roddenberry, the widow of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry who was a cast member in the original pilot and TV series, has died. She was 76.

O.J. Heist Items To Be Used As Restitution

The Nevada judge who sentenced O.J. Simpson to prison says most of the sports memorabilia seized by authorities after a hotel room armed robbery in Las Vegas will be used as restitution.

France's First Lady Unplugged

In her most informal interview since becoming France's first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has revealed that her wedding to President Nicolas Sarkozy was decided just two days in advance.

"Head-Bangers" Risk Brain, Neck Injuries

Researchers actually went to concerts and concluded heavy metal fans should be aware of the potential for harm. An orthopedic surgeon discussed it all, on The Early Show.

`Doubt' Tops SAG Pack

Step aside "Milk" and "Frost/Nixon." The movie "Doubt" tops the contenders for the Screen Actors Guild Awards with five nominations, including honors for Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis.