Friday, 22 July 2011
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Fuller sues US X Factor producers
21 July 2011 Last updated at 05:34 ETMusic mogul Simon Fuller has sued the US TV network Fox, seeking a credit and fees for the forthcoming US version of The X Factor.
He claims the News Corp broadcasting company, and producers FremantleMedia North America breached a 2005 contract.
Fuller, who created American Idol, claims he was promised an executive producer credit on the rival show.
Fox and Fremantle insist Fuller "has not been hired, nor performed any duties" on the programme.
The spokesperson for both companies added: "We believe this lawsuit is without merit and we expect to prevail."
Fox broadcasts both American Idol and the US version of The X-Factor, and FremantleMedia is producing both shows.
'Copyright infringement'
Fuller's spokesman said the legal action was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, after the relevant parties were unable to settle the matter privately.
The case follows a dispute between Fuller and Simon Cowell in 2004 over similarities between Fuller's American Idol talent show and Cowell's UK show, The X Factor.
Fuller sued Cowell for copyright infringement, over claims The X Factor copied the format of Fuller's show, Pop Idol - the original forerunner to American Idol.
Fuller claims the case was settled in 2005, after it was agreed that X-Factor would not air in the United States until 2011, that Cowell would remain a judge on American Idol for five more seasons, and that Fuller would be granted an executive producer credit on Cowell's show if it ever aired in the United States.
"Despite the clear agreement to grant Fuller an executive producer credit and to pay him an executive producer fee, defendants have refused to honour their obligations and have further refused to negotiate in good faith," Fuller's current legal action states.
The X Factor premieres in the US on 21 September, and marks the return of former American Idol judges Cowell and Paula Abdul, who left as judges on the talent show in 2010.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/entertainment-arts-14230515
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Kate Winslet fit in tight knit
The Titanic star looked ship-shape in a figure-hugging beige dress while shooting a video for top US knitwear house St John.
Curvy Kate, 35, who follows Angelina Jolie in representing the label, said: "It means a lot to put across that message of strength and power and femininity in a real shape."
Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3704540/Kate-Winslet-fit-in-tight-knit.html
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Museum to stage Hajj exhibition
20 July 2011 Last updated at 05:53 ETThe world's largest exhibition on the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, is to be staged at the British Museum early in 2012, it has announced.
Manuscripts, diaries, historic photographs and contemporary art will be displayed to mark the annual ritual, undertaken by Muslims across the world.
The museum's director, Neil MacGregor, said the Hajj was a cultural phenomenon "that needs to be better understood".
Hajj: Journey To The Heart Of Islam will run from 26 January to 15 April.
Pilgrim's journey
Every adult Muslim is meant to undertake the Hajj at least once in their life if they can afford the journey to Saudi Arabia and are physically able.
Many Muslims save for years in order to perform the pilgrimage.
Once they arrive, they must brave vast crowds and the fierce heat of the desert as they perform the Hajj rituals.
The exhibition will examine the pilgrim's journey, the rituals and the destination of Mecca.
It will also feature the work of contemporary Saudi artists such as Ahmed Mater and Shadia Alem.
Mr MacGregor described the Hajj as a "supreme spiritual moment for Muslims" which "shapes the notion of the Islamic community worldwide".
He added: "Very beautiful things, supreme works of art, have been made to be sent to Mecca to accompany people.
"We'll be looking at some of those objects and they are supreme."
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/entertainment-arts-14214855
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Tyra Banks is smoking hot as she dons skin-tight catsuit and knee-high boots
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 2:10 AM on 22nd July 2011
Ridiculously good-looking Tyra Banks hit the streets of New York in pink Spandex to promote her debut novel Modelland.
The 36-year-old model looked incredible dressed as one of the characters from her new fantasy book - which is set to become a trilogy published by Random House.
Striking some shapes in a series of locations around the metropolis Tyra and a team of sexy models were spotted in places that all featured the number seven.
Hot to trot: Tyra Banks stalks the streets of New York in a racy catsuit and knee-high boots as she took part in a photoshoot today to promote her new book
She even hit the subway to ride the 7 Train - shocking commuters with a brassy injection of glamour.
'They all piled on and started posing on the train,' said an onlooker.
'She was wearing a glittery eye mask that made her look like a superhero and she made the other passengers wear them too,' added the flummoxed witness to the scene.
The model, actress and talk show host was also seen at the convenience store 7-Eleven where she ordered a giant Slurpee drink and acted out the part of her fictional character from the book.
'Tyra tossed her Slurpee drink all over the other models outside the 7-Eleven,' said a witness.
Animated: She was joined by a gaggle of other models as she made her way around various locations across the city
'The whole thing looked like some crazy street theatre.'
The hot crew were later spotted at the Ladder 7 Firehouse where Tyra donned a plastic fireman's hat and shot a water pistol.
'She looked gorgeous in her jumpsuit, knee high boots and fireman's hat,' said a witness.
Strike a pose: Onlookers described it as 'crazy street theatre' as Tyra and her entourage made a scene
The series of books are loosely based on Tyra's own experiences as a model - stringing a story that brings a teenage girl and her friends to a pretend place called Modelland.
'Every girl in the world wants to go there because it's where 'Intoxibellas' are trained,' Tyra wrote.
'Intoxibellas are drop-dead beautiful, kick-butt fierce and, yeah, maybe they have some powers too. But I'm confirming NOTHING! Ha. You gotta wait for the book,' she added.
Legs eleven: Tyra arrived for an appearance on The Good Morning America show this morning in a pair of skinny jeans and heels combination, paired with a conservative schoolgirl-inspired vest and tie
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Who actress to make theatre debut
22 July 2011 Last updated at 04:40 ETDoctor Who actress Karen Gillan is to make her professional theatre debut in a West End revival of John Osborne's 1964 play Inadmissible Evidence.
Gillan, who plays the Doctor's feisty assistant Amy Pond, will appear with Douglas Hodge in the show, which opens at the Donmar Warehouse in October.
Hodge plays a self-destructive lawyer, while Gillan will play his secretary.
The 23-year-old will be seen later this year playing model Jean Shrimpton in BBC Four film We'll Take Manhattan.
Dame Eileen Atkins played Gillan's role in the original production of Osborne's play at the Royal Court in London.
Jamie Lloyd will direct the Donmar's revival, which - according to the Daily Mail - will make "subtle cuts" to Osborne's text.
British actress Thandie Newton will also be treading the boards this autumn, this time in a revival of the Ariel Dorfman play Death and the Maiden.
The play - opening at the Comedy Theatre in October - will see the 38-year-old play a former political prisoner who kidnaps a man she believes raped and tortured her.
Newton appeared with Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible II and won a Bafta in 2006 for her work in Crash.
Juliet Stevenson appeared in the original 1991 production of the play, while Sigourney Weaver starred in Roman Polanski's 1994 film.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/entertainment-arts-14247581
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