Top Story
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts will honor director Spike Lee with a Special Award, Reuters reports. The Brooklynite, known for his films such as Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, burst onto the movie scene in 1986, quickly establishing himself as one of the most important young American filmmakers and a controversial figure in black culture. BAFTA President Lord Attenborough will give Lee a silver mask for his consistent body of outstanding work Thursday at the arts organization’s London headquarters. Lee is also expected to give an interview about his career to playwright and critic Bonnie Greer before the award ceremony.
Celebs
Former child star Corey Feldman, who starred in ’80s movies including Stand By Me, married his fiancée on the set of his new television series The Surreal Life, The Associated Press reports. Rabbi and rapper MC “U Can’t Touch This” Hammer performed the ceremony. The WB network reality show follows the lives of has-been and never-quite-were celebrities living together under one roof including, among others, Webster star Emmanuel Lewis and The Facts of Life‘s Mindy Cohn.
Pop singer Justin Timberlake broke his foot while rehearsing a dance routine for Sunday’s Smash Hits T4 Poll Winners Party, which he was set to co-host with Kelly Osbourne. According to MTV News, Timberlake has had to cancel two weeks of promotional events, but still plans on performing at the Billboard Music Awards on Dec. 9 in Las Vegas.
Maria Shriver, journalist and wife of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, has obtained a restraining order against a man she claims is stalking her, Reuters reports. Shriver said the man has been calling for about a year, tried to get into the NBC TV news studio in Los Angeles where she works and claimed to have been married to her.
Veteran producer Marvin Mirisch, one of three filmmaking brothers behind ’60s films, including The Apartment and West Side Story, died Nov. 17 at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, Reuters reports. He was 84. Marvin was regarded as the chief business mind among the brothers Mirisch. In the latter part of his career, he served as executive producer of the new Pink Panther cartoon series.
Movies
The Annie Awards, the animation industry’s annual awards, have been rescheduled from their traditional November date to Feb. 1, the AP reports. The move puts the ceremony closer to the Academy Awards, positioning the Annies to become an award that potentially leads into the Oscars. Founded 30 years ago, the Annie Awards honor outstanding animation in television and film.
Rapper/actor Snoop Dogg has been added to the cast of Warner Bros.’ big-screen version of the cult series Starsky and Hutch opposite Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. According to Variety, Dogg will play the role of Huggy Bear, the jive-talking hustler played on TV by Antonio Fargas. The film has been greenlit for a February start.
Music
R&B singer Ashanti led the 30th annual American Music Award nominations Tuesday with five nods, with rappers Eminem and Nelly close behind with four nominations apiece. The Osbourne family will host this year’s show, which will be telecast Jan. 13 on ABC.
Book
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is auctioning off clues to the plot of her next book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. According to Reuters, Rowling has provided a teaser–93 random words on a card that is up for auction on Dec. 12 at Sotheby’s in London. A sample of the literary trailer offered by Sotheby’s includes these words: “Thirty-eight chapters…might change…Ron…broom…house elf…new teacher…dies.”
