Top Story
Despite the horrible attacks America suffered on the morning of Sept. 11, the Oscars will go on next March, Frank Pierson, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences told Variety on Tuesday. “The world will see an American tradition continue, and will take notice,” Pierson said. “If we give in to fear, if we aren’t able to do these simple and ordinary things, the terrorists have won the war.”
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced plans on Monday to expand a small USO center for members of the armed forces at Los Angeles International Airport into a 4,000 square-foot club called the Bob Hope Hollywood USO, the Associated Press reported.
American soul singer Issac Hayes will perform at Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, London on Oct. 21, in aid of the New York Fire Department, Reuters reports. Hayes will be joined by Jesus Christ Superstar star Carl Anderson and award winning film composer Mark Isham.
In Court
Major Charles Ingram, an army officer, was arrested on Monday evening–and is out on bail until December 4–after he allegedly cheated on the British quiz show Who Wants to be a Millionaire, reports Reuters. Ingram is currently locked in a legal battle with the makers of the show after they refused to pay him one million pounds in winnings.
Producer Tim Van Rellim has dropped his suit against producer Todd Black and attorney Alan Wertheimer over producing fees for the recent film A Knight’s Tale. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Van Rellim has now named filmmaker Brian Helgeland as defendant, alleging that Helgeland agreed to assign to Van Rellim half the producer’s fee, but deprived him of benefits and consideration under contracts.
Honored
Singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading was honored at Buckingham Palace on Monday, AP reported. The 50-year-old singer, became a Member of the Order of British Empire, at a palace ceremony with Price Charles.
In General
Ewan McGregor and Heath Ledger began negotiations to star in the Ted Demme-directed film Nautica. The story revolves around a murder on a yacht, which is then retold through the eyes if three people, says to The Hollywood Reporter.
A signed, diamante-studded T-shirt used by Madonna on her latest Drowned World Tour, is expected to raise $14,500 when it’s auctioned off on Oct. 22 at Christie’s in London, reports Reuters. The item forms part of a collection of celebrity memorabilia, including Eton John’s diamante suit worn at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and sunglasses worn by U2 star Bono, to raise money for the Cancer and Leukemia in Childhood (CLIC) appeal.
Brill’s Content magazine will be shut down as Brill Media Holdings and magazine publisher Primedia Inc. ended their partnership just six months ago, causing about 38 people to be laid off, reports Reuters. Brill Media will sell its media Web site Inside.com to Primedia, the publisher of Seventeen and New York magazines that had held a 49 percent stake in Brill Media.
The U.S. government is seeking to determine which online music ventures they will allow to distribute music over the Internet, reports Reuters. The Justice Department launched an investigation last summer of two industry joint ventures, Pressplay and MusicNet, which seek to provide a legal, industry-sanctioned alternative to song-swapping services such as Napster.
