HOLLYWOOD - Top Story: Vanity Fair Names Oprah Winfrey Best Dressed
Oprah Winfrey was named the world's most fashionable women by Vanity Fair in the magazine's 2004 International Best-Dressed List. Winfrey, who names Jackie Onassis and Coco Chanel as her fashion icons, says Gianfranco Ferre--who designed the silver gown she wore to the Academy Awards ceremony last month--is her favorite designer. Other women who made the Top 10 list include actress Cate Blanchett, Lost in Translation writer/director Sofia Coppola, model Kate Moss and Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, Estee Lauder's vice president for global advertising, The Associated Press reports. Gracing the men's Top 10 are soccer player David Beckham, actors George Clooney and Jude Law, and news anchors Brian Williams of NBC and Anderson Cooper of CNN. The annual list will appear in Vanity Fair's April issue, which hits newsstands Wednesday.
Whoopi Tackles Same-Sex Marriage Issue
Whoopi Goldberg will tackle the issue of same-sex marriage in an upcoming episode of her NBC sitcom Whoopi. "We've been working on this for a while," Goldberg told Reuters in a telephone interview Tuesday. "The fact that this has become so spoken about, we decided we better hit it." Goldberg said the show will tackle various sides of the debate, ranging from a very liberal standpoint to a more conservative one. "I want people to get down to the truth," Goldberg said. "What is it that bothers you about it? Why are you so concerned about it? It's not like you're marrying someone who's gay. Why do you care who marries who?" The episode is set to air this spring.
J.Lo's Nuyorican Banner Pacts With Fox TV
Jennifer Lopez has inked a multiyear pact with Fox TV Studios for a first-look option on all television projects developed by her Nuyorican Prods. banner, including scripted and unscripted series, specials and original movies for network and cable TV. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Nuyorican already is actively developing projects including a comedy and drama series, a music special and a variety show. "I started in television and love the medium," Lopez told the Reporter. "We intend to be a major creative force in television." The deal, however, does not cover some of Nuyorican's existing projects, including a documentary for HBO about a Cuban-American girl's 15th birthday titled Los Quinces.
American Idol Soars in Ratings
With the end of February sweeps and reruns returning for many key programs, TV viewership levels dropped last week, with Tuesday edition of Fox's American Idol raking in the most viewers. Here are the Top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships for the week of March 1-7, according to Nielsen Media Research: American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 25.5 million; Survivor All-Stars, CBS, 23.3 million; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 22.7 million; The Apprentice, NBC, 20.2 million; CSI: Miami, CBS, 19.9 million; American Idol: Uncut, Fox, 19.7 million; American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 19.3 million; Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS, 17.8 million; Without a Trace, CBS, 17.5 million; Two and a Half Men, CBS, 17.1 million.
White Stripes Frontman Pleads Guilty
White Stripes frontman Jack White pleaded guilty Tuesday to assault and battery charges for repeatedly punching Von Bondies lead singer Jason Stollsteimer on Dec. 13 at the Majestic Theater Center in Detroit, where both men attended a concert. Judge Paula G. Humphries ordered White to pay a $500 fine plus $250 in court fees, and attend anger management classes. She also told him not to contact Stollsteimer, the AP reports. White said in court the fight started when he confronted Stollsteimer, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, about allegations the singer made against him in the press and to mutual acquaintances. Prosecutors said earlier the two men had a longstanding disagreement over White's role in producing the Von Bondies' first album. White told reporters outside the courtroom that he regretted the incident.
Prince Hits the Big Screen
Prince, who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next Monday, will appear on big screens nationwide March 29, but the singer will not be starring in a movie. Prince, who made his feature film debut in 1984's Purple Rain, plans to broadcast his concert in Los Angeles live via satellite to 32 Regal Cinema theaters nationwide. The show is the first major stop on Prince's 38-city Musicology tour, which the singer promises will include many of his old hits for the last time. Tickets for the show are on sale at the theaters for $15 and online starting Tuesday at www.RegalCM.com.
It's a Dog-Eat-Dog World
Calling all canines! Producers of the upcoming film The 12 Dogs of Christmas want 84 dogs, including golden and Labrador retrievers, boxers, cocker spaniels and mixed breeds, before shooting begins in western Maine later this month. The film, a parody of the English folk song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," tells the story of a boy who uses dogs to teach people about the meaning of Christmas during the Depression era. According to the AP, producers have almost all the dogs they need--except for a couple of boxers and some human extras. Casting director Bonnie Marshall said more than 250 people tried out for parts, with many bringing along pictures of their dogs.
Role Call: Van Sant Goes Grunge, Director Takes Off The Ring 2, Disney Inks Blume
Director Gus Van Sant's next feature for HBO Films, Last Days, will be a film set in Seattle during the mid-1990s--the heart of the grunge music scene. According to The Hollywood Reporter, actor Michael Pitt will star as the lead singer of a band whose path closely resembles that of Kurt Cobain and the group Nirvana. It is unclear whether the project will air on HBO or receive a theatrical release ... Commercials helmer Noam Murro has backed out of his first feature film, the sequel to DreamWorks' thriller The Ring, after nearly five months of development because of "creative differences" with the studio. It is not known how Murro's departure will affect the start date or the involvement of The Ring 2 star Naomi Watts ... The Walt Disney Co, author Judy Blume and independent producer Jane Startz have agreed to make movies based on Blume's hit kids books including Are You There God? It's Me,