Top Story: “The Matrix: Reloaded” Trailer Makes TV Debut
Warner Bros. Pictures has partnered with NBC Sports to show the trailer for The Matrix: Reloaded for the first time on broadcast TV during the network’s Arena Football League coverage April 13. The 2-1/2-minute trailer will also play on the Jumbotrons in each of the AFL arenas. According to The Hollywood Reporter, no cash was exchanged in the deal, which will give NBC free content to attract people to its AFL games while Warners enjoys free promotion. This is the second time NBC has done such a promotion. In January, it ran a trailer for Universal’s Seabiscuit, about a champion racehorse, during its coverage of a horse race. The trailer for The Matrix: Reloaded will air at 3 p.m. EDT across all of NBC’s regional games. The film opens May 15.
Jury Selection Begins in Tommy Lee Suit
Jury selection is set to begin today in a wrongful death lawsuit that alleges former Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee was negligent in connection with the drowning of a 4-year-old boy during a pool party at his home, City News Service reports. Daniel Karven-Veres, the son of actress Ursula Karven and TV producer James Veres, drowned on June 16, 2001, at Lee‘s home on Mulholland Drive in Malibu during a party for his son, Brandon. The suit claims Lee failed to have the pool supervised and had no one available to perform CPR or first aid.
Brits Think Zeta-Jones Deserves Comeuppance
Oscar-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones and husband Michael Douglas topped a British poll Monday of the celebrities who most deserve their comeuppance, Reuters reports. Zeta-Jones and Douglas, who are still awaiting the verdict of a High Court privacy battle, received nearly a quarter of the 500 votes in a poll to taken by the makers of a new PlayStation 2 revenge video game to mark the U.K.’s National Revenge Week, which begins today.
Calvin Klein Seeks Drug Treatment
Calvin Klein is seeking treatment for a drug problem, The Associated Press reports, two weeks after the designer’s reported erratic behavior at a New York Knicks basketball game. At the game, Klein reportedly walked on court up to Knicks player Latrell Sprewell as he was about to throw an inbound pass. He was escorted back to his seat by guards and Sprewell later said Klein was mumbling and could not be understood. This is not the designer’s first rehab stint. In 1988, Klein entered the Hazelden Institute in Minnesota for alcohol and prescription drug abuse.
NBC’s David Bloom Dies
NBC newsman David Bloom died Sunday while covering the war in Iraq, the AP reports. Bloom, 39, suffered a pulmonary embolism and his death was not combat-related. Bloom, who reported on the impeachment of President Clinton, O.J. Simpson’s criminal and civil trials and the siege by federal agents of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, was embedded with U.S. troops fighting in Iraq at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, Melanie, and three daughters.
Jodeci Singers Released From Jail
Brothers K-Ci and JoJo, the R&B singers who formed the group Jodeci in the early 1990s, were released from jail Sunday after being arrested on tax evasion charges, the AP reports. The duo is charged with failing to pay taxes due to North Carolina for shows they performed in the state during 1999, 2000 and 2001. Cedric Renard “K-Ci” Hailey, 33, and Joel Lamont “JoJo” Hailey, 31, were released on bail and are scheduled to appear in court May 1.
Role Call: Seth Green Joins “Scooby-Doo 2,” Cohen Adapts Live-Action Anime
Seth Green has joined the cast of Warner Bros.’ Scooby-Doo 2 for director Raja Gosnell. The project, set for release March 26, 2004, begins shooting April 14. Green will join returning cast members Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard and Linda Cardellini… xXx director Rob Cohen will shoot a live-action version of the Japanese anime cult classic Kite. The new live-action version will keep Kite‘s highly stylized anime look but will forgo the more graphic adult situations found in Yasuomi Umetsu original 1998 pic.
