Top Story
There have been more than a few Oscar-worthy performances never given their due by the Academy, and Entertainment Weekly is giving us their take on which ones were overlooked in its list of the top 100 performances that should have received Oscar nominations–but didn’t. Crowning the list is James Stewart, who failed to get recognized by the Academy for his excellent portrayal of a man on the edge–literally–in Vertigo. Others on the list include Cary Grant in The Philadelphia Story, Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca, Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz and Anthony Perkins in Psycho. The issue hits newsstands Friday.
Celebs
Actor Jeffrey Jones, arrested last week on charges of possessing child pornography, told reporters outside a Los Angeles courthouse he wants “the truth to come out and for this matter to be resolved as quickly as possible,” Reuters reports. Jones, 55, who was in court Thursday for his arraignment, has remained free on $20,000 bail. If convicted, he could face up to three years in jail and be registered a sex offender for life.
AP reports two men were arrested Thursday in connection with the shooting death of actor Merlin Santana Nov. 9. This follows the arrest of a 15-year-old girl last week, who was charged with the murder. The police told AP Damien Gates, 20, and Brandon Bynes, 23, apparently got into an verbal exchange with Santana and his friend on the night of the shooting, which created a “grudge,” and may have escalated to violence.
Movies
Get set for more scary laughs. David Zucker (Airplane!, Top Secret!) will direct Scary Movie 3: Episode I for Dimension Films. This time film series such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Star Wars will be spoofed. Shawn and Marlon Wayans, who were involved in the first two Scary Movies, will not be part of the third installment.
Ethan Hawke and Angelina Jolie have signed on to star in Taking Lives, directed by D.J. Caruso (The Salton Sea). Based on the book by Michael Pye, the story revolves around a female FBI profiler searching for a serial killer, who for the past 20 years has taken on the identities of the people he has killed.
Tube
AP reports Liza Minnelli and David Gest have hired high-profile attorney Michael Sherman, who recently represented Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel in the Martha Moxley murder case, to help them in their fight against VH1, which pulled the plug on the couple’s planned reality series. Minnelli and Gest have not filed a lawsuit as yet, but are looking at all their legal recourses.
HBO’s documentary series American Undercover will be soon venturing into a brothel in Nevada. The one-hour docu-show Cathouse takes a peek at the patrons and prostitutes of the Moonlite Bunny Ranch in Carson City, Nevada, where prostitution is legal. It airs Dec. 8, after the season finale of The Sopranos.
Music
Despite all the controversy surrounding his recent bizarre behavior, Michael Jackson still managed to show up at the Bambi Awards Thursday in Berlin to receive his “Pop Artist of the Millenium” award. AP reports he told the black-tied German audience he loved them and added, “We do not need to have war.” Earlier in the week, he shocked fans and press alike when he dangled his infant son over the railing of his hotel room balcony. Berlin police told AP no crime had been committed.
Singer Tom Jones will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at next year’s Brits, the British music industry’s equivalent of the Grammys. Reuters reports the Welsh singer said, “This is great news. I am really chuffed. See you on the night.”
