Along with the entire team of Entertainment Talks, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year, filled with love, light, peace, joy and good health for 2012!

It's a been a tough past year once again for many, but no matter what, you guys are still visitng our blog, and if you haven't visited us yet, we're hoping you want to. That's why we Entertainment Talks will be positing update news in Entertain World. So don't worry: Even if you can't get Entertainment World just yet, we'll keep bringing Entertainment World to you.





I'd also like to take this opportunity to extend a very special thanks to all of our writers, contributors, and partners.


We appreciate the continued support we get from all of our readers and look forward to a great 2012 with you!


With gratitude,


Entertainment Talks Team.



Note: To become one of  our writers, contributors, and partners, kindly send mail to: yomiteng@aol.com.

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Johnny's mother had been away for
two days visiting a sick friend in
another city. When
she returned,h er little boy greeted her by saying,

"Mommy, guess what!Yeste rday I
was playing in the
closet in your bedroom and
daddy came into the room with the lady next door and they got undressed and got
into your bed and then daddy got
on top of her... ".

Johnny's mother held up her hand. "Not another word. Wait till ur daddy gets
home and tell him exactly what u
just told me."

The father came home. As he
walked into the house, his wife
said, "I'm leaving you. I'm packing now and I'm leaving
you." "But why--" asked the
startled father. "Go ahead, johnny
tell daddy just what
you told me."

"Well," johnny said, "I was playing in
your bedroom
closet and daddy came upstairs
with the lady next
door and they got undressed and
got into bed and
daddy got on top of her and then
they did just what
you did with uncle John when
daddy was away last
summer.

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Tom Cruise arrives for the premiere of his film ''Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol'' in NY

"Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" easily beat its rivals in the race to No. 1 at box offices over the Christmas holiday weekend, returning action star Tom Cruise to winning form after several recent flops.

"Ghost Protocol," the fourth movie in Cruise's "Mission: Impossible" series, earned an estimated $46 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters in the four days ending on Monday, according to its distributor Paramount Pictures. Its total estimated ticket sales have reached $78.6 million after debuting in Imax and other large-screen theaters last weekend.

At international theaters, the movie dubbed "MI4", which cost around $145 million to make, sold an additional $140 million worth of tickets through Sunday. Paramount noted its audience rating from researcher CinemaScore was an "A-" and Rottentomatoes.com, a website that combines critics' reviews, gave the movie a 94 percent positive rating overall.

"We're pleased with the way we went with the movie, starting with premium pricing on large screens and letting the reviews and word-of-mouth (publicity) get out ahead of the movie," said Don Harris, president of distribution for Paramount.

Important for leading man Cruise, 49, is that after several box office flops in recent years, including dramas "Valkyrie" and "Lions for Lambs," and action-packed "Knight and Day," the success of "Ghost Protocol" has meant a return to the top of box office charts.

Elsewhere, Warner Bros.' "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" took the No. 2 spot with an estimated $31.8 million over the four days, followed by 20th Century Fox family comedy "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" with a $20 million total that barely put it ahead of No. 4, adult thriller "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," at $19.4 million.

Since its midweek debut last week, "Dragon Tattoo" has earned $27.7 million. A Sony spokesman called it "a good start" that should build this coming week and into the new year.

HO HUM 2011, DOWN 4.45 PCT

Indeed, many new movies hit theaters ahead of, and during, the Christmas holiday weekend -- including "Dragon Tattoo," two movies from Steven Spielberg, "War Horse" and "The Adventures of Tintin," and the Cameron Crowe comedy, "We Bought A Zoo."

The studios expect strong demand in the days ahead while many families take time from work and school, but it is unlikely a surge can lead the domestic box office to topple last year's nearly $10.6 billion in annual ticket sales.

In fact, the top 12 movies this past weekend generated $114 million at box offices, down about 15 percent from last year, according to box office watcher Hollywood.com.

Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com now estimates total 2011 annual domestic (U.S. and Canada) box office at $10.1 billion by year's end, down 4.45 percent from 2010. Attendance so far in 2011 is off about 5 percent, while the average ticket price increased to $7.96 from $7.89.

Still, movie demand did pick up for some new titles over the weekend, and among those making a surge was Fox comedy "We Bought a Zoo," starring Matt Damon. It saw ticket sales jump 139 percent from Saturday to Sunday, its distributor 20th Century Fox said, landing it at No. 6 with $15.6 million, just behind family film "Tintin" at No. 5 with $16.1 million.

"I think playability and word-of-mouth is finally getting out" about "Zoo," said Chris Aronson, who heads domestic distribution for Fox. He noted the movie generated an "A" overall from moviegoers polled by CinemaScore.

Spielberg's "War Horse" landed in the No. 7 spot with $15 million, and another newcomer, thriller "The Darkest Hour," opened eighth with $5.5 million over the four days.

Rounding out the top 10 were holdovers "New Year's Eve" at No. 9 with slightly under $5 million and George Clooney drama "The Descendants" in the 10th position with $3.4 million.

Paramount Pictures is a unit of Viacom Inc. Warner Bros. is part of Time Warner Inc.. "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" was released by the movie studio division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a unit of Sony Corp. "Chipwrecked" and "Zoo" were both released by film divisions of 20th Century Fox, a unit of News Corp..

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British singer Adele performs ''Someone Like You'' at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, August 28, 2011.

That Adele's "21" will rank as the year's top-selling album is no surprise - the English singer-songwriter's hits "Rolling in the Deep" and "Someone Like You" dominated playlists in 2011. What is surprising is that "21," released by independent British label XL Recordings, sold more than 5 million copies.

The last time an album topped the year-end chart with more than 5 million copies sold was in 2004, when Usher's "Confessions" moved 7.9 million, according to Nielsen Soundscan, which supplied all sales data for this story.

Indeed, music sales overall are expected to end 2011 up more than 3 percent from last year. Not coincidentally, the last time overall music sales rose by so much was in 2004 as well.

The resurgence in sales is welcome news for the music industry. A meager 1 percent increase in digital sales last year created widespread panic that the format had already plateaued.

Nielsen analyst David Bakula attributed the rebound to a strong release slate, plus retailers getting more aggressive with pricing and promotions.

For instance, Lady Gaga's album "Born This Way" was priced at 99 cents - less than one-tenth the price of most albums - in a special deal, helping drive sales beyond her core fans, he said. The promotion on Amazon.com angered other retailers who were selling the album at full price, however.

"In 2004, you had one massive album driving sales," said Bakula, senior vice president of entertainment analytics for Nielsen. "This year is similar in that you have one really great story that everyone is talking about."

Digital sales are expected to end 2011 close to 10 percent higher, prompting Bakula to proclaim the sales performance "a great resurgence."

Physical albums still outsell digital albums by a 2:1 margin. But total music sales, which would include digital singles, are now split 50-50 between physical and digital.

TOPPING 5 MILLION

To put Adele's sales figures in context, the more than 3.5 million physical albums she sold this year would have been good enough to take the top spot in each of the last three years without even adding in digital sales. Album sales include LPs, compact discs and digital albums.

Figures for the year's best-selling album declined every year from 2004 to 2008. They hit an all-time low in 2008 when Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" took the top spot with sales of just 2.9 million, the first time an album claimed the best-seller title with sales of less than 3 million.

Since 2008, however, sales of the top-selling album of the year have increased, though not by much. Taylor Swift took the top spot in 2009, selling 3.2 million copies of "Fearless." Eminem's "Recovery" finished 2010 as the year's best-seller with 3.4 million copies.

"Adele's performance this year shows the demand for great original music," Bakula said. "Here's an artist that had moderate success before, but nothing of this magnitude, and she's doing it all on two singles."

Amy Winehouse's death from alcohol poisoning in July also factored into Adele's sales performance. Bakula said the attention Winehouse's death received stoked interest among fans to sample other soulful, jazz-infused female British singer-songwriters, like Adele and Duffy. As a result, in addition to buying "21," consumers dipped into Adele's back catalog, making her prior release, "19," one of the year's top 25 best-sellers.

Still, Adele's sales total is less than half of the more than 11 million copies that "No Strings Attached" from N'Sync sold in 2000. That year marked the last time the top spot featured an album that sold in excess of 10 million, underscoring the dramatic impact that legitimate digital distribution channels like Apple's iTunes and illegal file-sharing sites such as Limewire have had on the music industry.

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Former Prime Minister Lady Thatcher (L) is shown in this 1997 file photo combined with a publicity photo of actress Meryl Streep portraying Thatcher in her new film ''The Iron Lady''

Making a film about an iconic politician like Britain's Margaret Thatcher is akin to walking into a movie minefield, and casting an American -- even one as revered as Meryl Streep -- is asking for more trouble.

Yet the makers of new movie "The Iron Lady," which opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, went one step further.

They chose to depict Thatcher, now 86, as a confused, lonely woman looking back on past glories, and doing so takes the kind of guts once exhibited by the former British prime minister herself.

British director Phyllida Lloyd and screenwriter Abi Morgan said they never set out to make an historical biopic or a film about politics. They wanted to tell the story of a woman of ordinary origins who rose to great power only to fall back again into a normal, elderly life that is much like anyone's.

"It is a Shakespearean story about power and loss, and the cost of a huge life, and letting go," Lloyd told Reuters.

"The Iron Lady" is the first feature film about Thatcher, Britain's only female prime minister who was elected in 1979 and forced, in tears, out of office in 1990 after losing the support of her cabinet.

Thatcher, a Conservative, was revered for uncompromising opposition to the Soviet Union and for putting the "Great" back in Great Britain. But she also was reviled by labor unions and blamed for creating deep divisions in British society.

Lloyd said there has been "astonishingly little backlash" in Britain about casting American Streep to play the British icon. Moreover, the role required portraying a woman in the prime of her life and in decline, and that sort of contrast meant a skilled actress who understood the nuances of both.

"You needed someone of the magnitude of Meryl Streep to take on Margaret Thatcher's size and personality. You needed a superstar to play a superstar," Lloyd said.

The casting appears to have worked. Streep, a master of theatrical manipulation, has received an armful of awards for her performance and is tipped to get her 17th Oscar nomination when Academy Award nominees are announced in January.

MORE THAN A BIOPIC

But Streep and the filmmakers wanted to do more than a movie biography of Thatcher and her politics .

"Meryl said that, for some time, she had been looking for a project that considered the end of things. She didn't see it as a biopic in any way," said Lloyd.

And fitting all the decisions in 11 years of leadership, along with Thatcher's rise from grocer's daughter to the highest echelons of power in a male-dominated world, was "like squeezing a large lady into a too-tight dress," Morgan said.

So Morgan chose to set the movie in the present day, when Thatcher has decided to let go of her dead husband Denis's clothes and is ambushed by selected memories of her past.

That decision meant introducing the fragile mental health of Thatcher, who suffered a series of small strokes after leaving office. In 2008, her daughter Carol revealed that the former titan of British politics suffers from dementia. Thatcher herself has been out of the public eye for 10 years.

"We considered very deeply the morality of discussing this issue about someone who was still alive. But we felt Carol (Thatcher) had given us this cue, that it was something that could be discussed. And we were all confident that Meryl would take care of Lady Thatcher's dignity," said Lloyd.

The filmmakers did not seek the cooperation of Thatcher's family but relied on her published memoirs, input from 1980s politicians, and hours of TV footage and speeches.

Lloyd and Morgan hope their approach will help the movie resonate with people who are less familiar with Thatcher.

"I think international audiences will see it as a very humane study of power and the isolation of power. I don't think they bring the same baggage to the film as British audiences," said Morgan.

With a female director, writer and star, "The Iron Lady" has strong feminist undertones and highlights nuances of the British class system in which Thatcher was viewed as an outsider.

Yet, despite dealing mainly with events 20 years ago, it also has resonance today. "We find ourselves back in a position where there are not many women (in high positions) in parliament," Lloyd said.

"Britain has a government quite dominated by men from very privileged backgrounds. We are in a recession, our government has taken austerity measures, we have riots on the streets and strikes. Does that make Margaret Thatcher just one pendulum swing in history, or the architect of where we are today?"

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Blackberry Messanger

Charmer:::: Hello Sweet Girl

Sweetgal:::: Hi Lover Boy!

Charmer:::: Can I know you more please?

Sweetgal:::: 17, female, sweet lips, bootyliscious and Delicious, in Texas and you?

Charmer:::: Mmmmmh, I am in love already. I’m 52, male, 6 pack, big Chest, Texast.

Sweetgal:::: You're 52? OMG! Serious . Same age as my dad.

Charmer:::: I’m just so into fresh young beautiful girls.

Sweetgal:::: Do you have a wife?

Charmer:::: Yes, but not as sexy as you, I have a daughter, she is in her bedroom with her friend doing homework.

Sweetgal:::: Then why do you like young girls?

Charmer:::: I love them because they are beautiful not to mention sexy and with fresh boobs and booty

Sweetgal:::: I am also into older men with iPhones, ipads, cash and driving expensive cars.

Charmer:::: I can offer all of that and even more.

Sweetgal:::: I think we should meet because you are in Texas and I am also here.

Charmer:::: That would be nice, where do I pick you up tomorrow with my new G-guard sexy girl?

Sweetgal:::: Tomorrow I am going to school it won’t be possible.

Charmer:::: Or maybe over the weekend, going to school is very important.

Sweetgal:::: While still chatting let me continue with my homework I don’t want my dad to know that i have a BB, he will be mad at me.

Charmer:::: Which homework is that? maybe I can assist you.

Sweetgal:::: It's a Biology assignment and my friend Lucy is assisting me

Charmer:::: Hey, your friend’s name is Lucy?

Sweetgal:::: Yes.

Charmer:::: Exactly where in Texas are you?

Sweetgal:::: Marian and you?

Charmer:::: Tessy!!! is that you???

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Holland Taylor

Holland Taylor offers no apologies for never settling down, getting married or having children.

The 68-year-old Emmy-winning actress, currently starring in her one-woman show "Ann" at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, simply never had the time.

"I always did think I would be married and settled down by now but maybe I ain't ready," she said, sounding a lot like the over-the-top mother of Jon Cryer she portrays in the CBS comedy "Two and a Half Men." "Then again, maybe I won't ever be ready."

Taylor's career blossomed in her mid-30s and the New Yorker with Pennsylvania roots has been on a dizzying pace ever since, starring on the stage, in television and on film.

Having a family just wasn't in the script.

"I'm very, very happy. I just never was the marrying kind," she said. "I am a serial monogamist. I don't have multiple relationships at once.

"I've had a long life and a lot of relationships and not one of them do I wish -- well, I take that back -- there are a couple I could have done without," she added with a chuckle.

Taylor's current love is "Ann," which is based on the life of quick-witted, sharp-tongued former Texas Gov. Ann Richards.

Seconds after a recent performance at the Kennedy Center, the audience was on its feet, cheering wildly for the show and its star.

While the applause was quick that night, overall it was a long time coming for Taylor. The actress conceived the show nearly six years ago and has been researching it and writing it ever since. She admits to being captivated about the dynamic Richards, who died in 2006 of esophageal cancer.

"I had a lot of creative feelings about her," Taylor told Reuters. "If I had been a painter, it would have been a painting. If I had been a composer, it would have been a piece of music. I had to do something with my feelings about this loss."

Taylor said the idea of taking Richards' story to the stage "came to me very suddenly."

"I was literally driving to work at my television show one day and I had to pull off the highway onto the service road," she recalled. "I had the idea it should be a play because of her liveliness and her contact with the audience.

"She herself said, 'I was good as a candidate over the years only because I connect with people one on one.' I decided right then a play is how it should be done."

NO LOOKING BACK

Taylor has perfected Richards' Southern drawl and eerily looks like the Texas politician whose energizing keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention elevated her to widespread prominence.

The actress insists she brought Richards' story to the stage not because she could play the role but to celebrate the politician's life.

"She was not a person who looked back. Ever," Taylor said. "She did not revisit things. She was rolling along, like a wheel that goes under and then over. Under and over. But always moving forward.

"If she fell, she fell forward. And that is not the way I am. I get very upset. I can get very waylaid. I get blue. I can become chicken little.

"And now when I do, I think, 'What would Ann Richards think of this behavior?'"

During breaks in the show's pre-Broadway tour -- it is playing now through January 15 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts -- Taylor will continue her role on "Two and a Half Men." She is glad its former star, Charlie Sheen, survived his firing and public meltdown earlier this year and has moved on.

"It was painful for me to see him in pain and he did something very, very dangerous by first of all, obviously doing drugs to that degree is dangerous, but quitting very violently is very dangerous too," she said.

"And he went through really an amazing thing out in public. I just was terrified for him. I think everybody was. But he got through it alive which is all anybody wanted."

Taylor said she would see his daily rants and described them as "very scary."

"There were a few days there where I would open the paper, and I would be so frightened to see that something really terrible happened," she said. "I'm glad he escaped that."

Holland Taylor is in a good spot these days, healthy, happy and with more job offers than she knows what do with. Just don't expect her to slow down anytime soon.

With a laugh, she said she would "commit an ax murder" before attempting to conceal her age.

"It would seem so silly," she said backstage at the Kennedy Center. "I really, truly genuinely struggled quite hard until I was in my mid-30s. "I personally was at sea.

"But that's long gone. I'm doing OK. I'm better than OK."

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David Lee Roth of Van Halen performs at Tiger Jam XI in Las Vegas April 19, 2008.

Veteran rockers Van Halen unveiled plans on Monday for a tour with original lead singer David Lee Roth returning to the stage.

In a video posted on the band's website, www.van-halen.com, Eddie Van Halen, brother Alex and son Wolfgang play the hit "Panama" while Roth runs around on stage. Underneath reads "Van Halen On Tour 2012" with tickets going on sale January 10.

No other details were announced, but the video confirms music industry buzz that the band is together again with Roth. An album is said to be in the works, too, after Van Halen signed a record deal in November.

A separate posting on the Van Halen News Desk website said the video was shot at the Roxy Theatre along Los Angeles' Sunset Strip while the band performed "a brand-new song."

The news site speculated about a possible February release date for a new song or album, and said the record was produced by Ross Hogarth. It is the band's first full album with Roth since the CD "1984," which was released on December 31, 1983.

Van Halen's relationship with Roth has been a stormy one over the years. Roth left the band in a bitter breakup in 1985, only to rejoin for a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1996, then quickly depart in another bitter split. He returned to Van Halen for a tour in 2007-2008.

The band, whose early hits include "Runnin' With the Devil" and "Dance the Night Away," was among the leading rock acts of the late 1970s, 1980s and into the 1990s when Sammy Hagar replaced Roth as singer.

Michael Anthony was the original bassist, but alongside Hagar he has joined another band, Chickenfoot. Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie's son, took over on bass.

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Cast member Matthew McConaughey and his partner Camila Alves

Hollywood leading man Matthew McConaughey has proposed to his longtime girlfriend and the mother of their two children, model Camila Alves, the actor said in a posting on celebrity website Whosay.com

McConaughey, star of such films as "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" and "The Lincoln Lawyer," posted a picture of him and Alves kissing near a Christmas tree on Sunday with the message "just asked camila to marry me, merry Christmas."

WhoSay.com is a website that hosts many celebrity accounts. A spokesman for the actor confirmed that McConaughey posted the message but gave no further details.

McConaughey, 42, and Alves, 28, have been a couple for several years. They have two children, Levi, 3, and Vida, who turns 2 next month.

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A ballot initiative requiring Los Angeles porn actors to wear condoms has qualified to go before city voters in a presidential primary election in June, organizers said on Tuesday.

America's second-largest city is home to the multibillion dollar U.S. porn industry, which health advocates say is riddled with sexually transmitted diseases.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation said the city clerk certified the over 71,000 signatures it helped collect, far more than the 41,000 needed for the ballot initiative.

"There are thousands of STDs in this industry," said Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, adding that jurisdictions pass the issue around like a hot potato.

"It's the ick factor. They don't want to deal with this because it's sex, and because it's porn," he said.

Weinstein compared the measure to other public health laws that the city enforces, like those regulating massage parlors and smoking in public.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has issued over $125,000 in fines against porn producers in the past five years for various violations, but some of those citations are on appeal, according to figures from the agency.

Despite facing fines, most major porn companies continue to film without condoms.

"History has shown us that regulating sexual behavior between consenting adults does not work," said Diane Duke, executive director of Free Speech Coalition, the trade association for the adult entertainment industry.

"The proposed regulation would likely diminish existing protocols and force adult companies out of the city, out of state or underground making it ultimately much less safe for performers," she said.

The head of California's Occupational Safety and Health department, Ellen Widess, on December 23 told a Los Angeles deputy city attorney who is disputing the measure in court that the regulatory body has no objection to the measure.

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Sinead O'Connor

Irish singer Sinead O'Connor has ended her fourth marriage after just 16 days, blaming pressure and disapproval from the family and friends of her new husband Barry Herridge.

O'Connor, 46, said on her blog that the marriage went wrong three hours after the Dec 8. ceremony in Las Vegas and that the pair had lived together for only seven days before splitting on Christmas Eve.

"Within 3 hours of the ceremony being over the marriage was kyboshed (ruined) by the behavior of certain people in my husband's life. And also by a bit of a wild ride I took us on looking for a bit of a smoke of weed for me wedding night as I don't drink," the controversial singer wrote.

O'Connor, who found fame in the late 1980s with her shaved head and original voice on songs like "Nothing Compares 2 U", said that Herridge was "enormously wounded and very badly affected by that experience and also by the attitude of those close to him toward our marriage. It became apparent to me that if he were to stay with me he would be losing too much to bear."

She added that she had decided to end the marriage, and said the couple had made a mistake "rushing into getting married" without being prepared for the consequences on his life.

"The marriage was 16 days. We lived together for 7 days only. Until Xmas eve. And we haven't been awful to each other," she wrote.

O'Connor has been married three times previously. Her most recent union to musician Steve Cooney ended earlier this year after about one year.

She courted controversy in the 1990s by tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II on live television in a protest over priestly sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, by declaring herself to be a lesbian and then retracting her assertion, and by being ordained as a priest in a breakaway Catholic Church sect.

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Taylor Lautner was "outed" as a homosexual on a mock cover of People magazine leaked online

FOOLED hearts were broken across the globe, when a fake People cover announced Taylor Lautner was "out and proud".

The cyber world was abuzz when the Twilight heartthrob appeared across the web posing on a "leaked" January 7 cover image of the magazine, proclaiming his homosexuality.

But the ladies are still in with a chance after People Magazine confirmed to website Gossip Cop the cover is "absolutely fake".

"The cover in question is 100 percent fake. This began as a ridiculous Twitter joke that went viral," People Magazine spokeswoman Julie Farin said.

Taylor was falsely quoted as saying he was sick and tired of the rumours and coming out made him feel “more liberated, and happier than I have ever been”.

The holiday viral hoax fooled many fans, including Russell Simmons who tweeted saying he was "proud of Taylor Lautner for his bravery and his courage".

Upon finding out about the hoax, he said he was disappointed people would joke about sexuality and to let "Taylor Lautner be whoever he wants to be".

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Actress Natalie Portman arrives at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards

You have to divorce yourself from any expectations of prestige and just try and make something you'd actually wanna see.
>> Oscar schmoscar. Natalie Portman just wants to play dumb

If I see something sagging, bagging or dragging I'll get it nipped, tucked or sucked.
>> Dolly Parton, plastic surgery advocate since way back

I used to perform sketches for my parents, usually about the Iran-Contra affair.
>> Where Zach Galifianakis's career began

My mother emailed the BBC to say Pete Waterman was speaking out of his a---. Valid point. Thanks, Mum.
>> James Blunt lets his mummy fight his battles

Women do get drunk, they do get sick and they do get food poisoning. It seems to be a bit of a surprise to people that they are seeing it.
>> Kristen Wiig on the biggest movie surprise of the year: Bridesmaids

That's the difference between star and ... SUPERSTAR!
>> Jack Black knows he's lower than Angelina Jolie on the Hollywood chain of command

I base all my characters on hair.
>> With a thatch like Patrick Dempsey's, who wouldn't?

The more complicated the movie, the more complex the budget, the more lonely it gets. There's a point where ... who do you go to, other than prayer and friends?
>> Making blockbusters ain't all it's cracked up to be, says Guillermo del Toro

Nothing is better than the moment you have Michael Bolton dressed as Forrest Gump.
>> The Lonely Island's Akiva Schaffer

I've had a lot of people asking why Gnarls Barkley changed his name to Cee Lo Green.
>> Forget you, Gnarls Bark... er, Cee Lo Green

We still don't care about anything, but mayube we're not going to swear about it now.
>> The Vines' Craig Nicholls has grown out of the F word

F--- me, this is a big old massive piece of good movie nonsense.
>> James McAvoy sums up the appeal of the movie blockbuster

You get comments like, 'Oi, Elbow, get a job'. That means, 'Congratulations! I admire what you're doing'.
>> Star power counts for nowt Guy Garvey's part of the world

Really, the F word in a song - it should be the least of the worries of parents these days.
>> Enrique Iglesias

It's not so much they won, it's just they lost less. It's a hollow victory at best.
>> Colin Hay on the legal battle over Men At Work's Down Under

When you are playing an egomaniac running a fantastical ship, you don't want him to be too suburban. Naturalism doesn't work on the high seas.
>> Geoffrey Rush

I'm not going to be there anyway.
>> Robert Duvall doesn't care who turns up to his funeral

We all love Spinal Tap, but maybe it did damage.
>> Gunner Duff McKagan is over that whole ‘rock stars are dumb' myth

Some of the most intelligent people I know are actors.
>> Ditto on the ‘actors are dumb' myth, says Maeve Dermody

You're not supposed to be accepting trophies. You're supposed to be in the back being mad that people are getting trophies.
>> Zach Galifianakis prefers laughs to awards

It just takes a pebble to bring down a good man.
>> Ben Harper

I wonder if we can get an AFI Award out of this...
>> Leigh Whannell on his American-made movie Insidious. Well, it did have four Aussies on set

There's a point (where) you are going to be an actress who is judged on her performances and her skills or an actress who is judged on how she looks in her bikini. It's a choice we all make.
>> Guess which way Reese Witherspoon went?

I don't need sparkles to sparkle. I would sparkle in a garbage bag.
>> The Hives' ever humble frontman Pelle

I would like to have a second shot at that wedding dance. Let's just say I didn't really practise very much. Thankfully my husband loves me very much and didn't really mind that I stepped on his toes a little bit.
>> Michelle Monaghan's Aussie fella lets this one slide

It was kind of like a Make a Wish Foundation Thing.
>> Mike D on making rich, privileged movie stars' dreams come true by letting them be in a Beastie Boys video

As soon as I stepped off the plane, I felt very small.
>> Chris Hemsworth, the man who would one day be Thor, on his arrival into Hollywood

You should never try irony or self-effacing humour.
>> Tim Robbins finds the British media can't take a joke

She's getting boobs and everything. I'm freaking out!
>> Paul Walker mortifies his 12 year old daughter. In print.

One of my biggest disappointments is watching the trailer for the second Lord of the Rings film and having Gandalf in it. Why? He died in the first one, why give it away in the trailer just to try and sell 1000 more seats? It’s daft.
>> Nick Frost

I think you're underestimating Ian McKellen's appeal.
>> Simon Pegg

Most people hate that their mum has a Facebook page, but I love that my mum does.
>> Family-friendly Miley Cyrus

Dad, girls don't fall down every time they run.
>> How Wes Craven's daughter convinced her dad that his Scream heroine shouldn't be a helpless girlie girl

That was my idea, a reverse Janet Jackson. Why is it OK for a woman to do that and not a man?
>> Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine on posing nude with his man-bits covered by his girlfriend's hands

It was crushingly disappointing as a fan of The Simpsons to discover that it's just you in a room speaking into a microphone. I thought I was going to become friends with Homer Simpson, but unfortunately none of them are real.
>> Russell Brand

I'm a terrible gauge because I was concerned I wasn't doing well and yet I received so much attention.
>> Oscar nominee, moi? The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg just doesn't get it

Quite a few kids in the street have been, let's just say, reluctant to go anywhere near me.
>> Playing Harry Potter baddie Draco Malfoy isn't all glitz and glamour, says Tom Felton

The only other person in the whole building was Scott who runs the studio. Scott opened up the door and heard us playing Teen Spirit, stopped for a second, looked puzzled and closed the door.
>> Dave Grohl on the closest thing there'll ever be to a Nirvana reunion

I had to run for life from polar bears.
>> Making films in Russia is different, says How I Ended This Summer director Alexei Popogrebsky

Maybe it's because I have too much pride or self-respect, but I thought, `Why does a guy who has thinning hair and who is overweight have to be a loser or a joke?'
>> Paul Giamatti doesn't find it funny

Lady Gaga calls me her Jesus? Well... I wonder what that means.
>> So do we, Grace Jones

It got tot he point where it wasn't a good record unless you literally opened a vein up. Come on, it's just a f---ing record! I mean, it's art, but it's not like you're building homes for the homeless, is it?
>> k.d. lang

If you come expecting to see a girl kick me in the face, that's not going to happen.
>> Well then, we demand a refund, Usher

I had (in my mind's eye) a guy from an aristocratic family, a well-bred chap, Lord Pumpernickel's son. I open my eyes and there's a guy covered in tattoos, with the worst occupation ever: rock star.''
>> Lionel Richie took a while to warm up to daughter Nicole's hubby Joel ``Good Charlotte'' Madden

The sickle training was something else.
>> The things Aussie girl Isabel Lucas has to do for a Hollywood movie!

People say, ‘You wear that even when it's hot?' Yeah, what am I gonna do, save it for a special occasion?
>> Chris Isaak will pull his glitter suit out whenever, wherever

I'm only 14, so the jury's still out on that kind of thing.
>> Abigail Breslin thinks it's too early to commit to being a movie star for life

Really, if you haven't heard of REM yet, you probably never will.
>> Even more so now the band have split, hey Mike Mills?

We're the only ones who mean anything right now.
>> Liam Gallagher on his new band, er, ah, what are they called again?

He asked how my flight was to Paris. I said, `Good' and he said, `This will probably be the last you hear from me'.
>> Owen Wilson on working with Woody Allen

Don't make the show too long. I don't like it when it's too long.
>> Kylie's biggest critic? Her nephew.

My husband, when I was filming the Millennium movies, he asked me, `How far are you going and when are you coming back?'
>> Noomi Rapace went all the way to become the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

When I look back on my life, I don't have regrets about what I didn't do. If I'd become a musician, it could have ruined my life.
>> Clint Eastwood

I think pretty much everyone would. Seriously. Animals do it all the time. That's all we are.
>> 127 Hours director Danny Boyle says you'd cut off your arm, too

Trust me, I did a little research on Demi before I pulled the trigger.
>> If only she'd done a little research on you, Ashton Kutcher

I'll do a musical. An ass-kickin' musical!
>> We'd pay to see that, Dwayne Johnson

I was trying to, but unfortunately I was dodging bottles and bullets because most of the people in my neighbourhood weren't that proud of me ...
>> Mark Wahlberg tried to act cool back in the Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch days

From my perspective, which I'm most familiar with ...
>> Jeff Bridges states the obvious

This is my unemployment look.
>> Christian Bale

There were a couple of days where I thought I might die. I really didn't think I was going to make it, you know, being dramatic as I am.
>> Putting in an Oscar-winning performance for Black Swan was draining for diva Natalie Portman

I don't actually drive trains. I'm an actor.
>> Chris Pine, star of Unstoppable

Diane Keaton and I worked in different branches of the service. She was in the intellectual branch and I on the running, jumping and falling down branch.
>> Harrison Ford

I met him when he was, what would he have been, 12 when I first worked with him? Twelve going on 35!
>> Gary Oldman on his No.1 fanboy, Daniel Radcliffe

What do you mean, bigger things? I don't know if there's bigger than Harry Potter.
>> You've got us there, Daniel Radcliffe

I don't know how they get my number, but at 2am there's screaming girls. I need to change my number.
>> Don't worry, Jack Vidgen. They'll lose interest soon enough

I'm quite good at leaning against a bar.
>> And we'd like to join you, Daniel Craig

I believe in things I can count on, like beer and ESPN and my grandmother's pecan pie.
>> But Justin Timberlake doesn't believe in happily ever after, sorry ladies

I was so close to putting it in the too-hard basket.
>> Gotye's Somebody That I Used to Know was almost a song we didn't know

I actually enjoyed changing diapers and I enjoyed swaddling. I don't mind being swaddled either, on occasion.
>> Jason Bateman

Ha. I've got a teenage daughter, you know.
>> Do we take that as a yes, you are a pot-smoking recluse, Sade?

You'll laugh at the comedy of errors that is my life.
>> Poison's Bret Michaels talks up his autobiography

It actually has more gravity to it than I realised when I burned action figures as a child.
>> Neil Patrick Harris has stopped aiming his magnifying glass at The Smurfs

I got to the stage where I started speaking like The Count from Sesame Street before takes just to get it out of the way
>> Betcha Robert Pattinson doesn't have to do that, Colin Farrell

Them gigs were horrible. Worst ever. U2 fans are cardboard cutouts.
>> Kasabian's Tom Meighan won't have received a Christmas card from Bono

The perception of him as brooding and dark and miserable, that is baloney. Kurt Cobain was a funny dude.
>> Nirvana's Krist Novoselic

I have the same remorse over that I have over not being able to see The Wiggles.
>> Steve Carell on missing two of the greats: The Wiggles and The Beatles

Harper's favourite song goes, `Yummy yummy yummy in my tummy tummy tummy'. I could be the next Wiggles!
>> Keep working at it, Natalie Bassingthwaighte

‘Can you arrange that, Grandma?' I told her I'd try.
>> Suzie Quatro is determined to hook the grandkids up with Rihanna

I tried making an album six years ago. It was just horrific. Trust me, it's smashed into smithereens. I paid big money to silence that one.
>> Hugh Jackman swears he'll never be a pop star

I grew out my armpit hair for the summer. It turns out my natural hair colour isn't blonde.
>> Anna Faris

She may have been able to solve family disputes when we were three. I think the time of that authority is long since gone.
>> Noel Gallagher says his mum can't force him to make up with Liam

I know a lot of artists say, `If you want your song on my record, I get 50 per cent' _ I'd like to kick them in the face.
>> Kelly Clarkson won't be letting any old pop singer take credit for one of her songs

One guy literally sent me, `I want you to die' 150 times. That plays on your mind if you read it every day.
>> We imagine it would, Jessie J

I said (to Daniel Jones), ‘You realise I'm always going to be The Guy From Savage Garden'. He said, ‘How do you think I feel? I'm The Other One From Savage Garden!'
>> Darren Hayes

I'm telling you, he's already the whitest person you ever saw ... he turned almost clear!
>> Albert Brooks on threatening director Nicolas Winding Refn to get a job on Drive

My family worry for me because I'm gonna burn in an eternal pit of fire.
>> Brad Pitt doesn't share his family's religious outlook

I guess if you're an extra who gets burned alive it's no fun, but I had a ball!
>> Val Kilmer on being Batman

I'm not one of those artists who refuses to play their hits. I find that ridiculous. Hits are a blessing.
>> Right on, Lenny Kravitz!

I hurt myself doing a fight scene with some dwarves.
>> That's not something you hear every day, Kristen Stewart

I would vote for Johnny Depp. We could use a president that could swashbuckle.
>> George Clooney

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Asa

This is the best place to be at this time. If you are not experiencing Calabar this Christmas season, then you are not experiencing anything at all. So I would advise those who are outside the city to take some time out and visit Calabar this period. There’s just everything. Peace, hospitality and an atmosphere filled with fun and excitement. I can’t wait for the carnival. Everybody just has to be here. As they say, the taste of the pudding is in the eating.”

For 32 days, Calabar, the Cross River State capital will witness exciting cultural events and colourful activities that usually attract millions of people all over the world. Since inception, this festival, which has become one of the biggest tourism and leisure attractions in West Africa, has grown tremendously in popularity and scope.

Over the past years, the Cross River State government has used this carnival to drive its tourism sector and provide exposure for its citizens, as well as develop its vast tourism sites and infrastructure such as the Obudu Ranch Resort, the Tinapa Business Resort, Marina Resort.

The festival commenced with a tree-lighting ceremony on November 30 at the Millennium Park, Calabar and will end with a thanksgiving ceremony on January 1 of the succeeding year.

Usually, musical concerts that feature renowned national and international artistes are used to make the carnival very attractive. People like the late Lucky Dube, Joe, Alpha Blondy, Hugh Masekela, Oliver Mtukudzi, Akon, Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Chevelle Franklyn, Fat Joe, NeYo, Asa, D’banj had at one time or the other graced the event with their rhythms and lyrics.

Other attractions of the festival include awareness campaign and seminars on contemporary issues of global concern, children’s Christmas camp, theatre performances, vocational training for youths, fashion and food fair, a weekend at the Obudu Mountain Resort to celebrate Africa, and so many other side attractions. Of course there is usually a two-day carnival to spice up the season.

Despite the fun and relaxed atmosphere around the carnival, a great degree of thought, creativity and discipline goes into the interpretation of the carnival theme under a strict adjudication process. The result is pure magic – an outpouring of colour, sound and spectacle, unmatched by anything else on the continent.

Calabar Carnival takes place on December 26 and 27 each year, and is the highlight of the 32-day festival which runs from  November 30 to January 1. The carnival is the largest cultural festival in Africa, with 50,000 costumed revelers, 2 million spectators and an audience of over 50 million television viewers on NTA Network, NTA International, AIT, CRBC and Continental TV (Africa Magic, Channel 0 and MTV Base).

The carnival features 5 major competing bands and many others.

The major bands comprise of approximately 10,000 revelers each, including up to five kings and queens wearing large scale costumes that interpret the annual theme and set the tone for the other outfits.

Sections of these costumed revelers create a riot of colour and sparkle, accompanied by live music, DJs, well-decorated floats and steel bands. The carnival parade terminates at the U. J. Esuene Stadium which is the final adjudication and end point of the competition for the ‘Band of the Year’ in various categories. This competition attracts an additional 15,000 seated spectators and 10,000 others in and around the stadium, as well as 50 million TV viewers.

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State unveiled the theme for the year: “Endless Possibilities” during a ceremony tagged, “A Glimpse of Destination, Cross River.” He described as “tedious and tasking, the process of finding a suitable theme for the carnival because it is more than dancing and costuming as the latest does not reflect the previous ones.”

Each of the five carnival bands are guided by the theme and expected to work hard to interpret them into dance, float and costume as they affect the people and the future.This year’s festival is well-packaged and better than the previous editions as it is driven by the visions shown a few years ago.

The Calabar Festival was initiated by the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Donald Duke.  Unveiling the ceremony was only a tip of the iceberg as more await those that intend to visit Cross River State this December.

All things being equal, business booms as the Calabar festival village begins. For revelers and fun seekers in the country, there can be no better place to be in this yuletide season than the Cross River State capital, especially with the opening of the festival village at the cultural centre complex. The festival village, strategically located at the middle of town at the moment, is the hub of economic activities and revelry and the perfect place to relax, socialise and have a good time.

However, it is not all about song and dance, the organisers of this landmark event said. “It is a festival that showcases the best of music, culture and talent. The festival is Cross River State’s tourism niche,” says Nzan Ogbe, special adviser to the state governor on Events Management.

Youths in particular stand to benefit from the festival as there are programmes aimed at training interested youths in various aspects of events production, management and entertainment. According to him, the festival committee worked round the clock to ensure that visitors to the serene city of Calabar during this period go away with a full sense of satisfaction.

New activities have been introduced, such as the Calabar Water Carnival—a boat regatta that would showcase the state’s rich culture on water, a food fair, which will also bring to the fore the state’s cuisine, the governor’s masked ball, a unique charity event and a host of other fascinating programmes.

“The festival is a compendium of activities with diverse scope and content, which we try to improve on every year,” Ogbe concluded, adding, “With new initiatives introduced this year and a strong committee, I can say we are going places and reaching for the higher height.”

However, due to reports of persistent stealing of handbags, snatching of GSM Phones, raping of innocent women and other atrocities perpetrated during Christmas festivals in the state, the Cross River State government has reeled out rules for Calabar Festival.

Government had warned spectators and participants at the festival not to attend the various ceremonies with their handbags or any other bag, noting that the safety and comfort of participants were paramount to the government.

The statement made available to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND said, “Spectators are advised not to come with handbags or any other bag to the venue of the festival events. Your safety and comfort is our topmost concern. Enjoy the Calabar Festival peacefully. The statement added, “The general public is hereby advised to note that the Calabar Festival stadium entrance, through the Naval Base, is strictly for holders of paid tickets.”

Other spectators to grace the event at the stadium who are not paying are advised to use the entrances through the Murtala Muhammed highway as well as the IBB Way, with their destinations clearly marked on them.

Interestingly, Governor Liyel Imoke expressed happiness over the number of private sponsors the festival has attracted, including Nigeria’s top brands, First Bank, Guinness and Dangote Group.

On the security of tourists in the face of the current situation in the country, the governor said he would not take anything for granted as effort is being intensified to revamp the Emergency Response Centre and reposition it for quicker response while 20 independent special security squad is to be strategically located at various points in the state to check any breach of peace.

Answering questions on why the festival is allowed into the night, he said  the initiative was deliberate because that is the right period for the  sponsors to get value for their investment as many people would be glued to their television sets.

D'banj and Tuface

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The contents of the home where Michael Jackson lived with his three children just before his death have sold for nearly $1 million at auction.

Darren Julien, president of Julien's Auctions, was unable to provide a more specific figure as he continued to tally the totals Saturday after the daylong auction, which brought in nearly triple the company's pre-auction estimate of $200,000 to $400,000.

Among the highlights: A kitchen chalkboard where Jackson's children wrote "I love daddy," which sold for $5,000, and an armoire upon which Jackson wrote a message to himself on the mirror that fetched $25,750.

The auction also included furniture, artwork and other items from the rented mansion at 100 North Carolwood Drive, where Jackson lived as he prepared for a series of comeback concerts in London before his death in June, 2009.

The headboard from the bed where Jackson died at age 50 was removed from the auction at the family's request, but the rug that was beneath the bed sold for $15,360. The estimate had been $400 to $600.

Julien's Auctions re-created the mansion inside its Beverly Hills showroom and invited fans to fill the space where the bed would have been with a tribute to the late King of Pop. Julien promised to deliver all of the tribute items to Jackson's children and family matriarch Katherine Jackson.

"Michael Jackson has the greatest fans in the world. I can see why he lived for them," Julien said. "They came out every day this week to bring gifts. It's unlike anything we've ever seen as it relates to a celebrity and their fans."

Julien's Auctions has conducted auctions for dozens of celebrities, including Cher, Barbra Streisand, William Shatner and Slash.

Jackson commissioned the company to sell the contents of his Neverland Ranch before the auction was called off in early 2009. Julien's also sold Jackson's famous "Thriller" jacket for $1.8 million earlier this year.

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British dir Guy Ritchie attends the German premiere of 'Sherlock Holmes' in Berlin,

Sherlock Holmes is facing his worst enemy: declining crowds at theatres as this year's domestic movie attendance dips to the lowest in 16 years.

Robert Downey Jr.'s sequel "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" debuted on top with a $40 million weekend, off 36 per cent from the first installment's $62.3 million opening two years ago, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The first movie opened over Christmas weekend, one of the busiest times for movie theatres. Distributor Warner Bros. predicts the "Holmes" sequel, which pits Downey's detective against archrival Professor Moriarty, will make up the lost ground over the holidays.

"The pattern is different," said Dan Fellman, the studio's head of distribution. "What you can put in the bank those nine days before the official Christmas play time, that's the difference between our opening with a bigger number on Christmas day and opening early this time. At the end of the holiday period, we should be in the same place."

After two previous weekends that were Hollywood's worst of the year, overall business was down again, about 12 per cent lower than the same weekend in 2010 as Hollywood struggles to interest audiences in its big year-end releases.

Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com, estimated that the number of tickets sold domestically in 2011 will come in below 1.3 billion.

That would be the lowest attendance since 1995, when admissions totalled 1.26 billion.

"These low-attendance numbers are taking the gas out of the tank," Dergarabedian said. "All the momentum we had kind of came to a dead stop."

The 20th Century Fox family sequel "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" did even worse than "Holmes." "Chipwrecked" opened at No. 2 with $23.5 million, about half the business the first two "Chipmunks" movies did on their debut weekends.

The studio had expected a bigger debut, but with schools shutting down for the holidays, Fox executives hope business will pick up.

"We are battling a marketplace issue right now," said Chris Aronson, head of distribution for 20th Century Fox. "We cannot make light of that. However, we have a very satisfying, playable movie and the only G-rated movie for Christmas. So as kids get out this week, this is going to help position it for a successful run."

Tom Cruise and Paramount had a spot of good news. Their action sequel "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" got off to a healthy start at No. 3 with a $13 million weekend playing exclusively at huge-screen IMAX theatres and some other large-format cinemas.

"Ghost Protocol" goes into general release Wednesday.

With critics praising the movie's spectacular action sequences, "Ghost Protocol" may restore the hitmaker status of Cruise, whose audience became disenchanted with odd antics in the star's personal life five or six years ago.

"I would think any of that is way in the past," said Don Harris, head of distribution at Paramount, which took the unusual step of going early in huge-screen cinemas to build buzz for the general release.

"The plan was always to put the movie out into the best presentation theatres in North America," Harris said. "We hoped that people would recognize how good the movie was and how special it was being treated."

Paramount's comic drama "Young Adult," starring Charlize Theron, had a weak expansion into wider release, finishing at No. 7 with $3.7 million. The film had opened with big numbers a week earlier in a handful of theatres.

At the beginning of 2011, Hollywood's summer and fall lineup looked so strong that studio executives were predicting the industry would break the domestic box-office record of $10.6 billion set in 2009, a mark that was nearly reached again in 2010.

But with less than two weeks left and revenues lagging 4 per cent behind last year's, that record is out of reach. The picture is even bleaker factoring in this year's higher ticket prices, which mean attendance is running 5 per cent below last year's.

Hollywood still can go out with a bang. Along with the new "Mission: Impossible," the holidays bring two more big thrillers -- Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin" and David Fincher's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" -- along with Spielberg's historical epic "War Horse" and Cameron Crowe and Matt Damon's family-friendly comic drama "We Bought a Zoo."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," $40 million.

2. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked," $23.5 million.

3. "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol," $13 million.

4. "New Year's Eve," $7.4 million.

5. "The Sitter," $4.4 million.

6. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1," $4.3 million.

7. "Young Adult," $3.7 million.

8. "Hugo," $3.63 million.

9. "Arthur Christmas," $3.6 million.

10. "The Muppets," $3.5 million.

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Guy Ritchie "demanded" a lot of stunt work from the stars of 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows'.

The British director admits Jude Law, Noomi Rapace and Robert Downey Jr. -- who all appear in sleuth sequel -- were required to do a lot of hard work for the action-heavy movie and admits their individual exercise routines were gruelling.

He said: "Some of these action scenes would last for two weeks and these guys had to work eight or 10 hours a day repeating the same stunt. No one asks a professional athlete to do that amount of work and consequently Jude, Robert and Noomi were constantly on a diet, constantly on an exercising routine. The whole warm up would go on for an hour, cool down goes on for an hour and then they have 10 hours in between.

"That went on week after week. It is almost impossible to appreciate you want out of them physically. Never mind the other aspect, the physical aspect was very, very demanding."

However Jude -- who plays Dr. John Watson in the movie -- admits everyone returning from the 2009 movie was keen to do more stunts.

He told BANG Showbiz: "I think it's true to say though that the physical aspect of this film was another important element we wanted to push further. We were pushing the dialogue, we were pushing the banter, but we did all I think noticeably step up and say, 'Let's really elevate the physicality.'"

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Bradley Cooper attends the Cinema Society screening of 'The Hangover Part II' on Monday

Bradley Cooper used to try and date every girl in high school.

The Hollywood heartthrob says he was never part of any group when he was growing up and just used from one gang to another as it helped him romance as many girls as possible.

He said: "I was like most kids. You're trying to figure out who you want to be, who you are pretending to be, who you are, but I was never in one group. I never really had a home, a clique. I was freelance and tried to date women in every group."

Bradley -- who was recently linked to Jennifer Lopez and has previously dated Renee Zellweger and Jennifer Aniston -- is still a hit with the ladies but admits his habit of chewing tobacco can put them off.

He told Reveal magazine: "My favourite habit is chewing tobacco. I quit it, but for some reason, no matter how many women tells me it's disgusting, deep down I still think, 'You love it. You want a real man.'"

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New Jersey Nets' minority owner Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles sit courtside

Jay-Z is planning to splash out on an armoured vehicle to protect his unborn baby.

The rapper's wife Beyonce Knowles is pregnant with the couple's first child and Jay-Z is so determined to keep the child safe, he has asked Tom Cruise for advice on the safest mode of transport for the family.

A source said: "Jay is looking at action-movie style vehicles like Tom's and wants to make sure they are bullet-proof and 100 per cent safe. He won't be taking any risks that's for sure."

In addition to the armoured car, Jay-Z, 41, is also planning to splash out on a new home for him and his family in Florida and has told Beyonce money is not an object.

The source added to Britain's OK! magazine: "They went house hunting together last week and he made it clear that she can pick whichever one she likes. All Jay will care about is that it's secluded and very well protected. Other than that so long as Bey loves it, he will too.

"He said to her that even if the house of her dreams costs him £12 million, he'll buy it. He sees it as a thank you for making his dream to be a father come true."

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Monica is winner of MTN Project Fame 2011! Season 4

It was to everyone’s delight that the 22 year old was announced winner of  2.5 million naira, a fully loaded Toyota RAV 4 jeep and a
recording deal worth millions of naira.

The competition which has kept viewers glued to their TV set for 10 weeks was down to six finalists – Ethel, Ruth, Yvonne, Roy, Ese and
Monica came down to its final four this weekend, Sunday, December 18, 2011.

Monica emerged winner and went home with the grand prize while Roy, the last man standing came out as the first runner up (1.5 million naira and a fully loaded Toyota Corolla car). Ese was the second runner up and went away with 1 million naira and a fully loaded Toyota Yaris and Ghanaian Ethel was the third runner up (one million naira).

The final contestants also known as the “Sensational Six” presented two performances each during the show. They performed one of the memorable songs they had done earlier in the competition as well as their personal compositions.

Their music videos were premiered and sync ed with their stage performances. Monica stood out as she sang 2face Idibia’s “Only me” and her own personal composition “Na You”.

“You have an amazing voice and you know how to connect with the audience with your voice and your body language. You have greatly improved since you entered into the academy and you have evolved into a star…Weldone!” Kwame told Monica after her performances.

“You always know how to put the perfect amount of energy and body language into a song. You also know how to engage your audience in every song you perform and you have an amazing voice…you were definitely born to do this!” Ige said to Monica after her performance.

Speechless after being pronounced winner of the MTN Project Fame West Africa season 4, Monica appreciated God, the Project fame Judges, Faculty and fans. “I am very grateful for all the love and training I have received since I got into the academy. I feel very blessed and I promise not to let you all down.”

The event was well attended by the cream-de-la-cream in the society and also had surprise guest performances by International R&B group, Dru Hill who thrilled the crowd with amazing songs from their old time album. Award-winning rave of the moment, Wizkid was also at the show and he pulled the house down with an exciting performance. Winner of MTN Project Fame West Africa season 3, Chidinma who launched her first album titled “Chidinma” on Saturday, December 17, 2011 on the Project Fame stage, also performed at the grand finale.

The other 11 contestants who got evicted during the competition were also present to support the final six contestants and show them love.

Notable faces at the event include Member of the Federal House of Representatives, Honorable Abike Dabiri who presented Monica with her prize, Mr Bola Akingbade (C.M.O, MTN Nigeria), Veteran Actor, Chief Olu Jacobs, international artiste, Leanne Lyons from R&B group, SWV(Sisters with Voices), Ayo Animashaun, Saint Obi, Omobaba among other guests.

MTN Project Fame West Africa which started in 2008 has produced some of Nigeria’s rising stars and Monica has now joined the list of winners in Project Fame West Africa.

Hon. Abike Dabiri

Hon. Abike and Monica

The Winner of Project Fame West Africa Season 4

Chidinma PFWA Season 3 Winner

Dru Hill Performing on Stage

Dru Hill

Ese receiving her prize money and car keys

Ese Second Runner up

Ether Third Runner Up

Ethel Receiving Her Price

Monica hugging her Mum

Monica and Mum

Monica and the Hosts

Monica announced as the Winner of Project Fame West Africa Season 4

Monica Performing on Stage

Olu Jacobs presenting Roy (1st Runner up) with his prize money and car keys

Roy performing on stage

Roy and Mum

Ruth

Wife and Saint Obi

The PFWA Faculty

The PFWA Judges

Wiz Kid

Wiz Kid performing on stage

Yvonne

Yvonne

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