Second book on fake Holocaust love story cancelled

A second book featuring a Holocaust love story between Florida-based Herman and Roma Rosenblat was cancelled on Tuesday after the publisher found out that the couple's amazing tale was not true.
For over a decade, Herman Rosenblat, 79, told newspapers, magazines and twice appeared on the Oprah Winfrey TV show to tell the story of how he met his wife-to-be when she threw apples and bread to him over the fence of a Nazi concentration camp.
He said they met again by chance on a blind date in New York years later, fell in love and got married.
But under scrutiny from scholars writing in The New Republic, Rosenblat admitted this week that he invented the love story, prompting Penguin Book's (PNGN.PK) imprint Berkley Books to cancel publication of his memoir due out in February.
Lerner Publishing Group, which specialises in children's books, on Tuesday said it was also recalling a newly released picture book "Angel Girl" based on the Rosenblat's story after being "shocked and disappointed" to learn the story was not true.
"While this tragic event in world history needs to be taught to children, it is imperative that it is done so in a factual way that doesn't sacrifice veracity for emotional impact," said Lerner Publishing's President Adam Lerner in a statement.
"We have been misled by the Rosenblats."
Lerner said the company had recalled the book from the market, cancelled all pending reprints and was issuing refunds on all returned books bought since its publication in September.
Scholars in The New Republic said the story could not be true as it would have been impossible to throw food over the fence at the camp at Schlieben, Germany, where Rosenblat was held as a teenager, putting pressure on the Rosenblats to explain.
Under public scrutiny, Rosenblat's agent Andrea Hurst said the writer had revealed to her that he invented the crux of the love story although his story about being in the concentration camps and the survival of the writer and his brothers was true.
Polish-born Rosenblat, a retired electrical contractor from North Miami Beach, Florida, could not be contacted for comment. While both books related to the Rosenblats have now been cancelled, Harris Salomon, president of Atlantic Overseas Pictures is pushing ahead with plans to make a $25 million movie about Herman, with filming to start in Hungary in March.
"The documented fact, acknowledged by his critics, is that Herman is a survivor of concentration camps. He found a way to tell his story and bring a message against hate. It is his story," Salomon said in a statement on Tuesday.
Rosenblat's book, "Angel at the Fence, the True Story of a Love that Survived," is the latest in a list of memoirs found to have been fabricated.
In 2006, U.S. author James Frey admitted he made up key parts of his drug and alcohol memoir "A Million Little Pieces."
This year Misha Defonseca admitted most of her eve online iskbestselling autobiography, about a young Jewish girl saved by wolves, was made up while "Love and Consequences" by a Margaret B. Jones about a mixed-raced girl growing up with U.S. gangs was recalled.star wars galaxies

Mangini is jettisoned

The New York Jets fired coach Eric Mangini yesterday, a day after a team that harbored Super Bowl hopes with five games left failed to make the playoffs.
The Jets started the season 8-3 under quarterback Brett Favre, beating New England and Tennessee on the road in consecutive weeks and raising visions among fans of the team's first Super Bowl trip since 1969.
"I don't think it was one thing," owner Woody Johnson said at a news conference. "We had to go in a different direction. There's nothing specific. It's just a call we made. Hopefully, it's correct."
The 37-year-old Mangini was called by Johnson one of the league's up-and-coming coaches, but he went 23-26 in three seasons in his first head coaching job. He had another year remaining on his contract.
"For the current New York Jets organization, we've made the decision to move on," Johnson said. "It's a judgment call."
Mangini held a team meeting yesterday morning to say farewell.
"I appreciate the opportunity that Woody and [GM] Mike [Tannenbaum] gave me for the past three years as the head coach of the New York Jets," Mangini said in a statement. "The organization has terrific people and I wish the Jets nothing but success. The time and effort invested by the coaches and players was tremendous and I value that beyond words.
"We worked hard to achieve two winning seasons out of the past three. I regret that we could not reach our goals for this year. I will always appreciate the passion and support of the fans as our focus was trying to build them a championship-caliber foundation and team."
"I feel that we let him down and we could have done a better job of making plays," wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. "It's tough."
The Jets went 1-4 in their final five games, losing to Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, and Miami and barely beating Buffalo.
They did not reach the postseason for the second straight year despite an offseason spending spree that included a trade for Favre after his retirement and return at Green Bay.
The 39-year-old Favre had just two TD passes and nine interceptions in those final five games.
Favre led the league in interceptions with 22 and complained after Sunday's 24-17 loss to Miami of pain in his right shoulder and neck.
The win gave the Dolphins the AFC East title under Chad Pennington, the Jets' longtime quarterback who was cut when the team obtained Favre.
As a rookie coach, Mangini took a team that had been 4-12 the previous year to the playoffs with a 10-6 record in 2006 and earned the nickname "Mangenius" from the tabloids. However, the Jets went 4-12 last season.

Same Old Jets should dump Favre, Mangini

No matter the coach, no matter the quarterback, no matter the owner, no matter the December, it always comes to this for the Jets.The only thing that changes are the names. The results are always the same. Always gut-wrenchingly the same.Now it's time for a new coach and time for a new quarterback.Same as it's always been. Same ... Old ... Jets. Again.
A home loss to the quarterback who was thrown in the garbage less than five months earlier. You knew it would come to this. You knew it would be Chad Pennington to drive home the dagger and, for good measure, give it a twist.Dolphins 24, Jets 17.No playoffs - again - for a franchise whose post- Super Bowl III curse is now 40 years old and shows no sign of relenting.No Brett Favre miracle on the final day of the season to somehow pull the Jets out of the muck of the previous month.Even if Favre had summoned one last magnificent performance, it would have gone for naught. By virtue of wins by the Patriots and Ravens, the Jets wouldn't have made the playoffs if Favre had thrown 10 touchdown passes.Instead, he provided more proof that he is finished as an NFL quarterback. With one touchdown pass, three interceptions, a 45.1 rating and a damaged throwing shoulder, Favre had only two TDs and nine INTs in his last five games. After getting to 8-3 with impressive road wins over New England and Tennessee, Favre lost four of them, and was fortunate that he didn't lose all five.After the collapse was completed yesterday, he explained exactly where his arm hurt: in the back of his shoulder, down his biceps and near his neck. Other than that, he's just fine.He's done, people. Finished. Had the Jets had any foresight, they'd have concluded the same thing before trading for him in August instead of wishing upon a star and pulling the trigger on a deal that left Pennington free as a bird and bound for Miami.This one's on everyone: owner Woody Johnson, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini.Fellas, you blew it.And it isn't revisionist history to say I told you so. While the rest of the New York media and most of the fan base were fawning over the prospects of acquiring the aging Favre, I said at the time that it wouldn't work, that Pennington still was the best option.Sure, I'll admit to wondering about that notion at 8-3, but the way Favre has fallen off a cliff the last five weeks, it's obvious the Jets lost their gamble. In hideous fashion.That Pennington orchestrated the final indignity at the stadium where he was never appreciated enough by the fans and his employers only added to the disgrace.Favre said he'll take the next few weeks to decide whether he wants to come back next season. But what's to decide? He is 39 years old, has a bum shoulder and ended just like the aging quarterbacks before him.It is over. And if the Jets think for a minute that Favre is worth bringing back next season, they're in greater denial than anyone could have imagined.He has enjoyed a mostly terrific 18-year career, accompanied by the boyish enthusiasm we all love to see from professional athletes. But for three of the last four seasons, he has been a descending player, and this year, he bottomed out. Given Favre's 22 touchdown passes, his NFL-worst 22 interceptions and his aching shoulder that could very well require surgery, it is time for the Jets to move on.

Lakers put an end to Celtics' winning streak

Kobe Bryant (27 points), Pau Gasol (20 points, including seven in the final three minutes) and solid defense lead the way in victory over Boston, which had won 19 in a row.

It might not have been revenge, but for the Lakers and their adoring and fanatic fans, it was sweet nonetheless.And for Pau Gasol, who withered during the NBA Finals against Boston and who was withering again in the first half against the Celtics this afternoon, it was even sweeter.
Gasol's strong play in the fourth quarter pushed the Lakers to a 92-83 victory over the Celtics, breaking Boston's NBA-best 19-game winning streak Thursday at Staples Center.Gasol had nine of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including seven in the final three minutes, doing so with drive and determination. He also blocked two shots late in the game.The Celtics defeated the Lakers last spring in the NBA Finals. They dropped a 39-point loss on the Lakers in Game 6 in Boston, the second-most lopsided game in a game-clinching contest in Finals history.
The Lakers blew a 24-point lead in Game 4 at home, allowing the Celtics to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.This time, the Lakers built a 10-point lead on Christmas Day and held on, thanks to Gasol.His basket with 2:48 left broke a tie and gave the Lakers an 83-81 lead.His floater over Kevin Garnett gave the Lakers an 85-81 lead with 2:00 left.After Kevin Garnett (22 points, 9 rebounds) scored, Gasol came through again for the Lakers.His left-handed layup and free throw gave the Lakers an 88-83 lead with 1:28 left.Then Gasol stepped up on defense.He blocked Ray Allen's three-point attempt and then blocked Paul Pierce's three-point attempt.Gasol and the rest of the Lakers began to rejoice over their victory.maple story mesosThe Lakers and Celtics will meet again Feb. 5 in Boston.Boston still has the best record in the NBA at 27-3.The Lakers have won three straight to improve to 24-5.dofus kamas

Santa Claus Has Taken Off

Santa Claus is coming to town, after a fast flight around the world dropping off presents for little boys and girls. Find a link inside the story to NORAD's track of Santa's Christmas flight.
Santa Claus is coming to town, after a fast flight around the world dropping off presents for little boys and girls.
He's already taken off and is working on the world's eastern most time zones in Russia.
Kris Kringle should probably hit Wisconsin sometime around the traditional 12:00 a.m. Christmas morning time.
There should be no delays, especially since the recent airline and economic crises haven't affected his reindeer, particularly Rudolph.
There also won't be any weather delays in Southeastern Wisconsin after a final blanket if snow hits the area today.
"Skies will clear tonight," said Storm Team 4Caster Craig Koplien.
"Anybody who's got to travel around during the day today, and I know that's lots of people, are really going to have a challenge, but the weather is going to improve just in time for Santa."warhammer gold

Mark Felt

Mark Felt, who has died at the age of 95, was appalled by the sleazy echoes of the pseudonym jokingly wished on him by Howard Simons, the managing editor of the Washington Post. But long after memories of Linda Lovelace's pornographic film have vanished, Felt will live on in American political history as Deep Throat, the mysterious insider whose leaks to journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein brought well-deserved ruin to the Nixon presidency. There was a neatly ironic touch about Felt's decision in 2005 to reveal his central role in exposing the background to the 1972 burglary of the Democrat Watergate office. "Follow the money," he enjoined the two Washington Post reporters when they briefly stumbled in their investigation into the White House conspiracy. And it was Felt's daughter's dire need for funds, allied to her father's failing health and memory, that fueled the family's decision to unmask him after 31 years of speculation. The revelation unleashed a torrent of further information, including Woodward's own account of how he originally established Felt as a contact in 1970. They met by chance at the White House, where Woodward, a young naval officer, was sent to deliver admiralty documents. Felt, a senior FBI agent, was also in the waiting room and they got chatting. Felt gave Woodward his office phone number, which the budding reporter later used from time to time to check odd news tips that came his way. It was evident, even at this early stage, that Felt had little love for the Nixon administration and was prepared to break the law to damage it. In 1971 he tipped off Woodward that the Vice-President, Spiro Agnew, had received a cash bribe of $2,500, a claim that could not be substantiated at the time but that turned out to be accurate when Agnew was forced to resign two years later. There was considerable ambivalence about Felt's attitudes. He seemed to have accepted the agency's persistent clandestine illegalities and played an active role in them. (They were eventually exposed in 1971 after activists stole thousands of incriminating documents from one of the bureau's field offices in Pennsylvania.) But he also harbored a visceral loathing of the Nixon administration for the unconstitutional threat he thought it posed to American society at large, and to the independence of the FBI in particular. Felt joined the bureau in 1942 at the relatively late age of 29. He had grown up in Twin Falls, Idaho, and had a fairly tough early life during the Depression. He worked his way through the local university by doing a variety of menial jobs, from waiting in restaurants to stoking boilers, but his luck changed after he married a fellow student in 1938. He was taken on to the staff of the state's Democratic Senator, David Clark, and the couple moved to Washington where, in addition to his work on Capitol Hill, Felt studied law in the evenings at George Washington University. He had just gained his degree when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Felt's age may have been a factor in his decision to opt for service with the FBI; within a short time he was immersed in counter-espionage against German agents, an activity he continued into the late 1940s, with Russian agents as his new target. He was a great admirer of the FBI's legendary boss J Edgar Hoover and fitted seamlessly into the template of sober-suited, short-haired, clean-cut professionals that Hoover established for his staff. The admiration appeared to be mutual and Felt was assigned to increasingly important postings in San Antonio, Seattle, Houston, Salt Lake City, New Orleans and Kansas. His reputation was greatly enhanced in this last posting when he vigorously smashed the city's notorious organized crime syndicate. He was brought back to Washington as second-in-command of agent training. Two years later he became chief of the inspection division, responsible for checking the performance of agents in the bureau's many field offices — and widely feared as the Goon Squad. Meanwhile, around him in the Washington headquarters, the aging Hoover's internal manoeuvres to maintain his tight control of the organization became ever more Byzantine. In 1971, in a palace coup designed to outflank his too-ambitious associate director, William Sullivan, Hoover created a new post for Felt which in effect made him the organization's third-ranking officer. Since Clyde Tolson, Hoover's deputy, was seriously ill and frequently absent, it put Felt in charge of the organization's day-to-day operations. There followed a train of events that could have been scripted for a bad melodrama. On 2 May 1972 Hoover, aged 77, was unexpectedly found dead of a heart attack at his Washington home. Felt saw himself as the obvious successor and was stunned when the White House announced the following day that President Nixon had nominated assistant attorney-general Patrick Gray - regarded as a supine flunky of the administration - to take over. Then, with the FBI still in shock over Gray's hostile opening moves, five men were arrested on 17 June for breaking into the offices rented by the Democratic party in the Watergate complex. Within days the FBI had deployed 150 agents on the case and Woodward had made his first contact with Felt, who confirmed that the burglary had wider political implications than were immediately apparent. Meanwhile, within the bureau, Gray had quickly forced the resignation of several of Hoover's closest associates, disbanded one of the key divisions which he thought hostile to himself, and made moves to reassign several other senior officials, including Robert Kunkel, agent in charge of the Washington field office. That, of course, was the office handling the Watergate investigation, and it quickly became apparent to Kunkel that Gray was helping the White House to obstruct the inquiry. After Deep Throat's identity had emerged, Paul Daly, a former FBI agent, broke cover to tell a newspaper in New York state that Felt had collaborated closely with Kunkel and two other senior agents to pass information to the Washington Post. This dissident group included Richard Long, who dealt with white-collar crime, and Charles Bates, responsible for all the bureau's criminal investigations. (By the time Daly told his story, Felt's reputed collaborators had all died). According to Daly, Felt would meet his colleagues at the end of each day to review new investigative material (there were eventually thousands of pages) and decide what could be passed on without giving clues to the source. Woodward and Bernstein later detailed the elaborate precautions that Felt had required Woodward to take before arriving at the underground garage where their discussions took place - routines apparently based on Felt's counter-espionage years. In a wonderfully improbable twist to the tale, Gray first ordered Bates to find the culprit and, when he predictably failed, put Felt in charge of the hunt. Felt had an inventive period as he searched for himself, successively throwing suspicion on the county prosecutor in Miami (where some of the White House's illegal money had been laundered), on the US Attorney's office in Washington, and even on someone in the White House. In fact, as eventually revealed in the Oval Office tape for October 19 1972, Felt's cover had already been blown. Bob Haldeman, the White House chief of staff, told Nixon that he had discovered that Felt was responsible for the leaks. He went on: "If we move on him he'll go out and unload everything. He knows everything that's to be known in the FBI. He has access to absolutely everything." No action was taken. The campaign to get rid of Gray succeeded when he was forced to admit at his Senate confirmation hearing that, at the behest of the White House, he had destroyed documents belonging to one of the Watergate conspirators. Nixon saw him off with the graceless comment, recorded on the tape for March 22 1973, that "the problem with him is that he is a little bit stupid". But it did not help Felt achieve his ambition to run the bureau. Gray was succeeded by William Ruckelshaus, a much tougher nut who discovered that Felt had leaked details of the FBI's illegal wiretapping to the New York Times. He forced Felt, then aged 60, to resign. It was not to be a quiet retirement. In 1978 Felt was indicted with Edward Miller, another FBI agent, for organizing the illegal burglary of people connected with the Weather Underground, a terrorist group accused of several US bombings. The FBI men claimed that their actions had been lawful because they believed the Underground had ties to foreign powers. Their conviction and fine in 1980 brought an unprecedented public demonstration by other FBI agents on the steps of the Washington courthouse. In 1981 the two were pardoned by President Ronald Reagan with the comment that "they had served the nation with great distinction". Felt remained an enigma to the end. On the face of it, he conformed to the classic stereotype of the ideal FBI man, and certainly shared many of Hoover's prejudices (he was, for example, deeply opposed to the recruitment of women agents). His colleagues saw him as tough but fair, and he also had a reputation of being all things to all men. He was, however, a notorious gossip and it may have been this that first drew him to an eager young journalist. He grew disgusted with the nature of the Nixon administration and its clear ambition to seize every available lever of power. It had already subverted the CIA and the Internal Revenue service and, with the death of Hoover, seemed determined to move in on the FBI. (The tape of March 13 1973 records Nixon saying to his White House counsel, John Dean: "Could we go after the bureau? How bad would it hurt the country?"). buy lineage 2 adenaWith Hoover's implacable bureaucratic muscle now gone, Felt and his colleagues apparently decided that the time for action had arrived. Fortunately for the bureau and for America at large, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were waiting handily in the wings. cheap ffxi gilFelt's wife, Audrey, died in 1984. He is survived by his son and daughter. • William Mark Felt, FBI agent, born 17 August 1913; died 18 December 2008 kamas dofus

Woods addresses health, caddie's comments

Tiger Woods spoke publicly Wednesday from the Chevron World Challenge, a tournament hosted by Woods that benefits the Tigers Woods Foundation, about the health of his surgically-repaired knee and addressed recent comments by caddie Steve Williams about fellow PGA-tour star Phil Mickelson.
Woods underwent season-ending reconstructive left knee surgery in June following a memorable win in a 19-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate at last year's U.S. Open, earning a 14th career major championship.
Second all-time only to Jack Nicklaus who has 18, Woods discussed his current state of health and was noncommittal about when he plans to resume his PGA schedule.
"The legs are strong. I'm still in the healing process. I can't tell you when (coming back to play competitively) -- my surgeons can't tell you when. There's some uncertainty in how it's (knee) going to respond. Everyone heals at different rates. I learn to live with it day-by-day. I have to think short term -- more goal-oriented," Woods stated.
In addition to the knee surgery, Woods also revealed in June that his time away would allow for the healing of a double stress fracture of his left tibia that was discovered prior to the Memorial Tournament last May. The stress fractures were attributed to Woods' rehabilitation from previous arthroscopic knee surgery and preparations for the U.S. Open.
Woods noted in June he originally ruptured the ACL in 2007 following the British Open when he was running at his home in Orlando. At that point, he elected not to have surgery, and instead attempted to play through the pain. Woods won nine of 12 tournaments after the discovery of the torn ACL -- including two majors.
There was more than just the nuances of rehabilitation to discuss, though, as recent comments by Woods' caddie about his relationship with Mickelson was also front and center.
"I communicated with Phil and we discussed it. I talked to Steve and he feels badly about it," Woods said. "It's over and done with."
Williams didn't hide his feelings for Mickelson earlier in the week when disparaging comments from the former surfaced in New Zealand newspapers.
"I wouldn't call Mickelson a great player 'cause I hate the (expletive)," Williams was quoted as saying.
He further clarified his position after coming under scrutiny for the statement.
"I don't particularly like the guy myself," Williams said. "He pays me no respect at all and hence, I don't pay him any respect. It's no secret we don't get along, either."
The Chevron World Challenge is taking place from December 17-21 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California. The 16-man field competing in the off-season event are vying for a share of the $5.75 million purse.buy warhammer gold

N.B.A. Coaches Find There’s No Time to Lose

N.B.A. coaches are quickly finding out that the only job security they hold is when they actually hold a job. Reggie Theus followed a rapidly growing line on Monday when he was fired by the Sacramento Kings.
Theus is the sixth coach to be fired this season, which is in only its second month. The 76ers fired Maurice Cheeks last Saturday, and P. J. Carlesimo of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Eddie Jordan of the Washington Wizards, Sam Mitchell of the Toronto Raptors and Randy Wittman of the Minnesota Timberwolves had already been let go.
Lonnie Cooper and his Atlanta-based Career Sports and Entertainment represent all six of the fired coaches. They also represent Celtics Coach Doc Rivers, Portland Trail Blazers Coach Nate McMillan and Kenny Natt, the Kings assistant who ascended to Theus’s job on an interim basis.
The dismissals account for 20 percent of all N.B.A. coaches; last off-season, eight organizations changed coaches.
In the N.B.A., as the Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers distance themselves from the rest of the league, owners and general managers are not sitting back and hoping to catch up. Instead, they are looking to inject their teams with new leadership, an easier tactic than shifting rosters of multimillion-dollar athletes.
“It just shows you the lack of patience with coaches,” said Jeff Van Gundy, a former coach of the Knicks and the Houston Rockets and now an ESPN analyst. “We have great patience with players, we have great patience with G.M.’s and we have great patience with owners, but we have next to none for coaches.”
Clearly, all the firings were the results of teams off to disappointing starts; the fired coaches were a combined 29-78 this season. Still, the dismissals of Jordan and Mitchell particularly rankled some around the league. Jordan guided the Wizards to the playoffs the previous three years and their first postseason series win since 1982. The league tabbed Mitchell as the coach of the year for the 2006-7 season after the Raptors tied a franchise record by winning 47 games.
“No coach is perfect,” Van Gundy said. “The question you have to ask yourself is if, in a year from now, are you better off coaching now than a year ago? Stability wins. You get a guy that you believe in and you ride him through that, from the good to the bad.”
To a degree, even the firing of Theus appeared disconcerting to some. In 2007-8, his first season as an N.B.A. coach, Theus led a ragtag Kings group to 39 wins, perhaps establishing unrealistic expectations this season after the Kings traded Ron Artest to Houston.
Among the league’s anomalies in longevity is Utah’s stalwart coach, Jerry Sloan. The N.B.A. has had 225 coaching changes since Sloan took the Jazz’s helm in December 1988.
“It’s always intriguing to me that everyone preaches we’re all in this together, we’re a family,” Van Gundy said. “The difference is we are in this together only when it’s going good.
“In some of these organizations, it’s about rapid-fire change of coaches, and the thing is, it just doesn’t work. The teams that are constantly in upheaval rarely are the successful ones.”
Now, Van Gundy said, “It’s championship or bust.”

'The Day the Earth Stood Still' launches to the top

The sci-fi remake takes in $31 million to lead the weekend box office. 'Four Christmases' takes second place.

Despite some far-from-stellar reviews, 20th Century Fox's remake of the sci-fi classic "The Day the Earth Stood Still" dominated the weekend box office, taking in $31 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters.With Keanu Reeves as an alien who must judge the human race and Jennifer Connelly as an astrobiologist on whom the world's fate depends, "Day" opened on 3,560 screens, with a per-screen average of $8,708, according to data tracker Media by Numbers.
"It's interesting that mid-December turns out to be a nice time to release summer-style action movies," said Media by Numbers President Paul Dergarabedian. "People are receptive to these types of movies in the middle of the holiday season. It gives them a little taste of summer."The big holiday-themed winner continued to be Warner Bros.' "Four Christmases," a romantic comedy starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn as a couple paying holiday visits to all four of their divorced parents. It held strong in its third week in release, earning $13.3 million in the No. 2 slot for total ticket sales so far of nearly $88 million.The only other traditional December fare in the top 10 was Overture Films' "Nothing Like the Holidays," which took in $3.5 million to rank seventh. The movie, which opened on about half as many screens as "Day," stars John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, Alfred Molina and Elizabeth Pena as an often contentious Latino family gathering for Christmas.
The overall box-office take for the weekend was down 41% from a year earlier, when the unlikely combination of "I Am Legend" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks" led the industry to its biggest-ever December weekend. Media by Numbers reported solid results this last weekend across a wide spectrum of films, including late-season openings angling to catch the attention of Academy Awards voters.Rounding out the top five were Summit Entertainment's "Twilight" with $8 million (and $150.1 million in four weeks), Walt Disney Co.'s "Bolt" with $7.5 million and Fox's "Australia" with $4.3 million.The biggest winner among openers on a per-screen basis was Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino," released by Warner Bros. with Oscar hopes, which grossed $284,000 on six screens for an average of $47,333. Also opening strong were Miramax's "Doubt," with $525,000 on 15 screens, and IFC's "Che" with $60,000 on two screens. Other limited-release films doing solid business in the pre-Oscar season included Fox Searchlight's "Slumdog Millionaire," $2.2 million on 169 screens; Focus' "Milk," $2.6 million on 328 screens; and Universal's "Frost/Nixon," $630,240 on 39 screens.The $31-million domestic opening of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" was augmented by an additional $39 million in foreign release, Fox executives said. "It really did exceed our expectations -- globally," said Chris Aronson, Fox's senior vice president of distribution. He said the film's theme -- whether humans could deal with climate change, substituting for the Cold War in the 1951 original -- attracted more women and older viewers than a typical science-fiction movie. "Day" benefited from showings on 123 Imax big screens, which accounted for $3.8 million, or 12.3%, of the total take for the film, Dergarabedian said. Imax movies generally cost about one-third more than regular showings."It just shows you that people are still willing to pay a premium, even in this tough economic time, to see something you can't see anywhere else," said Greg Foster, chairman of Imax Filmed Entertainment. "There's no home-theater equivalent." E. Scott Reckard is a Times staff writer. wow gold

Hollywood Foreign Press rewards old favorites with Golden Globe nominations

No freshman network show is recognized, but HBO's 'In Treatment' and 'True Blood' get nods.

A raft of familiar names in the television industry were nominated for Golden Globes on Thursday, underscoring the difficulty new shows have had gaining traction this season.Among the series nominated for the awards, which recognize the best programming in 2008, there was not a single freshman show that debuted on broadcast television this fall. The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. ignored "The Mentalist," the one significant hit of the season, as well as programs like "Fringe" and "Life on Mars" that were launched with high expectations.Instead of crowning hot new shows, the organization focused largely on returning programs such as "House," "30 Rock" and "Brothers & Sisters." The actors singled out for recognition included many past nominees such as Tony Shalhoub, Sally Field, Kyra Sedgwick, Alec Baldwin and Steve Carell.

NBC's Leno move has biz talking

The sour economy, mass industry layoffs, threat of a SAG strike and fall ratings implosion already had producers, agents and execs in a funk.
Then came NBC's Monday move to blow scripted programming out of the 10 p.m. hour in favor of "The Jay Leno Show."
For the industry players whose livelihood depends on the health of TV's scripted biz, it was yet another lump of coal in an already ugly holiday-season stocking.
"It's a bummer for the writers who are writing for drama," said one agent. "Five less scripted drama shows at 10 p.m. is bad for the business ... Some leaders at NBC said there hasn't been a 10 p.m. drama that's worked in three or four years. But no, they just haven't developed the best dramas."
Writers have already felt the primetime pinch in recent years, as the networks devote more hours to reality programs -- as well as repeats on dead nights such as Fridays and Saturdays.
"The more reality shows and talkshows the broadcast networks do, the more that dramas will go to cable, where they can be done properly," "The Closer" exec producer James Duff said this week at a Hollywood Radio and TV Society panel.
Veteran producer Steven Bochco, who's latest series, "Raising the Bar," airs on TNT, said the move may actually benefit producers - by convincing them to move to cable.
"I think what NBC's done is smart for them, at least in the short term," he said. "And, contrary to a lot of doom and gloomers, I actually think what they've done is good for drama producers. It will, of necessity, force them to cable, where the atmosphere is far friendlier and the creative environment more conducive to doing original work."
Cable has indeed picked up some of the slack as broadcasters move away from scripted fare, but there's still no substitute for a major hit primetime franchise.
Talent with projects in the works at NBC now wonder whether there will be room for their wares next fall. For its part, NBC claimed the answer was yes: "We're still doing as much development," NBC Entertainment/Universal Media co-chair Ben Silverman said Tuesday. "Overall the load will be similar."
But with the 10 p.m. slot gone, and NBC having earlier proclaimed that it would focus mostly on low-cost fare at 8 p.m., that just leaves the 9 p.m. hour. And with tentpoles like "Law and Order: SVU," "Heroes" and "The Office" all battling for that spot, there may not be much room left for anyone else.
At the Peacock, that means high-profile projects in development -- such as David E. Kelley's new legal drama, as well as the Dick Wolf crime drama "Lost and Found" -- now don't have a shot at the once-marquee 10 p.m. slot (when producers have a bit more content leeway) and will have to duke it out for what few 9 p.m. hours are available.
Even for the shows that remain, "The Jay Leno Show" may offer the kind of halo effect that NBC isn't exactly looking for: The aging up of its viewership. "The Tonight Show's" median age is currently 56 -- about 10 years older than the network's primetime median age (46). Leno would likely dramatically bump up that primetime median -- and perhaps age other shows as well.
"You have to look at how (does NBC) sell itself as a home for the top talent in town," one agent said. "What are you doing to the intrinsic, long-term value of NBC? It's definitely going to be a tricky place."
It doesn't help that the Peacock's mass executive layoff and restructure this week has also left talent and reps confused over whom to pitch -- and who's in charge.
"You're pitching to (new NBC Entertainment/Universal Media Studios primetime prexy) Angela Bromstad, but Ben helps pick the schedule -- yet he didn't hire Angela," one insider said. "And (NBC U topper) Jeff Zucker makes the final decision, but he's not in any of the pitches. Who's the boss? And is there any chance of finding a champion to get your show on the air?"
Meanwhile, others wonder whether the NBC move will lead its competitors to make similarly drastic moves amid the depressed advertising market.
"It's scary," said one rival network exec. "It puts the pressure on the rest of us. Any time a network does something drastic like that, there's the possibility of someone else doing something."
Among the other drastic steps that one or more networks may kick around: returning time, such as Saturday nights, to the affiliates. (In another recent unprecedented move, Fox just gave half of its Saturday morning slot to stations and will program the other half with infomercials.)
Reaction from NBC affiliates -- some of whom had been campaigning to take back the 10 p.m. hour for local newscasts -- was mixed.
"It's a pioneering move, and pioneers get a lot of arrows in the back," said WTHR Indianapolis general manager Jim Tellus, who called the Leno announcement "a bold move." "I think there are general managers who see it as an exciting opportunity, and others who are concerned about moving away from a traditional lineup.
"Is there some concern out there? I'm sure there is," Tellus added. "But I have heard more from my counterparts that 'You know, at least they did something.'?
Analyzing all the scripted shows running on the networks at 10 p.m. over the past few seasons, Carat USA senior VP-director of programming Andy Donchin conceded that a Leno-hosted gabber "will be at the bottom of the list" in terms of ratings. wow gold
"But that's still greater than what most cable networks deliver in primetime," he added.buy wow gold

Williams Powers Panthers Past Tampa Bay

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart proved a dominating tandem, and the Panthers seized control of the competitive NFC South with a 38-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.
Williams rushed for a career-high 186 yards and two touchdowns, Stewart added 115 yards and two more scores and the Panthers set a team record for yards rushing for the second time in a month.
And this time it was against the NFL's fourth-rated defense that came in having allowed only one rushing TD all season.
The Panthers (10-3) avenged their worst loss of the season and grabbed the top spot in the division, moving one game ahead of the Buccaneers (9-4).
"People remember what you do in December," Panthers coach John Fox said. "This was a big stage and I like the way our guys met that challenge."
The Monday nighter featuring the top teams in the NFC South was billed as a chance for the division to emerge from the shadow of the tough NFC East.
The overlooked contenders played even through three quarters, before the Panthers wore down the Buccaneers' highly regarded defense in the final period behind their emerging stars in the backfield.
"Those guys are that good," said coach Jon Gruden, whose Bucs had their four-game winning streak snapped. "Those guys are going to make guys miss. Both of them."
Steve Smith added nine catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, and the Panthers overcame Jake Delhomme's two interceptions behind their dominating ground game, an area Carolina targeted in the offseason by drafting Stewart and overhauling its offensive line.
"It's kind of what we're built around," Fox said. "I think we got bigger and more physical up front and both of those back are pretty special."
They powered the Panthers within a game of the New York Giants for the best record in the NFC. At the Giants in two weeks, the Panthers _ yes the Panthers _ hold their own destiny for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
The Buccaneers wasted a career day from Antonio Bryant, who caught nine passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, including an outstanding one-handed TD grab with 2:29 left.
Matt Bryant's extra-point attempt after Antonio Bryant's final score was blocked by Julius Peppers. The Panthers then recovered the onside kick, and Williams scored his 13th touchdown _ breaking Stephen Davis' single-season team record _ to put it away.
"The O-line and the fullback did an outstanding job blocking for us today," Williams said. "They did an outstanding job getting us to the second level."
It was a frustrating night for the Bucs, who roughed up Carolina 27-3 in October _ holding Carolina to 40 yards rushing. A win would have given them control of the division.
Instead, their offense couldn't keep up. Jeff Garcia lost to Carolina for the first time in six starts despite throwing for 321 yards and two touchdowns. Garcia was sacked five times.
"Our defense has bailed us out so often this season," Garcia said. "This was one of those nights were offensively we needed to be better."
In his first game back in Carolina since suffering a career-threatening knee injury 14 months ago, Carnell "Cadillac" Williams had a 4-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to tie it at 17.
DeAngelo Williams and Stewart then took over.
Stewart rumbled over tackles for an 18-yard gain before his 4-yard TD run with 13:21 left put the Panthers ahead to stay.
After Peppers sacked Garcia to end the Buccaneers' next drive, Williams and Stewart dazzled.
Williams gained 41 yards, Stewart picked up 3 and 30, and then Williams raced 16 yards for the decisive four-play TD drive.
"Some of the plays were plays we'd seen before," Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks said. "They did a good job of blocking us this time. I've got to give them credit for breaking tackles and making us miss."
Williams became only the third player in Carolina's 14-year history to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a season when he rumbled 40 yards up the middle. That set up Stewart's 2-yard TD run with 1:56 left before halftime that gave Carolina a 10-3 lead.
Carolina finished with 299 yards rushing, surpassing the team-record 264 it had last month against Detroit. The total was only 7 yards shy of the most allowed by Tampa Bay.
"It is embarrassing, definitely," linebacker Barrett Ruud said. "Especially since you don't get many opportunities to have that national audience and this was by far our worst game." buy warhammer gold
Notes:@ Tampa Bay extended its streak of not scoring a first-quarter TD to six games. ... Stewart's two TDs gave him eight, breaking the Panthers' single-season record for rookies held by the late Fred Lane. ... Bucs DT Jovan Haye (knee) did not play, replaced by Ryan Sims in the starting lineup.cheap wow gold

Guitarist Satriani sues Coldplay

Grammy nominees Coldplay have been sued by rock guitarist Joe Satriani, who claims the band's song Viva La Vida uses one of his riffs.
In court papers filed in Los Angeles on Thursday, he said the song used "substantial original portions" of his 2004 instrumental If I Could Fly.
Satriani, 52, wants a jury trial and is seeking damages and "any and all profits" for the alleged plagiarism.
Coldplay are shortlisted for seven Grammys, including song of the year.
Viva La Vida is credited to the band's four members - singer Chris Martin, bass player Guy Berryman, guitarist Johnny Buckland and drummer Will Champion. buy wow gold
The song's title was inspired by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
It appeared on the album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends - which was released in June and went to number one in 36 countries - and was also one of their hit singles.
Satriani's track appears on his album Is There Love in Space?

Plaxico Burress' season is over as Giants suspend him

The New York Giants fined and suspended Plaxico Burress on Tuesday for four games -- the rest of the regular season -- after he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh over the weekend at a Manhattan nightclub. The team also placed him on the reserve non-football injury list, which means the wide receiver couldn't come back for the playoffs.The team punished Burress a day after he was charged with illegal weapons possession, which carries a penalty of 3 1/2 to 15 years in prison.
Dr. Scott Rodeo, a team physician, examined Burress and told the Giants that the gunshot wound would have sidelined him for four to six weeks.Six players, including the heart of the Minnesota Vikings' defensive line, were suspended for four games without pay by the NFL for violating the league's anti-doping policy.All six were punished for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids.
The players were running back Deuce McAllister and defensive linemen Charles Grant and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints; defensive linemen KevinWilliams and Pat Williams of the Vikings; and long snapper Bryan Pittman of the Houston Texans.
COLLEGE FOOTBALLMumme fired by New Mexico St.New Mexico State fired Coach Hal Mumme after four years. The Aggies lost seven consecutive games to end the season at 3-9, 1-7 in the Western Athletic Conference.Oregon has picked offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to be Coach Mike Bellotti's eventual successor. Bellotti will become the school's athletic director when Pat Kilkenny steps down. Asked if that would happen after this season, Bellotti told reporters he didn't believe so. . . . Coach Charlie Weis will return for a fifth season at Notre Dame despite another disappointing year, several media outlets reported. . . . Cincinnati Coach Brian Kelly said he plans to stay at the school after acknowledging that other schools had expressed an interest in him.
BASEBALLVazquez appears headed to BravesJavier Vazquez is likely headed from the Chicago White Sox to the Atlanta Braves in a multiplayer trade.The teams reached a tentative agreement that would send the 32-year-old pitcher to Atlanta, two people familiar with the deal said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized.A source told ESPN that the deal will include four other players, including reliever Boone Logan, who would also go from the White Sox to the Braves.
ETC.Fairfax's Hill commits to USCLos Angeles Fairfax High senior forward Solomon Hill, who had committed to Arizona before Lute Olson retired as coach because of health concerns, confirmed that he has switched his commitment to USC.The 6-foot-6 standout said there was a breakdown in communication between Arizona's new coaching staff and recruits. Hill also said he believed Wildcats assistant Mike Dunlap should have been awarded the job that went to Russ Pennell on an interim basis."There was no communication," said Hill, who averaged 15.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season. "We heard everything through the media. That was kind of bad on their part."Hill said USC was always his second choice and that he liked the idea of playing for an up-tempo team that keeps improving under Coach Tim Floyd.-- Ben Bolch The NHL has suspended Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery indefinitely pending a hearing with Commissioner Gary Bettman.The league says the suspension was imposed after Avery made "inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game."Swimmer Michael Phelps was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year after winning a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. He is the first swimmer to receive the honor. . . . Police divers in Quebec, Canada, recovered the body of Hubert "Pit" Martin, 64, a four-time NHL All-Star in the 1960s and '70s, who drowned after the snowmobile he was driving plunged into an icy lake near his home. . . . Golf great Seve Ballesteros underwent more surgery, this time to drain fluid from his brain. . . . The postseason bonus pool shares for the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies was $351,504, and a full share for the Tampa Bay Rays was $223,390.wow gold

Sooners win Big 12 South thanks to BCS computers

Texas defeated Oklahoma, 45-35, earlier this season in Dallas.
But it's the Sooners, not the Longhorns, who will represent the Big 12 South in the conference's championship game, against Missouri on Saturday night in Kansas City.
Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech finished in the three-way tie for the division title, but the Sooners (11-1, .9351) were awarded the spot after finishing second behind Alabama (12-0, .9713) but ahead of Texas (11-1, .9223) in Sunday's BCS standings, which the Big 12 opted to use to break the deadlock created by Texas beating Oklahoma, Oklahoma beating Texas Tech and Texas Tech beating Texas.
If Oklahoma defeats Missouri, the Sooners likely will head to the BCS national championship game and face either Alabama or Florida on Jan.8 in Miami. If Oklahoma loses, Texas could still back into the national championship game without playing for its conference championship. Texas Tech appears destined for a non-BCS bowl after a one-loss season that included the Red Raiders' signature win over the Longhorns and a 56-20 throttling of Oklahoma State.
Florida, USC, Utah, Texas Tech, Penn State, Boise State and Ohio State round out the Top 10.
Texas coach Mack Brown, as you might imagine, was not happy. "We don't like it, we don't agree with it or think it's fair," he said "But, like anything else, we'll handle it and move forward."
In the future, Brown would like the Big 12 to follow the lead of the SEC, ACC or Conference USA in the case of three-way ties. That conference eliminates the lowest of the three teams in the BCS rankings, then determines the winner by head-to-head competition.
"I think their systems are fairer and give more credit to how the two highest teams performed against each other on the field," he said, not noting that such a solution would have given the division title to his team.
While Brown is a likeable guy, and his decision to put sportsmanship first was admirable when he pulled quarterback Colt McCoy with 11 minutes left in the Longhorns' 49-9 victory over Texas A&M on Thursday night, it is hard to argue with the conference's decision, as two teams were going to be left out no matter what in this flawed system.
The Sooners got their big boost from the BCS' six computers, which ranked them No.1 ahead of Texas, Alabama and Florida. The computers gave Oklahoma credit for playing two non-league opponents - TCU and Cincinnati - in the BCS top15. Texas played just one non-league opponent - Rice - with a winning record.
IRISH CREAMED: The calls for Charlie Weis' dismissal grow louder from the Irish faithful after a demoralizing 38-3 loss to USC on Saturday night in L.A.
But nothing apparently will be decided until Dec.8, after Weis - who has a 28-21 record through four seasons - meets with new AD Jack Swarbrick.
Weis' winning percentage (.571) is lower than both Bob Davie and Ty Willingham - both of whom were fired - and Weis' offense totally imploded against the Trojans, finishing with just 93 total yards. Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen completed 11 of 22 passes for 41 yards, was intercepted twice and sacked four times, and the Irish never crossed midfield until the second play of the fourth quarter. Cheap warhammer gold
Technically, Notre Dame (6-6) is bowl eligible and Weis has said he would accept, if only to give him 14 more days of practice time. But isn't a bowl supposed to be a reward for a good season?