The Mentalist Will Be Back For Seventh Season

The axe came down on some of CBS' most plugged shows this week as Hostages and The Crazy Ones joined 22 other shows from five different networks which have been cut over the past few days.

It's culling season in the US which is bad news for Robin William’s and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s The Crazy Ones, which was thought to be in the line for another season.

Toni Collette's thriller Hostages has also been cut along with Intelligence, despite both shows scoring well in ratings.

It was good news though for The Mentalist which has been struggling with declining ratings lately. Despite worries over viewership the long-running crime drama will be returning for a seventh season, it was confirmed on Saturday.

Meanwhile comedies Bad Teacher and Friends with Better Lives have been cut, not that CBS is turning its back on comedy. The network has already ordered a number of new series including The Odd Couple, set to star Matthew Perry.

Surprisingly though, the much-buzzed about spin-off of How I Met Your Mother has not been picked up by the network, yet.

Further cancellations are due to be announced within the next week.

News Source:www.entertainmentwise.com

Hot metal! Shakira shows off jewelled bra under shredded shirt as she rocks out on stage at Wango Tango

Shakira was very much the glamorous rocker chick at Wango Tango on Saturday.

The 37-year-old singer flashed her bejewelled bra in a shredded white T-shirt while at the event produced by KIIS-FM at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles.

The Whenever, Wherever hitmaker teamed her striking top with glitzy jeans and black high heeled combat boots – an eye-catching sight as she took to the stage for her performance.

Sparkling: The 37-year-old singer flashed her bejewelled bra in a shredded white T-shirt while at the event produced by KIIS-FM at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles

She further glammed up the look with a lavish metal chandelier necklace and numerous edgy silver bracelets.

Meanwhile, Shakira wore her blonde hair long and loose, whipping it back and forth as she sang.

The Hips Don’t Lie hitmaker showed off her famous moves, rocking her body as she put on an impassioned performance.

Work it: The Hips Don't Lie hitmaker sure knew how to groove, rocking her body as she put on an impassioned performance

Other performers at Wango Tango, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, included Maroon 5, Ariana Grande with Iggy Azalea, Paramore, Zedd, Ed Sheeran, and Tiesto, among others.

Shakira’s self-titled album hit stores on March 25, featuring singles Empire and Can’t Remember To Forget You, a collaboration with Rihanna.

It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, making the album her highest-charting ever, with first week sales of 84,000. Beautiful blonde: Meanwhile, Shakira wore her hair long and loose, whipping it back and forth as she sang

Pleasing the crowds: Shakira put on an extremely energetic performance

It is an extremely personal record that encapsulates the full breadth of who she is, as Shakira expressed in an open letter to her Facebook fans.

‘In the end I realized that I will always be a little bit of everything and I don’t have to choose,’ Shakira said.

‘I am sometimes extremely sensitive, sometimes upbeat, others dreamy and romantic, and even at times a little melodramatic. (Call it the Caribbean blood.)

Fabulous physique: She showed off her very svelte shape while posing for cameras

‘But always authentic and always sincere. Most importantly, I am enough. Imperfections and all. So what I am offering you now is just that.’

The album has materialized after a long and topsy turvy journey.

‘The work on this album has spanned a very eventful time, with many ups and downs but ultimately, the happiest period in my life thus far, including the birth of my son,’ Shakira added.

News Source:www.dailymail.co.uk

Nintendo Apologies for Not Including Same-Sex Relationships in Tomodachi Life

Nintendo has issued an apology for not including same-sex relationships in the English version of its game Tomodachi Life. The move comes days after the company had tried to downplay criticism of the game by fans seeking virtual equality for the game's characters, which are modelled after real people.

"We apologise for disappointing many people by failing to include same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life," the statement said. However, Nintendo of America Inc. said it cannot add the feature at such a late stage by issuing a post-launch patch.

"Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to change this game's design, and such a significant development change can't be accomplished with a post-ship patch," the company added.

Tye Marini, a gay 23-year-old Nintendo fan from Mesa, Arizona, launched a social-media campaign last month, urging Kyoto, Japan-based Nintendo Co. and its subsidiary Nintendo of America Inc. to add same-sex relationship options to English versions of the handheld Nintendo 3DS game Tomodachi Life. The game was originally released in Japan last year and features a cast of Mii characters - Nintendo's personalised avatars of real players - living on a virtual island. Gamers can do things like shop, visit an amusement park, play games, go on dates and encounter celebrities like Christina Aguilera and Shaquille O'Neal.



Tomodachi Life has been a hit in a Japan, where Nintendo said last December it had sold 1.83 million copies of the game.

The company had been more guarded in its initial response to the campaign.

"Nintendo never intended to make any form of social commentary with the launch of Tomodachi Life," Nintendo had said in an earlier statement. "The relationship options in the game represent a playful alternate world rather than a real-life simulation. We hope that all of our fans will see that Tomodachi Life was intended to be a whimsical and quirky game, and that we were absolutely not trying to provide social commentary."


News Source:www.gadgets.ndtv.com

New Google Glass Ad gains nearly 200,000 views

newly produced Google Glass advertisement in the form of a short film was released on May 8. The film, called `Seeds', is a tear-jerking promotional ad released just in time for Mother's Day. It has already gained approximately 200,000 views.

`Seeds' is a 2 minutes and 30 seconds long video which follows the journey of a man from San Francisco to India. All his way back home to a village in India the man is carrying a very important envelope indicative of some good news. His mother is very surprised by by his visit.

The heart-rending short film was directed by Aneesh Chaganty and was shot completely on the Google Glass wearable computing device. The film was shot in the course of 10 days along film maker Chaganty's travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco, from San Francisco to Tokyo and finally to India, while all the time wearing the futuristic Google Glass eyewear.

The producers of this short movie are alumni and students from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts with the help of the Glass Creative Collective which provides funding for films made using Google Glass.

About the motive behind the touching short story, the producers said in a YouTube caption: "It's our way of saying 'Thank you, Mom'."


News Source:www.frenchtribune.com

California passes ‘kill switch’ law, requiring smartphones to have a self destruct option

The Californian Senate has approved a revised version of the so-called kill switch bill, which requires all smartphones sold in the state to have anti-theft software installed. The controversial bill was rejected at the end of April, and was subsequently altered to make it more acceptable to manufacturers and networks. Apparently, key changes included a six month extension to the deadline for compliance, and tablets aren’t included in the rules.

There are four main components to the kill switch. The software must make it impossible to use the device after it has been lost or stolen, and it can’t be overcome by forcing a hard reset. Additionally, no-one but the owner will be able to reconnect it to a network. It covers any smartphone sold in California manufactured after July 1 next year, and retailers are being threatened with a $2,500 per-device fine if they sell smartphones without the kill switch installed. The system won’t be mandatory for customers though, and you’ll be able to deactivate it after purchase.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, Apple and Microsoft played a large part in getting the bill to pass this time around. Senator Jim Beall told the newspaper both companies felt the new version was more flexible and “something they could work with.” It passed with a 26-8 vote, a considerable change over the 19-17 result last month. Mark Leno, the bill’s champion, called it a “big success,” and hopes other states will follow California’s lead.

Not everyone is so happy about the victory. The CTIA Wireless Association listed all the ways it’s already combatting phone thefts, including its unified stolen phone database, and said if kill-switch technology was passed only on a state-by-state basis, “uniformity would be threatened.” There are also concerns about the system being misused, such as in the case of domestic abuse, where the phone is locked by the abuser.

It’s expected that the bill will be altered again before it goes before the state Assembly.

News Source:www.digitaltrends.com


http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/smartphone-kill-switch-bill-passes-in-california/#!LLAG1

Google: This Oracle lawsuit could damage the whole software industry

The courts just handed Oracle a surprising win in its years-long lawsuit against Google and Android. And Google, to say the least, is not pleased. Google sent Business Insider this statement:

"We're disappointed by this ruling, which sets a damaging precedent for computer science and software development, and are considering our options."

It's unclear how much money Google could owe Oracle as a result of this new ruling. Oracle had originally been seeking a shocking $ ..

The fee Google winds up paying could be as low as $300,000, or even nothing. That's because the courts still have to rule on Google's final defense: that the copyrighted material it used for Android is ok to use under the Fair Use Doctrine.

To recap: Oracle accused Google of copying some of its Java computer code when it wrote Android. Android itself wasn't the issue. Android is different than Java. But Google wanted developers that work with Java, a popular language .. On Friday, an appellate court just overturned that loss, and said that APIs are subject to copyright.

An API exists to allow two programs to talk to each other. Normally, APIs are freely given away. It's the tool that encourages developers to write apps for a tech company's products.

By saying that APIs are copyrightable, the whole software industry has been put on alert. This ruling could be an epic mistake that leads to a lot of frivolous litigation, James Grimmelmann, a co ..


News Source:www.economictimes.indiatimes.com

News/ Community Canceled by NBC

Class dismissed: Community has been canceled by NBC. Start assembling those Subway sandwiches!

The beloved NBC comedy about a misfit group of community college students starred Joel McHale, Yvette Nicole Brown, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Jim Rash, Ken Jeong and Alison Brie. Former cast members include Donald Glover and Chevy Chase. John Oliver and Breaking Bad's Jonathan Banks recurred on the comedy.

Community hailed from the mind of Dan Harmon. He left the series prior to the start of season four and returned for the just-wrapped fifth season.

It's official: we are now in the darkest timeline.

PHOTOS: 24 TV shows that could get canceled—and the odds they'll survive!

Never a ratings powerhouse, the series developed a cult following on the Internet. Fans rallied around the Twitter term #Sixseasonsandamovie, which sprung out of a season two episode of Community in which Abed (Pudi) and Jeff (McHale) discuss the short-lived NBC series The Cape.

Community bounced around NBC from fall and midseason slots, normally anchoring Thursdays at 8 p.m. up against CBS's ratings juggernaut The Big Bang Theory. The season five finale grabbed 2.9 million viewers and a 1.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic.

The stars have started chiming in on Twitter, with McHale tweeting, "#darkesttimeline" and Jacobs sharing, "Thank you for the love, best fans in the world. Thank you @danharmon for the best job of my life. #ePluribusAnus."

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBC Universal family.)

News Source:www.eonline.com

Constantine Gets A Hellraising Series Order From NBC

With network upfronts set to woo advertisers next week, today has seen a constant stream of series pick-ups, put-downs, renewals and cancellations. NBC just announced one hell of a series order, as they’re moving forward with darkly comedic thriller Constantine, an adaptation of the popular DC comic series Hellblazer, created in part by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and Jamie Delano. This makes the second DC comic to get a series today, what with The CW picking up Flash. But don’t go thinking John Constantine is a superhero…

As played by Matt Ryan (Criminal Minds), NBC’s version of John Constantine will almost certainly veer towards more PG-13 material, but he should come across as a witty, cynical, humanistic occult detective who travels the country hunting down demons and sending them back to Hell. With his soul already destined for a fire-filled eternity, he temporarily steps back from his otherworldly duties, only to fall right back into them once he has to stop demons from killing a woman named Liv (Lucy Griffiths), the daughter of an old friend. LIv has the ability to foresee supernatural events, and there’s a new form of evil out there that wants her gift destroyed. Also starring are Charles Halford (True Detective) and Harold Perrineau (Lost).

One change from the comics that I can guarantee is Constantine will no longer be a chain smoker, and I bet we can expect a joke in the pilot about him trying to quit.

Luckily, the pilot has some talent behind it, which will hopefully carry on throughout the season. Dexter and Dirty Sexy Money writer/producer Daniel Cerone wrote the script, which was directed by Neil Marshall, whose werewolf thriller Dog Soldiers and spelunking horror The Descent were two of the best genre films of the last decade. On board as executive producer is David S. Goyer (Man of Steel).

NBC doesn’t always fare well with darker material, but the success of Hannibal may have carved out a foothold for genre fans to latch onto. Regardless of how it turns out, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be more enjoyable than Francis Lawrence’s mildy decent 2005 film version, if only because NBC couldn’t possibly top the film's worst example of miscasting in recent history, as pictured below.

According to EW, NBC also picked up the series Mysteries of Laura, a detective drama starring Debra Messing, and the romantic sitcom A-to-Z.



News Source:www.cinemablend.com

Jada Pinkett Smith arrives at LAX in leather trousers following 13-year-old daughter Willow's photo scandal

Her 13-year-old daughter Willow Smith sparked controversy this week after posting an Instagram snap of herself in bed with 20-year-old actor Moises Arias. 

And for the first time since the scandal broke, Jada Pinkett Smith was seen arriving at LAX Wednesday.

The 42-year-old actress debuted a sleek new bob while clad in a denim waistcoat, leather trousers, and stilettos

Leather mama: For the first time since her 13-year-old daughter Willow Smith's photo scandal broke, Jada Pinkett Smith was seen arriving at LAX Wednesday

According to TMZ sources, the Madagascar star and her husband Will Smith have 'no issue' with the b&w boudoir snap since Willow is 'very mature.'

The Hollywood couple of 15 years considered the image - which has since been taken down - as 'an expression of art' and 'innocent fun.'

'We don't do punishment,' Will told Metro last year.

'The way that we deal with our kids is, they are responsible for their lives. Our concept is, as young as possible, give them as much control over their lives as possible and the concept of punishment, our experience has been - it has a little too much of a negative quality.

'You can do anything you want as long as you can explain to me why that was the right thing to do for your life.'

And when fans were outraged in 2012 over the homeschooled pre-teen's extreme hairstyles, Jada wrote on Facebook: 'I made a promise to endow my little girl with the power to always know that her body, spirit and her mind are HER domain.'

Willow's music video for Summer Fling also came under attack last year due to her casting a visibly older onscreen love interest.

Just for clarity, the word fling means something that's short lived,' the Whip My Hair hitmaker told Queen Latifah last September.

'And this song is dedicated to all the kids around the world whose summer is never long enough.'

Meanwhile, Jada and Will's 15-year-old son Jaden will soon star in the slavery drama The Good Lord Bird.

The Matrix actress next plays Fish Mooney - a sadistic crime boss with extra-sensory abilities - in Gotham, which premieres this fall on Fox.

News Source:www.dailymail.co.uk

Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix Join Woody Allen's Secret Project

Woody Allen's new pic will be backed up by Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix, it has been reported. The project is so secretive that plot details and title have remained under wrap.

Allen is expected to write and direct the movie. He is known to work with the same actors for years but this would be his first time working with Phoenix. As for Stone, Allen directed her in "Magic in the Moonlight" which is in post-production.

Sources told Variety that the film would start shooting this July with more casting announcement to be made. Prolific names in the industry are expected to join the movie. The film is yet to have a distributor but Sony Pictures Classics is reportedly a front-runner.

Stone is fresh off starring as Gwen Stacy in blockbuster "The Amazing Spider-Man 2". Phoenix's last movie was the Oscar-winning "Her".

News Source:www.aceshowbiz.com

Kim K. and Kanye: Already married?

(CNN) -- In some corners of the Internet, Kim Kardashian is already Mrs. Kanye West.


The 33-year-old reality star isn't expected to marry West until May 24, but a May 4 report from Life & Style Weekly stirred speculation that the couple have already obtained a marriage license in California.


Whether or not that's true is up for debate. Both People magazine and E! News cite sources who say that Kardashian and West, 36, haven't yet made their impending union official.


A rep for the reality star isn't commenting on the reports and Kardashian hasn't spoken on them either, but she has let a few details slip about her upcoming nuptials.


"We will be getting married ... in Paris," Kardashian told Jimmy Kimmel earlier this year. "We love it there. It's like our second home, we spend so much time there."


And according to the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star, her husband-to-be has been hands-on with the planning process.


"I know they think or they say that the guy usually doesn't care and just shows up, but Kanye really cares and is really passionate about it, so it makes my job so much easier," she said. "I love it because he knows what he wants, and I love that about him."


West popped the question to Kardashian with an over-the-top proposal in October 2013, a few months after the couple welcomed their first child together, daughter North.

News Source:www.edition.cnn.com

Lisa Kudrow's 'The Comeback' Officially Returning to HBO

The short-lived comedy starring the 'Friends' alumna will be back for a new season of six episodes thi

HBO has officially announced the return of "The Comeback". The cult comedy starring Lisa Kudrow, which was canceled after only a 13-episode run in 2005, will be back for a 6-episode limited series to air in fall.

"It was almost too fun [to] play Valerie Cherish the first time around," Kudrow says in a statement. "I look forward to revisiting this resilient and ironically self-unaware character."

HBO program chief Michael Lombardo also states, "The Comeback holds a special place in the hearts of its many fans, including many of us here at HBO. I can't wait to find out what Valerie's been up to since we last met."

Michael Patrick King, who co-created the series with Kudrow, adds, "I'm so excited to be working with Valerie Cherish again. It's great to be able to continue her story and I'm thrilled to have 'The Comeback' come back to HBO, where it all started."

The comedy series follows Kudrow's Valerie Cherish, a D-grade actress whose effort in making a career comeback is filmed in a fake reality show also titled "The Comeback".

According to HBO, "in the new episodes, Valerie continues her search to attain the spotlight, but this time around, it illuminates a whole new series of problems when she achieves the visibility she wants."

In addition to Kudrow, Dan Bucatinsky, Lance Barber, Robert Michael Morris, Laura Silverman and Damian Young are confirmed to reprise their respective role. King, Kudrow and Bucatinsky also executive produce the limited series, which will begin production later this month.

News Source:www.aceshowbiz.com

Game of Thrones First Of His Name: Five Huge Possible Spoilers

With showrunners taking liberties like the White Walker scene from “Oathkeeper,” and news that they will likely be doing more of that more often, it’s getting harder and harder to predict where the show will go from week to week. For now, we’re content to keep trying to predict each episode based on where the characters should be compared to their stories from the books. Here are five possible spoilers for tonight’s episode of Game of Thrones, “First of His Name.”

This one isn’t based on the books because it does not happen in the books, at least not this way. The mutineers have to die, for exactly the reason that Jon Snow has talked about in previous episodes. Having them hold up at Craster’s Keep is basically gifting them to mance Rayder’s army, and that can’t be allowed. In the books, Coldhands finds them and finishes them off. Apparently, Coldhands isn’t appearing in the show, so the job has been left to Jon Snow instead. But, as I said, this scene doesn’t actually happen in the books. While I’m sure the mutineers will die, I’m not sure how exactly it will all go down. Bran and company are sure to escape in the battle, but will Jon see Bran? Will Locke play his hand? We’ll have to wait and see on that one.

Jon Is Reunited With Ghost

Last week, it was revealed that Jon Snow’s trusty Direwolf, Ghost, had been imprisoned by the mutineers at Craster’s Keep. Ghost left Jon when he was still trying to fit in among the Wildlings, but showed up to save Samwell Tarly from some White Walkers in Season 3. In the books, Ghost just shows up back at the Wall one day after Jon has been returned for a while. I’m guessing that Game of Thrones will use Jon’s attack on the mutineers to stage a more dramatic reunion.

Daenerys Chooses To Rule Rather Than Conquer

Now the Daenerys has freed Meereen and completed her conquest of the cities of Slaver’s Bay, she will turn her attention to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Unfortunately, new will reach her that things aren’t going so well in Astapor. Dany overthrew the ruling class, but left nothing in its place. As such, the city has spiraled into chaos. Refusing to let the same fate befall Meereen, Dany will chose to rule the city instead of marching forward, a decision that will be the cause of many trials and tribulations to come.

Sansa and Petyr Arrive at the Vale. Things Get Weird.

Sansa and Littlefinger will arrive at the Vale of Arryn. In the books, Sansa’s hair is cut and dyed to hide her identity. The previews seem to suggest that won’t be the case in Game of Thrones. Instead they’ll likely say that very few people have actually seen Sansa Stark before, and so when Littlefinger tells them she’s his cousin they have little reason not to believe him. Meanwhile, Aunt Lysa will become quite jealous of Sansa’s relationship with Lord Baelish, though whether she knows who Sansa really is or not remains unclear.

Arya and The Hound also arrive at the Vale

It should be about time for The Hound and Arya to reach the Vale as well. Unfortunately for them, they won’t be getting past the Bloody Gate. Arya and the Hound will be force to turn around and head the Riverrun, where the Hound hopes the Blackfish will be willing to pay for Arya. Things won’t go as he plans though, but I think that’s a spoiler for a different episode…

Game of Thrones, “First of His Name,” will air Sunday, May 4 at 9 PM ET on HBO.

News Source:www.comicbook.com

‘Orphan Black’ Recap: Please, Let’s Not Imagine the Worst

For this week’s recap of “Orphan Black” on BBC America, let’s fast forward to the last part of the episode, where, in a fairly disturbing scene, a drugged Helena (Tatiana Maslany) is an unwilling participant in a marriage ceremony with Henrik (Peter Outerbridge), the leader of the Proletheans. After the two characters are joined in matrimony, Henrik carries Helena over the threshold to an unknown room, with the tone of the scene strongly suggesting she is about to be raped or violated in some way.

This scene comes at an inopportune time given the recent controversy surrounding the use of rape in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” There was nothing graphic in this episode of “Orphan Black,” and who knows what will happen later, but it’s uncomfortable all the same.

Earlier in the episode, Henrik tells his daughter Grace (Zoé De Grand Maison) that Helena is going to be part of their family and that despite any reservations they may have, Helena has a soul and a purpose. Henrik has sinister reasons for wanting Helena to bear a child, but that conversation at least gave the impression that he might try to achieve this goal by treating Helena not with hostility, but with dignity and respect.

One could picture the show taking this other path of Henrik caring for Helena, which along the way, might make him him a more interesting and nuanced villain. Instead, thanks to his actions during the wedding scene, he seems more like a monster. We’ll have to wait until next week to see how this story is ultimately handled, but I’m hoping that “Orphan Black” doesn’t tilt toward “Game of Thrones” plot lines.

The other big development in the episode is the introduction of Cal Morrison (Michiel Huisman), a mountain man with a heart of gold whose life is scored to the bittersweet folk rock stylings of the Toronto-based musician Tim Moxam. He also happens to be – big reveal – the father of Kira (Skyler Wexler).

Kira takes one look at Cal and immediately asks if he is her dad, sparing viewers a drawn-out guessing game of “Is he or isn’t he?” Children with special mind powers are usually bad news for science fiction programs, but when they are used to quickly dispense with unnecessary plot complications, it’s hard to complain.

Instead, Cal creates tension in Sarah’s family, such as it is. Being the good guy that he is, Cal lets Sarah, Kira and Felix (Jordan Gavaris) stay in his home, but his presence turns Felix into the odd man out. This leads to an emotional scene where Felix confronts Sarah about the real reason she brought them all out to the country and she admits to him that Kira deserves a more nourishing life than what they’ve provided for her.

Sarah and Felix’s relationship has always been at the center of “Orphan Black” and while he has ably played the role of loyal friend and sidekick – always standing by Sarah despite her increasingly crazy and dangerous circumstances – it’s obvious from this scene that he thought of himself as something more to Kira. The jealousy and pain that he feels as a result of Sarah looking outside the family they’ve built for themselves to find a father figure for Kira is too much for him. For the first time, he leaves Sarah’s side, assuming that another clone Alison needs him more than she will as long as Cal is around.

Felix’s assumptions about Alison are absolutely correct as she continues to break down without any kind of support. A plea to Cosima for help goes poorly (she’s too busy examining the body of another clone) and the overly aggressive undercover skills of Angela (Inga Cadranel) send Alison further into a paranoid panic. Things finally come to head when she falls off the stage during the opening night performance of “Blood Ties,” most likely due to the mixture of pills and alcohol she ingested backstage. It’s left unclear just how badly she is injured, but I hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Alison Hendrix, off-off-off Broadway star.

What did you think of this episode? How did you interpret the wedding scene with Henrik and Helena?

News Source:www.artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com

Round 2 of Jazz Fest kicks off Thursday

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans native and jazz vocalist Anais St. John says every aspect of her life has led to her upcoming debut in her hometown’s most celebrated music festival.

The cabaret-style performer, who grew up singing in her church choir and went on to study opera and musical performance at Xavier University and the University of New Orleans, started out as a cocktail waitress occasionally sitting in on jazz trios in the city’s lounges singing songs like “The Newness of You” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”

St. John, 40, said she knew from a young age that she wanted to sing on a stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, arguably the city’s most acclaimed music event which annually draws hundreds of thousands of visitors.

She gets that chance Thursday when she performs on the opening day of the festival’s second weekend, in a lineup that also includes Lyle Lovett, singer-pianist Marcia Ball, Gal Holiday and The String Cheese Incident.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said St. John. “Everything in my life has led me to this moment.”

St. John has performed at New Orleans’ French Quarter Festival for years and international festivals as well, but getting an invitation to Jazz Fest is one of her highest achievements, thus far.

“For me, this is an award,” she said. “This is huge. It means so much to me.”

St. John said she’s watched her idols — Irma Thomas, Germaine Bazzle and other New Orleans jazz and blues singers — play the festival for years.

“I’ve dreamt of being on that stage one day,” said St. John, whose career includes the city’s theatre scene and years-long gigs at some of its finest hotels. “Now that it’s finally here. It really is a completion of being a New Orleans musician.”

St. John was perhaps destined for a career in music. Her father, who she didn’t get to know until later in life, is the late Marion Brown, a jazz alto saxophonist who was a member of the 1960s avant-garde jazz scene in New York City, playing alongside musicians such as John Coltrane, Archie Shepp and John Tchicai. Brown performed on Coltrane’s landmark 1965 album, “Ascension.”

News Source:www.washingtonpost.com

Ben Affleck 'Once Raked In $800,000 On Blackjack Table' Ahead Of Lifetime Ban Reports

The actor was reportedly slapped with a lifetime ban from Las Vegas' Hard Rock

Ben Affleck is a pro when it comes to blackjack. Amid reports the actor has been slapped with a lifetime ban by a Las Vegas casino for being "too good" at the game, it's emerged the actor previously scooped a massive win back in 2001.

Numerous reports this weekend have claimed that the Hollywood star was recently stopped by security guards at a high rollers' table at the Hard Rock Casino in Vegas and given a lifetime ban.

According to insiders, hotel staff were "polite" to him, simply saying: "You are too good at the game". Card counting is not illegal, but is considered valid grounds upon which to get a player banned.

A source close to Ben has told EntertainmentWise: "He got banned from playing blackjack not the casino. The security said we have to stop you because 'you are too good'. The hotel was really nice, told him he could play other games and ended up getting him and Jennifer a car back to their hotel. He and Jennifer were there on a quick getaway before he has to leave for Detroit to shoot Batman". 

A spokesperson for the hotel and casino has also spoken out, denying to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Ben has been barred from the venue.

Ben Affleck was reportedly enjoying a trip to Vegas with his wife Jennifer Garner when he was stopped at the blackjack table (WENN)

“Mr. Affleck, a valued guest of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, is not banned from our property and is welcome back any time,” hotel spokeswoman Abigail Miller stated.

Miller did not say though if the Oscar winner would be allowed back at its gaming tables.

Whether Ben will be allowed back at the high rollers table or not, the star is known to be a champion blackjack player, The New York Daily News report that back in 2001, Affleck raked in a whopping $800,000 playing blackjack at the Hard Rock.

Witnesses reportedly saw a then-29-year-old Affleck pay out $150,000 in tips to dealers and waitresses in the high-rollers’ Peacock Lounge after his big win.


News Source:www.entertainmentwise.com

Shailene Woodley tears up getting short haircut for ‘Fault in Our Stars’

The actress got emotional when she shed her long tresses to play cancer-stricken Hazel Grace Lancaster in the new film.

Shailene Woodley got emotional over cutting her long locks for "The Fault in Our Stars."

In a behind the scenes video from MTV News, the starlet was teary-eyed as a team of stylists lopped off her long hair for her role as Hazel Grace Lancaster, a teenager recovering from cancer.

"Oh my God! I might cry so hard you guys," Woodley, 22, said in the video as she clutched a bunch of her shorn hair.



he actress donated the hair to Children With Hair Loss, an organization that makes wigs for kids who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy.

Woodley clearly got over her shock at seeing herself without her trademark waist-length blonde hair.


News Source:www.nydailynews.com

'Star Wars Episode VII' cast announced: Who's in the movie? (+video)

'Star Wars Episode VII': The cast has officially been announced. Who will appear in the film? 'Star Wars Episode VII' is scheduled to be released in December 2015.

'Star Wars Episode 7' will include the return of Mark Hamill (l.), Carrie Fisher (center), and Harrison Ford (r.).


20th Century Fox/AP

After months of secrecy and rumors, the cast for the new “Star Wars” film, the seventh film in the franchise, has been revealed.

Original “Star Wars” actors Mark Hamill, who portrayed Jedi knight Luke Skywalker; Carrie Fisher, who played feisty princess Leia Organa; and Harrison Ford, who was the wisecracking smuggler Han Solo, are returning for the movie, according to Disney and Lucasfilm.

In addition, actor Peter Mayhew, who portrayed Han Solo’s Wookiee sidekick Chewbacca, and actors Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker, who were behind the droids C-3PO and R2-D2, are coming back for the film.

RECOMMENDED: How well do you know your Star Wars insults? Take our quiz, laser brain!

The best-known actors who will play the new faces in a galaxy far, far away are “Girls” actor Adam Driver, who it had already been reported would be the main villain of the film; Andy Serkis, who became famous for portraying the creature Gollum in the “Lord of the Rings” movies through motion-capture technology; and well-known actor Max von Sydow of “The Exorcist,” among many other films.

In addition, actors Domhnall Gleeson of “About Time” and Oscar Isaac, who starred in last year’s film “Inside Llewyn Davis,” have joined the cast. Also on board are “Imperial Dreams” actor John Boyega (he’s also appearing in Fox’s upcoming series “24: Live Another Day”) and Daisy Ridley, who has appeared in such TV shows as “Mr. Selfridge.”

Of course, Disney and Lucasfilm are staying mum on what roles, exactly, all these actors will be taking on.

“We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII," director J.J. Abrams said in a

statement. "It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud."

The seventh “Star Wars” film is set to be released on Dec. 18, 2015.

News Source:www.csmonitor.com

Gwen Stefani to coach season 7 of 'The Voice'

FILE - In this Saturday, April 26, 2014 file photo, Gwen Stefani attends the one year anniversary celebration of Hakkasan Las Vegas, in Las Vegas. NBC announced on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, that Stefani will be a coach on "The Voice" next season. Stefani will join Adam Levine, Black Shelton and another previously announced new coach, Pharrell Williams, on the singing contest's seventh edition. (Photo by Al Powers/Powers Imagery/Invision/AP, file) Photo: Al Powers, Al Powers/Invision/AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) — NBC says Gwen Stefani will be a coach on "The Voice" next season.

The network said Tuesday that Stefani will join Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and another previously announced new coach, Pharrell Williams, on the singing contest's seventh edition.

The two newcomers will drop by "The Voice" on May 5.

NBC says Stefani, the frontwoman for rock band No Doubt and a solo performer, will sing her hit "Hollaback Girl," while Williams is set to perform his new single, "Come Get It Bae."

The network also says coach Christina Aguilera will return for season eight.

The current season's panel includes Levine, Shelton, Shakira and Usher.


News Source:www.sfgate.com

Emma Stone, Jimmy Fallon face off in epic lip-synch battle on ‘The Tonight Show’

The 25-year-old actress proved that acting is just one of her many talents as she hilariously challenged the late-night host on Monday's show.

Emma Stone, you do win.

The 25-year-old actress stopped by Jimmy Fallon's "Tonight Show" Monday and the two went head to head in an epic lip-synch battle.

While Fallon certainly stepped it up, he didn't quite hold a candle to the "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" starlet.

The funnyman host, 39, kicked off the competition by performing Iggy Azalea's "Fancy." Stone followed with her rendition of "Hook" by the Blues Traveler.

"I can't even talk to you right now," Fallon said to Stone after she finished.

Emma Stone and Jimmy Fallon have engage in an epic lip-synch battle during Monday's 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.'

"I forgot all about that song. So good. I really gotta pick it up now. I've gotta up my game."

Fallon's second song was "Mr. Roboto," in which he hilariously paired with robot dance moves.

Stone's final jam was DJ Khaled's "All I Do Is Win" and the red-headed actress nailed every last word in her theatrical performance.

Fallon had no choice but to crown her the winner.

Emma Stone performing one of her jams on Monday's 'Tonight Show.'

"That was the best one that has ever been done on the show," he said. "Emma Stone, the winner right now. Clear, clear, clear winner."

Prior to their face-off, Stone opened up to Fallon in their sit-down about her favorite things to look up on the Web.

"Lately I'm checking out some young mom blogs. Here's how it happened. There are people blogging about pretty much everything, but they're women in my age range that are mothers. I can't even get my life together enough to put furniture in an apartment," she joked.

"I just Pinterest everything, Pinterest is basically like a mood board online, and you can look on different sections and you can build your dream life, basically. You're like, 'Oh, these clothes! I would wear all these clothes if I could. This is what my house would look like.' They're just pictures that you would pin as if you were pinning them to a corkboard, but you're pinning them to an internet website ... and your life is sad because it doesn't look like that."

Jimmy Fallon crowned Emma Stone the winner of their hilarious lip-synch battle.

"My Pinterest is secret because I would be humiliated if anyone would see how many inspirational quotes I have," she continued.

"I've got a lot of, like, 'Just pick yourself up by the bootstraps.'"

Stone stars in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" alongside real-life love Andrew Garfield, which hits theaters Friday.

News Source:www.nydailynews.com