Wednesday "HUMP DAY" (June 15, 2011) stories developing. . . . .
Lebron James' Debut on the Big Screen Put On-Hold Again!
Lebron James (above). James' failure to win the NBA title may have jeopardized a film project that's been planned for the NBA star since 2010.
(Variety) Lebron James' debut in Hollywood has been delayed once again, according to Variety. The planned Universal produced sports comedy film "Ballers," about a group of guys who attend the Lebron James Adult basketball camp in Las Vegas but end up dragging the basketball star into their myriad of problems, has been delayed due to the Miami Heat loss in the NBA Finals. The first time the project was delayed was during his free agent decision in 2010 that led him to South Beach.
Executive producer Michael Rosenberg said that "the script is still being developed and we are not shooting this summer."
"Undercover Brother's" Malcom D. Lee is scheduled to direct.
Imagine Entertainment Brian Grazer will produce and said that James impressed him with his commercials and his duties as host on "Saturday Night Live." Back in April 2010, Universal announced that "Ballers" would go into production and be released in November 2011, meaning that it would go into production that summer.
However, after "The Decision," the project was delayed and the initital script by Babaloo Mandel and Lowell Ganz was re-written by Peter Steinfeld.
At this point, James' has other things on his mind after his team's failed effort to win an NBA title. In addition, James' has some soul-searching to do after his own failure to help the Heat beat the Mavericks. Many feel that James' may put off the movie even further, after NOT realizing his dream of a champion and work on his game in the offseason.
In the meantime, Universal and Imagine would have to wait for James. However, one has to wonder if it is debatable if the movie will help boost James' popularity, which is at a crossroads after the Miami loss.
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Singer Joss Stone, A Target in Bizarre Kidnapping/Murder Plot!
International star Joss Stone (above) was a stalked by two men, who planned to kidnap and murder her!
(Radaronline) Pop singer Joss Stone was the target in a bizarre kidnapping/murder plot that was supposed to "go down" at her rural home in Devon, England yesterday morning. Authorities said two male suspects, a 33 and 30 year-old, drove from 200 miles away from Manchester, England with swords, rope, and a body bag with a plan to kidnap and murder the singer.
Police said that neighbors alerted them when a suspicious-looking car was parked close to Stone's home. When Police arrived, they spotted the pair and found them with detailed aerial and area maps and photos of Stone's home.
It was unclear if Stone was home at the time and the singer did not deny or confirm if she was, pending investigation.
Police said the two men are being held under suspicion of murder weapons and with equipment to steal.
Stone, who is worth an estimated $15M, has sold over 10M albums around the world and has worked with legendary artists James Brown, the Rolling Stones, and Stevie Wonder. She is also an actress and has appeared in the film, "Eragon," and the Showtime series "The Tudors.'
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Playboy Model Crystal Harris Clarifies Why She Cancelled Wedding with Hugh Hefner!
Crystal Harris with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner (above). Harris explained she did have "cold feet" and the decision to cancel the wedding "was mutual."
(Radaronline) Crystal Harris, 24, appeared on radio station 102.7 KISS FM Los Angeles with Ryan Seacrest to explain why she backed out of her wedding with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, 85, that was scheduled for this Saturday.
Amid speculation that Harris left because she was upset about her "measley weekly allowance," signing a prenup she did not agree with, and leaving Hef for "another man," the Playboy model appeared this morning on Seacrest to give "her side."
First, she explained that she and Hef did "not fight" with the Publishing Giant last weekend and the split between them "was mutual."
Reports of having "cold feet" were true and she confirmed it by saying, "For a while, I've been having second thoughts about everything,” she admitted. “I haven't really been at peace with myself lately. I didn't think it was really fair to him ... it was all happening too fast for me ... I just thought about it and [asked myself,] 'Was this what I wanted?'"
And how did Hef take this?
"He understood; we both agreed that it wasn't the best idea to get married ... he was doing it for me because he thought it was what I wanted," she said. "I just feel that I owed it to Hef and everyone there to do the right thing and move on ... this isn't the lifestyle for me, multiple girls all around -- it's not the lifestyle I wanted.
"We had a long talk about it. I feel happy and at peace that everything will be ok, and I respect him more than anything,” she said. “We're still going to be really close."
As for headlines that claimed she dumped Hef for Dr. Phil's son Jordan McGraw, she said "she is NOT seeing someone else."
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Mavs DeShawn Stevenson Arrested for Public Intoxication!
Mavericks Deshawn Stevenson (above) was arrested last night for public intoxication at an apartment complex in Texas.
(TMZ) Dallas Mavericks DeShawn Stevenson was arrested last night for public intoxication at an apartment complex in Texas, amid a complaint from someone who said a drunk guy was wandering around the area.
DeShawn was probably still celebrating his team's victory over the Miami Heat this past Sunday but when Police officers arrived on the scene, DeShawn said "he was lost."
Police explained that they arrested the Mavs forward because "he was a danger to himself and others."
He posted $475 bail this morning was released.
Dallas will have something to celebrate at the victory parade for the Mavericks this Thursday!
Meanwhile, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said "he was going to foot the bill" for a planned victory parade on Thursday. An estimated 25,000 people are expected to celebrate with the team at the parade that will start at 10am at the Dallas Convention Center and ends up at the American Airlines Center. Dallas Forth-Worth officials are notifiying the public of traffic jams, crowds, and steamy weather at the parade route.
Dallas Police Officers will appear "at full force" to provide security for the event that's been a long-time waiting for Dallas fans in general. Barricades will be set up and alcohol is not permitted at the parade route.
Police said that 14 arrests were made during postgame celebrations late Sunday, early Monday.
City officials expect no problems from the celebration and ask the public to take public transportation (trains or bus) instead of coming in by car due to expected large crowds and major traffic jams.
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TV Judges Getting Too Soft, Refuse to Dole Out Negative Critism!
The judges from the hit show "The Voice" (above) are delivering positive comments all around!
(AOLTV) If you notice an awful performance on "American Idol" and "The Voice" and hoped that the judges would "butcher" the singer for such a horrible rendition, you wouldn't be surprised to hear judges curtail the "negativity" and instead give "positive" lofty comments, giving the singer a false sense that they performed up to expectations. For example, on last night's "The Voice," contestant Devon Barkley sung a bad rendition of One Republic's "Stop and Stare" but judges Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo, and even "Coach" Adam Levine did not skewer the singer but gave general comments such as "you looked poised during the performance," "you did well," and "you've come along way in the competition."
Lord knows what former Idol judge Simon Cowell would have said to Barkley.
Suddenly, the trend to move away from "negativity" and instead to more positive comments is what reality competition shows are heading into. Although sounding positive is always a good thing, refusing to give negative criticism when it is warranted (in order to help the contestant become better) may not help the singer in the long run.
The softening of TV judges on reality competition shows like "American Idol" and "The Voice" can be rooted to the days of talk show hosts Oprah Winfrey, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres (who was a judge on Idol), and Ryan Seacrest, who are all famous for NOT asking "tough questions" and instead are left to "kiss the butt" of the celebrity. On her one year stint on Idol, DeGeneres refused to give out criticism, almost sounding like a robotic-Paula Abdul (who was conflicted with giving positive/negative comments and sounded downright awkward and "too nice" in her praise).
Are the talk show hosts becoming like a "politically-correct" society where everything is good, mediocrity is praised, and no one is criticized? Surely, the hosts fear that if they do ask the tough questions or criticize anyone that these celebs would not want to appear on their show again. It goes without saying that it's hard to criticize a celebrity, if you're "chummy with them."
In the case of reality show judges, "do celeb judges fear the "backlash" from the fans for criticizing performers or are the show's executives putting a "gag order" on these judges for making negative comments?
We'll never know.
However, the viewers who watch these reality competition shows are NOT stupid and they can tell a good performance from a bad one.
What sounds worse is a judge giving undue praise to a performer who gave an awful performance. That's praising mediocrity and that's not what you want in an industry where performers are being paid lots of money for above average performances. This thinking has no place in reality competition where competition can be brutal and where performers need to know the truth, instead of receiving praise for an awful performance that did not earn it!
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NBA Star Robert Horry's Daughter Dies Tragically at 17 Years Old!
NBA star Robert Horry, wife Keva, and daughter Ashlyn (above). Ashlyn died yesterday of a rare genetic disorder.
(Yahoo) The teenage daughter of NBA Star Robert Horry (Houston Rockets, L.A. Lakers, San Antonio Spurs) died yesterday due to a lifelong battle with a rare genetic disorder.
Ashlyn Horry, 17, suffered from 1P36 deletion syndrome (a deletion of genetic material from chromosone 1), which would result in intellectual and some physical disabilties. Ashlyn had been born with the condtion that required her to stay in the hospital the first 6 months of her life, had a tracheotomy for 3 years, and took most of her food with an IV tube near her bed.
She lived most of her life enduring multiple surgeries and several close calls with death.
The NBA star said, "My little girl was the light of my life and my family's," he told the L.A. Times. "It's been tough but were blessed to have her for the time we did."
The 7-time NBA champion with the Rockets, Lakers and Spurs, said that he couldn't help but feel bad sometimes for her daughter, who was not able to join her cousins when they played while she sat and watched.
Horry's wife expressed less regret. "She's happy all the time," she said. "She doesn't know any different. That's great, and it's a peace for me. This is all she knows. She's happy, and I want to keep it that way."
Ashlyn is survived by Robert, wife Keva, and brother Camron, 12.
To know more about the rare genetic disorder, see the Ashlyn Horry Foundation website:
http://ashlynhorryfoundation.org/aboutus.html
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Elin Goes to Disneyland, Tiger On Crutches and Medical Walking Boot!
Tiger struggles with crutches at his Orlando office (above left) while Elin Nordegren and kids are at Disney World celebrating Sam's birthday. (above right).
(Radaronline) Tiger Woods' ex-wife Elin Nordegren was seen with both of her children at Disneyland yesterday to celebrate daughter Sam's birthday.
Papa Tiger was nowhere in sight! Wondering if he got an invitation. Oh well.
Elin's life is going good. She lives in a $12M mansion in North Palm Beach, just 10 miles from Tiger's pad. She is currently enrolled at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, where she is studying psychology.
Meanwhile, Tiger recently announced that he was not entering the U.S. Open, due to injuries. The former No. 1 golfer was seen outside his Orlando office using crutches and wearing a medical walking boot on his left leg.
He said that he was suffering from a mild left knee sprain and a mild left achilles tendon sprain. He's had 4 surgeries on his left knee. No word if his achilles tendon needs surgery as well.
Whatever the case, the golfer looked miserable struggling to get in his car.
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Russell Crowe to Play Superman's Father in "Man of Steel!"
Russell Crowe (above) will play the role made famous by Marlon Brandon (above right) in a reboot of the Superman series, "Man of Steel."
(Deadline Hollywood) Russell Crowe (Gladiator, Robin Hood) will be taking a cameo role of Jor-El, as Superman's Father, (made famous by Marlon Brando in the 1978 version) in the Superman reboot, "Man of Steel," set for release December 2012.
The film will begin shooting in August in Vancouver, Canada, Chicago and Plano, Texas.
The film will also star Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent; Kevin Costner as Pa Kent; Diane Lane as Ma Kent; and Amy Adams as Lois Lane. It will be directed by Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen, Sucker Punch).
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Hollywood Studio's Home Entertainment Divisions are Laying Off!
The unemployment in Hollywood is growing as studios announce layoffs!
(Mediamarket Journal) The home entertainment division of many Hollywood studio's are laying off due to lackluster Box-office receipts and sagging DVD/Blu ray sales.
Earlier this month, Sony laid off 450 employees; Warner Brothers laid off 50 employees; Fox and Lionsgate laid off 10 employees in the home entertainment division; and Disney let go 250 employees and an additional 200 staffers in a restructuring move.
Many industry experts blame a variety of factors for the layoffs. The current state of the economy has changed the spending habits of the consumer to renting videos instead of buying titles. It's obvious that renting a video is definitely cheaper and most consumers want to buy the videos of an epic film like "Avatar" or "Pirates of the Carribean," not your "run of the mill" film.
Hollywood hasn't produced enough blockbuster-type films that can "break the bank" in the DVD/Blu ray sector. Unfortunately, Hollywood has been accused of "playing it safe" with familiar titles and sequels rather than take a chance with an "original concept," which may become a box-office bomb. You can't blame the suits for being careful with their film selections because box-office bombs are usually costly and may set back a studio financially. However, these "safe movies" don't bring any excitement for the consumer to buy the video, which largely ends up in the $10 or $5 bin months later.
With the rise of Netflix and the internet, consumers don't have to go far to a theater or video store to get their "entertainment needs." Downloading a video on their computer or television has never been easier. With entertainment at home, going to the theater nowadays is an afterthought in most cases. There is more entertainment competition out there than ever before and the recent example of many theater-goers staying home to watch game 6 between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat is a strong case in point.
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After all, Murphy needs his cut, okay? 
Miami ---
