Wednesday 7 March 2012

'All-American Muslim' canceled amid sagging ratings

L-R: Mike Jaafar, Angela Jaafar, sisters Suehaila Amen and Shadia Amen-McDermottA ground-breaking reality TV show about Arab Americans is being canceled after one season in the face of flagging ratings, cast members and the cable channel behind the program said Wednesday.


Celeb birthdays for the week of March 11-17

March 11: Singer-keyboardist Mark Stein of Vanilla Fudge is 65. Singer Bobby McFerrin is 62. Actress Susan Richardson ("Eight Is Enough") is 60. Interscope Records head and "American Idol" mentor Jimmy Iovine is 59. Country singer Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers is 57. Singer Nina Hagen is 57. Singer Cheryl Lynn is 55. Actor Jeffrey Nordling ("24") is 50. Actress Alex Kingston ("ER") is 49. Actor Wallace Langham ("C.S.I.," ''Veronica's Closet") is 47. Singer Lisa Loeb is 44. Singer Pete Droge is 43. Actor Terrence Howard ("Crash," ''Hustle and Flow") is 43. Keyboardist Rami Jaffee (The Wallflowers) is 43. Actor Johnny Knoxville is 41. Singers Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte are 33. Actor David Anders ("The Vampire Diaries," ''Alias") is 31. Singer LeToya Luckett (Destiny's Child) is 31. Actress Thora Birch ("Ghost World," ''American Beauty") is 30.

'Portal 2,' 'Skyrim' win at Game Developers Choice

In this video game image released by Bethesda Softworks, a Dragonborn hero battles one of the flying lizards in "Portal 2" leapt over the competition to win the most trophies at the Game Developers Choice Awards.


Review: Trip to Mars is no fun in 'John Carter'

In this film image released by Disney, Taylor Kitsch is shown in a scene from Yes, there is life on Mars in "John Carter," and it's deadly dull.


Electronic Arts bringing back 'SimCity' franchise

In this mage released by Electronic Arts/Maxis, concept art for a waterfront city is shown for the video game Electronic Arts is breaking ground on a new "SimCity."


Skinny Secrets in Manhattan Dieting

You’d think a woman married to an Italian chef would know a thing or two about staying in shape.  Eileen Daspin, wife of Cesare Casella, executive chef of Salumeria Rosi salumi and wine bar, writes: “I taste everything but eat almost nothing,” in her latest book...

Teenager Sanchez wows 'American Idol' judges

In this March 1, 2012 image released by Fox, the remaining 13 contestants from the singing competition series, Gutsy "American Idol" contestant Jessica Sanchez took on Whitney Houston's biggest hit, delivering a performance that awed the show's judges.


Judges Select 2012 World Champion of Cheese

Cheese lovers will take their cheese as seriously as football fans take the Super Bowl at tonight’s World Championship Cheese Contest. The winner of the 29th biennial contest will be crowned tonight at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wis. The three-day contest, which...

Celebrate National Cereal Day

Ice cold milk and crunchy, sweet cereal was the quintessential meal of my childhood. Endless hours of my life have been spent staring at the back of cereal boxes reading every detail as I took in spoonful after spoonful, hoping to get to the bottom...

Kelly Cutrone says reality belongs on reality TV

In this undated image released by The CW, fashion publicist Kelly Cutrone, a judge on the reality competition series, Kelly Cutrone knows how it works: She's supposed to bring the "reality" to fashion reality TV.


'Man From Primrose Lane' a crazy, imaginative tale

In this book cover image released by Sarah Crichton Books / FSG, "The Man From Primrose Lane" (Sarah Crichton Books/FSG) by James Renner: In 2008, an eccentric, reclusive old man known only as the Man from Primrose Lane is murdered in his home in West Akron, Ohio.


Jury hears 2 versions of when Sheridan's role cut

FILE - In this July 27, 2011 file photo, actress Nicollette Sheridan poses for a portrait at during The Television Critics Association 2011 Summer Press Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sheridan concluded testifying Monday, March 5, 2012, in Los Angeles and A former writer on "Desperate Housewives" on Wednesday contradicted testimony by the show's creator that a decision to kill off Nicollette Sheridan's role had been made four months before the actress claimed her boss struck her on the set.


Writer disputes 'Desperate Housewives' testimony

FILE - In this July 27, 2011 file photo, actress Nicollette Sheridan poses for a portrait at during The Television Critics Association 2011 Summer Press Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sheridan concluded testifying Monday, March 5, 2012, in Los Angeles and A former writer on "Desperate Housewives" has contradicted testimony by the show's creator that he decided to kill off Nicollette Sheridan's character months before the pair had an on-set fight.


Writer disputes 'Desperate Housewives' creator

FILE - In this July 27, 2011 file photo, actress Nicollette Sheridan poses for a portrait at during The Television Critics Association 2011 Summer Press Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sheridan concluded testifying Monday, March 5, 2012, in Los Angeles and A former writer on "Desperate Housewives" has contradicted testimony by the show's creator that he decided to kill off Nicollette Sheridan character months before the pair had an on-set fight.


Big-budget 'au revoir' ends Paris fashion week

A model wears a creation by U.S fashion designer Marc Jacobs for his Louis Vuitton collection, Women's Fall-Winter, ready-to-wear 2013 during Paris Fashion week, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)Louis Vuitton capped a Paris fashion week dripping with jewels, sequins and glamorous jet-setters by going back in time to one of the most fashionable ages of travel: The era of the Orient Express.


Harvey Weinstein: French film's golden age is now

U.S film producer and movie studio chairman Harvey Weinstein during an interview with the Associated Press in Paris, Wednesday, March 7, 2012, the same day as Weinstein received, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)Harvey Weinstein says "The Artist" is just the beginning.


Book tells how Marshall took on evil in Fla.

In this book cover image released by Harper, "Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America" (Harper), by Gilbert King: Why isn't there a Thurgood Marshall day? As well as days for those other brave warriors who battled the evil of segregation in the days when speaking up, let alone striking back, could get you killed?


Writers' notes used in 'Desperate Housewives' case

FILE - In this July 27, 2011 file photo, actress Nicollette Sheridan poses for a portrait at during The Television Critics Association 2011 Summer Press Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sheridan concluded testifying Monday, March 5, 2012, in Los Angeles and The creator of "Desperate Housewives" showed jurors Wednesday writers' notes detailing various scenarios for killing off Nicollette Sheridan's character in the months before he and the actress argued on the set.


Teenager petitions to change R rating for 'Bully'

Katy Butler, 17, a high school student, from Ann Arbor, Mich., speaks to media on Wednesday March 7, 2012, in Los Angeles. Butler delivered petitions of more than 200,000 signatures to the Motion Picture Association of America urging them to change the Katy Butler hasn't forgotten what it was like to be bullied in the seventh grade, when a group of boys surrounded her, taunted her and broke her finger by slamming it into a locker.


Capsule reviews of 'John Carter,' other new movies

In this film image released by Roadside Attractions, Adam Scott, left, and Jennifer Westfeldt are shown in a scene from Jennifer Westfeldt seems interested in exploring the complications that come with pondering parenthood with a mix of candor and heart. She touches on the stages so many of us find ourselves going through in our 30s: steadfast reluctance, vaguely nagging interest, strong yearning and, eventually, the what-the-hell-have-we-done? realism of it all. Unfortunately, as writer, producer, star and (for the first time) director, Westfeldt takes a topic full of complex emotional shadings and turns it into something that is, for the most part, reductive, cliched and even sitcommy. You want to believe that she means well, that perhaps she has experienced some of these stages herself. She's so adorably neurotic here (as she was in her acclaimed screenwriting debut "Kissing Jessica Stein"), and she's amassed such a strong supporting cast, including her real-life romantic partner Jon Hamm, that you wish "Friends With Kids" were better, truer. Westfeldt and Adam Scott co-star as Julie and Jason, best friends since college who decide to have a baby together to avoid the romantic baggage that burdens their married friends (Maya Rudolph, Chris O'Dowd, Hamm and Kristen Wiig). R for sexual content and language. 102 minutes. Two stars out of four.


At SXSW media zoo, convergence is annual buzz word

FILE - In this Feb. 12, 2012 file photo, Bruce Springsteen performs during the 54th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Springsteen will perform at the annual South by Southwest Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)Increasingly, the media zoo that is SXSW looks more like today's overlapping media world.


Theater artists nationwide unite for Japan benefit

In this March 6, 2012 photo released by Lincoln Center, Paolo Montalban, standing second right, and Thom Sesma, standing right, rehearse for Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of when a monstrous earthquake triggered a tsunami that roared across Japan's coast â€" and the theater community plans to respond.


'Downton' star gets another period project

FILE - In this July 31, 2011 file photo, actor Dan Stevens poses for a portrait, in Beverly Hills, California. The "Downton Abbey" star Dan Stevens has been spending twice as much time in the past.


'Riddler' son lights iconic ball on AC casino

Mitch Olorenshaw, left, whose company built the giant ball atop the Revel casino in Atlantic City N.J.; Cliff Wildgoose, director of engineering and construction for Revel, center; and Mitch Gorshin, right, who designed the ball, discuss it during testing of the device on the casino's rooftop on March 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)His father played "The Riddler" on TV's "Batman" series, but Mitch Gorshin cooked up a puzzling mystery of his own: Just what IS that big ball on the top of the Revel casino?


5 Ways to Wear Your Little Black Dress

The little black dress is a fashion classic, but it’s not just for parties anymore. With the right accessories, it can be transformed into everything from a work outfit to a trendy date night look. Zanna Roberts Rassi, senior fashion editor of Marie Claire magazine,...

Party like mad... Or at least like Mad Men might

In this Feb. 13, 2012 photo taken in Concord, N.H., a classic martini made with gin and vermouth is shown. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)Does Don Draper do finger food? Judging by the first four seasons of TV's popular "Mad Men" show it doesn't seem likely unless we're talking about a belt of bourbon with a couple of smoking hot Lucky Strikes on the side.


UK leader pays tributes to Queen Elizabeth II

Britain's Queen Elizabeth attends a service for the Order of the British Empire, at St Paul's Cathedral in London Wednesday March 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Luke MacGregor, Pool)Britain should pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II's "unerring grace, dignity and decency" as she marks 60 years on the throne, Prime Minister David Cameron said Wednesday in a rare tribute at Parliament.


Raven-Symone to slip into Broadway's 'Sister Act'

FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2011 photo, Raven-Symone arrives at the Teen Choice Awards in Universal City, Calif. Raven-Symone is all grown up, and going to a convent. The former “The Cosby Show” actress will take over the lead part in Broadway’s hit musical “Sister Act” later this month, playing a nightclub-singer-turned-nun. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)Raven-Symone is all grown up â€" and going to a convent.


Raven-Symone to step into 'Sister Act'

FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2011 photo, Raven-Symone arrives at the Teen Choice Awards in Universal City, Calif. Raven-Symone is all grown up, and going to a convent. The former “The Cosby Show” actress will take over the lead part in Broadway’s hit musical “Sister Act” later this month, playing a nightclub-singer-turned-nun. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)Raven-Symone is all grown up â€" and going to a convent.


Network says airing Palin movie not about politics

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2012 file photo, former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin delivers the keynote address to activists from America's political right at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington. The ReelzChannel television network says it is airing a pro-Sarah Palin documentary this weekend for business reasons, not political ones. ReelzChannel picked up rights to The ReelzChannel television network says it scheduled a pro-Sarah Palin documentary on the same weekend as HBO's "Game Change" debut strictly for business considerations, not political ones.


Judge rejects gag order request in Paula Deen case

FILE - Celebrity chef Paula Deen poses for a portrait in New York. Attorneys for Deen said Tuesday, March 6, 2012 that former worker Lisa Jackson, who claimed she was sexually harassed and subjected to a hostile work environment at a restaurant co-owned by Deen and her brother, made false claims after the celebrity chef refused to pay her to keep quiet. A lawsuit filed Monday, March 5 by Jackson A Georgia judge has rejected a request for a gag order restricting pre-trial comments in a sexual harassment lawsuit against celebrity chef Paula Dean's companies.


UK premier leads tributes to Queen Elizabeth II

Britain's Queen Elizabeth attends a service for the Order of the British Empire, at St Paul's Cathedral in London Wednesday March 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Luke MacGregor, Pool)Britain's prime minister says the country must pay tribute to the "unerring grace, dignity and decency" of Queen Elizabeth II as she celebrates her 60th year on the throne.


Burton creates a 3-D feather fantasy for McQueen

Models wear creations by British designer Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen as part of the Fall-Winter, ready-to-wear 2013 fashion collection, during Paris Fashion week, Tuesday, March 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)The wonderment was tangible at Sarah Burton's accomplished and vibrantly colored ready-to-wear show for Alexander McQueen. Feather explosions that ballooned in three dimensions spelled awe for spectators.


Calling TV stupid makes you seem smart _ by what?

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 1961 file photo, Newton Minow, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, testifies before the Senate Small Business Subcommittee at a hearing on communication satellites in Washington, D.C. Minow, in his legendary speech on May 9, 1961, said, It's not my place to defend TV-watching.


Next 'Spider-Man' Andrew Garfield hits Broadway

FILE - In this July 22, 2011 file photo, actor Andrew Garfield poses for a portrait at Comic Con in San Diego, Calif. Garfield, who will star in the reboot of the In the last months before he becomes a household name, Andrew Garfield has decided to hide in plain sight.


Sonya Batla

‘S’ stands for Sonia and in fashion it stands for ‘Simple Sensuous’ for this is what Sonya Batla’s creations breathe of.

Recovering Bee Gee back on stage for Titanic show

Bee Gees star Robin Gibb will return to the stage after a serious illness for a performance of his requiem for victims of the Titanic disaster.

'Holland's Next Top Model' wins agency lawsuit

This photo provided by Sloggi on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 shows Ananda Marchildon posing. The Dutch model who won the television show A former model who won the television show "Holland's Next Top Model" has won a lawsuit against the Elite agency after she was dropped for having hips that were supposedly too large.


Zara Shahjahan

Zara Shahjahan has become an eminent Pakistani Fashion Designer in fashion world. she has availed her presence best on world fashion ramps.

Farheen Surmawala

Fashion designer Farheen Surmawala is tremendously adding a good variety in the Pakistani Fashion industry with her stunning range of delicate designs.

Sara Taseer Shoaib

Sara Taseer Shoeab wants to shine as jewelry designer, on the face of the Fashion industry; this also gives her positive energy.

Aeisha Varsey

Aeisha Varsey is one of the outclass fashion designers of Pakistan, who is into this field for more than a decade now.

Akif Mahmood

Fashion designer Akif Mahmood graduated from Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design and won gold medal for his tremendous efforts and hard work.

Japanese conductor Ozawa to take year off

Celebrated Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa is to take a year away from the podium as he struggles to recover after a battle with cancer, his office said Wednesday.

Nargis Hafeez

Nargis Hafeez is one of the outclass fashion designers of Pakistan, who is into this field for more than a decade now.

DC's Vertigo readies 4 new series, dedicated app

In this comic book cover image released by DC Entertainment, “Dominique Leveau: Voodoo Child,” from DC Entertainment's Vertigo imprint, is shown. The publisher says that starting Wednesday, March 7, 2012, Vertigo titles will be sold through a dedicated app as the industry further embraces digital sales while balancing demand for paper copies. (AP Photo/DC Entertainment)Fairy tales with a modern twist and flying saucers permeating presidential politics are two of four new series coming this from DC Entertainment's Vertigo imprint this month, not just in comic shops but online, too.