US documentary pries lid off isolated Myanmar

American professor Robert Lieberman went to Myanmar to train local filmmakers and shot his own documentary on the sly. The solo-filmed "They Call It Myanmar: Lifting the Curtain," pries the lid off daily life in what has long been one of world's most isolated and repressed places, examining its grinding poverty and tragic decades of military rule.

Springsteen gives music history lesson at SXSW

They call him The Boss for a reason.

N.Korean orchestra opens musical bridge to Europe

A North Korean orchestra led by a South Korean conductor performed in Paris for the first time Wednesday, in a diplomatic victory highlighting that "music is bigger than borders".

Baby Delights in First Sight of Bubbles

Singer Don Ho may have made the song “Bubbles, Tiny Bubbles” famous around the world, but it’s a 12-month-old baby from Ohio who has made bubbles go viral. Lennon Gruber’s priceless reaction to seeing bubbles for the first time has garnered more than 80,000 views...

Dust first, then kill the boss, in 'The Maids'

If you aren't happy with your employer, why not just kill her? Such was the twisted thinking of the unhappy servant sisters presented in Jean Genet's 1947 absurdist play, "The Maids," in which two sadistic, unstable women repeatedly and joyfully act out their grotesque, mistress-murdering fantasies.

'American Idol' singer out after 'One Sweet Day'

It wasn't such a sweet day for Shannon Magrane on "American Idol."

Actor Russell Brand turns himself in to NO police

Actor Russell Brand turned himself in Thursday afternoon to New Orleans police after an arrest warrant was issued for him on a charge of simple criminal damage to property valued at $700, authorities said.

Box Office Preview: 'Jump Street' to leap into 1st

Sony's comedy adaptation of the 1980s TV series "21 Jump Street" should have no trouble jumping past the competition this weekend with an opening domestic gross in the $25 million to $30 million range.

Photo show offers rare glimpse of life in N. Korea

An exhibit that opened Thursday offered New Yorkers a rare glimpse of life inside North Korea, including children singing in a theater, stark views of Pyongyang at dusk and North Koreans bowing before a monument of the nation's founder, Kim Il Sung.

A deeply relevant 'Death of a Salesman' emerges

Whenever an old warhorse of a play like "Death of a Salesman" is trotted out again onto a Broadway stage, its backers are quick to explain its relevance. It's hard to argue this time.

Rachael Harris picks top films about strong women

She's been best known for her comic roles in movies like "The Hangover" and "For Your Consideration," and TV shows including "New Girl" and "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart." But Rachael Harris reveals a dramatic facet to her talent in "Natural Selection," in which she plays a conservative Christian woman who goes on a road trip to find the son her husband never knew he had. Along the way, she also finds an inner strength she never knew she had.

'Housewives' jury having trouble reaching verdict

A jury considering Nicollette Sheridan's lawsuit claiming wrongful termination from TV's "Desperate Housewives" says it is having trouble reaching a verdict.

2nd African YouTube video stars Clooney in Sudan

In the second YouTube video in a week to highlight an African conflict, George Clooney makes an illegal and dangerous trip to the southern reaches of Sudan, where the actor witnesses what an American activist said Thursday was likely a Chinese-made missile sail overhead.

Arrest warrant for actor Russell Brand in La

New Orleans police have issued an arrest warrant for actor Russell Brand on a charge of simple criminal damage to property valued at $700..

Clooney's DC blitz on Sudan reaches Oval Office

George Clooney's capital blitz to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis in border regions between Sudan and South Sudan arrived at the Oval Office on Thursday, and the actor said he came away from a meeting President Barack Obama encouraged that there is high-level interest in doing more to help a region that soon could suffer mass starvation.

Actor's Washington blitz on Sudan reaches Obama

Actor George Clooney's blitz of the U.S. capital to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis in border regions between Sudan and South Sudan arrived at the Oval Office on Thursday, and the actor said he came away from meeting President Barack Obama encouraged that there is high-level interest in doing more to help a region that soon could suffer mass starvation.

Prosecutors reject case against Michael Madsen

Prosecutors say there is insufficient evidence to file charges against Michael Madsen stemming from his arrest last week after a fight with his teenage son.

Warhol portrait of Elvis could fetch $50M in NYC

An Andy Warhol portrait of Elvis Presley depicted as a cowboy is being auctioned in New York City and is expected to sell for between $30 million and $50 million.

Brian Williams: more than just a newsman

MSNBC's Willie Geist better be careful about earning some laughs at the expense of NBC's Big Man.

David Strathairn to join 'The Heiress' on Broadway

The Broadway production of "The Heiress" has found its father figure â€" David Strathairn.

Cops: Wasn't worth chasing 'Idol' on small charges

A police official in a New Jersey town where a disqualified "American Idol" contestant is the target of two arrest warrants says the case wasn't big enough to merit going after him.

Debut novel sets new tone in Swedish crime fiction

Readers of Stieg Larsson and Henning Mankell have long associated Swedish crime fiction with serene landscapes, tired police inspectors and serial killers.

Degas: Impressionism stripped bare in France

For the new landmark exhibit "Degas and the Nude" at Paris' revamped Musee d'Orsay, ballet fans should be advised: approach with caution.

Rihanna says collaboration with Brown 'made sense'

People have been scratching their heads over Rihanna's musical collaboration with Chris Brown, but says it "made sense" and it's "innocent."

'Mythbusters' duo unleash 'Unchained Reaction'

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Charges dismissed against ardent NYC Madonna fan

A judge has dismissed charges against a retired firefighter arrested after he scrawled messages of adoration to Madonna on the sidewalk outside her New York City apartment building.

'Matilda' leads race for London's Olivier Awards

Broadway-bound show "Matilda The Musical" gained 10 nominations Thursday for British theater's Laurence Olivier Awards â€" including a joint best actress nod for the four children who share the title role.

German court mulls restitution of Nazi-seized art

Germany's top federal appeals court is set to rule Friday on whether a Berlin museum must return to a Jewish man from Florida thousands of rare posters that were seized from his father by the Nazis.

MythBusters exhibition opens in Chicago

Who gets wetter, someone walking in the rain or running? Is it really possible to hang from a cliff by your fingers until help arrives like they do in the movies? And is Superman the only one who is faster than a speeding bullet?

James Cameron, others to explore the real abyss

Earth's lost frontier is about to be explored firsthand after more than half a century. It's a mission to the deepest part of the ocean, so deep that the pressure is the equivalent of three SUVs sitting on your toe.

'Housewives' trial deliberations enter 2nd day

The fate of Nicollette Sheridan and "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry are in the hands of a different set of viewers than they are accustomed to worrying about â€" jurors.

Rdio revamps Internet music service

Internet music service Rdio.com on Tuesday unveiled a redesign intended to make it "faster, simpler and more social" as it battles with rivals such as Pandora and Spotify.

New series on CBS, ABC hit ratings milestones

Illustrating unusual strength for new series, both "Person of Interest" on CBS and "Once Upon a Time" on ABC were the most popular programs on their networks last week.

Review: 'The Show' still swinging for the fences

No video game can duplicate the drama of the end of the 2011 Major League Baseball season. You remember: The historic collapse of the Red Sox. The Rays' late-inning recovery from a seven-run deficit on the last day of the season. The Cardinals coming back twice in game six of the World Series and eventually winning the trophy.

Back to the future for new season of 'Mad Men'

In retrospect, the bombshell with which "Mad Men" concluded last season was inevitable.

Idaho tribe touts 'Mrs. Swing's' Indian roots

Mildred Rinker Bailey was known to fans as "Mrs. Swing," whose slight, throaty voice won her acclaim as one of the great white jazz singers of the 1930s and 1940s

Depardieu to play 'smug' Strauss-Kahn

French actor Gerard Depardieu said on Thursday he would play the "arrogant, smug" former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn in a film about his fall from grace in a series of sex scandals.

CBS renews 18 prime-time shows, including 'NCIS'

CBS on Wednesday announced the renewal of a staggering 18 prime-time series for next season, making the annual May announcement of its fall schedule almost moot and sending a message of stability.

Top CFDA fashion prizes going to Depp, Hilfiger

Johnny Depp and his quirky sense of style caught the eye of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and the group will give him its fashion icon award at its annual gala in June.

Head of school that hosted anti-gay band resigns

The principal of an Iowa secondary school that allowed members of a Christian rock band to espouse their anti-gay, anti-abortion views while showing students images of fetuses that had apparently been aborted is resigning, the district superintendent said.

Lincoln Center musicians protest canned ballet

Musicians at New York's renowned Lincoln Center, one of the premier venues for live performances in the world, are protesting a major ballet company's decision to perform to canned music.

Celeb birthdays for the week of March 18-24

March 18: Composer John Kander ("Chicago") is 85. Country singer Charley Pride is 74. Actor Kevin Dobson ("Knots Landing") is 69. Actor Brad Dourif ("Lord of the Rings," ''Chucky" movies) is 62. Singer Irene Cara is 53. Singer-actress Vanessa Williams ("Ugly Betty") is 49. Keyboardist Scott Saunders of Sons of the Desert is 48. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains is 46. Singer Miki Berenyi (Lush) is 45. Rapper-actress Queen Latifah is 42. Comedian Dane Cook ("Employee of the Month") is 40. Singers Evan and Jaron Lowenstein of Evan and Jaron are 38. Singer Devin Lima (LFO) is 35. Singer Adam Levine of Maroon 5 is 33. Drummer Daren Taylor of Airborne Toxic Event is 32.

No Rolling Stones tour yet despite 50th anniversary

The Rolling Stones are staying put this year, Rolling Stone reported Wednesday, leaving fans to look forward instead to a major documentary marking the rock band's 50th anniversary.

Date set for 2013 Oscars

The annual Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 24 next year, Oscars organizers said Wednesday, two and a half weeks after this year's show.

India's Slumdog child star bags role with Hopkins

An Indian girl who was plucked from poverty to act in the Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire is to star in a new film with Hollywood legend Anthony Hopkins, her manager said Wednesday.

Biopic on S. Korea opera singer to film in Serbia

South Korean film production company More In Group will start shooting a biopic of famed opera singer Bae Jae Chul in Serbia next month, local officials said Wednesday.

Azerbaijan slams Armenian boycott of Eurovision

Azerbaijan's foreign minister hit out Wednesday at the politicisation of the Eurovision song contest which his country hosts in May, after bitter enemy Armenia decided to boycott the event.